At once his fist he doubled, and fiercely on him ran. Such a fearful buffet he dealt the Hunnish man, As needed not a second; dead at his feet he lay. This wrung the heart of Etzel and heighten'd his dismay. IX "Away with thee, base babbler!" (thus the good margrave spake) "Here have I pain and trouble enough my heart to break, And thou, too, must revile me, as here I would not fight! These guests I should with reason have held in high despite, X "And plagued them to my utmost alike in act and thought, But that I the warriors myself had hither brought. I was their guide and conduct into my master's land; Against them ne'er can Rudeger uplift his wanderer's hand." XI Then unto the margrave spake Etzel standing near, "How have you this day help'd us, right noble Rudeger! When dead in such abundance our bleeding country fill, More we nothing needed; you've done us grievous ill." XII The noble knight made answer, "I own he stirr'd my mood, Twitting me with the favors (brawler coarse and rude!) That thy free hand so largely has shower'd upon me here; But his malicious tattle hath cost the liar dear." XIII Then came the fair Queen Kriemhild; she too had seen full well What from the hero's anger the luckless Hun befell; And she too mourn'd it deeply; with tears her eyes were wet. Thus she spake to Rudeger, "How have we ever yet XIV "Deserv'd, that you, good Rudeger, should make our anguish more; Now sure to me and Etzel you've promised o'er and o'er, That you both life and honor would risk to do us right. That you're the flower of knighthood, is own'd by every knight. XV "Now think upon the homage that once to me you swore, When to the Rhine, good warrior, King Etzel's suit you bore, That you would serve me ever to either's dying day. Ne'er can I need so deeply, that you that vow should pay." XVI "Tis true, right noble lady; in this we're not at strife; I pledg'd, to do you service, my honor and my life, But my soul to hazard never did I vow. I brought the princes hither, and must not harm them now." XVII Said she, "Remember, Rudeger, the promise thou didst make, Thy word, thy oath remember that thou would'st vengeance take On whosoever wrong'd me, and wrong with wrong repay." Thereto replied the margrave, "I've never said you nay." XVIII With that, to beg and pray him the king began as well; King and queen together both at his feet they fell. Then might you the good margrave have seen full ill bestead, And thus in bitterest anguish the faithful hero said. XIX "Woe's me the heaven-abandon'd, that I have liv'd to this! Farewell to all my honors! woe for my first amiss! My truth--my God-giv'n innocence--must they be both forgot? Woe's me, O God in heaven! that death relieves me not! XX