2102.
“To thee I e’er was faithful, I never did thee hurt.
And on the understanding I hither rode to court
That thou, most noble sister, wert well-disposed to me,
Be merciful towards us: not elsewise can it be!”
2103.
“I cannot show you mercy; unmerciful am I.
For me hath Tronian Hagen wrought so much misery
It may not be atoned for as long as I have life.
Ye all must pay the forfeit;” so answer’d Etzel’s wife.
2104.
“Yet will ye Hagen only to me as hostage give,
I will not say for certain I may not let you live,—
Seeing ye are my brothers and of one mother bred;—
Then with these chiefs assembled I may of pardon rede.”
2105.
“Now God in Heaven forefend it!” Gernot in answer said:
“Were there a thousand of us, we sooner all were dead—
Though of thy kith and kindred— ere we gave up to thee
A single man as hostage: nay, that can never be.”
2106.
“Then are we doom’d to perish!” made answer Giselher;
“Yet no one shall deprive us of any knightly gear.
Here, as before, abide we, would any us assail,
For ne’er to any comrade did I in fealty fail.”
2107.
Then spake the gallant Dankwart (by him ’twas meetly done):
“In sooth my brother Hagen standeth not yet alone!
They who a truce deny us may yet have cause to rue;
Of that we’ll make you certain,— take ye my word as true!”
