“Yet, if mine high-born kinsmen who stand in the hall at my side,
If these by thy deed shall perish, snapped is the twofold chain,
The love ’twixt me and thy daughter, and the friendship ’twixt us twain.”
“Then God have mercy upon us!” so did the hero groan.
Then his men uplifted their bucklers, and now were at point to set on
Against those guests, to grapple in fight in Kriemhild’s hall:—
But suddenly from the stair-head aloud did Hagen call:
“For a little space yet tarry, O Rüdiger, noble heart!”
Said Hagen; “once more commune we, ere the links of friendship part,
With thee, even I and my masters, in our sore extremity.