Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/347

XXV.]

Then spake the noble Gernot, the lord of Burgundy:

“This chaplain’s death, O Hagen, now what avails it thee?

Had any other done it it would have pleased you ill.

For what default or reason sought’st thou the priest to kill.”

As best he could he floated, and well escaped had he,

Had any dared to help him; but that was not to be,

Because the mightful Hagen was of too angry mood:

He thrust him under water,— that seem’d to no one good.

Now when the wretched chaplain no help saw in his need,

Backward again he turn’d him; sore was his plight indeed.

Yet though to swim he knew not, God help’d him with His hand,

That safe and sound in body he got once more to land.

There stood the hapless chaplain and shook his raiment out;

And thereby well knew Hagen that now there was no doubt

But true the tale was, told him by those wild water-wives.

Thought he: “Then all these warriors perforce must lose their lives.”

When that the three kings’ lieges the ship had all unstored,

And unto land had carried whate’er they had on board,

Hagen to pieces hew’d it and flung it in the flood.

Whereover marvell’d greatly those warriors bold and good.

“Why dost thou thus, O brother?” to him did Dankwart say;

“How shall we cross the water when on our homeward way,

We ride again from Hunsland unto the Rhine country?”

“Look you,” to him said Hagen, “that thing can never be!”