Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/333

Rh “Say not that I lie,” spake Hawart’s liegeman. “Gladly will I perform what I have vowed, nor will I desist therefrom through any fear. However frightful Hagen be, I will meet him single-handed.”

On his knees Iring begged both kinsmen and vassals to let him mateh the knight alone. This they did unwillingly, for well they knew the haughty Hagen from the Burgundian land. But Irving begged so long that at last it happed. When the fellowship beheld his wish and that he strove for honor, they let him go. Then a fierce conflict rose between the twain. Irving of Denmark, the peerless high-born knight, bare high his spear and covered him with his shield. Swiftly he rushed on Hagen before the hall, while a great shout arose from all the knights around. With might and main they cast the spears with their hands through the sturdy shields upon their shining armor, so that the shafts whirled high in air. Then the two brave men and fierce reached for their swords. Bold Hagen’s strength was mickle and great, but Irving smote him, that the whole hall rang. Palace and towers resounded from their blows, but the knight could not achieve his wish.

Iring now left Hagen stand unharmed, and hied him to the fiddler. He weened to fell him by his mighty blows, but the stately knight wist how to guard him well. Then the fiddler struck a blow, that the plates of mail whirled high above the buckler’s rim. An evil man he was, for to encounter, so Iring let him stand and rushed at Gunther of the Burgundian land. Here, too, either was strong enow in strife. The blows that Gunther and Iring dealt each other drew no blood