Silence fell on the palace. The Nibelung warriors laid down their
shields and heavy armour, that they might the better rest from their
labours, while Hagen and Volker kept watch by the door. During this
time of quiet, the Burgundians tried to make peace. They reminded King
Etzel that they had come to his land at his own invitation, and relying
on his good faith, only to meet with treachery from him and his. But
Etzel demanded that the Burgundians should acknowledge him their feudal
superior. Then Giselher turned to his sister and asked what harm he had
ever done her that she should behave in such a way. And even the women,
who were weeping for their husbands and sons, bore him witness that all
his life had been spent in doing good to others. Chriemhild was touched
by his appeal, and told him that he, Gunther, and Gernot should go free
with all their warriors and men-at-arms if only they would give up the
murderer Hagen, that she might punish him as he deserved. But with one
voice the Nibelungs refused terms which were dishonourable in their
eyes.
Enraged at the boldness of her foes, the queen called upon the Huns to
make one more assault, and drive them out of the house. Again the
bitter strife began. Chriemhild knew no more compassion. She commanded
her servants to set fire to the upper part of the house, which was
built of wood, and soon the flames were seen spreading over the whole
roof, which at length fell with a crash. A wild wail of human creatures
in their last agony accompanied the fall. After that the queen retired
to her own apartments, and standing at the window overlooking the house
where her brothers and their friends must have been burnt, thought
sadly and half remorsefully over the past. Only half remorsefully, for
she felt her heart as full of hatred to Hagen as it ever had been.
Meanwhile the Nibelungs had not perished in the flames, as Chriemhild
fondly imagined. The great vaulted hall in which they had entrenched
themselves was too strongly built to have suffered much from the fire
in the wooden upper storey; though the Burgundians were for a long time
as if shut up in an oven, the heat was so terrific; they yet escaped
with their lives; and Hagen made them slake their intolerable thirst by
drinking the blood of their fallen enemies.
When the Huns at length came to look for their charred bodies, they
were not a little surprised to find themselves confronted by six
hundred brave and utterly undaunted warriors.