Too soon were the evil tidings to the haughty strangers known!
Now Rüdiger stood full-armoured, with his five hundred men:
Twelve knights of Etzel’s war-band joined them withal to him then:
They thirsted to win them glory in the storm of the battle-strain—
But they knew not the end of the story, nor that death should be all their gain.
Strode forward under helmet the Lord of the Marches there.
Battle-glaives keen-whetted the knights of Rüdiger bare:
Each man gripped by the arm-brace a broad shield burnished bright;
And the viol-minstrel beheld them, and his heart sank down at the sight.
And behold, his fair bride’s father young Giselher saw come,