Classic Poem

2255

" Me did my master Dietrich / hither to you command:
If now the noble margrave / hath fallen 'neath the hand
Of any knight among you, / as word to us is borne,
Such a mighty sorrow / might we never cease to mourn. "

2256

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " True is the tale ye hear.
Though glad I were, if to you / had lied the messenger,
And if the faithful Ruediger / still his life might keep,
For whom both man and woman / must ever now in sorrow weep! "

2257

When they for sooth the passing / of the hero knew,
Those gallant knights bemoaned him / like faithful friends and true;
On Dietrich's lusty warriors / saw ye fall the tear
Adown the bearded visage, / for sad of heart in truth they were.

2258

Of Bern then a chieftain, / Siegstab, further cried:
" Of all the mickle comfort / now an end is made,
That Ruediger erst prepared us / after our days of pain.
The joy of exiled people / here lieth by you warriors slain. "

2259

Then spake of Amelungen / the thane Wolfwein:
" If that this day beheld I / dead e'en sire of mine,
No more might be my sorrow / than for this hero's life.
Alack! who bringeth comfort / now to the noble margrave's wife? "

2260

Spake eke in angry humor / Wolfhart a stalwart thane:
" Who now shall lead our army / on the far campaign,
As full oft the margrave / of old hath led our host?
Alack! O noble Ruediger, / that in such manner thee we've lost! "

2261

Wolfbrand and Helfrich / and Helmnot with warriors all
Mourned there together / that he in death must fall
For sobbing might not further / question Hildebrand
He spake: " Now do, ye warriors, / according to my lord's command

2262

" Yield unto us Ruediger's / corse from out the hall,
In whose death to sorrow / hath passed our pleasure all;
And let us do him service / for friendship true of yore
That e'er for us he cherished / and eke for many a stranger more.

2263

" We too from home are exiles / like unto Ruediger.
Why keep ye us here waiting? / Him grant us hence to bear,
That e'en though death hath reft him / our service he receive,
Though fairer had we paid it / the while the hero yet did live. "

2264

Thereto spake King Gunther: / " No service equal may
That which, when death hath reft him, / to friend a friend doth pay.
Him deem I friend right faithful, / whoe'er the same may do.
Well make ye here requital / for many a service unto you. "

2265

" How long shall we beseech you, " / spake Wolfhart the thane;
" Since he that best consoled us / by you now lieth slain,
And we, alas, no longer / his living aid may have,
Grant us hence to bear him / and lay the hero in his grave. "

2266

Thereto answered Volker: / " Thy prayer shall all deny.
From out the hall thou take him, / where doth the hero lie
'Neath deep wounds and mortal / in blood now smitten down.
So may be thee best service / here to Ruediger be shown. "

2267

Answered Wolfhart boldly: / " Sir Fiddleman, God wot
Thou shalt forbear to stir us, / for woe on us thou'st wrought.
Durst I despite my master, / uncertain were thy life;
Yet must we here keep silence, / for he did bid us shun the strife. "

2268

Then spake again the Fiddler: / " 'Tis all too much of fear,
For that a thing's forbidden, / meekly to forbear.
Scarce may I deem it valor / worthy good knight to tell. "
What said his faithful comrade, / did please the doughty Hagen well.

2269

" For proof be not o'er-eager, " / Wolfhart quick replied,
" Else so I'll tune thy fiddle / that when again ye ride
Afar unto Rhine river, / sad tale thou tellest there.
Thy haughty words no longer / may I now with honor bear. "

2270

Spake once more the Fiddler: / " If e'er the harmony
Of my fiddle-strings thou breakest, / thy helmet's sheen shall be
Made full dim of lustre / by stroke of this my hand,
Howe'er fall out my journey / homeward to Burgundian land. "

2271

Then would he rush upon him / but that him did restrain
Hildebrand his uncle / who seized him amain.
" I ween thou would'st be witless, / by youthful rage misled.
My master's favor had'st thou / evermore thus forfeited. "

2272

" Let loose the lion, Master, / that doth rage so sore.
If but my sword may reach him, " / spake Volker further more,
" Though he the world entire / by his own might had slain,
I'll smite him that an answer / never may he chant again. "

2273

Thereat with anger straightway / the men of Bern were filled.
Wolfhart, thane right valiant, / grasped in haste his shield,
And like to a wild lion / out before them sped.
By friends a goodly number / full quickly was he followed.

2274

Though by the hall went striding / ne'er so swift the thane,
O'ertook him Master Hildebrand / ere he the steps might gain,
For nowise would he let him / be foremost in the fray.
In the stranger warriors / worthy foemen soon found they.