LXVIII
Then spake the fainting warrior, "Dear uncle, kind and true, No more can it avail me whatever you can do.
But Oh! beware of Hagan; this seems me good to tell.
Heart had never champion so furious and so fell.
LXIX
"And if my loving kinsmen would sorrow o"er my clay, This to the best and nearest, dear uncle, of me say, That I need no lamenting, that tears were better dried, That "twas a king that slew me, and gloriously I died.
LXX
"Besides, in this wild slaughter I"ve sold my life so dear, That many a knight"s pale lady "twill cost full many a tear.
If any ask the question, straight let the truth be shown.
Here lie at least a hundred slain by this hand alone."
LXXI
Just then redoubted Hagan upon the gleeman thought, Whom the good knight Sir Hildebrand so late to death had brought.
Thus he bespake the conqueror, "You for my grief shall pay; Of many a valiant champion you"ve robb"d us here to-day."
LXXII
So struck he then at Hildebrand, that all at once might hear "Twas Balmung there was sounding, the sword that he whilere Had ta"en from n.o.ble Siegfried when he the hero slew.
Well was his onset warded by the graybeard stout and true.
LXXIII
Sir Dietrich"s aged liegeman the fearful stroke repaid With one that show"d, that he, too, wielded a griding blade; Still from the man of Gunther no drop of blood he drew.
Sir Hagan with a second cut his good hauberk through.
LXXIV
Soon as aged Hildebrand felt the sharp gash aright, He look"d for worse, by waiting, from Hagan"s stormy might; So o"er his back his buckler straight threw Sir Dietrich"s man, And swift, though sorely wounded, away from Hagan ran.
LXXV
Now not a man was living of that Burgundian train Gunther except, and Hagan, these the sole breathing twain.
Old Hildebrand thence hasted, with blood all dabbled o"er, And to the n.o.ble Dietrich his sorry tidings bore.
LXXVI
Apart he found him sitting, solemn and sad of cheer; What more might move his sorrow the prince had yet to hear.
Straight Hildebrand beheld he clad in his b.l.o.o.d.y mail; He ask"d him of his tidings, yet fear"d to hear his tale.
LXXVII
"Now tell me, Master Hildebrand, what brings you here so wet With life-blood? Who has done it? What mischief have you met?
I fear, you have been fighting in th" hall with yonder guests; I earnestly forbade it; you should have kept your lord"s behests."
LXXVIII
Straight his lord he answer"d, ""Twas Hagan did it all; This wound, that so is bleeding, he gave me in the hall, As from the knight I turn"d me, and would have left the strife.
Scarce from that very devil have I escaped with life."
LXXIX
Him thus the Berner answer"d, "This mishap"s your due; You heard me promise friendship to yonder knightly crew, And yet the peace I gave them you have presum"d to break, Were it not beneath me, your life for it I"d take."
Lx.x.x
"Nay, my good Lord Dietrich, be not so wroth of mood; To me and mine already has too much loss accrued.
We wish"d the n.o.ble Rudeger to take from where he died; We ask"d the men of Gunther, and proudly were denied."
Lx.x.xI
"Woe"s me for this misfortune! Is Rudeger then dead?
Him must I wail forever; now I indeed am sped.
Woe for the Lady Gotelind! My cousin"s child is she.
Woe, too, for the poor orphans that at Bechlaren be!"
Lx.x.xII
The margrave"s death impress"d him with pity and ruth so deep, He could refrain no longer, but straight began to weep.
"Alas! My faithful comrade! Such loss I needs must rue.
Ne"er can I cease bewailing King Etzel"s liegeman true.
Lx.x.xIII
"Come now, Master Hildebrand, the truth discover plain, Tell me, who"s the champion, who has the margrave slain."
Said he, ""Twas n.o.ble Gernot whose strength the margrave sped; He by the hand of Rudeger in turn was stricken dead."
Lx.x.xIV