Yet to wound the vassal of Gunther his strength might not prevail;
And again did Hagen smite him, and he shore through his strong-knit mail.
Now when that grey-haired champion the bite of the sword-edge felt,
He feared lest scathe yet greater by Hagen’s hand should be dealt.
Straightway the liegeman of Dietrich his shield on his back hath cast,
And the hero sorely wounded from Hagen’s face fled fast.
By this of the knights Burgundian was no man left unslain
Save only Gunther and Hagen, those noble warriors twain.
All blood-bedabbled hasted Hildebrand the old,
And he came to the presence of Dietrich, and his woeful story told.