hrough his helmet, the which was as hard as flint, so
that the blood gushed forth. But this the bold knight and good repaid
eftsoon. High in his hand he now poised Rudeger's gift, and though
wounded unto death, he smote him a stroke through his good and trusty
shield down to his helmet band. And so fair Gotelind's husband was done
to death. Certes, so rich a gift was never worse repaid. So fell alike
both Gernot and Rudeger, slain in the fray, through each other's hand.

Then first waxed Hagen wroth, when he saw the monstrous scathe. Quoth
the hero of Troneg: "Evil hath it fared with us. In these two men we
have taken a loss so great that neither their land nor people will e'er
recover from the blow. Rudeger's champions must answer to us homeless
men."

"Alas for my brother, who hath here been done to death. What evil tales
I hear all time! Noble Rudeger, too, must ever rue me. The loss and the
grievous wounds are felt on either side."

When Lord Giselher saw his betrothed's father dead, those within the
hall were forced to suffer need. Fiercely death sought his fellowship;
not one of those of Bechelaren escaped with life. Gunther and Giselher
and Hagen, too, Dankwart and Folker, the right good knights, went to
where they found the two men lying. Then by these heroes tears of grief
were shed.

"Death doth sorely rob us," spake Giselher, the youth. "Now give over
your weeping and go we bite the breeze, that the mailed armor of us
storm-weary men may cool. Certes, I ween, that God in heaven vouchsafeth
us no more to live."

This champion was seen to sit and that to lean against the wall, but all
again were idle. Rudeger's heroes lay still in death. The din had died
away; the hush endured so long, it vexed King Etzel.

"Alack for such services," spake the queen. "They be not so true, that
our foes must pay with their life at Rudeger's hands. I trow, he doth
wish to lead them back to the Burgundian land. What booteth it, King
Etzel, that we have given him whatso he would? The knight hath done
amiss, he who should avenge us, doth make his peace."

To this Folker, the full dapper knight, made answer: "This is not true,
alas, most noble queen. Durst I give the lie to such a high-born dame,
then had ye most foully lied against Rudeger. He and his champions be
cozened in this peace. So eagerly he did what the king commanded,
that he and all his fellowship lie here in death. Now look around you,
Kriemhild, to see whom ye