Spake the King: “Put away for ever the murderous hate ye nurse.
He was born to be honour and profit to us, and nowise a curse;
Yea also, so battle-resistless is the marvellous hero’s hand,
That, if aught he divined of your purpose, before him should no man stand.”
“That shall he never,” said Hagen. “Beware thou reveal it not!
With secrecy so deadly will I handle the matter, I wot,
That to him shall the weeping of Brunhild be Ruin’s baleful breath.
Evermore unto him shall Hagen be Hate and the Shadow of Death!”
But spake unto him King Gunther: “How then may ye compass the deed?”
Thereunto answered Hagen: “Hearken to this my rede: