Rüdiger overheard these words and was seized with a mighty wrath thereat. Clinching his fist he smote the insolent scoffer with such giant force that he dropped lifeless at his feet.
At that same moment Etzel appeared in the courtyard. “How now, Sir Knight?” he cried, “that is an evil deed of thine. Are there not dead enough, forsooth, that thou shouldst seek to add to them?”
The Queen too was about to reproach him bitterly, when suddenly she bethought her of the vow Rüdiger made to her when he came to Worms to urge King Etzel’s suit. “Bethink thee of thy oath, Sir Rüdiger,” she cried, solemnly. “Didst thou not swear to serve me loyally and faithfully to avenge all my wrongs?”
“That did I truly, most noble lady,” replied Rüdiger, “nor would I fail to risk my life in thy cause. But ’tis my soul that I should lose were I to be at strife with these thy guests, for ’twas as friends I brought them hither to thy court!”
Yet still the Queen demanded vengeance on her foes, and Etzel thereto joined his prayers, till Rüdiger in bitter anguish cried:
“Oh, woe is me, forsaken one,
That ever I was born!
Oh, woe’s the day, that I must be
Of all my honor shorn!
Of truth and gentleness of mind