ed, if he slew but one man, that the world would
loathe him evermore.

Then the bold man said to the king, "Take back what thou hast given
me--castles and land. Leave me nothing at all. I will go forth afoot
into exile. I will take my wife and my daughter by the hand, and I will
quit thy country empty, rather than I will die dishonoured. I took thy
red gold to my hurt."

King Etzel answered, "Who will help me then? Land and folk I gave to
thee, Rudeger, that thou mightest avenge me on my foes. Thou shalt rule
with Etzel as a great king."

But Rudeger said, "How can I do it? I bade them to my house and home; I
set meat and drink before them, and gave them my gifts. Shall I also
smite them dead? The folk may deem me a coward. But I have always
served them well. Should I fight with them now, it were ill done. Deep
must I rue past friendship. I gave my daughter to Giselher. None better
in this world had she found, of so great lineage and honour, and faith,
and wealth. Never saw I young king so virtuous."

But Kriemhild answered, "Most noble Rudeger, take pity on us both.
Bethink thee that never host had guests like these."

Then said the Margrave, "What thou and my master have given me I must pay
for, this day, with my life. I shall die, and that quickly. Well I know
that, or nightfall, my lands and castles will return to your keeping. To
your grave I commend my wife and my child, and the homeless ones that are
at Bechlaren."

"God reward thee, Rudeger," cried the king. He and the queen were both
glad. "Thy folk shall be well seen to; but thou thyself, I trow, will
come off scatheless."

So he put his soul and body on the hazard. Etzel's wife began to weep.
He said, "I must keep my vow to thee. Woe is me for my friends, that I
must fall upon in mine own despite!"

They saw him turn heavily from the king. To his knights that stood close
by, he said, "Arm ye, my men all. For I must fight the Burgundians, to
my sorrow."

The heroes called for their harness, and the attendants brought helm and
buckler. Soon the proud strangers heard the sad news.

Rudeger stood armed with five hundred men, and twelve knights that went
with him, to win worship in the fray. They knew not that death was so
near.

Rudeger went forth with his helmet on; his men carried sharp swords, and,
thereto, broad shields and bright. The fiddler saw this, and was
dismayed. But when Giselher beheld his father-in-law with