Ever gushing as streams from a fountain the hot blood reddened his way. Did e'er knight single-handed more gallantly turn to bay Facing such hosts of foemen as in that hour did he? On pressed to the palace the brother of Hagen triumphantly. The cupbearers heard and the stewards the bickering blades' fierce clang, And they caught at their swords, down casting the cups on the floor that rang: Some clutched spears, dropping the bakemeats that they to the feast-hall bare; So when Dankwart won to the palace, fresh foemen thronged the stair. "How now, ye knightly sewers," did the weary warrior say, "Of a truth, to the guests of your master meet service should ye pay, And should bear to the waiting princes the goodly meats through the hall, And let me bear to my masters the tidings I come withal." Whosoe'er with presumptuous courage to bar his coming essayed, Upon him with his swinging war-glaive such giant strokes he laid, That the rest all terror-stricken fell back from his fierce onslaught. Marvels exceeding mighty by his prowess had he wrought. XXXIII. How the Fight began in Etzel's Hall {P. 267} So then when the aweless Dankwart strode through the feast-hall door, Shouting to Etzel's servants, "Back! bar my path no more!" Behold, with the blood of slaughter all his apparel dripped, And a sword exceeding mighty unsheathed in his hand he gripped. (C) In that instant it was, when Dankwart through the portal entered so, That men were bearing Ortlieb through the feast-hall to and fro From table unto table to the princes one after one-- And now through his evil tidings was the innocent undone! For loud and clear cried Dankwart in the presence of all that throng: "Thou sittest, O brother Hagen, here at thine ease too long! Unto you and to God in Heaven of wrong unto us I complain. Our knights and our squires together in the hostelry lie slain!" Cried Hagen to him in answer: "Now who hath done this thing?" "This was the deed of Blödel and of them of his following: But dearly he paid for his treason, unto all men here be it said; For with these mine hands from his shoulders have I hewn the traitor's head." "He hath paid for his wrong too lightly," Hagen the dauntless cried, "If men may but say of the traitor as of any knight who hath died, That stilled by the hands of a hero he hath slept the iron sleep; Fair ladies for one so smitten shall have less cause to weep. Make answer to me, dear brother, how art thou thus all red? I trow thou hast been sore wounded, and full evilly hast sped. If the villain be here in presence who did this deed contrive, Except the Foul Fiend help him, he goeth not hence alive!" "Nay, before you I stand unwounded; my raiment is wet with blood; But it gushed from the deadly gashes of other war-thanes good {P. 268} Whereof this day so many beneath my sword-edge fell-- If I must make oath of their number, good sooth, I could not tell."