HAGEN.

  No oath is needed here! 
  He only told the truth.

  SIEGFRIED.

  And even that
  Upon compulsion! 
  HAGEN.  That I do not doubt! 
  The tale can wait the telling.  ’Tis our part
  To separate the women, for we know
  That serpents’ crests may ever rise again
  If they too soon gaze in each other’s eyes.

  SIEGFRIED.

  I’m soon departing hence.  Come, Kriemhild, come!

  KRIEMHILD (to BRUNHILDA).

  If thou couldst know how thou didst anger me,
  Then even thou—­

  BRUNHILDA (turns away).

  KRIEMHILD.

  Since thou dost love my brother,
  How canst thou hate the means that gave thee him
  To be his bride?

  BRUNHILDA.

  Oh, Oh!

  HAGEN.

  Away!  Away!

  SIEGFRIED (leading KRIEMHILD away).

  There’s been no tattling here, as you shall see.

  [Exeunt.]

  SCENE X

  HAGEN.

  Come, gather round and vote without delay
  The doom of death.

  GUNTHER.

  Hagen, what sayest thou?

  HAGEN.

  Have we not cause enough?  There stands the Queen
  And burning tears are streaming from her eyes. 
  For shame she weeps!

  (To BRUNHILDA.)

  Oh, thou heroic Queen,
  To whom alone my homage I do yield,
  The man who shamed thee so must surely die!

  GUNTHER.  Hagen!

  HAGEN (to BRUNHILDA).

  The man must die unless thou wilt
  Forego revenge and plead for him thyself.

  BRUNHILDA.

  I’ll touch no food till judgment is fulfilled.

  HAGEN.

  Forgive me that I spoke before my king! 
  I only strove to make the matter plain,
  Yet free decision is thy royal right—­
  So make thy choice between thy bride and him.

  GISELHER.

  Thou canst not mean it!  For a trifling fault,
  Thou wouldst not slay the truest man on earth? 
  My King!  My brother!  Say it is not so!

  HAGEN.

  Will ye rear bastards here within your court? 
  I doubt me if the proud Burgundians
  Will crown them!  Yet thou art the master here!

  GERENOT.

  Brave Siegfried soon will quell all murmurings,
  If we ourselves cannot perform the task.

  HAGEN (to GUNTHER).

  Thou speakest not.  ’Tis well.  The rest is mine!

  GISELHER.

  In bloody counsels I will take no part!

  [Exit.]

  SCENE XI

  BRUNHILDA.

  Frigga, I tell thee he or I must die!

  FRIGGA.

  ’Tis he must die!

  BRUNHILDA.

  I was not merely scorned,
  But passed from hand to hand.  They bartered
  me!