But spake unto him King Gunther: "How then may ye compass…

But spake unto him King Gunther: "How then may ye compass the deed?" Thereunto answered Hagen: "Hearken to this my rede: There shall ride into this land heralds, as it were from a land afar, Men known unto none in thy city, denouncing against us war. Then say thou in these guests' presence: 'Lo, I must forth to the fight With all my warrior vassals'—then is thy goal in sight. He will offer himself for thine helping: thereby shall he spill his life, If I win but his woundless secret from the fearless hero's wife." Alas and alas! and he hearkened unto Hagen's evil wile; And these twain fell to devising of treachery and guile— These two knights chivalrous-nurtured!—ere any divined their intent. So through two women's wrangling to their death many heroes were sent.

XV. How woven for Siegfried was the Net of Betrayal

To the gates of the royal city men saw on the fourth day's morn Come two-and-thirty riders. Straightway was their message borne Unto Gunther, to wit, a defiance unto war from a far-off foe. —That lie unto wives and mothers was a fathomless wellspring of woe. Unto these was licence given to appear before the King. Then said they to him: "We be liegemen of Lüdeger's following, The King overcome in battle, time was, by Siegfried's hand, And by him led thence as a hostage into King Gunther's land." Then Gunther greeted the heralds, and bade them sit at the meat. But spake of them one, and answered: "Lord King, let us stand on our feet Till we tell out all the tidings wherewith we be sent unto thee. Of many children of women be ye holden in enmity. King Lüdegast bids thee defiance, and with him King Lüdeger, Because at thine hands aforetime despitefully used they were. They will ride now into thy kingdom with a host for battle arrayed." Great semblance of indignation at their message Gunther made.

Then lodged they those feigned heralds, as who would take counsel awhile. How might it be that Siegfried should beware of such deep guile— He, yea, or any other, when the snare for his feet was cast? Ha, in the net they had hidden were their own feet taken at last!

To and fro the King with his kinsmen whispering ever went: Ever Hagen of Troneg was pricking the sides of his intent. In sooth, of Gunther's liegemen was many a man for peace, But never from dark devising of murder would Hagen cease. Thus as they whispered, Siegfried found these thanes on a day; And the Hero of Netherland marvelled, and questioning thus 'gan say: "Why goeth the King with his liegemen in heaviness of heart? In avenging your wrongs am I ever ready to bear my part." Answered and spake King Gunther: "Good cause for trouble have I. Me do the Dane and the Saxon again unto battle defy. With their war-hosts now be they minded to ride into Burgundy-land." Answered the aweless Hero: "Their onset shall Siegfried's hand, As best befitteth your honour, meet in the battle's strain. That I did to the kings aforetime, shall now be done yet again: I will ravage their land and their strongholds beneath the spoiler's tread Or ever from war I refrain me: hereon will I stake mine head. As for thee, do thou and thy liegemen here in the homeland stay. Let me ride forth against them with mine own war-array. That I render you service gladly, shall ye and all men see. Be ye sure, full evil entreated at mine hand shall your enemies be."

"Now welcome to me is thy saying," the King said joyful-voiced, As though in the proffered helping indeed and in truth he rejoiced. In his falseness lowly he bowed him, that King of the traitor-heart! Yet again spake Siegfried the noble, "Let all your fears depart." Plotters and vassals prepared them, as it were for the war-march, then; But all was done for a semblance unto Siegfried and his men. And the hero bade his warriors of Netherland arm for the fray; And straightway the knights of Siegfried sought out their war-array.

To his sire spake Siegfried the mighty: "Here in the land remain, Siegmund my father: returning soon shalt thou see us again, So God but grant good fortune to us, to the land of the Rhine. While thou with the King abidest fair days and glad shall be thine."