our need. What can the death of us
wanderers avail King Etzel? I stand here in a fearful plight; the shield
that Lady Gotelind gave me to bear hath been cut to pieces by the Huns.
I brought it with friendly purpose into Etzel's land. O that God in
heaven would grant, that I might bear so good a shield as that thou hast
in thy hand, most noble Rudeger! Then I should no longer need a hauberk
in the fray."

"Gladly would I serve thee with my shield, durst I offer it before
Kriemhild. Yet take it, Hagen, and bear it on thine arm. Ho, if thou
couldst only wield it in the Burgundian land!"

When he so willingly offered to give the shield, enow of eyes grew
red with scalding tears. 'T was the last gift that ever Rudeger of
Bechelaren gave to any knight. However fierce Hagen, and however stern
of mood, the gift did touch him, which the good hero, so near to death,
had given. Many a noble knight gan mourn with him.

"Now God in heaven requite you, most noble Rudeger. Your like will
nevermore be found, who giveth homeless warriors such lordly gifts. God
grant that your courtesie may ever live." Again Hagen spake: "Woe is me
of these tales, we had so many other griefs to bear. Let complaint be
made to heaven, if we must fight with friends."

Quoth the margrave: "Inly doth this grieve me."

"Now God requite you, for the gift, most noble Rudeger. Howso these
high-born warriors deport them toward you, my hand shall never touch you
in the fight, and ye slew them all from the Burgundian land."

Courteously the good Sir Rudeger bowed him low. On every side they wept,
that none might soothe this pain of heart. That was a mighty grief. In
Rudeger would die the father of all knightly virtues.

Then Folker, the minstrel, spake from out the hall: "Sith my comrade
Hagen hath made his peace with you, ye shall have it just as steadfastly
from my hand, for well ye earned it, when we came into this land. Most
noble margrave, ye shall be mine envoy, too. The margravine gave me
these ruddy arm rings, that I should wear them here at the feasting.
These ye may yourself behold, that ye may later be my witness."

"Now God of heaven grant," spake Rudeger, "that the margravine may give
you more! I'll gladly tell these tales to my dear love, if I see her in
health again. Of this ye shall not doubt."

When he had vowed him this, Rudeger raised high his shield. No longer
he bided, but with raging mood, like a berserker, he rushed upon the
guests.