With us forlorn and friendless ill now, I ween, 'twill go."

XX

Scarce had he done speaking, when Hildebrand came on.

Before his feet the warrior set down his shield anon, And thus began his question to put to Gunther's crew; "Alas! ye valiant heroes, what has Rudeger done to you?

XXI

"I come from my lord Dietrich, from you the truth to gain, If any here among you with b.l.o.o.d.y hand has slain The good and n.o.ble margrave, as some to us declare.

Such weight of mortal sorrow were more than we could bear."

XXII

"The woful news," said Hagan, "cannot be denied; Would for the sake of Rudeger your messenger had lied, And yet the chief were living! 'tis all too true a tale; For the good knight must ever both man and woman wail."

XXIII

Soon as the knights of Dietrich heard he indeed was dead, As love and truth impell'd them, they wailed drearihead.

Bitter tears forth gushing beard and chin ran o'er; Such deep remorse for Rudeger in their inmost hearts they bore.

XXIV

A duke of Bern, Sir Siegstab, sighing then began, "So comes to end the kindness, wherewith this blameless man, After our days of sorrow, reliev'd our woe and pain.

Here the poor exile's comfort lies by you heroes slain."

XXV

Next him, the Amelunger, the good Sir Wolfwine, said, "If I saw to-day my father before me lying dead, More I could not sorrow e'en for such a life.

Alas! who now can comfort the gentle margrave's wife?"

XXVI

Then spake in storm of pa.s.sion Wolfhart the moody knight, "Who now will harnessed warriors lead to so many a fight, As oft has done the margrave, and to our foemen's cost, Alas! right n.o.ble Rudeger, that thee we thus have lost!"

XXVII

Sir Wolfbrand and Sir Helfrich and eke Sir Helmnot shed True tears, with all their comrades, for him who there lay dead.

Old Hildebrand through sobbing could not inquire the rest; Said he, "Go to, ye warriors, perform my lord's request.

XXVIII

"Give us the corpse of Rudeger from out yon reeking hall; So pale and dead lies with him the comfort of us all; And let us now requite him for all he e'er has done To us of his great kindness, and besides to many a one.

XXIX

"We ourselves are exiles like blameless Rudeger.

Wherefore would you delay us? Him hence then let us bear, And pay him every honor now that he dead is laid.

Such unto the living we gladlier would have paid."

x.x.x

Thereto replied King Gunther, "Service so good is none, As after death, Sir Hildebrand, to friend by friend is done.

That, whosoe'er performs it, firm steadfast faith I call.

You pay him as is fitting, for well he serv'd you all."

x.x.xI

"How long must we be waiting?" cried Wolfhart proud and high; "Since our choicest comfort you have done to die, And we no more can have him amongst us safe and sound, Let us take him forthwith hence to the burial ground."

x.x.xII

"None here will fetch him to you," the minstrel answer gave; "Enter the hall and take him, where lifeless lies the brave, Deep gash'd with gaping death-wounds, as in the blood he fell.

'Tis all you can do for him, and thus you'll serve him well."

x.x.xIII

"Sir gleeman," said fierce Wolfhart, "you've done us grievous ill.

G.o.d knows, that you had better not move us further still.

But for my lord's injunctions, you'd be in evil plight; Now we must pa.s.s it over; forbidd'n are we to fight."

x.x.xIV

Then spake the fiery minstrel, "His courage is but small, Who, soon as one forbids him, would fain pa.s.s over all.

Such can I never reckon the mood of a true knight."

His comrade's words Sir Hagan approv'd as just and right.

x.x.xV

"Persist not to provoke me," said Wolfhart, "or full soon Your strings, without your leave too, I'll put so out of tune, You'll have enough to talk of on your journey hence.

No longer I with honor will bear your insolence."

x.x.xVI