In their strong grip over the shield-rims they couched their lances low—
Ha, but the proud king knew not that he rode to his shame and his woe!
The war-steeds hearkened the spur-sting, and swift as arrows they leapt,
And the kings clashed like unto breakers by a tempest-blast on-swept;
And knightly they wheeled to the onset their reeling steeds with the rein,
And with swords they essayed the decision of strife, that terrible twain.
At each stroke of the hero Siegfried far round the whole plain rung,
And the helmet was flashing and flaming as with fire from a torch outflung;
Even so were the red sparks leaping ’neath the sword in the hero’s hand.
Lions both were the Dane-king and the Lord of the Nether Land,