Sure I must condemn him--ill fits a knight to lie.

To stand against thee singly he promis'd just before, And now he brings in armor a thousand chiefs or more."

VII

"Call me not a liar," Hawart's liegeman cried.

"Yes! I have given a promise; I'd fain my words abide.

I'll ne'er renounce th' adventure; fear is to me unknown; How fierce soe'er be Hagan, I'll meet him here alone."

VIII

He begg'd his friends and kinsmen, down falling at their feet, That they would let him singly the stern Burgundian meet.

Fain would they have denied him, for all too well they knew How stout a knight was Hagan, and how remorseless too.

IX

So long he still entreated, at last they gave consent; When him on that fierce battle they saw so wildly bent And so athirst for honor, with grief they let him go.

A deadly strife then follow'd 'twixt either frowning foe.

X

The valiant knight of Denmark bore high his quivering spear, And crouch'd beneath his buckler through caution, not through fear, Then, to the hall swift mounting, with Hagan sought to close.

From the death-doing champions a deafening din arose.

XI

Each cast his spear at th' other with such o'ermastering might, Piercing through the strong bucklers e'en to the harness bright, That the shafts, high whirling, to a distance flew; Their swords then, sternly frowning, the rival champions drew.

XII

Huge was the strength of Hagan, his heart and hand were stout, Yet on him smote Sir Iring, that rang the hall throughout.

Wall and tower re-echoed at every thundering blow.

Still could not he his purpose work on his burly foe.

XIII

So Iring there let Hagan as yet unwounded stand, And on the warlike minstrel, turn'd at once his hand; He thought to bring him under with buffets fierce and fell, But the long-practis'd gleeman his blows all warded well.

XIV

Then Folker, kindling pa.s.sion, smote Iring's buckler so, That the steel plates which bound it flew off at every blow.

Then turn'd he from the minstrel (he struck too boisterously), And fell at once on Gunther the King of Burgundy.

XV

Then 'twixt the valiant couple a furious strife arose; King Gunther and Sir Iring, like hail they bandied blows.

Yet the red blood could neither with all his buffets draw, So goodly was their harness without a fault or flaw.

XVI

With that he left King Gunther, and straight at Gernot ran; The fire from out his mailcoat to hammer he began.

But then to him King Gernot made such a fierce reply, That the redoubted Iring he all but did to die.

XVII

From the prince he bounded; swift the warrior flew; Four of the Burgundians in a trice he slew, All high-descended courtiers from Worms across the Rhine; Well might the youthful Giselher at such a loss repine.

XVIII

"Now by heaven, Sir Iring!" in his wrath he said, "Thy life shall pay the forfeit for those who here lie dead Through thy remorseless fury."--He ran at him full fleet, And smote the Dane so sternly, he could not keep his feet.

XIX

Down he dropp'd before him grovelling in the gore; Sure then ween'd each beholder that he never more Blow would give or parry on a battle-day; Yet Iring all unwounded before his foeman lay.

XX

So deep his morion sounded, so loud the sword-stroke clash'd, His senses were confounded as to the ground he dash'd, And like a corpse, though living, he lay unconscious there; So wondrous was the prowess of strong-arm'd Giselher!

XXI

When from his brain bewilder'd the swoon had parted slow, Which had his wits confounded from that o'er mastering blow, Thought he, "I yet am living, and all unwounded, too.

Now know I Giselher's manhood, and feel what he can do."

XXII

He heard his foes about him as there he lay o'erthrown; Worse would he have to suffer if once the truth were known Well, too, the youthful Giselher perceiv'd he standing by.

Then thought he, from amongst them, by what device to fly.

XXIII

From the blood he started; pressing was his need; Sure for his good fortune he might thank his speed.

From the house he darted just where Hagan stood, And struck at him in pa.s.sing with all the force he could.