Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/162

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Soon had the doughty giant girded his armout on,

Set on his head his helmet, and quickly seized upon

And swung aloft his buckler, and opened wide the gate:

How straightly then on Siegfried he rush’d, with scowl of hate!

“How had he dared awaken so many a gallant man?”

And straight upon the question his hand to smite began.

The noble guest prepared him a bold defence to make,——

But, at the porter’s onset, his very shield-clasps brake,

Smashed by a bar of iron; the knight was sore distrest,

And somewhat was he fearful that death would end his quest,—

Seeing the huge gate-keeper did smite so sturdily;

Which yet his master Siegfried was not ill-pleased to see.

Se mighty was their combat that all the castle rang.

Throughout the halls of Niblung men heard the crash and clang.

At last he threw the giant, and bound him foot and hand;

The tidings soon spread over the whole of Niblung-land.

The noise of fierce strife sounded deep through the mountain side,

Where Alberich the bold one— a wild dwarf—did abide:

With speed he seized his weapons, and ran to where he found

This brave and noble stranger, as he the giant bound.

A fierce wight was this Albrich, of strength he had good store;

A helmet and a hauberk he on his body wore;

A weighty whip, gold-handled, he carried in his hand:

With all his swiftness ran he to where Siegfried did stand.