e of Dietrich hath reached me. I ween our knights have
slain some of his men. I see him on the table, beckoning with his hand.
Friends and kinsmen of Burgundy, hold, that we may learn what we have
done to Dietrich's hurt."

When King Gunther had begged and prayed them, they lowered their swords.
Thereby Gunther showed his might, that they smote no blow. Then he asked
the Prince of Bern what he wanted. He said, "Most noble Dietrich, what
hurt have my friends done thee? I will make it good. Sore grieved were
I, had any done thee scathe."

But Sir Dietrich answered, "Naught hath been done against me. With thy
safe-conduct let me quit this hall, and the bitter strife, with my men.
For this I will ever serve thee."

"Why ask this grace?" said Wolfhart. "The fiddler hath not barred the
door so fast that we cannot set it wide, and go forth."

"Hold thy peace," cried Dietrich. "Thou hast played the Devil."

Then Gunther answered, "I give thee leave. Lead forth few or many, so
they be not my foemen. These shall tarry within, for great wrong have I
suffered from the Huns."

When the knight of Bern heard that, he put one arm round the queen, for
she was greatly affrighted, and with the other he led out Etzel. Six
hundred good knights followed Dietrich.

Then said noble Rudeger, the Margrave, "If any more of them that love and
would serve thee may win from this hall, let us hear it; that peace may
endure, as is seemly, betwixt faithful friends."

Straightway Giselher answered his father-in-law. "Peace and love be
betwixt us. Thou and thy liegemen have been ever true to us, wherefore
depart with thy friends, fearing nothing."

When Sir Rudeger left the hall, five hundred or more went out with him.
The Burgundian knights did honourably therein, but King Gunther suffered
scathe for it after.

One of the Huns would have saved himself when he saw King Etzel go out
with Dietrich, but the fiddler smote him such a blow that his head fell
down at Etzel's feet.

When the king of the land was gone out from the house, he turned and
looked at Folker. "Woe is me for such guests! It is a hard and bitter
thing that all my knights fall dead before them! Alack! this hightide!"
wailed the great king. "There is one within that hight Folker. He is
liker a wild boar than a fiddler. I thank Heaven that I escaped the
devil. His tunes are harsh; his bow is red. His notes smite many a hero
dead. I know not what this minst