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| − | ===Walther decides to spend the night in the mountains. He rematches the severed heads with the bodies of his victims, prays for their souls, then sleeps (1130–1187)===
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| − | |And Phoebus meanwhile was inclining toward the west
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| − | |While shedding his last rays on famous Thule, and
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| − | |He left behind his back the Spaniards with the Irish.
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| − | |Then, after he had slowly warmed the ocean waves
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| − | |And Hesperus turned its horns toward the Ausonian lands,
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| − | |The clever warrior began to ponder whether
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| − | |He should remain in his safe fortress in the dense
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| − | |Recess, or risk the open stretch of wilderness.
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| − | |Great waves of care surged over him as he with keen
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| − | |Intelligence intently sought a course of action.
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| − | |For only Hagen was a threat to Walter—and
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| − | |That kiss the king gave him along with an embrace.
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| − | |He was in doubt what plan his foe had in his mind:
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| − | |Did they intend to go back to the town they’d left
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| − | |And, mustering more soldiers overnight, prepare
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| − | |To recommence the evil combat in the morning?
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| − | |Or did they lurk nearby, alone, and plan an ambush?
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| − | |He feared the forest, with its unknown winding trails,
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| − | |Perhaps would lead him into places filled with thorns
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| − | |Or even beasts, and he might lose his bride to them.
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| − | |When he had weighed and contemplated this, he said:
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| − | |“Whatever way things may turn out, I will rest here
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| − | |Until the circling sphere returns its cherished light.
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| − | |That haughty king will not proclaim that I have left
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| − | |His borders fleeing like some robber in the dark.”
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| − | |He spoke, then barricaded up the narrow path
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| − | |By placing hawthorn and cut brambles all around.
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| − | |When this was done, he turned back to the trunks and with
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| − | |A bitter sigh attached the proper head to each.
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| − | |Then bowing down, his body facing toward the east,
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| − | |And clenching his bared sword he makes this prayer aloud:
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| − | |“To the Creator who rules all created things,
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| − | |Without whose nod or bidding nothing has existence,
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| − | |I give thanks for defending me from unjust weapons
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| − | |Hurled by the hostile troop and also from dishonor.
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| − | |With a repentant mind I pray my kindly Lord
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| − | |That He who would destroy not sinners but their sins
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| − | |May grant that I might see these men in Paradise.”
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| − | |When he had finished praying, he stood up at once;
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| − | |He gathered six steeds which he bound with twisted withes.
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| − | |These were the only horses left: two had been killed
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| − | |By weapons, and King Gunther led three more away.
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| − | |With these things thus attended to, he loosed his belt
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| − | |And freed his steaming body of the massive weight.
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| − | |While he consoled his sad betrothed with pleasant talk,
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| − | |And took some food, he soon refreshed his aching limbs.
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| − | |Reclining on his shield, for he was very tired,
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| − | |He told the girl to stand guard at the first night-watch,
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| − | |For he was planning to assume the morning watch,
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| − | |Which was more dangerous; and then at last he rested.
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| − | |She sat, as was her custom, by his head, and watched,
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| − | |And by her singing kept her drowsy eyes alert.
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| − | |But when the man, awaking, cut the first sleep short,
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| − | |He rose up right away and told the girl to sleep.
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| − | |Once he had grasped his spear, he leaned on it unwearied,
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| − | |And thus spent the remaining night. Now checking on
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| − | |The steeds, now going to the barricade, he listened,
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| − | |Awaiting the orb and light to be returned to earth.
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