From Rhine through the land of Hesse rode on that hero-host, And over the Saxon marches, where the fight should be won and lost; And they drave the spoil, and they harried with flame the land of the foe: Ha, bitter straits and anguish did the robber war-kings know! So they came to the Saxon marches, and the vanguard pressed on still. Then Siegfried the mighty champion asked of the chieftains' will: "Whom now shall we make our warder of camp and of sumpter-train?" --Ha, never of war-raid the Saxons suffered deadlier bane! {P. 25} So they said, "Let the henchmen that follow the wielders of spear and brand Be warded of Dankwart the valiant, of the swift death-dealing hand; So shall our loss be the lesser from Lüdiger's plundering horde. Yea, leave with him Ortwein: our rear-guard shall these twain safely ward." "Then will myself ride onward," spake Siegfried the knight straightway, "To watch for the foe's on-coming, and to spy out their array, Until I shall know of a surety where now their warriors are." And with speed fair Siegelind's scion stood sheathed in his harness of war. So the host he committed to Hagen, or ever he rode on the quest, Even to him and to Gernot, the knight of the dauntless breast. So into the land of the Saxons rode he forward alone-- Yea, to fashion a tale for the minstrels, a tale of glory won! Then spied he onward-surging o'er the plain a host of war, So huge that Burgundia's warriors by these were outnumbered far; For their tale was two-score thousand, yea, more than this, I trow. Then leapt his heart and lightened his eyes with the battle-glow.