How Siegfried Fought with the Saxons, LXXI–CV

Well the Saxon ruler that day perform'd his part; To know his brother taken cut him to the heart. He heard it first reported, Gernot the deed had done, But now he knew for certain, 'twas Siegelind's conqu'ring son.

So burly were the buffets which Ludeger dealt in field, That Siegfried's panting charger under the saddle reel'd. Soon as the steed recover'd, a fiercer passion stirr'd His angry lord, and hotter through the red press he spurr'd.

Then up to help him Hagan, and up good Gernot sped, Dankwart and Folker; round lay in heaps the dead; And Sindolt came, and Hunolt, and the good knight Ortwine. Down sunk the Saxons trampled by the warriors of the Rhine.

Close fought the chiefs, unsever'd 'spite of the hurtling bands Then might you see the lances from mightiest heroes' hands Fly o'er the nodding helmets, and pierce the bucklers through; Many a glittering armor was dyed a bloody hue.

In the fierce encounter many a mighty man Tumbled from the saddle; each on th' other ran Ludeger and Siegfried, each the other's peer; Many a shaft was flying, whizzing many a spear.

Off flew Ludeger's shield-plate by dint of Siegfried's hand. Then look'd at last for conquest the knight of Netherland Over the struggling Saxons, such force was in that stroke. Then too how many a breast-plate the strong-arm'd Dankwart broke!

Just then it chanc'd King Ludeger had a crown espied Painted upon the buckler that guarded Siegfried's side. Straight knew the astonish'd Saxon, 'twas he, the mighty man, And to his friends the hero to call aloud began.

"Stop! stop! enough of fighting, my merry men each one! Here in this bloody battle I've met with Siegmund's son. The chief-destroying Siegfried for certain seen have I. The devil has sent him hither to harry Saxony."

He bade them lower the banners; forthwith they lower'd them all; And peace he then demanded; 'twas granted at his call; But go he must a pris'ner to good King Gunther's land; This was from him extorted by Siegfried's conqu'ring hand.

With one accord agreeing the bloody strife they left; The shining shields all shiver'd, the helmets hack'd and cleft They laid aside o'er-wearied; whatever down they threw Bore from Burgundian falchions a stain of bloody hue.

They took whome'er it pleas'd them, none could their will gainsay. Gernot and valiant Hagan at once bade bear away The faint and feeble wounded, and with them carried then Off to the Rhine as captives five hundred chosen men.

With wailing back to Denmark the bootless warriors came; The late o'erweening Saxons bore off but loss and shame From that disastrous struggle; each hung his pensive head. They last their friends remember'd, and sorrow'd for the dead.

Anon they bade the sumpters be loaded for the Rhine; And thus victorious Siegfried his perilous design Had brought to full performance; well had he done in fight; This every man of Gunther allow'd him as of right.

To Worms straight did a message from good Sir Gernot come, To tell throughout the country to all his friends at home Whate'er in that encounter to him and his befell, And how they all their duty had knightly done and well.

The youths they ran their swiftest, and nois'd abroad the whole. Then laugh'd who late lamented; delight succeeded dole. All bosoms straight were beating to learn the news they bore, And every noble lady would ask them o'er and o'er,

How the knights of Gunther in Saxony had sped. Then too the lovelorn Kriemhild had one in secret led (For publicly she durst not) to a distant bower apart, For she would learn how far'd it with the chosen of her heart.

Soon as to the chamber the melancholy maid Saw the youth approaching, sweetly thus she said, "Now tell me happy tidings, and I'll give thee gold in store, And if 'tis truth thou tell'st me, I'll befriend thee evermore.

"Tell me how in battle my brother Gernot sped, And all our friends around him; is any of them dead? Who prov'd the best and bravest? this thou must tell me true." "No coward," the youth made answer, "had we in all the crew;

"But sure to fight or foray (the simple truth to tell) Fair and noble princess! rode never knight so well As the noble stranger from distant Netherland. Wonders that mock believing were wrought by Siegfried's hand.

"However well the others have borne them in the fight, Dankwart and Hagan, and all our men of might, Howe'er deserv'd the honor, that other swords have won, 'Tis a puff of wind to Siegfried, King Siegmund's glorious son.

"Well plied the rest the falchion, and wielded well the spear, But ne'er from tongue of mortal expect at full to hear What feats were done by Siegfried, when he broke the squadrons through; Those feats the weeping sisters of slaughter'd brethren rue.

"There lay the heart's-beloved of many a mourning bride; Beneath his sounding sword-strokes cleft morions, gaping wide, Let out the ruddy life-blood gushing fearfully. Sir Siegfried is in all things the flower of chivalry.

"There too won no small worship the knight of Metz, Ortwine; Whomever reach'd the warrior with keen-edg'd falchion fine, Down went they from the war-horse, some wounded, others dead. There too your valiant brother as wide the slaughter spread,

"As e'er was done, believe me, since armies met in fight; So much must all men witness of that redoubted knight. There too the proud Burgundians so nobly strove for fame, That well they have assur'd them from every taint of blame.

"Before their level'd lances was many a saddle void; Around the field re-echoed when they the sword employ'd. The noble knights of Rhineland fought so well that day, Their foes had sure done wiser at once to flee away.

"The gallant men of Trony did deeds they well may boast When with united squadrons to battle rode the host. What numbers fell by Hagan and Hagan's chivalry! Long shall their glory flourish here in broad Burgundy.

"Sindolt and Hunolt, each Gernot's liegemen true, And never-daunted Rumolt so rush'd the foemen through, That ever will King Ludeger repent his vain design To meet your royal brethren on the banks of Rhine.

"But of all feats, the fairest, that in that field befell, From first to last most glorious, as all who saw can tell, Were those achiev'd full knightly by Siegfried's deadly hand. Now many a wealthy captive brings he to Gunther's land.

"Beneath his arm, submission the brother kings have learn'd; Proud Dane and haughty Saxon alike defeat have earn'd; Dead lie their loving vassals wide o'er the bloody green. Now to my tale yet listen, high and noble queen!

"Now both are hither wending, the thralls of Siegfried's hand; Chief ne'er such countless captives brought to Burgundian land, As now to Rhine are coming, o'ermastered by his might." Ne'er heard the royal maiden a tale of such delight.

"More than five hundred prisoners, for truth, high lady! know, Unhurt, are hither coming; full eighty biers, I trow, Trail on the deadly wounded: you soon will see them here; The most bear bloody witness of Siegfried's sword and spear.

"Those kings, who late so haughty would dare us on the Rhine, Must now to Gunther's pleasure their lives, their all resign. Our shouts salute their coming, our joy is on the gale." She brighten'd into blushes to hear the happy tale.

Her cheek, late pale as lily, now glow'd with rosy red, To hear how youthful Siegfried so gloriously had sped, Rais'd from the depth of peril to loftiest height of fame. She joy'd too for her kinsmen as maiden well became.

Then spake she midst her blushes, "Well hast thou earn'd thy meed, Well hast thou told thy story, so take thee costliest weed, Now straight I'll bid be brought thee ten marks of ruddy gold." No wonder, to rich ladies glad news are gladly told.

Straightforth was brought the vesture, and down the gold was paid; Then hurried to the windows full many a lovely maid, And look'd out on the highway, nor long delay'd to spy The high-descended victors return'd to Burgundy.