Volker the battle-eager again rode into the strife: That onset to many a woman with sore heart-anguish was rife. From breast to back his lance-head hath pierced that noble Hun. That stroke wept many a maiden and matrons many an one. Straightway returning Hagen came with his hero-train; With his own threescore warriors he rode the lists again. On pricked they to where the minstrel had shown them such grim sport. --Etzel the while and Kriemhild gazed down on the stormy court. {P. 258} Now also Burgundia's princes would leave not void of aid In the midst of unnumbered foemen that minstrel unafraid. With a thousand heroes behind them, the flower of chivalry, They rode the lords of the tourney, and their hearts were proud and high. Now when that knight of the Hunfolk in death had been thus laid low, A cry brake forth from his kinsmen of lamentation and woe. All through the throng were they shouting, "Now who hath done this thing?" Men answered, "Volker the dauntless, the lord of the viol-string." They shouted, "Take ye the bucklers, and grip ye the sword in hand!" Those friends of the slaughtered Margrave, the lords of the Hunfolk's land. Fain were they to smite the minstrel to death for that grim deed; But down from the casement hasted the King with eager speed. Then rose from the midst of the Hunfolk uproar that on all sides rang. Down to the earth from their saddles the Kings with their liegemen sprang: Behind them they put their horses, the men of Gunther's array. Now cometh in haste King Etzel, with intent to part the fray. From a man of the slain Hun's kinsmen, who chanced anigh him to stand, He gat him a sword keen-whetted, yea, tore it out of his hand, And therewith beat back his people, and he cried in exceeding wrath: "May I not keep faith with the heroes? Must I break my plighted troth? If ye had slain this minstrel in revenge for the deed he hath done, On the word of a king, I had hanged you--I had hanged you every one! As touching the spear-thrust given to the Hun--I marked him ride:-- It was not of his will, but his charger stumbled in his stride. These be my guests: ye shall suffer that in peace they all go hence." So himself became their escort. Led were the horses thence To the stalls, for squires there waited, and henchmen not a few, With swift obedience ready to render them service due.