Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/449

XXXVII.]

“I know not what doth cheer you,” the minstrel answer made:

“When saw you e’er for friendship so many knights array’d,

With fasten’d helmets marching, and bearing sword in hand?

By us will Rüdeger pay for his castles and his land.”

E’en as the fiddle-player of speaking made an end,

One saw the noble Rüdeger before the palace wend.

His goodly shield he lower’d and set before his feet:

He could not offer service, his friends he might not greet.

Then cried the noble margrave to those within the hall;

“Be on your guard, I warn you, ye valiant Niblungs all!

Ye should have had my succour, now must ye ransom me;

Once were we friends; now will I be from the troth-pledge free.”

They shudder’d at these tidings, those sorely troubled men;

or them but little comfort there was therefrom to gain,

Since he would fight against them whom they had held so dear!

From foes they had already had mickle ills to bear.

“Now grant it, God in Heaven,” the warrior Gunther said;

“That you will let your pity be movéd to our aid,

And that abounding honour which hope unto us gave;

Much liefer would I trust you thus never to behave.”

“I can in nowise help it,” the brave man said thereto;

“In battle I must meet you, since so I swore to do.

Now guard yourselves, bold heroes, as ye your lives hold dear:

From me the wife of Etzel would no refusal hear.”