To the end that over the river they might win with the better speed, Thereinto drave they the horses: so well swam each good steed, That never a one of their thousands did the rush of the strong flood drown, Albeit were some forwearied, and won to the land far down. Then into the barge they carried their gold and their vesture-store, Forasmuch as now from the journey they could turn them back no more. And Hagen steered them over, that, with his strong hand on the helm, Came many a gallant warrior into the stranger's realm. At the first proud knights a thousand, and his own thanes threescore Did Hagen ferry over: then came aye more and more, Till squires had crossed nine thousand: all these he brought to land. Small rest that day had the valiant Lord of Troneg's hand! (C) Now the barge was stoutly builded, wide and exceeding great; Five hundred or more uncumbered it bare at a single freight Over the waters, heroes with their victual and war-array. Full many a stalwart warrior must strain at the oar that day. When all these over the river Hagen had safely brought, Thereafter the fierce-heart hero on that weird prophecy thought, The boding the wild mermaiden so lately spake unto him. And for this King Gunther's chaplain well-nigh lost life and limb. In the boat stood the priest with his vessels of holy sacrament; His hand on the sacred relics and the hallowed things he leant. But their sanctity nothing availed him when Hagen's cruel eye Fell on the priest, and doomed him to sore calamity. {P. 215} With sudden violence he seized him, he hurled him over the side Of the barge, while "Hold! hold, Hagen!" many a warrior cried, And brake into wrath indignant the young Prince Giselher. Yet, till he had well-nigh drowned him, would Hagen not forbear. Thereat did the princely Gernot, the lord Burgundian, cry: "What profit to thee is it, Hagen, that Gunther's chaplain should die? Had another done such outrage, it had cost him his life, I trow! What wrong had the poor priest done thee, that thou shouldst be his foe?" Hard strained the priest in swimming: he had gotten aboard again, If but any man had helped him; but his striving was all in vain, By reason that Hagen the stalwart--savage was he of mood-- Back thrust him under the water: was none that deemed it good. So when that hapless chaplain no human aid could see, Back turned he, and swam shoreward: in bitter strait was he. With failing strength was he sinking; but upborne by God's own hand Were his limbs, that at last in safety he won back unto the land. There stood the priest all-hapless, and his streaming vesture wrung; And by that sign known unto Hagen was the truth of the tale that the tongue Of the wild mermaiden had uttered, of the doom no man might shun. And he thought, "These knights of a surety be dead men every one!"