Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/475

XXXIX.]

“Ay! to himself Lord Dietrich of Bern doth think that ne’er

His like, so strong of body and terrible there were!

And should he for our doings a reckoning demand,”

So Hagen spake: “against him I dare right well to stand.”

They heard the words of Hagen,— Dietrich and Hildebrand.

He came to where the warriors had taken both their stand

Without the house, together, leaning against the hall.

His goodly shield had Dietrich upon its rim let fall.

Then Dietrich spake in answer, grievously sorrowing:

“Why hast thou done in this wise, O Gunther, mighty king,

To me who am a stranger? to thee what had I done?

All comfort that was left me is now for ever gone.

“With that great deed of vengeance ye were not yet content

When Rüdeger the hero to bloody death you sent:

Now have ye taken from me my liegemen everyone;—

Ah! never to your heroes would I such scathe have done.

“Now of yourselves be mindful, and of your own distress,

The death of friends and kinsfolk, your toil and weariness;

Doth it not weigh upon you, good warriors, heavily?

Alas, the death of Rüdeger is bitterness to me!

“In this world never happen’d such woe to anyone.

Ye took but ill account of  my sorrow and your own;

By you of all its pleasures my life henceforth is shorn;

In truth I cannot ever my kinsfolk cease to mourn.”