"The fact, if still you're doubting, before your eyes we'll bring." 'Twas done e'en of set purpose her heart the more to wring. They brought the mangled margrave, where Etzel saw him well. Th' assembled knights of Hungary such utter anguish ne'er befell. CI When thus held high before them they saw the margrave dead, Sure by the choicest writer could ne'er be penn'd nor said The woful burst of wailing from woman and eke from man, That from the heart's deep sorrow to strike all ears began. CII Above his weeping people King Etzel sorrow'd sore; His deep-voiced wail resounded loud as the lion's roar In the night-shaded desert; the like did Kriemhild too; They mourn'd in heart for Rudeger, the valiant and the true. THIRTY-EIGHTH ADVENTURE HOW SIR DIETRICH'S MEN WERE ALL SLAIN I The cry of lamentation now spread so far around That tower and hall and palace rang with the rueful sound. A certain Berner heard it, the noble Dietrich's man. To tell the bloody tidings, how swift away he ran! II Then thus the prince bespake he, "Sir Dietrich, hear my tale; Surely heard I never such wild and woful wail, As in my ears is ringing, through all the life I've past. The king himself, I doubt not, has join'd the feast at last. III "Why else should such loud sorrow through all the people spread? The king, or Lady Kriemhild, or both of them are dead, By those redoubted strangers laid low through fell despite; So weeping and so wailing is many a courtly knight." IV Then outspake the Berner, "My merrymen every one, Now be not over-hasty; what has e'en now been done By those home-distant champions, through hard constraint befell. I proffer'd them my service, now let it boot them well." V Quick then spake Sir Wolfhart, "Straight I'll thither run, And inquire the tidings, what the guests have done, Then, my good lord, will tell you, when I there have been And of the truth possess'd me, what all this wail may mean." VI Thereto replied Sir Dietrich, "When the heart is gall, Should reckless, rough inquiries just then perchance befall, Wrath's yet glowing embers flame up with ease anew. I would not have the question, good Wolfhart, ask'd by you." VII Then turn'd he to Sir Helfrich, and bade him speed his best, And either from Hungarian or from stranger guest Learn what had really happen'd, that so their grief had stirr'd. Ne'er had in any country so wild a wail been heard. VIII The messenger 'gan question, "Why what has here been done?" "Oh! we are lost forever!" straight replied a Hun. "All joy's forever vanish'd, that cheer'd King Etzel's reign. Here lies the noble Rudeger, by yon Burgundians slain. IX