If they and their kinsmen accepted Kriemhild for suzerain.
But an answer of scornful anger from Hagen her message won:
“Unto no one on earth can Gunther pass us as chattels on!
Let other escort-vassals with you on your journey go.
The Law of the Men of Troneg full well by this should ye know:
We be bound to abide with our liege-lord the King in hall and field,
And to them which have had our homage, our homage ever to yield.”
So they spake no more of the matter, but they dight them for the way;
And Kriemhild took for escort of her noble palace-array
Two-and-thirty maidens, and of knights five hundred men;