Of them all chose Hagen a thousand, men throughly tested of him:
What deeds had been done by their prowess in the storm of battle grim,
And in many a desperate emprise, oft had he seen and known:
Yea, and their peerless valour no man could choose but own.
Now the messengers of Kriemhild chafed that so long they should wait;
For their dread of the King their master was beyond all measure great,
And day by day were they longing to take fair leave and be gone.
Yet by Hagen still were they hindered; of his cunning this was done.
For he said to his lord King Gunther: “We needs must have a care
That we let them not ride homeward, ere ourselves be ready to fare