Then the youthful Giselher thus his mind express'd, "Ye must not yet, dear comrades, think of ease or rest; From out the house first hasten to bear the dead away. Once more shall we do battle; that I can truly say. III "Beneath our feet 'twere better they should no longer lie. Ere these proud Huns subdue us, and we o'ermaster'd die, Hewn will be many a hauberk, and blood in torrents flow; No sight can please me better than a bleeding foe." IV "I'm proud of such a master," cried Hagan with delight; "Who could e'er give such counsel save a redoubted knight? When words so wise and valiant from our young lord you hear, Needs must ye, bold Burgundians! be all of lively cheer." V The counsel straight they follow'd, and carried through the door, And cast out from among them, seven thousand dead or more. Adown the stairs they tumbled and lay in heaps below. Then burst forth from their kinsmen a thrilling scream of woe. VI 'Mongst these was many a warrior, though wounded and in pain, Who yet with milder treatment might have wax'd whole again. Crush'd by the fall they perish'd, who half had 'scap'd the sword. Their friends with moans of sorrow their fatal doom deplor'd. VII Then spake the minstrel Folker, the warrior void of fear, "I oft have heard reported, and now behold I clear, That Huns are vile and worthless; they like weak women wail, When they should tend the wounded, and soothe their dreary bale." VIII Then ween'd a Hunnish margrave, he thus through kindness spake; He saw a luckless kinsman fall'n in a bloody lake; So threw his arms about him, and hoped away to bear. Him shot to death the minstrel; down fell he dying there. IX When this was seen by th' others, they took at once to flight; That same redoubted gleeman all curs'd with all their might. He brandish'd high a javelin, well-temper'd, bright, and keen, Which by a Hun against him before had darted been. X This through the echoing castle he sent with mastering main Far o'er the crowd of tremblers; that shot to Etzel's train Gave another station more distant from the hall. The matchless strength of Folker dismay'd their leaders all. XI Before the house assembled were many thousand men; Sir Folker and Sir Hagan both together then Began unto King Etzel all their mind to tell, Whence grievous ill thereafter both the good knights befell. XII "The trembling crowd to hearten," said Hagan, "sure 'tis right That kings and leaders ever be foremost in the fight; E'en so do here among us my own redoubted lords, And, when they cleave the morions, blood spouts beneath their swords." XIII