So when from Blödel the warrior the Queen had wrung consent

So when from Blödel the warrior the Queen had wrung consent To make beginning of conflict, to the feast-hall thence she went Beside the great King Etzel, and their knights behind them pressed. A terrible doom for the strangers she purposed within her breast. (C) In what order they passed to the banquet unto you shall the song declare: Men saw great kings and mighty the crown before her bear; Yea, high-born princes many and thanes of high degree Before the Queen did service in great humility. (C) The King to his guests appointed their seats through the feast-hall wide, And the chiefest and noblest among them were nearest set to his side. For Christian knights and heathen were diverse meats prepared, Yet all to the full were feasted, for all in his wisdom he cared.

(C) Apart in the place of their lodging for the squires was a feast arrayed, And there before them the sewers all things in order laid With diligent heed that nothing of all they lacked should fail:— Too soon were revel and joyance turned into woe and wail!

Now since the flame of battle could be lit in none other way,— For the old pain crying for vengeance in Kriemhild's heart still lay,— She caused that her child and Etzel's to the banquet-board should be brought. How by a vengeful woman could fearfuller deed be wrought? Forth four men went from the feast-hall of Etzel's following, And returned with the young prince Ortlieb, the little child of the King; And they set him before the princes—and Hagen sat thereby, He through whose murderous hatred that child was doomed to die.

So then when the great King Etzel beheld his son brought in, In faith and in lovingkindness he spake unto Kriemhild's kin: "Behold, my friends and my kinsmen, mine only son is this, And the child of Kriemhild your sister: your friend that shall be he is. If he favour his Rhineland kinsmen, a stalwart man shall he be, Mighty withal and noble, valiant and comely to see.

If I live, I will make him ruler of lordships twelve in my land: So service fair shall be rendered to you of Ortlieb's hand. Therefore I fain would pray you, belovèd kinsmen mine, Whensoe'er again ye be riding homeward unto the Rhine, That ye take him, the child of your sister, in that day home with you, And show all lovingkindness to my son as kinsmen true. Train him in ways of honour, till unto man he shall grow; Then, if to your land a mischief be done of any foe, And he to his strength be waxen, his aid unto you shall he bring." —And all this speech heard Kriemhild, the wife of Etzel the King.

"Yea, well may all these warriors in his loyal faith confide, If ever he grow unto manhood," grimly Hagen replied; "But the young king is but a weakling, I trow, in outward show. Not oft to the court of Ortlieb shall folk behold me go." Then the King looked sharply at Hagen, for stung by the word was he, Albeit he answered nothing, of his kingly courtesy; Yet his soul was chafed and indignant, for he deemed it nowise good. Yea, also was Hagen's spirit nowise in jesting mood. No less than the King were his servants indignant, a princely band, That so evilly Hagen had spoken of the child of the lord of the land. To sit and endure such insult as gall to their spirit seemed; But of that which ere long by the warrior should be done, ah, little they dreamed! (C) Full many that heard it, whose hatred of him already was hot, Would fain have fallen upon him—yea, that would the King, I wot, Had his honour permitted; the hero had then been in evil plight. More cruelly soon did he wrong him, that he slew his child in his sight.

XXXII. Of the Slaughter of the Squires and the Slaying of the Slayer