Hildebrand, addressing Hagen, then said that the hour would come when he would gladly accept the truce his lord offered, but Hagen in reply twitted Hildebrand with the manner in which he had fled from the hall.  Dietrich interrupted them, saying that it ill beseemed heroes to scold like ancient beldams, and forbade Hildebrand to say more.  Then, seeing that Hagen was grim of mood, Dietrich snatched up his shield.  A moment later Hagen’s sword rang on his helm, but the Lord of Bern guarded him well against the dreadful blows.  Warily did he guard him against Hagen’s mighty falchion Balmung.  At last he dealt Hagen a wound deep and wide.  But he did not wish to slay him, desiring rather to have such a hero as hostage.  Casting away his shield, in his arms he gripped Hagen of Trony, who, faint from loss of blood, was overthrown.  At that Gunther began to wail greatly.  Dietrich then bound Hagen and led him to where stood Kriemhild and gave him into her hand.  Right merry was she at the sight and blessed Dietrich, bowing low before him, telling him that he had requited her of all her woes, and that she would serve him until death.

But Dietrich begged Hagen’s life of the Queen, telling her that he would requite her of all that he had done against her.  “Let him not suffer,” said he, “because you see him stand there bound.”  But she ordered that Hagen be led away to durance.

Dietrich then went to where Gunther stood in the hall and engaged him in strife.  Loudly rang the swords as the two heroes circled in fight, dealing mighty blows on each other’s helm, and men there had great wonder how Sir Dietrich did not fall, so sorely angry was Gunther for the loss of Hagen.  But the King’s blood was seen to ooze through his armourings, and as he grew fainter Dietrich overcame him as he had done Hagen and bound him.  Then was he too taken before Kriemhild, and once again the noble Dietrich begged a life from the Queen.  This she gladly promised, but treachery was in her heart.  Then went she to Hagen and said to him that if he would return the Nibelungs’ treasure to her he might still go home safe and sound to Burgundy.  The grim champion answered that she wasted her words, and that he had sworn an oath not to show the hoard while any of his lords still lived.  At that answer a terrible thought entered the mind of Kriemhild, and without the least compunction she ordered that her brother Gunther’s life be taken.  They struck off his head like that of a common malefactor, and by the hair she carried it to the Knight of Trony.  Full sorrowfully he gazed upon it, then turning his eyes away from the haggard and distorted features, he said to Kriemhild: 

“Dead is the noble King of Burgundy, and Giselher, and Gernot also.  Now none knoweth of the treasure save me, and it shall ever be hid from thee, thou fiend.”

The Death of Hagen and Kriemhild

Greatly wroth was Kriemhild when she heard that her stratagem had come to naught.  “Full ill have ye requited me, Sir Hagen,” she cried fiercely, and drawing the sword of Siegfried from its sheath, she raised it with both hands and struck off the Burgundian’s head.