For this their friends were wailing and grievous was their woe.
2015
Then spake the fiddler Volker, a goodly hero he:
“Now witness I the truth of what hath been told to me:
Base cowards are these Hunsmen, they wail like womankind!
These sorely wounded bodies they ought to tend and bind.”
2016
Then deem’d a certain margrave he spake with purpose good.
He saw one of his kinsmen who lay amid the blood,
And clasp’d his arms about him and sought to drag him thence;
Then shot the ruthless minstrel and slew him with a lance.
2017
And when the others saw it, a panic seized the crowd;
They all against the minstrel began to curse aloud.
Then pluck’d he up a javelin, that temper’d was and keen,
Which by some Hun or other aim’d at himself had been.
2018
This, right across the fortress, he cast with might and main
Far o’er the crowd of people; and thereby Etzel’s men
He warn’d to take their station more distant from the hall.
The folk his mighty prowess now dreaded above all.
2019
Yet still before the palace stood many a thousand men.
Sir Volker and Sir Hagen began to parley then,
And unto the King Etzel all in their minds to tell:
Whence grievous ills thereafter those heroes bold befell.
2020
“To give the people courage,” quoth Hagen, “ ’tis but right
That ever should the nobles be foremost in the fight:
Not otherwise my masters have here been seen to do:
They hew right through the helmets, blood flows at every blow.”
2021
So valiant was Etzel, he straightway gripp’d his shield.
“Now prithee be thou wary,” said to him Dame Kriemhild,
“Offer unto thy warriors gold overflowingly.
If Hagen yonder reach thee, death will be nigh to thee.”
2022
So bold a man the king was, he was not to be stay’d;—
The like of such great princes can seldom now be said!
Needs must they by his shield-strap to draw him backward try.
Again the savage Hagen spake to him scoffingly:
2023
“It was a far-fetch’d kinship,” the warrior Hagen cried,
“That Etzel and Sir Siegfried to one another tied.
He was Kriemhilda’s lover ere she set eyes on thee,
Thou coward king! why shouldst thou take counsel against me?”
2024
To him so speaking hearken’d the noble sovran’s wife.
Thereon within Kriemhilda was evil humour rife,
That he should dare upbraid her in face of Etzel’s men:
Against the guests began she therefore to plot again.
2025
“Who Hagen, Lord of Tronjé, will do to death,” she said,
“And hither at my bidding will bring to me his head,
For him the shield of Etzel I’ll fill with ruddy gold,
And give him lands for guerdon, and goodly burghs to hold.”
2026
“Now truly,” quoth the minstrel, “I know not what they lack!
I never yet saw heroes so sluggishly hang back
When one hath heard them offer’d so noble a reward:
From this time forth can Etzel ne’er hold them in regard.
2027
“Of those who vilely batten upon their prince’s bread
And now are fain to shun him in his most pressing need,
Of such here mark I many who would be reckon’d brave,
And stand like very cravens: shame must they ever have!”
Adventure XXXV
How Iring Was Slain
2028
Thereon the margrave Iring, who came from Denmark, cried:
“I have in all my doings on honour long relied,
And in the people’s battles oft gain’d the mastery:
Now bring to me my weapons; Hagen I will defy!”
2029
“ ’Gainst that will I take counsel,” Hagen in answer cried;
“So bid these Hunnish warriors stand further yet aside;
If two or three among ye should rush into this hall,
Back down the stairs disabled I’ll send them, one and all!”
2030
“For that I’ll not forego it,” said Iring, answering,
“I have ere this attempted as troublesome a thing.
With sword in hand against thee I’ll hold my own alone;
What boots thy haughty bearing that thou in words hast shown?”
2031
Then quickly in his armour thane Iring was y-clad,
With Irnfried of Thuringia, a bold and gallant lad,
And eke the stalwart Haward, with full a thousand men;
Whatever part was Iring’s, that would they all maintain.
2032
The fiddler saw them coming— a very host they were—
In arms along with Iring, to set upon him there.
On head, well-fasten’d, wore they right many a helmet good.
Then wax’d the gallant Volker wrathful enough in mood.
2033
“Now dost thou see, friend Hagen, how Iring yonder goes,
Who swore that thee in sword-fight he singly would oppose?
Doth falsehood fit a hero? Him I misprize therefore;
He brings with him in armour a thousand men or more!”
2034
“Now call me not a liar,” the liege of Haward said,
“I’m ready to accomplish what I have promiséd;
For fear of no man living will I my word disown;
How dread so e’er be Hagen, I’ll stand to him alone.”
2035
Then Iring begg’d his kinsmen and followers, at their feet,
That they would let him singly in fight the warrior meet.
Unwillingly they yielded, for well enough to them
Was known the haughty Hagen, from Burgundy who came.
2036
Yet he so long besought them, that ’twas at last agreed.
For when his people saw him so bent upon the deed,
And that he strove for honour, they could but let him go;
Thereon a grim encounter befell betwixt the two.
2037
Iring, the thane of Denmark, aloft his javelin bare
And held his shield before him, that noble knight and rare;
Then up the steps to Hagen before the hall he ran:
Amongst the thanes assembled a fearful din began.
2038
Then from their hands the lances they forward hurl’d with might,
Right through the strong-bound bucklers upon the harness bright,
So that the broken spear-shafts were whirl’d high in the air.
Then clutch’d they at their broadswords that grim and gallant pair.
2039
The strength of doughty Hagen it was a mighty thing,
Yet Iring’s blows upon him made all the house to ring;
From palace and from turret echo’d their strokes again:
Yet naught avail’d the warrior his will on him to gain.
2040
So Iring turn’d from Hagen and left him scatheless yet;
Against the fiddle-player forthwith himself he set.
Him, with his sturdy sword-strokes he thought he might compel;
But these the well-skill’d chieftain knew how to parry well.
2041
Then smote the fiddler sorely, till o’er the buckler’s side
By Volker’s hand the plating was scatter’d far and wide;
So was he fain to leave him, a grewsome man was he;
Then Iring rush’d on Gunther, the lord of Burgundy.
2042
And stout enough for combat was either of them made.
Howe’er on one another Gunther and Iring laid,
Neither could wound the other to draw a drop of blood;
From that their armour saved them, so strong it was and good.
2043
Eke Gunther left he standing and on to Gernot ran,
And smote till from his hauberk the sparks to fly began,
And yet the sturdy Gernot, the knight of Burgundy,
So dealt on gallant Iring that he was like to die.
2044
Then from this prince he hurried— swift-footed was he too—
And four of the Burgundians the hero quickly slew;—
All
