"Myself alone," said Siegfried, "will ever forward ride, Till I have found our foemen and all their strength espied. Keep watch and ward unceasing till I this task have done." Then donn'd at once his armor fair Siegelind's martial son. XLII At parting he his people in charge to Hagan gave, And with him eke to Gernot the prudent and the brave; Then all alone went riding through the wide Saxon realm; And soon that day he shatter'd the band of many a helm. XLIII That mighty host next spied he, as wide encamp'd it lay. It might his single puissance a hundred-fold outweigh. Better than forty thousand were muster'd there for fight, Sir Siegfried mark'd their numbers, and gladden'd at the sight. XLIV Before the camp he noted a knight, that on his ground Strong watch and ward kept heedful, and peer'd on all around. At once of him was Siegfried, and he of Siegfried ware, And each began on the other angrily to glare. XLV Who was this watchful warder, now you shall be told. At hand by him lay ready a flashing shield of gold. Twas e'en the stout King Ludegast, that watch'd his gather'd might. Fiercely upon the monarch sprung the stranger knight. XLVI As fiercely too against him the fiery monarch sped; In the flank of the war-horse each dash'd the rowels red: The lance with all his puissance each level'd at the shield. Ill chance befell King Ludegast in that disastrous field. XLVII Beneath the spur blood-dripping the steeds together flew; Champion clos'd with champion as though a tempest blew. Then wheel'd they round full knightly; each well the bridle sway'd Again they met unsated, and with blade encounter'd blade. XLVIII Such strokes there struck Sir Siegfried, that all the field it rang; At each, as e'en from torches, the fire-red sparkles sprang From Ludegast's batter'd helmet. So strive they all they can And either stormy champion in th' other finds his man. XLIX At Siegfried too Sir Ludegast struck many a sturdy stroke; Each on his foeman's buckler his gather'd fury broke. Full thirty men of Ludegast's meanwhile had spied the fray, But, ere they up could hasten, Siegfried had won the day. L Thrice smote he the bright breast-plate, and pierc'd it through and through; Thrice the blood in torrents from the king he drew, Those three strokes have ended that encounter keen. Down sunk woful Ludegast grovelling on the green. LI He straight for life sued humbly, and yielded up his claim To all his lands, and told him that Ludegast was his name. On this up came his warriors, who from afar had seen The fight, that at the ward-post so fiercely fought had been. LII