“To-day, with life, must ransom by Rüdeger be paid
For what to me of kindness thou and my lord have shown:
For that cause I must perish— and it must now be done.
2164
“This very day, well know I, my castles and my land
Must, ownerless, fall to you, through what ye now command.
My wife and child commend I unto your gracious care,
And eke the hapless people that at Bechlaren are.”
2165
“Now Rüdeger, God bless thee!” the king in answer said;
He and the queen together exceeding glad were made:
“Right well unto thy people our care we both will give,
Though if good luck be with me I trust thou yet mayst live.”
2166
And so upon the venture body and soul he cast;
Whereon the wife of Etzel began to weep at last.
Said he: “What I have promised I must to you fulfil;—
Woe for my friends, whose foeman I am against my will.”
2167
Then from the king one saw him depart in mournful mood.
And to his warriors turning, who close beside him stood,
He spake: “To don your armour ’tis time, my liegemen all,
On yonder brave Burgundians, alas! I needs must fall.”
2168
They bade their folk then hasten to where their arms were found—
Haply it were a helmet, or else a buckler round—
Whatever it was they wanted, their servants brought the same
Ere long the baleful tidings to the proud exiles came.
2169
So Rüdeger in armour with men five hundred went,
Besides a dozen warriors who help unto him lent.
These would the meed of valour win in the stormy fray;—
They had but little warning that death so near them lay.
2170
Then Rüdeger in helmet one saw march on before;
Keen-edged were all the weapons the margrave’s liegemen bore
And broad the shining bucklers upon their arms as well.
’Twas all seen by the fiddler: sore ruth upon him fell.
2171
Young Giselher beheld, too, the father of his bride
With fast-bound helmet marching. That this could aught betide
Save what was good and friendly, how could he then forbode.
The noble prince was therefore exceeding glad of mood.
2172
“Now suchlike friends be welcome,” said Giselher the thane,
“Which we upon our journey have had the luck to gain.
Of my betrothéd lady we’ll profit here right well:
I’m glad, upon my honour, this plighting e’er befell.”
2173
“I know not what doth cheer you,” the minstrel answer made:
“When saw you e’er for friendship so many knights array’d,
With fasten’d helmets marching, and bearing sword in hand?
By us will Rüdeger pay for his castles and his land.”
2174
E’en as the fiddle-player of speaking made an end,
One saw the noble Rüdeger before the palace wend.
His goodly shield he lower’d and set before his feet:
He could not offer service, his friends he might not greet.
2175
Then cried the noble margrave to those within the hall:
“Be on your guard, I warn you, ye valiant Niblungs all!
Ye should have had my succour, now must ye ransom me;
Once were we friends; now will I be from the troth-pledge free.”
2176
They shudder’d at these tidings, those sorely troubled men;
For them but little comfort there was therefrom to gain,
Since he would fight against them whom they had held so dear!
From foes they had already had mickle ills to bear.
2177
“Now grant it, God in Heaven,” the warrior Gunther said;
“That you will let your pity be movéd to our aid,
And that abounding honour which hope unto us gave;
Much liefer would I trust you thus never to behave.”
2178
“I can in nowise help it,” the brave man said thereto;
“In battle I must meet you, since so I swore to do.
Now guard yourselves, bold heroes, as ye your lives hold dear:
From me the wife of Etzel would no refusal hear.”
2179
“Too late dost thou forswear us,” the great king answer made;
“Thou, Rüdeger most noble, by God shalt be repaid
For all the love and fealty that thou to us hast shown—
If thou wilt in thy kindness still to the end go on.
2180
“And we’ll be aye beholden, for all that thou didst give,
Myself and eke my kinsfolk, if thou’lt but let us live;
Those precious gifts thou gavest, what time, in good faith, here
To Etzel’s land thou ledst us: think of it, Rüdeger!”
2181
“How gladly would I do it,” said Rüdeger the thane;
“As willingly at this time as ever I was fain
My gifts in full abundance upon you to bestow;
No blame should I thereover e’er need to undergo.”
2182
“Then have thy way,” said Gernot, “O noble Rüdeger!
For never yet to strangers a welcome kindlier
By any host was bidden than thou to us didst give:
Of that thou hast the profit if we should longer live.”
2183
“Would God, most noble Gernot,” said Rüdeger again,
“That ye were back in Rhineland, and I myself were slain
With some degree of honour— since I with you must fight!
From friends have heroes never suffer’d such foul despite.”
2184
“Now God reward thee, Rüdeger,” spake Gernot in reply,
“For those rich gifts thou gavest: I grieve that thou shouldst die.
If with thee there must perish a mind so virtuous too;—
Here carry I the weapon thou gavest me, hero true!
2185
“And never hath it fail’d me in all this struggle dread,
And many a knight hath fallen, beneath its edges, dead.
Strong is it and well-temper’d, a good and handsome blade;
I ween a gift so worthy by knight will ne’er be made.
2186
“And should we not persuade thee to come unto our side,
If friends of mine thou slayest who still within abide,
With thine own sword I’ll smite thee and take away thy life:
Thee, Rüdeger, I pity, and eke thy noble wife.”
2187
“Now would to God, Sir Gernot, that thus it e’en might be,
That all your will and purpose might be fulfill’d on me,
Whereby your kinsmen longer might yet enjoy their life!
Ay! gladly would I trust you with daughter and with wife.”
2188
Then spake the young Burgundian, the child of Uté fair:
“Why do you thus, Sir Rüdeger? All these who with me are
To you are well-disposéd; an evil course you take;
Your daughter fair too early a widow you will make.
2189
“If you and your retainers in strife contend with me,
How grievously unfriendly will that appear to be!
In that beyond all others my faith in you I laid—
In such wise that your daughter my wife I would have made.”
2190
“Unto your pledge be faithful, O prince of noble race,”
Said Rüdeger, “if haply God send you from this place;
Suffer not that the maiden for me atonement make;
Be pitiful towards her, for your own virtue’s sake.”
2191
“That would I do right gladly,” young Giselher replied:
“But these my high-born kinsmen who still are here inside,
If they at your hands perish, the friendship firmly knit
With you and eke your daughter by me must be acquit.”
2192
“Then God have mercy on us!” the gallant warrior spake.
Thereon they raised their bucklers, as though a way to make,
By force,
