ward befell. They scorned, through pride, to tell their wrong.

The queen advanced with a great crowd of folk, but the twain moved not
two hands' breadth, whereat the Huns were wroth, for they had to press
past the heroes. This pleased not Etzel's chamberlains, and they had
gladly quarrelled with them, had they dared before the king. There was
much jostling, and nothing more.

When the mass was over, many a Hun sprang to horse. With Kriemhild were
also many beautiful maidens. Kriemhild sat by Etzel at a window with her
women, to see the bold warriors ride, the which the king loved to do.
Ha! many a stranger knight spurred below in the court!

The marshal brought out the horses. Bold Dankwart had gathered together
his master's followers from Burgundy. Well-saddled horses were led up
for the Nibelungs. When the kings and their men were mounted, Folker
counselled them to joust after the fashion of their country. Full
knightly they rode in the tourney. The counsel was welcome to all, and a
mighty din and clang of arms soon arose in the great tilt-yard, while
Etzel and Kriemhild looked on.

Sixty of Dietrich's knights spurred forward to meet the strangers. They
were eager for the onset, had Dietrich allowed it, for goodly men were
his. But it irked him when he heard thereof, and forbade them to cross
lances with Gunther's warriors. He feared it might go hard with his
knights.

When the knights of Bern were gone out of the yard, five hundred of
Rudeger's men of Bechlaren rode up before the castle, with their
shields. The Margrave had been better pleased if they had stayed away.
He pressed through the crowd, and said to them that they themselves knew
how that Gunther's men were wroth, and that he would have them quit the
tourney.

When these also had gone back, they say that the knights of Thueringen
and a thousand bold Danes rode in. Then the splinters flew from the
lances. Irnfried and Hawart rode into the tourney. The Rhinelanders met
them proudly. They encountered the men of Thueringen in many a joust;
pierced was many a shield.

Sir Bloedel came on with three thousand. Etzel and Kriemhild saw plainly
all that passed below. The queen rejoiced, by reason of the hate she
bare the Burgundians. She thought in her heart,--what happed or long--"If
they wounded any, the sport might turn to a battle. I would fain be
revenged on my foes; certes, it would not grieve me."

Schrutan and Gibek came next,