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.But Hagen was not done with this knight pledged to an enemy king.2064 He picked up someone s spear, lying near his feet,and hurled it hard, straight at the Danish warrior s face.The point pierced him through, sticking out at the baseof his skull.Hagen had dealt him a savage end, his revenge complete.2065 Irinc was driven back to the Danish lines, wherehis men swiftly removed his helmet, but only afterbreaking off the protruding spear.Death would be theresoon.His family wept and wailed for the loss of their lord and master.2066 The queen came and stood above the dying man,mourning for powerful Irinc.She wept and wrung her hands,her tears were wet for his wounds, her sorrow deep and intense.Looking up at his queen, Irinc spoke twice, then never again:2067 Let your mourning be over, noble lady.What goodis weeping, now? Because of this wound, my life toois over, my time is done.Death has decided I won tserve any longer, neither Etzel, our noble king, or you. 286 HOW IRINC WAS KILLED2068 And then he spoke to the men from Denmark and from Thuringia: The gifts the queen gives you, the gleaming red gold she putsin your hands, you ve eagerly embraced.But Hagen s too muchfor any man here, and facing him in battle you ll take your last breath. 2069 His face went very pale and the mark of death fellon brave Irinc.Danish sorrow was universal.But Hawart s man lay still, without a sign of life,and all the other Danes could do was take up weapons and fight.2070 Irnfrit and Hawart, leading a thousand men, went chargingtoward the hall, shouting and screaming, raising an unholydin, completely eclipsing all other sounds.And Othe heavy shower of spears that fell on the helmets of Rhineland warriors!2071 Then bold Irnfrit ran at Volker the fiddler, but whathe won for his eager efforts was horrible pain.The noblemusician s sword smashed right through Infrit s metalhelmet, doing the damage meant by the noble fiddler s blow.2072 Then Irnfrit struck him back so savagely that he openedthe knitted chain-mail armor across the musician s breast.Red sparks went shooting high in the air.But that was the bestIrnfrit could do, and despite the fireworks he was slashed to death.2073 Then Hawart and Hagen clashed in the fiercest battle.Such stunningswordplay would truly be a marvelous sight to behold!Both the mighty warriors fought with passion and cunningskill.But Hawart finally fell in front of Hagen the bold.2074 Knights from Thuringia and Denmark, seeing their lordsstruck down, launched a grim struggle to gain controlof the hall, fighting bravely until they had reached the door.Shields and helmets were being cracked and broken by powerful strokes.2075 Stand back, Volker advised, let them go right in.What do they think they re doing? What do they think they ll win?287 DAS NIBELUNGENLIEDOnce we ve got them in there, it won t take long to kill them.They ll earn the queen s golden gifts by paying us their lives. 2076 The overconfident Danes went rushing into the hall,and then, surrounded and held in place by four stout walls,the Burgundy men cut them down, and all of them fell.Bold Gernot was fighting hard.Giselher did more than his share.2077 A thousand and four Danes had entered the hall.Swordsflickered and slashed, and man by man they disappeared.A thousand and four died, all the Danish warriors.Burgundy s knights had worked wonders to tell the world for years.2078 A deep silence followed, as the sounds of battle fadedaway.So much blood flowed from the corpses that the drainsran red, and gutters were full as if there d been a rain.These were the noble deeds of the Huns Rhineland visitors.2079 For now, Burgundy s men set themselves down, and rested.Shields and weapons dropped quietly out of their hands.But still, in front of the hall, they saw Volker standing,waiting to see if others meant to start the fighting again.2080 Etzel mourned these battles, and so did Krimhild, his queen.Girls and women tore at their flesh, in anguish and pain.I believe they felt that Death had taken a vow against them.And still, the Huns bold guests were not finished killing their men.Adventure 36How the Queen Burned Down the Hall2081 Take your helmets off, Hagen said to the Rhinelandmen. Volker and I will watch and stay on guard.288 HOW THE QUEEN BURNED DOWN THE HALLIf we catch sight of approaching Hunnish men, our lordswill be warned just as quickly as Volker and I together can. 2082 Then most of these excellent knights put down their helmets and saton the only seats they had, the dead bodies of Hunstheir hands had just been cutting and beating to death.No wonderthe hospitality of Etzel s land seemed to be lacking!2083 Etzel and his queen were busy, almost till that night,making arrangements for more Hunnish warriors to fighttheir ferocious guests.By then they d gathered twenty thousandknights, armed and ready.Now they could cleanse the blight on their land.2084 Waves of warriors attacked the Rhineland guests.Dancwart,Hagen s brother, ran outside to protect the doorand keep his comrades safe.Everyone thought that beforetoo long he would be dead, but he got to his post, safe and sound.2085 The hard fighting lasted until darkness fell.The guests were incredible warriors, battling as long as summerlight lasted with the many thousands of Etzel s men.And O the piles of corpses grew in front of them again!2086 All this bitter slaughter took place on just the lengthof a single summer day, when Lady Krimhild avengedher sorrow on her own family and many othermen.And Etzel s peace and happiness were gone forever.2087 The day was over, but pain for the men in the hall just grew.It seemed to them that a swift death was better thanthe long torment of such a hopeless struggle.A truce,if one could be had, appeared to these brave fighters the best they could do.2088 Covered with blood, the three noble kings emergedfrom the hall, still wearing their heavily stained armor, and urgedthe Huns to bring Etzel there for a final seriousdiscussion.Who else could they hope to turn to, standing, weary, on the verge289 DAS NIBELUNGENLIED2089 of death? Etzel came, but Lady Krimhild came too.(The Huns were fighting at home; their army steadily grew.)Etzel spoke to his guests: Tell me, what do you want?Do you think peace can be bought? Perhaps you do, but I tell you it can t.2090 After the injuries I ve suffered at your hands(for which you ll never be forgiven, as long as I live),the slaughter of my son and many more of my family,reconciliation and peace are impossible favors to give. 2091 Gunter replied: Your people pressed us terribly hard.Almost ten thousand squires were killed, here in this hall,by knights in your service.What had I done to deserve this? I callheaven to witness I came in good faith, because you said you wanted2092 our visit. Then Giselher the young spoke for the Burgundymen: King Etzel s brave knights, those who are still alive,what have I done to you? What do you have against me?I came here as a friend, making this long and difficult ride. 2093 They answered: We see your kindness everywhere in this castle,misery all over our land.It would have been better for usif none of you had come from Wurms in Burgundy land.You ve brought us desolation, wrought by you and your brothers hands
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