HAGEN.
He'll surely rush to her in all his rage,
And when he leaves, then I will seek her out.
GUNTHER.
I'll move in this no further.
HAGEN.
What, my King?
GUNTHER.
Bid heralds come once more and let them say
That there is peace again.
HAGEN.
It shall be done
When I have talked with Kriemhild privately
And learned the secret from her.
GUNTHER.
Hast thou then
No bowels of compassion? Thy hard heart
No pity feeleth yet?
HAGEN.
Speak plainly, lord;
I cannot understand.
GUNTHER.
He shall not die.
HAGEN.
He lives while thou commandest. If I stood
Behind him in the woods and poised my spear,
But shake thy head, and for this traitor dies
A beast.
GUNTHER.
Not traitor, no! Was it his fault
That he brought back the girdle carelessly
And Kriemhild found it? It escaped him there,
As clings an arrow in a warrior's mail
If after battle 'tis not shaken off,
And only by its rattling is it marked.
I ask you one and all: was it his fault?
HAGEN.
No! No! Who says so? Nor was he to blame
For lacking clever wits to clear himself,
For doubtless he blushed crimson at th' attempt.
GUNTHER.
What then remains?
HAGEN.
Brunhilda's oath remains.
GISELHER.
Then let her slay him if she wants his blood.
HAGEN.
We're quarreling like children. May one not
Collect his weapons, though he knoweth not
When he may need to use them? One explores
An unknown land and finds its passes out.
Then why not, pray, a hero? I will try
My fortune now with Kriemhild, if it were
Only that this fine ruse that we have planned
Might not be all in vain. She'll not betray
The secret to me unless he hath told
The matter to her. Then you may decide
Whether to use the knowledge I may gain;
And you may really do, if so you please,
What I shall but pretend, and so in war
Protect the place where death may find him out.
But you must know where is his mortal spot.
[_Exit_.]