Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/345

XXV.]

The splinters with his shield-strap! ’twas but a slender band.

Towards a coppice steering, he brought the boat to land.

There on the bank-side standing he found his masters three,

And liegemen came to meet him,— a goodly company.

Him with kind welcome greeted these noble knights and good.

But, when they look’d within it, the wherry reek’d with blood

That from the great wound spurted as he the boatman slew;

Then from the warriors Hagen had questions not a few.

No sooner had King Gunther seen the hot blood all red

Within the vessel washing, than, straightway, thus he said “Come, why not tell me, Hagen, where is the boatman gone?

I ween your strength so mighty hath him of life fordone.”

With lying words he answer’d: “As I the boat there found

A desert heath alongside, my hand the rope unbound;

But never of a boatman have I to-day had sight,

Nor here by fault on my part, hath any had despite.”

Then one of the Burgundians, the noble Gernot, said:

“To-day I needs must sorrow for friends soon to be dead;

Since we have found no boatman waiting for us at hand,

How are we to come over? For that in fear I stand.”

Right loudly then cried Hagen: “Lay down upon the green,

Ye squires, the horses’ trappings: I mind me I have been

The best of all the rowers that on the Rhine were found.

T’ll wager I can bring you across to Gelfrat’s ground.”