He was a doughty Fiddler / and rode the host before.There, too, every follower / a stately suit of armor wore.
197
More than a thousand warriors / they there had not a man,
Saving twelve knights-errant. / To rise the dust began
In clouds along the highway / as they rode across the fields,
And gleaming in the sunlight / were seen the brightly shining shields.
198
Meanwhile eke was nearing / of Saxons a great throng,
Each a broadsword bearing / that mickle was and long,
With blade that cut full sorely / when swung in strong right hand.
'Gainst strangers were they ready / to guard their castles and their land.
199
The leaders forth to battle / led the warriors then.
Come was also Siegfried / with his twelve chosen men,
Whom he with him hither / had brought from Netherland.
That day in storm of battle / was blood-bespattered many a hand.
200
Sindold and Hunold / and Gernot as well,
Beneath their hands in battle / full many a hero fell,
Ere that their deeds of valor / were known throughout the host.
Through them must many a stately / matron weep for warrior lost.
201
Volker and Hagen / and Ortwein in the fight
Lustily extinguished / full many a helmet's light
With blood from wounds down flowing—/ keen fighters every one.
And there by Dankwart also / was many a mickle wonder done.
202
The knights of Denmark tested / how they could weapons wield.
Clashing there together / heard ye many a shield
And 'neath sharp swords resounding, / swung by many an arm.
The Saxons keen in combat / wrought 'mid their foes a grievous harm.
203
When the men of Burgundy / pressed forward to the fight,
Gaping wounds full many / hewed they there with might.
Then flowing down o'er saddle / in streams was seen the blood,
So fought for sake of honor / these valiant riders keen and good.
204
Loudly were heard ringing, / wielded by hero's hand,
The sharply-cutting weapons, / where they of Netherland
Their master followed after / into the thickest throng:
Wherever Siegfried led them / rode too those valiant knights along.
205
Of warriors from Rhine river / could follow not a one.
There could be seen by any / a stream of blood flow down
O'er brightly gleaming helmet / 'neath Siegfried's mighty hand,
Until King Luedeger / before him with his men did stand.
206
Three times hither and thither / had he the host cut through
From one end to the other. / Now come was Hagen too
Who helped him well in battle / to vent his warlike mood.
That day beneath his valor / must die full many a rider good.
207
When the doughty Luedeger / Siegfried there found,
As he swung high in anger / his arm for blows around
And with his good sword Balmung / knights so many slew,
Thereat was the keen warrior / filled with grief and anger too.
208
Then mickle was the thronging / and loud the broadswords clashed,
As all their valiant followers / 'gainst one another dashed.
Then struggled all the fiercer / both sides the fight to win;
The hosts joined with each other: / 'twas frightful there to hear the din.
209
To the monarch of the Saxons / it had been told before,
His brother was a captive, / which grieved his heart right sore.
He knew not that had done it / fair Siegelind's son,
For rumor said 'twas Gernot. / Full well he learned the truth anon.
210
King Luedeger struck so mighty / when fierce his anger rose,
That Siegfried's steed beneath him / staggered from the blows,
But forthwith did recover; / then straight his rider keen
Let all his furious mettle / in slaughter of his foes be seen.
211
There helped him well grim Hagen, / and Gernot in the fray,
Dankwart and Volker; / dead many a knight there lay.
Sindold and Hunold / and Ortwein, doughty thane,
By them in that fierce struggle / was many a valiant warrior slain.
212
Unparted in storm of battle / the gallant leaders were,
Around them over helmet / flew there many a spear
Through shield all brightly shining, / from hand of mighty thane:
And on the glancing armor / was seen full many a blood-red stain.
213
Amid the hurly-burly / down fell many a man
To ground from off his charger. / Straight 'gainst each other ran
Siegfried the keen rider / and eke King Luedeger.
