What boon he may ask soever ready am I to bestow.
I bow at your feet in suppliance!” cried King Etzel’s wife.
“Avenge me upon this Hagen! Let him forfeit limb and life!”
Then armed them the valiant champions; sixty by tale they were:
For love of their Lady Kriemhild forth of the hall would they fare
And fall upon Hagen and smite him, the battle-dauntless lord,
And with him the viol-minstrel: all they were of one accord.
But the Queen looked on her champions, and marked their slender array,
And in wrathful indignation to the heroes did she say:
“From such manner of desperate emprise, I counsel you, refrain!