“Haste ye, brother Hagen,” he cried, “for as ye sit there our knights and squires lie slain in their chambers.”
“Who hath done this deed?” asked Hagen.
“Sir Blodelin with his carles. But he breathes no longer, for myself I parted his head from his body.”
“If he died as a warrior, then it is well for him,” replied the grim Hagen; “but, brother Dankwart, ye are red with blood.”
“’Tis but my weeds which ye see thus wet,” said Dankwart carelessly. “The blood is that of other men, so many in sooth that I could not give ye tale of the number.”
“Guard the door, brother,” said Hagen fiercely; “guard it yet so that not a single Hun may escape. I will hold parley with these brave warriors who have so foully slain defenceless men.”
“Well will I guard the doorway,” laughed Dankwart; “I shall play ye the part of chamberlain, brother, in this great business.”
The Beginning of the Slaughter
Hagen, mortally incensed at the slaughter of the Burgundians by the Huns, and wrongly suspecting Etzel of conspiracy in the affair, drew his sword, and with one blow of the weapon smote off the head of young Ortlieb, the son of Etzel and Kriemhild. Then began a slaughter grim and great. The Huns fought at first in self-defence, but as they saw their friends fall they laid on in good earnest and the combat became general. At length Dietrich of Bern, as a neutral, intervened, and succeeded in bringing about a half-truce, whereby Etzel, Kriemhild, and Rüdiger were permitted to leave the hall, the remainder of Etzel’s attendants being slaughtered like sheep. In great wrath Etzel and Kriemhild offered heavy bribes to any who would slay Hagen. Several attempts were made, but without avail; and the terrible conflict continued till nightfall, when a truce was called. From his place of vantage in the hall Giselher reproached his sister with her treachery, and Kriemhild offered to spare her brothers if they would consent to give up Hagen. But this offer they contemptuously refused, holding death preferable to such dishonour. Kriemhild, in her bitter hate, set the hall on fire, and most of the Burgundians perished in the conflagration. Kriemhild and the Huns were astounded, however, when in the morning they discovered six hundred of the Burgundians were still alive. The queen appealed to Rüdiger to complete the slaughter, but he, aghast at the idea of attacking friends whom he had sworn to protect, was about to refuse, when Kriemhild reminded him of his oath to her. With sorrow he proceeded to fulfil his promise, and Giselher, seeing his approach, imagined he came as an ally. But Rüdiger promptly disillusioned him. The Burgundians were as loath to attack Rüdiger as he them, and Hagen and he exchanged shields. The combat recommenced, and great was the slaughter of the Burgundians, until Gernot and Rüdiger came together and slew one another. At this, Wolfhart, Dietrich of Bern’s lieutenant, led his men against the Burgundians to avenge Rüdiger’s death, and Giselher and Wolfhart slew one another. Volker and Dankwart were also slain. At length all were dead save Gunther and Hagen, whom Dietrich accosted and whom he offered to save. But this offer Hagen refused. Then the Lord of Bern grew wroth.
Dietrich Intervenes