Classic Poem

2135

At morning light the strangers / had wrought high deed of fame,
When the spouse of Gotelinde / unto the courtyard came.
To behold on both sides / such woe befallen there,
Might not refrain from weeping / sorely the faithful Ruediger.

2136

" O woe is me! " exclaimed he, / " that ever I was born.
Alack that this great sorrow / no hand from us may turn!
Though I be ne'er so willing, / the king no peace will know,
For he beholds his sorrow / ever great and greater grow. "

2137

Then did the kindly Ruediger / unto Dietrich send,
If to the lofty monarchs / they yet might truce extend
The knight of Bern gave message: / " How might such thing be?
For ne'er the royal Etzel / granteth to end it peacefully. "

2138

When a Hunnish warrior / saw standing Ruediger
As from eyes sore weeping / fell full many a tear,
To his royal mistress spake he: / " Behold how stands he there
With whom here by Etzel / none other may in might compare,

2139

" And who commandeth service / of lands and people all.
How many lordly castles / Ruediger his own doth call,
That unto him hath given / the bounty of the king!
Not yet in valorous conflict / saw'st thou here his sword to swing.

2140

" Methinks, but little recks he, / what may here betide,
Since now in fullest measure / his heart is satisfied.
'Tis told he is, surpassing / all men, forsooth, so keen,
But in this time of trials / his valor ill-displayed hath been. "

2141

Stood there full of sorrow / the brave and faithful man,
Yet whom he thus heard speaking / he cast his eyes upon.
Thought he: " Thou mak'st atonement, / who deem'st my mettle cold.
Thy thought here all too loudly / hast thou unto the people told. "

2142

His fist thereat he doubled / and upon him ran,
And smote with blow so mighty / there King Etzel's man
That prone before him straightway / fell that mocker dead.
So came but greater sorrow / on the royal Etzel's head.

2143

" Hence thou basest caitiff, " / cried then Ruediger;
" Here of pain and sorrow / enough I have to bear.
Wherefore wilt thou taunt me / that I the combat shun?
In sooth had I the utmost / of harm upon the strangers done,

2144

" For that good reason have I / to bear them hate indeed,
But that myself the warriors / as friends did hither lead.
Yea, was I their safe escort / into my master's land;
So may I, man most wretched, / ne'er raise against them hostile hand. "

2145

Then spake the lofty Etzel / unto the margrave:
" What aid, O noble Ruediger, / here at thy hands we have!
Our country hath so many / already doomed to die,
We need not any other: / now hast thou wrought full wrongfully. "

2146

Returned the knight so noble: / " My heart he sore hath grieved,
And reproached me for high honors / at thy hand received
And eke for gifts unto me / by thee so freely made;
Dearly for his slander / hath the base traducer paid. "

2147

When had the queen come hither / and had likewise seen
How on the Hunnish warrior / his wrath had vented been,
Incontinent she mourned it, / and tears bedimmed her sight.
Spake she unto Ruediger: / " How dost thou now our love requite,

2148

" That for me and thy master / thou bring'st increase of woe?
Now hast thou, noble Ruediger, / ever told us so,
How that thou life and honor / for our sake wouldst dare.
Eke heard I thanes full many / proclaim thee knight beyond compare.

2149

" Of the oath I now remind thee / that thou to me didst swear,
When counsel first thou gavest / to Etzel's land to fare,
That thou wouldst truly serve me / till one of us were dead:
Of that I wretched woman / never stood so sore in need. "

2150

" Nor do I, royal mistress, / deny that so I sware
That I for thy well-being / would life and honor dare:
But eke my soul to forfeit, / — that sware I not indeed
'Tis I thy royal brothers / hither to this land did lead. "

2151

Quoth she: " Bethink thee, Ruediger, / of thy fidelity
And oath once firmly plighted / that aught of harm to me
Should ever be avenged, / and righted every ill. "
Replied thereto the margrave: / " Ne'er have I failed to work thy will. "

2152

Etzel the mighty monarch / to implore him then began,
And king and queen together / down knelt before their man,
Whereat the good margrave / was seen in sorest plight,
And gan to mourn his station / in piteous words the faithful knight.

2153

" O woe is me most wretched, " / he sorrow-stricken cried,
" That forced I am my honor / thus to set aside,
And bonds of faith and friendship / God hath imposed on me.
O Thou that rul'st in heaven! / come death, I cannot yet be free.

2154

" Whate'er it be my effort / to do or leave undone,
I break both faith and honor / in doing either one;
But leave I both, all people / will cry me worthy scorn
May He look down in mercy / who bade me wretched man be born! "