None yet his words did follow, / but to the monarch's ear
Ne'er a day failed Hagen / the thought to whisper there:
If that lived not Siegfried, / to him would subject be
Royal lands full many. / The king did sorrow bitterly.
Then did they nothing further: / soon began the play.
As from the lofty minster / passed they on their way,
What doughty shafts they shattered / Siegfried's spouse before!
Gunther's men full many / saw ye there in rage full sore.
Spake the king: "Now leave ye / such mortal enmity:
The knight is born our honor / and fortune good to be.
Keen is he unto wonder, / hath eke so doughty arm
That, were the contest open, / none is who dared to work him harm."
"Naught shall he know," quoth Hagen. / "At peace ye well may be:
I trow the thing to manage / so full secretly
That Queen Brunhild's weeping / he shall rue full sore.
In sooth shall he from Hagen / have naught but hate for evermore."
Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "How might such thing e'er be?"
Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "That shalt thou hear from me.
We'll bid that hither heralds / unto our land shall fare,
Here unknown to any, / who shall hostile tidings bear.