935.
In all he put his hand to alert he was enow;
Of all the beasts, the first one that he to death did do
An ox was, strong and savage, that with his hand he fell’d;
And then he, on a sudden, a lion grim beheld.
936.
E’en as the hound aroused it he with his bow let fly,
On which a sharpen’d arrow he’d fitted hastily.
After the shot the lion but three bounds further ran;
Whereon his hunting comrades to thank Siegfried began.
937.
There after he an elk slew, and then a buffalo,
And then four sturdy bisons, a savage stag also.
His steed so swiftly bore him that naught could get away:
Of harts and hinds scarce any there were he fail’d to slay.
938.
A huge wild boar the sleuth-hound had routed from his lair,
And when to flee he turn’d him right in his path was there
The hero of the hunting, all ready for the fight;
The savage brute did straightway charge at the valiant knight.
939.
This boar Kriemhilda’s husband then with his broadsword slew:
The like no other huntsman so easily could do.
And when he thus had felled him, they put in leash the hound:
His goodly spoils were talk’d of all Burgundy around.
940.
Then spake to him his huntsmen: “If ’tis for us to say,
Leave us, we pray, Lord Siegfried, a few live beasts to slay!
To-day thou hast made empty for us both wood and wold.”
Thereat he fell to smiling that worthy thane and bold.
