When before the mighty warrior I turned me from the strife,
Hardly from that fiend’s fury escaped I with my life.”
But the Prince of Bern made answer: “Rightly served art thou!
Unto yonder guests in thine hearing I spake my friendship’s vow;
And lo, that peace thou hast broken which I sware unto them that day!
Were it not for the shame undying[[12]], thy life for this should pay!”
“Let not thine anger against me, Lord Dietrich, be over-hot,
Seeing mischief all too grievous unto me and my friends hath been wrought.
Forth of the hall the body of Rüdiger fain would we bear,
And yonder vassals of Gunther would hearken not to our prayer.”