So then when the heralds to Denmark from Burgundy had passed, And had spoken the tidings unlooked-for to their lord, King Lüdegast, Had told him the word of the dwellers by Rhine, that message grim, For that haughty-hearted defiance was the soul made bitter in him. For they told him of many a valiant knight in the King's war-band:-- "Yea, one we beheld with Gunther, and he stood at the king's right hand, And Siegfried they named him, a hero of Netherland." Thus spake they. Then Lüdegast's heart at the tidings was filled with strange dismay. So then when the tale of their message was heard all Denmark o'er, They hasted to win war-helpers, yea, more than theretofore, Till their lord, King Lüdegast, under his banner beheld enrolled Warriors twice ten thousand, all war-thanes dauntless-souled. {P. 24} Then Lüdiger, lord of the Saxons, gathered his war-array, Till his battle-muster was two-score thousand, yea, more than they, Who should join them with Denmark's war-host, unto Burgundy to ride. But in that land also had Gunther the King sent far and wide; To his kinsmen-friends and the war-host of his brethren he sent his hest To the end they should follow his banner as battleward he pressed; And with these came the knights of Hagen: yea, sore was their need that day; And the shadow of death already over many a warrior lay. They addressed them unto their journey; for nought was their march delayed; And Volker was banner-bearer, Volker the unafraid, On the day that they went forth riding from Worms by the waters of Rhine; And Hagen of Troneg marshalled Burgundia's battle-line. There in the ranks rode Sindold and Hunold the dauntless-souled, Such warriors as earn rich guerdon when war-kings lavish their gold; Rode Dankwart the brother of Hagen, and with these was Ortwein found. So they marched on the path of honour, they marched to be glory-crowned. "Lord King," spake Siegfried, "I pray thee, at home do thou abide, While the good knights after my banner forth to the battle shall ride; Stay thou, that the hearts of the weak ones may be strong in thy fearlessness; And I will guard thine honour and thy wealth in the battle's stress. And they that were fain to seek thee at Worms by the waters of Rhine, With them will I take such order, that nought shall they harm that is thine. Yea, we into their own homeland so far will ride in our raid, That soon shall the overweening be with sorrow sore dismayed."