GUNTHER (to HAGEN).

  What dost thou say to that?

  HAGEN (to GUNTHER).

  This noble wrath
  Gives me such courage that I ask our friend
  If he will grant us escort yet once more.

  SIEGFRIED.

  With my own Nib’lungs will I go alone,
  For it is by my fault this trouble comes
  To ye again!  Howe’er I longed to show
  My bride unto my mother and to win
  For the first time her undivided praise,
  It may not be while yet these hypocrites
  Have ovens for their bread and flowing springs
  To slake their thirst!  I will at once put off
  My homeward journey, and I promise you
  That I will take them living, and henceforth
  Before my castle shall they lie in chains
  And bay like hounds whene’er I come or go,
  Since, as it seems, they have the souls of dogs!

  [He hastens away.]

  SCENE III

  HAGEN.

  He’ll surely rush to her in all his rage,
  And when he leaves, then I will seek her out.

  GUNTHER.

  I’ll move in this no further.

  HAGEN.

  What, my King?

  GUNTHER.

  Bid heralds come once more and let them say
  That there is peace again.

  HAGEN.

  It shall be done
  When I have talked with Kriemhild privately
  And learned the secret from her.

  GUNTHER.

  Hast thou then
  No bowels of compassion?  Thy hard heart
  No pity feeleth yet?

  HAGEN.

  Speak plainly, lord;
  I cannot understand.

  GUNTHER.

  He shall not die.

  HAGEN.

  He lives while thou commandest.  If I stood
  Behind him in the woods and poised my spear,
  But shake thy head, and for this traitor dies
  A beast.

  GUNTHER.

  Not traitor, no!  Was it his fault
  That he brought back the girdle carelessly
  And Kriemhild found it?  It escaped him there,
  As clings an arrow in a warrior’s mail
  If after battle ’tis not shaken off,
  And only by its rattling is it marked. 
  I ask you one and all:  was it his fault?

  HAGEN.

  No!  No!  Who says so?  Nor was he to blame
  For lacking clever wits to clear himself,
  For doubtless he blushed crimson at th’ attempt.

  GUNTHER.

  What then remains?

  HAGEN.

  Brunhilda’s oath remains.

  GISELHER.

  Then let her slay him if she wants his blood.

  HAGEN.

  We’re quarreling like children.  May one not
  Collect his weapons, though he knoweth not
  When he may need to use them?  One explores
  An unknown land and finds its passes out. 
  Then why not, pray, a hero?  I will try
  My fortune now with Kriemhild, if it were
  Only that this fine ruse that we have