For a space in the breeze fresh-blowing stood Iring of…

For a space in the breeze fresh-blowing stood Iring of Danish land: He cooled his limbs in his harness, he loosed his helmet-band. All round him the folk stood praising his might and his chivalry, And the heart of the Lord of the Marches thereat beat proud and high. Then once again spake Iring: "Good friends, I pray you go And bring new arms: I am purposed again to essay yon foe, If I haply may still the boaster, and abase the arrogant head." Sore hacked was his shield, but a better they gave him in its stead.

Soon stood the knight full-armoured in stronger warrior-gear: He grasped in his battle-fury a stubborn-shafted spear, And he set his face unto Hagen to defy him to fight once more; Then leapt to meet him the hatred of that murder-wolf of war. For Hagen the thane would wait not for the coming of Iring's feet, But hurling javelins before him he sprang his foe to meet Down all the length of the stairway: his fury was passing great. Ah, little did Iring's prowess avail in the hour of fate! As the swords hewed through the bucklers, it was as a fierce wind blew The sparks of a burning forest. Then Hawart's liegeman true Gat from the sword of Hagen a wound that bit to the brain Crashing through buckler and helmet—he was never whole again. When ware was the good knight Iring of the bite of the sword-edge keen, Higher he swung his buckler his rifted helm to screen. He weened that in that grim sword-gash he had gotten scathe enow; But Gunther's liegeman dealt him a yet more deadly blow: For Hagen caught at a javelin that lay at his feet on the ground; At the Daneland hero he hurled it, and his shieldless face it found, And lo, the quivering spear-shaft stood out from his head behind. From the hand of Hagen the mighty a grim end did he find. Back to the ranks of his people staggered the fainting Dane; But ere they could raise the helmet from the piercèd head of the thane, They must needs draw out the spear-shaft:—death's hand upon him lay, And his friends brake forth into weeping: good cause to weep had they!