454.
He said: “Unhand the buckler, and let me carry it,
And what thou hear’st me tell thee, mark well with all thy wit:
Thine must be all the gestures, but I will do each deed.”
When Gunther understood him his heart grew light indeed,
455.
“See thou conceal my cunning, and tell no man thereof:
The queen will little glory win from thee, though she scoff,
And though it be her purpose to add unto her fame:
See how she stands before thee, fearless, the noble dame!”
456.
With all her strength of body, her spear the glorious maid
Against a new shield hurléd,— ’twas broad and stoutly made,—
Which on his arm was bearing the son of Siegelind;
Bright fire-sparks from the steel flew, as driven by the wind.
457.
The blade of her stout lance-head clean through his shield did crash,
And from his close-ring’d hauberk the fire was seen to flash.
The shock of the encounter so drave the stalwart men,
That, saving for the Tarnhelm, they both had there been slain
458.
Out of the mouth of Siegfried, the bold knight, gushed the blood;
But soon again upsprang he: then gripped the hero good
The spear which she had hurléd, that thro’ his buckler went,
And back it fley upon her, by Stegfried’s strong hand sent.
459.
He thought: “I will not shoot her, this maid who is so fair!”
And so he turned behind him the sharp head of the spear,
And with the shaft he smote her upon her vest of steel;
So that the blow re-echoed that his stout hand did deal.
