“How gladly lavish upon you the gifts of my bountihead,
So much as my soul desireth—how gladly do all this,
And no serpent-tongue of slander against my name should hiss!”
“Ah Rüdiger, refrain thee!” Prince Gernot pleaded yet.
“Never a host before thee with kindlier welcome met
Guests, nor with mien so gracious, as we were greeted of thee;
And for this, if we win hence living, requited shalt thou be.”
“Would God, O noble Gernot,” in anguish Rüdiger said,
“That ye were again in Rhineland, and that I were lying dead
With mine honour still unsullied, since I cannot but fall on thee!