s. Sir Gernot now sent messengers homeward to Worms in his
native land, and bade tell his kin what great success had happed to him
and to his men, and how these daring knights had striven well for
honor. The squirelings ran and told the tale. Then those who afore had
sorrowed, were blithe for joy at the pleasing tidings that were come.
Much questioning was heard from noble dames, how it had fared with
the liegemen of the mighty king. One of the messengers they bade go to
Kriemhild; this happed full secretly (openly she durst not), for she,
too, had amongst them her own true love. When she saw the messenger
coming to her bower, fair Kriemhild spake in kindly wise: "Now tell me
glad news, I pray. And thou dost so without deceit, I will give thee of
my gold and will ever be thy friend. How fared forth from the battle my
brother Gernot and others of my kin? Are many of them dead perchance? Or
who wrought there the best? This thou must tell me."

Quickly then the envoy spake: "Ne'er a coward did we have, but, to tell
the truth, O noble queen, none rode so well to the strife and fray,
as did the noble stranger from Netherland. Mickle wonders the hand of
valiant Siegfried wrought. Whate'er the knights have done in strife,
Dankwart and Hagen and other men of the king, however much they strove
for honor, 'tis but as the wind compared with Siegfried, the son of
Siegmund, the king. They slew full many a hero in the fray, but none
might tell you of the wonders which Siegfried wrought, whenever he rode
into the fight. Great woe he did the ladies through their kin; upon the
field the love of many a dame lay dead. His blows were heard to ring so
loud upon the helmets, that from the wounds they drew forth the blood
in streams. In every knightly art he is a worthy knight and a brave.
Whatever Ortwin of Metz achieved (and he whom he could reach with his
good sword, fell sorely wounded, but mostly dead), yet your brother
wrought the direst woe that could ever chance in battle. One must say of
the chosen knights in truth, that these proud Burgundians acquitted
them so well that they can well preserve their honor from every taint
of shame. Through their hands we saw many a saddle bare, while the field
resounded with the flashing swords. So well rode the warriors from
the Rhine, that it were better for their foes had it been avoided. The
valiant men of Troneg, also, wrought dire woe, when in great numbers the
armies met. Bold Hagen's hand did