"They had there of their followers / twelve warriors keen,
And strong they were as giants: / what booted giants e'en?
Them slew straightway in anger / Siegfried's mighty hand,
And warriors seven hundred / he felled in Nibelungenland
"With the sword full trusty, / Balmung that hight.
Full many a youthful warrior / from terror at the sight
Of that deadly weapon / swung by his mighty hand
Did render up his castle / and pledge him fealty in the land.
"Thereto the kings so mighty, / them slew he both as well.
But into gravest danger / through Alberich he fell,
Who thought for his slain masters / vengeance to wreak straightway,
Until the mighty Siegfried / his wrath with strong arm did stay.
"Nor could prevail against him / the Dwarf, howe'er he tried.
E'en as two wild lions / they coursed the mountainside,
Where he the sightless mantle[[1]] / from Alberich soon won.
Then Siegfried, knight undaunted, / held the treasure for his own.
[[1]] This is the tarnkappe, a cloak that made the wearer invisible, and also gave him the strength of twelve men.
"Who then dared join the struggle, / all slain around they lay.
Then he bade the treasure / to draw and bear away
Thither whence 'twas taken / by the Nibelungen men.
Alberich for his valor / was then appointed Chamberlain.