And for winning of his friendship: yea, more for our honour were this.”
At the last spake Hagen the stalwart: “There were reason enow for our wrath
And the good knights’ indignation, if he rode on the Rhineward path
For nought but for this defiance—what ailed him to do this thing?
Never so evil-entreated had he been of our lord the King.”
Then Siegfried the mighty hero flashed out all scornfully:
“If that I have said, Lord Hagen, in aught misliketh thee,
I will let it be seen of all men how ready is this mine hand
To maintain my words to the utmost in the face of Burgundia-land.”
“Nay, this thing, I trust, shall I hinder,” spake Gernot yet again;