y well hear it now, that he deported him full
pitifully. He wist that it would bring him scathe and monstrous woe.
Gladly would he have refused the king and queen. He feared full sore
that if he slew but one of the strangers, the world would bear him hate.

Then the brave man addressed him to the king: "Sir King, take back
again all that I have from you, my land with its castles, let not a whit
remain to me. On foot will I wander into other lands."

At this King Etzel spake: "Who else should help me then? I'll give thee
the land and all its castles, as thine own, that thou mayst avenge me on
my foes. Thou shalt be a mighty king at Etzel's side."

Then answered Rudeger: "How shall I do this deed? I bade them to my
house and home; in friendly wise I offered them both food and drink
and gave them gifts. How may I counsel their death? People will lightly
ween, that I be craven. No service of mine have I refused these noble
lordings and their men. Now I rue the kinship I have gained with them. I
gave my daughter to Giselher, the knight; to none in all the world could
she have been better given, for courtesie and honor, for fealty and
wealth. Never have I seen so young a prince of such right courteous
mind."

Then Kriemhild spake again: "Most noble Rudeger, take pity on our
griefs, on mine and on the king's. Bethink thee well, that king did
never gain such baneful guests."

To the noble dame the margrave spake: "Rudeger's life must pay to-day
for whatsoever favors ye and my lord have shown me. Therefore must I
die; no longer may it be deferred. I know full well, that my castles and
my lands will be voided for you to-day through the hand of one of these
men. To your mercy I commend my wife and children and the strangers (3)
who be at Bechelaren."

"Now God requite thee, Rudeger," spake the king, and both he and the
queen grew glad. "Thy people shall be well commended to our care. For
mine own weal I trust thou too shalt go unscathed."

Etzel's bride began to weep. Then body and soul he staked upon the
venture. He spake: "I must perform what I have vowed. Alas for my
friends, whom I am loth to fight."

Men saw him go sadly from the presence of the king. Close at hand he
found his warriors standing. He spake: "Ye must arm you all, my men,
for, alas, I must needs encounter the bold Burgundians."

They bade the squires run nimbly to where lay their arms. Whether it
were helm or buckler, 'twas all brought forth to them by