The Nibelungenlied Part 13

XLVI

As fiercely too against him the fiery monarch sped; In the flank of the war-horse each dash'd the rowels red: The lance with all his puissance each level'd at the s.h.i.+eld.

Ill chance befell King Ludegast in that disastrous field.

XLVII

Beneath the spur blood-dripping the steeds together flew; Champion clos'd with champion as though a tempest blew.

Then wheel'd they round full knightly; each well the bridle sway'd Again they met unsated, and with blade encounter'd blade.

XLVIII

Such strokes there struck Sir Siegfried, that all the field it rang; At each, as e'en from torches, the fire-red sparkles sprang From Ludegast's batter'd helmet. So strive they all they can And either stormy champion in th' other finds his man.

XLIX

At Siegfried too Sir Ludegast struck many a st.u.r.dy stroke; Each on his foeman's buckler his gather'd fury broke.

Full thirty men of Ludegast's meanwhile had spied the fray, But, ere they up could hasten, Siegfried had won the day.

L

Thrice smote he the bright breast-plate, and pierc'd it through and through; Thrice the blood in torrents from the king he drew, Those three strokes have ended that encounter keen.

Down sunk woful Ludegast grovelling on the green.

LI

He straight for life sued humbly, and yielded up his claim To all his lands, and told him that Ludegast was his name.

On this up came his warriors, who from afar had seen The fight, that at the ward-post so fiercely fought had been.

LII

Thence Siegfried thought to bring him, when sudden all the band Of thirty set upon him; well then the hero's hand Maintain'd his royal captive with many a mighty blow.

The peerless champion wrought them yet heavier loss and woe.

LIII

He fought with all the thirty till all but one were slain; To him his life he granted; he trembling rode amain, And told the truth disastrous to all the gaping crew; On his b.l.o.o.d.y helmet they might see it written, too.

LIV

Woe were the men of Denmark to hear the deadly tale; Their king too was a captive; this added bale to bale.

They told it to his brother; he straight to storm began.

Wroth was he to have suffered such loss by arm of man.

LV

So by the might of Siegfried was Ludegast led away To where the men of Gunther in watchful leaguer lay, And given in charge to Hagan; when they came to hear The prisoner was King Ludegast, they scarcely shed a tear.

LVI

Now rear they bade the banner the bold Burgundian crew.

"Up!" cried the son of Siegelind, "more will be yet to do, If there be life in Siegfried, and that ere day be done.

Woe to the Saxon mothers! they'll weep for many a son.

LVII

"Ye hardy knights of Rhineland, take of me good heed.

Right through the ranks of Ludeger your valor will I lead.

You'll see by hands of heroes helmets cleft amain.

Shame shall they learn and sorrow ere we ride home again."

LVIII

At once to horse good Gernot and all his meiny sprung, At once the glittering banner to the breeze was flung By the bold minstrel Folker riding in the van; So moved they on to battle, war-breathing every man.

LIX

No more than e'en a thousand went on the hard emprise; With them twelve stranger champions. Now 'gan the dust arise Along the paths they trampled; they rode by copse and field And startled all the country with the flash of many a s.h.i.+eld.

LX

Against them with their myriads came on the Saxons bold.

Their swords they well were sharpen'd, as I have since been told.

Keen cut the temper'd weapons in their well-practised hands, To guard from those fierce strangers their castles and their lands.

LXI

The war-directing marshal led on the troop amain, And thither too fierce Siegfried brought up the scanty train, That had his fortunes follow'd from distant Netherland.

Busied that day in battle was many a b.l.o.o.d.y hand.

LXII

Sindolt and Hunolt and n.o.ble Gernot too In the fierce encounter many a champion slew, Who, ere they felt their puissance, little thought to quail; Many a n.o.ble lady then had cause to wail.