that any man lie dead at hero's hands. We have rich lands, which
serve us, as is meet, nor hath any a better claim to them than
we."

There stood his kinsmen, grim of mood; among them, too, Ortwin of
Metz. "It doth irk me much to hear these words of peace," spake
he; "the mighty Siegfried hath defied you for no just cause. Had
ye and your brothers no meet defense, and even if he led a kingly
troop, I trow well so to fight that the daring man have good
cause to leave this haughty mien."

At this the hero of Netherland grew wonderly wroth. He spake:
"Thy hand shall not presume against me. I am a mighty king, a
king's vassal thou. Twelve of thy ilk durst not match me in
strife."

Then Ortwin of Metz called loudly for swords. Well was he fit to
be Hagen of Troneg's sister's son. It rued the king that he had
held his peace so long. Then Gernot, the bold and lusty knight,
came in between. He spake to Ortwin: "Now give over thy anger.
Lord Siegfried hath done us no such wrong, but that we may still
part the strife in courteous wise. Be advised of me and hold him
still as friend; far better will this beseem us."

Then spake the doughty Hagen: "It may well grieve us and all thy
knights that he ever rode for battle to the Rhine. He should
have given it over; my lordings never would have done such ill to
him."

To this Siegfried, the mighty man, made answer: "Doth this irk