All blood-bedabbled hasted Hildebrand the old, And he came to the presence of Dietrich, and his woeful story told. There saw he his master sitting with dark forebodings stirred; But tidings of bitterer sorrow that princely hero heard When he saw his liegeman standing in crimson-clotted mail; And with sudden fear heart-stricken he bade him tell his tale: {P. 316} "Ha, Master Hildebrand, tell me, how cometh this?--thou art wet With thine own life-blood streaming! Of whom hast thou been beset? I ween, with the guests Burgundian in yonder hall thou hast fought-- The thing I forbade so straitly! Thou hast set mine best at nought!" Spake Hildebrand to his liege-lord: "Hagen's was this deed: In yonder hall he dealt me the wounds wherefrom I bleed. When before the mighty warrior I turned me from the strife, Hardly from that fiend's fury escaped I with my life." But the Prince of Bern made answer: "Rightly served art thou! Unto yonder guests in thine hearing I spake my friendship's vow; And lo, that peace thou hast broken which I sware unto them that day! Were it not for the shame undying[12], thy life for this should pay!" "Let not thine anger against me, Lord Dietrich, be over-hot, Seeing mischief all too grievous unto me and my friends hath been wrought. Forth of the hall the body of Rüdiger fain would we bear, And yonder vassals of Gunther would hearken not to our prayer." "Woe for these sorrowful tidings! Is Rüdiger verily slain? This shall to me be anguish beyond all former pain. The noble Lady Gotlind is mine own dear cousin's child! Alas for the hapless orphans in Bechlaren's halls exiled!" With sorrow of heart and pity for that death wrung was his breast. Then brake he forth into weeping, for the hero was sore distrest: "Alas for the loyal helper that in him is lost unto me! O good knight of King Etzel, evermore must I mourn for thee! Canst, Master Hildebrand, tell me how died he, and cause me to know How named was the knight Burgundian who dealt him that death-blow?" He said: "By the battle-prowess of Gernot the strong was it done, And death in the selfsame moment of Rüdiger's hands he won." Unto Hildebrand spake Dietrich: "Say to my liegemen thou To array them in armour straightway. Myself will go forth now. {P. 317} Let them bring me my shining harness withal: do thou so command. Myself am minded to question the knights of Burgundia-land." But Master Hildebrand answered: "Who shall go forth with thee? Thine only living liegeman in thy presence now dost thou see, Even me, and there is none other. The rest, they be all dead men." Dismayed was he at the tidings--well might he be anguished then, For in all the wide world never on him did such blow fall. He cried: "What, all my liegemen?--and have they perished all? So then--oh hapless Dietrich!--my God hath forgotten me! And erewhile a king most mighty I reigned in majesty!"