Gunther and Brunhilde
“Blind fool that you are! Do you not see even yet why the queen has been unhappy ever since she came to Burgundy? She loves your friend Siegfried, and it is he whom she would fain call husband and lord!” Then he left the king alone, and Gunther sat for a long time thinking over what Hagen had said. He felt discouraged and sick at heart; for he knew that he was unable to solve the difficulties before him, or to avert the dreadful fate which seemed to be overshadowing him and all his household.
The Death of Siegfried
SHORTLY after this Hagen came one day to the king, and said: “As long as Siegfried lives, there is naught that will appease the wrath of Brunhilde, or make her cease to weep. If you would have peace for yourself and would win the queen’s love, it must be by Siegfried’s death.”
“But I cannot slay him, Hagen,” answered Gunther, sadly; “he is my friend, and also my brother, and I cannot do such a treacherous thing.”
“There is no need for you to perform the deed yourself. Only consent to having Siegfried killed, and another hand than yours will carry it out. It is useless to try and pacify the queen so long as Siegfried lives to arouse daily her jealous wrath. Consent, therefore, to his death,” urged Hagen, “and I myself will slay him and take all the burden of the guilt upon my shoulders.”
For many hours he talked with the king, working upon a weak will and unsteady purpose, and rousing in Gunther the jealous fear that Siegfried would play him false. There seemed, indeed, only one way out of the difficulty, and at last Gunther consented to Hagen’s wish and promised to aid him in carrying out his plans.