LII "Ah! woe for this sad meeting! woe for this festal-fight! There spreads, within, destruction one that Folker hight; Like a wild boar he rages, yet but a minstrel he. Thank heaven! 'tis well in safety from such a fiend to be. LIII "In sooth, ill sound his measures; his strokes are bloody red; His oft-repeated quavers lay many a hero dead. I know not why this gleeman should spite us o'er the rest; Never had I for certain so troublesome a guest." LIV Thereat straight to their quarters the noble knights withdrew, The lord of Bern, Sir Dietrich, and the good margrave too. To mix in that fierce struggle neither had desire, And from it, too, their followers they bade in peace retire. LV But had the bold Burgundians foreseen the deadly woe That they from those two champions were soon to undergo, Ne'er from the hall had either so quietly been sent, But at their hands had suffer'd a bloody chastisement. LVI They, whom they pleas'd, permitted to leave that hall of ill; Then rose within, redoubled, the death-cry wild and shrill. The guests 'gainst their wrong-doers for deadly vengeance strove; Folker the valiant minstrel, ah! how the helms he clove! LVII At the clash King Gunther turn'd, and to Hagan cried, "Hear you what a measure Folker, the door beside, Plays with each poor Hungarian who down the stairs would go; See! what a deep vermilion has dyed his fiddle-bow!" LVIII "I own, it much repents me," Hagan straight replied, "That I sat here at table from the good knight so wide. We still were constant comrades, not wont before to sever. If we again see Rhineland, no chance shall part us ever. LIX "Now see, great king! right loyal to thee is Folker bold; Well deserves the warrior thy silver and thy gold. His fiddlestick, sharp-cutting, can hardest steel divide, And at a stroke can shiver the morion's beamy pride. LX "Never yet saw I minstrel so high and lordly stand, As did to-day Sir Folker among the hostile band. On helms and clattering bucklers his lays make music rare. Ride should he good war-horses, and gorgeous raiment wear." LXI Of all the fierce Hungarians that at the board had been, Now not a single champion remain'd alive within. Then first was hush'd the tumult, when none was left to fight. Then down his sword laid reeking each bold Burgundian knight. THIRTY-FOURTH ADVENTURE HOW THEY THREW DOWN THE DEAD I Then after all their labor the lords sat down at last. Before the hall together Folker and Hagan pass'd. The pair of haughty champions upon their bucklers leant, And each the time with th' other in gentle converse spent. II