"The danger-daring Helfrich, his doom has he too met? Gerbart and valiant Wichart, how can I these forget? My friends are dead together; who so bereft as I? Ah! woe is me, that wretches of grief can never die." THIRTY-NINTH ADVENTURE HOW GUNTHER AND HAGAN AND KRIEMHILD WERE SLAIN I Then took the good Sir Dietrich himself his mail in hand; His ready aid to arm him gave aged Hildebrand. Such piteous moan then made he the while, that mighty man, That with his voice of thunder the house to ring began. II Yet soon did he recover his high heroic mood. In wrath he donn'd his harness, and ready now he stood. A shield of prov'd allowance he grasp'd in his strong hand, And thence in haste forth sallied with Master Hildebrand. III Then spake the Knight of Trony, "I yonder see come on With sturdy strides Sir Dietrich; he'll fight with us anon To venge his slaughter'd kinsmen whom we have done to die. To-day shall all bear witness, who best his sword can ply. IV "Howe'er himself may value the haughty Lord of Bern, Though ne'er so stout of body, of mood though ne'er so stern, If us for our late doings he now attempt to quit, He'll find in me," said Hagan, "an equal opposite." V Dietrich as well as Hildebrand the words of Hagan caught; He came, and close together the twain, whom here he sought, Outside the house and leaning against the wall he found. Sir Dietrich straight his buckler set down upon the ground. VI With anguish deep impassion'd the warrior thus began, "Why have you thus entreated a wandering banish'd man? What have I done, King Gunther, that you should serve me so? I'm reft of all my comfort, all at a single blow. VII "It seem'd you all too little, that to our loss and pain By your hands our comrade, good Rudeger, was slain; And now you have bereft me my warriors every one. I, sure, to you, ye heroes, such wrong would ne'er have don. VIII "Think of yourselves, your sorrow, your long disastrous toil, The death of your brave comrades in this abhorréd broil, If to the dust with anguish it bows your lofty cheer. Ah! how my heart is bleeding for the death of Rudeger! IX "In all the world before us such horror ne'er befell. On me you've brought destruction and on yourselves as well. All joys I had whatever, by you they all lie slain; Ne'er for his slaughtered kinsmen can Dietrich cease to plain." X "Nay," replied Sir Hagan, "we're not so much to blame; To this house in harness your eager warriors came, In one broad band advancing, embattled fierce and bold. The truth, methinks, Sir Dietrich, you've not been fairly told." XI