[She stretches out her arms.]

  And I will be his covering!

  GUNTHER (to his followers).

  Your oath! 
  Let no one harm her more.

  KRIEMHILD (turns around).

  The murderer’s here? 
  Away, for fear the blood should flow again! 
  No!  No!  Come here!

  [She lays hold of DANKWART.]

That Siegfried may bear witness!

  [She wipes her hand on her dress.]

  Alas, alas!  My right hand nevermore
  May dare to touch him.  Does the blood gush forth? 
  O Mother, look!  I cannot!  No?  Then these
  But hide the deed.  I seek the murderer. 
  If Hagen Tronje’s here, let him come forth! 
  He is not guilty—­I’ll give him my hand.

  UTE.

  My child—­

  KRIEMHILD.

  Now go and hear Brunhilda laugh. 
  She’s eating too, and drinking.

UTE.

It was robbers—­

KRIEMHILD.

I know them well.

[She takes GISELHER and GERENOT by the hand.]

                            Thou wast not with them there! 
  Thou didst not go!

UTE.

But hear me!

RUMOLT.

Through the wood
We had been scattered; for it was his wish,
And ’tis our custom too.  We found him dying
At our next meeting place.

  KRIEMHILD.

  You found him there? 
  What did he say?  A word!  His dying word! 
  I will believe thy tale, if thou canst tell,
  And if it is no curse.  But oh, beware! 
  For sooner would a rose bloom from thy mouth
  Than thou imagine what thou didst not hear.

  (As RUMOLT hesitates.)

  It is a lie!

  CHAPLAIN.

  ’Tis possible!  I’ve heard
  A magpie dropped a knife that killed a man
  Who could not have been reached by human hands. 
  And what a winged thief by chance could do
  Because his gleaming booty burdened him,
  A robber well might do.

  KRIEMHILD.

  Oh, holy father,
  Thou knowest not!

  DANKWART.

  Princess, thy grief is sacred,
  But yet unjust and blind.  Our warriors here,
  Our noblest will bear witness—­

  [Meanwhile the door has been closed and the body is no longer
  visible.]

  KRIEMHILD (who observes this).  Halt!  Who dares—­

  [She hastens to the door.]

  UTE.

  Stop, stop!  He was but gently lifted up
  As thou thyself would’st wish.

  KRIEMHILD.

  Oh, give him back! 
  Else they will rob me, they will bury him
  Where I shall never find him!

  CHAPLAIN.

  To the church! 
  I’ll follow him, for now he’s God’s alone.

  [Exit.]

SCENE VIII