Then came the Lord of the Hunland, and beside him his fair…

Then came the Lord of the Hunland, and beside him his fair Queen paced. With royal-rich apparel was Kriemhild's beauty graced. And valiant warriors many in the train of these drew nigh. 'Neath the tramp of the feet of the vassals of the Queen the dust rose high. When the great King beheld them all mail-clad as for fight, Those princes and their liegemen, he cried unto them forthright: "What meaneth this?—behold I my friends in battle-gear? By my troth, it should vex me sorely if any harmed them here! All wrong, whatsoever atonement they asked, would I requite. If to their heart and their spirit any have done despite, I will show unto them and to all men what indignation have I. What redress they demand soever, nothing do I deny." To the King made answer Hagen: "None doeth despite unto us. It is ever the wont of my masters to go in armour thus, Whose guests they be soever, till three full days have run. We would make our complaint unto Etzel, if a wrong unto us had been done."

Now the word that Hagen answered full well was heard of the Queen. How flashed 'twixt her half-closed eyelids her hate's glance bitter-keen! But as touching her fatherland's custom not she would utter the truth, Albeit Burgundia's daughter had known it full well from her youth. How grim and stern soever was the Queen's mood unto her foe, Had any revealed her purpose unto Etzel the King, I trow, He had verily prevented the thing that thereafter befell; But their pride thought scorn of complaining, and nought unto him would they tell.

To the minster-door paced Kriemhild with a multitude in her train; Yet to step aside at her coming they two would nowise deign Two handbreadths: wroth were the Hunfolk, as men that chafe being wronged, For in passing the stalwart heroes their Queen was jostled and thronged. Wroth with their reckless defiance were Etzel's chamberlains: Full fain from the path had they thrust them, and angered those insolent thanes, Had they but dared in the presence of the great King to do aught. So then there was thronging and pressing, but more than this was there nought.