Therefore I may not against them uplift my wretched hand.”
Then to the Lord of the Marches did Etzel the great King say:
“Rüdiger, noble hero, how hast thou helped us to-day?
Good sooth, in the land have perished more than enough of my folk:
No more murders are needed! Thou hast stricken an evil stroke.”
But the noble knight made answer: “He angered my spirit sore;
For he taunted me with mine honours and my wealth’s unstinted store,
With the gifts that with hand ungrudging thou hast heaped upon me, O King!
Of a truth to the reckless liar was his scoff an evil thing!”
Drew nigh that Daughter of Princes, which also had seen it done,