Waldere

		...eagerly she (sc. Hildegund) encouraged him:

		Weland's handiwork in very truth will fail

		no man who can wield the sharp Mimming:

		many a time has warrior after warrior fallen in the fray,

5		pierced by the sword and weltering in his blood.

		And in this hour, champion of Attila, let not thy prowess

		yield, thy kingly courage fail.

		Now is the day come

		when thou, son of Aelfhere, must

10		lose thy life, or else win

		lasting glory among men.

		Never will I taunt thee with reproachful words, o lover mine,

		that in the clash of swords I have seen thee

		yield in craven fashion on the onset of any man,

15		nor flee to the wall

		to save thy life, though many a foeman

		smote thy corselet with his sword;

		but ever didst thou strive to press home 

		thy martial suit: therefore I trembled for thy fate,

20		for that too fiercely thou didst attack

		thy warlike adversary on the field of battle.

		Win honour for thyself

		by noble deeds and till then may God protect thee!

		Have no care for that sword: a peerless treasure is

25		vouchsafed to thee to help us in our time of trouble; wherewith thou shalt

		humble Guthhere's pride, in that he

		unjustly began the strife against thee.

		He refused the sword and the casket of treasure

		with its many rings: now ringless he shall

30		leave this combat and return to the land

		of which he has long been lord, or perish here 

		if he...


		...a better (sword)

		save that one which I too have

		laid at rest in its jewelled sheath.

		I know that Theodric was minded to send it to Widia

5		himself and much costly treasure

		with that blade and much beside it

		deck with gold: Nithhad's kinsman

		Widia, the son of Weland, received the reward

		that had long been due for rescuing him from captivity:

10		through the giant's domain Theodric hastened forth.

			Then spake Waldere, the daring warrior,--

		in his hand he grasped his trenchant blade,

		a comfort in the fray,--with defiant words:

				Ha, friend of the Burgundians, didst thou deem in very truth

15		that Hagen's hand had done battle with me

		and brought my days of combat to a close? Fetch, if thou darest,

		the grey corselet from me am exhausted by the fray!

		Here it lies on my shoulders, even the heirloom of Aelfhere,

		good and broad-bossed and decked with gold,

20		in every wise a glorious garment for a prince

		to wear, whose hand protects

		the treasure of his life against his foes. Never will it play me false, 

		when faithless kinsmen return to the attack

		and beset me with their swords as ye have done.

25		Yet victory can be given by Him who is always

		prompt and regardful of everything that is good.

		For whosoever trusts in the Holy One for help,

		in God for succour, finds it ready to his hand,

		if first he be determined to deserve it.

30		Thus can the great distribute their wealth

		and rule their possessions: that is...