Then did the warriors clothe them in such royal-rich array That to no king's kingdom ever in any after-day Brought heroes goodlier vesture. But wroth waxed Hagen thereat, And he cried: "It were well ye arrayed you in other raiment than that! Ye know too well of a surety how doth the matter stand. Therefore instead of roses take ye weapons in hand, And instead of caps bejewelled your helmets gleaming bright, Forasmuch as we have full warning of wicked Kriemhild's spite. This day for our lives must we battle: this unto you I say. Instead of silken tunics ye must wear steel hauberks to-day; And instead of costly mantles must bear shields massy and broad, That if any rage against you ye may nowise be overawed. My well-belovèd masters, kinsmen and liegemen mine, With hearts of sincere repentance draw nigh to the holy shrine, And lay before God Almighty your burden of need and fear; For know ye this of a surety, that death to us all is near. Forget not past transgressions, the sins wherein ye had part, And stand in your God's presence with humble and contrite heart. Yea, hearken ye all to the warning, every valiant thane-- If God in Heaven help not, ye shall hear no mass again."
Onward then to the minster princes and liegemen passed. In the holy outer precinct were they bidden all stand fast By Hagen, that each from other might so be sundered by none; For he said: "As yet none knoweth what by the Huns shall be done. Set down, O ye my kinsmen, your shields before your feet; And, if any in insolent fashion us stranger guests shall greet, With deadly wounds requite it. Lo, Hagen's rede is this; And thereby shall ye prove by trial that so for your honour it is." Those comrades, Volker and Hagen, planted them side by side In front of the wide-walled minster: there fixed did they abide; For they did it of this set purpose, that the Queen might enter not Unjostled by their shoulders--unto such stern mood were they wrought.
Then came the Lord of the Hunland, and beside him his fair Queen paced. With royal-rich apparel was Kriemhild's beauty graced. And valiant warriors many in the train of these drew nigh. 'Neath the tramp of the feet of the vassals of the Queen the dust rose high. When the great King beheld them all mail-clad as for fight, Those princes and their liegemen, he cried unto them forthright: "What meaneth this?--behold I my friends in battle-gear? By my troth, it should vex me sorely if any harmed them here! All wrong, whatsoever atonement they asked, would I requite. If to their heart and their spirit any have done despite, I will show unto them and to all men what indignation have I. What redress they demand soever, nothing do I deny." To the King made answer Hagen: "None doeth despite unto us. It is ever the wont of my masters to go in armour thus, Whose guests they be soever, till three full days have run. We would make our complaint unto Etzel, if a wrong unto us had been done."