answered, "If they have done this, their life shall pay for it.
It were shameful to endure it. For oft hath Rudeger's hand served us."

The prince of Amelung bade them inquire further. He sat down at a window
sore troubled, and bade Hildebrand go to the guests, and ask them what
had happened.

Master Hildebrand, bold in strife, took with him neither shield nor
sword, and would have gone to them on peaceful wise. But his sister's
child chid him. Grim Wolfhart cried, "Why goest thou naked? If they
revile thee, thou wilt have the worst of the quarrel, and return shamed.
If thou goest armed, none will withstand thee."

The old man armed him as the youth had counselled. Or he had ended, all
Dietrich's knights stood in their harness, sword in hand. It irked the
warrior, and he had gladly turned them from their purpose. He asked
their intent.

"We would follow thee," they answered. "What if Hagen of Trony, as his
wont is, mock thee?" Whereupon Hildebrand consented.

When bold Folker saw the knights of Bern, Dietrich's men, girt with
swords, and coming armed, with shields in their hands, he told his
masters of Burgundy. He said, "Dietrich's men draw nigh like foemen,
armed, and in helmets. They come to defy us. I ween it will go hard
with us forlorn ones."

Hildebrand came up while he spake. He laid his shield at his feet, and
said to Gunther's men, "Alack! ye good knights! What have ye done to
Rudeger? Dietrich, my master, sent me hither to ask if any here slew the
good Margrave, as they tell us. We could ill endure such loss."

Hagen of Trony answered, "The news is true. Glad were I had the
messenger lied to thee, for Rudeger's sake, and that he lived still.
Both men and women must evermore bewail him."

When they heard he was dead in sooth, all the warriors wept, as was
meet. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrich's men. Right heavy
were they and doleful.

A duke of Bern that hight Siegstab, cried, "Now is ended all the loving
kindness wherewith Rudeger cheered our sad days. Ye have slain, in
Rudeger, the friend of all homeless knights."

Sir Wolfwine of Amelung said, "I had not grieved more this day to see my
father dead. Woe is me! Who will comfort the good Margravine?"

Sir Wolfhart cried angrily, "Who will lead the warriors forth to battle
now, as Rudeger so oft hath done. Woe is me for brave Rudeger! We have
lost him!"

Wolfbrand and Helfrich and eke Helmnot wept for his dea