Sore hacked was his shield, but a better they gave him in its stead.
Soon stood the knight full-armoured in stronger warrior-gear:
He grasped in his battle-fury a stubborn-shafted spear,
And he set his face unto Hagen to defy him to fight once more;
Then leapt to meet him the hatred of that murder-wolf of war.
For Hagen the thane would wait not for the coming of Iring’s feet,
But hurling javelins before him he sprang his foe to meet
Down all the length of the stairway: his fury was passing great.
Ah, little did Iring’s prowess avail in the hour of fate!
As the swords hewed through the bucklers, it was as a fierce wind blew