think on this."

"How gladly would I grant you," spake Knight Rudeger, "that I might
weigh out my gifts for you with full measure, as willingly as I had
hoped, if I never should be blamed on that account."

"Turn back, noble Rudeger," spake then Gernot, "for host did never give
his guests such loving cheer as ye did us. This shall profit you well,
and we remain alive."

"Would to God," spake Rudeger, "most noble Gernot, that ye were on the
Rhine and I were dead with passing honor, sith I must now encounter you!
Never did friends act worse to heroes."

"Now God requite you, Sir Rudeger," answered Gernot, "for your passing
rich gifts. Your death doth rue me, if such knightly virtues shall be
lost with you. Here I bear your sword that ye gave me, good knight and
true. It hath never failed me in all this need. Many a knight fell
dead beneath its edges. It is bright and steady, glorious and good;
nevermore, I ween, will warrior give so rich a gift. And will ye not
turn back, but come to meet us, and slay aught of the friends I still
have here, with your own sword will I take your life. Then will ye rue
me, Rudeger, ye and your high-born wife."

"Would to God, Sir Gernot, that this might come to pass, that all your
will might here be done, and that your kinsmen escaped unscathed! Then
both my daughter and my wife may trust you well, forsooth."

Then of the Burgundians there spake fair Uta's son: "Why do ye so, Sir
Rudeger? Those that be come with us, do all like you well. Ye encounter
us in evil wise; ye wish to make your fair daughter a widow far too
soon. If ye and your warriors match me now with strife, how right
unkindly do ye let it appear, that I trust you well above all other men
and therefore won me your daughter to wife."

"Think on your fealty, most noble and high-born king. And God let you
escape," so spake Rudeger, "let the maiden suffer not for me. For your
own virtue's sake, vouchsafe her mercy."

"That I should do by right," spake the youthful Giselher, "but if
my noble kinsmen here within must die through you, then my steadfast
friendship for you and for your daughter must be parted."

"Now may God have mercy on us," answered the valiant man. Then they
raised their shields, as though they would hence to fight the guests in
Kriemhild's hall, but Hagen cried full loud adown the steps. "Pray tarry
awhile, most noble Rudeger," so spake Hagen; "I and my lords would fain
have further parley, as doth befit