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When saw the Lord of Rhineland the fight could not be stay’d,

The prince himself fought also, and many a wide wound made

Upon his foemen’s bodies, their shining mail-coats through.

A hand-strong hero was he: as now all grimly knew.

The stalwart Gernot likewise was forward in the strife;

Ay! he among the Hunsmen took many a hero’s life,

A keen-edged weapon wielding,— by Rüdeger ’twas given.

By him were Etzel’s warriors right grievously bedriven.

The young son of Dame Uté into the fight now dash’d,

And gloriously his broadsword right through the helmets crash’d,—

To grief of Etzel’s warriors of the Hungarian land.

There wrought were many marvels by gallant Gis’lher’s hand.

Howe’er the kings and liegemen were valiant in the fight,

Above them all right plainly did Giselher in might

Stand forth against the foemen; he was a hero good.

Such wounds he dealt, that many fell weltering in their blood.

The men of Etzel also stood stoutly to the foe.

There one might see the strangers go hacking to and fro

With their bright glancing weapons, all through the royal hall.

And horrid shrieks from all sides upon the ear did fall.

They who were on the outside would to their friends within;

But found that at the doorways small vantage they could win.

Out from the hall right gladly would they within it fare:

But none of them would Dankwart let up or down the stair.