men, "Ye see that we are
undone. Fight for your lives, ye homeless ones, that ye may lie dead
without shame."

They that had not swords seized the benches, and caught up the stools
from the floor. The squires of Burgundy were not slow to answer them.
With these they dinted many a helmet.

The homeless youths made grim defence. They drave the armed me from the
house. Yet five hundred and more lay therein dead. They were red and
wet with blood.

This heave news reached Etzel's knights. Grim was their grief that
Bloedel and his men were slain by the brother of Hagen, and the squires.
Or Etzel knew anything of the matter, two thousand Huns or more did on
their armour and hasted thither, for so it must needs be, and left not
one alive. These false knights brought a mighty host before the house.
The strangers defended them well; but what availed their prowess? They
had all to die. Or long the fray waxed grimmer yet.

Now shall ye list to marvels and wondrous deeds. Nine thousand squires
lay dead, and twelve of Dankwart's men. He stood alone among his foes.
The noise was hushed, the din had ceased. Dankwart looked over his
shoulder and cried, "Woe is me for the friends I have lost! Among my
foemen I stand alone."

Swords enow fell upon his body. Many a hero's wife was yet to weep for
it. He raised his buckler, and lowered the thong, and wetted many a
hauberk with blood.

"Woe is me for this wrong!" cried Aldrian's child. "Stand back, ye
knights of Hungary, and let me to the air, that it cool a battle-weary
man." Then he began, in their despite, to hew his way to the door.

When he sprang from the house, how many a sword rang on his helmet! They
that had not seen the wonders of his hand fell upon him there.

"Would to God," said Dankwart, "I had a messenger to tell my brother
Hagen in what peril I stand! He would help me hence, or die by me."

But the Hunnish knights answered, "Thou, thyself, shalt be the messenger,
when we carry thee in dead to thy brother. So shall Gunther's man have
first hear of his loss. To Etzel thou hast done grievous hurt."

He said, "Keep your threats, and stand back, or I will wet the harness of
some of you. I will bear the news myself to the court, and bewail my
great wrong to my masters."

He did Etzel's men such scathe, that they durst not draw against him.
Then they shot so many darts into his shield that he must drop it for
heaviness.

They thought to vanquish