With a massy mace of iron, that the thane was hard-bestead.
Well-nigh began the hero the very death to dread
At the smiting of that huge porter, as the lightning vehement.
Yet was his liege-lord Siegfried with his faithfulness well content.
So furious was their battling, the keep rang echoing round,
And afar in the hall of King Niblung was heard the tempest-sound:
Yet at last he o’ermastered the warder, and bound him foot and hand.
—Ere long men laughed at the story through all the Niblung land.
As the thunder of that conflict through the mountain’s heart far rolled,
It was heard of the Dwarf, the dauntless Albrich, the tameless-souled.