The Nibelungenlied
How Iring was Slain
2028
Cried then he of Denmark, / Iring the margrave:
" Fixed on things of honor / my purpose long I have,
And oft in storm of battle, / where heroes wrought, was I.
Bring hither now my armor, / with Hagen I'll the combat try. "
2029
" I counsel thee against it, " / Hagen then replied,
" Or bring a goodly company / of Hun-men by thy side.
If peradventure any / find entrance to the hall,
I'll cause that nowise scatheless / down the steps again they fall. "
2030
" Such words may not dissuade me, " / Iring spake once more;
" A thing of equal peril / oft have I tried before.
Yea, will I with my broadsword / confront thee all alone.
Nor aught may here avail thee / thus to speak in haughty tone. "
2031
Soon the valiant Iring / armed and ready stood,
And Irnfried of Thuringia / a youth of mettle good,
And eke the doughty Hawart, / with thousand warriors tried.
Whate'er his purpose, Iring / should find them faithful by his side.
2032
Advancing then with Iring / did the Fiddler see
All clad in shining armor / a mighty company,
And each a well-made helmet / securely fastened wore
Thereat the gallant Volker / began to rail in anger sore.
2033
" Seest thou, friend Hagen, / yonder Iring go,
Who all alone to front thee / with his sword did vow?
Doth lying sort with honor? / Scorned the thing must be.
A thousand knights or over / here bear him armed company. "
2034
" Now make me not a liar, " / cried Hawart's man aloud,
" For firm is still my purpose / to do what now I vowed,
Nor will I turn me from it / through any cause of fear.
Alone I'll stand 'fore Hagen, / awful howsoe'er he were. "
2035
On ground did throw him Iring / before his warriors' feet,
That they leave might grant him / alone the knight to meet.
Loath they were to do it; / well known to them might be
The haughty Hagen's prowess / of the land of Burgundy.
2036
Yet so long besought he / that granted was their leave;
When they that followed with him / did his firm mind perceive,
And how 'twas bent on honor, / they not restrained him.
Then closed the two chieftains / together in a combat grim.
2037
Iring of Denmark / raised his spear on high,
And with the shield he covered / himself full skilfully;
He upward rushed on Hagen / unto the hall right close,
When round the clashing fighters / soon a mighty din arose.
2038
Each hurled upon the other / the spear with arm of might,
That the firm shields were pierced / e'en to their mail-coats bright,
And outward still projecting / the long spear-shafts were seen
In haste then snatched their broadswords / both the fighters grim and keen.
2039
In might the doughty Hagen / and prowess did abound,
As Iring smote upon him / the hall gave back the sound.
The palace all and towers / re-echoed from their blows,
Yet might that bold assailant / with victory ne'er the combat close.
2040
On Hagen might not Iring / wreak aught of injury.
Unto the doughty Fiddler / in haste then turned he.
Him by his mighty sword-strokes / thought he to subdue,
But well the thane full gallant / to keep him safe in combat knew.
2041
Then smote the doughty Fiddler / so lustily his shield
That from it flew its ornaments / where he the sword did wield.
Iring must leave unconquered / there the dauntless man;
Next upon King Gunther / of Burgundy in wrath he ran.
2042
There did each in combat / show him man of might;
Howe'er did Gunther and Iring / yet each the other smite,
From wounds might never either / make the blood to flow,
So sheltered each his armor, / well wrought that was and strong enow.
2043
Gunther left he standing, / upon Gernot to dash,
And when he smote ring-armor / the fire forth did flash
But soon had he of Burgundy, / Gernot the doughty thane,
Well nigh his keen assailant / Iring of Denmark slain.
2044
Yet from the prince he freed him, / for nimble was he too.
Four of the men of Burgundy / the knight full sudden slew
Of those that followed with them / from Worms across the Rhine.
Thereupon might nothing / the wrath of Giselher confine.
2045
" God wot well, Sir Iring, " / young Giselher then cried,
" Now must thou make requital / for them that here have died
'Neath thy hand so sudden. " / He rushed upon him so
And smote the knight of Denmark / that he might not withstand the blow.
2046
Into the blood down fell he / staggering 'neath its might,
That all who there beheld it / might deem the noble knight
Sword again would never / wield amid the fray.
Yet 'neath the stroke of Giselher / Iring all unwounded lay.
2047
Bedazed by helmet's sounding / where ringing sword swung down,
Full suddenly his senses / so from the knight were flown:
That of his life no longer / harbored he a thought.
That the doughty Giselher / by his mighty arm had wrought.
2028
Cried then he of Denmark, / Iring the margrave:
" Fixed on things of honor / my purpose long I have,
And oft in storm of battle, / where heroes wrought, was I.
Bring hither now my armor, / with Hagen I'll the combat try. "
2029
" I counsel thee against it, " / Hagen then replied,
" Or bring a goodly company / of Hun-men by thy side.
If peradventure any / find entrance to the hall,
I'll cause that nowise scatheless / down the steps again they fall. "
2030
" Such words may not dissuade me, " / Iring spake once more;
" A thing of equal peril / oft have I tried before.
Yea, will I with my broadsword / confront thee all alone.
Nor aught may here avail thee / thus to speak in haughty tone. "
2031
Soon the valiant Iring / armed and ready stood,
And Irnfried of Thuringia / a youth of mettle good,
And eke the doughty Hawart, / with thousand warriors tried.
Whate'er his purpose, Iring / should find them faithful by his side.
2032
Advancing then with Iring / did the Fiddler see
All clad in shining armor / a mighty company,
And each a well-made helmet / securely fastened wore
Thereat the gallant Volker / began to rail in anger sore.
2033
" Seest thou, friend Hagen, / yonder Iring go,
Who all alone to front thee / with his sword did vow?
Doth lying sort with honor? / Scorned the thing must be.
A thousand knights or over / here bear him armed company. "
2034
" Now make me not a liar, " / cried Hawart's man aloud,
" For firm is still my purpose / to do what now I vowed,
Nor will I turn me from it / through any cause of fear.
Alone I'll stand 'fore Hagen, / awful howsoe'er he were. "
2035
On ground did throw him Iring / before his warriors' feet,
That they leave might grant him / alone the knight to meet.
Loath they were to do it; / well known to them might be
The haughty Hagen's prowess / of the land of Burgundy.
2036
Yet so long besought he / that granted was their leave;
When they that followed with him / did his firm mind perceive,
And how 'twas bent on honor, / they not restrained him.
Then closed the two chieftains / together in a combat grim.
2037
Iring of Denmark / raised his spear on high,
And with the shield he covered / himself full skilfully;
He upward rushed on Hagen / unto the hall right close,
When round the clashing fighters / soon a mighty din arose.
2038
Each hurled upon the other / the spear with arm of might,
That the firm shields were pierced / e'en to their mail-coats bright,
And outward still projecting / the long spear-shafts were seen
In haste then snatched their broadswords / both the fighters grim and keen.
2039
In might the doughty Hagen / and prowess did abound,
As Iring smote upon him / the hall gave back the sound.
The palace all and towers / re-echoed from their blows,
Yet might that bold assailant / with victory ne'er the combat close.
2040
On Hagen might not Iring / wreak aught of injury.
Unto the doughty Fiddler / in haste then turned he.
Him by his mighty sword-strokes / thought he to subdue,
But well the thane full gallant / to keep him safe in combat knew.
2041
Then smote the doughty Fiddler / so lustily his shield
That from it flew its ornaments / where he the sword did wield.
Iring must leave unconquered / there the dauntless man;
Next upon King Gunther / of Burgundy in wrath he ran.
2042
There did each in combat / show him man of might;
Howe'er did Gunther and Iring / yet each the other smite,
From wounds might never either / make the blood to flow,
So sheltered each his armor, / well wrought that was and strong enow.
2043
Gunther left he standing, / upon Gernot to dash,
And when he smote ring-armor / the fire forth did flash
But soon had he of Burgundy, / Gernot the doughty thane,
Well nigh his keen assailant / Iring of Denmark slain.
2044
Yet from the prince he freed him, / for nimble was he too.
Four of the men of Burgundy / the knight full sudden slew
Of those that followed with them / from Worms across the Rhine.
Thereupon might nothing / the wrath of Giselher confine.
2045
" God wot well, Sir Iring, " / young Giselher then cried,
" Now must thou make requital / for them that here have died
'Neath thy hand so sudden. " / He rushed upon him so
And smote the knight of Denmark / that he might not withstand the blow.
2046
Into the blood down fell he / staggering 'neath its might,
That all who there beheld it / might deem the noble knight
Sword again would never / wield amid the fray.
Yet 'neath the stroke of Giselher / Iring all unwounded lay.
2047
Bedazed by helmet's sounding / where ringing sword swung down,
Full suddenly his senses / so from the knight were flown:
That of his life no longer / harbored he a thought.
That the doughty Giselher / by his mighty arm had wrought.
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