Now hard on the hour of midnight, or earlier perchance,
He marked, this Volker the dreadless, the gleam of a helmet glance
Far away through the darkness. The vassals of Kriemhild were there,
Full fain to have done some mischief to the sleepers unaware.
(C) Now ere these were sent of Kriemhild to take the prey in the snare,
She said: “If ye come on them sleeping, in God’s name have a care
That of all this company one man, and only he, be slain,
Hagen the faithless traitor: your hands from the rest refrain.”
Then spake the viol-minstrel: “Friend Hagen, see to it now
That we bear this burden of peril together, I and thou.