o, would take this chance,
but the fiddler dealt him such a blow that his head fell soon before
King Etzel's feet. When the lord of the land was come outside the house,
he turned him about and gazed on Folker. "Woe is me of these guests.
This is a direful need, that all my warriors should lie low in death
before them. Alas for the feasting," quoth the noble king. "Like a
savage boar there fighteth one within, hight Folker, who is a gleeman. I
thank my stars that I escaped this fiend. His glees have an evil sound,
the strokes of his how draw blood; forsooth his measures fell many a
hero dead. I wot not, with what this minstrel twitteth us, for I have
never had such baleful guest."

They had permitted whom they would to leave the hall. Then there arose
within a mighty uproar; sorely the guests avenged what there had happed
them. Ho, what helmets bold Folker broke! The noble King Gunther turned
him toward the sound. "Hear ye the measures, Hagen, which Folker
yonder fiddleth with the Huns, when any draweth near the towers? 'Tis a
blood-red stroke he useth with the bow."

"It rueth me beyond all measure," quoth Hagen, "that in this hall I sate
me down to rest before the hero did. I was his comrade and he was mine;
and come we ever home again, we shall still be so, in loyal wise. Now
behold, most noble king, Folker is thy friend, he earneth gladly thy
silver and thy gold. His fiddle bow doth cut through the hardest steel,
on the helmets he breaketh the bright and shining gauds! (4) Never have
I seen fiddler stand in such lordly wise as the good knight Folker hath
stood to-day. His glees resound through shield and helmet. Certes he
shall ride good steeds and wear lordly raiment."

Of all the kinsmen of the Huns within the hall, not one of these
remained alive. Thus the clash of arms died out, since none strove with
them longer. The lusty knights and bold now laid aside their swords.

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Friendship" translates the M.H.G. "minne trinken" 'to drink
to the memory of a person', an old custom originating with
the idea of pouring out a libation to the gods. Later it
assumed the form of drinking to the honor of God, of a
saint, or of an absent friend. See Grimm, "Mythologie", p.
48.
(2) "Amelungs", see Adventure XXVIII, note 3.
(3) "Wolfhart", see Adventure XXVIII, note 2.
(4) "Gauds", ornaments.

ADVENTURE XXXIV. How They Cast Out The Dead.

The