Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/411



Within the door an entrance thus gallant Dankwart made;

The household folk of Etzel to stand aside he bade.

The whole of his apparel bespatter’d was with gore;

A mighty naked weapon within his hand he bore.

Then loudly Dankwart shouted before the assembled throng:

“Bestir thee, brother Hagen, thou sittest all too long!

To thee and God in Heaven appeal I in our need:

Yeomen and knights together lie in the hostel dead.”

And he cried back in answer: “And who hath done it then?”

Quoth Dankwart: “The Lord Bloedel, together with his men.

But dearly hath he paid it, that would I have you know.

I smote his head from off him; mine own hand gave the blow.”

“’Tis but a little grievance,” quoth Hagen of Tronjé;

“Whene’er one has occasion of any thane to say,

That he by hands of warrior was of his life fordone,

So much the less fair women for him have need to moan.

“Now tell me, brother Dankwart, why all so red ye be?

Methinks that thou art wounded and suffer’st grievously.

If in the land he liveth who this on thee hath done,

Except the foul fiend save him, his life’s as good as gone.”