Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/451

XXXVII.]

“And never hath it fail’d me in all this struggle dread,

And many a knight hath fallen, beneath its edges, dead.

Strong is it and well-temper’d, a good and handsome blade;

I ween a gift so worthy by knight will ne’er be made.

“And should we not persuade thee to come unto our side,

If friends of mine thou slayest who still within abide,

With thine own sword I’ll smite thee and take away thy life:

Thee, Rüdeger, I pity, and eke thy noble wife.”

“Now would to God, Sir Gernot, that thus it e’en might be,

That all your will and purpose might be fulfill’d on me,

Whereby your kinsmen longer might yet enjoy their life!

Ay! gladly would I trust you with daughter and with wife.”

Then spake the young Burgundian, the child of Uté fair:

“Why do you thus, Sir Rüdeger? All these who with me are

To you are well-disposéd; an evil course you take;

Your daughter fair too early a widow you will make.

“If you and your retainers in strife contend with me,

How grievously unfriendly will that appear to be!

In that beyond all others my faith in you I laid,—

In such wise that your daughter my wife I would have made.”

“Unto your pledge be faithful, O prince of noble race,”

Said Rüdeger, “if haply God send you from this place;

Suffer not that the maiden for me atonement make;

Be pitiful towards her, for your own virtue’s sake.”