Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/445

XXXVII.]

“The goodwill that you pledged me to you I will recall

When me you urged on Etzel, O knight excelling all,

To wit, that you would serve me till one of us was dead;

And ne’er had I, poor woman, thereof such desperate need.

“In that thou speak’st not falsely; I pledged thee, noble dame,

That I for thee would venture my life and my fair fame.

To lose my soul, however, that sware I not at all:

I brought these high-born princes unto this festival!”

“O Rüdeger,” she answer’d, “thy steadfast loyalty

And eke thine oath forget not, that thou mine injury

Wouldst cease not to avenge me, and all my trouble sore.”

Then said to her the margrave: “I ne’er have fail’d before.”

Then likewise mighty Etzel to supplicate began,

And on their knees before him they two besought the man.

Then seem’d the noble margrave sorely discomfited.

The ever faithful warrior right sorrowfully said:

“Now God have pity on me, that I have lived for this!

Henceforward all mine honour I must for aye dismiss,—

My truth and noble breeding that erst from God I got!

Woe on me, God in Heaven, that death hath saved me not!

“Whichever side I part from to take the other one,

I shall have acted basely and grievous ill have done;

But if from both I sever, on all sides blame I have:

May He vouchsafe to guide me Who life unto me gave.”