2254
E’en at the self-same moment came Hildebrand to him,
And at his feet his buckler he set upon its rim.
The followers of Gunther to question then he sought:
“Alas! what harm, good heroes, to you hath Rüdeger wrought?
2255
“Me hath my master Dietrich sent unto you to say:
‘If any one among you hath by his hand this day
Laid low the noble margrave— as we are told by some—
An injury so grievous we ne’er could overcome.’ ”
2256
Then Hagen spake of Tronjé: “No lie the tidings are;
Though fain I were to grant you, for love of Rüdeger,
That they had lied who told you, and he were still in life:
He must be ever wept for by man and maid and wife.”
2257
When all knew, of a surety, that Rüdeger was dead,
The warriors bewail’d him, as love and fealty bade.
From each of Dietrich’s liegemen one saw the tears-drops fall
O’er chin and beard descending: sore was the grief of all.
2258
Then Siegestab outspeaking— the duke from Bern—said he:
“Forever now is ended the hospitality
That Rüdeger aye show’d us after our days of pain.
The Comfort of the exile lies by you heroes slain.”
2259
Then from among the Amelungs, the warrior Wolfwin said:
“Were I this day before me to see my father dead,
Ne’er could I feel more sorrow than at this stricken life:
Alas! who now will comfort the worthy margrave’s wife?”
2260
Thereon in mood of anger the thane Sir Wolfhart cried:
“Who on so many a foray shall now the warriors guide,
As heretofore the margrave hath times right often done?
Alas, most noble Rüdeger, that thou from us art gone!”
2261
There Helferich and Wolfbrand and Helmot also were,
With all their friends, bewailing the death of Rüdeger;
And Hildebrand for sobbing could ask no more of aught.
He spake: “Now do ye, warriors, that which my lord hath sought,
2262
“Give Rüdeger’s dead body to us from out the hall,
With whom, in very sorrow, our joys are ended all;
And let us now requite him for all that he hath done
For us, in faithful friendship, and many another one.
2263
“We also here are strangers, like the thane Rüdeger,
Why do ye keep us waiting? Let us his body bear
Away, to him our service e’en after death to give:
Far rather had we done it, whilst he were yet alive!”
2264
“No service is so worthy,” then the King Gunther spake,
“As that for a dead comrade a friend doth undertake,
And steadfast faith I call it, where’er the same I find.
Ye pay him honour rightly, to you he hath been kind.”
2265
“How long must we be pleading?” Wolfhart the warrior said:
“Since our best Consolation by you is stricken dead,
And we, alas! no longer the good thereof may have,
So let us take the chieftain and lay him in his grave.”
2266
Thereto made answer Volker: “He shall be given by none!
Come to the hall and take him, here where the thane, fordone,
With deadly wounds disfigured, lies in the bloody pool:
That were to do your duty to Rüdeger in full.”
2267
Thereon bold Wolfhart answer’d: “Sir Minstrel, God doth know
No need have ye to taunt us, ye’ve done us harm enow.
Durst I offend my master, you’d be the worse for this,
But we must pass it over, since strife forbidden us is.”
2268
Then spake the fiddle-player: “Fear claims too much, I trow,
When all that is forbidden a man must needs forego;
By me that were not reckon’d a right good hero’s mood!”
The speech of his companion seemed unto Hagen good.
2269
“That shall not serve your purpose,” Wolfhart in answer spake:
“I’ll so untune your fiddle that you a tale may take,
Along with you, when homewards unto the Rhine you ride;
I cannot brook with honour your overweening pride.”
2270
Then spake the fiddle-player: “If thou a fiddlestring
Of mine untuneful makest, thy helmet’s glittering
Must speedily be lessen’d and clouded by my hand,
Howe’er betide my riding to the Burgundian land.”
2271
He would have sprung upon him, if he had not been stay’d
By Hildebrand his uncle, who hands upon him laid:
“In this thy senseless anger thou wouldst, I trow, go mad,
And so my master’s favour might’st never more have had.”
2272
“Let go the lion, master! fierce though he be of mood,
Comes he into my clutches,” said Volker, warrior good,
“E’en though a world of people he with his hands hath slain,
I’ll kill him, that the story he ne’er may tell again.”
2273
By this was sorely quicken’d the Berners’ angry mood;
And Wolfhart clutch’d his buckler, a ready knight and good:
E’en Hke a savage lion in front of them he rush’d,
Whilst following close behind him his friends the onset push’d.
2274
Yet though he sprang so swiftly, to reach the palace wall
He could not on the stairway old Hildebrand forestall,
Who would not that another first in the fight should be.
Their guerdon from the strangers they both got presently.
2275
Then quickly upon Hagen sprang Master Hildebrand:
The clashing of the sword-blades was heard on either hand;
Their wrath was sorely kindled, as presently was plain;
A fiery stream was scatter’d from off their weapons twain.
2276
Yet quickly were they sunder’d under the stress of fight:
The men of Bern so caused it, prevailing in their might.
Whereon away from Hagen betook him Hildebrand;
And needs must gallant Volker stout Wolfhart’s onset stand.
2277
He smote the fiddle-player upon his helmet good,
So bravely that the sword-edge unto the sidebands hew’d;
The fiddler bold repaid him with all his might and main,
And laid his blows on Wolfhart, until he reel’d again.
2278
They struck from the mail-armour of fiery sparks enow;
Their hate for one another was felt in every blow;
Then came the warrior Wolfwin of Bern the twain between:
Had he not been a hero that never could have been.
2279
The warrior Gunther also gave with unstinting hand
A welcome to the heroes far-famed of Amelung land;
And Giselher the lordly made helms that shone before,
On head of many a warrior, ruddy and wet with gore.
2280
And Dankwart, Hagen’s brother, a fearsome man was he:
Whatever he, already, on Etzel’s chivalry
In battle had accomplish’d, e’en as the wind was naught:
The son of the bold Aldrian now like a madman fought.
2281
Richart and Gerbart likewise, Helfrich and eke Wichart,
Who oftentimes in battle right well had play’d their part,
Now plainly show’d their prowess to Gunther’s fighting men;
Wolfbrand in combat proudly was seen to bear him then,
2282
And like a madman raging fought ancient Hildebrand.
Full many a doughty warrior then fell by Wolfhart’s hand,
Death-stricken by his sword-blows, into the pool of blood.
Thus Rüdeger avenged they, these gallant knights and good.
2283
Then fought the noble Siegstab as of his might was due;
Ha! and upon his foemen what goodly helmets too
Were shiver’d in the battle by Dietrich’s sister’s son;
He could not in the struggle e’er better work have done.
2284
Thereon the sturdy Volker, as soon as he beheld
How from the tough mail-armour the blood in streamlets well’d
At gallant Siegstab’s sword-strokes, the hero’s wrath arose;
Forward he sprang
