uickly he ungirt his sword and laid
aside his quiver and leaned the stout spear against a linden bough.
The lordly stranger stood now by the flowing spring. Passing great was
Siegfried's courtesie. He laid down his shield where the spring gushed
forth, but the hero drank not, albeit he thirsted sore until the king
had drunk, who gave him evil thanks. Cool, clear, and good was the
spring. Gunther stooped down then to the flowing stream, and when he had
drunken straightened up again. Bold Siegfried would fain also have done
the same, but now he paid for his courtesie. Hagen bare quite away from
him both bow and sword and bounded then to where he found the spear;
then he looked for the mark on bold Siegfried's coat. As Lord Siegfried
drank above the spring, he pierced him through the cross, so that
his heart's blood spurted from the wounds almost on Hagen's clothes.
Nevermore will hero do so foul a deed. Hagen left the spear a-sticking
in his heart and fled more madly than he ever in the world had run from
any man.

When Lord Siegfried felt the mighty wound, up from the spring he started
in a rage. From betwixt his shoulder blades a long spear-shaft towered.
He weened to find his bow or his sword, and then had Hagen been repaid
as he deserved. But when the sorely wounded hero found no trace of his
sword, then had he naught else but his shield. This he snatched from the
spring and ran at Hagen; nor could King Gunther's man escape him. Albeit
he was wounded unto death, yet he smote so mightily that a plenty of
precious stones were shaken from the shield. The shield itself burst
quite apart. Fain would the lordly stranger have avenged him. Now was
Hagen fallen to the ground at his hands, and from the force of the blow
the glade rang loudly. Had he had a sword in hand, then had it been
Hagen's death, so sore enraged was the wounded man. Forsooth he had good
cause thereof. His hue grew pale, he could not stand; his strength of
body melted quite away, for in bright colors he bore the signs of death.
Thereafter he was bewailed by fair dames enow.

Kriemhild's husband fell now among the flowers. Fast from his wounds his
blood was seen to gush. He began to rail, as indeed he had great cause,
at those who had planned this treacherous death. The deadly wounded
spake: "Forsooth, ye evil cowards, what avail my services now that ye
have slain me? This is my reward that I was always faithful to you.
Alas, ye have acted ill against your