2233
When did they the margrave / a corse on bier behold,By chronicler might never / written be nor toldAll the wild lamenting / of women and of men,As with grief all stricken / out-poured they their hearts' sorrow then.
2234
Royal Etzel's sorrow / there did know no bound.Like to the voice of lion / echoing rang the soundOf the king's loud weeping, / wherein the queen had share.Unmeasured they lamented / the death of noble Ruediger.
How all Sir Dietrich's Knights were Slain
2235
On all sides so great sorrow / heard ye there around,That palace and high tower / did from the wail resound.Of Bern a man of Dietrich / eke the same did hear,And speedily he hastened / the tidings to his lord to bear.
2236
Spake he unto his master: / "Sir Dietrich give me ear.What yet hath been my fortune, / never did I hearLamenting past all measure, / as at this hour hath been.Scathe unto King Etzel / himself hath happenéd, I ween.
2237
"Else how might they ever / all show such dire need?The king himself or Kriemhild, / one of them lieth dead,By the doughty strangers / for sake of vengeance slain.Unmeasured is the weeping / of full many a stately thane."
2238
Then spake of Bern Sir Dietrich: / "Ye men to me full dear,Now haste ye not unduly. / The deeds performéd hereBy the stranger warriors / show sore necessity.That peace with them I blighted, / let it now their profit be."
2239
Then spake the valiant Wolfhart: / "Thither will I runTo make question of it / what they now have done,And straight will tidings bring thee, / master full dear to me,When yonder I inform me, / whence may so great lamenting be."
2240
Answer gave Sir Dietrich: / "Fear they hostility,The while uncivil questioning / of their deed there be,Lightly are stirred to anger / good warriors o'er the thing.Yea, 'tis my pleasure, Wolfhart, / thou sparest them all such questioning.
2241
Helfrich he then commanded / thither with speed to goThat from men of Etzel / he might truly know,Or from the strangers straightway, / what thing there had been.As that, so sore lamenting / of people ne'er before was seen.
2242
Questioned then the messenger: / "What hath here been wrought?"Answered one among them: / "Complete is come to naughtWhat of joy we cherished / here in Hunnish land.Slain here lieth Ruediger, / fallen 'neath Burgundian hand.
2243
"Of them that entered with him / not one doth longer live."Naught might ever happen / Helfrich more to grieve,Nor ever told he tidings / so ruefully before.Weeping sore the message / unto Dietrich then he bore.
2244
"What the news thou bringst us?" / Dietrich spake once more;"Yet, O doughty Helfrich, / wherefore dost weep so sore?"Answered the noble warrior: / "With right may I complain:Yonder faithful Ruediger / lieth by the Burgundians slain."
2245
The lord of Bern gave answer: / "God let not such thing be!That were a mighty vengeance, / and eke the Devil's glee.Whereby had ever Ruediger / from them deserved such ill?Well know I to the strangers / was ever well disposed his will."
2246
Thereto gave answer Wolfhart: / "In sooth have they this done,Therefor their lives shall forfeit / surely, every one.And make we not requital, / our shame for aye it were;Full manifold our service / from hand of noble Ruediger."
2247
Then bade the lord of Amelungen / the case more full to learn.He sat within a casement / and did full sadly mourn.He prayed then that Hildebrand / unto the strangers go,That he from their own telling / of the case complete might know.
2248
The warrior keen in battle, / Master Hildebrand,Neither shield nor weapon / bore he in his hand,But would in chivalrous manner / unto the strangers go.His sister's son reviled him / that he would venture thus to do.
2249
Spake in anger Wolfhart: / "Goest thou all weaponless,Must I of such action / free my thought confess:Thou shalt in shameful fashion / hither come again;Goest thou arméd thither, / will all from harm to thee refrain."
2250
So armed himself the old man / at counsel of the young.Ere he was ware of it, / into their armor sprungAll of Dietrich's warriors / and stood with sword in hand.Grieved he was, and gladly / had turned them Master Hildebrand.
2251
He asked them whither would they. / "Thee company we'll bear,So may, perchance, less willing / Hagen of Tronje dare,As so oft his custom, / to give thee mocking word."The thane his leave did grant them / at last when he their speech had heard.
2252
Keen Volker saw approaching, / in armor all arrayed,Of Bern the gallant warriors / that Dietrich's word obeyed,With sword at girdle hanging / and bearing shield in hand.Straight he told the tidings / to his masters of Burgundian land.
2253
Spake the doughty Fiddler: / "Yonder see I come nearThe warriors of Dietrich / all clad in battle gearAnd decked their heads with helmets, / as if our harm they mean.For us knights here homeless / approacheth evil end, I ween."
2254
Meanwhile was come anigh them / Master Hildebrand.Before his foot he rested / the shield he bore in hand,And soon began to question / the men of Gunther there:"Alack, ye gallant warriors, / what harm hath wrought you Ruediger?
2255
"Me did my master Dietrich / hither to you command:If now the noble margrave / hath fallen 'neath the handOf any knight among you, / as word to us is borne,Such a mighty sorrow / might we never cease to mourn."
2256
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "True is the tale ye hear.Though glad I were, if to you / had lied the messenger,And if the faithful Ruediger / still his life might keep,For whom both man and woman / must ever now in sorrow weep!"
2257
When they for sooth the passing / of the hero knew,Those gallant knights bemoaned him / like faithful friends and true;On Dietrich's lusty warriors / saw ye fall the tearAdown the bearded visage, / for sad of heart in truth they were.
2258
Of Bern then a chieftain, / Siegstab, further cried:"Of all the mickle comfort / now an end is made,That Ruediger erst prepared us / after our days of pain.The joy of exiled people / here lieth by you warriors slain."
2259
Then spake of Amelungen / the thane Wolfwein:"If that this day beheld I / dead e'en sire of mine,No more might be my sorrow / than for this hero's life.Alack! who bringeth comfort / now to the noble margrave's wife?"
2260
Spake eke in angry humor / Wolfhart a stalwart thane:"Who now shall lead our army / on the far campaign,As full oft the margrave / of old hath led our host?Alack! O noble Ruediger, / that in such manner thee we've lost!"
2261
Wolfbrand and Helfrich / and Helmnot with warriors allMournéd there together / that he in death must fall.For sobbing might not further / question Hildebrand.He spake: "Now do, ye warriors, / according to my lord's command.
2262
"Yield unto us Ruediger's / corse from out the hall,In whose death to sorrow / hath passed our pleasure all;And let us do him service / for friendship true of yoreThat e'er for us he cherished / and eke for many a stranger more.
2263
"We too from home are exiles / like unto Ruediger.Why keep ye us here waiting? / Him grant us hence to bear,That e'en though death hath reft him / our service he receive,Though fairer had we paid it / the while the hero yet did live."
2264
Thereto spake King Gunther: / "No service equal mayThat which, when death hath reft him, / to friend a friend doth pay.Him deem I friend right faithful, / whoe'er the same may do.Well make ye here requital / for many a service unto you."
2265
"How long shall we beseech you," / spake Wolfhart the thane;"Since he that best consoled us / by you now lieth slain,And we, alas, no longer / his living aid may have,Grant us hence to bear him / and lay the hero in his grave."
2266
Thereto answered Volker: / "Thy prayer shall all deny.From out the hall thou take him, / where doth the hero lie'Neath deep wounds and mortal / in blood now smitten down.So may by thee best service / here to Ruediger be shown."
2267
Answered Wolfhart boldly: / "Sir Fiddleman, God wotThou shalt forbear to stir us, / for woe on us thou'st wrought.Durst I despite my master, / uncertain were thy life;Yet must we here keep silence, / for he did bid us shun the strife."
2268
Then spake again the Fiddler: / "'Tis all too much of fear,For that a thing's forbidden, / meekly to forbear.Scarce may I deem it valor / worthy good knight to tell."What said his faithful comrade, / did please the doughty Hagen well.
2269
"For proof be not o'er-eager," / Wolfhart quick replied,"Else so I'll tune thy fiddle / that when again ye rideAfar unto Rhine river, / sad tale thou tellest there.Thy haughty words no longer / may I now with honor bear."
2270
Spake once more the Fiddler: / "If e'er the harmonyOf my fiddle-strings thou breakest, / thy helmet's sheen shall beMade full dim of lustre / by stroke of this my hand,Howe'er fall out my journey / homeward to Burgundian land."
2271
Then would he rush upon him / but that him did restrainHildebrand his uncle / who seizéd him amain."I ween thou would'st be witless, / by youthful rage misled.My master's favor had'st thou / evermore thus forfeited."
2272
"Let loose the lion, Master, / that doth rage so sore.If but my sword may reach him," / spake Volker further more,"Though he the world entire / by his own might had slain,I'll smite him that an answer / never may he chant again."
2273
Thereat with anger straightway / the men of Bern were filled.Wolfhart, thane right valiant, / grasped in haste his shield,And like to a wild lion / out before them sped.By friends a goodly number / full quickly was he followéd.
2274
Though by the hall went striding / ne'er so swift the thane,O'ertook him Master Hildebrand / ere he the steps might gain,For nowise would he let him / be foremost in the fray.In the stranger warriors / worthy foemen soon found they.
2275
Straight saw ye upon Hagen / rush Master Hildebrand,And sword ye heard give music / in each foeman's hand.Sore they were enragéd, / as ye soon were ware,For from their swinging broadswords / whirred the ruddy sparks in air.
2276
Yet soon the twain were parted / in the raging fight:The men of Bern so turned it / by their dauntless might.Ere long then was Hildebrand / from Hagen turned away,While that the doughty Wolfhart / the valiant Volker sought to slay.
2277
Upon the helm the Fiddler / he smote with blow so fierceThat the sword's keen edges / unto the frame did pierce.With mighty stroke repaid him / the valiant minstrel too,And so belabored Wolfhart / that thick the sparks around him flew.
2278
Hewing they made the fire / from mail-rings scintillate,For each unto the other / bore a deadly hate.Of Bern the thane Wolfwein / at length did part the two,—Which thing might none other / than man of mickle prowess do.
2279
Gunther, knight full gallant, / received with ready handThere the stately warriors / of Amelungen land.Eke did young Giselher / of many a helmet bright,With blood all red and reeking, / cause to grow full dim the light.
2280
Dankwart, Hagen's brother, / was a warrior grim.What erstwhile in combat / had been wrought by himAgainst the men of Etzel / seemed now as toying vain,As fought with flaming ire / the son of valiant Aldrian.
2281
Ritschart and Gerbart, / Helfrich and WichartHad oft in storm of battle / with valor borne their part,As now 'fore men of Gunther / they did clear display.Likewise saw ye Wolfbrand / glorious amid the fray.
2282
There old Master Hildebrand / fought as he were wode.Many a doughty warrior / was stricken in the bloodBy the sword that swinging / in Wolfhart's hand was seen.Thus took dire vengeance / for Ruediger those knights full keen.
2283
Havoc wrought Sir Siegstab / there with might and main.Ho! in the hurly-burly / what helms he cleft in twainUpon the crowns of foemen, / Dietrich's sister's son!Ne'er in storm of battle / had he more feats of valor done.
2284
When the doughty Volker / there aright had seenHow many a bloody rivulet / was hewn by Siegstab keenFrom out the well-wrought mail-rings, / the hero's ire arose.Quick he sprang toward him, / Siegstab then his life must lose.
2285
Ere long time was over, / 'neath the Fiddler's hand,Who of his art did give him / such share to understandThat beneath his broadsword / smitten to death he lay.Old Hildebrand avenged him / as bade his mighty arm alway.
2286
"Alack that knight so loved," / spake Master Hildebrand,"Here should thus lie fallen / 'neath Volker's hand.Now lived his latest hour / in sooth this Fiddler hath."Filled was the hero Hildebrand / straightway with a mighty wrath.
2287
With might smote he Volker / that severed flew the bandE'en to the hall's wide limit / far on either handFrom shield and eke from helmet / borne by the Fiddler keen;Therewith the doughty Volker / reft of life at last had been.
2288
Pressed eager to the combat / Dietrich's warriors true,Smiting that the mail-rings / afar from harness flew,And that the broken sword-points / soaring aloft ye saw,The while that reeking blood-stains / did they from riven helmets draw.
2289
There of Tronje Hagen / beheld Volker dead.In that so bloody carnage / 'twas far the sorest needOf all that did befall him / in death of friend and man.Alack! for him what vengeance / Hagen then to wreak began!
2290
"Therefrom shall profit never / Master Hildebrand.Slain hath been here my helper / 'neath the warrior's hand,The best of feres in battle / that fortune ever sent."His shield upraised he higher / and hewing through the throng he went.
2291
Next saw ye Dankwart / by doughty Helfrich slain,Gunther and Giselher / did full sorely plain,When they beheld him fallen / where fiercely raged the fray.For his death beforehand / dearly did his foemen pay.
2292
The while coursed Wolfhart / thither and back again,Through Gunther's men before him / hewing wide a lane.Thrice in sooth returning / strode he down the hall,And many a lusty warrior / 'neath his doughty hand must fall.
2293
Soon the young Sir Giselher / cried aloud to him:"Alack, that I should ever / find such foeman grim!Sir knight, so bold and noble, / now turn thee here to me.I trow to end thy coursing, / the which will I no longer see."
2294
To Giselher then turned him / Wolfhart in the fight,And gaping wounds full many / did each the other smite.With such a mighty fury / he to the monarch spedThat 'neath his feet went flying / the blood e'en high above his head.
2295
With rapid blows and furious / the son of Ute fairReceived the valiant Wolfhart / as came he to him there.How strong soe'er the thane was, / his life must ended be.Never king so youthful / might bear himself more valiantly.
2296
Straight he smote Wolfhart / through well-made cuirass,That from the wound all gaping / the flowing blood did pass.Unto death he wounded / Dietrich's liegeman true,Which thing in sooth might never / any save knight full gallant do.
2297
When the valiant Wolfhart / of the wound was ware,His shield flung he from him / and high with hand in airRaised he a mighty weapon / whose keen edge failéd not.Through helmet and through mail-rings / Giselher with might he smote.
2298
Grimly each the other / there to death had done.Of Dietrich's men no longer / lived there ever one.When old Master Hildebrand / Wolfhart's fall had seen,In all his life there never / such sorrow him befell, I ween.
2299
Fallen now were Gunther's / warriors every one,And eke the men of Dietrich. / Hildebrand the while had goneWhere Wolfhart had fallen / down in pool of blood.In his arms then clasped he / the warrior of dauntless mood.
2300
Forth from the hall to bear him / vainly did he try:But all too great the burden / and there he still must lie.The dying knight looked upward / from his bloody bedAnd saw how that full gladly / him his uncle thence had led.
2301
Spake he thus mortal wounded: / "Uncle full dear to me,Now mayst thou at such season / no longer helpful be.To guard thee well from Hagen / indeed me seemeth good,For bears he in his bosom / a heart in sooth of grimmest mood.
2302
"And if for me my kinsmen / at my death would mourn,Unto the best and nearest / by thee be message borneThat for me they weep not, / —of that no whit is need.At hand of valiant monarch / here lie I gloriously dead.
2303
"Eke my life so dearly / within this hall I've sold,That have sore cause for weeping / the wives of warriors bold.If any make thee question, / then mayst thou freely sayThat my own hand nigh hundred / warriors hath slain to-day."
2304
Now was Hagen mindful / of the minstrel slain,From whom the valiant Hildebrand / erstwhile his life had ta'en.Unto the Master spake he: / "My woes shalt thou repay.Full many a warrior gallant / thou hast ta'en from us hence away."
2305
He smote upon Hildebrand / that loud was heard the toneOf Balmung resounding / that erst did Siegfried own,But Hagen bold did seize it / when he the hero slew.The old warrior did guard him, / as he was knight of mettle true.
2306
Dietrich's doughty liegeman / with broadsword did smiteThat did cut full sorely, / upon Tronje's knight;Yet had the man of Gunther / never any harm.Through his cuirass well-jointed / Hagen smote with mighty arm.
2307
Soon as his wound perceivéd / the aged Hildebrand,Feared he more of damage / to take from Hagen's hand;Across his back full deftly / his shield swung Dietrich's man,And wounded deep, the hero / in flight 'fore Hagen's fury ran.
2308
Now longer lived not any / of all that goodly trainSave Gunther and Hagen, / doughty warriors twain.With blood from wound down streaming / fled Master Hildebrand,Whom soon in Dietrich's presence, / saw ye with saddest tidings stand.
2309
He found the chieftain sitting / with sorrow all distraught,Yet mickle more of sadness / unto him he brought.When Dietrich saw how Hildebrand / cuirass all blood-red wore,With fearful heart he questioned, / what the news to him he bore.
2310
"Now tell me, Master Hildebrand, / how thus wet thou beFrom thy life-blood flowing, / or who so harmeth thee.In hall against the strangers / thou'st drawn thy sword, I ween.'Twere well my straight denial / here by these had honored been."
2311
Replied he to his master: / "From Hagen cometh all.This deep wound he smote me / there within the hallWhen I from his fury / thought to turn away.'Tis marvel that I living / saved me from the fiend this day."
2312
Then of Bern spake Dietrich: / "Aright hast thou thy share,For thou didst hear me friendship / unto these knights declare,And now the peace hast broken, / that I to them did give.If my disgrace it were not, / by this hand no longer shouldst thou live."
2313
"Now be not, Master Dietrich, / so sorely stirred to wrath.On me and on my kinsmen / is wrought too great a scathe.Thence sought we Ruediger / to bear all peacefully,The which by men of Gunther / to us no whit would granted be."
2314
"Ah, woe is me for sorrow! / Is Ruediger then dead,In all my need there never / such grief hath happenéd.The noble Gotelinde / is cousin fair to me.Alack for the poor orphans / that there in Bechelaren must be!"
2315
Grief and anguish filled him / o'er Ruediger thus slain,Nor might at all the hero / the flowing tears restrain."Alack for faithful helper / that death from me hath torn.King Etzel's trusty liegeman / never may I cease to mourn.
2316
"Canst thou, Master Hildebrand, / true the tidings say,Who might be the warrior / that Ruediger did slay?""That did the doughty Gernot / with mighty arm," he said:"Eke at hand of Ruediger / lieth the royal hero dead."
2317
Spake he again to Hildebrand: / "Now let my warriors know,That straightway they shall arm them, / for thither will I go.And bid to fetch hither / my shining mail to me.Myself those knights will question / of the land of Burgundy."
2318
"Who here shall do thee service?" / spake Master Hildebrand;"All that thou hast yet living, / thou seest before thee stand.Of all remain I only; / the others, they are dead."As was in sooth good reason, / filled the tale his soul with dread,
2319
For in his life did never / such woe to him befall.He spake: "Hath death so reft me / of my warriors all,God hath forsaken Dietrich, / ah me, a wretched wight!Sometime a lofty monarch / I was, high throned in wealth and might."
2320
"How might it ever happen?" / Dietrich spake again,"That so worthy heroes / here should all be slainBy the battle-weary / strangers thus beset?Ill fortune me hath chosen, / else death had surely spared them yet.
2321
"Since that fate not further / to me would respite give,Then tell me, of the strangers / doth any longer live?"Answered Master Hildebrand: / "God wot, never oneSave Hagen, and beside him / Gunther lofty king alone."
2322
"Alack, O faithful Wolfhart, / must I thy death now mourn,Soon have I cause to rue me / that ever I was born.Siegstab and Wolfwein / and eke Wolfbrand!Who now shall be my helpers / in the Amelungen land?
2323
"Helfrich, thane full valiant, / and is he likewise slain?For Gerbart and Wichart / when shall I cease to plain?Of all my life's rejoicing / is this the latest day.Alack that die for sorrow / never yet a mortal may!"
How Gunther and Hagen and Kriemhild were Slain
2324
Himself did then Sir Dietrich / his armor take in hand,To don the which did help him / Master Hildebrand.The doughty chieftain meanwhile / must make so loud complainThat from high palace casement / oft came back the sound again.
2325
Natheless his proper humor / soon he did regain,And arméd full in anger / stood the worthy thane;A shield all wrought full firmly / took he straight in hand,And forth they strode together, / he and Master Hildebrand.
2326
Spake then of Tronje Hagen: / "Lo, where doth hither wendIn wrath his way Sir Dietrich. / 'Tis plain he doth intendOn us to wreak sore vengeance / for harm befallen here.To-day be full decided / who may the prize for valor bear!
2327
"Let ne'er of Bern Sir Dietrich / hold him so high of mightNor deem his arm so doughty / and terrible in fightThat, will he wreak his anger / on us for sorest scathe,"—Such were the words of Hagen, / —"I dare not well withstand his wrath."
2328
Upon these words defiant / left Dietrich Hildebrand,And to the warriors hither / came where both did standWithout before the palace, / and leaning respite found.His shield well proved in battle / Sir Dietrich lowered to the ground.
2329
Addressed to them Sir Dietrich / these words of sorrowing:"Wherefore hast thou such evil, / Gunther mighty king,Wrought 'gainst me a stranger? / What had I done to thee,Of my every comfort / in such manner reft to be?
2330
"Seemed then not sufficient / the havoc unto youWhen from us the hero / Ruediger ye slew,That now from me ye've taken / my warriors one and all?Through me did so great sorrow / ne'er to you good knights befall.
2331
"Of your own selves bethink you / and what the scathe ye bore,The death of your companions / and all your travail sore,If not your hearts, good warriors, / thereat do heavy grow.That Ruediger hath fallen, / —ah me! how fills my heart with woe!
2332
"In all this world to any / more sorrow ne'er befell,Yet have ye minded little / my loss and yours as well.Whate'er I most rejoiced in / beneath your hands lies slain;Yea, for my kinsmen fallen / never may I cease to plain."
2333
"No guilt lies here upon us," / Hagen in answer spake."Unto this hall hither / your knights their way did take,With goodly train of warriors / full arméd for the fight.Meseemeth that the story / hath not been told to thee aright."
2334
"What shall I else believe in? / To me told HildebrandHow, when the knights that serve me / of AmelungenlandDid beg the corse of Ruediger / to give them from the hall,Nought offered ye but mockings / unto the valiant warriors all."
2335
Then spake the King of Rhineland: / "Ruediger to bear awayCame they in company hither; / whose corse to them denyI bade, despiting Etzel, / nor with aught malice more,Whereupon did Wolfhart / begin to rage thereat full sore."
2336
Then spake of Bern the hero: / "'Twas fated so to be.Yet Gunther, noble monarch, / by thy kingly courtesyAmends make for the sorrow / thou here on me hast wrought,That so thy knightly honor / still unsullied be in aught.
2337
"Then yield to me as hostage / thyself and eke thy man;So will I surely hinder, / as with best might I can,That any here in Hunland / harm unto thee shall do:Henceforward shalt thou find me / ever well disposed and true."
2338
"God in heaven forfend it," / Hagen spake again,"That unto thee should yield them / ever warriors twainWho in their strength reliant / all armed before thee stand,And yet 'fore foes defiant / may freely swing a blade in hand."
2339
"So shall ye not," spake Dietrich, / "proffered peace forswear,Gunther and Hagen. / Misfortune such I bearAt both your hands, 'tis certain / ye did but do aright,Would ye for so great sorrow / now my heart in full requite.
2340
"I give you my sure promise / and pledge thereto my handThat I will bear you escort / home unto your land;With honors fit I'll lead you, / thereon my life I set,And for your sake sore evil / suffered at your hands forget."
2341
"Ask thou such thing no longer," / Hagen then replied."For us 'twere little fitting / the tale be bruited wide,That twain of doughty warriors / did yield them 'neath thy hand.Beside thee is none other / now but only Hildebrand."
2342
Then answered Master Hildebrand: / "The hour may come, God wot,Sir Hagen, when thus lightly / disdain it thou shalt notIf any man such offer / of peace shall make to thee.Welcome might now my master's / reconciliation be."
2343
"I'd take in sooth his friendship," / Hagen gave reply,"Ere that I so basely / forth from a hall would fly.As thou hast done but lately, / O Master Hildebrand.I weened with greater valor / couldst thou 'fore a foeman stand."
2344
Thereto gave answer Hildebrand: / "From thee reproach like that?Who was then on shield so idle / 'fore the Waskenstein that sat,The while that Spanish Walter / friend after friend laid low?Such valor thou in plenty / hast in thine own self to show."
2345
Outspake then Sir Dietrich: / "Ill fits it warriors boldThat they one another / like old wives should scold.Thee forbid I, Hildebrand, / aught to parley more.Ah me, most sad misfortune / weigheth on my heart full sore.
2346
"Let me hear, Sir Hagen," / Dietrich further spake,"What boast ye doughty warriors / did there together make,When that ye saw me hither / come with sword in hand?Thought ye then not singly / me in combat to withstand?"
2347
"In sooth denieth no one," / bold Sir Hagen spake,"That of the same with sword-blow / I would trial make,An but the sword of Niblung / burst not within my hand.Yea, scorn I that to yield us / thus haughtily thou mak'st demand."
2348
When Dietrich now perceivéd / how Hagen raged amain,Raise his shield full quickly / did the doughty thane.As quick upon him Hagen / adown the perron sprang,And the trusty sword of Niblung / full loud on Dietrich's armor rang.
2349
Then knew full well Sir Dietrich / that the warrior keenSavage was of humor, / and best himself to screenSought of Bern the hero / from many a murderous blow,Whereby the valiant Hagen / straightway came he well to know.
2350
Eke fear he had of Balmung, / a strong and trusty blade.Each blow meanwhile Sir Dietrich / with cunning art repaid,Till that he dealt to Hagen / a wound both deep and long,Whereat give o'er the struggle / must the valiant knight and strong.
2351
Bethought him then Sir Dietrich: / "Through toil thy strength has fled,And little honor had I / shouldst thou lie before me dead.So will I yet make trial / if I may not subdueThee unto me as hostage." / Light task 'twas not the same to do.
2352
His shield down cast he from him / and with what strength he foundAbout the knight of Tronje / fast his arms he wound.In such wise was subduéd / by him the doughty knight;Gunther the noble monarch / did weep to see his sorry plight.
2353
Bind Hagen then did Dietrich, / and led him where did standKriemhild the royal lady, / and gave into her handOf all the bravest warrior / that ever weapon bore.After her mickle sorrow / had she merry heart once more.
2354
For joy before Sir Dietrich / bent royal Etzel's wife:"Blessed be thou ever / in heart while lasteth life.Through thee is now forgotten / all my dire need;An death do not prevent me, / from me shall ever be thy meed."
2355
Then spake to her Sir Dietrich, / "Take not his life away,High and royal lady, / for full will he repayThee for the mickle evil / on thee have wrought his hands.Be it not his misfortune / that bound before thee here he stands."
2356
Then bade she forth lead Hagen / to dungeon keep near by,Wherein he lay fast bolted / and hid from every eye.Gunther, the noble monarch, / with loudest voice did say:"The knight of Bern who wrongs me, / whither hath he fled away?"
2357
Meanwhile back towards him / the doughty Dietrich came,And found the royal Gunther / a knight of worthy name.Eke he might bide longer / but down to meet him sprang,And soon with angry clamor / their swords before the palace rang.
2358
How famed soe'er Sir Dietrich / and great the name he bore,With wrath was filled King Gunther, / and eke did rage full soreAt thought of grievous sorrow / suffered at his hand:Still tell they as high wonder / how Dietrich might his blows withstand.
2359
In store of doughty valor / each did nothing lack.From palace and from tower / the din of blows came backAs on well-fastened helmets / the lusty swords came down,And royal Gunther's valor / in the fight full clear was shown.
2360
The knight of Bern yet tamed him / as Hagen erst befell,And oozing through his armor / the blood was seen to swellFrom cut of sharpest weapon / in Dietrich's arm that swung.Right worthily King Gunther / had borne him after labors long.
2361
Bound was then the monarch / by Sir Dietrich's hand,Albeit bonds should suffer / ne'er king of any land.But deemed he, if King Gunther / and Hagen yet were free,Secure might never any / from their searching vengeance be.
2362
When in such manner Dietrich / the king secure had boundBy the hand he led him / where Kriemhild he found.At sight of his misfortune / did sorrow from her flee:Quoth she: "Welcome Gunther / from out the land of Burgundy."
2363
He spake: "Then might I thank thee, / sister of high degree,When that some whit more gracious / might thy greeting be.So angry art thou minded / ever yet, O queen,Full spare shall be thy greeting / to Hagen and to me, I ween."
2364
Then spake of Bern the hero: / "Ne'er till now, O queen,Given o'er as hostage / have knights so worthy been,As I, O lofty lady, / in these have given to thee:I pray thee higher evils / to spare them now for sake of me."
2365
She vowed to do it gladly. / Then forth Sir Dietrich wentWith weeping eyes to see there / such knights' imprisonment.In grimmest ways thereafter / wreaked vengeance Etzel's wife:Beneath her hand those chosen / warriors twain must end their life.
2366
She let them lie asunder / the less at ease to be,Nor did each the other / thenceforward ever seeTill that unto Hagen / her brother's head she bore.In sooth did Kriemhild vengeance / wreak upon the twain full sore.
2367
Forth where she should find Hagen / the queen her way did take,And in right angry manner / she to the warrior spake:"An thou wilt but restore me / that thou hast ta'en from me,So may'st thou come yet living / home to the land of Burgundy."
2368
Answered thereto grim Hagen: / "'Twere well thy breath to save,Full high and royal lady. / Sworn by my troth I haveThat I the hoard will tell not; / the while that yet doth liveOf my masters any, / the treasure unto none I'll give."
2369
"Then ended be the story," / the noble lady spake.She bade them from her brother / straightway his life to take.His head they struck from off him, / which by the hair she boreUnto the thane of Tronje. / Thereat did grieve the knight full sore.
2370
When that he in horror / his master's head had seen,Cried the doughty warrior / unto Kriemhild the queen:"Now is thy heart's desire / at length accomplishéd.And eke hath all befallen / as my foreboding heart hath said.
2371
"Dead lieth now the noble / king of Burgundy,Also youthful Giselher / and Sir Gernot eke doth he.The treasure no one knoweth / but God and me alone,Nor e'er by thee, she-devil, / shall its hiding-place be known."
2372
Quoth she: "But ill requital / hast thou made to me.Yet mine the sword of Siegfried / now henceforth shall be,The which when last I saw him, / my loved husband bore,In whom on me such sorrow / through guilt of thine doth weigh full sore."
2373
She drew it from the scabbard, / nor might he say her nay,Though thought she from the warrior / his life to take away.With both hands high she raised it / and off his head struck she,Whereat did grieve King Etzel / full sore the sorry sight to see.
2374
"To arms!" cried then the monarch: / "here lieth foully slainBeneath the hand of woman / of all the doughtiest thaneThat e'er was seen in battle / or ever good shield bore!Though foeman howsoever, / yet grieveth this my heart full sore."
2375
Quoth then the aged Hildebrand: / "Reap no gain she shall,That thus she dared to slay him. / Whate'er to me befall,And though myself in direst / need through him have been,By me shall be avengéd / the death of Tronje's knight full keen."
2376
In wrathful mood then Hildebrand / unto Kriemhild sprung,And 'gainst the queen full swiftly / his massy blade he swung.Aloud she then in terror / 'fore Hildebrand did wail,Yet that she shrieked so loudly, / to save her what might that avail?
2377
So all those warriors fated / by hand of death lay strewn,And e'en the queen full lofty / in pieces eke was hewn.Dietrich and royal Etzel / at length to weep began,And grievously they mournéd / kinsmen slain and many a man.
2378
Who late stood high in honor / now in death lay low,And fate of all the people / weeping was and woe.To mourning now the monarch's / festal tide had passed,As falls that joy to sorrow / turneth ever at the last.
2379
Nor can I tell you further / what later did befall,But that good knights and ladies / saw ye mourning all,And many a noble squire, / for friends in death laid low.Here hath the story ending, / —that is the Nibelungen woe.