Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/111

IV.]

From three great wounds and ghastly, which to the king he dealt

Clean through his white, steel harness; — though it was firmly welt,—

Where the keen sword-point entered burst from his wounds

the blood.

King Ludegast might well be thereat of doleful mood!

He begged for life; and offered to pledge to him his land,

Telling him that ’twas Lud’gast whose fate was in his hand.

And then uprode his warriors, who witnessed had right well

What, ’twixt the twain before them, upon the watch, befell.

Siegfried now thence would take him; but he was set upon

By thirty of the foemen: yet did he hold his own,

And kept his wealthy captive; and struck out, brave and true,

And gave those stately chieftains much bitter cause to rue.

In self-defence, the thirty he thereupon did slay.

One only left he living; who spurred his steed away

To bear the direful tidings of all that there befell:

Which eke his bloody helmet did but too plainly tell.

When to the men of Denmark the dreadful news was told,—

How that their king wastaken,— they scarce their grief could hold,

And when they told his brother, he fell to rave like mad,

In uncontrolléd fury,— so great the grief he had.

So Ludegast the warrior was captive made, and then

Led from the field by Siegfried, and giv’n to Gunther’s men.

To Hagen’s care they gave him; and when they heard the truth,

That ’twas the king he brought them,— they did not grieve, forsooth!