arriors went
forth to battle.

From the Rhine river Gunther's vast army marched toward the Saxon
country, and all along the borders they smote those who were in favour
of their foes, until fear fell upon those lands.

Then leaving Hagen with the main army, Siegfried rode forward alone to
seek the foe. Nor was it long ere on a plain before him he saw a great
host encamped.

In advance of the great army of more than forty thousand men stood a
single warrior, as though he were a sentinel guarding the plain. A
shining shield of gold was in his hand, and when Siegfried saw that,
he knew that the sentinel was none other than Ludegast himself.

Even as Siegfried knew his enemy and spurred forward his steed,
Ludegast saw the hero. Digging his spurs into the sides of his horse
he also sprang forward, and, with lances poised, the two mighty men
met and charged with all their strength.

On dashed the noble steeds as though driven by a tempest, until the
King and the Prince drew rein, and turning faced each other once
again, their swords now in their hands.

With such great strokes did Siegfried ply his foe, that fiery sparks
flamed all around the helmet of the King, while the noise of his
mighty blows filled the space around as with peals of thunder.

King Ludegast was a worthy foe and many an ugly thrust did Siegfried
parry with his shield. But at length with his good sword Balmung, the
hero pierced through the steel harness of Ludegast the King. Three
times he struck, until his enemy lay helpless at his feet.

With piteous moan then did Ludegast beg the Prince to spare his life,
and this Siegfried did.

Then, as the hero was going to sheathe his sword, up rode thirty of
the King's warriors, who had watched the fray from afar. Fiercely they
beset the hero who had vanquished their King and stealthily did they
seek to rescue his prisoner. But Siegfried brandished his good sword
Balmung, and with his own strong right hand slaughtered the thirty
warriors, all save one. Him the Prince spared that he might carry the
dire tidings of the capture of King Ludegast to the army on the plain.

Then Siegfried, left alone with his royal prisoner, lifted him on to
his own charger, and brought him to Hagen.

But the Prince did not linger with the army. Without delay he set out
for the forefront of the fray, and close behind him rode his own
eleven knights, while Gernot followed with a thousand men. And soon
the great plain was a gri