e shall see, to whom one must give the palm. However strong
of body and grim of mood the lord of Berne thinketh him to be, right
well dare I match him," so spake Hagen, "an' he will avenge on us that
which hath been done him."

Dietrich and Hildebrand heard this speech, for Hagen came to where he
found the champion stand before the house, leaning against the wall.
Dietrich set his good shield upon the ground, and spake in grievous
dole: "Gunther, mighty king, why have ye so acted against me, banished
man? What have I done to you? I stand alone, bereft of all my comfort.
Ye thought it not enow of bitter need, when ye did kill Knight Rudeger,
our friend. Now ye have robbed me of all my men. Forsooth I never had
wrought you heroes sorrow such as this. Think on yourselves and on your
wrongs. Doth not the death of your kinsmen and all the hardship grieve
the minds of you good knights? Alas, what great dole Rudeger's death
doth give me! Never in all the world hath more of sorrow happed to any
man. Ye thought but little on me and on your pain. Whatsoever joy I had,
that lieth slain by you. Certes, I never can bewail my kin enow."

"Forsooth we be not so guilty," answered Hagen. "Your warriors came to
this hall in a large band, armed with care. Methinks the tale hath not
been told you rightly."

"What else should I believe? Hildebrand told me, that when my knights
from the Amelung land asked that ye should give up Rudeger's corse from
out the hall, ye did naught but mock the valiant heroes from above the
steps."

Then spake the king from the Rhine: "They said, that they would fain
bear Rudeger hence, and I bade this be denied them to vex King Etzel,
and not thy men, until then Wolfhart began to rail about it."

Then the hero of Berne made answer: "Fate would have it so. Gunther,
most noble king, now through thy courtesie requite me of the wrongs,
that have happed to me from thee, and make such amends, brave knight,
that I may give thee credit for the deed. Give thyself and thy men to me
as hostages, and I will guard you, as best I may, that none here do thee
aught among the Huns. Thou shalt find me naught but good and true."

"Now God forbid," quoth Hagen, "that two knights give themselves up
to thee, that still do stand opposed to thee so doughtily and walk so
unfettered before their foes."

"Gunther and Hagen, ye should not deny me this," spake Dietrich. "Ye
have grieved my heart and mind so sore, that it were but righ