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Then answer’d the Lord Dietrich: “Naught hath been done to me;

But let me leave the palace with your safe-conduct free,

And get with my retainers from this fell strife away:

For that I’ll owe you service assuredly for aye.”

Then unto him spake Wolfhart: “Why ask ye grace so soon?

That door, I trow, the fiddler hath not so closely done

But we can force it open enough to get away.”

“Now hold thy peace,” cried Dietrich, “the devil thou dost play.”

Then spake the royal Gunther: “That will I let you do.

Out of this place depart ye, many be ye or few,

But not a single foeman— here stay they everyone.

They have anent these Hunsfolk so basely to me done.”

When Dietrich heard that saying, he took beneath his arm

The noble queen, sore stricken with sorrow and alarm.

Upon his other arm he took Etzel with him then;

There also went with Dietrich six hundred goodly men.

Then up and spake the margrave, the noble Rüdeger:

“If any from the palace be yet allowed to fare,

Who still are fain to serve you, to us let it be known:

For thus may peace enduring betwixt good friends be sown.”

Whereto made answer Gis’lher, of the Burgundian land:

“To you shall peace and pardon be granted at our hand,

Since you and your retainers were e’er of faithful heart.

You all shall, unmolested, hence with your friends depart.”