Note 1 — From ‘Tristan,’ Book 24, lines 15522-15748: The ordeal of God.3

The locus is the mountains of Tirol. Laurin, the diminutive dwarf-king, has a rose-garden the trespasser upon which must lose a hand and foot. The arrogant Witege, Dietrich’s man, wantonly tramples down the roses; whereupon Laurin assails him, in knightly fashion, on horseback.

2. The ‘pommel’ of his sword.

3. Ecke is a redoutable young giant whose conceit leads him to seek an encounter with Dietrich of Bern. Three queens promise him the choice among them if he brings the famous man to them, so that they can see him. At first Dietrich refuses to fight, but Ecke finally goads him to it with insults. After a fierce battle Ecke is killed.

4. In the archaic sense of ‘mortally wounded,’ ‘doomed to death.’

5. Kriemhild has at Worms a rose-garden which is guarded by twelve famous champions. She challenges Dietrich and his Amelungs to invade her garden if they dare, promising to each victor a kiss and a wreath. Eleven duels, in which Kriemhild’s man is either slain or barely holds his own, precede the encounter between the two invincibles.

6. In the preceding adventure we hear that Dietrich was at first unwilling to face Siegfried on account of his horny skin, his magic sword and his impenetrable armor. To provoke his master’s wrath—Dietrich can only fight when enraged—the faithful Hildebrand takes him aside and calls him a coward; whereat Dietrich knocks him down—to the old man’s private satisfaction.