How the Knights all fared to the Huns
1506
Tell we now no further / how they here did fare.Knights more high in spirit / saw ye journey ne'erIn so stately fashion / to the land of e'er a king.Of arms and rich attire / lacked they never anything.
1507
At Rhine the lordly monarch / equipped his warriors well,A thousand knights and sixty, / as I did hear tell,And eke nine thousand squires / toward the festivity.Whom they did leave behind them / anon must mourn full grievously.
1508
As at Worms across the courtyard / equipment full they boreSpake there of Speyer / a bishop old and hoarUnto Lady Ute: / "Our friends have mind to fareUnto the festivity; / may God their honor have in care."
1509
Then spake unto her children / Ute the noble dame:"At home ye here should tarry, / ye knights full high in fame.Me dreamt but yester even / a case of direst need,How that in this country / all the feathered fowl were dead."
1510
"Who recketh aught of dreamings," / Hagen then replied,"Distraught is sure his counsel / when trouble doth betide,Or he would of his honor / have a perfect care.I counsel that my master / straight to take his leave prepare.
1511
"Gladly shall we journey / into Etzel's land;There at their master's service / may good knights ready stand,For that we there shall witness / Kriemhild's festivity."That Hagen gave such counsel, / rue anon full sore did he.
1512
Yet in sooth far other / than this had been his word,Had not with bitter mocking / Gernot his anger stirred.He spake to him of Siegfried / whom Kriemhild loved so,And said: "Therefore the journey / would Hagen willingly forego."
1513
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Through fear I nothing do.Whenever will ye, Masters, / set straight your hand thereto,With you I'll gladly journey / unto Etzel's land."Many a shield and helmet / there hewed anon his mighty hand.
1514
The ships stood ready waiting, / whereunto ample storeOf clothing for the journey / men full many bore,Nor had they time for resting / till shades of even fell.Anon in mood full joyous / bade they friends at home farewell.
1515
Tents full large and many / arose upon the green,Yonder side Rhine river. / But yet the winsome queenCaressed the doughty monarch / that night, and still did prayThat far from Etzel's country / among his kinsmen might he stay.
1516
When sound of flute and trumpet / arose at break of day,A signal for their parting, / full soon they took their way.Each lover to his bosom / did friend more fondly press:King Etzel's wife full many / did part anon in dire distress.
1517
The sons of stately Ute, / a good knight had they,A brave man and a faithful. / When they would thence away,Apart unto the monarch / did he his mind reveal,And spake: "That ye will journey, / may I naught but sorrow feel."
1518
Hight the same was Rumold, / a man of doughty hand.He spake: "To whom now leave ye / people here and land?O that never any / might alter your intent!Small good, methinks, may follow / message e'er by Kriemhild sent."
1519
"The land to thee entrusted / and eke my child shall be,And tender care of ladies, / —so hast command from me.Whene'er thou seest weeping, / do there thy comfort give.Yea, trust we free from sorrow / at hand of Etzel's wife to live."
1520
For knight and royal master / the chargers ready were,As with fond embracing / parted many there,Who long in joy together / a merry life had led.By winsome dame full many / therefor must bitter tear be shed.
1521
As did those doughty warriors / into the saddle spring,Might full many a lady / be seen there sorrowing;For told them well their spirit / that thus so long to partDid bode a dire peril, / the which must ever cloud the heart.
1522
As mounted stood the valiant / thanes of Burgundy,Might ye a mickle stirring / in that country see,Both men and women weeping / on either riverside.Yet pricked they gaily forward, / let what might their folk betide.
1523
The Nibelungen warriors / in hauberks bright arrayedWent with them, a thousand, / while at home behind them stayedFull many a winsome lady, / whom saw they nevermore.The wounds of doughty Siegfried / still grieved the Lady Kriemhild sore.
1524
Their journey they directed / onward to the Main,Up through East Frankish country, / the men of Gunther's trainThither led by Hagen, / who well that country knew;Marshal to them was Dankwart, / a knight of Burgundy full true.
1525
On from East Frankish country / to Schwanefeld they went,A train of valiant warriors / of high accomplishment,The monarchs and their kinsmen, / all knights full worthy fame.Upon the twelfth morning / the king unto the Danube came.
1526
The knight of Tronje, Hagen, / the very van did lead,Ever to the Nibelungen / a surest help in need.First the thane full valiant / down leapt upon the ground,And straightway then his charger / fast unto a tree he bound.
1527
Flooded were the waters / and ne'er a boat was near,Whereat began the Nibelungen / all in dread to fearThey ne'er might cross the river, / so mighty was the flood.Dismounted on the shore, / full many a stately knight then stood.
1528
"Ill may it," spake then Hagen, / "fare here with thee,Lord of Rhine river. / Now thyself mayst seeHow flooded are the waters, / and swift the current flows.I ween, before the morrow / here many a goodly knight we lose."
1529
"How wilt reproach me, Hagen?" / the lofty monarch spake.I pray thee yet all comfort / not from our hearts to take.The ford shalt thou discover / whereby we may pass o'er,Horse and equipment bringing / safely unto yonder shore."
1530
"In sooth, not I," quoth Hagen, / "am yet so weary grownOf life, that in these waters / wide I long to drown.Ere that, shall warriors sicken / in Etzel's far countryBeneath my own arm stricken: / —'tis my intent full certainly.
1531
"Here tarry by the water, / ye gallant knights and good,The while I seek the boatmen / myself along the flood,Who will bring us over / into Gelfrat's land."With that the doughty Hagen / took his trusty shield in hand.
1532
He cap-a-pie was arméd, / as thus he strode away,Upon his head a helmet / that gleamed with brilliant ray,And o'er his warlike harness / a sword full broad there hung,That on both its edges / did fiercely cut, in battle swung.
1533
He sought to find the boatmen / if any might be near,When sound of falling waters / full soon upon his ear.Beside a rippling fountain, / where ran the waters cool,A group of wise mermaidens / did bathe themselves within the pool.
1534
Ware of them soon was Hagen / and stole in secret near,But fast away they hurried / when they the sound did hear.That they at all escaped him, / filled they were with glee.The knight did take their clothing, / yet wrought none other injury.
1535
Then spake the one mermaiden, / Hadburg that hight:"Hagen, knight full noble, / tell will we thee aright,An wilt thou, valiant warrior, / our garments but give o'er,What fortune may this journey / to Hunland have for thee in store."
1536
They hovered there before him / like birds above the flood,Wherefore did think the warrior / that tell strange things they could,And all the more believed he / what they did feign to say,As to his eager question / in ready manner answered they.
1537
Spake one: "Well may ye journey / to Etzel's country.Thereto my troth I give thee / in full securityThat ne'er in any kingdom / might high guests receiveSuch honors as there wait you, / —this may ye in sooth believe."
1538
To hear such speech was Hagen / in sooth right glad of heart;He gave to them their garments, / and straightway would depart.But when in strange attire / they once more were dight,Told they of the journey / into Etzel's land aright.
1539
Spake then the other mermaid, / Siegelind that hight:"I warn thee, son of Aldrian, / Hagen valiant knight,'Twas but to gain her clothing / my cousin falsely said,For, comest thou to Hunland, / sorely shalt thou be betrayed.
1540
"Yea, that thou turnest backward / is fitter far, I ween;For but your death to compass / have all ye warriors keenReceivéd now the bidding / unto Etzel's land.Whose doth thither journey, / death leadeth surely by the hand."
1541
Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "False speech hath here no gain.How might it ever happen / that we all were slainAfar in Etzel's country / through hate of any man?"To tell the tale more fully / unto him she then began.
1542
Spake again the other: / "The thing must surely be,That of you never any / his home again shall see,Save only the king's chaplain; / well do we understandThat he unscathed returneth / unto royal Gunther's land."
1543
Then spake the valiant Hagen / again in angry way:"Unto my royal masters / 'twere little joy to sayThat we our lives must forfeit / all in Hunland.Now show us, wisest woman, / how pass we safe to yonder strand."
1544
She spake: "Since from thy purposed / journey thou wilt not turn,Where upward by the water / a cabin stands, there learnWithin doth dwell a boatman, / nor other find thou mayst."No more did Hagen question, / but strode away from there in haste.
1545
As went he angry-minded / one from afar did say:"Now tarry still, Sir Hagen; / why so dost haste away?Give ear yet while we tell thee / how thou reachest yonder strand.Master here is Else, / who doth rule this borderland.
1546
"Hight is his brother Gelfrat, / and is a thane full rare,Lord o'er Bavarian country. / Full ill with you 'twill fare,Will ye pass his border. / Watchful must ye be,And eke with the ferryman / 'twere well to walk right modestly.
1547
"He is so angry-minded / that sure thy bane 'twill be,Wilt thou not show the warrior / all civility.Wilt thou that he transport thee, / give all the boatman's due.He guardeth well the border / and unto Gelfrat is full true.
1548
"If he be slow to answer, / then call across the floodThat thy name is Amelrich. / That was a knight full good,Who for a feud did sometime / go forth from out this land.The ferryman will answer, / when he the name doth understand.
1549
Hagen high of spirit / before those women bent,Nor aught did say, but silent / upon his way he went.Along the shore he wandered / till higher by the tideOn yonder side the river / a cabin standing he espied.
1550
He straight began a calling / across the flood amain."Now fetch me over, boatman," / cried the doughty thane."A golden armband ruddy / I'll give to thee for meed.Know that to make this crossing / I in sooth have very need."
1551
Not fitting 'twas high ferryman / his service thus should give,And recompense from any / seldom might he receive;Eke were they that served him / full haughty men of mood.Still alone stood Hagen / on the hither side the flood.
1552
Then cried he with such power / the wave gave back the sound,For in strength far-reaching / did the knight abound:"Fetch me now, for Amelrich, / Else's man, am I,That for feud outbroken / erstwhile from this land did fly."
1553
Full high upon his sword-point / an armband did he hold,Fair and shining was it / made of ruddy gold,The which he offered to him / for fare to Gelfrat's land.The ferryman high-hearted / himself did take the oar in hand.
1554
To do with that same boatman / was ne'er a pleasant thing;The yearning after lucre / yet evil end doth bring.Here where thought he Hagen's / gold so red to gain,Must he by the doughty / warrior's fierce sword be slain.
1555
With might across the river / his oar the boatman plied,But he who there was naméd / might nowhere be espied.His rage was all unbounded / when he did Hagen find,And loud his voice resounded / as thus he spake his angry mind:
1556
"Thou mayst forsooth be calléd / Amelrich by name:Whom I here did look for, / no whit art thou the same.By father and by mother / brother he was to me.Since me thou thus hast cozened, / so yet this side the river be."
1557
"Nay, by highest Heaven," / Hagen did declare."Here am I a stranger / that have good knights in care.Now take in friendly manner / here my offered pay,And guide me o'er the ferry; / my favor hast thou thus alway."
1558
Whereat replied the boatman: / "The thing may never be.There are that to my masters / do bear hostility;Wherefore I never stranger / do lead into this land.As now thy life thou prizest, / step straightway out upon the strand."
1559
"Deny me not," quoth Hagen, / "for sad in sooth my mood.Take now for remembrance / this my gold so good,And carry men a thousand / and horses to yonder shore."Quoth in rage the boatman: / "Such thing will happen nevermore."
1560
Aloft he raised an oar / that mickle was and strong,And dealt such blow on Hagen, / (but rued he that ere long,)That in the boat did stumble / that warrior to his knee.In sooth so savage boatman / ne'er did the knight of Tronje see.
1561
With thought the stranger's anger / the more to rouse anew,He swung a mighty boat-pole / that it in pieces flewUpon the crown of Hagen;— / he was a man of might.Thereby did Else's boatman / come anon to sorry plight.
1562
Full sore enraged was Hagen, / as quick his hand he laidUpon his sword where hanging / he found the trusty blade.His head he struck from off him / and flung into the tide.Known was soon the story / to the knights of Burgundy beside.
1563
While the time was passing / that he the boatman slew,The waters bore him downward, / whereat he anxious grew.Ere he the boat had righted / began his strength to wane,So mightily was pulling / royal Gunther's doughty thane.
1564
Soon he yet had turned it, / so rapid was his stroke,Until the mighty oar / beneath his vigor broke.As strove he his companions / upon the bank to gain,No second oar he found him. / Yet soon the same made fast again.
1565
With quickly snatched shield-strap, / a fine and narrow band.Downward where stood a forest / he sought again the land,And there his master found he / standing upon the shore.In haste came forth to meet him / many a stately warrior more.
1566
The gallant knight they greeted / with right hearty mood.When in the boat perceived they / reeking still the bloodThat from the wound had issued / where Hagen's sword did swing,Scarce could his companions / bring to an end their questioning.
1567
When that royal Gunther / the streaming blood did seeWithin the boat there running, / straightway then spake he:"Where is now the ferryman, / tell me, Hagen, pray?By thy mighty prowess / his life, I ween, is ta'en away."
1568
Thereto replied he falsely: / "When the boat I foundWhere slopeth a wild meadow, / I the same unbound.Hereabout no ferryman / I to-day have seen,Nor ever cause of sorrow / unto any have I been."
1569
The good knight then of Burgundy, / the gallant Gernot, spake:"Dear friends full many, fear I, / the flood this day will take,Since we of the boatmen / none ready here may findTo guide us o'er the current. / 'Tis mickle sorrow to my mind."
1570
Full loudly cried then Hagen: / "Lay down upon the grass,Ye squires, the horse equipments. / I ween a time there was,Myself was best of boatmen / that dwelt the Rhine beside.To Gelfrat's country trow I / to bring you safely o'er the tide."
1571
That they might come the sooner / across the running flood,Drove they in the horses. / Their swimming, it was good,For of them never any / beneath the waves did sink,Though many farther downward / must struggle sore to gain the brink.
1572
Their treasure and apparel / unto the boat they bore,Since by no means the journey / thought they to give o'er.Hagen was director, / and safely reached the strandWith many a stalwart warrior / bound unto the unknown land.
1573
Gallant knights a thousand / first he ferried o'er,Whereafter came his own men. / Of others still were more,For squires full nine thousand / he led unto that land.That day no whit was idle / that valiant knight of Tronje's hand.
1574
When he them all in safety / o'er the flood had brought,Of that strange story / the valiant warrior thought,Which erstwhile had told him / those women of the sea.Lost thereby the chaplain's / life well-nigh was doomed to be.
1575
Beside his priestly baggage / he saw the chaplain stand,Upon the holy vestments / resting with his hand.No whit was that his safety; / when Hagen him did see,Must the priest full wretched / suffer sorest injury.
1576
From out the boat he flung him / ere might the thing be told,Whereat they cried together: / "Hold, O Master, hold!"Soon had the youthful Giselher / to rage thereat begun,And mickle was his sorrow / that Hagen yet the thing had done.
1577
Then outspake Sir Gernot, / knight of Burgundy:"What boots it thee, Sir Hagen, / that thus the chaplain die?Dared any else to do it, / thy wrath 'twould sorely stir.Wherein the priest's offending, / thus thy malice to incur?"
1578
To swim the chaplain struggled. / He thought him yet to free,If any but would help him. / Yet such might never be,For that the doughty Hagen / full wrathful was of mood,He sunk him to the bottom, / whereat aghast each warrior stood.
1579
When that no help forthcoming / the wretched priest might see,He sought the hither shore, / and fared full grievously.Though failed his strength in swimming, / yet helped him God's own hand,That he came securely / back again unto the land.
1580
Safe yonder stood the chaplain / and shook his dripping dress.Thereby perceived Hagen / how true was none the lessThe story that did tell him / the strange women of the sea.Thought he: "Of these good warriors / soon the days must ended be."
1581
When that the boat was emptied, / and complete their storeAll the monarch's followers / had borne upon the shore,Hagen smote it to pieces / and cast it on the flood,Whereat in mickle wonder / the valiant knights around him stood.
1582
"Wherefore dost this, brother," / then Sir Dankwart spake;"How shall we cross the river / when again we makeOur journey back from Hunland, / riding to the Rhine?"Behold how Hagen bade him / all such purpose to resign.
1583
Quoth the knight of Tronje: / "This thing is done by me,That if e'er coward rideth / in all our company,Who for lack of courage / from us away would fly,He beneath these billows / yet a shameful death must die."
1584
One there journeyed with them / from the land of Burgundy,That was a knight of valor, / Volker by name was he.He spake in cunning manner / whate'er might fill his mind,And aught was done by Hagen / did the Fiddler fitting find.
1585
Ready stood their chargers, / the carriers laden well;At passage of the river / was there naught to tellOf scathe to any happened, / save but the king's chaplain.Afoot must he now journey / back unto the Rhine again.
How Gelfrat was Slain by Dankwart
1586
When now they all were gathered / upon the farther strand,To wonder gan the monarch: / "Who shall through this landOn routes aright direct us, / that not astray we fare?"Then spake the doughty Volker: / "Thereof will I alone have care."
1587
"Now hark ye all," quoth Hagen, / "knight and squire too,And list to friendly counsel, / as fitting is to do.Full strange and dark the tidings / now ye shall hear from me:Home nevermore return we / unto the land of Burgundy.
1588
"Thus mermaids twain did tell me, / who spake to me this morn,That back we come not hither. / You would I therefore warnThat arméd well ye journey / and of all ills beware.To meet with doughty foemen / well behooveth us prepare.
1589
"I weened to turn to falsehood / what those wise mermaids spake,Who said that safe this journey / none again should makeHome unto our country / save the chaplain alone:Him therefore was I minded / to-day beneath the flood to drown."
1590
From company to company / quickly flew the tale,Whereon grew many a doughty / warrior's visage pale,As gan he think in sorrow / how death should snatch awayAll ere the journey ended; / and very need for grief had they.
1591
By Moeringen was it / they had the river crossed,Where also Else's boatman / thus his life had lost.There again spake Hagen: / "Since in such wise by meWrath hath been incurréd, / assailed full surely shall we be.
1592
"Myself that same ferryman / did this morning slay.Far bruited are the tidings. / Now arm ye for the fray,That if Gelfrat and Else / be minded to besetOur train to-day, they surely / with sore discomfiture be met.
1593
"So keen they are, well know I / the thing they'll not forego.Your horses therefore shall ye / make to pace more slow,That never man imagine / we flee away in fear.""That counsel will I follow," / spake the young knight Giselher.
1594
"Who will guide our vanguard / through this hostile land?""Volker shall do it," spake they, / "well doth he understandWhere leadeth path and highway, / a minstrel brave and keen."Ere full the wish was spoken, / in armor well equipped was seen
1595
Standing the doughty Fiddler. / His helmet fast he bound,And from his stately armor / shot dazzling light around.Eke to a staff he fastened / a banner, red of hue.Anon with royal masters / came he to sorest sorrow too.
1596
Unto Gelfrat meanwhile / had sure tidings flown,How that was dead his boatman; / the story eke was knownUnto the doughty Else, / and both did mourn his fate.Their warriors they summoned, / nor must long time for answer wait.
1597
But little space it lasted / —that would I have you know—Ere that to them hasted / who oft a mickle woeHad wrought in stress of battle / and injury full sore;To Gelfrat now came riding / seven hundred knights or more.
1598
When they their foes to follow / so bitterly began,Led them both their masters. / Yet all too fast they ranAfter the valiant strangers / vengeance straight to wreak.Ere long from those same leaders / did death full many a warrior take.
1599
Hagen then of Tronje / the thing had ordered there,—How of his friends might ever / knight have better care?—That he did keep the rearguard / with warriors many a one,And Dankwart eke, his brother; / full wisely the thing was done.
1600
When now the day was over / and light they had no more,Injury to his followers / gan he to dread full sore.They shield in hand rode onward / through Bavarian land,And ere they long had waited / beset they were by hostile band.
1601
On either side the highway / and close upon their rearOf hoofs was heard the clatter; / too keen the chasers were.Then spake the valiant Dankwart: / "The foe is close at hand.Now bind we on the helmet, / —wisdom doth the same command."
1602
Upon the way they halted, / nor else they safe had been.Through the gloom perceived they / of gleaming shields the sheen.Thereupon would Hagen / longer not delay:"Who rideth on the highway?"— / That must Gelfrat tell straight-way.
1603
Of Bavaria the margrave / thereupon replied:"Our enemies now seek we, / and swift upon them ride.Fain would I discover / who hath my boatman slain.A knight he was of valor, / whose death doth cause me grievous pain."
1604
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "And was the boatman thineThat would not take us over? / The guilt herein is mine.Myself did slay the warrior, / and had, in sooth, good need,For that beneath his valor / I myself full nigh lay dead.
1605
"For pay I rich attire / did bid, and gold a store,Good knight, that to thy country / he should us ferry o'er.Thereat he raged full sorely / and on me swung a blowWith a mighty boat-pole, / whereat I eke did angry grow.
1606
"For my sword then reached I / and made his rage to closeWith a wound all gaping: / so thou thy knight didst lose.I'll give thee satisfaction / as to thee seemeth good."Straightway began the combat, / for high the twain in valor stood.
1607
"Well know I," spake Gelfrat, / "when Gunther with his trainRode through this my country / that we should suffer baneFrom Hagen, knight of Tronje. / No more shall he go free,But for my boatman's slaying / here a hostage must he be."
1608
Against their shields then lowered / for the charge the spearGelfrat and Hagen; / eager to close they were.Else and Dankwart / spurred eke in stately way,Scanning each the other; / then both did valorous arm display.
1609
How might ever heroes / show doughty arm so well?Backward from off his charger / from mighty tilt there fellHagen the valiant, / by Gelfrat's hand borne down.In twain was rent the breast-piece: / to Hagen thus a fall was known.
1610
Where met in charge their followers, / did crash of shafts resound.Risen eke was Hagen, / who erst unto the groundWas borne by mighty lance-thrust, / prone upon the grass.I ween that unto Gelfrat / nowise of gentle mood he was.
1611
Who held their horses' bridles / can I not recount,But soon from out their saddles / did they all dismount.Hagen and Gelfrat / straightway did fierce engage,And all their men around them / did eke a furious combat wage.
1612
Though with fierce onslaught Hagen / upon Gelfrat sprung,On his shield the noble margrave / a sword so deftly swungThat a piece from off the border / 'mid flying sparks it clave.Well-nigh beneath its fury / fell dead King Gunther's warrior brave.
1613
Unto Dankwart loudly / thereat he gan to cry:"Help! ho! my good brother! / Encountered here have IA knight of arm full doughty, / from whom I come not free."Then spake the valiant Dankwart: / "Myself thereof the judge will be."
1614
Nearer sprang the hero / and smote him such a blowWith a keen-edged weapon / that he in death lay low.For his slain brother Else / vengeance thought to take,But soon with all his followers / 'mid havoc swift retreat must make.
1615
Slain was now his brother, / wound himself did bear,And of his followers eighty / eke had fallen there,By grim death snatched sudden. / Then must the doughty knight,From Gunther's men to save him, / turn away in hasty flight.
1616
When that they of Bavaria / did from the carnage flee,The blows that followed after / resounded frightfully;For close the knights of Tronje / upon their enemies chased,Who to escape the fury / did quit the field in mickle haste.
1617
Then spake upon their fleeing / Dankwart the doughty thane:"Upon our way now let us / backward turn again,And leave them hence to hasten / all wet with oozing blood.Unto our friends return we, / this verily meseemeth good."
1618
When back they were returnéd / where did the scathe befall,Outspake of Tronje Hagen: / "Now look ye, warriors all,Who of our tale is lacking, / or who from us hath beenHere in battle riven / through the doughty Gelfrat's spleen."
1619
Lament they must for warriors / four from them were ta'en.But paid for were they dearly, / for roundabout lay slainOf their Bavarian foemen / a hundred or more.The men of Tronje's bucklers / with blood were wet and tarnished o'er.
1620
From out the clouds of heaven / a space the bright moon shone.Then again spake Hagen: / "Bear report let noneTo my beloved masters / how we here did fare.Let them until the morrow / still be free from aught of care."
1621
When they were back returnéd / who bore the battle's stress,Sore troubled was their company / from very weariness."How long shall we keep saddle?" / was many a warrior's quest.Then spake the valiant Dankwart: / "Not yet may we find place of rest,
1622
"But on ye all must journey / till day come back again."Volker, knight of prowess, / who led the foremost train,Bade to ask the marshal: / "This night where shall we be,That rest them may our chargers, / and eke my royal masters three?"
1623
Thereto spake valiant Dankwart: / "The same I ne'er can say,Yet may we never rest us / before the break of day.Where then we find it fitting / we'll lay us on the grass."When they did hear his answer, / what source of grief to all it was!
1624
Still were they unbetrayéd / by reeking blood and red,Until the sun in heaven / its shining beams down shedAt morn across the hill-tops, / that then the king might seeHow they had been in battle. / Spake he then full angrily:
1625
"How may this be, friend Hagen? / Scorned ye have, I ween,That I should be beside you, / where coats of mail have beenThus wet with blood upon you. / Who this thing hath done?"Quoth he: "The same did Else, / who hath this night us set upon.
1626
"To avenge his boatman / did they attack our train.By hand of my brother / hath Gelfrat been slain.Then fled Else before us, / and mickle was his need.Ours four, and theirs a thousand, / remained behind in battle dead."
1627
Now can we not inform you / where resting-place they found.But cause to know their passing / had the country-folk around,When there the sons of Ute / to court did fare in state.At Passau fit reception / did presently the knights await.
1628
The noble monarchs' uncle, / Bishop Pilgrim that was,Full joyous-hearted was he / that through the land did passWith train of lusty warriors / his royal nephews three.That willing was his service, / waited they not long to see.
1629
To greet them on their journey / did friends lack no device,Yet not to lodge them fully / might Passau's bounds suffice.They must across the water / where spreading sward they found,And lodge and tent erected / soon were stretching o'er the ground.
1630
Nor from that spot they onward / might journey all that day,And eke till night was over, / for pleasant was their stay.Next to the land of Ruediger / must they in sooth ride on,To whom full soon the story / of their coming eke was known.
1631
When fitting rest had taken / the knights with travel worn,And of Etzel's country / they had reached the bourn,A knight they found there sleeping / that ne'er should aught but wake,From whom of Tronje Hagen / in stealth a mighty sword did take.
1632
Hight in sooth was Eckewart / that same valiant knight.For what was there befallen / was he in sorry plight,That by those heroes' passing / he had lost his sword.At Ruediger's marches / found they meagre was the guard.
1633
"O, woe is me dishonored," / Eckewart then cried;"Yea, rueth me fully sorely, / this Burgundian ride.What time was taken Siegfried, / did joy depart from me.Alack, O Master Ruediger, / how ill my service unto thee!"
1634
Hagen, full well perceiving / the noble warrior's plight,Gave him again his weapon / and armbands six full bright."These take, good knight, in token / that thou art still my friend.A valiant warrior art thou, / though dost thou lone this border tend."
1635
"May God thy gifts repay thee," / Eckewart replied,"Yet rueth me full sorely / that to the Huns ye ride.Erstwhile slew ye Siegfried / and vengeance have to fear;My rede to you is truly: / "Beware ye well of danger here."
1636
"Now must God preserve us," / answered Hagen there."In sooth for nothing further / have these thanes a careThan for place of shelter, / the kings and all their band,And where this night a refuge / we may find within this land.
1637
"Done to death our horses / with the long journey are,And food as well exhausted," / Hagen did declare."Nor find we aught for purchase; / a host we need instead,Who would in kindness give us, / ere this evening, of his bread."
1638
Thereto gave answer Eckewart: / "I'll show you such a one,That so warm a welcome / find ye never noneIn country whatsoever / as here your lot may be,An if ye, thanes full gallant, / the noble Ruediger will see.
1639
He dwelleth by the highway / and is most bounteous hostThat house e'er had for master. / His heart may graces boast,As in the lovely May-time / the flowrets deck the mead.To do good thanes a service / is for his heart most joyous deed."
1640
Then spake the royal Gunther: / "Wilt thou my messenger be,If will my dear friend Ruediger, / as favor done to me,His hospitable shelter / with all my warriors share,Therefor full to requite thee / shall e'er hereafter be my care."
1641
"Thy messenger am I gladly," / Eckewart replied,And in right willing manner / straight away did ride,The message thus receivéd / to Ruediger to bear.Nor did so joyous tidings / for many a season greet his ear.
1642
Hasting to Bechelaren / was seen a noble thane.The same perceivéd Ruediger, / and spake: "O'er yonder plainHither hastens Eckewart, / who Kriemhild's might doth own."He weened that by some foemen / to him had injury been done.
1643
Then passed he forth the gateway / where the messenger did stand.His sword he loosed from girdle / and laid from out his hand.The message that he carried / might he not long withholdFrom the master and his kinsmen; / full soon the same to them was told.
1644
He spake unto the margrave: / "I come at high commandOf the lordly Gunther / of Burgundian land,And Giselher and Gernot, / his royal brothers twain.In service true commends him / unto thee each lofty thane.
1645
"The like hath Hagen bidden / and Volker as wellWith homage oft-times proffered. / And more have I to tell,The which King Gunther's marshal / to thee doth send by me:How that the valiant warriors / do crave thy hospitality."
1646
With smiling visage Ruediger / made thereto reply:"Now joyeth me the story / that the monarchs highDo deign to seek my service, / that ne'er refused shall be.Come they unto my castle, / 'tis joy and gladness unto me."
1647
"Dankwart the marshal / hath bidden let thee knowWho seek with them thy shelter / as through thy land they go:Three score of valiant leaders / and thousand knights right good,With squires eke nine thousand." / Thereat was he full glad of mood.
1648
"To me 'tis mickle honor," / Ruediger then spake,"That through my castle's portals / such guests will entry make,For ne'er hath been occasion / my service yet to lend.Now ride ye, men and kinsmen, / and on these lofty knights attend."
1649
Then to horse did hasten / knight and willing squire,For glad they were at all times / to do their lord's desire,And keen that thus their service / should not be rendered late.Unwitting Lady Gotelinde / still within her chamber sate.