So sat she sorrow-shrouded--truth is it the minstrel saith-- On till the fourth year's dawning after her dear lord's death; And never a word unto Gunther her lips had uttered yet, Never her eyes upon Hagen her mortal foe had she set. Then Hagen spake unto Gunther: "If haply this might be done That thou so couldst appease thy sister that again ye were set at one, Then the gold of the Hoard of the Niblungs might unto thy kingdom be brought: And how much might be thine, if Kriemhild unto lovingkindness were wrought!" Said Gunther: "We will essay it. By my brethren may she be beguiled: These shall beset her with pleading that now she be reconciled. We may win her to bring that treasure--yea, share it willingly." "Nay, sooth I misdoubt me," said Hagen, "that _this_ may ever be."
Then the King sent word unto Ortwein unto the palace to fare, And the Lord of the Marches, Gere: when these were gotten there, Gernot withal, and the young Prince Giselher, they brought. And these with words of kindness on their lips unto Kriemhild sought. { P. 151} Then spake the Prince Burgundian Gernot the first, and he said: "Behold, overlong thou mournest, Lady, for Siegfried dead. Sure proof shall of Gunther be given that he had no part in his death. Yet for him folk hear thee mourning evermore with passionate breath." She said: "Him no man accuseth: it was Hagen who struck the blow. Where only my lord could be wounded through me, through me did he know! Whence should I have had misgivings of the hate unto him that he bare? Else," cried the Queen, "I had guarded my lips with jealous care From the horror of such betrayal of my lord's beloved life, And had had no cause for weeping--oh wretched, wretched wife! Never will I forgive him who wrought that dastard deed!" Then for the King his brother did Giselher intercede. (C) "Yea," said she, "I needs must greet him, ye urge me so cruelly: Yet so do ye make you partakers in Gunther's sin against me. He hath wrung my soul with anguish, who never wronged him yet! My lips may grant him forgiveness, mine heart will never forget."
(C) "Yet hereafter shall this be bettered," whispered her kinsmen then. If only the King by kindness may win her to smile again, "He may yet by his love," said Gernot, "fill all that void in her breast." Then again said the sorrow-burdened: "Behold, I grant your request: I will meet the King, I will greet him." The word unto Gunther they bring, And to her with the best of his kinsfolk straightway cometh the King. But Hagen the murderer dared not in the presence of Kriemhild be seen: Too well did he know his vileness, the wrong he had done to the Queen. Yet, seeing her hatred of Gunther was in semblance so put by, With the kiss of reconcilement might he too have drawn nigh; Yea, but for the felon plotting, the inexpiable wrong, Even he might have stood unshrinking mid that false courtier-throng. Never was reconcilement 'twixt sundered friend and friend Made with such weeping. Rankled the wound in her heart without end. Yet unto all forgiveness she granted--save that one. No man would have slain him, had Hagen the wicked deed not done.