When he had viewed the token / sent Hagen thence away
Two of his men in secret / who did other tidings say:
How that King Gunther's country / had nothing now to fear
And that unto the monarch / had sent them royal Luedeger.
'Twas little joy to Siegfried / that he must turn again
Ere for the hostile menace / vengeance he had ta'en.
In sooth the men of Gunther / could scarce his purpose bend.
Then rode he to the monarch, / who thus began his thanks to lend:
"Now God reward thee for it, / my good friend Siegfried,
That thou with mind so willing / hast holpen me in need.
That shall I e'er repay thee, / as I may do of right.
To thee before all other / friends do I my service plight.
"Now that from battle-journey / free we are once more,
So will I ride a-hunting / the wild bear and the boar
Away to the Vosges forest, / as I full oft have done."
The same had counselled Hagen, / the full dark and faithless man.
"To all my guests here with me / shall now be told
That we ride forth at daybreak: / themselves shall ready hold,
Who will join the hunting; / will any here remain
For pastime with fair ladies, / the thing behold I eke full fain."