Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/469

XXXVIII.]

Now all this while did Wolfhart stride up and down again,

And with his sword unresting he hew’d at Gunther’s men.

A third time he the journey had made along the hall,

And many were the warriors doom’d by his hand to fall.

Then Giselher the lordly to Wolfhart loudly spake:

“Woe! that so fierce a foeman ’twas e’er my luck to make!

O noble knight and gallant, now turn thyself to me,

I’ll do my best to end it: it may no longer be.”

To Giselher, in fighting, then Wolfhart turn’d him round,

And each upon the other made many a gaping wound:

With such a mighty onset against the king he dash’d,

The blood beneath his footsteps above his head was splash’d.

With swift and deadly sword-strokes the son of Uté fair

Gave greeting unto Wolfhart, the gallant hero, there.

How strong the thane soever, he was not to be saved:

So young a king could never more boldly have behaved.

He struck a blow at Wolfhart, cleaving the hauberk good,

And over him and downwards, gush’d from the wound the blood:

Unto the death he wounded that man of Dietrich’s own;

None but a very warrior to do the like had known.

As soon as gallant Wolfhart was of the wound aware,

He let his shield slip downwards; but higher in the air

A weapon strong he wielded: it was a keen one too;

Wherewith through helm and hauberk the hero Giselher slew.