Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/301

Rh to wit and is a man full grim. Balmung, too, he beareth, the which he won in evil wise.”

Therewith the strife was parted, so that no one fought, which mightily rued the queen. The warriors turned them hence; in sooth they feared their death at the fiddler’s hands, and surely they had need of this. Then spake the fiddler: “We have now well seen that we shall find foes here, as we heard tell afore. Let us go to court now to the kings, then dare none match our lords in fight. How oft a man doth leave a thing undone through fear, the which he would not do, when friend standeth by friend in friendly wise, an’ he have good wits. Scathe to many a man is lightly warded off by forethought.”

Quoth Hagen: “Now will I follow you.”

They went to where they found the dapper warriors standing in the court in a great press of welcoming knights.

Bold Folker gan speak loudly to his lords: “How long will ye stand and let yourselves be jostled? Ye must go to court and hear from the king of what mind he be.”

Men then saw the brave heroes and good pair off. The prince of Berne took by the hand the mighty Gunther of Burgundian land. Irnfried took the brave knight Gernot, while Rüdeger was seen to go to court with Giselher. But however any paired, Folker and Hagen never parted, save in one fray, when their end was. come, and this noble ladies must needs greatly bewail in after time. With the kings one saw go to court a thousand brave men of their fellowship, thereto sixty champions that were come with them, whom the