Who first did give me life!”
He besought the King to take back all the lands and honors that he held in fee, and let him retire with his followers to his castle, a poor man, rather than force him to attack the friends whom he had welcomed in all love and loyalty, who had slept beneath his roof, and to one of whom indeed his daughter was betrothed. But he pleaded in vain, for Kriemhild firmly held him to his word, while the King promised him still greater riches and honor if he would rid him of his foes.
At last Rüdiger yielded. He agreed to keep his oath and give his life in payment for the kindnesses he had received from his sovereigns; he commended his wife and daughter to their care, then sorrowfully sought his followers and bade them arm for battle with the Burgundians.
When Volker saw the band of knights approaching, his heart sank, but Giselher cried joyfully: “Well for us all was it that I was betrothed to Rüdiger’s daughter, for now our gallant friend comes to bring us peace!”
“Nay, my lord! he who brings peace comes not in this array,” replied Volker.
Pausing before the palace, Rüdiger placed his shield upon the ground, but no friendly greeting did he pay the Burgundians as was his wont. In lieu thereof he renounced his loyalty to them and challenged them to combat. Great was their distress thus to be forced to strife with friends after struggling against so many foes; and Günther cried: “Now Heaven forbid, Sir Knight, that thou shouldst do our friendship such wrong!”
“There is no help for it, alas!” replied Rüdiger, “since the Queen demands of me fulfilment of a vow!”
Then said Gernot: “This sword was thy gift to me, most noble Rüdiger, when thou didst welcome us beneath thy roof; never hath it failed me in time of need, and shall I turn it now against thee, the giver, to bring thy noble wife to widowhood?”
“Would to God that I indeed were dead!” cried Rüdiger. “If thou go safe from hence, full well I know thou wilt bring comfort to my wife and daughter.”
Then commending himself to God, he lifted his shield and was about to rush into the hall, when Hagen shouted to him from the stairway: “Behold, Sir Rüdiger, my sorry plight! This shield, which thy wife gave me in happier hours, hath been so hacked and hewed by hostile Huns that no longer may it serve for my defence. Had I another such as that which thou dost bear, I would go undismayed again to battle!”