2339.
“Beware, Gunther and Hagen,” then Dietrich answer made,
“How ye refuse my offer! ye twain on me have laid
So sore a load of sorrow— on heart and spirit too;
If ye amends will make me, that may ye cheaply do.
2340.
“I give you my true promise, and pledge it with my hand,
That I myself will with you ride home unto your land;
I’ll guide you in all honour, or will myself be slain,
And will, the while I serve you, forget my bitter pain.”
2341.
“Now think thereon no longer,” Hagen in answer bade,
“’Twere not a fitting story about us to be said,
That two such doughty warriors had bow’d to your demand:
One sees beside you standing no one save Hildebrand.”
2342.
Then upspake Master Hildebrand: “Sir Hagen, God doth know,—
Seeing that one hath offer’d to make a peace with you,—
The hour is nigh when fitly the offer you might take:
The peace my lord proposes ’twere well for you to make.”
2343.
“I’d sooner make atonement,” in answer Hagen said,
“Ere in such coward fashion from any place I fled
las thou hast done but lately, good Master Hildebrand!
Methought against a foeman thou couldst more boldly stand!”
2344.
Old Hildebrand made answer: “Why taunt’st thou me therefor?
Who sat upon his buckler the Vaske-rock before,
While friends of his so many the Spanish Walther slew?
About thyself in plenty are things that one might shew.”
