As the Burgundians would have deemed themselves forever disgraced were they to withdraw from their purpose, they refused to listen to this warning, and, entering Ruediger’s castle, were warmly received by him and his family.  Giselher, seeing the beauty of the maiden Dietelinde, fell deeply in love with her, and prevailed upon the margrave to consent to their immediate marriage, promising, however, to claim and bear away his bride only upon his homeward journey.  Once more gifts were lavished with mediaeval profusion, Gunther receiving a coat of mail, Gernot a sword, Hagen a shield, and the minstrel Volker many rings of red gold.

[Sidenote:  The second warning.] Ruediger then escorted the Burgundians until they met the brave Dietrich von Bern (Verona), who also warned them that their visit was fraught with danger, for Kriemhild had by no means forgotten the murder of the husband of her youth.

His evil prognostications were also of no avail, and he sadly accompanied them until they met Kriemhild, who embraced Giselher only.  Then, turning suddenly upon Hagen, she inquired aloud, in the presence of all the people, whether he had brought her back her own, the Nibelung hoard.  Nothing daunted by this sudden query, Hagen haughtily answered that the treasure still lay deep in the Rhine, where he fancied it would rest until the judgment day.

“‘I’ faith, my Lady Kriemhild, ’tis now full many a day
Since in my power the treasure of the Nibelungers lay. 
In the Rhine my lords bade sink it; I did their bidding fain,
And in the Rhine, I warrant, till doomsday ‘twill remain.’”

          
                                                                  Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s tr.).

The queen turned her back contemptuously upon him, and invited her other guests to lay aside their weapons, for none might enter the great hall armed.  This Hagen refused to allow them to do, saying that he feared treachery; and the queen, pretending great grief, inquired who could have filled her kinsmen’s hearts with such unjust suspicions.  Sir Dietrich then boldly stepped forward, defied Kriemhild, and declared that it was he who had bidden the Burgundians be thus on their guard.

“’’Twas I that the warning to the noble princes gave,
And to their liegeman Hagen, to whom such hate thou bear’st. 
Now up, she-fiend! be doing, and harm me if thou dar’st!’”

          
                                                              Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s tr.).

[Sidenote:  Alliance between Hagen and Volker.] Although the thirst for revenge now made her a “she-fiend,” as he termed her, Kriemhild did not dare openly to attack Dietrich, whom all men justly feared; and she quickly concealed her anger, while Etzel advanced in his turn to welcome his guests; and especially singled out Hagen, his friend’s son.  While many of the Burgundians accompanied the king into