Straightway thereat did Gernot the Prince Burgundian say

Straightway thereat did Gernot the Prince Burgundian say: "Lest many a dear friend perish I needs must fear this day, Inasmuch as on all the river we see no boatman here. How we shall win thereover needs must I sorely fear." But cheerly and loud cried Hagen: "Down on the bank do ye cast, O squires, the horses' harness! I mind me that in time past Myself was the deftest boatman that on all the Rhine men knew. Into the land of Gelfrat even I will ferry you."

To the end that over the river they might win with the better speed, Thereinto drave they the horses: so well swam each good steed, That never a one of their thousands did the rush of the strong flood drown, Albeit were some forwearied, and won to the land far down. Then into the barge they carried their gold and their vesture-store, Forasmuch as now from the journey they could turn them back no more. And Hagen steered them over, that, with his strong hand on the helm, Came many a gallant warrior into the stranger's realm. At the first proud knights a thousand, and his own thanes threescore Did Hagen ferry over: then came aye more and more, Till squires had crossed nine thousand: all these he brought to land. Small rest that day had the valiant Lord of Troneg's hand! (C) Now the barge was stoutly builded, wide and exceeding great; Five hundred or more uncumbered it bare at a single freight Over the waters, heroes with their victual and war-array. Full many a stalwart warrior must strain at the oar that day.

When all these over the river Hagen had safely brought, Thereafter the fierce-heart hero on that weird prophecy thought, The boding the wild mermaiden so lately spake unto him. And for this King Gunther's chaplain well-nigh lost life and limb. In the boat stood the priest with his vessels of holy sacrament; His hand on the sacred relics and the hallowed things he leant. But their sanctity nothing availed him when Hagen's cruel eye Fell on the priest, and doomed him to sore calamity.

With sudden violence he seized him, he hurled him over the side Of the barge, while "Hold! hold, Hagen!" many a warrior cried, And brake into wrath indignant the young Prince Giselher. Yet, till he had well-nigh drowned him, would Hagen not forbear. Thereat did the princely Gernot, the lord Burgundian, cry: "What profit to thee is it, Hagen, that Gunther's chaplain should die? Had another done such outrage, it had cost him his life, I trow! What wrong had the poor priest done thee, that thou shouldst be his foe?" Hard strained the priest in swimming: he had gotten aboard again, If but any man had helped him; but his striving was all in vain, By reason that Hagen the stalwart—savage was he of mood— Back thrust him under the water: was none that deemed it good. So when that hapless chaplain no human aid could see, Back turned he, and swam shoreward: in bitter strait was he. With failing strength was he sinking; but upborne by God's own hand Were his limbs, that at last in safety he won back unto the land. There stood the priest all-hapless, and his streaming vesture wrung; And by that sign known unto Hagen was the truth of the tale that the tongue Of the wild mermaiden had uttered, of the doom no man might shun. And he thought, "These knights of a surety be dead men every one!"

So soon as the barge was unladed, and men had borne ashore The possessions of Gunther's liegemen, and all the treasure-store, Then Hagen shattered the planking, and thrust it forth on the flood To founder: exceedingly marvelled the valiant knights and good. "Why hast thou done this, brother?" did Dankwart wondering say. "How shall we pass hereover on the homeward-faring way, What time from the land of the Hunfolk back to the Rhine we ride?" Thereafter did Hagen tell him that this should never betide; But now said the Hero of Troneg: "Herein was this my thought, That if haply any faint-heart thus far on the way have been brought, Who might think in his fear to forsake us, and return by the way that he came, He should know that in these wild waters there waited a death of shame."

There was one in their host who had journeyed forth of Burgundia-land, And his name of renown was Volker, a hero mighty of hand. The thoughts of his fearless spirit with a biting tongue would he tell. Whatsoever was done of Hagen, it liked that minstrel well.

(C) Now when King Gunther's chaplain saw the wreck drift down the tide, He lifted his voice, and to Hagen across the water he cried: "Thou murderer and faithless, what had I done unto thee That thine heart should devise the drowning of a guiltless priest, even me?" (C) Fierce answer flung back Hagen: "Shaveling, refrain thee from speech! By my troth, 'tis for this I am sorry, that now thou art out of the reach Of the hands that be fain to slay thee! No gibe, but the truth it is." Made answer the priest all-hapless: "I praise God ever for this! (C) Full little now do I dread thee, know this for verity! Now fare ye on into Hunland, and back over Rhine will I. May God vouchsafe to thee never to come over Rhine again! This is mine heart's petition, for my life well-nigh hast thou ta'en." (C) Then cried aloud King Gunther to the priest there standing lone: "Lo, I will fully requite thee for all that Hagen hath done Unto thee in his evil anger, whensoever back to the Rhine Alive thou shalt see me returning: no fear thereof be thine. (C) Fare homeward unto thy country, for so it must needs be now, And unto my wife, my belovèd, take my greetings thou. And by thee do I greet my kinsfolk, as is meet and right for a king. Bear thou unto them glad tidings of our prosperous wayfaring."

Now harnessed the horses waited, and the sumpters each with its load And as yet no scathe had befallen any as onward they rode, Nor cause for fear or for grieving, save the priest, by a deed unmeet Constrained to fare back Rhineward alone upon his feet.

XXVI. How Foes fell on them as they journeyed by Night