"

Loudly the chosen knight gan call, so that his voice rang forth as from
a bison's horn, until the broad castle resounded with his force. Sir
Dietrich's strength was passing great in truth.

When Gunther heard this man cry out in the heated strife, he began to
heed. He spake: "Dietrich's voice hath reached mine ears, I ween our
champions have bereft him of some friend to-day. I see him on the table,
he doth beckon with his hand. Ye friends and kinsmen from Burgundian
land, give over the strife. Let's hear and see what here hath fortuned
to the knight from my men-at-arms."

When Gunther thus begged and bade in the stress of the fray, they
sheathed their swords. Passing great was his power, so that none struck
a blow. Soon enow he asked the tidings of the knight of Berne. He spake:
"Most noble Dietrich, what hath happed to you through these my friends?
I am minded to do you remedy and to make amends. If any had done you
aught, 'twould grieve me sore."

Then spake Sir Dietrich: "Naught hath happed to me, but I pray you, let
me leave this hall and this fierce strife under your safe-guard, with my
men. For this favor I will serve you ever."

"How entreat ye now so soon," quoth Wolfhart (3) then. "Forsooth the
fiddler hath not barred the door so strong, but what we may open it enow
to let us pass."

"Hold your tongue," spake Sir Dietrich; "the devil a whit have ye ever
done."

Then: spake King Gunther: "I will grant your boon. Lead from the hall as
few or as many as ye will, save my foes alone; they must remain within.
Right ill have they treated me in the Hunnish land."

When Dietrich heard these words, he placed his arm around the high-born
queen, whose fear was passing great. On his other side he led King Etzel
with him hence; with Dietrich there also went six hundred stately men.

Then spake the noble Margrave Rudeger: "Shall any other who would gladly
serve you come from this hall, let us hear the tale, and lasting peace
shall well befit good friends."

To this Giselher of the Burgundian land replied: "Peace and friendship
be granted you by us, sith ye are constant in your fealty. Ye and all
your men, ye may go hence fearlessly with these your friends."

When Sir Rudeger voided the hall, there followed him, all told, five
hundred men or more, kinsmen and vassals of the lord of Bechelaren, from
whom King Gunther later gained great scathe. Then a Hunnish champion
spied Etzel walking close by Dietrich. He, to