2292.
Now all this while did Wolfhart stride up and down again,
And with his sword unresting he hew’d at Gunther’s men.
A third time he the journey had made along the hall,
And many were the warriors doom’d by his hand to fall.
2293.
Then Giselher the lordly to Wolfhart loudly spake:
“Woe! that so fierce a foeman ’twas e’er my luck to make!
O noble knight and gallant, now turn thyself to me,
I’ll do my best to end it: it may no longer be.”
2294.
To Giselher, in fighting, then Wolfhart turn’d him round,
And each upon the other made many a gaping wound:
With such a mighty onset against the king he dash’d,
The blood beneath his footsteps above his head was splash’d.
2295.
With swift and deadly sword-strokes the son of Uté fair
Gave greeting unto Wolfhart, the gallant hero, there.
How strong the thane soever, he was not to be saved:
So young a king could never more boldly have behaved.
2296.
He struck a blow at Wolfhart, cleaving the hauberk good,
And over him and downwards, gush’d from the wound the blood:
Unto the death he wounded that man of Dietrich’s own;
None but a very warrior to do the like had known.
2297.
As soon as gallant Wolfhart was of the wound aware,
He let his shield slip downwards; but higher in the air
A weapon strong he wielded: it was a keen one too;
Wherewith through helm and hauberk the hero Giselher slew.
