XL

"Fair and n.o.ble lady! cease for me to grieve.

What avails your weeping? my life I needs must leave; Yes! the wounds are mortal that thus have pierc'd me through.

Death will not leave me longer to Etzel and to you."

XLI

Then thus to each Thuringian he spake, and every Dane, "Hope not for gifts from Kriemhild, nor count her gold for gain, For here, my friends! I warn you, e'en with my latest breath, If once you fight with Hagan, you needs must look on death."

XLII

His lively hue was faded; the stamp of death he bore; For the redoubted Iring his comrades sorrow'd sore.

Never could recover stout Hawart's va.s.sal true.

Perforce each man of Denmark took to his sword anew.

XLIII

Irnfried at once and Hawart both hurried toward the hall With a thousand warriors; from amongst them all Loud peal'd the shout of battle; fierce was their wrath and hot.

Ah! what a sleet of javelins at those of Rhine they shot!

XLIV

Upon the valiant gleeman bold Irnfried rush'd amain, But at his hand destruction was all that he could gain.

A stern man was the minstrel as e'er in field met foe.

Through th' helm he smote the landgrave a deep and deadly blow.

XLV

Sir Irnfried on Sir Folker dealt too a st.u.r.dy stroke, That of his temper'd hauberk the links asunder broke, And with the dint his harness all sparkled fiery red.

Then straight before the minstrel down dropp'd the landgrave dead.

XLVI

Sir Hawart and Sir Hagan clos'd too in deadly fight; Their strife to each beholder was sure a wondrous sight.

Huge strokes from their keen weapons fell thick on either side, Till by the stern Burgundian perforce Sir Hawart died.

XLVII

When Danes now and Thuringians saw both their leaders slain, Against the house yet fiercer rush'd on the shouting train.

Loud round the sounding portal the din of battle peal'd, And many a helm was cloven, and shatter'd many a shield.

XLVIII

"Fall back, my friends!" said Folker, "E'en let them enter in, Yield for a while the pa.s.sage they so desire to win.

Full soon they'll fall together within our b.l.o.o.d.y hold, And reap with death and ruin Dame Kriemhild's fatal gold."

XLIX

Those overweening champions the hall had enter'd now; Many a proud head among them was sudden taught to bow Beneath the deadly sword-strokes of the fierce warriors there.

Well fought the valiant Gernot, well, too, young Giselher.

L

A thousand and four together had come into the hall; You might see the broadswords flashing rise and fall; Soon the bold intruders all dead together lay; Of those renown'd Burgundians strange marvels one might say.

LI

Thereafter reigned deep silence; the din of war was hush'd; Through every creak and cranny the blood on all sides gush'd From that huge hill of slaughter; red did the gutters run.

So much was through their prowess by those of Rhineland done!

LII

With that the bold Burgundians sat down awhile to rest.

His b.l.o.o.d.y sword and buckler down laid each panting guest.

Still stood th' unwearied minstrel on guard the house before, To watch if any foeman should seek to force the door.

LIII

Sore wail'd the royal Etzel, sore too his lady wept, And sobbing dames and damsels like mournful concert kept.

Fell Death, I ween, had taken his oath to do them ill.

Alas! by those fierce strangers more were to perish still.

THIRTY-SIXTH ADVENTURE

HOW THE QUEEN GAVE ORDERS TO BURN DOWN THE HALL

I

"So now unlace your helmets," undaunted Hagan cried, "I and my comrade o'er you will watch lest harm betide, And should the men of Etzel again to fight come on, Be sure I will not dally, but warn my lords anon."

II