d Rudeger, "forsooth I have enow of
grief and pain, How dost thou taunt me, that I fight not here? Certes,
I have good cause to hate the strangers, and would have done all in my
power against them, had I not led the warriors hither. Of a truth I was
their safeguard to my master's land. Therefore the hand of me, wretched
man, may not strive against them."

Then spake Etzel, the noble king, to the margrave: "How have ye helped
us, most noble Rudeger! We have so many fey (2) in the land, that we
have no need of more. Full evil have ye done."

At this the noble knight made answer: "Forsooth he grieved my mood and
twitted me with the honors and the goods, such store of which I have
received from thy hand. This hath cost the liar dear."

The queen, too, was come and had seen what fortuned to the Huns through
the hero's wrath. Passing sore she bewailed it; her eyes grew moist as
she spake to Rudeger: "How have we deserved that ye should increase the
sorrows of the king and me? Hitherto ye have told us, that for our sake
ye would risk both life and honor. I heard full many warriors accord
to you the palm. Let me mind you of your fealty and that ye swore, when
that ye counseled me to Etzel, good knight and true, that ye would serve
me till one of us should die. Never have I, poor woman, had such great
need of this."

"There's no denying that I swore to you, my lady, for your sake I'd
risk both life and honor, but I did not swear that I would lose my soul.
'Twas I that bade the high-born lordings to this feast."

Quoth she: "Bethink thee, Rudeger, of thy great fealty, of thy
constancy, and of thine oaths, that thou wouldst ever avenge mine
injuries and all my woes."

Said the margrave: "Seldom have I denied you aught."

Mighty Etzel, too, began implore; upon their knees they sank before
the knight. Men saw the noble margrave stand full sad. Pitifully the
faithful warrior spake: "Woe is me, most wretched man, that I have
lived to see this day. I must give over all my honors, my fealty, and
my courtesie, that God did bid me use. Alas, great God of heaven, that
death will not turn this from me! I shall act basely and full evil,
whatever I do or leave undone. But if I give over both, then will all
people blame me. Now may he advise me, who hath given me life."

Still the king and the queen, too, begged unceasingly. Through this
warriors must needs thereafter lose their lives at Rudeger's hands, when
the hero also died. Ye ma