Devil hath sent him hither into Saxony." He bade lower the standard, and
sued for peace. They granted this, yet he was compelled by Siegfried to
go captive into Gunther's land.

With one accord they ceased from the strife. They threw down their
shivered helmets and shields. Blood-red were they all by the hands of
the Burgundians. They took captive whom they listed, for they had the
power.

Gernot and Hagen gave order to convey the wounded on litters. They led
five hundred noble knights as prisoners to the Rhine.

The vanquished warriors rode back to Denmark. Nor had the Saxons fought
so as to win them honour, and they were downcast. The dead were mourned
by their friends.

They sent the weapons to the Rhine on sumpters. So wondrously had
Siegfried done, that all Gunther's men praised him.

Sir Gernot sent word to Worms, and throughout the whole land, to their
friends, how it had sped with them; for as bold knights and honourable
they had fought. The pages hasted and told it, and the glad news
rejoiced the loving ones that had sorrowed. The noble women ceased not
from questioning how it had fared with the great king's men.

Kriemhild bade a messenger to her in secret; publicly she durst not, for
to one of them she bare dear heart's love.

When the messenger was come to her chamber, Kriemhild, the beautiful
maiden, spake him fair. "Now tell me glad tidings; thou shalt have gold