And how little to me and to Hagen thy greeting bodeth of good.”
But the Prince of Bern, the Hero, spake: “O noble Queen,
Never such peerless heroes made captive hath any seen,
As thou, O Daughter of Princes, from mine hand now dost take.
Deal gently with these, the homeless, for my lovingkindness’ sake.”
She answered: “That will I gladly.” So turned with weeping eyes
Dietrich away from the heroes, famed lords of high emprize.
But thereafter was ghastly vengeance taken by Etzel’s wife:
By her from the chosen heroes ruthlessly reft was the life.
She gave command, and to dungeons apart those twain they bore;