LII

"Ah, my dear lord!" in anguish cried Master Hildebrand, "Dost thou then here lie lifeless by Folker's b.l.o.o.d.y hand?

But hence, be sure, shall never this minstrel scathless go."

However could n.o.ble Hildebrand rush fiercer on a foe?

LIII

At once so smote he Folker with weapon sharp and true, That to the walls on all sides a shower of shivers flew From helm and eke from buckler like chaff before the blast.

Thereby the st.u.r.dy Folker came to his end at last.

LIV

At that, the men of Dietrich rush'd on from every side.

They slash'd, that links of hauberk went whirling far and wide, And the snapp'd sword-points flicker'd with momentary gleam; They drew from out the morions the smoking b.l.o.o.d.y stream.

LV

Soon Hagan spied Sir Folker dead on the reeking floor; Ne'er had he felt such anguish throughout the feast before For kinsman lost or liegeman, as then his bosom shook.

Alas! for his slain comrade what dire revenge he took!

LVI

"Ne'er from me shall scathless go aged Hildebrand.

My helpmate lies before me, slain by the hero's hand.

Never had I comrade so valiant and so true."

He rais'd his shield, and forward slashing and hewing flew.

LVII

Just then the stalwart Helfrich slew Dankwart the good knight; Gunther as well as Giselher, woe were they at the sight, When down he fell, and, writhing, out panted his last breath.

He with his sword beforehand had well reveng'd his death.

LVIII

What crowds soe'er had thither muster'd from many a land, Beneath right puissant princes against their little band, Weren't not that Christian people conspir'd to work their fall, Their prowess well had kept them against the heathens all.

LIX

Meanwhile redoubted Wolfhart rush'd fiercely to and fro, King Gunther's men down hewing with oft-repeated blow.

Thrice through that place of slaughter he cut his b.l.o.o.d.y way.

Before, behind, around him the dead and dying lay.

LX

With that, the young Sir Giselher to the stern warrior cried, "Woe's me that I should ever so fierce a foe abide!

n.o.ble knight and fearless, turn thee now to me.

I'll help to end this matter; it must no longer be."

LXI

Wolfhart turn'd on Giselher soon as thus defied; Each in that grim battle wounds cut gaping wide.

Upon the king fierce rushing so forcefully he sped, The blood beneath his trampling flew high above his head.

LXII

The bold son of fair Uta with many a rapid blow Received the furious onset of his redoubted foe; Huge as was Wolfhart's puissance, boot it none could bring.

Ne'er was so brave a battle fought by so young a king.

LXIII

At last through the good hauberk he smote Sir Dietrich's man, That the blood, out-spurting, down in a torrent ran.

So to the death he wounded that high o'erweening one.

'Twas sure a peerless champion who such a deed had done.

LXIV

Soon as fearless Wolfhart felt the deadly pain, Down he dropp'd his buckler; with fierce hand amain His huge sharp-cutting broadsword higher he heav'd in air; Through helm at once and hauberk then smote he Giselher.

LXV

So they one another both of their lives bereft.

Now of all Dietrich's liegemen not a soul was left.

Hildebrand, the aged, dead saw Wolfhart fall; Among his long life's sorrows that was the worst of all.

LXVI

There in that hall of slaughter dead lay King Gunther's train, Dead too the men of Dietrich. Sir Hildebrand amain Ran where redoubted Wolfhart fall'n in the blood he found, And cast his arms about him to lift him from the ground.

LXVII

He drove his dying nephew forth from the house to bear, But found his weight too mighty; he needs must leave him there.

Then from the blood the wounded a clouded glance upcast; He saw that fain his uncle had help'd him at the last.