Were it known to the men of Alzabie, well might they have feared to meet him later.
[699]
Before they yet could help him, to Herwic and his men
The strife had now gone badly, his luck began to wane:
To him and all his followers was evil sore betiding;
Altho’ they struggled bravely, his foes too near his castle gate were riding.
[700]
Great mishaps to Herwic from Siegfried’s kin arose;
For now the gates of the castle were shattered by their blows.
False friends had made it easy, and boasts too loudly spoken: