But face to face with Siegfried at last strong Lüdiger came,
And saw in his hand upleaping the great sword’s battle-flame,
Saw the edges of Balmung cleaving through his knights a death-strewn path.
Then the heart of the dauntless Saxon was swept by a storm of wrath.
Then hurled were the surges of battle together with clash of swords,
As the war-bands closed in the grapple of fight around their lords,
And the two kings sought each other with uttermost desire.
Reeled squadrons sundered before them till they met, for their hate was as fire.
To the Lord of the land of the Saxons long since the tidings came
How his brother was taken captive, and for this was his wrath aflame;