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“Now tell me, Master Hildebrand, why are ye in this state,

And reeking with your life-blood? or who hath done you that?

I ween that in the palace you with the guests have fought:

So strictly I forbade it that ye in nowise ought.”

Unto his lord he answer’d: “’Twas Hagen did it all!

He set on me and gave me this wound within the hall,

E’en as I from the warrior to turn myself began.

And hither from that devil barely with life I ran!”

Then he of Bern made answer: “Ye are but served aright!

Seeing that ye had heard me swear friendship with the knight,

And then ye break the peace-pledge granted to him by me:

Would it not ever shame me your life should forfeit be.”

“Now be ye not so wrathful, my good Lord Dietrich, pray!

On me and on my kinsfolk the loss too hard doth weigh.

We purposed from the palace to carry Rüdeger;

To grant it all unwilling King Gunther’s liegemen were.”

“Now woe upon such tidings! is Rüdeger then dead?

This is the greatest sorrow that e’er I sufferéd.

The noble Gotelinda is child of aunt of mine.

Ay! woe for the poor orphans who at Bechlaren pine.”

His death weigh’d sorely on him, with ruth and sorrow great.

He fell to bitter weeping; sad was the hero’s strait:

“Woe for my trusty helpmate who now is lost to me!

Ay! of King Etzel’s liegeman the like I ne’er shall see.