Then Volker the viol-minstrel cried from the stairway's height: "Forasmuch as my comrade Hagen his peace unto thee doth plight, That same shall be moreover assured thee from mine hand. Of a surety well didst thou earn it at our coming into this land. Take thou, O noble Margrave, the message I leave with thee: These ruddy golden armlets Dame Gotlind gave unto me To wear them at this great high-tide, a memorial of her love, I do it, thyself beholdest: be thou my witness thereof." "Now would to God in Heaven," earnestly Rüdiger cried, "That the Margravine might give thee as many more beside! Unto my wife, my belovèd, full fain will I tell the tale, If so be that I live to behold her: doubt not my word shall fail." Soon as the promise was given, a shield the knight up-caught: No whit more there would he linger: unto madness of fury wrought He leapt on the guests Burgundian like a knightly battle-lord. Fast, fast the strokes down-lightened from the mighty Margrave's sword. {P. 302} Twain, even Volker and Hagen, aside from his path withdrew, According as these two champions erewhile had pledged them to do. Yet dauntless foes so many by the gate-tower fronted him That the Margrave in that first onset knew well that his peril was grim. Gunther and Gernot, for slaughter athirst, let him win his way Into the hall: like heroes eager they were for the fray. But Giselher shrank from his coming, for his heart was wrung with pain; And he would not face him in battle, being loth to slay or be slain. Now the men of Rüdiger's war-band swarm up to meet their foes After their lord undaunted; in the grapple of fight they close; Keen armour-sundering weapons in mighty hands they wield; Many a helmet cleave they, they hack through many a shield. Then also the battle-weary flashed many a lightning stroke Down on the men of Bechlaren: the unswerving edges broke Deep through the strong-linked hauberks, yea, to the heart they won. Of these in the storm of battle was many a marvel done. Now in the hall were gathered all Rüdiger's gallant array. No longer hung back Volker and Hagen; they plunged mid the fray; They thrust, and they spared not any, save one only man; They smote, and from riven helmets the blood in torrents ran. Wildly and sternly the clangour of the hailing sword-strokes rang: Steel buckler-bands were shattered, the loosened shield-plates sprang: The precious stones of their blazons to the blood-pools flashed like rain. Never shall such grim battle be fought in the world again!