Soon as to the chamber the melancholy maid Saw the youth approaching, sweetly thus she said, "Now tell me happy tidings, and I'll give thee gold in store, And if 'tis truth thou tell'st me, I'll befriend thee evermore. LXXXVIII "Tell me how in battle my brother Gernot sped, And all our friends around him; is any of them dead? Who prov'd the best and bravest? this thou must tell me true." "No coward," the youth made answer, "had we in all the crew; LXXXIX "But sure to fight or foray (the simple truth to tell) Fair and noble princess! rode never knight so well As the noble stranger from distant Netherland. Wonders that mock believing were wrought by Siegfried's hand. XC "However well the others have borne them in the fight, Dankwart and Hagan, and all our men of might, Howe'er deserv'd the honor, that other swords have won, 'Tis a puff of wind to Siegfried, King Siegmund's glorious son. XCI "Well plied the rest the falchion, and wielded well the spear, But ne'er from tongue of mortal expect at full to hear What feats were done by Siegfried, when he broke the squadrons through; Those feats the weeping sisters of slaughter'd brethren rue. XCII "There lay the heart's-beloved of many a mourning bride; Beneath his sounding sword-strokes cleft morions, gaping wide, Let out the ruddy life-blood gushing fearfully. Sir Siegfried is in all things the flower of chivalry. XCIII "There too won no small worship the knight of Metz, Ortwine; Whomever reach'd the warrior with keen-edg'd falchion fine, Down went they from the war-horse, some wounded, others dead. There too your valiant brother as wide the slaughter spread, XCIV "As e'er was done, believe me, since armies met in fight; So much must all men witness of that redoubted knight. There too the proud Burgundians so nobly strove for fame, That well they have assur'd them from every taint of blame. XCV "Before their level'd lances was many a saddle void; Around the field re-echoed when they the sword employ'd. The noble knights of Rhineland fought so well that day, Their foes had sure done wiser at once to flee away. XCVI "The gallant men of Trony did deeds they well may boast When with united squadrons to battle rode the host. What numbers fell by Hagan and Hagan's chivalry! Long shall their glory flourish here in broad Burgundy. XCVII "Sindolt and Hunolt, each Gernot's liegemen true, And never-daunted Rumolt so rush'd the foemen through, That ever will King Ludeger repent his vain design To meet your royal brethren on the banks of Rhine. XCVIII "But of all feats, the fairest, that in that field befell, From first to last most glorious, as all who saw can tell, Were those achiev'd full knightly by Siegfried's deadly hand. Now many a wealthy captive brings he to Gunther's land.