his helmet on,
he weened that he meant them well. The noble king was right glad. "Well
for me that I have such friends," cried Giselher, "as these we won by the
way! For my wife's sake he will save us. By my faith, I am glad to be
wed."

"Thy trust is vain," said the fiddler. "When ever did ye see so many
knights come in peace, with helmets laced on, and with swords? Rudeger
cometh to serve for his castles and his lands."

Or the fiddler had made an end of speaking, Rudeger, the noble man, stood
before the house. He laid his good shield before his feet. He must
needs deny greeting to his friends.

Then the Margrave shouted into the hall, "Stand on your defence, ye bold
Nibelungs. I would have helped you, but must slay you. Once we were
friends, but I cannot keep my faith."

The sore-tired men were dismayed at this word. Their comfort was gone,
for he that they loved was come against them. From their foemen they had
suffered enow.

"God in Heaven forbid," said Gunther the knight, "that thou shouldst be
false to the friendship and the faith wherein we trusted. It cannot be."

"I cannot help it," said Rudeger. "I must fight with you, for I have
vowed it. As ye love your lives, bold warriors, ward you well. King
Etzel's wife will have it so."

"Thou turnest too late," said the king. "God reward thee, noble Rudeger,
for the truth and the love thou hast shown us, if it endure but to the
end. We shall ever thank and serve thee for the rich gifts thou gavest
to me and my kinsmen, when thou broughtest us with true heart into
Etzel's land: so thou let us live. Think well thereon, noble Rudeger."

"Gladly would I grant it," said the knight. "Might I but give thee
freely, as I would, with none to chide me!"

"Give that no thought," said Gernot. "Never host entreated guests so
kindly as thou us; the which will advantage thee if we live."

"Would to God, noble Gernot," cried Rudeger, "that ye were at the Rhine,
and I dead with honour, since I must fight with you! Never strangers
were worse entreated by friends."

"God reward thee, Sir Rudeger," answered Gernot, "for thy rich gifts. I
should rue thy death, for in thee a virtuous man would fall. Behold,
good knight, the sword thou gavest, in my hand. It hath never failed me
in my need. Its edge hath killed many a warrior. It is finely tempered
and stark, and thereto bright and good. So goodly a gift, I ween, never
knight will give more. If tho