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The Fall of the Niebelungs by Unknown
page 35 of 282 (12%)
before them meats of the daintiest, that he might fail in naught as a
king, nor the people blame him.

And he came to his guests, and said, "Receive my gifts ere you go hence,
and refuse not the treasure that I would share with you."

The Danes made answer, "Ere we turn again to our land, make thou a
lasting peace with us. We have need of such, that have many dear friends
dead, slain by thy warriors."

Ludgast and eke the Saxon were healed of their wounds gotten in battle,
but many tarried behind, dead.

Then Gunther sought Siegfried and said, "Now counsel me in this. On the
morrow our guests ride forth, and they desire of me and mine a lasting
covenant. What they offer I will tell thee: as much gold as five hundred
horses may carry, they will give me to go free."

And Siegfried answered, "That were ill done. Send them forth without
ransom, that they ride no more hither as foemen. And they shall five
thee the hand thereon for surety."

And they told it to his enemies; also that none desired their gold. They
said it to the war-tired men, by reason of whom the dear ones of their
own land sorrowed.

And the king took shields full of treasure, and divided it among them
without weighing it, five hundred marks and more. Gernot, the brave
knight, counselled him thereto. And they took their leave, for they were
aweary for home. And they passed before Kriemhild and Queen Uta; never
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