ead fell into the lap of
the queen. At this there began a murdering, grim and great, among
the knights. Next he dealt the master who taught the child a fierce
sword-stroke with both his hands, so that his head fell quickly beneath
the table to the ground. A piteous meed it was, which he meted out to
the master. Hagen then spied a gleeman sitting at King Etzel's board.
In his wrath he hied him thither and struck off his right hand upon the
fiddle. "Take this as message to the Burgundian land."

"Woe is me of my hand," spake the minstrel Werbel. "Sir Hagen of Troneg,
what had I done to you? I came in good faith to your masters' land. How
can I now thrum the tunes, sith I have lost my hand?"

Little recked Hagen, played he nevermore. In the hall he dealt out
fierce deadly wounds to Etzel's warriors, passing many of whom he slew.
Enow of folk in the house he did to death. The doughty Folker now sprang
up from the board; loud rang in his hands his fiddle bow. Rudely did
Gunther's minstrel play. Ho, what foes he made him among the valiant
Huns! The three noble kings, too, sprang up from the table. Gladly would
they have parted the fray, or ever greater scathe was done. With all
their wit they could not hinder it, when Folker and Hagen gan rage so
sore. When that the lord of the Rhine beheld the fray unparted, the
prince dealt his foes many gaping wounds himself through the shining
armor rings. That he was a hero of his hands, he gave great proof. Then
the sturdy Gernot joined the strife. Certes, he did many a hero of
the Huns to death with a sharp sword, the which Rudeger had given him.
Mighty wounds he dealt King Etzel's warriors. Now the young son of Lady
Uta rushed to the fray. Gloriously his sword rang on the helmets of
Etzel's warriors from the Hunnish land. Full mickle wonders were wrought
by bold Giselher's hand. But how so doughty they all were, the kings and
their liegemen, yet Folker was seen to stand before them all against
the foe; a good hero he. Many a one he made to fall in his blood through
wounds. Etzel's men did fend them, too, full well, yet one saw the
strangers go hewing with their gleaming swords through the royal hall
and on every side was heard great sound of wail. Those without would now
fain be with their friends within, but at the entrance towers they found
small gain. Those within had gladly been without the hall, but Dankwart
let none go either up or down the steps. Therefore there rose before
th