Then the King bade summon Gernot to his presence and Giselher, And he asked of these two princes if good in their eyes it were That the Lady Kriemhild be wedded to the mighty Lord of the Hun: And of these, save Hagen only, there spake against it none. { P. 165} Then answered the Prince Burgundian, Giselher the knight: "Now surely shouldst thou, friend Hagen, deal by her according to right. Make good unto her that sorrow thou hast brought upon her ere now. Whatsoever shall be for her profit, ungrudging suffer thou. Yea, thou hast brought on my sister such passing bitter pain"-- So Giselher, peerless hero, unto Hagen spake again-- "That, how stern soe'er were her hatred, thy due hast thou but received. Never by man hath woman of joy been so bereaved!" "O yea, full well I know it: who knows it, nought care I! But, if she take this Etzel, and see her hour draw nigh Wherein she may compass her vengeance, she will do us what hurt she can: And verily then in her service shall be many a mighty man!" Made answer Gernot the dauntless, and unto Hagen he said: "Nay then, long time may we tarry, yea, till these twain be dead, Ere unto the land of Etzel the Hun-king journey we. Let us deal with my sister truly: for our honour this shall be." Thereto made answer Hagen: "I say--gainsay it who dare-- If once the high-born Kriemhild the crown of Helka wear, Whatsoever she may of mischief, that unto us will she do. Ye knights, let be, I counsel: better shall this be for you."
Then Giselher spake in his anger, the fair Queen Uta's son: "We be not in any wise minded to be traitors every one! Whatsoe'er may befall her of honour, let us be glad thereof. Whatsoever thou sayest, Hagen, I serve her in faith and love." When Hagen heard that saying, he was wroth and bitter of mood. But Giselher and Gernot, the haughty knights and good, And the King, the mighty Gunther--in one mind stood these three: If this should be Kriemhild's pleasure, they would grant it ungrudgingly. Spake Gere, Lord of the Marches: "This word unto her will I bring That none shall let her from yielding her love unto Etzel the King Unto whom in fear and in homage many a good knight bends. For all her past wrongs suffered unto her may he make amends."