But by this full nigh were his war-band, the knights that from far had seen Betwixt these two fore-scouters what deadly strife had been. Then Siegfried would lead the vanquished away; but they fell forthright Upon him, those thirty warriors, yet his hand by its single might Aye guarded his princely captive with strokes that fell like hail; And soon to that king's defenders had he dealt yet deadlier bale. For he smote, that captive-warder, the thirty, till dead they lay, Save one that turned his horse-rein, and swiftly fled away, And bare the bitter tidings of all to the host of the Danes, And his shattered helmet witnessed thereto with its bloody stains. Then were the knights of Daneland shame-stricken and bitter-souled, When the tale how their king was a captive that day in their ears was told. And they bare to his brother the tidings, and the storm of his wrath outbrake In madness of fury and anguish for his captive brother's sake. Now by this had the king of the Danefolk been led from the field of fight Back to the host of Gunther by Siegfried's resistless might; And to Hagen's hand did he give him: glad were his friends for the word That the King of the land of Denmark was the spoil of Siegfried's sword! {P. 27} Then they cried through the host, "To the spear-staves bind ye the banners on!" "Forward!" rang Siegfried's war-cry: "great deeds this day shall be done Ere the evenfall, if my sinews fail not, if I lose not life! This day through the land of the Saxons shall be rued by many a wife! Heroes of Rhineland, whither I press before, take heed! To the heart of Lüdiger's war-host cleaving your path will I lead: Ye shall see brave hewing of helmets by many a hero's hand! Ere back from the battle we turn us, shall sorrow o'ercloud this land." Now on their steeds have Gernot and the men of his war-band sprung; In the grasp of the warrior-minstrel is the battle-flag upflung; Volker is bearing the banner afront of them all to the fray:-- Yea, the very hearts of the camp-folk leap to the onset to-day!