Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/427

XXXV.]

Eke Gunther left he standing and on to Gernot ran,

And smote till from his hauberk the sparks to fly began,

And yet the sturdy Gernot, the knight of Burgundy,

So dealt on gallant Iring that he was like to die.

Then from this prince he hurried— swift-footed was he too—

And four of the Burgundians the hero quickly slew;—

All noble court retainers from Worms-on-Rhine they were.

Then wrath could ne’er be greater than that of Giselher.

“Now, by the Lord! Sir Iring,” cried Giselher the lad,

“For these thou needs must pay me who lie before thee dead—

By thee this moment slaughter’d;” then ran on him straight-way

And smote the knight of Denmark so that he needs must stay.

Beneath his hands succumbing down fell he in the blood;

And all were well persuaded that now the hero good

Ne’er more would wield a weapon in battle anywhere:

Yet Iring lay unwounded in front of Giselher.

From blows upon the helmet and clashing of the sword

His wits were sorely stricken and scatter’d all abroad,

So that the gallant warrior of life took no more thought:

This by his strength of body bold Giselher had wrought.

When from his head the numbness at last began to go,

Which had erstwhile come on him from that o’erwhelming blow,

Thought he: “I still am living, nor wounded anywhere;

Now know I for the first time the strength of Giselher.”