There shall ride into this land heralds, as it were from a land afar,
Men known unto none in thy city, denouncing against us war.
Then say thou in these guests’ presence: ‘Lo, I must forth to the fight
With all my warrior vassals’—then is thy goal in sight.
He will offer himself for thine helping: thereby shall he spill his life,
If I win but his woundless secret from the fearless hero’s wife.”
Alas and alas! and he hearkened unto Hagen’s evil wile;
And these twain fell to devising of treachery and guile—
These two knights chivalrous-nurtured!—ere any divined their intent.
So through two women’s wrangling to their death many heroes were sent.