2134
From wounds of deadly deepness; and many were there slain;
And every man among them one heard for friends complain.
The mighty king and noble lost all his bravest there,
For whom their loving kinsfolk sore sorrow had to bear.
Adventure XXXVII
How the Margrave Rüdeger Was Slain
2135
The strangers, until morning, right gallantly had done.
By then Gotlinda’s husband unto the court had gone,
And, looking round on all sides, he saw such horrors there
As moved to inward weeping true-hearted Rüdeger.
2136
“Woe’s me,” then said the warrior, “that e’er I saw the day!
To think that none availeth this misery to stay!
Though peace would I make gladly, the king will ne’er agree,
For more and more he dwelleth upon his injury.”
2137
Good Rüdeger inquiring straightway to Dietrich sent,
If they might make between them the noble king relent.
But he of Bern made answer: “Who could avail thereto?
King Etzel wills that no one should come betwixt the two.”
2138
Now by a Hunnish warrior Sir Rüdeger was seen
With eyes bedimm’d with weeping, as they for long had been.
Unto the queen then spake he: “Now look how standeth he—
The man who hath with Etzel the most authority,
2139
“And who hath at his service the people and the land.
How many a castle is there in Rüdeger’s command,
Of which, through the king’s bounty, so many he may own!
Yet he throughout this struggle no worthy stroke hath done.
2140
“Methinks he little recketh if things go well or ill,
As long as he hath all things according to his will.
’Tis said that he is braver than other men mote be:
But that, in all this trouble, hath been full hard to see.”
2141
The warrior true-hearted, with downcast mood and grim,
Gave heed unto the speaker. The hero look’d on him,
And thought: “This shalt thou pay for! Thou say’st I am afraid?
Thou hast at court thy story somewhat too loudly said.”
2142
His fists to clench began he, and at him straight he ran,
And smote to such good purpose upon that Hunnish man
That lifeless on the instant him at his feet he laid.
But thus King Etzel’s troubles were all the greater made.
2143
“Away with thee, base scoundrel!” thereon said Rüdeger;
“Of trouble and of sorrow I have enough to bear!
If I refrain from fighting, why tauntest me for that?
In sooth I have good reason to bear the strangers hate,
2144
“And all that strength avail’d me I had against them wrought,
Were’t not that I the warriors myself have hither brought.
’Twas I, in sooth, who led them into my master’s land:
I cannot raise against them, therefore, my luckless hand.”
2145
Then answer to the margrave the great King Etzel made:
“O Rüdeger most noble, how hast thou lent us aid!
So many dead already we in the land must own,
No more of them were needed! much evil hast thou done.”
2146
The noble knight made answer: “The fellow made me wroth
By casting up against me the wealth and honour both
That by thy hands so freely have been bestow’d on me:
The liar got his guerdon a whit unluckily.”
2147
Now came the queen unto them, who eke had plainly seen
What, through the hero’s anger, the Hun’s reward had been.
Beyond all bounds complain’d she; tears from her eyes she shed.
To Rüdeger thus spake she: “How have we merited
2148
“That you the king’s misfortune and mine make all the more?
At all times, noble Rüdeger, you promised heretofore
That you would in our service risk honour and eke life.
I’ve heard the knights award you the meed in many a strife.
2149
“The goodwill that you pledged me to you I will recall
When me you urged on Etzel, O knight excelling all,
To wit, that you would serve me till one of us was dead;
And ne’er had I, poor woman, thereof such desperate need.
2150
“In that thou speak’st not falsely; I pledged thee, noble dame,
That I for thee would venture my life and my fair fame.
To lose my soul, however, that sware I not at all:
I brought these high-born princes unto this festival!”
2151
“O Rüdeger,” she answer’d, “thy steadfast loyalty
And eke thine oath forget not, that thou mine injury
Wouldst cease not to avenge me, and all my trouble sore.”
Then said to her the margrave: “I ne’er have fail’d before.”
2152
Then likewise mighty Etzel to supplicate began,
And on their knees before him they two besought the man.
Then seem’d the noble margrave sorely discomfited.
The ever faithful warrior right sorrowfully said:
2153
“Now God have pity on me, that I have lived for this!
Henceforward all mine honour I must for aye dismiss—
My truth and noble breeding that erst from God I got!
Woe on me, God in Heaven, that death hath saved me not!
2154
“Whichever side I part from to take the other one,
I shall have acted basely and grievous ill have done;
But if from both I sever, on all sides blame I have:
May He vouchsafe to guide me Who life unto me gave.”
2155
Yet still they urged him straitly, the king and eke his wife.
Thence came it many a warrior ere long must lose his life
By Rüdeger’s achieving; till eke that hero fell.
Now of his direful doing I must the story tell.
2156
He knew how this must evil and fearful sorrow bring,
And liefer would he therefore denial to the king,
And eke the queen, have given: full sorely fear’d he that
If e’er a guest he slaughter’d, the world would bear him hate.
2157
Unto the king then spake he— that man of spirit bold:
“Lord king, take back whatever from thee I have and hold,
Both land and burghs: with neither will I have aught to do,
But on my feet departing, will into exile go.”
2158
Then spake the royal Etzel: “Who then will succour me?
The land as well as castles all will I give to thee,
If thou upon my foemen avenge me, Rüdeger.
Thou’lt be a mighty sovran, of Etzel nigh the peer.”
2159
But Rüdeger made answer: “How could I this essay?
At home within my dwelling I bade them come and stay;
Of drink and meat I offer’d to them in kindly wise,
And gave them gifts: how can I now death for them devise?
2160
“The folk belike are thinking that I am cowardly!
My services in nothing to them did I deny—
Or to the noble princes, or any of their men—
That we are knit in friendship repenteth me amain.
2161
“I gave away my daughter to Giselher the thane,
In all the world she could not have look’d for better gain
In honour or good breeding, in truth or worldly gear;
I ne’er saw prince so youthful in virtuous mind his peer.”
2162
But yet again spake Kriemhild: “Right noble Rüdeger,
Now let our grievous trouble for both your pity stir,
For me and the king also; and bear ye well in mind
That never host was fated such baleful guests to find.”
2163
Then to the
