sted, and soon the stalwart
minstrel, Sir Folker, grasped the battle-flag and rode before the band.
Then were all the comrades arrayed in lordly wise for strife; nor
had they more than a thousand men, and thereto Siegfried's twelve
men-at-arms. Now from the road gan rise the dust, as across the land
they rode; many a lordly shield was seen to gleam from out their midst.
There, too, were come the Saxons with their troops and well-sharpened
swords, as I since have heard. Sore cut these weapons in the heroes'
hands, for they would fain guard both their castles and their land
against the strangers. The lordings' marshals led on the troop.
Siegfried, too, was come with his men-at-arms, whom he had brought from
Netherland. In the storm of battle many a hand this day grew red with
blood. Sindolt and Hunolt and Gernot, too, slew many a knight in the
strife, ere these rightly knew the boldness of their foes. This many a
stately dame must needs bewail. Folker and Hagen and Ortwin, too,
dimmed in the battle the gleam of many a helm with flowing blood, these
storm-bold men. By Dankwart, too, great deeds were done.

The men of Denmark proved well their hands; one heard many a shield
resounding from the hurtling and from the sharp swords as well, many of
which were wielded there. The battle-bold Saxons did scathe enow, but
when the men of Burgundy pressed to the fight, by them was really a wide
wound carved. Then down across the saddles the blood was seen to flow.
Thus they fought for honors, these knights both bold and good. Loud rang
the sharp weapons in the heroes' hands, as those of Netherland followed
their lording through the sturdy host. Valiantly they forced their way
in Siegfried's wake, but not a knight from the Rhine was seen to follow.
Through the shining helmets one could see flow the bloody stream, drawn
forth by Siegfried's hand, till at last he found Liudeger before his
men-at-arms. Thrice had he pierced the host from end to end. Now was
Hagen come, who helped him achieve in the battle all his mind. Before
them many a good knight must needs die this day.

When the mighty Liudeger espied Siegfried and saw that he bore high in
hand the good sword Balmung and did slay so many a man, then waxed the
lording wroth and fierce enow. A mighty surging and a mighty clang of
swords arose, as their comrades pressed against each other. The two
champions tried their prowess all the more. The troops began to yield;
fierce grew the h