"How wilt reproach me, Hagen?" / the lofty monarch spake.
I pray thee yet all comfort / not from our hearts to take.
The ford shalt thou discover / whereby we may pass o'er,
Horse and equipment bringing / safely unto yonder shore."
"In sooth, not I," quoth Hagen, / "am yet so weary grown
Of life, that in these waters / wide I long to drown.
Ere that, shall warriors sicken / in Etzel's far country
Beneath my own arm stricken: / —'tis my intent full certainly.
"Here tarry by the water, / ye gallant knights and good,
The while I seek the boatmen / myself along the flood,
Who will bring us over / into Gelfrat's land."
With that the doughty Hagen / took his trusty shield in hand.
He cap-a-pie was arméd, / as thus he strode away,
Upon his head a helmet / that gleamed with brilliant ray,
And o'er his warlike harness / a sword full broad there hung,
That on both its edges / did fiercely cut, in battle swung.
He sought to find the boatmen / if any might be near,
When sound of falling waters / full soon upon his ear.
Beside a rippling fountain, / where ran the waters cool,
A group of wise mermaidens / did bathe themselves within the pool.