Worked all with gold. This reward he would send
Because, when a captive, the kinsman of Nithhad,
Weland's son, Widia, from his woes had released him--
10 Thus in haste he escaped from the hands of the giants."
Waldhere spoke, the warrior brave;
He held in his hand his helper in battle,
He grasped his weapon, shouting words of defiance:
"Indeed, thou hadst faith, O friend of the Burgundians,
15 That the hand of Hagena had held me in battle,
Defeated me on foot. Fetch now, if thou darest,
From me weary with war my worthy gray corselet!
It lies on my shoulder as 'twas left me by Aelfhere,
Goodly and gorgeous and gold-bedecked,
20 The most honorable of all for an atheling to hold
When he goes into battle to guard his life,
To fight with his foes: fail me it will never
When a stranger band shall strive to encounter me,
Besiege me with swords, as thou soughtest to do.
25 He alone will vouchsafe the victory who always
Is eager and ready to aid every right:
He who hopes for the help of the holy Lord,
For the grace of God, shall gain it surely,
If his earlier work has earned the reward.
30 Well may the brave warriors then their wealth enjoy,
Take pride in their property! That is . . . ."

1. The opening of the second fragment finds the two champions ready for
the final struggle. Guthhere is finishing his boast, in which he
praises his equipment.

3. The meaning of this passage is obscure, but the translation here given
seems to be the most reasonable conjecture. He probably refers to a
sword that he has at hand in a jewelled case ready for use.

4. Stopping thus to give a history of the weapon calls to mind many
similar passages in the Homeric poems. The particular story in mind
here is the escape of Theodoric from the giants. He loses his way and
falls into the hands of one of the twelve giants who guard Duke
Nitger. He gains the favor of Nitger's sister, and through her lets
his retainers, Hildebrand, Witige, and Heime know of his plight. They
defeat the giants and release him. Witige and Heime are the Middle
High German forms for the old English _Widia_ (see _Deor's Lament_, v.
8, note), or Wudga and Hama (see _Widsith_, vv. 124, 130, note).

14.