And my love and my loyal service for ever shalt thou win.”
“Yea, of a surety I help thee,” the minstrel made reply;
“And though I beheld against us a king of the earth draw nigh
With all his knights about him, so long as endureth my life,
Through fear will I ne’er draw backward one foot from thy side in the strife.”
“Now God in Heaven reward thee, Volker, thou peerless of worth!
Though all these rise up against us, what need I more on earth?
If thou but stand mine helper, as now thou hast said in mine ear,
These knights have need to be wary of coming a step more near.”
“Now,” said the viol-minstrel, “rise we up from our seat