There ne’er appeared as captive bound
So brave a knight, I ween,
As he whom unto thee I gave
With loyal courtesy,
At thy fair hands let him partake
Of favor due to me!”
Kriemhild declared she would perform his wish; whereupon Dietrich departed, his eyes wet with tears. But no thought had she for aught save vengeance. Causing Günther to be also chained and cast into a separate dungeon, she betook herself to Hagen. Again she demanded of him her treasure, promising him his life if he would confess where he had hidden it.
Hagen, although a captive, wounded and in chains, was still undaunted. With a scornful glance at Kriemhild he replied: “I gave a solemn oath to my lord Günther, that never while he drew breath would I divulge the spot where it lies.”
“Now will I quickly make an end of that, forsooth!” cried Kriemhild; and thereupon she ordered Günther’s head to be struck off. Then she took it to Hagen, saying: “Now doth thy lord no longer live and thereby art thou freed from thy sworn oath!”
But Hagen cried: