Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/312

254 Gunther’s men. With great honor his meiny gained the meed. Their pastime was so mickle and so great, that from beneath the housings of the good steeds, which the heroes rode, there flowed the frothy sweat. In haughty wise they encountered with the Huns.

Then spake the fiddler, Folker the minstrel: “I ween these warriors dare not match us. I’ve aye heard the tale, that they bear us hate, and forsooth it might never fortune better for them than now.” Again Folker spake: “Let our steeds be now led away to their lodgings and let us joust again toward eventide, and there be time. Perchance the queen may accord to the Burgundians the prize.”

Then one was seen riding hither so proudly, that none of all the Huns could have done the like. Certes, he must have had a sweetheart on the battlements. As well attired he rode as the bride of any noble knight. At sight of him Folker spake again: “How could I give this over? This ladies’ darling must have a buffet. None shall prevent me and it shall cost him dear. In truth I reck not, if it vex King Etzel’s wife.”

“For my sake, No,” spake straightway King Gunther. “The people will blame us, if we encounter them. ’T will befit us better far, an’ we let the Huns begin the strife.”

King Etzel was still sitting by the queen.

“I’ll join you in the tourney,” quoth Hagen then. “Let the ladies and the knights behold how we can ride. That will be well, for they ’ll give no meed to King Gunther’s men.”

The doughty Folker rode into the lists again, which soon gave many a dame great dole. His spear he