"No guilt lies here upon us," / Hagen in answer spake.
"Unto this hall hither / your knights their way did take,
With goodly train of warriors / full arméd for the fight.
Meseemeth that the story / hath not been told to thee aright."

[2334]

"What shall I else believe in? / To me told Hildebrand
How, when the knights that serve me / of Amelungenland
Did beg the corse of Ruediger / to give them from the hall,
Nought offered ye but mockings / unto the valiant warriors all."

[2335]

Then spake the King of Rhineland: / "Ruediger to bear away
Came they in company hither; / whose corse to them deny
I bade, despiting Etzel, / nor with aught malice more,
Whereupon did Wolfhart / begin to rage thereat full sore."

[2336]

Then spake of Bern the hero: / "'Twas fated so to be.
Yet Gunther, noble monarch, / by thy kingly courtesy
Amends make for the sorrow / thou here on me hast wrought,
That so thy knightly honor / still unsullied be in aught.

[2337]

"Then yield to me as hostage / thyself and eke thy man;
So will I surely hinder, / as with best might I can,
That any here in Hunland / harm unto thee shall do:
Henceforward shalt thou find me / ever well disposed and true."

[2338]