But now we must return to Dietrich and Etzel. When the hero of Bern
desired Etzel’s help in freeing the land of the Amelungs from the
tyranny of the usurper, he found that it was impossible for the latter
to grant it. His hands were already overfull with his own quarrels.
Waldemar, king of the Reussen, and brother of that Osantrix whom Etzel
had formerly slain, and whose daughter he had married, now invaded his
borders, and threatened to overrun the country. In truth, Etzel needed
Dietrich’s help, and the latter did not hesitate to grant it.
The war lasted a long time. Many men were slain, and much fair land was
devastated before the invaders were forced to retire. Dietrich himself
was so severely wounded that it was some time before he felt like
himself again. There was one thing which happened during the war that
saddened and shamed honest Margrave Rüdiger, and that was the
remembrance of the way in which Etzel had on one occasion fled before
Waldemar, thereby proving the latter the better man. Indeed every one
felt that the defeat of the Reussen was owing more to the leadership
and heroism of the hero of Bern than to any other cause.
Etzel pursued the enemy within their own borders, and forced them to
pay him tribute.
Dietrich was held in high honour by the Huns, but they did not see the
advantage of helping him to regain his own land, and he felt sad at
heart. At last Queen Helche thought of a way to make him happy. She
proposed to give him her beautiful niece Herrat to wife, and then they
might rule together over the princess’s fair land of Transylvania.
Dietrich and Herrat made no objection to the marriage, which was soon
afterwards celebrated. But Etzel erred in thinking that the hero of
Bern would ever be content to sink into the position of a vassal of the
Hunnish empire. Neither he nor Herrat were made of such slight stuff,
and Etzel was obliged after all to give the help he had before refused.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]