Straight dashed into the mellay / Hagen and his men.
With three score of his warriors / spurred he quickly then
Forward where the Fiddler / played so lustily.
Etzel and Kriemhild / full plainly might the passage see.
Then would the kings their minstrel / —that may ye fairly know—
Leave not all defenceless / there amid the foe.
With them a thousand heroes / rode forth full dexterously,
And soon had gained their purpose / with show of proudest chivalry.
When in such rude fashion / the stately Hun was slain,
Might ye hear his kinsmen / weeping loud complain.
Then all around did clamor: / "Who hath the slayer been?"
"None but the Fiddler was it, / Volker the minstrel keen."
For swords and for shields then / called full speedily
That slain margrave's kinsmen / of the Hun's country.
To avenge him sought they / Volker in turn to slay.
In haste down from the casement / royal Etzel made his way.
Arose a mighty clamor / from the people all;
The kings and men of Burgundy / dismounted 'fore the hall,
And likewise their chargers / to the rear did send.
Came then the mighty Etzel / and sought to bring the strife to end.