I trow thou hast been sore wounded, and full evilly hast sped.
If the villain be here in presence who did this deed contrive,
Except the Foul Fiend help him, he goeth not hence alive!”
“Nay, before you I stand unwounded; my raiment is wet with blood;
But it gushed from the deadly gashes of other war-thanes good
Whereof this day so many beneath my sword-edge fell—
If I must make oath of their number, good sooth, I could not tell.”
“Brother Dankwart,” he cried, “our warder of yon door do thou be,
And let no man of the Hunfolk win forth of the hall by thee.
Now with these knights will I reason, as our wrong constraineth us.