Fain would I one should tell me," so asked of his men the…

"Fain would I one should tell me," so asked of his men the King, "What knightly warrior yonder with such friendly welcoming Is greeted by our lord Dietrich. A lofty spirit he bears: What thane soe'er was his father, a goodly knight he appears." Spake of the train of Kriemhild to the King a certain knight: "Troneg is the warrior's birthplace, his father Aldrian hight. How blithely soever he bear him, a grim stark foeman he is. I trow, ere long shall I prove it, that utter truth is this." "Nay, how should I learn that the hero is in battle so grim?" he replied; For as yet had the King no knowledge of the snares of death spread wide Around the feet of her kinsmen by the Queen for revenge who yearned— So wide, that back from the Hunland no man of them all returned.

"Well knew I Aldrian," spake he: "my liegeman he was of old. Praise at my court he won him and honour manifold: Yea, and of me was he knighted, and I gave him gold and gear; And my true and faithful Lady, Helka, held him dear. Well known thereafter was Hagen unto me: in years long fled As hostages high-born children twain to my land I led, Even him and Walter the Spaniard. Here unto men grew they, Till I sent home Hagen; but Walter with Hildegund fled away." So mused he on days passed over and deeds done long agone, And his warrior-friend of Troneg whom there of old he had known, Who in youth had rendered him service in many a strenuous day, But now in his age was destined a host of his friends to slay.

XXIX. How Hagen refused to rise up in Presence of the Queen