So they toil and are heavy-hearted, nor know what next shall betide,
    As they look on the stranger-woman in the heart of Atli’s pride.

    Now stand they aback for the trumpet and the merry minstrelsy,
    For they tremble before King Atli, and golden-clad is he,
    And his golden crown is heavy and he strides exceeding slow,
    With the wise and the mighty about him, through the house of the
      Niblungs’ woe. 
    There then by the Niblung woman on the throne he sat him down,
    And folk heard the gold gear tinkle and the rings of the Eastland
      crown: 
    Folk looked on his rich adornment, on King Atli’s pride they gazed,
    And the bright beams wearied their eyen, by the glory were they dazed;
    There the councillors kept silence and the warriors clad in steel,
    All men lowly, all men mighty, that had care of Atli’s weal;
    Yea there in the hall were they waiting for the word to come from his
      lips,
    As they of the merchant-city behold the shield-hung ships
    Sweep slow through the windless haven with their gaping heads of gold,
    And they know not their nation and names, nor hath aught of their
      errand been told.

    But King Atli looketh before him, and is grown too great to rejoice,
    And he speaks and the world is troubled, though thin and scant be his
      voice: 

    “Bring forth the fallen and conquered, bring forth the bounden thrall,
    That they who were once the Niblungs did once King Hogni call.”

    So they brought him fettered and bound; and scarce on his feet he
      stood,
    But men stayed him up by the King; for the sword had drunk of his
      blood,
    And the might of his body had failed him, and yet so great was he
    That the East-folk cowered before him and the might of his majesty.

    Then spake the all-great Atli:  “Thou yielded thrall of war,
    I would hear thee tell of the Treasure, the Hoard of the kings of
      yore!”

    But words were grown heavy to Hogni, and scarce he spake with a smile: 
    “Let the living seek their desire; for indeed thou shalt live for a
      while.”

    “Wilt thou speak and live,” said Atli, “nor pay for the blood thou
      hast spilt?”

    Said he:  “Thou art waxen so mighty, thou mayst have the Gold when thou
      wilt.”

    Said the King:  “I will give thee thy life, and forgive thee measureless
      woe.”

    “It was gathered for thee,” said Hogni, “and fashioned long ago.”

    “Speak, man o’ercome,” quoth Atli:  “Is life so little a thing?”

    “Art thou mighty? put forth thine hand and gather the Gold!” said the
      King.

    “Wilt thou tell of the Gold,” said the East-King, “the desire of many
      eyes?”

    “Yea, once on a day,” said Hogni, “when the dead from the sea shall
      arise.”