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These princes were right gentle, and came of noble race,

Bold, and of strength unequalled, peerless in knightly grace;

“The kingdom of Burgundia,” thus was their country hight;—

All Etzel’s land rang later with their great deeds of might.

At Worms upon the Rhine flood, they dwelt in power and might,

And there, in fealty, served them full many a haughty knight,

With honourable service throughout their earthly life.—

That life had woeful ending from two great ladies’ strife.

Their mother was Dame Uté, a queen exceeding rich,

And Dankrat was their father, broad lands he left to each

When he this life departed; he was a mighty man,

Who, e’en while yet a stripling, his knightly deeds began.

The three kings, who came after, were, as I’ve said before,

All men of strength and valour; and to them fealty swore

The flower of noble knighthood, of whom with truth ’twas said,

That strong they were and dauntless, in sharp fight undismayed.

Foremost of them was Hagen, of Tronjé; then his brother,—

Sir Dankwart the swift-footed; Ortwein of Metz another;

And Eckewart and Gere, who both were margraves hight;

With Volker of Alsatia,— a stout and proven knight.

Rumold the kitchen-master, a knight of high degree,

Sindold and Hunold also, whose duty ’twas to see

That courtly rites and honours were aye observéd well,

With many another gallant, whom time would fail to tell.