513

But, when Gunther had sighted his tracks in the dust,¹ he urged on his swift steed with sharp spurs² and, exulting in his spirit,³ vainly spoke thus into the air: "Quick now, men! Soon you will catch him in his course. Never will he escape us today! He will leave behind the stolen treasure."⁴ But famous Hagen soon responded this in turn: "One thing only I tell you, bravest of kings: If you had seen Walter fighting and raging in fresh slaughter as often as I, you would never think he would be so easy to despoil. I have seen the Pannonian ranks, when they stirred war against the northern and southern regions. There Walter, flashing in his own courage, went out to battle—hated by his enemies and admired by his allies. Whoever met him, soon saw Tartarus. O king and companions, trust me since I know how well he wields a shield⁵ and with what force he can whirl a spear." But, while Gunther, burdened by a crazed mind,⁶ refused to be dissuaded, they were approaching the camp.

532

Hildegund, looking far away from the top of the mountain, knew they were coming by the cloud of dust and with a soothing touch warned Walter to wake up. He lifted his head and asked if anyone was coming. She replied that a force was flying toward them from afar. He wiped his eyes clearing them of the blur of sleep, and bit by bit he clothed his stiff limbs in iron and picked back up his heavy shield and spear. He leapt up and whipped through the empty air with his blade—playing swiftly with his weapons in preparation for bitter battle.

542

Look! The woman saw the flashing spears close at hand; and, quite awestricken, she said: "These are the Huns," and, sadly falling to the ground, she continued: "I beg, my lord, that my neck be cut by your sword so that I, who did not get to join myself to you in the arranged marriage bed, shall not suffer the intercourse of the flesh with any other." Then the youth said: "Shall your innocent blood stain me? How can my sword strike down my enemies, if it does not now spare so faithful a friend? Away with this request of yours! Toss fear out of your mind! The one,⁷ who has often led me out of various dangers, He can confound our enemies." These things he said and, lifting his eyes, told her: "These are not the Avars, but the Frankish fops who dwell here!" Behold! He saw the helm of Hagen; and, recognizing it, he smiled and spoke: "And this is my ally Hagen, my old comrade."

559

After saying this, the hero went toward the entrance to the place⁸ and spoke thus to the woman standing down inside: "Now before this entryway I speak a haughty boast⁹ —not one of the Franks who returns from here will presume to tell his wife that he has taken any of our great treasure without paying for it!" He had not yet finished speaking, when suddenly he collapsed to the earth and begged forgiveness, since he had said such things.¹⁰ Afterwards he got up, looking at them all more warily. "Of these men, whom I see, I fear none except Hagen, for he has long known my methods of battle; and he too is clever and talented at the art of war. If only, God willing, I can deal with his skillful tactics, then I shall escape the battle alive for you, Hildegund, my bride."

572

When Hagen saw Walter situated in such a place, he then advised the haughty king: "My lord, do not provoke this man to fight! First let someone go and ask him everything: his family, his homeland, his name, and whence he's come; and let him ask him too if perhaps he would choose to turn over the treasure and receive peace with no bloodshed. By his answer we can discover the mann ¹¹ and, if Walter is staying there—he is wise—perhaps, he will concede to your honor."

581

The king ordered a man named Camalo to go—a man whom famous Frankland had sent to the city Metz as prefect. This man had arrived at court bringing gifts on the day before the prince had received this report.¹² Camalo slackened his reins and flew off, racing like the East Wind¹³ across the length of the field, and, approaching the youth, addressed him thus where he stood blocking the way: "Tell me, fellow. Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you heading?"

589

The great-spirited hero answered speaking thus: "Do you come on your own, or did someone send you here? I would like to know." Camalo then answered with a haughty voice: "Know then that king Gunther who rules this land sent me to ask your circumstances."

594

When he had heard this, the young man answered thus: "I have no idea why you need to examine the circumstances of a passer-by, but I am not afraid of telling. I am called Walter, born of Aquitanian parents. As a hostage I was given by my father to the Huns, when I was a little boy. I lived with them and now have returned, eager to see my country again and my dear people." The king's agent replied to this: "The hero¹⁴ whom I just named bids you through me to hand over the horse, the treasure coffers, and the girl too. If you do this promptly, he will grant you your life and limbs."

604

Walter in return boldly declared this: "I think that I have never heard a clever man speak more stupidly. Look, do you recall what your prince—or whoever he is—promises? It is something that is not in his hands and perhaps never will be. Or is he God that he can rightfully grant me my life? Surely he has not got this in his hands? He has not thrust me into a prison cell or twisted my hands behind my back and bound them in chains, has he? Well then, listen! If he lets me go without a fight—for I see he has come in armor ready for battle—I shall send him a hundred bracelets of red gold to honor the king's name." Receiving this response, Camalo left and told the princes what he had spoken, and the answers he had heard.

617

Then Hagen said to the king: "Take the treasure he's offered. You can decorate your companions with it, Father. Just be sure to keep your hand from combat. Walter and his mighty courage are yet unknown to you. As a vision last night showed me, if we join battle, it will not all turn out favorable for us, for it seemed to me that you were wrestling a bear, who after a long struggle bit off one of your legs up to the knee, all of it below your thigh. Then, as I came to your aid with weapons in hand, he attacked me and cut out one of my eyes as well as some of my teeth."¹⁵

628

Hearing this, that haughty king shouted: "You seem to me to be imitating your father Hagathie. He too held an over-fearful mind in his frigid breast¹⁶ and avoided battles through much talk."¹⁷

632

Then the great-spirited hero grew justly angry, if it is ever permitted to be angry with a lord, and said: "Look! Let everything rest upon your skill at arms. The man you want is within sight. Let every man fight! You stand close now, nor does fear still hinder any of you. Let me simply watch the outcome and not take part in the spoils." He finished speaking, then rode to a nearby hill, dismounted from his horse, took a seat and watched from there.

640

Then, Gunther spoke and ordered Camalo: "Go and order him to give me back all the treasure. But if he should hesitate, since I know you're a brave and daring man, engage with him and, when you've conquered him in combat, take the spoils."¹⁸

644

Camalo, metropolitan¹⁹ of Metz, made his way, his helmet glittering over his blond hair and his hauberk about his chest. And from far off he said: "Hello, listen, friend, hand over all the treasure to the king of the Franks, if you want to keep your life and health any longer!"

649

The bravest of heroes kept quiet awhile, waiting for the savage enemy to come nearer. The king's agent rushed onward and called out the same message again.²⁰ Then the young man, undisturbed, produced this reply: "What are you seeking? What do you compel me to return? Surely you do not think I was stealing²¹ these things from King Gunther? Or do you think he ever gave me anything on loan so that he might now rightfully force me to pay so much interest? Surely I did no damage to your country in my journey such that you would, therefore, think that you would rightly despoil me? If this nation shows so much jealousy toward everyone that it does not even grant a wayfarer the right to trod the ground, then, look, I shall pay for my passage, give the king two-hundred bracelets. Only let him give up battle and grant peace."

664

After Camalo had received this response in his beastly heart, he said: "You will open the coffers and increase your gift. And now I want to put an end to all this talk. Either you will give up what is requested or you will pour out your life-blood." So he spoke and drew his triple-layered shield up on his arm; and, brandishing his flashing spear, he strove to throw it with all his strength, but the youth carefully dodged the blow. The spear flew through air and bit the earth—a pointless wound.

672

Then Walter said: "If this is your wish, let us do it!" With these words he cast his spear at once. It traveled through the left side of Camalo's shield. And look! His hand, just as he had begun to draw his blade, was pinned to his leg by the spear which drove on through the horse. There was no delay. As the horse sensed the blow, he began to rage and shake his back trying to dislodge his rider and perhaps would have if the piercing shaft did not hold him on.

680

Meanwhile Camalo cast aside his shield and taking the spear in his left hand tried to draw it out of his right. As soon as the most celebrated hero noticed this, he ran up, grabbed Camalo's foot, and drove his sword in up to the hilt. As he drew this out, he also removed the spear from the wound.

685

Then at the same time fell both the horse and his lord. When Camalo's nephew—his brother's son named Kimo, whom some say was also called Scaramund—saw this, he groaned and sadly addressed all the party in tears: "Alas, this event means more to me than to the rest of you. Now I shall either die or avenge my dear friend!" Indeed, the cramped space forced them to meet one on one, nor could anyone run to the aid of