So measureless-wide the wailing swelled in that dolorous…

So measureless-wide the wailing swelled in that dolorous hour, That with cries of lamentation re-echoed palace and tower; And the tumult was heard by a warrior of Bern, who was Dietrich's man, And bearing the heavy tidings to his lord in haste he ran. He spake to the princely hero: "Lord Dietrich, hearken my tale: Through all the years of my life-tide such agony of wail Never I heard upshrieking, as that I have hearkened but now. The King himself, even Etzel, hath come unto scathe, I trow. For what cause else should the people with one voice all make dole? Of the twain one, Etzel or Kriemhild, is no more a living soul. By the wrath of the dauntless strangers have they slept the iron sleep, And countless knightly heroes in measureless anguish weep." But the Lord of Bern made answer: "True liegemen mine, beware Lest in judging ye be o'er-hasty: what desperate deed soe'er Hath been done by the homeless heroes, sore need constraineth their will. My peace with them I plighted—let this advantage them still."

Then out spake Wolfhart the dreadless: "Lo, I will hence to the hall: I will ask of sorrow her story, what woe hath chanced to befall, And to thee will I bring the tidings, O well-belovèd chief, So soon as I learn what meaneth that voice of a people's grief," Spake Dietrich the noble: "When heroes in each face look for a foe, And one cometh with rough sharp questions, where a word is like a blow, Then all too quickly enkindled their smouldering anger is: Therefore I will not, Wolfhart, that thou question touching this." Then he commanded Helfric to go swift-hastening, And he bade him ask of the matter from the folk of Etzel the King,