Seats were brought together, strong, and broad, and long

Seats were brought together, strong, and broad, and long, With stools besides, and tables. After the mass was sung, U-te, his wife, came riding, with women round her thronging; These the youthful warriors to gaze on, as they rode, right earnestly were longing.

While the great King Sigeband sat by U-te’s side, And Hagen next to Hilda, all looked on with pride; And said, in his child-belovéd happy was their master. Before them, while at table, the throng was great; the clash of spears grew faster.

After the king of Ireland at the meal his fill had eat, By riders the grass was trodden; flowers to dust they beat With rude and heavy trampling, while in uproar riding. The men best known for bravery, before the fair, in knightly jousts were leading.

Four and twenty warriors, bearing well the shield, Over the plain came riding; bold were they in the field, And now in many a struggle all their strength were spending. ’Twas done in sight of the ladies, and hard it was of their games to make an ending.

The brave young son of Sigeband himself in the onset rode. Not loth was she to gaze on him who her with hope had wooed; That she to him was friendly in a far-off land forsaken, For this would he reward her. No truer knight the sword had ever taken.

Amid the throngs here riding, one thro’ the dust might see Men whose birth was princely, in number twelve and three; The Christian and the heathen to him their fiefs were owing, And honor now, right heartily, to Sigeband and Hagen they were showing.