Though never should king with dishonour of bonds be compassed round;
Yet he weened, if he left unshackled Gunther and Hagen the knight,
They would verily slay all Hunfolk on whomsoe’er they should light.
The Prince of Bern, Lord Dietrich, hath grasped him by the hand:
In bonds to the hall hath he haled him where waiting doth Kriemhild stand.
At sight of his affliction light grew the load on her heart;
And she cried: “O King Burgundian, welcome to me thou art!”
“For thy greeting,” he said, “might I thank thee, O noble sister mine,
If aught of lovingkindness lurked in that welcome of thine.
But I know, O Queen, thine hatred and thy wrath-enkindled mood,