t court."

He clenched his fist, and ran at him, and smote the Hun so fiercely that
he fell down at his feet, dead. Whereat Etzel's grief waxed anew.

"Away with thee, false babbler!" cried Rudeger. "I had trouble and
sorrow enow. What was it to thee that I fought not? Good cause have I
also to hate the strangers, and had done what I could against them, but
that I brought them hither. I was their escort into my master's land,
and may not lift my wretched hand against them."

Then said Etzel, the great king, to the Margrave, "How hast thou helped
us, most noble Rudeger? We had dead men enow in the land, and needed no
more. Evilly hast thou done."

But the knight answered, "He angered me, and twitted me with the honour
and the wealth thou hast bestowed on me so plenteously. It hath cost the
liar dear."

Then came the queen, that had seen the Hun perish by Rudeger's wrath.
She mourned for him with wet eyes, and said to Rudeger, "What have we
ever done to thee that thou shouldst add to our sorrow? Thou hast oft
times promised, noble Rudeger, that thou wouldst risk, for our sake, both
honour and life, and I have heard many warriors praise thee for thy
valour. Hast thou forgotten the oath thou swearest to me with thy hand,
good knight, when thou didst woo me for King Etzel--how that thou
wouldst serve me till my life's end, or till thine? Never was my need
greater than now."

"It is true, noble lady. I promised to risk for thee honour and life,
but I sware not to lose my soul. I brought the princes to this hightide."

She said, "Remember, Rudeger, thy faith, and thine oath to avenge all my
hurt and my woe."

The Margrave answered, "I have never said thee nay."

Etzel began to entreat likewise. They fell at his feet. Sore troubled
was the good Margrave. Full of grief, he cried, "Woe is me that ever I
saw this hour, for God hath forsaken me. All my duty to Heaven, mine
honour, my good faith, my knightliness, I must forego. God above have
pity, and let me die! Whether I do this thing, or do it not, I sin. And
if I take the part of neither, all the world will blame me. Let Him that
made me guide me."

Still the king and his wife implored him. Whence it fell that many
valiant warriors lost their lives at his hand, and the hero himself was
slain. Hear ye now the tale of his sorrow. Well he knew he could win
naught but teen and scathe. Fain had he denied the prayer of the king
and queen. He fear