What wrong had the poor priest done thee, that thou shouldst be his foe?”
Hard strained the priest in swimming: he had gotten aboard again,
If but any man had helped him; but his striving was all in vain,
By reason that Hagen the stalwart—savage was he of mood—
Back thrust him under the water: was none that deemed it good.
So when that hapless chaplain no human aid could see,
Back turned he, and swam shoreward: in bitter strait was he.
With failing strength was he sinking; but upborne by God’s own hand
Were his limbs, that at last in safety he won back unto the land.
There stood the priest all-hapless, and his streaming vesture wrung;