For their sake he ventured / soul and life to lose.
Thereat fell sore to weeping / the royal Etzel's spouse.
He spake: "I must unto you / my plighted word fulfil.
Alack! beloved strangers, / whom to assail forbids my will."
From the king there parting / ye saw him, sad of mood,
And passed unto his warriors / who at small distance stood.
"Don straightway now your armor, / my warriors all," quoth he.
"Alas! must I to battle / with the valiant knights of Burgundy."
Then straightway for their armor / did the warriors call.
A shining helm for this one, / for that a shield full tall
Soon did the nimble squires / before them ready hold.
Anon came saddest tidings / unto the stranger warriors bold.
With Ruediger there saw ye / five hundred men arrayed,
And noble thanes a dozen / that came unto his aid,
Thinking in storm of battle / to win them honor high.
In sooth but little knew they / how death awaited them so nigh.
With helm on head advancing / saw ye Sir Ruediger.
Swords that cut full keenly / the margrave's men did bear,
And eke in hand each carried / a broad shield shining bright.
Boundless was the Fiddler's / sorrow to behold the sight.