How the Lords All Came into Hungary, LXXII–LXXXIV

He caught and cast him over sooner than can be told. Many a voice loud shouted, "Hold, hold, Sir Hagan, hold!" Wroth at the deed was Giselher, Dame Uta's youngest son, But hold would not Sir Hagan till the mischief he had done.

Then the bold Burgundian the good Sir Gernot spake, "What can it boot you, Hagan, the chaplain's life to take? Had any other done it, he should have rued it straight. What can thus have mov'd you the holy man to hate?"

Stoutly swam the chaplain; to 'scape ne'er doubted he, Would any but assist him, but that was not to be; Stern Hagan, fierce and furious, as close he swam along, Dash'd him to the bottom, wrong heaping still on wrong.

None there but thought it outrage, yet none came to his aid, Which when he saw, back turning for th' other bank he made; Though fail'd his strength o'erwearied, yet God's almighty hand Back bore him through the billows, and brought him safe to land.

There stood the poor clerk shivering, and shook his dripping weed. By this well knew Sir Hagan that their dark doom decreed, As those wild mermaids warn'd him, 'twas all in vain to shun. Thought he, "These hopeful champions must perish every one."

Soon as the bark was emptied, and all the goods it bore By the three brethren's vassals were safely brought to shore, Stern Hagan broke it piecemeal and down the current cast; The good knights star'd upon him, with wonder all aghast.

"What are you doing, brother?" Dankwart sudden cried, "How shall we cross the river, when back we have to ride To the Rhine from Hungary our homes again to see?" Thereafter Hagan told him, that that was ne'er to be.

Then said the Knight of Trony, "I do it to this end, That, should a coward among us upon this journey wend, Who would perchance desert us through heart-appalling fear, A shameful death may meet him in the wild waters here."

Then when the priest saw Hagan the bark in pieces break, Far o'er the boiling billows to the stern knight he spake. "What did I to you ever, base murderer," he began, "That you this day attempted to drown a guiltless man?"

Then answer gave Sir Hagan, "Now of this no more; I tell you on my honor, Sir Priest, it irks me sore That thus you have escap'd me; I neither jest nor feign." "For this God prais'd be ever!" said the poor chaplain.

"I fear you not, assure you, though brought to death so nigh. Now on with you to Hungary; over the Rhine will I. God grant you never thither come back, you knight untrue! So hence with my worst wishes, for what you could not do!"

With those undaunted squadrons from Burgundy there came A bold quick-handed champion; Folker was his name. Whate'er he thought, out-spake he with ready wit and light. All that was done by Hagan, the minstrel held for right.

Their steeds were ready saddled; their sumpters loaded too; Not yet, throughout the journey, had one had cause to rue, Save only the king's chaplain, the nearly drown'd divine; He plod must weary homeward, and foot it to the Rhine.