So ceased the weary warriors with one consent from the fight

So ceased the weary warriors with one consent from the fight; And many a shattered helmet and shield to left and to right Did they cast from their hands; nor any of all on the field that lay, But blood-besprent from the hewing of Burgundia's swords were they. From the field, by the right of the victor, what captives they would did they lead: And the swift war-helpers, Gernot and Hagen, took order with heed That the wounded men upon litters be borne: so led they away, Captives unto the Rhine-flood, five hundred men from the fray. All empty-handed of triumph home rode each Danish knight, Nor yet had the Saxons borne them so stoutly in that fight That their people should sing their praises: in sorrow and shame went they Mid wailing for dear ones fallen in the slaughter of that day. Now their needless armour Rhineward the sumpter-beasts might bear, For Siegfried the strong and his helpers had rid the land of the fear Of foes from border to border: so had he accomplished this That all King Gunther's war-host must acclaim the deed for his.

Straightway to Worms Prince Gernot hasted the messengers' feet To bear unto friends in the homeland the tidings passing sweet, That tale of the might triumphant of the Kings and their war-array, The tale of the deeds of the valiant, of the dawn of glory's day. Fast, fast those victory-heralds sped, and the tale was told. How leap their hearts for gladness that of late were sorrowful-souled, For all those joyful tidings through the jubilant land that ring! How instant are high-born ladies with eager questioning How had it fared with their dear lords in the King's war-host who fought! Yea, into the presence of Kriemhild was a messenger straightway brought: Yet the thing was done as in secret, and she would not that folk should know, For the Hero's sake in whose keeping was her heart from long ago.

When stood that victory-bringer in her bower before her eyes, Kriemhild the lovely bespake him in exceeding gracious wise:

"Now tell me thy joyful tidings, and my gold shall thy guerdon be; And, so nought of the truth be hidden, thou hast ever a friend in me. Tell how hath my brother Gernot come forth of the battle-strife, And other my friends and kinsmen. Be there many that lost their life? Who in that day triumphant was in prowess chief?—say on!"

Spake the messenger true-hearted: "Sooth, battle-blencher was none; But in that stern warrior-onset no champion rode so well, O noble Daughter of Princes, if the truth my tongue must tell, As the princely stranger-hero, which came from the Netherland;— O the marvels of battle-prowess that were wrought by Siegfried's hand! What deeds soever the champions achieved in the battle-play, Even Dankwart and Hagen, and other of Gunther's war-array— Their glory, their prowess, were even as an idle wind should sing, Set by the deeds of Siegfried, the son of Siegmund the King. O yea, in the storm of battle full many a hero they slew: But whoso essayed could never tell all the marvels through That were wrought by the arm of Siegfried as he rode the surges of fight— Ah, many a lady for dear ones slain shall bewail his might! Went down before his onset the beloved of many a bride; His giant strokes on the helmets o'er the field rang far and wide, And forth of the gaping gashes the blood flowed fast and free:— O yea, in all achievement the glory of knighthood is he! Sooth, many a deed of valour wrought Ortwein, Metz's Lord; Whosoever was touched in the war-storm by the lightning of his sword Fell back from his face sore wounded—yea, for the more part slain: And thy brother withal to the foemen dealt the deadliest bane That ever in battle-tempest hath any champion wrought. True witness were this of the chosen warriors there that fought, That so mighty in war-achievement were our proud Burgundians found, That shame shall touch them never: for aye are they glory-crowned. For they smote, and they saw before them many a riderless selle: O'er the echoing field their war-glaives rang many a foeman's knell.

O yea, the knights of Rhineland rode through that stormy day In such wise that their foes repent them that ever they dared the fray. And the valiant brethren of Troneg withal dealt deadly bane When the war-hosts clashed, when the nations wrestled with desperate strain: So many were then hurled earthward by dauntless Hagen's hand, That thereof might a goodly story be told in Burgundia-land. Sindold withal and Hunold, 'neath Gernot's banner who warred, These wrought such deeds of prowess, with Rumold the dauntless lord, That Lüdiger, king of the Saxons, to his latest hour shall repent The folly of that war-challenge to the Lords of Rhineland sent. Yet of all the mightiest war-deeds that ever on earth have been, From the least even unto the greatest that ever eye hath seen, Never were such as Siegfried hath wrought with resistless hand. And he bringeth royal captives hither to Gunther's land; Even these with his might overmastering the warrior-prince subdued. Of a truth his self-sought evils hath Lüdegast bitterly rued, And Lüdiger his brother, the lord of the Saxons, withal! O noble Daughter of Princes, not yet have I told thee all; For behold, these twain were captive taken by Siegfried's hand. Never so many war-thralls have come into this our land As now his valour haleth hitherward unto the Rhine." —More welcome words had she hearkened never, ye well may divine— "Five hundred barons unwounded, nay more, be hitherward led, O Queen, and of men sore stricken in fight, yea, well-nigh dead, Full fourscore blood-stained litters come softly through the land; And of these were the more part smitten by dauntless Siegfried's hand. They whose pride overweening challenged the Lords of Rhine to the war Now captives of King Gunther by sore constraint they are. With joy to thy land that goodly prey do our warriors hale."

Then flushed into rose the lily at the telling of that tale. Yea, over her lovely visage for rapture the roses burned That out of the imminent peril alive and whole had returned

Her knight, her winsome Siegfried, of the young, heart-conquering eyes— Yea, she rejoiced for her kinsfolk withal in sisterly wise. Then spake that Queen of Beauty: "Glad tidings to me hast thou brought. I will give thee for thy guerdon bright raiment richly wrought; And my treasurer shall count thee withal ten marks of gold." He is happy of whom such tidings unto noble dames be told!

They gave him for his guerdon the gold and the costly array. Many a lovely maiden from her casement leaned that day, And gazed o'er the city highway, and saw go riding by Many a thane high-hearted of the land of Burgundy. First rode the knights unwounded, then the train of the stricken came,— Well might these hearken the greeting of friends with nought of shame! And the King rode forth glad-hearted to meet them, kinsman and guest: From all his care in rejoicing his soul had gotten rest. Then greeted he well his kinsfolk, and hailed each stranger knight, As for kings of men so mighty is ever meet and right With thanks and with lovingkindness to meet men faring back From plucking the flower of glory from the field of the battle-wrack. Now touching his friends and his kinsmen King Gunther questioneth, Even who in the highways of battle had been stricken unto death: And behold, in heroes fourscore the tale of their slain is told!— But the brave dead none bewaileth, and so hath it been from of old. Yea, even the knights unwounded brought many a sword-hacked shield, And many a rifted helmet, home from that stricken field. And the riders sprang from their horses at the gates of the hall of the King; And with shouts of salutation did the very heavens ring.

Fair harbourage unto the good knights they gave that city through; And the King commanded to honour his guests with tendance due; And they bound up the hurts of the wounded, and with diligent heed did they tend: Yea, that knightly King was gracious unto foe no less than friend.

Then unto Lüdegast spake he: "Welcome to me be thou! Through thy misdeed to my kingdom hath mischief been wrought enow, For the which thou must make atonement, if this may be compassed of me. God look on my friends and reward them: right well have they holpen me!" "Well mayst thou thank thine helpers," spake Lüdiger answering: "In sooth such high-born captives had never earthly king! And now for knightly warding we tender thee goodly fee, And pray thee for gracious dealing with them that were foes unto thee." "Unto both of you freedom from fetters," he answered, "will I accord, So all which have fought against me abide here still in ward: And for this shall ye give me pledges that none shall leave my land, Except as I give them licence." To the covenant gave they the hand.

Then they led to their rest the weary, where all things ready were made. Full soon upon easeful couches were the wounded warriors laid. And they poured for the knights unwounded bright wine and mead good store: Never in mirth and joyance were hearts uplifted more. The bucklers battle-riven took they, and they laid them by, And saddles blood-empurpled might one see plenteously; But these caused they to be hidden, lest women should weep at the sight:— Ah, the sun went down that even upon many a wayworn knight! "Give kindliest entertainment to my guests," did the King command:— With the native-born and with strangers now thronged was all the land:— He took thought for the heedful tendance of each sore-wounded foe: Ha, how was their haughty defiance in humility brought low! Whosoever were cunning in leechcraft, rich guerdon their skill repaid, Bright gold unstinted and silver outlavished, yea, unweighed, So they would but heal those heroes who had gotten hurt in the war. And with gifts the King still loaded his guests that came from far. And whoso of these was minded homeward to turn again, As one should entreat a dear friend, so prayed they him to remain. Nor forgat the King his liegemen, but devised for them rich reward, Even all whose labour of glory had accomplished the will of their lord.