[Sidenote:  Ruediger’s oath.] Thus they managed to survive that terrible night; but when morning dawned and the queen heard that they were still alive, she bade Ruediger go forth and fight them.  He refused until she reminded him or the solemn oath he had sworn to her in Worms before she would consent to accompany him to Hungary.

“’Now think upon the homage that once to me you swore,
When to the Rhine, good warrior, King Etzel’s suit you bore,
That you would serve me ever to either’s dying day. 
Ne’er can I need so deeply that you that vow should pay.’”
Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s
tr.).

Torn by conflicting feelings and urged by opposite oaths,—­for he had also sworn to befriend the Burgundians,—­Ruediger now vainly tried to purchase his release by the sacrifice of all his possessions.  At last, goaded to madness, he yielded to the king’s and queen’s entreaties, armed his warriors, and drew near the hall where his former guests were intrenched.  At first they could not believe that Ruediger had any hostile intentions; but when he pathetically informed them that he must fight, and recommended his wife and daughter to their care in case he fell, they silently allowed him and his followers to enter the hall, and grimly renewed the bloody conflict.

[Sidenote:  Death of Ruediger.] Ruediger, after slaying many foes, encountered Gernot wielding the sword he had given him; and these two doughty champions finally slew each other.  All the followers of Ruediger also fell; and when Kriemhild, who was anxiously awaiting the result of this new attack in the court below, saw his corpse among the slain, she began to weep and bemoan her loss.  The mournful tidings of Ruediger’s death soon spread all over the town, and came finally to the ears of Dietrich von Bern, who bade his man Hildebrand go and claim the corpse from his Burgundian friends.

Hildebrand went thither with an armed force, but some of his men unfortunately began to bandy words with the Burgundians, and this soon brought about an impetuous fight.  In the ensuing battle all the Burgundians fell except Gunther and Hagen, while Hildebrand escaped sore wounded to his master, Dietrich von Bern.  When this hero heard that his nephew and vassals were all slain, he quickly armed himself, and, after vainly imploring Gunther and Hagen to surrender, fell upon them with an armed force.  The two sole remaining Burgundians were now so exhausted that Dietrich soon managed to take them captive.  He led them bound to Kriemhild, and implored her to have pity upon them and spare their lives.

“‘Fair and noble Kriemhild,’ thus Sir Dietrich spake,
Spare this captive warrior, who full amends will make
For all his past transgressions; him here in bonds you see;
Revenge not on the fetter’d th’ offenses of the free.’”
Nibelungenlied (Lettsom’s
tr.).