LVIII
Then in his courteous fashion thereto Sir Dietrich spake,
"Great queen, this talk give over, and better counsel take.
Me never wrong'd your kinsmen, nor is there cause that I
Should warriors, whom I value, to mortal strife defy.
LIX
"It does you little honor, the simple truth to say,
Against your trusting kinsmen such deadly plots to lay.
'Twas under a safe-conduct they enter'd Etzel's land.
Revenge for Siegfried never expect from Dietrich's hand."
LX
When she no spark of treason found in the Berner brave,
Of a wide march to Blœdel the promise straight she gave.
It once belong'd to Nudung; a gift 'twas for a queen;
Yet a stroke of Dankwart's made him forget it quite and clean.
LXI
"To give me help, Sir Blœdel," said she, "the task be thine;
Harbor'd within this palace are mortal foes of mine,
The same, who my dear husband Sir Siegfried did to die;
Who helps me to revenge it, to him for ever bound am I."
LXII