rom me. Come
hither, thou bold man. What thou gavest me I will earn to the uttermost."

Or the Margrave had fought his way to him, bright bucklers grew dim with
blood. Then, greedy of fame, the men ran at each other, and began to
ward off the deadly wounds. But their swords were so sharp that nothing
could withstand them. Rudeger the knight smote Gernot through his
flint-hard helmet, that the blood brake out. Soon the good warrior was
avenged. He swung Rudeger's gift on high, and, albeit he was wounded to
the death, he smote him through his good shield and his helmet, that
Gotelind's husband died. So rich a gift was never worse requited. So
they fell in the strife--Gernot and Rudeger--slain by each other's hand.

Thereat Hagen waxed grimmer than afore. The hero of Trony said, "Great
woe is ours. None can ever make good to their folk and their land the
loss of these two knights. Rudeger's men shall pay for it." They gave
no quarter. Many were struck down unwounded that had come to, but that
they were drowned in the blood.

"Woe is me for my brother, fallen dead! Each hour bringeth fresh dole.
For my father-in-law, Rudeger, I grieve also. Twofold is my loss and my
sorrow."

When Giselher saw his brother slain, they that were in the hall suffered
for it. Death lagged not behind. Of the men of Bechlaren there was left
not a living soul.

Gunther and Giselher, and eke Hagen, Dankwart and Folker, the good
knights, went where the two warriors lay, and there the heroes wept
piteously.

"Death hath despoiled us sore," said Giselher the youth. "Stop your
weeping, and go out to the air, that we strife-weary ones may cool our
harness. God will not let us live longer, I ween."

They that were without saw them sitting, or leaning and taking their
rest. Rudeger's men were all slain; the din was hushed. The silence
endured so long that Etzel was angered, and the king's wife cried, "Woe
is me for this treason. They speak too long. The bodies of our foemen
are left unscathed by Rudeger's hand. He plotteth to guide them back to
Burgundy. What doth it profit us, King Etzel, that we have shared all
our wealth with him? The knight hath done falsely. He that should have
avenged us cometh to terms with them."

But Folker, the valiant warrior, answered her, "Alack! it is not so,
noble queen. If I might give the lie to one so high-born as thou art,
thou hast foully slandered Rudeger. Sorry terms have he and