Then did that peerless warrior uplift a shattering shout: Like the horn of a wild bull blaring his mighty voice rang out, {P. 272} That through all the wide-built fortress its thunder-echoes rolled; So great was the strength of Dietrich, its measure may not be told. Then heard that shout King Gunther, and he hearkened thereunto As it pealed o'er the battle-tempest, and the voice of the hero he knew; And he cried: "The voice of Dietrich!--it fell on mine ear but now. Our knights in the battle have smitten a friend of his, I trow. There on the table I see him: he beckoneth with his hand. Ho ye, my friends and kinsmen, knights of Burgundia-land, From the strife for a little refrain you, that so we may hear and see What hurt hath been done unto Dietrich by them of my company." So the knights at the prayer of Gunther, at the warrior king's behest, Let sink their swords, and the fury of fight for a space had rest. By that sudden peace did Gunther his power unto all men show: Then straightway he asked of Dietrich wherefore he cried to him so. He said: "O noble Dietrich, now who hath lifted a hand Of any my friends against thee? Willing and ready I stand To make unto thee atonement, and thy claim to satisfy. If any had done thee a mischief, grieved to the heart were I." Made answer the noble Dietrich: "No wrong hath been wrought unto me. But let me in peace and safety forth of the hall go free, And take with me all my people out of the bitter strife; So will I to thee of a surety be beholden all my life." "Wherefore so soon," cried Wolfhart, "a grace of him dost implore? Yon viol-minstrel hath barred not, I wot, so fast the door, But that wide ourselves can set it, till we all therethrough have won." "Thou, hold thy peace!" said Dietrich, "no smallest deed hast thou done." Spake unto him King Gunther: "This I accord unto you. Lead all forth of the palace, many be they or few, So they be not my foemen: of these forth goeth none, For of these foul wrong hath been done me here in the land of the Hun." When Dietrich the noble heard it, around the high-born Queen Cast he an arm of protection--her fear was deadly-keen!-- {P. 273} And forth of the hall King Etzel he drew with the other hand; And after Dietrich followed six hundred knights of his band.