Even me and my loyal kinsmen, and my vassals stout and true,
Whosoever had wronged thee, Lady, we would make him bitterly rue.”
Then the face of the lady lightened, her eyes like steel flashed keen—
“Swear unto me,” she answered, “whatsoever my wrong hath been,
That, Rüdiger, thou wilt be foremost to avenge me with heart and hand.”
Made answer to her the Margrave: “Unto this, Queen, will I stand.”
For himself and for all his vassals Rüdiger sware to her then
To the death evermore to serve her, and that he and his mighty men
Would deny or delay her nothing afar in Etzel’s land,
Whatsoever her honour demanded; and to this he gave his hand.