their meiny.
Later the proud strangers heard told baleful tales. Rudeger was
now armed, and with him five hundred men; thereto he gained twelve
champions, who would fain win renown in the stress of battle. They
wist not that death drew nigh them. Then Rudeger was seen to march with
helmet donned. The margrave's men bare keen-edged swords, and their
bright shields and broad upon their arms. This the fiddler saw; greatly
he rued the sight. When young Giselher beheld his lady's father walk
with his helm upon his head, how might he know what he meant thereby,
save that it portended good? Therefore the noble prince waxed passing
merry of mood.

"Now well is me of such kinsmen," spake Knight Giselher, "whom we have
won upon this journey; from my wife we shall reap much profit here. Lief
it is to me, that this betrothal hath taken place."

"I know not whence ye take your comfort," spake then the minstrel; "when
have ye seen so many heroes walk with helmets donned and swords in hand,
for the sake of peace? Rudeger doth think to win his castles and his
lands in fight with us."

Or ever the fiddler had ended his speech, men saw the noble Rudeger
before the house. At his feet he placed his trusty shield, and now both
service and greeting he must needs refuse his friends. Into the hall
the noble margrave called: "Ye doughty Nibelungs, now guard you well
on every side. Ye were to profit by me, now I shall bring you scathe.
Aforetime we were friends, but of this troth I now would fain be rid."

The hard-pressed men were startled at this tale, for none gained aught
of joy, that he whom they did love would now fain fight them. From their
foes they had already suffered mickle stress of war. "Now God of heaven
forbid," spake Gunther, the knight, "that ye should give over your love
of us and your great fealty, on which we counted of a truth. Better
things I trow of you, than that ye should ever do this deed."

"Alas, I cannot give it over, but must fight you, for I have vowed it.
Now ward you, brave heroes, and ye love your life. King Etzel's wife
would not release me from mine oath."

"Ye declare this feud too late," spake the highborn king. "Now may God
requite you, most noble Rudeger, for all the love and fealty that ye
have shown us, if ye would only act more kindly at the end. I and my
kinsmen, we ought ever to serve you for the noble gifts ye gave us, when
ye brought us hither faithfully to Etzel's land. Now, noble Rudeger,