Where sparks of fire, all-glowing, were struck by foemen wild
Forth from hardened helmets, in sight of many a maiden!
To have sailed with these roving fighters did now at last the lovely Hilda sadden.
[500]
By turns they smote each other with heavy spears and long:
Altho’ themselves they guarded beneath their bucklers strong,
Yet wounded thro’ their hauberks, they were gashed and bloody;
And soon with flowing life-blood the waters’ depths were deeply stained and ruddy.
[501]
Then to his trusty liegemen Hagen called aloud: