Now afront of the host of the foemen there rode a goodly knight, To watch for a battle-token, in shining harness dight. And Siegfried the hero beheld him, and on him that champion gazed, And the eyes of each upon other with the fury of battle blazed. Now who was the keen war-eagle that on watching pinions hung? A gleaming shield all-golden from his leftward shoulder was slung. King Lüdegast was the warrior that thus o'er the host kept ward. Lo, the noble stranger-hero against him is spurring hard! And the wrath of the lord of the Danefolk by the battle-challenge is stirred, And the mighty steeds to the onset are racing fierily spurred. In their strong grip over the shield-rims they couched their lances low-- Ha, but the proud king knew not that he rode to his shame and his woe! The war-steeds hearkened the spur-sting, and swift as arrows they leapt, And the kings clashed like unto breakers by a tempest-blast on-swept; And knightly they wheeled to the onset their reeling steeds with the rein, And with swords they essayed the decision of strife, that terrible twain. {P. 26} At each stroke of the hero Siegfried far round the whole plain rung, And the helmet was flashing and flaming as with fire from a torch outflung; Even so were the red sparks leaping 'neath the sword in the hero's hand. Lions both were the Dane-king and the Lord of the Nether Land, For with many a furious sword-stroke did the king of the Daneland smite; Yea, this one and that at the bucklers hewed with his uttermost might. Now their strife was beheld of thirty knights of the king's war-band: But or ever these might reach him victor did Siegfried stand. For with three wide-gaping gashes he made that war-king reel; They sundered the shining harness, the welded links of steel; On the great sword's cleaving lightning swift followed the rain of blood; Then groaned the king of the Danefolk in bitterness of mood. For his life must he make supplication: "I will pay for my ransoming," He cried, "the land of Denmark! I am Lüdegast the king!"