The lord of Bern gave answer: / "What need to tell you more?
I hear each day at morning / weeping and wailing sore
The wife of royal Etzel, / who piteous doth complain
To God in heaven that Siegfried / her doughty spouse from her was ta'en."
"Then must we e'en abide it," / was the fearless word
Of Volker the Fiddler, / "what we here have heard.
To court we yet shall journey / and make full clear to all,
If that to valiant warriors / may aught amid the Huns befall."
The gallant thanes of Burgundy / unto court then rode,
And went in stately manner / as was their country's mode.
Full many a man in Hunland / looked eagerly to see
Of what manner Hagen, / Tronje's doughty thane, might be.
For that was told the story / (and great the wonder grew)
How that of Netherland / Siegfried he slew,
That was the spouse of Kriemhild, / in strength without a peer,
Hence a mickle questioning / after Hagen might ye hear.
Great was the knight of stature, / may ye know full true,
Built with breast expansive; / mingled was the hue
Of his hair with silver; / long he was of limb;
As he strode stately forward / might ye mark his visage grim.