Spake the messenger true-hearted: "Sooth, battle-blencher was none; But in that stern warrior-onset no champion rode so well, O noble Daughter of Princes, if the truth my tongue must tell, As the princely stranger-hero, which came from the Netherland;-- O the marvels of battle-prowess that were wrought by Siegfried's hand! What deeds soever the champions achieved in the battle-play, Even Dankwart and Hagen, and other of Gunther's war-array-- Their glory, their prowess, were even as an idle wind should sing, Set by the deeds of Siegfried, the son of Siegmund the King. O yea, in the storm of battle full many a hero they slew: But whoso essayed could never tell all the marvels through That were wrought by the arm of Siegfried as he rode the surges of fight-- Ah, many a lady for dear ones slain shall bewail his might! Went down before his onset the beloved of many a bride; His giant strokes on the helmets o'er the field rang far and wide, And forth of the gaping gashes the blood flowed fast and free:-- O yea, in all achievement the glory of knighthood is he! Sooth, many a deed of valour wrought Ortwein, Metz's Lord; Whosoever was touched in the war-storm by the lightning of his sword Fell back from his face sore wounded--yea, for the more part slain: And thy brother withal to the foemen dealt the deadliest bane That ever in battle-tempest hath any champion wrought. True witness were this of the chosen warriors there that fought, That so mighty in war-achievement were our proud Burgundians found, That shame shall touch them never: for aye are they glory-crowned. For they smote, and they saw before them many a riderless selle: O'er the echoing field their war-glaives rang many a foeman's knell. {P. 32} O yea, the knights of Rhineland rode through that stormy day In such wise that their foes repent them that ever they dared the fray. And the valiant brethren of Troneg withal dealt deadly bane When the war-hosts clashed, when the nations wrestled with desperate strain: So many were then hurled earthward by dauntless Hagen's hand, That thereof might a goodly story be told in Burgundia-land. Sindold withal and Hunold, 'neath Gernot's banner who warred, These wrought such deeds of prowess, with Rumold the dauntless lord, That Lüdiger, king of the Saxons, to his latest hour shall repent The folly of that war-challenge to the Lords of Rhineland sent. Yet of all the mightiest war-deeds that ever on earth have been, From the least even unto the greatest that ever eye hath seen, Never were such as Siegfried hath wrought with resistless hand. And he bringeth royal captives hither to Gunther's land; Even these with his might overmastering the warrior-prince subdued. Of a truth his self-sought evils hath Lüdegast bitterly rued, And Lüdiger his brother, the lord of the Saxons, withal! O noble Daughter of Princes, not yet have I told thee all;