This last effort exhausted the remainder of his strength, and the hero fell back upon the grass, cursing the treachery of those whom he had trusted as friends.
"Thus spake the deadly wounded: 'Ay, cowards false as hell! To you I still was faithful; I serv'd you long and well;-- But what boots all ?--for guerdon treason and death I've won.
By your friends, vile traitors! foully have you done.
"'Whoever shall hereafter from your loins be born, Shall take from such vile fathers a heritage of scorn.
On me you have wreak'd malice where gratitude was due; With shame shall you be banish'd by all good knights and true.'" _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.).
But even in death Siegfried could not forget his beloved wife; and laying aside all his anger, he pathetically recommended her to Gunther's care, bidding him guard her well.

Siegfried expired as soon as these words were uttered; and the hunters silently gathered around his corpse, regretfully contemplating the fallen hero, while they took counsel together how they might keep the secret of Hagen's treachery.

They finally agreed to carry the body back to Worms and to say that they had found Siegfried dead in the forest, where he had presumably been slain by highwaymen.
"Then many said, repenting, 'This deed will prove our bale; Still let us shroud the secret, and all keep in one tale,-- That the good lord of Kriemhild to hunt alone preferr'd, And so was slain by robbers as through the wood he spurr'd.'" _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.).
But although his companions were anxious to shield him, Hagen gloried in his dastardly deed, and secretly bade the bearers deposit Siegfried's corpse at Kriemhild's door after nightfall, so that she should be the first to see it there when on her way to early mass.

As he fully expected, Kriemhild immediately recognized her husband, and fell senseless upon him; but when she had recovered consciousness she declared, while loudly bewailing her loss, that Siegfried was the victim of an assassination.
"'Woe's me, woe's me forever! sure no fair foeman's sword Shiver'd thy failing buckler; 'twas murder stopp'd thy breath.
Oh that I knew who did it! death I'd requite with death!'" _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.).
By her orders a messenger was sent to break the mournful tidings to the still sleeping Siegmund and the Nibelungs.

They hastily armed and rallied about her, and would have fallen upon the Burgundians, to avenge their master's death, had she not restrained them, bidding them await a suitable occasion, and promising them her support when the right time came.
[Sidenote: Detection of Siegfried's murderer.] The preparations for a sumptuous funeral were immediately begun, and all lent a willing hand, for Siegfried was greatly beloved at Worms.