How Sir Dietrich's Men Were All Slain, I–XXXV

The cry of lamentation now spread so far around That tower and hall and palace rang with the rueful sound. A certain Berner heard it, the noble Dietrich's man. To tell the bloody tidings, how swift away he ran!

Then thus the prince bespake he, "Sir Dietrich, hear my tale; Surely heard I never such wild and woful wail, As in my ears is ringing, through all the life I've past. The king himself, I doubt not, has join'd the feast at last.

"Why else should such loud sorrow through all the people spread? The king, or Lady Kriemhild, or both of them are dead, By those redoubted strangers laid low through fell despite; So weeping and so wailing is many a courtly knight."

Then outspake the Berner, "My merrymen every one, Now be not over-hasty; what has e'en now been done By those home-distant champions, through hard constraint befell. I proffer'd them my service, now let it boot them well."

Quick then spake Sir Wolfhart, "Straight I'll thither run, And inquire the tidings, what the guests have done, Then, my good lord, will tell you, when I there have been And of the truth possess'd me, what all this wail may mean."

Thereto replied Sir Dietrich, "When the heart is gall, Should reckless, rough inquiries just then perchance befall, Wrath's yet glowing embers flame up with ease anew. I would not have the question, good Wolfhart, ask'd by you."

Then turn'd he to Sir Helfrich, and bade him speed his best, And either from Hungarian or from stranger guest Learn what had really happen'd, that so their grief had stirr'd. Ne'er had in any country so wild a wail been heard.

The messenger 'gan question, "Why what has here been done?" "Oh! we are lost forever!" straight replied a Hun. "All joy's forever vanish'd, that cheer'd King Etzel's reign. Here lies the noble Rudeger, by yon Burgundians slain.

"Of those who enter'd with him return'd no living soul," At the words stood Helfrich struck dumb with mortal dole. Tale of such deep horror never met his ear. The messenger to Dietrich went back with many a tear.

"What are the news you bring us?" cried Dietrich at the sight, "Why do you weep so bitterly, Sir Helfrich, noble knight?" "Alas!" exclaim'd the champion, "well may I weep and plain; The hands of yon Burgundians good Rudeger have slain."

"Now God forbid!" cried Dietrich, "that could I ne'er have ween'd; Sure 'twere a fearful vengeance, and sport for the foul fiend. How at their hands had Rudeger deserv'd so sad an end? Full well I know, those strangers had ne'er so firm a friend."

Then answer made Sir Wolfhart, "If they this deed have done, Their lives shall pay the forfeit; die shall they every one. 'Twould be to our dishonor, should we such outrage bear. Oft we have had good service from noble Rudeger."

The lord of th' Amelungers yet more to know was bent. Down sat he at a window anxious and ill content; Then Hildebrand straight bade he haste to the strangers bold, And what had really happen'd from their own lips be told.

A well-approved warrior was master Hildebrand, Yet took he, on his message, nor shield nor sword in hand, For all in peaceful fashion to seek the guests he meant. His sister's son beheld it with angry discontent.

Then sternly spake grim Wolfhart, "If thus unarm'd you go, Naught but reproach and insult can hap from such a foe. With outrage and dishonor needs must you hither back; But if you're seen in harness, you'll find the foremost slack."

So th' old and wise took counsel of the foolish and the young. Ere he could don his armor, theirs on in haste had flung All the knights of Dietrich; each shook his naked blade. Sore it irk'd the warrior; full fain had he renounced such aid.

Whither would they, inquir'd he—"Thither, good knight with you; What if o'erweening Hagan, to his ill habit true, So much the worse upon you his spite and scorn should vent." When this was told the champion, he could not but consent.

Soon as the valiant Folker saw sheath'd in armor bright The flower of Bern advancing, Sir Dietrich's men of might, Bucklers all uplifting, girded all with swords, Ready notice gave he to his Burgundian lords.

Thus spake the fearless minstrel, "On this, my lords, advise; There see I Dietrich's Berners come on in hostile guise, All helmeted and harnessed;—they'll fight us, well I know. With us forlorn and friendless ill now, I ween, 'twill go."

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?

"I come from my lord Dietrich, from you the truth to gain, If any here among you with bloody hand has slain The good and noble margrave, as some to us declare. Such weight of mortal sorrow were more than we could bear."

"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."

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.

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."

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?"

Then spake in storm of passion 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 noble Rudeger, that thee we thus have lost!"

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.

"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.

"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."

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."

"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."

"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."

"Sir gleeman," said fierce Wolfhart, "you've done us grievous ill. God 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 pass it over; forbidd'n are we to fight."

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

"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."