English Epic Poem Project

Sore was

the noble Siegfried/with pangs of thirst

To bid

them rise from table/was he thus the first

He would

along the hillside/unto the fountain go

In sooth

they showed them traitors/those knights who there did counsel so

On wagons

hence to carry/the game they gave command

Which had

that day been slaughtered/by Siegfried's doughty hand

He'd carried

off the honors/all who had seen did say

Hagen, his

faith with Siegfried/soon did break in grevious way

When now

they would go thither/to where the linden spread

Spoke of

Tronje Hagen/to me hath oft been said

That none

could follow after/Kriemhild's nimble knight

Or vie

with him in running/would that he'd prove it to our sight

Then spoke

of Netherland/bold Siegfried speedily

That ye

may well have proof of/will ye but run with me

In contest

to the fountain/when that the same be done

To him

be given honors/who the race hath fairly won

Now surely

we make trial/quoth Hagen the thane

Thereto the

doughty Siegfried/I too will give you gain

Afore your

feet at starting/to lay me in the grass

When that

he had heard it/there at how joyous Gunther was

And spoke

again the warrior/and ye shall further hear

All my

clothing likewise/will I upon me wear

The spear

and shield full heavy/and hunting dress I'll don

His sword

as well as quiver/had he full quickly girded on

Doffed they

their apparel/and aside they laid it then

Clothed in

white shirts only/saw you there the twain

Like unto

two wild panthers/they coursed across the green

Yet first

beside the fountain/was the valiant Siegfried seen

No man

in feats of valor/who with him had vied

The sword

he soon ungirded/and quiver laid aside

The mighty

spear he leaned/against the linden tree

Beside the

running fountain/stood the knight stately to see

To Siegfried

naught was lacking/that doth good knight adorn

Down the

shield then laid he/where did flow the burn

Yet howsoe'er

he thirsted/no whit the hero drank

Before had

drunk the monarch/therefore he earned but evil thank

There where

ran clear the water/and cool from out the spring

Down to

it did bend him/Gunther the king

And when

his thirst was quenched/rose he from thence again

Eke the

valiant Siegfried/how glad had he done likewise then

For his

courtesy he suffered/where bow and sword there lay

Both did

carry Hagen/from him thence away

And again

sprang quickly thither/where the spear did stand

And for

a cross of tunic/of the valiant knight he scanned

As there

the noble Siegfried/to drink o'er the fountain bent

Through the

cross he pierced him/that from the wound was sent

The blood

nigh to bespatter/the tunic Hagen wore

By hand

of knight such evil/deed shall wrought be nevermore

The spear

he left projecting/where it had pierced the heart

In terror

as that moment/did Hagen never start

In flight

from any warrior/he ever yet had found

Soon as

the noble Siegfried/within him felt the mighty wound

Raging the

knight full doughty/up from the fountain sprang

The while

from twixt his shoulders/stood out a spearshaft long

The prince

weened to find there/his bow or his sword

There in

sooth had Hagen/found the traitor's meet reward

When from

the sorely wounded/knight his sword was gone

Then he

had naught to venge him/but his shield alone

This he

snatched from the fountain/and Hagen rushed upon

And not

at all escape him/could the royal Gunther's man

Though he

nigh to death was wounded/he yet such might did wield

That out

in all directions/flew from off the shield

Precious stones

a many/the shield he clave in two

Thus vengeance

had been taken/upon his foe Hagen the thane

Beneath his

hand must Hagen/stagger and fall to ground

So swift

the blow he dealt him/the meadow did resound

Had sword

in hand been swinging/Hagen had had his meed

So sorely

raged he stricken/to rage in sooth was great need

Faded from

cheek was color/no longer could he stand

And all

his might of body/soon complete had waned

As did

a deathly pallor/over his visage creep

Full many

a fairest lady/for the knight anon must weep

So sank

amid the flowers/Kriemhild's noble knight

While from

his wound flowed thickly/the blood before the sight

Then began

he reviling/-for dire was his need-

Who had

thus encompassed/his death by this same faithless deed

Then spoke

the sorely wounded/O ye bad cowards twain

Doth then

my service merit/that me ye thus have slain?

To you

I e'er was faithful/and so am I repaid

Alas upon

your kindred/now have ye shame eternal laid

By this

deed dishonored/hereafter evermore

Are their

generations/your anger all too sore

Have ye

now thus vented/and vengeance taken on me

With shame

henceforth be parted/from all good knight's company

All the

hunters hastened/where he stricken lay

It was

in sooth for many/of them a joyless day

Had any

aught of honor/he mourned that day I ween

And well

the same did merit/the knight high-spirited and keen