"Why diedst thou, Heinz, so early, And scarce wast yet a man? Thou'rt fallen in battle fairly; For thee I'll not complain. Thee, Prince, we have deliver'd; From danger thou art free: The boy and I are sever'd; I give my son to thee." Then Burgundy our chief, His eyes grew moist and dim; He felt such joy and grief, So great that love to him. His heart was melting, flaming, He fell on Eckart's breast, With sobbing voice exclaiming: "Eckart, my champion best, Thou stoodst when every other Had fled from me away; Therefore thou art my brother Forever from this day. The people shall regard thee As wert thou of my line; And could I more reward thee, How gladly were it thine!" And when we heard the same, We joy'd as did our prince; And Trusty Eckart is the name We've call'd him ever since. The voice of an old peasant sounded over the rocks, as he sang this ballad; and the Trusty Eckart sat in his grief, on the declivity of the hill, and wept aloud. His youngest boy was standing by him: "Why weepest thou aloud, my father Eckart?" said he: "Art thou not great and strong, taller and braver than any other man? Whom, then, art thou afraid of?" Meanwhile the Duke of Burgundy was moving homewards to his Tower. Burgundy was mounted on a stately horse, with splendid trappings; and the gold and jewels of the princely Duke were glittering in the evening sun; so that little Conrad could not sate himself with viewing and admiring the magnificent procession. The Trusty Eckart rose, and looked gloomily over it; and young Conrad, when the hunting train had disappeared, struck up this stave: On good steed, Sword and shield Wouldst thou wield, With spear and arrow; Then had need That the marrow In thy arm, That thy heart and blood, Be good, To save thy head from harm. The old man clasped his son to his bosom, looking with wistful tenderness on his clear blue eyes. "Didst thou hear that good man's song?" said he. "Ay, why not?" answered Conrad: "he sang it loud enough, and thou art the Trusty Eckart thyself, so I liked to listen." "That same Duke is now my enemy," said Eckart; "he keeps my other son in prison, nay has already put him to death, if I may credit what the people say." "Take down thy broad-sword, and do not suffer it," cried Conrad; "they will tremble to see thee, and all the people in the whole land will stand by thee, for thou art their greatest hero in the land." "Not so, my son," said the other; "I were then the man my enemies have called me; I dare not be unfaithful to my liege; no, I dare not break the peace which I have pledged to him, and promised on his hand." "But what wants he with us, then?" said Conrad, impatiently.