the Hunnish
land hath passed away. Here lieth Rudeger, slain by the Burgundians'
hands; and of those who were come with him, not one hatch 'scaped
alive."

Sir Helfrich could never have had a greater dole. Sorely weeping, the
envoy went to Dietrich. Never was he so loth to tell a tale. "What
have ye found for us?" quoth Dietrich. "Why weep ye so sore, Knight
Helfrich?"

Then spake the noble champion: "I have good cause for wail. The
Burgundians have slain the good Sir Rudeger."

At this the hero of Berne made answer: "Now God forbid. That were a
fearful vengeance, over which the foul fiend would gloat. Wherewith hath
Rudeger deserved this at their hands? I know full well, forsooth, he is
the strangers' friend."

To this Wolfhart answered: "And have they done this deed, 'twill cost
them all their lives. 'Twould be our shame, should we let this pass, for
of a truth the hand of the good knight Rudeger hath served us much and
oft."

The lord of the Amelungs bade learn it better. In bitter grief he sate
him at a window and begged Hildebrand to hie him to the strangers, that
he might find from them what had been done. The storm-brave warrior,
Master Hildebrand, (2) bare neither shield nor weapon in his hand. In
courtly wise he would hie him to the strangers; for this he was chided
by his sister's son. Grim Wolfhart spake: "And ye will go thither so
bare, ye will never fare without upbraiding; ye must return with shame.
But if ye go there armed, each will guard against that well."

Then the wise man armed him, through the counsel of youth. Or ever he
was ware, all Dietrich's warriors had donned their war-weeds and held
in their hands their swords. Loth it was to the hero, and he would have
gladly turned their mind. He asked whither they would go.

"We will hence with you. Perchance Hagen of Troneg then will dare the
less to address him to you with scorn, which full well he knoweth how to
use." When he heard this, the knight vouchsafed them for to go.

Soon brave Folker saw the champions of Berne, the liegemen of Dietrich,
march along, well armed, begirt with swords, while in their hands they
bare their shields. He told it to his lords from out the Burgundian
land. The fiddler spake: "Yonder I see the men of Dietrich march along
in right hostile wise, armed cap-a-pie. They would encounter us; I ween
'twill go full ill with us strangers."

Meanwhile Sir Hildebrand was come. Before his feet he placed his shield,
and