It chafed his thanes to hear it, / who soon in raging mood did stand.
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"How could it be my fortune," / Gunther the king outspoke,
"What my sire long ruled over / in honor for his folk,
Now to lose so basely / through any vaunter's might?
In sooth 'twere nobly showing / that we too merit name of knight!"
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"Nowise will I give over," / was the keen reply.
"If peace through thine own valor / thy land cannot enjoy,
To me shall all be subject: / if heritage of mine
Through thy arm's might thou winnest, / of right shall all hence-forth be thine.
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"Thy land and all that mine is, / at stake shall equal lie.
Whiche'er of us be victor / when now our strength we try,
To him shall all be subject, / the folk and eke the land."
But Hagen spake against it, / and Gernot too was quick at hand.
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"Such purpose have we never," / Gernot then said,
"For lands to combat ever, / that any warrior dead
Should lie in bloody battle. / We've mighty lands and strong;
Of right they call us master, / and better they to none belong."
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There stood full grim and moody / Gernot's friends around,
And there as well amongst them / was Ortwein to be found.
He spake: "This mild peace-making / doth grieve me sore at heart,
For by the doughty Siegfried / attacked all undeserved thou art.
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"If thou and thy two brothers / yourselves to help had naught,
And if a mighty army / he too had hither brought,
I trow I'd soon be able / to make this man so keen
His manner now so haughty / of need replace by meeker mien."
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Thereat did rage full sorely / the hero of Netherland:
"Never shall be measured / 'gainst me in fight thy hand.
I am a mighty monarch, / thou a king's serving-knight;
Of such as thou a dozen / dare not withstand me in the fight."
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For swords then called in anger / of Metz Sir Ortwein:
Son of Hagen's sister / he was, of Tronje's line.
That Hagen so long was silent / did grieve the king to see.
Gernot made peace between them: / a gallant knight and keen was he.
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Spake he thus to Ortwein: / "Curb now thy wrathful tongue,
For here the noble Siegfried / hath done us no such wrong;
We yet can end the quarrel / in peace—such is my rede—
And live with him in friendship; / that were for us a worthier deed."
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Then spake the mighty Hagen: / "Sad things do I forebode
For all thy train of warriors, / that this knight ever rode
Unto the Rhine thus arméd. / 'Twere best he stayed at home;
For from my masters never / to him such wrong as this had come."
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But outspake Siegfried proudly, / whose heart was ne'er dismayed:
"An't please thee not, Sir Hagen, / what I now have said,
This arm shall give example / whereby thou plain shall see
How stern anon its power / here in Burgundy will be."
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"Yet that myself will hinder," / said then Gernot.
All his men forbade he / henceforth to say aught
With such unbridled spirit / to stir the stranger's ire.
Then Siegfried eke was mindful / of one most stately maid and fair.
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"Such strife would ill befit us," / Gernot spake again;
"For though should die in battle / a host of valiant men
'Twould bring us little honor / and ye could profit none."
Thereto gave Siegfried answer, / good King Siegmund's noble son:
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"Wherefore bides thus grim Hagen, / and Ortwein tardy is
To begin the combat / with all those friends of his,
Of whom he hath so many / here in Burgundy?"
Answer him they durst not, / for such was Gernot's stern decree.
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"Thou shalt to us be welcome," / outspake young Giselher,
"And all thy brave companions / that hither with thee fare.
Full gladly we'll attend thee, / I and all friends of mine."
For the guests then bade they / pour out in store of Gunther's wine.
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Then spake the stately monarch: / "But ask thou courteously,
And all that we call ours / stands at thy service free;
So with thee our fortune / we'll share in ill and good."
Thereat the noble Siegfried / a little milder was of mood.
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Then carefully was tended / all their knightly gear,
And housed in goodly manner / in sooth the strangers were,
All that followed Siegfried; / they found a welcome rest.
In Burgundy full gladly / anon was seen the noble guest.
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