2143.
“Away with thee, base scoundrel!” thereon said Rüdeger;
“Of trouble and of sorrow I have enough to bear!
If I refrain from fighting, why tauntest me for that?
In sooth I have good reason to bear the strangers hate,
2144.
“And all that strength avail’d me I had against them wrought,
Were ’t not that I the warriors myself have hither brought.
’Twas I, in sooth, who led them into my master’s land:
I cannot raise against them, therefore, my luckless hand.”
2145.
Then answer to the margrave the great King Etzel made:
“O Rüdeger most noble, how hast thou lent us aid!
So many dead already we in the land must own,
No more of them were needed! much evil hast thou done.”
2146.
The noble knight made answer: “The fellow made me wroth
By casting up against me the wealth and honour both
That by thy hands so freely have been bestow’d on me:
The liar got his guerdon a whit unluckily.”
2147.
Now came the queen unto them, who eke had plainly seen
What, through the hero’s anger, the Hun’s reward had been.
Beyond all bounds complain’d she; tears from her eyes she shed
To Rüdeger thus spake she: “How have we merited
2148.
“That you the king’s misfortune and mine make all the more?
At all times, noble Rüdeger, you promised heretofore
That you would in our service risk honour and eke life.
I’ve heard the knights award you the meed in many a strife.
