How the Burgundians Fought with the Huns, XXXVI–LXI

"Nay, say not so, Sir Dietrich, renown'd and noble knight! Show forth this day amongst us thy high heroic might To bring me hence in safety; else, I shall surely die. Dole and dismay beset me; in mortal strait am I."

"At least I'll make the trial, if boot you yet I can, For ne'er before beheld I many a mighty man, To sudden wrath enkindl'd, so fierce to battle rush. Blood see I through the helmets at every sword-stroke gush."

So the fair queen's entreaty he would no longer scorn; Up his voice he lifted like a blast on a buffalo's horn, That all the echoing castle rung through its breadth and length; So loud the voice of Dietrich, so wondrous was his strength!

Soon as heard King Gunther the voice of such a man Peal o'er the clash and tumult, to listen he began. Said he, "The voice of Dietrich sounds in my ears amain; I fear our eager champions some friend of his have slain.

"I see him on the table beckoning with his hand.— Loving friends and kinsmen of Burgundy's fair land, Hold a little season! let us hear and see What we have done to Dietrich, or what his wish may be."

Soon as thus King Gunther begg'd and commanded too, In th' heat of that dire struggle back their swords they drew; Yet more his power effected, that still they stood and stern; Then thus the King of Rhineland bespake the Lord of Bern.

Said he, "Right noble Dietrich, has any of my friends Done you here an injury? I'll make you full amends. Be sure, the satisfaction shall with the fault along. In sooth, 'twould inly grieve me, were you to suffer wrong."

Him answer'd good Sir Dietrich, "No cause have I to grieve. Let me with your safe-conduct this hall of Etzel's leave, And quit this bloody banquet with those who follow me, And for this grave for ever I'll at your service be."

"Why beg instead of bidding?" fierce Wolfhart interpos'd, "The door, methinks, yon minstrel has not so firmly clos'd, But we can set it open, and go where'er we will." "Silence!" return'd Sir Dietrich, "the devil prompts thee ill.

"I give you full permission," thus noble Gunther spake, "Hence whom you will, Sir Dietrich, or few or many, take, Except my mortal foeman; in Hungary have they Done deadly wrong to Gunther, and here behind must stay."

Then lingered not the Berner; under his arm he took The noble queen all trembling; fear-stricken was her look. On the other side King Etzel away with him he led, Eke many a stately champion forth with Sir Dietrich sped.

The noble Margrave Rudeger then cried, "If any more May quit this house uninjur'd, and pass yon reeking door, Tell us, who ever lov'd you, and now would serve your ends, So peace will last for ever with true and faithful friends."

Thereto made answer Giselher, the knight of Burgundy, "Let there be peace betwixt us and constant amity, For you were ever faithful, you and your warriors tried, So part ye hence in safety, and all your friends besides."

Soon as the good Sir Rudeger left the blood-reeking hall, There follow'd him stout champions five hundred or more in all. In this the lords of Rhineland did faithfully and well, Yet ruin and destruction King Gunther thence befell.

Just then a knight of Hungary, who saw King Etzel take His way beside Sir Dietrich, came nigh for safety's sake, When him the furious minstrel with such a sword-stroke sped, That at the feet of Etzel straight lay his sever'd head.

Soon as the Lord of Hungary from th' house had come at last, He turn'd, and on fierce Folker as fierce a glance he cast. "Woe's me for these fell strangers! Oh, grievous strait," he said, "That all my faithful warriors should lie before them dead!

"Ah! woe for this sad meeting! woe for this festal-fight! There spreads, within, destruction one that Folker hight; Like a wild boar he rages, yet but a minstrel he. Thank heaven! 'tis well in safety from such a fiend to be.

"In sooth, ill sound his measures; his strokes are bloody red; His oft-repeated quavers lay many a hero dead. I know not why this gleeman should spite us o'er the rest; Never had I for certain so troublesome a guest."

Thereat straight to their quarters the noble knights withdrew, The lord of Bern, Sir Dietrich, and the good margrave too. To mix in that fierce struggle neither had desire, And from it, too, their followers they bade in peace retire.

But had the bold Burgundians foreseen the deadly woe That they from those two champions were soon to undergo, Ne'er from the hall had either so quietly been sent, But at their hands had suffer'd a bloody chastisement.

They, whom they pleas'd, permitted to leave that hall of ill; Then rose within, redoubled, the death-cry wild and shrill. The guests 'gainst their wrong-doers for deadly vengeance strove; Folker the valiant minstrel, ah! how the helms he clove!

At the clash King Gunther turn'd, and to Hagan cried, "Hear you what a measure Folker, the door beside, Plays with each poor Hungarian who down the stairs would go; See! what a deep vermilion has dyed his fiddle-bow!"

"I own, it much repents me," Hagan straight replied, "That I sat here at table from the good knight so wide. We still were constant comrades, not wont before to sever. If we again see Rhineland, no chance shall part us ever.

"Now see, great king! right loyal to thee is Folker bold; Well deserves the warrior thy silver and thy gold. His fiddlestick, sharp-cutting, can hardest steel divide, And at a stroke can shiver the morion's beamy pride.

"Never yet saw I minstrel so high and lordly stand, As did to-day Sir Folker among the hostile band. On helms and clattering bucklers his lays make music rare. Ride should he good war-horses, and gorgeous raiment wear."

Of all the fierce Hungarians that at the board had been, Now not a single champion remain'd alive within. Then first was hush'd the tumult, when none was left to fight. Then down his sword laid reeking each bold Burgundian knight.