Ah! what good knights among them rein'd the proud battle-steed! To their good lord Sir Dietrich the news was brought with speed With Gunther's knights forbade he his knights a lance to cross, Naught from such game forboding but grief and deadly loss. XXVII When now from out the tilt-yard the men of Bern were gone, Sir Rudeger's retainers before the hall came on, Five hundred from Bechlaren with shields and armor gay. Well had it pleas'd the margrave had they been far away. XXVIII Then he rode in his wisdom up to the muster'd band, And earnestly bespake them, and gave to understand, That Gunther's men were sullen and all on mischief bent; If they would quit the tourney, 'twould give him much content. XXIX When thence were now departed the margrave's warriors bold, Then came the men of Thüringen, as has to us been told, And from the realm of Denmark a thousand proud and high. Then from the crashing lances were seen the shivers fly. XXX Irnfried then and Hawart into the tourney rode. Proudly the bold Burgundians their sturdy brunt abode. The noble knights of Thüringen they met in many a joust, And many a glittering buckler pierc'd through with many a thrust. XXXI Sir Blœdel with three thousand rode forward frank and free; By Etzel and by Kriemhild full well observ'd was he; Before them both, his tilting perform'd each gallant knight; Through hate to the Burgundians it gave the queen delight. XXXII She ponder'd thus in secret (as nigh to pass it came), "Should they by chance hurt any, at once this gentle game Would turn to bloody earnest; then I on these my foes Should be reveng'd for ever, and quit of all my woes." XXXIII Schrutan and stout Gibek into the tourney rode, And Ramung and swift Hornbog after the Hunnish mode. Against the bold Burgundians they knightly bore them all; High flew the whizzing splinters o'er the king's mighty hall. XXXIV And yet all their performance was but an empty sound. Hall might you hear and palace with clashing shields resound, Where rode the men of Gunther: by them proud deeds were done. His train of that fair tourney the highest honors won. XXXV So great was then the pastime when front to front they met, That through the reeking foot-cloths forth burst the frothy sweat From the high-mettled coursers which the good knights bestrode, As 'gainst the lords of Hungary in haughty wise they rode. XXXVI Then spake the noble minstrel Folker with scornful glance, "These knights, methinks, will never confront us lance to lance. I hear it loudly rumor'd they bear us mortal spite; Surely can they never find better time to fight. XXXVII