“The hall is now well closed, forsooth,
Good comrades, be of cheer!
King Etzel’s door is faster made
By Burgund heroes twain
Than if a thousand bolts were shot
To make all entry vain!”
Whereat Hagen flung his shield upon his back, and again grasping Balmung with both hands, laid about him more furiously than before. Fear came upon Kriemhild, for she saw that the Burgundians were stronger than the Huns; and turning in terror to Dietrich of Bern, who stood near, she besought him to aid her to escape.
“But how may that be done, O Queen,” replied he. “So mad with fury are these heroes that even I must fight for my life.”
But Kriemhild pressed him so sorely in her fear that at length Dietrich promised he would seek to save her; and leaping upon a table, he gave a mighty shout. Clearly above the clash of arms it sounded like the blast of a battle horn. It caught King Günther’s ear, and knowing it for Dietrich’s voice, he commanded the strife to cease till he should learn the will of the hero, who made signal with his hand that he would speak. For a space there was silence while Günther asked whether Dietrich or any of his knights had suffered ill.
“Loath were I, noble knight, that such should chance,” said he, “for surely no cause for strife lies ’twixt us two.”