Never the King would forgive me, if I wrought them aught of ill.”

“Nay, fear not thou, Lord Blödel; thy friend evermore will I stand,

And with guerdon of my silver and my gold will I fill thine hand,

And will give thee to wife that fair-one who was plighted Nudung’s bride,

And in cherishing her beauty shall thine heart be satisfied.

Her land withal and her castles will I give to be thine of right;

So shalt thou live in joyance evermore, O noble knight,

When thou shalt be lord of the marches that were Nudung’s in days gone by:

Yea, all that to-day I promise will I then do faithfully.”

Then seemed unto Blödel the castles and the gold a guerdon fair,