lash of swords the warriors
came together. So exceeding furious was their onset that the host gave
way. Terrible was their hate. The Saxon king knew well that his brother
was taken captive, and he was wroth thereat; but he knew it not for
Siegfried's work till now. They had blamed Gernot. Now he found out the
truth. Ludger smote so hard that Siegfried's horse reeled under him.
But when he was come to, Siegfried was more terrible than afore. Hagen
and Gernot, Dankwart and Folker, stood by him. The dead lay in heaps.
Sindolt and Hunolt and Ortwin the knight slew many in the strife. The
princes held together in the fray. Bright spears in the hands of heroes
flashed above the helmets, that clave the shining bucklers in twain.
Many a massy shield was red with blood. In the fierce encounter many men
fell from their horses. Bold Siegfried and King Ludger strove together,
and lances whizzed, and sharp spears. Ludger's shield-plate flew off
through the strength of Siegfried's hand. Then the hero of the
Netherland thought to have gotten the victory over the Saxons that were
hard pressed. Ha! what polished bucklers doughty Dankwart brake!

Of a sudden Ludger espied a crown that was painted on Siegfried's shield,
and he knew the mighty man, and cried aloud to his friends, "Forbear, my
men all. I have seen the son of Siegmund, even bold Siegfried. The
Devil hath sent him hither into Saxony." He bade lower the standard, and
sued for peace. They granted this, yet he was compelled by Siegfried to
go captive into Gunther's land.

With one accord they ceased from the strife. They threw down their
shivered helmets and shields. Blood-red were they all by the hands of
the Burgundians. They took captive whom they listed, for they had the
power.

Gernot and Hagen gave order to convey the wounded on litters. They led
five hundred noble knights as prisoners to the Rhine.

The vanquished warriors rode back to Denmark. Nor had the Saxons fought
so as to win them honour, and they were downcast. The dead were mourned
by their friends.

They sent the weapons to the Rhine on sumpters. So wondrously had
Siegfried done, that all Gunther's men praised him.

Sir Gernot sent word to Worms, and throughout the whole land, to their
friends, how it had sped with them; for as bold knights and honourable
they had fought. The pages hasted and told it, and the glad news
rejoiced the loving ones that had sorrowed. The noble women