The Nibelungenlied, - [best color ebook reader .txt] 📗

whom was either well worth King Gunther’s gold;
And Dankwart, Hagen’s brother, his nephew Ortwein too,
Who also might with honour upon the war-march go.

174

“Sir king,” said Siegfried, “prithee, in quiet bide at home,
Seeing that all thy warriors with me to battle come,
Remain to guard the women, and aye be of good cheer:
I trow I can take care of your honour and your gear!

175

“From those who would assail you, at Worms upon the Rhine,
I’ll see that nought of evil befall or thee or thine.
So closely will we press them, and compass them so near,
That all their braggart boasting shall soon be changed to fear.”

176

From Rhine they rode through Hesse, their warriors as well,
Towards the Saxon country⁠— where they to fighting fell.
They ravaged all the borders and spoiled with sword and brand,
Till fear fell on those princes, who sorrowed for their land.

177

So came they o’er the marches; their followers pressed on,
And then the gallant Siegfried began to think thereon:
“Who shall defend our camp-folk, now we have brought them here?
More damage-wreaking raiders to Saxons never were.”

178

Some counselled: “On the march let bold Dankwart guard our youth;
He is a trusty warrior, and swift in act, forsooth:
Let him and also Ortwein have conduct of the rear;
So shall we have less damage from Lud’ger’s men to fear.”

179

“Then I myself will ride on,” did gallant Siegfried cry,
“And keep the foremost outlook, till we the foe espy;
Until I find out where these same crafty warriors lurk.”
Fair Sieglind’s son then quickly donned helmet and hauberk.

180

The rank and file to Hagen he entrusted as he went,
And also unto Gernot, the warrior excellent.
Then all alone forth rode he into the Saxon-land;
That very day his sword hewed full many a helmet-band.

181

He saw a whole vast army upon the plain outspread,
By which his own few helpers were far outnumberéd:
There were full forty thousand, or even more, maybe;⁠—
But when Sir Siegfried saw them, his heart was full of glee!

182

On the foe’s side a warrior had to the front been sent,
Who on his guard stood ready, watchful and diligent.
The hero Siegfried saw him, and the bold man saw him:
And each did watch the other, with jealous hate and grim.

183

I’ll tell you who it was, who thus sentinel did stand:
(A shining shield of red gold was hanging on his hand,)
King Ludegast it was who his army thus did guard⁠—
The noble guest spurred forward to meet him on the sward.

184

King Ludegast had also his enemy espied,
And each sharp spurs had driven into his stallion’s side,
With lances on the shields bent each charged with all his might,
And Ludegast the mighty was soon in sorry plight.

185

After the crash, the chargers bore the two princes by,
As if a mighty storm-wind had blown them furiously,
Till each, the rein obeying, was turned in knightly way;
Then did the two grim foemen with swords their skill essay.

186

The mighty strokes of Siegfried made all the field resound,
Until King Lud’gast’s helmet seemed flaming all around⁠—
The fire-red sparks shot upwards beneath the hero’s hand,
Each knight found in his fellow a foeman worth his brand.

187

King Lud’gast dealt him also right many an ugly blow:
Their good shields caught the sword-thrusts, that else had laid them low.
Of Lud’gast’s warriors, thirty were witness of the fray.
But, ere they came to aid him, Siegfried had gained the day.

188

From three great wounds and ghastly, which to the king he dealt
Clean through his white, steel harness; —though it was firmly welt⁠—
Where the keen sword-point entered burst from his wounds the blood.
King Ludegast might well be thereat of doleful mood!

189

He begged for life; and offered to pledge to him his land,
Telling him that ’twas Lud’gast whose fate was in his hand.
And then uprode his warriors, who witnessed had right well
What, ’twixt the twain before them, upon the watch, befell.

190

Siegfried now thence would take him; but he was set upon
By thirty of the foemen: yet did he hold his own,
And kept his wealthy captive; and struck out, brave and true,
And gave those stately chieftains much bitter cause to rue.

191

In self-defence, the thirty he thereupon did slay.
One only left he living; who spurred his steed away
To bear the direful tidings of all that there befell:
Which eke his bloody helmet did but too plainly tell.

192

When to the men of Denmark the dreadful news was told⁠—
How that theirking was taken⁠— they scarce their grief could hold.
And when they told his brother, he fell to rave like mad,
In uncontrolléd fury⁠— so great the grief he had.

193

So Ludegast the warrior was captive made, and then
Led from the field by Siegfried, and giv’n to Gunther’s men.
To Hagen’s care they gave him; and when they heard the truth,
That ’twas the king he brought them⁠— they did not grieve, forsooth!

194

The banner of Burgundia was fixed its staff unto.
“Come on, my men!” cried Siegfried, “here have we more to do,
Before the day be ended. If God preserve my life,
There’ll weep among the Saxons full many a comely wife!

195

“Give ear, ye Rhine-born heroes, unto these words I say:
To Lud’ger’s host I, truly, can show ye straight the way.
Ye’ll see some helmet-hewing by heroes’ hands, I trow!
And, ere we turn us homewards, what grief is some shall know.”

196

To horse did Gernot hasten, as eke did all his men.
Aloft upbore the banner the stalwart minstrel-thane⁠—
The high-born noble Volker;⁠— before the host he rode;
And eke the camp-folk, following, proudly to battle strode.

197

They had no more, all counted, than just a thousand men
And twelve, with those of Siegfried. The dust ’gan rising then
Upon the streets and roadways, as through the land they rode:
One saw their lances shining, and many a good shield glowed.

198

Now also had the Saxons come forth in great array.
Their swords were finely sharpened, as I have heard men say;
And keen they were and deadly, wielded by heroes’ hands:
Therewith they, from the strangers, would castle guard and lands.

199

The marshal of the Rhine-men led on his warriors then.
And Siegfried followed closely, with the twelve valiant men
Whom he had brought as comrades from out the Netherland.
That day in blood of battle was stainéd many a hand.

200

For Sindold’s might, and Hunold’s, and Gernot’s had laid
In course of that fell combat, full many a hero dead,
Ere they had time to reckon the valour of the foe.
And many a winsome lady that day must weep for woe.

201

Sir Volker and Sir Hagen, and also Ortewein,
Dimmed in that strife the light that from many a helm did shine,
With damp of blood downpouring⁠— these battle-valiant men!
Sir Dankwart’s prowess also wrought many a marvel then.

202

And also they of Denmark did well their weapons wield,
And many a thrust resounded on many a polish’d shield;
And the sharp sword-strokes echoed death-dealing, blow on blow.
The warlike Saxons likewise did harm enough, I