Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/350

292 my land with its castles, let not a whit remain to me. On foot will I wander into other lands.”

At this King Etzel spake: “Who else should help me then? I’ll give thee the land and all its castles, as thine own, that thou mayst avenge me on my foes. Thou shalt be a mighty king at Etzel’s side.”

Then answered Rüdeger: “How shall I do this deed? I bade them to my house and home; in friendly wise I offered them both food and drink and gave them gifts. How may I counsel their death? People will lightly ween, that I be craven. No service of mine have I refused these noble lordings and their men. Now I rue the kinship I have gained with them. I gave my daughter to Giselher, the knight; to none in all the world could she have been better given, for courtesie and honor, for fealty and wealth. Never have I seen so young a prince of such right courteous mind.”

Then Kriemhild spake again: “Most noble Rüdeger, take pity on our griefs, on mine and on the king’s. Bethink thee well, that king did never gain such baneful guests.”

To the noble dame the margrave spake: “Rüdeger’s life must pay to-day for whatsoever favors ye and my lord have shown me. Therefore must I die; no longer may it be deferred. I know full well, that my castles and my lands will be voided for you to-day through the hand of one of these men. To your mercy I commend my wife and children and the strangers who be at Bechelaren.”

“Now God requite thee, Rüdeger,” spake the king, and both he and the queen grew glad. “Thy people