Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/349

Rh die. Never have I, poor woman, had such great need of this.”

“There’s no denying that I swore to you, my lady, for your sake I’d risk both life and honor, but I did not swear that I would lose my soul. “’Twas I that bade the high-born lordings to this feast.”

Quoth she: “Bethink thee, Rüdeger, of thy great fealty, of thy constancy, and of thine oaths, that thou wouldst ever avenge mine injuries and all my woes.”

Said the margrave: “Seldom have I denied you aught.”

Mighty Etzel, too, began implore; upon their knees they sank before the knight. Men saw the noble margrave stand full sad. Pitifully the faithful warrior spake: “Woe is me, most wretched man, that I have lived to see this day. I must give over all my honors, my fealty, and my courtesie, that God did bid me use. Alas, great God of heaven, that death will not turn this from me! I shall act basely and full evil, whatever I do or leave undone. But if I give over both, then will all people blame me. Now may he advise me, who hath given me life.”

Still the king and the queen, too, begged unceasingly. Through this warriors must needs thereafter lose their lives at Rüdeger’s hands, when the hero also died. Ye may well hear it now, that he deported him full pitifully. He wist that it would bring him scathe and monstrous woe. Gladly would he have refused the king and queen. He feared full sore that if he slew but one of the strangers, the world would bear him hate.

Then the brave man addressed him to the king: “Sir King, take back again all that I have from you,