Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/421

XXXIV.]

Down sat the knights and nobles, by all their labours spent;

Before the hall together Volker and Hagen went.

These warriors over-weary lean’d on their shields for rest;

The while betwixt the couple pass’d many a ready jest.

Then Giselher, the warrior from Burgundy, outspake:

“Dear friends, ye must in no wise seek yet your rest to take:

The dead folk must ye carry straight from the house away.

There’ll be another onset, that can I surely say.

“Beneath our feet ’tis needful they should no longer lie.

And ere by storm the Hunsmen undo us utterly,

Some wounds we yet will give them, e’en as I love to do;

For firmly am I minded,” said Giselher, “thereto.”

“Well’s me for such a master,” said Hagen, thereunto;

“From none such rede were likely, save from a warrior true,

As we from my young master this very day have had:

I trow all ye Burgundians may therefore be right glad.”

Then follow’d they his counsel, and carried through the door

Dead warriors seven thousand and cast them therebefore.

At foot of the hall stairway they fell upon the ground;

Then rose a doleful wailing from all their kinsmen round.