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Hagen counsels Gunther to accept the offer, but Gunther rejects this advice, calling him a coward. Insulted, Hagen goes off to a nearby hill (617–639)

Then Hagen to the king: “Accept that offered treasure,
With which you can reward your band of men, dear father.
Remember only to withdraw your hand from battle!
Unknown to you are Walter and his mighty valor; 620
But, as a dream revealed to me last night, if we
Join battle, all will not turn out successfully.
It seemed to me that you were wrestling with a bear
Which, after lengthy struggles, with a bite tore off
From you one whole leg with the knee up to the thigh. 625
As I rushed up to help while bearing arms, it turned
On me and gouged my eye out, with some of my teeth.”
That haughty king, when he heard these remarks, exclaims,
“As I observe, you are the image of your father;
Hagathie also bore a timid heart inside 630
A frigid chest, avoiding war with many words.”
The hero rightly then became extremely angered,
If to be angry with one’s lord is ever right.
He says, “On your arms, then, let everything depend.
The one you want is in your sight. Let each man fight. 635
You stand quite close, and fear is holding no one back.
Let me observe the outcome and not share the spoils.”
He spoke, and went immediately to a nearby hill;
Dismounting from his horse, he sat and watched from there.

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Note: this English text is identical to that found in Waltharius and Ruodlieb, edited and translated by Dennis M. Kratz. The Garland library of medieval literature, Series A, vol. 14. New York: Garland Pub., 1984.