Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/98

20

The king did greatly marvel, and eke hig liegemen all,

At the strange declaration that from his lips did fall:

To take his kingdom from him! so that was his intent!

His thanes all heard it, likewise, and fierce was their dissent.

“Whereby have I deserved this?” Gunther the warrior cried,

“That lands my father governed, with honour, till he died,

Should be now wrested from us by force, by whomsoe’er?

That were to prove but poorly that we too knighthood bear.”

“Nought else will I,” quoth Siegfried, “by that I fall or stand:

If thy strength cannot peace win for thine own fatherland,

Then shall my strong hand rule it, and after me mine heir;

If thou dost win, thine be it, and we thy rule must bear.

“Thy heritage, mine also, are now alike at stake;

Whichever of the other shall wholly conquest make

To him shall all be subject,— the land and all its folk.”

But Hagen and King Gernot in hasty answer spoke:

“Far be it from our purpose,” spake Gernot presently,

“To conquer new possessions, and to cause death thereby

At hands of heroes; truly, we have a rich estate:

Which pays us due allegiance, nor seeks a better fate.”

Round and about were standing his friends, in sullen mood;

The lord of Metz, Sir Ortwein, among the others stood;

He spake: “This friendly parley doth vex me sore, as knight,—

Stout Siegfried unproveked hath here challenged you to fight.