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260 dealt Bloedel so fierce a sword-stroke that his head lay straightway at his feet. “Let that be thy marriage morning gift,” spake Dankwart, the knight, “for Nudung’s bride, whom thou wouldst cherish with thy love. They can betroth her to another man upon the morn. Should he crave the dowry, ’t will be given to him eftsoon.” A faithful Hun had told him that the queen did plan against them such grievous wrongs.

When Bloedel’s men beheld their lord lie slain, no longer would they stand this from the guests. With uplifted swords they rushed, grim of mood, upon the youthful squires. Many a one did rue this later. Loudly Daukwart called to all the fellowship: “Ye see well, noble squires, how matters stand. Now ward you, wanderers! Forsooth we have great need, though Kriemhild asked us here in right friendly wise.”

Those that had no sword reached down in front of the benches and lifted many a long footstool by its legs. The Burgundian squires would now abide no longer, but with the heavy stools they dealt many bruises through the helmets. How fiercely the stranger youths did ward them! Out of the house they drove at last the men-at-arms, but five hundred of them, or better, stayed behind there dead. The fellowship was red and wet with blood.

These grievous tales were told now to Etzel’s knights; grim was their sorrow, that Bloedel and his men were slain. This Hagen’s brother and his squires had done. Before the king had learned it, full two thousand Huns or more armed them through hatred and hied them to the squires (this must needs be), and of the fellowship they left not one alive. The faithless