GUDRUN
A Mediaeval Epic

[1]

In olden days in Ireland  a king to greatness came

Who bore the name of Sigeband;  Ger was his father’s name.

Queen U-te was his mother;  she of a king was daughter;

High was her worth and goodness,  and well her love beseemed the lord who sought her.

[2]

The sway of Ger was mighty,  as unto all is known;

He many lands and castles  and lordships seven did own:

Four thousand knights or over  he thence was often leading,

And wealth, and name yet greater,  he daily won, with those who did his bidding.

[3]

Now the youthful Sigeband  to his father’s court must go,

That he might there be learning  all he had need to know,—

To bear the spear in riding,  to thrust it, and to shield him,

That when he met the foeman,  the better fame thereby the fight would yield him.

[4]

That age he now was reaching  when he the sword might bear;

Of all that a knight befitteth  he learned a goodly share.

This from kin and vassals  praise unmeasured brought him;

For this he still was striving,  and of the toil it cost he ne’er bethought him.

[5]

A few short days thereafter  death came among them all,

As even to men the greatest  sadly doth befall.

In every land and kingdom  the truth of this we’re meeting,

And we, with heavy sorrow,  such news ourselves must every day be waiting.

[6]

Sigeband’s mother, U-te,  the widow’s seat must take;

Her son, so high and worthy,  left all things for her sake.

No whit he cared for wedlock,  and had no heart for wooing;

Many a queenly lady  at this was sad, young Sigeband’s sorrow ruing.

[7]

A worthy wife to find him  his mother him besought;

So might he and his kingdom  to greater name be brought;

And he with all his kindred,  after their bitter sorrow

For the death of the king, his father,  might for themselves no little gladness borrow.

[8]

The teaching of his mother  he heard in kindly mood,

And began at once to follow,  as that of a friend one should.

The best of high-born maidens,  ’mong those in Norway dwelling,

He bade his men to sue for:  to help in this he found his kinsmen willing.

[9]

She soon to him was wedded,  as hath of old been said.

With her, among her followers,  came many a lovely maid,

And, from over Scotland’s border,  seven hundred warriors fully;

They came with her right gladly,  when the worth of the king was known to them more truly.

[10]

Proudly their way they wended,  as beseemed the maiden’s birth;

With all the care they led her  befitting his kingly worth;

Hidden were the roadways  by gazers without number,

Who hasted to behold her;  for three miles and a half the throngs the ways did cumber.

[11]

Where’er along the roadside  the path with green was spread,

Flowers and grass were trampled,  by crowds, with heavy tread.

It fell upon that season  when the leaves are springing,

And in every copse and thicket  all the birds their best of songs are singing.

[12]

Of simple folk and merry  there rode with her enough;

While many loaded horses  bore much costly stuff,

Brought there from her birthland  by followers of the maiden;

They came with her by thousands,  with gold as well as clothing heavy-laden.

[13]

On the shore of two wide marches,  the dwellers by the sea,

As they saw the west wind waft her,  gave her welcome free;

They found a seemly lodging  for the lovely, well-born lady,

And brought her all things needful,  by the youthful king, before, for her made ready.

[14]

The fair young maid they welcomed  with knightly tournament;

Not soon their games they ended,  when on the spear-fight bent.

To the land of Ger his father  they bore her to be wedded;

She there was loved and mighty,  and men to sound her name she never needed.

[15]

All, as they were able,  waited on the maid;

The gaudy cloth for her saddle  down to the grass was spread;

The horses’ hoofs were hidden  by the housing, heavy drooping.

Aha! In mood how gleeful  was Ireland’s lord, once more a blessing hoping!

[16]

When now the time was fitting  that he the maid should kiss,

All crowded thick about him,  in haste to see their bliss.

The bosses of their bucklers  were now heard loudly clashing,

Struck with blows together;  each strove to shun the throngs, in uproar crashing.

[17]

Now with the dawn of morning,  they sent out, far and wide,

To give to all the tidings  of the coming of the bride,

And that, with their master,  they erelong would crown her.

His queen she was thereafter,  and well she earned from him the honor shown her.

[18]

It was not deemed becoming  that he his love should plight,

Since she by birth was queenly,  and he not yet a knight:

He first, before his lieges,  must the crown be wearing;

To this his kinsmen helped him,  and later of his worth were all men hearing.

[19]

He, with knights five hundred,  then was dubbed with the sword;

Whatever they could wish for  was given them at his word,—

Both shields, and, for their wearing,  every kind of clothing.

The youthful king so dauntless,  thro’ life, of fame and honor wanted nothing.

[20]

For many a day thereafter  his sway did Ireland bless,

And never did his greatness  at any time grow less.

To all he freely listened;  the poor man’s wrongs he righted;

Widely known was his goodness;  no truer knight than he his word e’er plighted.

[21]

His boundless acres yielded  a full and ready gain;

His wife was known for wisdom,  and worthy to be his queen.

To hold her as their mistress  full thirty lords it booted;

As long as the sway she wielded,  her hand to each his lands and home allotted.

[22]

She bore unto her husband,  within the next three years,

A child to see most comely;  (such is the tale one hears.)

When later he was christened,  and they were told to name him,

They gave the name of Hagen;  and never since, the tale of his life doth shame him.

[23]

He had most careful breeding,  and kindly was he nursed;

Should he be like his fathers,  he would of knights be first.

Watched over by wise women,  and by maidens of early age,

His father and fond mother  found in his face their glad eyes’ pasturage.

[24]

When now the boy, well fostered,  to his seventh year was bred,

’Twas seen that he by warriors  by the hand was often led.

He was happy in men’s teaching,  but was with women wearied;

All this he knew no longer;  for, torn from them, he far away was carried.

[25]

Whene’er to him it happened  weapons at court to see,

He understood them readily,  and their wearer longed to be;

The helmet and ringed armor  would he have put on gladly:

Alas! not long he saw them,  and all his hopes of fighting ended sadly.

[26]

While the kingly Sigeband,  beneath a cedar-tree,

One day on the turf was seated,  the queen said earnestly:

“Although good name and riches  we share with one another,

At one thing yet I wonder,  and this from you I dare to hide no further.”

[27]

He asked of her: “What is it?”  Then said his helpmeet kind:

“It me doth sorely worry  in body and in mind,

And my heart, alas! is heavy;  to my wish you give no heeding,

To see you ’midst your vassals,  my beaming eyes with pride upon you feeding.”

[28]

The king to her thus answered:  “How should it ever be

That you have had such longing  me with my knights to see?

I will strive thy will to follow,  of this think not so sadly;

Ever to meet thy wishes,  both care and toil will I give myself most gladly.”

[29]

She said: “No man is living  who owns such wealth, I trow,

Who has so many castles  or lands so wide as thou,

With silver and gems so costly,  and gold so heavy weighing;

For this are our ways too lowly,  and nought there is in life to me worth saying.

[30]

“When erst I was a maiden,  and on Scotland’s soil drew breath,

(Chide not, my lord, thy helpmeet,  but list to what she saith,)

I there was daily seeing  the liegemen of my father

For highest prizes striving;  but here such games we never see together.

[31]

“A king so rich and mighty,  as you in name have been,

Before his followers often  should let himself be seen;

He oft should ride in tilting  with other champions knightly,

That both himself and his kingdom  should seem more fair, and hold their rank more fitly.

[32]

“It shows, in a lord so noble,  a most unworthy mind,

When he has heaped together  riches of every kind,

If he with his faithful warriors  to share them is unwilling:

When men in the storm of warfare  deep wounds have had, how else can they find healing?”

[33]

Then said to her King Sigeband:  “Lady, you mock at me;

In all these warlike pastimes  I will most earnest be;

And for the strife so worthy  my wish shall never waver:

No man shall find it easy  the ways of well-born kings to teach me ever.”

[34]

She said: “You now for warriors  must send throughout the land;

Stores of wealth and clothing  must be given with open hand.

I too will send out heralds  my kinsmen all to rally,

And to show them my good wishes;  we then shall find our life to pass more gaily.”

[35]

At this the king of Ireland  unto his wife thus said:

“I yield to you most willingly,  for men are often led

By the wishes of fair women  great feastings to make ready;

I therefore now will gather  my brave and hardy kinsmen, and those too of my lady.”

[36]

To him the queen then answered:  “Sorrow no more I wear;

Five hundred women’s garments  I will give, to each her share;

To four and sixty maidens  gay clothes to give I’m willing.”

Then the king did tell her  high times he soon would hold, his word fulfilling.

[37]

The sports were then bespoken:  he bade his men to send,

In eighteen days or sooner,  to liegeman and to friend,

To say to all in Ireland,  who would in his games be riding,

That, after summer was ended,  they should spend the winter, with him abiding.

[38]

He bade his men make benches,  so our tale doth run,

And for these, from out the wilderness,  timber must be drawn;

For sixty thousand warriors  seats must they make ready.

His henchmen and deft stewards,  to do this work for the king, were skilled and speedy.

[39]

Thither men then hastened  on many a winding way;

All were kindly cared for  throughout their lengthened stay.

Now from Ireland’s kingdom,  as the king had bidden,

Full six and eighty thousand  of warriors strong there to his court had ridden.

[40]

From the store-rooms of the castle  clothing now was borne,—

All the gear they wished for,  and all that could be worn.

Shields were also given,  and steeds of Irish breeding;

The proud and queenly lady  bedecked her guests with all they could be needing.

[41]

She gave to a thousand women  costly clothes enow,

And likewise to fair maidens  what one to youth should allow,—

Broidered bands and jewels,  and silk that glistened brightly;

The many lovely ladies,  together standing there, were fair and sightly.

[42]

To every one who wished it  were given clothes well-made.

Horses were there seen prancing,  by the hand of foot-boys led;

These light shields did carry,  and their spears were seizing.

U-te, the queenly mother,  was gladly seen, as she on the leads sat gazing.

[43]

The guests by the king were bidden  freely in tilts to meet;

The glitter of their helmets  grew dim in the dust and heat.

The ladies, held in honor,  near by were also seated,

Where they the deeds of the warriors  saw full well, and with words of wonder greeted.

[44]

As oft before has happened,  the show had lasted long;

The king was not unwilling  to be looked on by the throng.

This, meanwhile, to his lady  happiness was giving,

As she, amidst her women,  sat on the roof, and saw their earnest striving.

[45]

When now her lord had ridden,  as doth beseem a king,

He thought to end their onsets;  some rest to them to bring

He deemed not unbecoming;  to stop the games he bade them.

And then before the ladies,  after their skill thus shown, he proudly led them.

[46]

U-te, the high-born lady,  began her friends to greet,

With those from far-off kingdoms;  them as guests to meet

The queen was truly willing;  on them her glad eyes rested.

The gifts of Lady U-te  were not on scornful friends that evening wasted.

[47]

Knights and lovely ladies  together there were seen.

The good-will of the master  to all well-known had been;

In all their games and tilting,  his kindness was not hidden.

Once more the guests, that evening,  to ride in warlike strife by him were bidden.

[48]

Their games and sports had lasted  until nine days were gone;

They, as knights befitteth,  their skill to the king had shown.

By the many wandering players  the show was liked the better,

And they plied their work more briskly,  and hoped that their reward would be the greater.

[49]

Sackbuts loud and trumpets  there might all men hear;

Fluting too and harping  fell upon the ear.

Some on the rote were playing,  others in song were vying;

They, by their jigs and fifing,  soon would better clothes for themselves be buying.

[50]

On the tenth morn it happened,  (now hark to my sorry tale,)

That, after all their pastimes,  there rose a bitter wail.

About these days so merry  new tales were told on the morrow;

And tho’ they now were mirthful,  they came to know deep gloom and heavy sorrow.

[51]

When the guests were seated  beside their kingly host,

There came to them a player,  and proudly made his boast

That he, before all others,  (who should indeed believe him?)

Was far more skilled in playing,  and even the greatest lords their ear must give him.

[52]

Outside, a lovely maiden  was leading by the hand

The little son of Sigeband  who swayed the Irish land;

With him were likewise women  who to the boy gave heeding,

And friendly kinsmen also,  who carefully taught the child, and oversaw his breeding.

[53]

Within the great king’s palace  was heard a din and shout;

All were there heard laughing,  the roomy walls throughout.

The guardians of young Hagen  crowded up too nearly,

And thus lost sight of the maiden,  together with the child they loved so dearly.

[54]

The evil luck of their master  to him that day drew near,

And brought to him and U-te  sudden woe and fear.

Sent by the wicked devil,  from afar his herald hasted

To them in their happy kingdom;  they were by this with sorrow sorely wasted.

[55]

It was a strong, wild griffin  had quickly thither flown;

From the little boy of Sigeband,  who ever care had known,

Came ill luck to his father,  who soon of this was tasting.

His son, so well-belovéd,  to him was lost, with the mighty bird far hasting.

[56]

A shadow now came o’er them,  from wings that bore him fleet,

As if a cloud had risen;  great strength had the bird, I weet.

The guests, in pastime busy,  no thought to this had given,

And the maid, with the child she was leading,  was standing now alone, unheeded even.

[57]

Beneath the weight of the griffin  forest trees broke down;

And now the trusty maiden  looked where the bird had flown;

Then she herself sought shelter,  and left the child forsaken.

Hearing a tale so startling,  one truly might the whole for a wonder reckon.

[58]

The griffin soon alighted,  and in his claws he held

The little child, gripped tightly,  while with fear it quailed.

His ghastly mood and anger  the bird was harshly showing;

This must knights and kinsmen  long bewail, with sorrow ever growing.

[59]

The boy was sorely frightened,  and began aloud to shriek;

Higher the mighty griffin  flew, with outstretched beak;

To the clouds above them floating  he his prey was bearing.

Sigeband, lord of Ireland,  loudly wept, his outcries never sparing.

[60]

His friends and all his kinsmen  the sorry tale soon heard;

They, in the death of his offspring,  his bitter sorrow shared.

Downcast were he and his lady,  and all their loss felt nearly;

Sorely they wept together,  mourning the boy, now torn from them so early.

[61]

In this their mood so gloomy,  the happy, merry plays

Must now be sadly ended.  Before their frightened gaze,

The griffin so had robbed them  that all for home now started,

Sober, and filled with sadness.  They truly felt forlorn, and heavy-hearted.

[62]

The king was bitterly weeping,  his breast with tears was wet;

The high-born queen besought him  his sorrows to forget,

Thus wisely to him speaking:  “Should all in death be stricken,

There must be an end of all things;  it is the will of God their lives hath taken.”

[63]

Now all would hence be faring,  but the queen to them did say:

“I beg you, knights and warriors,  longer with us to stay;

Our gifts of gold and silver,  that here for you are ready,

You should not think of meanly;  our love for you is ever true and steady.”

[64]

The knights to her bowed lowly,  and then began they all

To say how they were thankful.  The king, thereon, did call

For silken stuffs, the richest,  for all who there yet tarried;

They had ne’er been cut nor opened;  and from far-off lands had erst to the king been carried.

[65]

He gave them also horses,  both palfreys and war-steeds;

The horses out of Ireland  were tall and of hardy breeds.

Red gold was likewise given,  and silver without weighing;

The king with care had bidden  outfit good for his guests, no longer staying.

[66]

Soon as the queen was willing,  each her leave now takes,

Both lovely maids and women;  each one herself bedecks

With gifts that made her fairer;  all new clothes are wearing.

The high times now are ended;  Sigeband’s land they leave, and are homeward faring.

[67]

Of how their stay was ended  I will speak no longer here;

Now I tell you further  of the rushing flight in the air,

That the child with the angry griffin  far away was bearing.

For this his friends and kinsmen  long in their hearts were heavy sorrow wearing.

[68]

Because the Lord so willed it  the child was not yet dead;

But, none the less, he later  a life of sadness led,

After the harsh old griffin  back to his nestlings bore him.

When on their prey they gloated,  hard toil enough the boy had now before him.

[69]

Soon as the bird that bore him  did on his nest alight,

He dropped the boy he carried,  and in his claws held tight;

One of the young ones caught him:  that he did not devour him

Thanks to God thereafter  were given, far and wide, for the watch kept o’er him.

[70]

Else the birds had slain him,  and with their claws had torn.

Now listen all with wonder,  and his bitter sorrow learn:

Hear how the king of Ireland  then from death was shielded;

Him a young bird now carried,  strongly clutched, and naught of his grip he yielded.

[71]

From tree to tree in the forest  he with the boy took flight;

The bird a little too boldly  trusted his strength and might.

Upon a branch he lighted,  but now to the ground must flutter,

For he was much too heavy;  in the nest to have longer staid had methinks been better.

[72]

The child, while the bird was falling,  broke from him away,

And hid among the bushes,  a little, lorn estray;

Well-nigh was he to starving,  ’twas long since food he tasted.

Yet on a day long after  the hopes of women in Ireland on him rested.

[73]

God doth many a wonder,  truly one may say.

By the craft of the mighty griffin,  it came to pass one day,

Three daughters fair of princes  had been taken thither,

And now near by were dwelling.  No man can tell how there they lived together,

[74]

And how, thro’ days so many,  their lives to them were spared,

Were it not that God in heaven  for them in kindness cared.

Hagen now no longer  need live without a fellow;

Those good and lovely maidens  soon found the little waif in a rocky hollow.

[75]

When, crawling to his hiding,  they the child did see,

It might, so thought the maidens,  a dwarfish goblin be,

Or perhaps it was a water-oaf,  from out the sea up-driven;

But when the boy came near them,  at once a welcome kind to him was given.

[76]

Hagen was ware of the maidens,  as into their cave they stole,

While with fear and sadness  their little hearts were full,

Before they yet had knowledge  that they a Christian greeted.

But the care they later showed him  lifted the pain from many hearts o’erweighted.

[77]

First spake the eldest maiden:  “How darest thou in our cave,

Where from the God of heaven  we home and shelter have?

Go, seek again thy playmates,  the billowy waters under;

Enough ourselves we sorrow,  and on our bitter lot in sadness ponder.”

[78]

The high-born child then answered:  “I pray you let me stay;

I truly am a Christian,  you must not say me nay.

One of the griffins seized me,  and to the cave did carry;

I cannot live all lonely,  and here with you would I most gladly tarry.”

[79]

Then to the child so friendless  they loving welcome gave;

But they of his worth thereafter  did better knowledge have.

They now could ask him only,  whence he had been stolen;

But, such was then his hunger,  in telling his tale, his heart was full and swollen.

[80]

Then spake the little foundling:  “Food I sorely need;

Give to me, in kindness,  a little drink and bread.

’Tis long since I have had it,  and now three days I’m fasting,

The while the griffin bore me,  and full a hundred miles was hither hasting.”

[81]

Then answered one of the maidens:  “Our lot it so hath been,

That we our wonted cup-bearers  never here have seen;

Neither our lordly steward,  who should food to us be giving.”

Still they praised God’s goodness;  altho’ their years were few, they were wisely living.

[82]

A search they soon were making  for roots and herbage wild,

Wherewith they hoped to strengthen  Sigeband’s darling child.

Such food as they had lived on  they gave to him most freely;

To him ’twas a meal unwonted,  but such as they long time had eaten daily.

[83]

Yet he needs must eat it,  for hunger sore he hath,

And hard it is to any  to meet with bitter death.

Thro’ all the days so dreary,  while with the maidens dwelling,

To them his help most willing  he ever gave, his thankfulness thus telling.

[84]

They, too, had him in keeping,  that can I say for truth;

He there grew up in sadness,  throughout his early youth;

Until, one day, the children,  to make them greatly sorrow,

Before their cavern-dwelling  saw wonders rise, that threatened more to-morrow.

[85]

I know not from what border,  tossing o’er sea to land,

Came to those shores so rocky  a holy pilgrim band.

The ground-swell it was heavy,  and rocked the bark full sorely;

Thereat the banished maidens  felt their care and sorrow growing hourly.

[86]

Soon the ship was shattered;  not one his life could save.

Quickly the stern old griffins  came down beside the wave;

Seizing many drowned ones,  back to their nest they hurried.

Many a woman was mourning,  soon as the sorry tale to her was carried.

[87]

When to the hungry nestlings  the food they took in haste,

Back again the griffins  came from their offspring’s nest;

From what far spot I know not,  along the sea-paths flying.

Their young they left on the hillside,  with a neighbor grim, while they were hither hieing.

[88]

One day the goods of the sailors  Hagen saw near the sea,

For many had been drowned there;  holy men were they.

He thought, among the wreckage,  food might still lie hidden;

But, through fear of the wicked griffins,  he softly crept to the shore, by hunger bidden.

[89]

No one could he find there,  but a body in armor alone;

Thereby the wild old griffin  hard work would give him soon.

Out from his armor he shook him,  nor did he spurn to wear it:

He found a bow and weapons,  by its side, on the sandy shore, lying near it.

[90]

With these himself he girded,  that simple little child;

When in the air above him  he heard a rushing wild.

He wished that he had loitered,  the sorry little master;

But quickly came the griffin;  to the sheltering cavern fain would he flee the faster.

[91]

The bird swung down in anger  to the sandy beach and foam;

The little playmate and fellow  of the young it left at home,

Would by the angry griffin  have at once been swallowed;

But now the bold young Hagen  the ways of a daring foeman bravely followed.

[92]

He with strength but youthful  the tightened string drew out,

And arrows swift and many  from the well-bent bow he shot.

Alas! he did not hit him;  what hope of his ill-luck turning?

Then he of the sword bethought him;  he heard the maids bewailing him and mourning.

[93]

Tho’ his years were not yet many,  he still was brave enough;

A wing from the angry griffin  he struck at the shoulder off,

And in the leg he smote him  a heavier blow and stronger;

So that his wounded body  the bird away from the spot could drag no longer.

[94]

The boy was now the winner;  one of his foes lay dead;

But quickly came another,  who sorrow for him made.

All at last were slaughtered;  nor old nor young were living;

God in heaven helped him;  but truly against such strength ’twere hopeless striving.

[95]

When he that feat of wonder  had done, with heart so brave,

He called the friendly maidens  from out their rocky cave.

He said: “Let air and sunshine  your sorry hearts be filling;

Since now the God in heaven  to grant to us some bliss at last is willing.”

[96]

His call they kindly welcomed,  and many times, forsooth,

The boy by the lovely maidens  was kissed upon the mouth.

Their keeper now lay lifeless;  and none there was to hinder

Their roaming o’er the hillsides,  and, far or near, at their good-will to wander.

[97]

By help of the boy, from sorrow  they now were wholly free;

The little childish wanderer,  so skilled with the bow was he,

That birds his well-shot arrows  could never shun by flying.

He shot them now for pastime;  but to get them soon for food must he be trying.

[98]

He in heart was daring,  he was mild, but also brave;

Hey! from the wild beasts learning,  what nimble leaps he gave!

As doth the strong young panther,  over the rocks he scrambled;

Himself was his only teacher,  and, far away from kin, alone he rambled.

[99]

While on the shore, by the waters,  his time he often spent,

He saw, among the sea-waves,  live fishes, as he went;

To catch them it were easy,  but yet he did not get them,

For with fire his kitchen smoked not.  Daily his sorrow grew that he could not eat them.

[100]

Oft from his rocky shelter  to the forest he would roam;

Many wild beasts saw he,  strong and grim in their home.

One there was among them  greedy to devour him;

But with his sword he slew him,  and let him quickly feel the hate he bore him.

[101]

Unto a wild chameleon  this dreadful thing was like;

Its skin the boy drew from it,  (for that was he not too weak;)

Now for its blood he thirsted,  and, when of this he had taken,

He felt great strength come o’er him;  and many thoughts began in him to waken.

[102]

Then with the skin of the monster  he wrapped himself around;

When soon to him it happened  hard by a lion he found.

To shun him it were hopeless,  for he quickly rushed upon him;

But the boy was yet unwounded;  his foe from the daring child warm welcome won him.

[103]

When he the lion had smitten  to death, with many blows,

He to the cave would take it,  as homeward thence he goes.

At all times had the maidens  been by his care upholden,

But now this food unwonted  did raise their waning strength, and their hearts embolden.

[104]

Of fire they yet knew nothing,  but wood they need not seek;

From out a stone he quickly  many sparks did strike.

The food they long had wanted  he soon was on them bestowing,

And, since there was none to do it,  themselves the flesh must cook on the coals now glowing.

[105]

When they of food had eaten,  at once they grew more strong;

Their boldness, too, grew greater,  (to God their thanks belong.)

And now their bodies also  as healthy were, and comely,

As if they still were living,  each in her father-land, on fare more homely.

[106]

The wild young Hagen also  the strength of twelve did own;

And for this, thro’ all his lifetime,  praise by him was won.

But both to him and the maidens  ’twas pain and sorrow only,

To think that they forever  must pass their lives in a waste so sad and lonely.

[107]

They begged of him to lead them  down to the watery flood.

Shame they felt in going,  for the clothes were none too good

The maidens now were wearing;  they themselves had sewed them,

Ere yet the youthful Hagen  them in their banishment found, and his kindness showed them.

[108]

For days full four and twenty  they fared thro’ the piny wood;

At last, on a morning early,  down they came to the flood,

And saw a laden galley,  that came from Garadé.

Then did the lonely maidens  sorrow and pain at the sailors’ plight betray.

[109]

Hagen shouted loudly;  he was hindered none the more,

Altho’ the winds were boisterous,  and wild the waves did roar.

Now the ship was groaning;  and the sailors, landward steering,

Felt dread of water-nixes,  on seeing the maids, as they the shore were nearing.

[110]

The ship it had a master,  a lord from out Salmé;

Hagen, as well as his kindred,  had he known on a former day.

They before were neighbors,  but Ireland’s child, here roaming,

The youthful son of Sigeband,  was to the pilgrims unknown, who now were coming.

[111]

The earl forbade his steersman  nearer to sail to the shore;

But now the childish outcast  but begged of them the more,

For love of God, to take them  away from that shore forsaken.

The sailors felt emboldened,  when by the boy the name of Christ was taken.

[112]

The earl, with eleven others,  into a boat now sprung;

Ere he the truth was learning,  the time to him seemed long.

Whether the maidens as goblins  or mermaids must be treated

He knew not; such beings never,  in all his life before, his eyes had greeted.

[113]

He first began to ask them,  before he reached the strand:

“Boy, have you been baptized?  What do you in this land?”

Dight with fresh green mosses  he saw those lovely daughters,

Who earnestly begged the sailors  that they would deign to take them o’er the waters.

[114]

Ere they went on shipboard,  the pilgrims them besought

Kindly to take the clothing  they with them had brought.

However shy were the maidens,  to wear them they were ready;

They donned the clothes with blushes,  and now their sorrow had an ending speedy.

[115]

Soon as the lovely maidens  embarked upon the wave,

They heartily were greeted  by knights both good and brave,

Who to the high-born daughters  welcome to give were heedful;

Tho’ they at first mistook them,  and thought them wicked elves, or mermaids dreadful.

[116]

That night the maidens rested  with friends upon the sea;

So wondrous was their dwelling,  from fear they were not free:

Wiser it were in the children  to think this home a blessing.

Soon as the earl had bidden,  their food upon the maids they all were pressing.

[117]

After they had eaten,  and while with them he sat,

The lord of the land of Garadie  the maidens did entreat

To say by whom such fair ones  were brought unto that shore.

The children, at his asking,  only felt their sorrow grow the more.

[118]

First answered him the eldest  of those who with him sat:

“I come from a far-off kingdom,  (my lord, now hear my fate;)

I was born in the land of India,  a land wherein my father

Was king while he was living,  but I, alas! the crown must leave to another.”

[119]

Then spake the maid next younger:  “I too have come from far;

Erewhile a strong old griffin  did me from Portugal bear.

A king in the land was my father;  none than he was prouder,

Nor for a mighty ruler,  far or near, were ever praises louder.”

[120]

Then the youngest maiden,  who by the earl sat near,

To him spoke low and modestly,  and said: “I pray you hear;

From Iserland I was carried,  my father there held power;

But from those who hoped to rear me,  alas! afar was I borne in an evil hour.”

[121]

The high-born knight then answered:  “By God ’tis ordered well,

Since you among your kinsfolk  not long were left to dwell;

Now, at last, by his kindness  you are freed from dangers,

For I within these borders  have found you living here, such lovely strangers.”

[122]

However much he asked them,  they yet to tell were loath,

How unto them it happened  grim death had spared them both,

When erewhiles the griffin  unto his nest had brought them.

Many had been their sorrows;  no more to speak of these the maids bethought them.

[123]

Then said the worthy leader,  turning to the youth;

“My dearest friend and fellow,  now let me hear the truth;

Since unto me these maidens  their sorry tale have given,

From you would I hear gladly,  and learn the land and kin whence you were riven.”

[124]

To him wild Hagen answered:  “That will I tell to you;

One of those dreadful griffins  bore me hither too.

Sigeband was my father;  in Ireland once was I living;

But long with these lovely maidens  I since have dwelt, with many sorrows striving.”

[125]

Then they all besought him  to say how it befell

That, living with the griffins  he had come off so well.

To them young Hagen answered:  “To God it all was owing;

But now I have cooled my anger;  no more for them my heart with hate is glowing.”

[126]

Then spake the lord of Garadie:  “I fain would learn from you

How you were freed from danger?”  He said: “I quickly slew

Both the old and the young ones;  not one of those is living

By whom my life was threatened,  and who to me such fear were daily giving.”

[127]

Then said all the sailors:  “Your strength indeed was great;

For every man and woman  to praise you it were meet.

A thousand of us truly  ’gainst them in, vain had striven,

Nor ever could have slain them;  truly to you have blessings great been given.”

[128]

The earl and all his followers  were of the boy afraid;

His strength was past all measure,  and sorrow for them made.

They would by craft his weapons  have taken from him gladly,

But these he sternly guarded,  and soon, thro’ him, it ended for them sadly.

[129]

Then spake the earl yet further:  “It now has happened well,

After our toilsome wanderings,  and all that us befell.

But since you are a kinsman  of my foeman, Sigeband,

And here have come from Ireland,  I as a hostage hold you in my hand.

[130]

“You come to me most fitly,  as you shall know ere long,

For many of your kindred  have done to me great wrong.

In Garadie’s fair kingdom,  which lies too near their border,

In a heavy fight, my warriors  were seized upon and murdered by their shameful order.”

[131]

Then answered him young Hagen:  “Of all the wrongs they did

I am wholly guiltless;  if me to them you lead

I their hearts will soften,  and so will the strife be ended.

Let hope to me be granted  that I on my kinsmen’s shore may soon be landed.”

[132]

Then said the earl to Hagen:  “For a pledge must you abide,

And I shall keep these maidens  to live at court by my side;

They will swell my greatness,  and I shall be their owner.”

Then thought the youthful Hagen,  such words to be to him a wrong and a dishonor.

[133]

He quickly said in anger:  “No bondsman will I be;

That may no man ask for,  who would unscathed go free.

And now, my worthy sailors,  you needs to my land must bear me;

I will reward you gladly,  and to give you clothes and gold will never spare me.

[134]

“The earl has thought my maidens  his own shall ever be;

But they shall yet be happy,  and shall of him be free.

Whoe’er is blest with wisdom,  let him my bidding follow;

Look to your sails, and turn them,  and guide the ship to Ireland, o’er the billow.”

[135]

The men, as the earl had bidden,  to seize the boy now dared,

But boldly did he meet them,  and for their lives they feared.

He by the hair caught thirty,  and into the water flung them;

Soon the strength of his body  was known to all, and dreaded much among them.

[136]

Had not the kindly maidens  sought to end the fight,

Soon the earl of Garadie  he would have killed outright.

’Gainst neither low nor mighty  did his anger falter;

These warriors and sailors  now to Ireland’s shores their way must alter.

[137]

They began at once to hasten,  lest he their lives might take;

For now the wrath of Hagen  made them with fear to quake.

For seventeen days the sailors  from toiling never rested,

And sorely were they frightened;  whene’er he seemed unkind they ills forecasted.

[138]

When he now drew nearer  unto his father’s shore,

He saw the roomy castles  he well had known before;

Soon a lofty palace  he spied at the edge of the river;

Three hundred towers fully  he there beheld, as strong and good as ever.

[139]

In it dwelt King Sigeband,  with his proud and queenly wife.

Again each pilgrim sailor  thought to lose his life;

For should the lord of Ireland  aught of them be learning,

They feared that he would slay them;  but Hagen stood between, his anger turning.

[140]

Then spake unto the pilgrims  that brave and warlike man:

“Your peace will I make gladly,  altho’ I do not reign;

I hold no sway in the kingdom,  but thither will I be sending,

And ’twixt yourself and my father  of the hatred old I soon will make an ending.

[141]

“Would any now be doing  what wealth to him will bring,

Let him my errand carry.  Whoever to the king

Shall say what I shall bid him,  gold will I give him truly;

And also, very gladly,  my father and my mother will reward him duly.”

[142]

Twelve of the stranded pilgrims  he bade to ride away:

“Now ask of the king, my father,”  thus the youth did say,

“Whether to see young Hagen,  his son, he still is yearning,—

Him who erst by the griffin  was stolen far away, heart-sorrow learning.

[143]

“I know that what you tell him  the king will not believe;

Then ask you of my mother  if she her faith will give,

And if for her child to own me  she will at last be willing,

If I upon my bosom  will show a golden cross, the proof fulfilling.”

[144]

When those he sent had ridden  farther into the land,

They found, in the palace seated,  Queen U-te and Sigeband.

Then knew the king that the riders  from Garadie came thither,

And that they to him were foemen;  at this both he and his men were wroth together.

[145]

He asked of them how dared they  to come within his land?

Then one among them answered:  “We are sent here at the hand

Of your son, the youthful Hagen.  If any fain would meet him,

He now is here, so near you,  that you ere many hours, in truth, may greet him.”

[146]

Then spake the kingly Sigeband:  “To cheat there is no need;

The loss of my dear little one,  who hath so long been dead,

Still my heart’s deep sorrow  doth too oft awaken.”

“Ask, then, the queen, your lady,  if for a falsehood should our word be taken?

[147]

“The little boy so often  in her fond care has been,

She knows if on his bosom  a golden cross was seen.

And if upon this wanderer  be found the self-same token,

You as your child can own him;  you then will grant that truth by us is spoken.”

[148]

Then to the Lady U-te  the tale was quickly told;

Glad was she of the tidings,  yet mourned she as of old.

She said: “Now let us hasten,  that the truth no more be hidden.”

Her lord then bade to saddle;  and steeds for himself and his bravest knights were bidden.

[149]

Straightway one of the pilgrims  to the fair Queen U-te said:

“I will tell you, if you listen,  what now to do you need.

You first must carry clothing  for each young lovely maiden

Whose coming does you honor;  as followers of your son were they hither bidden.”

[150]

Soon brought they richest clothing,  and tiring-women, too;

The queen was also followed  by men both brave and true.

They found the youthful Hagen,  who on the shore was standing;

And many men from Garadie,  who with the wandering boy on the beach were landing.

[151]

Soon both men and women  riding there were seen;

Then the brave young Hagen  went forth to meet his kin.

Who ’twas that came to greet him  he now to know was seeking;

The throng grew ever thicker  of friends who came in haste, their kindness speaking.

[152]

The king a friendly welcome  into his land soon gave;

He said: “To send men hither  did you the boldness have,

To say that our queen beloved  is in truth your mother?

If the words are true you’ve spoken,  so glad as now I am there’s not another.”

[153]

His queen, the lovely U-te,  with lofty breeding, said:

“Bid that for these new-comers  lodgings now be made;

I shall know right easily  if he for the crown is fitted.”

She found, in truth, the token,  and, full of bliss, her youthful son she greeted.

[154]

With eyes all wet with weeping,  she kissed him on the mouth:

“Though I before was ailing,  I now am well in sooth.

Welcome be thou, my Hagen,  my only child, loved dearly!

All in the land of Sigeband  right glad shall be for him they lost so early.”

[155]

The king to the youth came nearer;  his happiness was great.

For the hearty love he bore him  his manly cheek was wet;

With tears that hot had risen  his eyes were overflowing.

For the child, from him erst stolen,  rightly the father felt the love he was showing.

[156]

The queenly U-te welcomed  the homeless maids that day;

Many clothes she gave them,  both bright in hue and gray,

Of silk, with downy linings,  that much the maidens wanted.

Their sorrows now were lightened  by all the gifts the wife of Sigeband granted.

[157]

Well they clothed the maidens,  as their loveliness became;

This they long had needed,  and oft had blushed with shame;

But, decked with gaudy trimmings,  now they came less shyly.

The king and all his followers  soon to the maidens gave a welcome freely.

[158]

Hagen asked that friendship  to the men of Garadie

Should by the king and his lieges  be granted speedily;

Beseeching his forgiveness  for all their foul misdoing.

Soon, at the wish of Hagen,  kindness to the pilgrims he was showing.

[159]

When the king had kissed them  and soothed his angry mood,

He to the shipwrecked pilgrims  made their losses good.

To them it was a blessing,  and praise to Hagen carried;

The lands of the men of Ireland  never since have they as foemen harried.

[160]

Then their food and clothing  the guests took out, for use,

And up on the sands they bore them,  trusting in Hagen’s truce;

To take their rest for a fortnight  them did he embolden.

The band of haughty pilgrims  to give to him their thanks were now beholden.

[161]

Then, in the midst of uproar,  they rode away from the shore;

Up the castle of Ballian  came also many more,

Led by a tale of wonder  that the son of the king was living,—

Of their king so rich and mighty;  a thing so strange was to many past believing.

[162]

The water-weary pilgrims,  long-tossed upon the sea,

When fourteen days were ended  to leave the land were free.

To them by the host were given  gifts of gold, bright shining;

By the help of his son’s great kindness  he hoped a lasting friendship to be winning.

[163]

Hagen his maidens never  henceforth unthought-of leaves;

Kindly doth he teach them  ofttimes to bathe in the waves.

He showed himself most loving,  ever for them caring;

Rich clothes to them were given,  and wise beyond his years was all his bearing.

[164]

Now was the youth beginning  to be a man well-grown.

He ever showed his kinsmen  the skill to warriors known;

Whate’er a knight befitteth  with hand and weapon doing.

In the land of his father, Sigeband,  his mighty sway he soon to all was showing.

[165]

Hagen was ever learning  what doth a king beseem.

He who of knights is leader  must ever free from shame

And every stain be living;  this earns fair women’s praises.

So gentle was he truly  that every one with wonder on him gazes.

[166]

Brave he was and daring,  (such is the olden song,)

And ever was he ready  to right his neighbor’s wrong.

He high upheld his honor  in all things, never fearing;

Throughout the land, his praises  were spoken and were sung in all men’s hearing.

[167]

In a waste he grew to manhood,  that youthful son of a king,

Wild beasts his only fellows;  but none so quick could spring

That they to flee were able,  if he for them was striving.

I ween both he and his maidens  had wonders seen, while by the waters living.

[168]

Rightly his name was Hagen;  but later men did own

He was “of kings the Devil;”  so came he to be known

In every land and kingdom,  such was his strength in fighting.

The bold and wild young Hagen  well did earn his name, his foemen smiting.

[169]

He oft was begged by his kinsmen  that he a wife would take;

One so fair was near him  that none had need to seek

A fairer or a lovelier,  all earthly kingdoms over.

He himself had taught her;  with her in sorrow grown, and now her lover.

[170]

She bore the name of Hilda;  from India she had come,

And love she oft had shown him  under their wretched doom,

Since, in their early childhood,  he in the cave had found her.

None better need he wish for,  or seek in any land the heavens under.

[171]

His father bade him hasten  to be knighted with the sword,

With a hundred of his vassals.  He gave, with kindly word,

To him and to his maidens,  for clothes and horses needed,

A thousand marks of silver.  Hagen said that the will of his father should be heeded.

[172]

The news of this was bruited  through many a prince’s land;

And the day when it should happen  all did understand.

Soon the king’s great kindness  from all won praises golden

In a year and three days after  the festival of knighting them was holden.

[173]

For this the knights made busy,  glad to be bidden there.

Soon they made them bucklers,  bright and painted fair;

In making showy saddles  the workmen were not idle;

With gold both red and shining  the breastplate was bedecked, as was the bridle.

[174]

Upon a broad green meadow  the guests of the mighty king

Were bidden then to gather.  He left not anything

That they from him could ask for;  seats were spread in order,

And many guests soon after  were seen to ride to his land from every border.

[175]

To those from far now ready  the sword with him to bear

Fighting-gear was given,  that beseemed them well to wear.

They who from other kingdoms  into his land were faring

A thousand men were reckoned;  to give them clothes and steeds he was not sparing.

[176]

Unto his friends then said he:  “If now you deem it fit

That men a king should call me,  it therefore seemeth meet

That she my heart holds dearest  a crown with me be wearing;

Never shall I rest happy  until, for her love to me, she this is sharing.”

[177]

Then asked of him his followers  who might the lady be,

Who, riding proudly before them,  they at court should see?

He said: “Her name is Hilda,  in India once living;

To me and to my kindred  she, as our queen, no shame will e’er be giving.”

[178]

Well pleased was now his mother,  when she the tidings had,

That they thought to crown the lady;  his father, too was glad.

Of them was she so worthy,  that high in heart they set her.

With him the sword was taken  by full six hundred; the number e’en was greater.

[179]

As is the way of Christians,  both of them were bid

First for the crown to be hallowed;  this at once they did.

King Hagen with Queen Hilda  in state were soon seen riding;

Many games of knighthood  were played at court by his men, at Hagen’s bidding.

[180]

Sigeband, too, rode with them;  high rose his heart as he went;

He reckoned very little  the wealth that must be spent.

When in jousts they had ridden,  in ways most true and knightly,

Then were pages busy  to make the halls for the guests all fair and sightly.

[181]

Seats were brought together,  strong, and broad, and long,

With stools besides, and tables.  After the mass was sung,

U-te, his wife, came riding,  with women round her thronging;

These the youthful warriors  to gaze on, as they rode, right earnestly were longing.

[182]

While the great King Sigeband  sat by U-te’s side,

And Hagen next to Hilda,  all looked on with pride;

And said, in his child-belovéd  happy was their master.

Before them, while at table,  the throng was great; the clash of spears grew faster.

[183]

After the king of Ireland  at the meal his fill had eat,

By riders the grass was trodden;  flowers to dust they beat

With rude and heavy trampling,  while in uproar riding.

The men best known for bravery,  before the fair, in knightly jousts were leading.

[184]

Four and twenty warriors,  bearing well the shield,

Over the plain came riding;  bold were they in the field,

And now in many a struggle  all their strength were spending.

’Twas done in sight of the ladies,  and hard it was of their games to make an ending.

[185]

The brave young son of Sigeband  himself in the onset rode.

Not loth was she to gaze on him  who her with hope had wooed;

That she to him was friendly  in a far-off land forsaken,

For this would he reward her.  No truer knight the sword had ever taken.

[186]

Amid the throngs here riding,  one thro’ the dust might see

Men whose birth was princely,  in number twelve and three;

The Christian and the heathen  to him their fiefs were owing,

And honor now, right heartily,  to Sigeband and Hagen they were showing.

[187]

Long those high times lasted;  their mirth, how loud it rose!

With crowding and with shouting  great the bustle grows.

The king now bade the champions  to end the strife so heated;

And leave to them was given  that they beside the ladies should be seated.

[188]

Before his friends and kinsmen  then spake King Sigeband:

“Unto my dear son Hagen  give I now my land,

With the dwellers and the strongholds,  be they far or nearer.

Let all my trusty liegemen  have him now for their lord, and hold none dearer.”

[189]

As soon as his father, Sigeband,  his sway did thus forego,

Hagen his lands and castles  began in fief to bestow;

This he did right freely,  and to those to whom he gave them

He seemed so true and worthy  that they indeed from him would gladly have them.

[190]

As by feudal law is rightful,  many stretched the hand

To the youthful king in fealty.  To all, from every land,

Or far or near, then gave he  clothes and riches hoarded.

A feast so freely given  would now the poor not harm, and with thanks be rewarded.

[191]

At court now dwelt the maidens  who had before been brought

With him within those borders;  of these one now was sought,

And sent to the king and Hilda;  there she soon was dwelling.

The maid it was from Iserland;  of one more fair to see none e’er was telling.

[192]

A princely youth soon wooed her,  who saw the maiden fair

Beside the king’s fair daughter.  Soothly might he swear

That she by right was worthy  to be of a crown the wearer.

She had erst been Hilda’s playmate;  of widespread lands she now became the sharer.

[193]

At last the guests were scattered,  and all now left the king.

That high-born lady also  men did straightway bring

Into the land of Norway,  to her youthful lord’s kind keeping.

After her heavy sorrows,  blest with hope, she knew no more of weeping.

[194]

Now, throughout all Ireland,  did Hagen his sway begin.

If ever among his lieges  a deed of wrong was seen,

At once for this the doer  must pay with pain well dreaded;

Of such, within a twelvemonth,  eighty or more were for evil deeds beheaded.

[195]

An inroad made he later  into the lands of his foes.

He spared the poor, and brought not  flames, to add to their woes;

But if with pride and rudeness  he was by any treated,

He quick laid waste their strongholds,  and deadly wounds in bitter wrath he meted.

[196]

When it came to fighting,  he was a goodly knight.

Of heroes high in breeding  he soon brought low the might;

To all he showed his bravery,  whether far or near him.

Of kings was he the Devil;  in truth his many foes might greatly fear him.

[197]

The life he led was happy,  nor of gladness asked he more.

His wife, from far-off India,  to her lord and master bore

A fair and lovely daughter;  she also, like her mother,

Bore the name of Hilda;  well known is her tale to us, and to many another.

[198]

Wild Hagen bade his maidens  so to rear the child,

That the sun ne’er shone upon her;  nor were rough winds wild

Oft allowed to touch her.  She was by ladies guarded,

And cared for by her kinsmen;  most wisely was the trust to them awarded.

[199]

Before twelve years were ended  the fair and well-born maid

Was comely more than any,  and her name was widely spread;

Rich and high-born princes  gladly would have sought her,

And earnestly were thinking  how they could win wild Hagen’s lovely daughter.

[200]

One of these same princes  in Denmark had his home,

Within the land of Waleis.  When the tale to him had come

About this lovely maiden,  his longing ne’er would leave him;

But he was scorned by Hagen,  who swore of life and name he would bereave him.

[201]

Whene’er to seek the maiden  men were by wooers sent,

In his pride, wild Hagen  upon their death was bent.

He to none would give her  who than himself was weaker;

Of the tale of the mighty Hagen,  far and near, was every man the speaker.

[202]

He bade that more than twenty  of those sent there be hung;

None might wreak his anger,  though sore his heart was wrung.

When all had done their errand,  for Hagen’s daughter suing,

“Enough,” soon went the saying:  “’Twere best that none should go for her a-wooing.”

[203]

But still by high-born warriors  the maid was not unsought.

Let pride be ne’er so lofty,  as we have long been taught,

There always is another  with just as high a bearing;

While to win her kindness  his yearning grows, and his toil he is never sparing.

[204]

Hettel was lord in Daneland;  to be its king he rose;

’Twas in the Sturmisch marches,  as many a one well knows;

There abode his kindred,  who ways of honor taught him.

Ortland also served him.  His might and worth high fame with all soon brought him.

[205]

One among his kinsfolk  the name of Wâ-te bore;

He for his lands and castles  fealty to Hettel swore.

As kinsman of his master,  he careful teaching gave him

In all things good and worthy,  and in his watchful care did ever have him.

[206]

A landed knight in Daneland  was Wâ-te’s sister’s son,

The brave and upright Horant.  Later his faith was shown

Unto his lord, King Hettel,  who for his worth did crown him.

This to him he grudged not,  but ever for a prince was glad to own him.

[207]

Hettel, rich and mighty,  at Hegeling held his seat,

Not far from the lord of Ortland;  this is true, I weet.

He there owned many castles,  eighty at least or over;

They who these strongholds guarded  in truest faith and honor held them ever.

[208]

Lord he was of Friesland,  its waters and its land;

Ditmarsh, as well as Waleis,  were swayed by his kingly hand.

Hettel was truly mighty;  his kinsmen they were many;

Bold was he and daring,  and ’gainst his foes he plotted, well as any.

[209]

Hettel was an orphan,  and so he felt the need

That he a wife should find him.  To him, at last, were dead

Father as well as mother,  who their lands had left him.

He friends in truth had many,  yet found he much in life that of bliss bereft him.

[210]

The best of these besought him  some maiden’s love to seek,

Who of his birth was worthy.  The knight did answer make:

“I here know none who fitly  should be o’er the Hegelings seated,

Nor is there any lady  who, brought from far, should as my queen be greeted.”

[211]

Then spake a knight of Nifland,  Morunc, a youthful lord:

“I know of a lovely maiden,  of whom I oft have heard;

She in truth is fairer  than all on earth now living.

Her will we gladly sue for,  that she her troth to you may soon be giving.”

[212]

Then quoth the king: “Who is she?  her name I pray you tell.”

Then said Morunc: “’Tis Hilda,  in Ireland she doth dwell;

Her father’s name is Hagen;  King Ger was her forefather.

If to this land she cometh,  your life will then be blissful altogether.”

[213]

Then spake the young King Hettel:  “I oft have heard it said,

Whoever woos this maiden  her father’s wrath must dread.

Many a worthy suitor  his life for her has ended;

But none among my vassals  must meet his death for having me befriended.”

[214]

Morunc quickly answered:  “Then send to Horant’s land,

And bid that he come hither;  he well doth understand

The ways and moods of Hagen,  for often has he seen them.

Unless his help he gives you,  ’twill come to nought, howe’er your friends demean them.”

[215]

He said: “Your will I follow,  since she is so fair;

But if my friends shall seek her,  yourself the suit must share;

And if unto your friendship  the task I’ve trusted fitly,

Wealth shall you have and honor,  when as the Hegeling’s queen she’s greeted rightly.”

[216]

He quickly sent out riders  through the Danish land to haste;

By them was the mighty Horant,  his nephew, found at last,

And to the court was bidden;  to come must he be speedy,

Within seven days, not later,  if he to help his lord in truth were ready.

[217]

When Horant met the heralds,  and did their errand hear,

Then for friendly service  himself he would not spare.

Right gladly did he listen  to the bidding of his master;

But this, on a day thereafter,  to him brought sorrow great, and sore disaster.

[218]

To the court he soon went riding,  with sixty of his men;

Of friends at home young Horant  to take his leave was seen.

He then made haste the faster,  when now the tale was told him

How he must help his master,  if for a faithful knight he now would hold him.

[219]

Upon the seventh morning  he came to Hettel’s land;

Decked in finest clothing  was he and all his band.

The king to welcome Horant  rode forth, most glad to greet him,

And saw that with him Fru-te,  another Danish knight, was there to meet him.

[220]

Good news it was of their coming,  of which all men now spoke;

Glad was the king to see them;  from him a share it took

Of the deep and heavy sorrow  which his heart was filling.

“Welcome, Cousin Fru-te!”  cried he, the while he looked upon him smiling.

[221]

When Horant now with Fru-te  before the king did stand,

Then he asked for tidings  of their home in the Danish land.

Both of them now answered:  “Not many days are ended

Since we in stormy battle  with many deadly blows our lives defended.”

[222]

He asked whence they had ridden  from off the stormy field.

They said: “It was from Portugal,  where the strife was held;

There the mighty ruler  from fighting would not spare us;

Daily within our borders  he did us wrong, and much ill-will did bear us.”

[223]

The young King Hettel answered:  “Now cast all care away;

I know that the aged Wâ-te  will never yield the sway

He holds o’er the Sturmisch marches;  he of the land is owner;

Who wins from him a castle  will earn high praise and long be held in honor.”

[224]

Within the roomy palace  the guests then took their seats.

Both Horant and Sir Fru-te  with thoughtless, merry wits,

Of the loves of high-born ladies  began to gossip gaily.

To them the young king listened,  and costly gifts he gave unto them freely.

[225]

Hettel turned to Horant,  and thus to ask began:

“If aught hath reached your hearing,  then tell me, if you can,

How ’tis with Lady Hilda,  King Hagen’s lovely daughter?

To her would I send most gladly,  and would that words of love from me were brought her.”

[226]

The youthful knight then answered:  “She is to me well known;

A maid so fair and lovely  my eyes ne’er looked upon

As she, that maid of Ireland,  Hilda, the rich and stately,

The daughter of wild Hagen;  to wear a crown with you would befit her greatly.”

[227]

On this King Hettel asked him:  “Now think you, can it be

That ever her lordly father  will give this maid to me?

If I deemed he were so friendly,  I would seek to win her,

And would reward him ever  who gave to me his ready help to gain her.”

[228]

“That can never happen,”  to him young Horant said:

“No rider with this errand  to Hagen need be sped.

To hasten thither boldly  I feel, myself, no longing;

The man sent there to seek her  is either slain with blows, or dies by hanging.”

[229]

Then spake again King Hettel:  “Not so for her I care;

To hang my trusty vassal  should Hagen ever dare,

Then he, the king of Ireland,  himself must death be facing.

Be he ne’er so boastful,  he’ll find his rashness is to him no blessing.”

[230]

Then spake the knightly Fru-te:  “If Wâ-te deigns to go

Unto the king of Ireland,  to woo this maid for you,

Lucky will be our errand,  and we shall bring the lady;

Or wounds throughout our bodies,  e’en to the heart, to take shall we be ready.”

[231]

Then said to him King Hettel:  “My men I now will send

With word to the lord of Sturmland;  I do not fear the end,

For Wâ-te will hasten gladly  wherever I shall bid him.

Bring Irold, too, from Friesland,  with all his men, for sorely do I need him.”

[232]

His riders then went quickly  into the Sturmisch land,

Where the brave old Wâ-te  they found among his band.

Then the word they gave him,  now to the king to betake him;

But Wâ-te felt great wonder,  to know for what the Hegeling king did seek him.

[233]

He asked if it were needful  to bring, when he should go,

His breastplate and his helmet,  and any followers, too?

One of the heralds answered:  “We did not hear it spoken

That he had need of fighters;  for you alone did his words a wish betoken.”

[234]

Wâ-te would be going,  but left behind a guard,

To care for lands and castles.  Then taking horse, at his word,

Twelve of his followers only  with him from home now started;

Wâ-te, the brave old warrior,  at once on his way to court in haste departed.

[235]

He reached the land of the Hegelings.  When he now was seen,

As he came near Kampatille,  but little sorrow, I ween,

Was felt by the kingly Hettel;  with speed he went to greet him,

And thought of the kindly welcome  he would give his friend, old Wâ-te, when he met him.

[236]

Right glad was he to see him;  with hearty speech he says:

“Sir Wâ-te, thou art welcome;  many are the days

Since I have looked upon you,  when on our horses sitting,

Side by side together,  we proudly met our foes with blows befitting.”

[237]

Then answered him old Wâ-te:  “Ever should good friends

Be glad to be together;  that fight the better ends

Where, before the foeman,  friends as one are fighting.”

Then by the hand he held him,  to him his love and friendship warmly plighting.

[238]

They took their seats together,  nor place to other gave.

Hettel, he was mighty,  and Wâ-te, he was brave;

He yet was also haughty,  and proud in all his bearing.

Hettel now was thinking  how Wâ-te could be brought to Ireland to be faring.

[239]

Then spake the knightly Hettel:  “For this I bade thee come;

Need have I of riders,  to send to Hagen’s home.

Truly I know of no one  whom I would send the sooner

Than thee, my good friend Wâ-te,  or who in this could bring me greater honor.”

[240]

Then said the aged Wâ-te:  “Whatever I can do

To show my love and fealty,  I’ll gladly do for you.

Herein I may be trusted,  to be for you bold-hearted;

And to bring about your wishes,  unless in this by death I should be thwarted.”

[241]

Then quoth the kingly Hettel:  “Many friends have said

That if the mighty Hagen  will my wooing heed,

And give to me his daughter,  she, as my queen, would honor

Me and my kingdom also;  my heart is bent as a wife and queen to own her.”

[242]

Angrily spoke Wâ-te:  “Whoever this has said

Would truly feel no sorrow  if I this day were dead.

’Tis Fru-te, he of Denmark,  I know it is no other,

Who to this has stirred you,  to send me to the maid, your suit to further.

[243]

“This young and lovely maiden  is guarded now with care;

Horant and Fru-te also,  who say she is so fair,

And speak to you her praises,  must go with me to seek her.

Never shall I rest easy  unless they strive with me your own to make her.”

[244]

Both these faithful vassals  King Hettel sent for soon;

To others good and trusty  they also made it known,

That by their king and master  they at court were wanted.

No more their thoughts men whispered,  but freely spoke of the coming raid, undaunted.

[245]

When Wâ-te, the brave old warrior,  did on Horant look,

And on the Danish Fru-te,  how sharply then he spoke!

“Brave knights, may God reward you,  to me you are so friendly,

And of my fame so careful,  and my trip to court this time you help so kindly.

[246]

“You are, forsooth, most willing  that I this errand do;

But both of you are bounden  with me thereon to go,

To serve the king, our master,  even as our duty calleth.

He who my life endangers  himself the risk must share, whate’er befalleth.”

[247]

“For this I now am ready,”  answered Horant the Dane;

“If leave the king will grant us,  I then will shun no pain,

Nor aught of toil will grudge me.  Only to see this lady,

For me and for my kinsman,  were happiness enough, and bliss already.”

[248]

“Then we ought,” said Fru-te,  “to take upon our way

Seven hundred warriors.  No man doth honor pay

To Hagen without grudging.  He is overweening, truly;

If he thinks that he can crush us,  he soon must lay aside his boasting wholly.

[249]

“Sir king, you should bid your workmen  a ship of cypress-wood

To build upon the river;  strong must it be and good,

So your band of warriors  shall shipwreck ne’er be ruing.

From timber white as silver  the lofty masts your men must soon be hewing.

[250]

“Also food for your fighters  you must now bespeak;

And bid that men be busy  helmets for us to make,

And hauberks strong for many;  when we these are wearing,

Then wild Hagen’s daughter  we shall the easier win by craft and daring.

[251]

“Also my nephew Horant,  who is shrewd and wise,

Must go with us as a shopman;  (I grudge him not his guise)

There must he to the ladies  be clasps and arm-bands selling,

With gold and costly jewels;  thus greater trust in us will they be feeling.

[252]

“For sale we also must carry  weapons and clothing, too;

And since wild Hagen’s daughter  it is such risk to woo,

That only now by fighting  one can hope to wed her,

Let Wâ-te choose the warriors  to go with him, and home to the king to lead her.”

[253]

Then spake the aged Wâ-te:  “A shop I cannot keep;

Not often doth my money  in coffers idly sleep;

My lot I’ve shared with fighters,  and that I still am doing;

Therein I am not skilful,  that I to ladies gew-gaws should be showing.

[254]

“But since my nephew Horant  on me this task has laid,

He knows full well that Hagen  will never yield the maid:

He prides himself on owning  the strength of six and twenty;

If he shall learn of our wooing,  our hope to leave his land will be but scanty.

[255]

“Good king, now let us hasten,  but bid that first our hull

With a deck of deal be covered;  let it, below, be full

Of knights both strong and doughty,  who shall help be giving,

If ever the wild King Hagen  forbids that we shall leave his kingdom, living.

[256]

“Of these brave knights a hundred,  with outfits good for war,

Unto the land of Ireland  we in our ships must bear;

There shall my nephew Horant  in his shop be seated,

Keeping two hundred near him; thus shall the ladies’ coming be awaited.

[257]

“Your men must also build us  barges strong and wide,

To carry food and horses,  and to sail our ships beside:

Enough for a year or longer  we must take to feed us;

And we will say to Hagen  that to leave our land King Hettel did forbid us,

[258]

“And that our lord and master  great wrong to us hath wrought.

Then with our gifts so costly  we often shall be brought

To Hagen and to Hilda,  where they their court are keeping;

Our gifts shall make us welcome,  and kindness from the king shall we be reaping.

[259]

“We then the tale will tell him,  we wretched outlaws are;

And thus at once the pity  of Hagen we shall share.

To us, poor homeless wanderers,  shelter will be granted,

And in his land King Hagen  thenceforth will see that nought by us is wanted.”

[260]

Hettel asked his warriors:  “My friends, I pray you tell,

Since you to go are willing,  how soon you hence will sail?”

“So soon as comes the summer,  and May with gladsome weather,”

They said, “we shall be ready,  and, riding again to court, will we come hither.

[261]

“Meanwhile must men be making  whatever we shall need,—

Sails and also rudders,  well-made, and that with speed,

Barges wide, and galleys,  to bear us to our haven;

So the swell of the waters  shall stir us not, nor make us sick or craven.”

[262]

King Hettel said: “Ride quickly,  now, to your land and home.

For horses and for clothing  no cost to you shall come;

For you and all your followers  such outfit shall be ready,

That you no shame shall suffer,  whenever you are seen by any lady.”

[263]

When he his leave had taken,  Wâ-te to Sturmland rode;

Horant and with him Fru-te  followed in hurried mood,

Back to the land of Denmark,  where they held the lordship.

To help their master Hettel  they thought could never be to them a hardship.

[264]

Then, in his home, King Hettel  let his will be known;

Of shipwrights and of workmen  idle was not one.

While the ships were building  to do their best they hastened;

The beams that met together,  were with bands of silver strongly fastened.

[265]

All the spars and mast-trees,  they were strong and good;

Red gold, and brightly shining,  was laid on the rudder-wood,

And like to fire was glowing:  wealth their master blesses.

When time it was for leaving,  the men their tasks had done, and won high praises.

[266]

The ropes that held the anchors  came from a far-off strand,

Brought from the shores of Araby;  never on sea or land,

Before that day or after,  had any man seen better:

So might the men of the Hegelings  easier make their way o’er the deep sea-water.

[267]

They who the sails were making  worked late, and early rose;

For the king had bid them hurry.  For making these they chose

Silken stuff from Abalie,  as good as could be brought them.

Truly far from idle  were, in those days, the busy hands that wrought them.

[268]

Can any one believe it?  They had the anchors made

Of purest beaten silver.  The heart of the king was led

Strongly now to wooing;  no rest would he be knowing,

Nor of his men was sparing,  until the day when they should thence be going.

[269]

Well-framed, with heavy planking,  now the ships were seen,

Sound ’gainst war and weather.  Then word was sent to the men,

That to seek the lovely lady  they must soon be faring.

This was told to no one  but those who the trust of the king were rightly sharing.

[270]

Wâ-te to meet King Hettel  from Sturmland held his course;

With silver gear and housing,  heavily went his horse.

To court went, too, his followers,  four hundred men undaunted;

And now the doughty Hettel  brave knights enough, for guests, no longer wanted.

[271]

Morunc, the brave and daring,  from Friesland thither went,

And with him brought two hundred.  Word to the king was sent

That now, with helms and breastplates,  they were thither riding;

In haste came Irold also;  thus gladly Hettel’s kinsmen did his bidding.

[272]

Thither rode from Denmark  Horant young and brave;

Hettel to do his errand  did trusty liegemen have;

A thousand men or over  might he for this be sending;

Only a prince so mighty  of such a task had ever made an ending.

[273]

Irold, too, of Ortland,  was ready now to go:

E’en though on him King Hettel  should never clothes bestow,

Yet, for himself and his followers,  he had of these so many,

That wheresoe’er they were going,  they never need to beg for aught from any.

[274]

The king, as well beseemed him,  greeted all the band;

First, his liegeman Irold  he kindly took by the hand;

Then he turned to Wâ-te,  to where he found him seated:

At last, his hardy warriors,  ready to leave the land, his word awaited.

[275]

To all it now was bidden  that they should give good heed,

And everything make ready  that knights could ever need.

Now were seen by the warriors  the ships so fair and stately;

To woo the lovely Hilda  the king in all things showed his forethought greatly.

[276]

Two new and well-made galleys  they had upon the flood,

With two broad ships of burden;  both were strong and good.

A ship of state went with them;  than this had ne’er a better,

By any friend or foeman,  on the shores of any land, been seen upon the water.

[277]

To start they now are willing;  already on the ships

Were the clothes and horses loaded.  Then from Wâ-te’s lips

Came kindly words to Hettel;  he begged him to feel easy,

Till they should again be coming,  for to do his bidding they would all be busy.

[278]

The king to him said mournfully:  “I give into your care

The knights, untaught and youthful,  who such risks will dare,

With you upon this errand:  most earnestly I pray you

That, for your honor, daily  you teach these youths with care, and make them to obey you.”

[279]

Him thus Wâ-te answered:  “To that give not a thought;

Keep a brave heart, I beg you,  that here at home, in nought

You fail of being steadfast,  where’er your honor reaches:

Watch well, too, o’er our holdings:  these youths shall learn from me what wisdom teaches.”

[280]

The good and trusty Fru-te  the wealth of the king did guard,—

The gold and costly jewels,  and of many things a hoard.

The king was free in spending  whatsoe’er was wanted;

If Fru-te aught did ask for,  thirty-fold to him he gladly granted.

[281]

A hundred men were chosen,  and now within the ship,

Wherein to woo the maiden  his friends must cross the deep,

All craftily were hidden,  to help them, if ’twere needful.

Gifts both rich and worthy  the king to give these faithful men was heedful.

[282]

With these, among the followers,  every rank was seen;

Of knights and squires also,  thirty hundred men,

Who, for toil and struggle,  from far-off lands came riding.

Then said the king to his lieges:  “May God in heaven to you give careful guiding.”

[283]

To him thus Horant answered:  “From fear now be you free;

When you shall see us coming,  you then with us will see

A maid so fair and lovely,  you well may wish to greet her.”

This the king heard gladly,  but far was the day when he at last should meet her.

[284]

They took their leave with kisses,  the king and many a guest;

For these the king was feeling  wearisome unrest.

While they for him are toiling,  each hour he fear must borrow;

He forsooth was downcast,  and nought could cheer him, in his mood of sorrow.

[285]

This was for his welfare,  that a wind from out the north

Now their sails was swelling,  and briskly helped them forth.

The ships were wafted evenly,  as they from land were turning;

But hardships they had known not  the youths, upon their way, erelong were learning.

[286]

The truth we cannot tell you,  nor can it e’en be guessed,

For nights full six and thirty  what lodgings gave them rest,

While upon the water.  The youths they with them carried,

Bound by oaths of fealty,  swore again to keep them, where’er they tarried.

[287]

However willing were they  to sail on the tossing sea,

Yet sometimes it befell them  in great unrest to be.

Ease they took but seldom,  as the waves would spare it;

But he who ploughs the waters  pain must often feel, and yet must bear it.

[288]

After the waves had borne them  full a thousand miles,

They came to Hagen’s castle,  where, as was said erewhiles,

He, the master of Ballian,  shamefully had lorded:

This was a wicked falsehood,  the deeds were never done as the tale was worded.

[289]

When now the men from Hegeling  over the sea had gone,

And neared wild Hagen’s castle,  their coming soon was known;

Much the folk there wondered  from what far kingdom sailing

The waves had borne them thither;  how finely they were clad all men were telling.

[290]

First the ship with an anchor  was fastened on the strand;

To furl the sails then quickly  each gave a ready hand.

It was not long thereafter  before the news was bruited,

Throughout King Hagen’s castle,  that ships, with unknown men, in his harbor floated.

[291]

Now on the shore they landed,  and did their goods unlade;

Whatever could be wanted  on the sands, for sale, they spread,

And all that any asked for.  In wealth they were not lacking;

But tho’ their men had silver,  ’twas little that they bought, or for themselves were taking.

[292]

Clothed in the garb of tradesmen,  on the shore did stand

Sixty men or over,  well-dight, a goodly band.

Fru-te, the lord of Denmark,  was busy as their leader;

His clothing was far better  than there was worn by any other trader.

[293]

The worthy lord and master  over Ballian town,

When he heard of their coming,  and the riches they did own,

Rode down with many followers  to where those crafty sellers

He found, himself awaiting.  Kind was the mien of all who there were dwellers.

[294]

First the master asked them:  “Whence their way they had made,

And over the sea come thither?”  To him then Fru-te said:

“God have you in his keeping;  we from afar are sailing;

Tradesmen truly are we;  our masters rich, near by, in ships are dwelling.”

[295]

“Let peace with us be plighted,”  old Wâ-te then began;

But from the master’s grimness,  the truth to see was plain,

That, where he was the ruler,  stern and harsh was his bearing.

Straightway then to Hagen  they led the guests, who with their tale were faring.

[296]

Hagen said, as he met them:  “Safeguard to you I give;

My peace I pledge you willingly.  He shall no longer live,

But hang upon the gallows,  who these guests shall harry:

Let them not be fearful;  them shall nothing harm while in my land they tarry.”

[297]

Rich and costly jewels  they to Hagen gave,

In worth, of marks a thousand.  From them he nought did crave,

Nor even so much as a penny;  but what for sale they offered

He begged of them to show him,  such as to knights and ladies might be proffered.

[298]

For all he thanked them warmly;  he said: “If I should live

Not more than three days longer,  for all that now they give

My guests shall be rewarded.  If my liegeman do not heed me,

And these for aught be lacking,  all shall then for this with right upbraid me.”

[299]

Now the gifts they gave him  the king with his men did share;

Among them there were necklaces,  fit for ladies fair,

With finger-rings and arm-bands,  as well as ribands dainty,

And head-gear, to bedeck them:  these the king to many gave in plenty.

[300]

His wife and lovely daughter  now most rightly thought

That never to their kingdom  had gifts for them been brought,

That were so rare and costly,  by sellers or by traders.

Horant and Wâ-te also  in sending gifts to court were now the leaders.

[301]

Sixty silken garments,  the best that e’er were sold,

Up to the shore were carried,  and forty wrought with gold.

They would have prized but lightly  cloths from Bagdad even;

Of linen suits a hundred,  the best they had, now to the king were given.

[302]

Beside the handsome clothing,  made of silken stuff,

Of richest inner garments  they also gave enough;

There might perhaps be forty,  or more, if reckoned fully;

Could ever man buy praises,  they by their costly gifts had gained them truly.

[303]

Twelve Castilian horses,  all saddled, were brought, I trow;

Also many breastplates,  and well-made helmets, too,

Men were bidden to carry;  twelve bucklers likewise bore they,

Rimmed with golden edges.  Kind were Hagen’s guests; free givers were they.

[304]

Then, too, with gifts came riding  Horant the brave and bold;

Irold the strong came with him;  this to the king was told:

’Twas said to him, moreover,  that those now thither faring

Of lands were the lords and owners.  This might well be seen by the gifts they were bearing.

[305]

After these came riding  four and twenty men

Whom they were thither leading,  well-bred were they, I ween;

Such also was their clothing,  they seemed as if well fitted,

And now in truth were coming,  that very day to be by Hagen knighted.

[306]

Then unto King Hagen  one of his friends thus spake:

“The gifts the men now bring you  ’tis best you deign to take:

Never must you leave them  unthanked for all their treasure.”

Hagen lacked not riches,  but yet his thanks he gave them without measure.

[307]

He said: “I thank you kindly,  as I of right should do.”

Then he bade that his stewards  to see the gifts should go;

And also that the clothing,  piece by piece, be shown them.

Glad were they to see them,  and wondered greatly as they gazed upon them.

[308]

Then said one of the stewards:  “Hear now the truth I tell:

Chests there are of silver,  and filled with gold as well,

With many costly jewels,  rich and kingly even:

Marks fully twenty thousand  the goods are worth, which they to you have given.”

[309]

Then the king thus answered:  “Blessings on my guests!

I now will share with others  the riches in these chests.”

Then to his knights was given  whate’er of these they wanted;

To every one among them  all that he might wish by the king was granted.

[310]

The king now seated near him  both the two young men,—

Irold and also Horant;  he began to ask them then,

“Whence to his kingdom sailing,  they to come had striven?

Gifts so rich and worthy  have ne’er before by guests to me been given.”

[311]

Then spake the knightly Horant:  “This shall you know full well;

My lord, now hear us kindly  while we our sorrows tell.

Outlawed wanderers are we,  and from our homes were driven;

A king most rich and mighty,  to wreak his anger, woe to us hath given.”

[312]

Then spake again wild Hagen:  “What may be his name,

From whose rich kingdom driven,  outcasts you became?

You of wealth are owners,  and, if not by his wits forsaken,

To keep such worthy lieges  within his land he would some pains have taken.”

[313]

He asked “Who them had outlawed,  and what name he bore?

Of what misdoings guilty,  had they to this far shore

Made their flight in sorrow,  to ask the help of strangers?”

To him then answered Horant:  “To you will we make known our woes and dangers.

[314]

“He bears the name of ‘Hettel,  Lord of the Hegeling land’;

Brave and mighty is he,  and sways with a heavy hand.

We of all our happiness  have been robbed and plundered;

Of right are we embittered,  since from our land and home we now are sundered.”

[315]

To him spoke Hagen kindly:  “This to your good shall turn;

I will in full repay you  the losses that you mourn.

If I make myself a beggar,  by thus so freely giving,

Yet from the king of the Hegelings  you need not ask for help while I am living.

[316]

“If you, good knights,” he added,  “here with me will stay,

With you will I share right gladly  the lands I own to-day;

Such guerdon by King Hettel  ne’er to you was given.

The wealth from you he has taken,  that give I you, and more by tenfold even.”

[317]

“To stay with you we are ready,”  then said Horant the Dane,

“But we fear that when King Hettel  shall learn that we were seen

Within the Irish borders,  he will find a way to reach us;

And I am ever dreading  that we can nowhere live, and this he’ll teach us.”

[318]

Then to the band of wanderers  the lordly Hagen said:

“Do what now I bid you,  and a home for you is made.

Never will King Hettel  dare for your harm to seek you

Within my land and kingdom;  it were a wrong to me from hence to take you.”

[319]

He bade they should be sheltered,  at once, within his town;

Then to his men and lieges  he made his wishes known,

That now unto the wanderers  all honor should be granted.

The water-weary sailors  soon found the rest that they so long had wanted.

[320]

Then the townsmen freely  did the king’s behest;

To do it they were ready:  houses, the very best,

Forty, or even over,  were empty left, to be taken

By the Danish sailors;  their homes, by the king’s good lieges were willingly forsaken.

[321]

Up on the beach were carried  the wares, full many a pile,

That in the ships lay hidden.  Their owners thought, the while,

That they would rather struggle  with storms upon the water,

Than to seek their luck and welfare  in wooing Hilda, Hagen’s lovely daughter.

[322]

Hagen bade his followers:  “Now ask these guests of mine

If they will deign most kindly  to eat my bread and wine,

Till they, within my kingdom,  on lands they hold are living.”

The Danish Fru-te answered:  “To take your food would shame to us be giving.”

[323]

“If erst the great King Hettel  had been to us so good,

That he both gold and silver  would give to us for food,

We in our houses had them,  and might of them be wasteful;

We e’en could stay our hunger,  and feed thereon, if this to us were tasteful.”

[324]

’Twas bidden then by Fru-te  that his booth should be set up.

To see for sale such riches  men ne’er again could hope.

Never within their borders  did any trader offer

Fine goods at such a bargain;  they easily were sold before the day was over.

[325]

All could buy who wished them,  gold and jewels rare.

The king, by greatest kindness,  was to his guests made dear.

If any, without buying,  still these treasures wanted,

The traders were so friendly  that they, as gifts, the goods to many granted.

[326]

Whate’er of Wâ-te or Fru-te  was said by any one,—

Of all the deeds of kindness  that here by them were done,—

The tale might not be trusted,  how they for these were ready;

They strove to gain high praises,  and this at court was told to many a lady.

[327]

Of the poor nor man nor woman  for clothes was seen to lack;

To those in need among them  they gave their pledges back,

And from debt they freed them.  To the princess, morn and even,

Oft by her faithful steward  the tale of these guests from far was truly given.

[328]

To the king she made her prayer:  “Dearest father mine,

Ask that these guests so worthy  to ride to court will deign.

They say that one among them  hath charms beyond all measure;

Should he to your bidding listen,  the sight of him ofttimes would give me pleasure.”

[329]

To her the king thus answered:  “That shall quickly be;

His well-bred ways and bearing  I soon will let you see.”

But still the great King Hagen  never yet had known him;

Long the ladies waited  till Wâ-te came, and they could look upon him.

[330]

Word to the guests was carried;  to them ’twas kindly said,

That if it e’er should happen  that they of aught had need,

They should to the king betake them,  and his food be sharing.

To Fru-te this was pleasing,  for wise he was, not less than he was daring.

[331]

Those who came from Denmark,  when at court, took care

Ever to be blameless  for the clothes that they should wear:

’Twas so with the men of Wâ-te,  from Sturmland thither faring,

And than himself no sword-knight  in any land could show a finer bearing.

[332]

Those who came with Morunc  wore mantles over all,

With robes from far Kampalia.  Fiery red, as a coal,

Gold and gems that sparkled  on their clothes were shining.

Irold, the daring champion,  came not alone, young Hilda bent on winning.

[333]

Thither came brave Horant;  all others he out-vied

In rich and costly clothing.  With mantles long and wide,

Gay in hue and gaudy,  his men were decked out brightly:

Those brave men from Denmark  proudly came, and had a look most knightly.

[334]

Tho’ Hagen’s birth was kingly,  and lordly was his mood,

He yet went forth to meet them.  His daughter, fair and good,

Rose up before old Wâ-te  from where she now was seated.

Such was Wâ-te’s bearing  as if with smiles his friends he never greeted.

[335]

She said, in way most seemly:  “Welcome to you I give;

Both I and the king, my father,  must from your looks believe

That you are weary warriors,  and sorely have been fighting.

Good-will the king will show you,  and soon his faith to you will he be plighting.”

[336]

To her they all bent lowly;  their ways, they were well-bred.

The king then bade to be seated,  as hosts are wont to bid.

Of drink to them was given,  wine the best and rarest;

Better ne’er was tasted  in the home of any lord, albeit the fairest.

[337]

In talk and fun and merriment  seated were they all.

Soon the queenly maiden  was seen to leave the hall:

But first she begged her father  the kindness now to show her

To bid the knights so worthy  to come to her, for pastime, to her bower.

[338]

Her wish the king then granted,  (so to us, ’tis said);

His young and lovely daughter  at this was truly glad.

Soon fair clothes and jewels  the maidens all were wearing;

And earnestly were watching  the many knights from far, to see their bearing.

[339]

When now the elder Hilda  sat by her daughter fair,

Each one of her lovely maidens  demeaned herself with care;

So that all who saw her  high in breeding thought her,

And nothing else could say of her,  but that she was indeed a king’s fair daughter.

[340]

Now bade they that old Wâ-te  should to the maids be brought;

Though he was gray and aged,  none the less they thought,

To guard against his wooing,  they must as children meet him.

Then to the aged Wâ-te  stepped forth the youthful queen, right glad to greet him.

[341]

She was the first to do so,  but wished she might be spared

When she now must kiss him:  broad and gray was his beard,

And the hair of the aged Wâ-te  with golden strings was braided.

He and the Danish Fru-te  the queen’s behest to seat them slowly heeded.

[342]

Both the well-clad heroes  before their seats now stood;

Well they knew fine breeding,  and made their teaching good.

In many a bitter struggle,  in their manhood early,

They gained a name as warriors;  and men to them gave praises for it fairly.

[343]

Queen Hilda and her daughter,  in lively, merry mood,

Began to ask of Wâ-te,  whether he thought it good,

Thus with lovely ladies  to sit in ease and pleasure,

Or if to him ’twere better  his strength in stormy fight with foes to measure?

[344]

The aged Wâ-te answered: “To me the last seems best;

Altho’ among fair ladies  glad am I to rest,

Never am I happier  than when with knights most daring,

Wherever that may happen,  upon the stormy field the fight I am sharing.”

[345]

At this the gay young maiden  broke into laughter loud;

Well she saw, with ladies,  his stern, uneasy mood.

With this in the halls yet longer  were the maidens merry;

Queen Hilda and her daughter  to talk with Morunc’s knights were never weary.

[346]

She asked about old Wâ-te:  “Say, by what name is he known?

Has he any liegemen?  Doth he lands and castles own?

Has he a wife and children  in the land whence he is roving?

There, as I am thinking,  at his home and hearth, there must be little loving.”

[347]

Then answered one of the warriors:  “Both children and a wife

In his home and land await him.  His riches and his life

He risketh for his duty;  a hero brave he has shown him.

A bold and daring champion,  throughout his life, both friend and foe have known him.”

[348]

Irold the tale was telling  about this fearless knight,

That never worthier liegeman,  or bolder man in fight,

A king need e’er be seeking,  his lands and castles over:

Though mildly now he bears him,  there ne’er was found a stronger or a braver.

[349]

The queen then said to Wâ-te:  “Give heed to what I say;

Since in his Danish kingdom  Hettel forbids your stay,

I here, within my borders,  a home will gladly give you;

There lives no lord so mighty  that he would ever dare from hence to drive you.”

[350]

Then to the queen he answered:  “I too, myself, own land;

There give I clothes and horses,  at will, with open hand.

To wait on you as liegeman,  would make me sorry-hearted;

And from my lands and castles,  more than a year, I never can be parted.”

[351]

At last they all were going:  then begged the lovely queen,

That when at court they waited,  they always might be seen

Seated among the ladies;  no shame by this were done them:

Then said to her brave Irold,  that in their home this seat was ever shown them.

[352]

To load with gifts these wanderers  the king was ever bent.

But in a mood so haughty  had they been thither sent,

To no man were they willing  to be for a mark beholden.

Hagen, the king, was lordly,  and took it ill that their pride should them embolden.

[353]

To the king they now betook them;  many were they who came;

There they found, for pastime,  for each some merry game:

Draughts were many playing,  or spear and shield were trying;

For these they cared but little,  but ever were in Hagen’s praises vying.

[354]

As happens oft in Ireland,  with every kind of fun

Forthwith the men made merry.  In this old Wâ-te won

A friend for himself in Hagen;  but to win the ladies’ praises,

Horant, the knight from Denmark,  his time in lightsome frolic with them passes.

[355]

Fru-te and also Wâ-te  were knights full brave and bold;

When standing near each other,  both alike looked old.

Their locks were gray and hoary,  and with gold were twisted;

But where the bold were needed,  to show their bravery earnestly they listed.

[356]

The followers of King Hagen  wore their shields at court,

With clubs as well as bucklers;  there they strove in sport,

In the sword-play slashing;  thrusts of spears they parried;

Well themselves they shielded.  The youthful knights in games were never wearied.

[357]

Then asked the brave King Hagen  of Wâ-te and his men,

“If, where they erst were living,  such fights were ever seen,

Or such heavy onslaughts,  as his good knights were dealing,

Here in his Irish kingdom?”  A smile of scorn o’er Wâ-te’s face was stealing.

[358]

Then quoth the knight from Sturmland:  “The like I never saw;

If any here could teach it,  from here would I not withdraw

Till a year was fully ended,  and I had learned it rightly.

Whoe’er should be my master,  for his care and pains would I not reward him lightly.”

[359]

The king to him then answered:  “For the love to you I bear,

I will bid my best of masters  teach you his art with care,

Till the three strokes are easy,  that, in field-storms raging,

Men give to one another;  by this will you be helped when battle waging.”

[360]

Then came a fencing-master,  and began his craft to show

To Wâ-te, the daring fighter;  in him he found a foe

Who fear for his life soon gave him.  Wâ-te his onset parried,

With all the skill of a fencer.  The face of Fru-te the Dane a smile now carried.

[361]

To save himself, the teacher  gave a spring as wide

As doth an untamed leopard.  Wâ-te his weapon plied,

And in his hand it clattered,  until the fire-sparks glistened

Upon his foeman’s buckler;  he well might thank the youth who to him had listened.

[362]

Then said the king, wild Hagen:  “Give me the sword in hand.

I will take a little pastime  with him of the Sturmisch land;

I will be his teacher,  and he my four strokes be learning.

He for this will thank me.”  Soon was the king high praise from Wâ-te earning.

[363]

To him old Wâ-te answered:  “A pledge I now must hear

That I from you, great Hagen,  no guile soe’er may fear;

Should I by you be wounded,  with ladies’ scorn shall I redden.”

In the fight was Wâ-te nimble;  such quickness to believe should none be bidden.

[364]

The simple, untaught fencer  smote Hagen many a blow;

Till, like a wet brand steaming,  was the king before his foe.

The learner outdid his teacher:  well his strength he boasted.

The host laid strokes unnumbered  upon the guest, who in his skill had trusted.

[365]

Many looked on gladly  to see the strength of both.

To own the skill of Wâ-te  the king was nothing loth;

He might have shown his anger,  and brought no shame upon him.

Great was the strength of Wâ-te,  but yet ’twas seen that Hagen had outdone him.

[366]

To the king then spake old Wâ-te:  “Let each no favor show,

While we together struggle.  Well have I learned from you

Your four strokes to be plying;  my thanks be you now sharing.”

Such thanks he later showed him  as doth a fighting Frank or Saxon daring.

[367]

No more a truce was thought of  by Wâ-te and the king;

With strokes that loud were crashing,  the hall began to ring.

Harder blows than ever  they gave, as now they battled;

All their thrusts were sudden;  the knobs upon their swords snapped off and rattled.

[368]

The two sat down to rest them;  then Hagen said to his guest:

“You fain would be a learner,  but you in truth are the best

That ever I was teaching  the skill that the foeman dazes.

Wherever you are fighting,  you in the field will win most worthy praises.”

[369]

Then to the king spake Irold:  “My lord, the strife is done

That you so well were waging;  such fights have we seen won,

In the land of our king and master.  Oft, at home, we freely

Try our skill with weapons;  knights and squires there meet in matches daily.”

[370]

Then again spoke Hagen:  “Did I this understand,

I never a fighting weapon  had taken in my hand.

No youth have I ever met with  who was so quick at learning.”

When to these words they listened,  the face of many a one to smiles was turning.

[371]

Now by the king ’twas granted  to his guests to pass the day

As they might all be choosing.  Glad of this were they,

The men from out the Northland.  When the hours grew weary,

They vied huge stones in hurling;  or else in shooting arrows made them merry.

[372]

It came to pass one evening,  good luck did so befall,

That Horant, the knight of Daneland,  sang before them all.

His singing was so wondrous  that all who listened near him

Found his song well-pleasing;  the little birds all hushed their notes to hear him.

[373]

King Hagen heard him gladly,  and with him all his men:

The song of the Danish Horant  friends for him did gain.

Likewise the queenly mother  hearkened with ear befitting,

As it sounded thro’ the opening  where she upon the leaded roof was sitting.

[374]

Then spake the fair young Hilda:  “What is it that I hear?

Just now a song the sweetest  was thrilling on mine ear,

That e’er from any singer  I heard until this hour.

Would to God in heaven  my chamberlain to raise such notes had power!”

[375]

Then she bade them bring her  him who so sweetly sung;

Soon as the knight came forward,  thanks were on her tongue.

For her with song the evening  blissfully was ended;

By Lady Hilda’s women  the minstrel-knight was carefully befriended.

[376]

Then spake the lovely Hilda:  “Once more you must let us hear

The songs that you this evening  have made to us so dear.

Truly it were blissful  every day, at even,

To hear from you such singing;  for this would great reward to you be given.”

[377]

“Since you your thanks, fair lady,  have thus on me bestowed,

Every day will I gladly  sing you a song as good;

And whoso listens rightly  shall find his pains departed,

His cares shall all be lessened,  and he henceforth will feel himself light-hearted.”

[378]

When he his word had given,  forthwith he left the queen.

Great reward in Ireland  did his singing win;

Never in his birthland  had such to him been meted.

Thus did the knight from Denmark  give his help to Hettel, as him befitted.

[379]

Soon as the night was ended,  with the early dawn of day,

Horant raised his carol;  the birds soon stopped their lay,

And to his song they listened,  while in hedges hidden.

The folk who yet were sleeping  rested no more, by his sweet tones upbidden.

[380]

Horant’s song rose softly,  higher and yet more sweet;

King Hagen also heard it,  while near his wife was his seat.

From out their inner chamber  drawn to the roof, they waited;

Their guest of this had warning;  and Hilda the young gave ear, where she was seated.

[381]

The daughter of wild Hagen  with her maids around her heard

From where they sat and listened;  and now each little bird

Wholly forgot his singing,  and in the court-yard lighted;

The warriors hearkened also,  and well the song of the Danish minstrel greeted.

[382]

Thanks to him were given  by women and by men;

“But,” said the Danish Fru-te,  “would that I ne’er again

Such songs might hear him singing.  Whom would he be pleasing?

To whom is my witless nephew  such worthless morning-hymns so bent on raising?”

[383]

Then spake King Hagen’s liegemen:  “My lord, let him be heard;

There’s none so sick is lying  but would in truth be cheered,

If to the songs he listened  which fall from him so sweetly.”

Said Hagen: “Would to Heaven  such skill to sing were mine; ’twould glad me greatly.”

[384]

When the knightly minstrel  three songs to the end had sung,

No one there who heard him  thought they were too long,

The turn of a hand, not longer,  they had thought it lasted,

E’en if they had listened  while for a thousand miles a horseman hasted.

[385]

When his song he ended,  and to leave his seat was seen,

The youthful, queenly maiden  more blithe had never been,

Nor decked, at early morning,  in gayer clothes or better;

Forthwith the high-born lady  sent to beg her father now to meet her.

[386]

Then came her father quickly,  and on the maiden looked,

While, in a mood of sadness,  her father’s chin she stroked;

With her hand she coaxed him,  to make her word the stronger,

And said: “My dearest father,  bid that he at court may sing yet longer.”

[387]

He answered: “Best loved daughter,  if again, at the hour of eve,

His songs he deigns to sing you,  a thousand pounds I’ll give.

But now a mien so lofty  these guests of ours are wearing,

To us ’tis not so pleasant  here, at court, to give his songs a hearing.”

[388]

However much she pressed him,  would the king no longer stay;

Then strove again young Horant,  and never on any day,

Had his knightly song been better.  Sick and well together

All lost their wits in hearing,  and none could leave who to listen once came hither.

[389]

The wild beasts in the forest  let their pasture grow;

The little worms that creeping  through grass are wont to go,

The fishes, too, that ever  amidst the waves were swimming,

All now stopped to listen;  the singer’s heart with pride was overbrimming.

[390]

Whatever he might sing to them,  to no one seemed it long;

Ill vied with his song the choral  which by priests is sung.

Even the bells no longer  rang as of yore so sweetly;

Every one who heard him  was moved by Horant’s song, and saddened greatly.

[391]

Then begged the lovely maiden  that he to her be brought;

Without her father’s knowledge,  she slyly this besought.

From her mother, Hilda, also  must the tale be hidden

That unto her, in her bower,  unknown to all, the minstrel had been bidden.

[392]

It was a yielding chamberlain  who did the wages gain,

That, for his help, she gave him;  red gold it was, I ween.

Glittering and heavy,  with armlets twelve, full-weighted.

’Twas thus within her bower  the maid, at eventide, the singer greeted.

[393]

By hidden ways he did it;  Horant was glad indeed

That such good-will and kindness,  at court, had been his meed.

To win her love for his master  from far had he been faring;

To his tuneful skill he owed it  that she such friendly will to him was bearing.

[394]

She bade her faithful chamberlain  to stand before the house;

That so there might be no one  who could the threshold cross

Until the songs were ended,  soon heard with praises truthful.

None went into her bower  but Horant only and Morunc the youthful.

[395]

She bade the bard be seated:  “Now sing to me once more,”

Thus spake the high-born maiden,  “those songs I heard before.

For this I feel sore craving;  than aught beside ’tis sweeter

Unto your lays to listen;  than any gem or pastime ’tis far better.”

[396]

“If I might dare to sing to you,  most fair and lovely maid,

And never need be fearful  for this to lose my head,

Thro’ your father’s anger,  never will I falter

In any wise to serve you,  if in my master’s land you’ll seek a shelter.”

[397]

He then began a ditty  of a mermaid of Amilé,

Which never man nor Christian  had learned to sing or say,

Although he may have heard it  on some wild, unknown water.

In this the good knight, Horant,  gave honor meet at court to Hagen’s daughter.

[398]

At last, when he the love-song  had sung unto the end,

Then said the lovely maiden:  “Thanks I give, my friend.”

She drew a ring from her finger,  nought of gold were fairer,

And said: “I give it gladly;  be this of my good-will to you the bearer.”

[399]

Now her word she pledged him,  and with it gave her hand:

“Should she of a crown be wearer,  and ever sway the land,

That ne’er by the hand of any  need he be further driven

Than unto her in her castle;  there to live in honor would leave be given.”

[400]

Of all she pressed upon him  nothing would he take

Unless indeed a girdle.  He said: “Let no man speak,

And say that I the maiden  e’er for myself was wooing;

I will to my master bring her,  and for this his heart shall be with bliss o’erflowing.”

[401]

She asked: “Who is thy master?  By name how is he known?

Have e’er his liegemen crowned him?  And any lands doth he own?

For love of thee, most truly,  good-will I bear him ever.”

The knight from Denmark answered:  “A king so rich and mighty saw I never.”

[402]

He said: “To none betray us,  most fair and lovely maid;

To thee will I tell most gladly  what our master said,

When from his land we started,  hither to come at his bidding;

For thy dear sake, fair lady,  unto thy father’s land and castle speeding.”

[403]

She said: “Then tell me freely  the errand on which you’re sent

By him you call your master;  if my will that way is bent

I shall let you know it truly,  before we yet are parted.”

But Horant feared wild Hagen,  and began at court to feel himself faint-hearted.

[404]

To the lady thus he answered:  “To you he sends this word,—

That his heart for you is longing;  his love alone is stirred.

For him, I beg, fair lady,  let now your kindness waken;

He from other women  has for your sake his love and longing taken.”

[405]

She said: “May God reward him;  such love for me he shows.

If he in birth is my fellow,  I fain would be his spouse,

If you will deign to sing to me  every morn and even.”

He said: “That will I gladly;  to this no care by you need e’er be given.”

[406]

Quoth he to the queenly Hilda:  “Most fair and high-born maid,

There daily live with my master,  and long at court have staid,

Twelve minstrels who, before me,  earn much higher praises;

But, though sweet their singing,  my lord, the king, in song still better pleases.”

[407]

She said: “If your loving master  in song so skilful be,

Of longing for him, truly,  I never can be free;

My best of thanks I give him  for the love he now is showing,

And, dared I leave my father,  gladly from here would I with you be going.”

[408]

Then spake the knightly Morunc:  “Lady, with us there are

Warriors full seven hundred:  our weal or woe they share,

And each for this is ready;  if once in our hands we have you,

Know you nor fear nor sorrow  lest we to meet wild Hagen’s wrath should leave you.”

[409]

He said: “From Hagen’s kingdom  we wish forthwith to go;

Therefore beg your father  the kindness to us to show,

Youthful, high-born maiden,  that he and your queenly mother

Will deign our bark to look on;  and you must also come, e’en if no other.”

[410]

“That will I do most gladly,  if my father’s leave you have;

Of him and those about him  this boon you now must crave,

That I and my maidens also  may ride to the shore some morning.

If he shall grant your wishes,  three days before, of the time you must give us warning.”

[411]

The first of all the chamberlains  was wont, and had a right,

Often to be with the maidens.  Just then, this very knight

There had come for pastime,  and to give to them his greeting;

There found he Horant and Morunc;  well might they fear some harm was their lives awaiting.

[412]

He said to Lady Hilda:  “Who are they sitting here?”

From the lord so hot and hasty  was never such wrath to fear.

He said: “Whoe’er allowed you  to come into this bower?

Whoso in this hath helped you  ne’er showed you falser friendship to this hour.”

[413]

She said: “Now soothe your anger:  in peace pray let them live.

If to yourself great evil  you do not wish to give,

You must unseen by any,  them to their rooms be bringing;

It else hath helped but little  that his knightly songs the minstrel here was singing.”

[414]

“Is this the knight,” he asked her,  “they say so well can sing?

E’en such a minstrel know I:  never hath any king

Had a braver fighter.  My father and his mother

Were children of one father;  worthier knight than he there’s not another.”

[415]

The maid began to ask him:  “Tell me, then, his name.”

He said: “Men call him Horant;  from the Danish land he came.

Although no crown he weareth,  he yet for one is fitted:

We now know not each other,  but once at Hettel’s court our love we plighted.”

[416]

When Morunc, too, was telling  that erst, in his fatherland,

He also had been outlawed,  his heart was sorely pained.

His eyes with tears were welling,  and now were overflowing;

Then the queenly lady  kindly looked on him, her sorrow showing.

[417]

Then saw the chamberlain also  how that his eyes were wet.

He said: “Most worthy lady,  these friends whom here we meet

I know to be my kinsmen;  help now that all goes rightly

With both these worthy champions:  most careful will I be to keep them fitly.”

[418]

Much for them he sorrowed,  and felt heart-pain, forsooth;

“Durst I before my ladies,  I would kiss upon the mouth

Each of these knights so worthy.  The days indeed are many

Since tidings of King Hettel  I could from a Hegeling ask, or learn from any.”

[419]

Then spake the maiden further:  “Since these thy kinsmen be,

Now so much the dearer  are they as guests to me.

Known unto my father  thou should’st quickly make them;

They will not then so hastily  to their homes afar across the sea betake them.”

[420]

A busy talk began they,  those two young heroes brave;

Morunc unto the chamberlain  his mind most freely gave.

He said for Lady Hilda  they came within those borders;

And that their master Hettel  to bring her back had sent them, as her warders.

[421]

Then said to them the chamberlain:  “A twofold care I feel,

As liegeman of my master,  and to help you, too, as well.

How could I turn his anger,  if he knew you now were seeking

To win his maiden daughter?  Never from here could you your way be taking.”

[422]

Then spake the knightly Horant:  “Hear well what now I say;

In four days’ time to Hagen,  we will come, and him will pray

That we may leave his kingdom,  if such may be his pleasure.

The king will then make ready  gifts for us of clothes, as well as treasure.

[423]

“We will ask for nothing further,  (help you here must lend,)

But that Hagen shall be willing,  as well beseems a friend,

To come to the shore to see us,  my lady with him riding,—

His wife, the high-born Hilda;  there to see the ship in which we’re biding.

[424]

“Might we in this be lucky,  our toil we well shall spend;

And, with a happy outcome,  our sorrows have an end.

If only to the seashore  he will ride with his daughter,

We well shall be rewarded  at home by our master Hettel, for whom we sought her.”

[425]

Then from out the castle  they were led by the crafty man,

So that the kingly Hagen  mistrusted not their plan.

When, for their floating shelter,  they the courtyard quitted,

All they had done for their master  should not, I ween, by him at home be slighted.

[426]

They told the aged Wâ-te  what yet to none was known:

They said the high-born maiden  her love did freely own

Unto their master, Hettel,  for whom they now had sought her;

They talked with wise old Wâ-te  how best to bring her home across the water.

[427]

Then spake the aged Wâ-te:  “Were she once outside the gate,

And I the lovely maiden  there might only meet,

However hard the struggle  that there we had with the foeman,

To cross her father’s threshold  none again should see that lovely woman.”

[428]

Their plot, well-laid and crafty,  to no one did they break,

But slyly made them ready  their homeward way to take.

This they told the warriors  on board their ship there lying;

Not loth were they to hear it,  for now to sail the weary men were sighing.

[429]

They quickly brought together  such goods as they did own;

Then, in stillness whispered,  their hidden thought made known.

Later, throughout Ireland,  it was mourned, with bitter wailing;

Though woe it brought to Hagen,  the Hegeling’s greatness would it soon be telling.

[430]

Upon the fourth day’s morning  to court they bravely rode,

With new and well-cut clothing;  none better ever showed.

Then the guests there gathered  were their wishes speaking;

Of the king and all his liegemen  they asked that they their leave might now be taking.

[431]

Then spake to them King Hagen:  “Why will you leave my land?

So far as I was able,  I have striven for this end,—

That you within my kingdom  should meet with kindness only;

Now would you hence be sailing,  leaving me here, to lead a life all lonely.”

[432]

To him old Wâ-te answered:  “The Hegeling king, our lord,

Has sent to call us homeward;  he will not hear a word

Of aught but our forgiveness.  Then, too, for us are mourning

Those we left behind us;  we therefore soon must back on our way be turning.”

[433]

Then said to him wild Hagen:  “Your loss my heart doth break;

Horses and fine clothing  deign, for my love, to take,

With gold and costly jewels.  Right well it doth beseem me

For all your gifts to pay you;  in this shall no one ever dare to blame me.”

[434]

Then said the hoary Wâ-te:  “Too rich am I to-day

That I the gold you give us  should wish to take away.

Our master, whose forgiveness  our friends have lately won us,

The rich and mighty Hettel,  in such a deed would truly never own us.

[435]

“One thing we have yet further,  my lord, to ask of thee;

(If you this kindness show us,  a worthy boon, ’twill be.)

It is that you shall witness  how well we can be feasting;

Of food for hearty eaters  we have in store what might three years be lasting.

[436]

“To all who ask we give it,  for hence we sail o’er the deep;

May God long give you honor,  yourself may He ever keep.

We now betake us homeward,  we here may bide no longer;

Now may you and your kinsfolk  ride with us to our ship; no guard were stronger.

[437]

“If but your lovely daughter,  and with her my lady, your wife,

Shall look upon our riches,  glad will it make our life,

And dear to us forever.  If this to us be granted,

Great and good King Hagen,  from you no other gifts shall e’er be wanted.”

[438]

Then to his guests he answered,  with seemly, well-bred mien:

“Since you are now so earnest,  at early morn shall be seen

A hundred mares made ready,  saddled for woman or maiden;

I, too, will ride down with them;  right glad am I that to see your ship I’m bidden.”

[439]

Then for the night they left him,  and rode away to the shore.

Then up on the beach was carried  of wine a goodly store,

That in the bark was lying;  for food they were not lacking.

By this the ship was lightened;  wisely had Fru-te of Denmark his plans been making.

[440]

Early on the morrow,  after the mass was said,

To don their richest clothing  strove each wife and maid:

A throng of these King Hagen  to the sandy shore was leading;

And with them riding gayly  a thousand stalwart Irish knights were speeding.

[441]

Within the town of Ballian  the guests had heard the mass.

Of all the woe and sorrow,  that soon would come to pass,

Hagen as yet knew nothing:  little honor was left him

By his guests’ withdrawal;  this of his fair and well-born child bereft him.

[442]

When now they all had ridden  to the ships upon the strand,

Queen Hilda and her ladies  were lifted down on the sand.

The young and lovely maidens  to see the ships were taken:

The traders’ booths were open,  and the goods did wonder great in the queen awaken.

[443]

Many fair-wrought jewels  lay in sight in the shops,

Such as men prize highly;  King Hagen to see them stops,

And many with him also:  soon as the goods were shown them,

The maidens, too, must see them,  and rings and bands of gold were pressed upon them.

[444]

To see the sights King Hagen  into a boat had gone:

Not all the booths were open,  nor all the goods were shown,

When Wâ-te’s men heaved anchor  up from the sea-sands deftly,

And Hilda with her maidens  was borne away from the land of her fathers swiftly.

[445]

For no one’s hate and anger  Wâ-te greatly cares;

Little he recks what happens  to the shops of costly wares:

Hilda, the queenly mother,  was sundered from her daughter;

The men, in the ship long hidden,  up-sprang and sorrow made for Hagen on the water.

[446]

Then the sails were hoisted,  and ’twas seen that they were set:

From the ship they threw the foemen,  who thoroughly were wet,

Like sea-birds on the water,  when near the sands they flutter.

For her daughter dear-belovéd  sorrow and anger the queen aloud did utter.

[447]

When the weaponed fighters  by Hagen there were seen,

Then, in truth, how scornful  and wrathful was his mien!

“Now bring to me my long-spear,  to feel it I will teach them;

They all shall die full quickly  when my strong right arm with that shall reach them!”

[448]

Boldly then spoke Morunc:  “Be not so much in haste!

Though now you think to fight us,  and to rush on us so fast

With a thousand well-armed foemen,  we yet will overthrow them,

And fling them into the water;  a damp, cold lodging we will quickly show them!”

[449]

Still, brave Hagen’s followers  the fight would not give o’er;

The water shone and glistened  with the armor that they wore;

Then they drew their long-swords,  spears were thickly flying;

But oars were dipped full quickly,  and fast the boats away from the shore were hieing.

[450]

The bold and daring Wâ-te  from the sands had given a bound

Into a well-manned row-boat;  loud did his mail resound,

As he, with fifty warriors,  after Hilda hasted:

Hagen’s careless followers  now must rouse themselves, no time they wasted.

[451]

Onward came King Hagen;  his fighting-gear he wore,

And a heavy sword, the sharpest,  he proudly with him bore;

But now the aged Wâ-te  almost too long had waited;

Wild and grim was Hagen,  and high his spear he raised ’gainst his foe belated.

[452]

Loudly then he shouted,  and bade his men make haste;

None of all his followers  would he allow to rest,

Hoping these guests, now fleeing,  who had been such traitors,

Might be with speed o’ertaken,  and either should be slain, or bound in fetters.

[453]

The king had now about him  fighters many and brave,

But yet he could not follow  across the wild sea-wave;

His ships were all unready,  and many of them leaking,

When now he would be sailing;  of Hagen’s blame for this were all soon speaking.

[454]

On the gravelly sea-shore standing,  no other way he knew

But that more ships be builded  for him and his liegemen true,

And workmen called together,  who must therein be speedy:

All came who now were able,  and these he found to be both skilled and ready.

[455]

Upon the seventh morning,  there left the Irish land

The men sent forth by Hettel  to ask for Hilda’s hand,

And bring to him the lady.  They were a thousand barely;

Hagen brought against them  thirty hundred men, if reckoned fairly.

[456]

The daring knights of Denmark  sent men home before,

To carry word to Hettel  that Hagen’s child they bore,

And to his land would bring her,  with honor him befitting.

Though now they little thought it,  still harder work erelong must they be meeting.

[457]

To them their master, Hettel,  in happy mood then spoke:

“My sorrows now are over.  Great toils my liegemen took

For me in Hagen’s kingdom,  and now have brought me gladness;

Since they on their errand left me,  fear for their doom has filled my heart with sadness.

[458]

“Dear friends, if with your tidings  you have not me betrayed,

And do not tell me falsely  that you have seen the maid

Near to my land and kingdom,  and in my friends’ safe-keeping,

For your tale will I reward you,  and gladly will your praise be ever speaking.”

[459]

They said: “No lie we tell you,  that we the maid have seen;

But when we miles had measured,  the daughter of the queen

Sadly said, for our welfare  she feared, and was heavy-hearted,

Lest the king, her father,  to follow with his ships e’en then had started.”

[460]

For the tidings, Hettel gave them  a hundred marks in worth;

For all his knights there gathered,  men at once brought forth

Swords as well as helmets,  and shields for them were bidden:

Thus from Hettel’s castle  they went, as if to court, to bring the maiden.

[461]

All the men he was able  Hettel for this now sought;

Greatly was he hoping,  and much thereof he thought,

So great a host to muster,  and these so well outfitted,

That never to king’s fair daughter  so fine a welcome might again be meted.

[462]

In haste were all then bidden  who ought with him to go;

They still made ready slowly,  till gifts he should bestow

Of all things that they needed;  they for this were waiting.

At length by him were gathered  a thousand men or more, for Hilda’s greeting.

[463]

Gay were they in clothing,—  ’gainst this could none say nay,—

Poor as well as wealthy  were shining in war-array:

To bring the lovely ladies  to their new home and dwelling

Were Hettel’s lieges earnest;  with lofty hopes of this their hearts were swelling.

[464]

Soon as they left the castle,  shouts the land did fill,

As they their way were making  thro’ lowland and o’er hill;

Men saw upon the pathways  crowds still thronging nearer:

Hettel hastened forward,  to see the maid, than every other dearer.

[465]

At last the aged Wâ-te,  the knight from the Sturmisch land,

Had reached the Waalisch marches  and stepped upon the sand.

There on the shore were gathered  the sailors, water-weary;

Shelter they sought for Hilda,  and in a friendly land were glad to tarry.

[466]

Stakes for tents were driven  near to the broad sea-flood

By the followers of Wâ-te;  they were in happy mood.

Erelong the news was bruited,  and soon to them was given,

That Hettel, king of the Hegelings,  had left his home, and now was near them even;

[467]

And that he with many liegemen  was riding down to the shore,

To meet his well-belovéd.  Now hoped the maids the more

That she with greatest honor  should, as her birth befitted,

Be brought into his kingdom.  No more the thought of strife their hearts affrighted.

[468]

The guests for nothing wanted,  they had both wine and food;

Those who were living near them  freely on them bestowed

The best that they were able;  the wants of all they heeded;

Whate’er they had they gave them,  and left them not to lack for aught they needed.

[469]

Hettel now drew nearer  to those who had reached his land;

And with him, gathered hastily,  the strong and goodly band,

Drawn from his father’s kingdom.  They came bedecked so gaily,

And in such glittering armor,  the guests looked on full glad, and praised them freely.

[470]

Then the men of the Hegelings  came down upon the plain,

And soon the rushing riders  a tilting-match began;

All with youthful boldness  for knightly prizes striving:

Then came the Danish Fru-te,  and with him Wâ-te, wise as any living.

[471]

They were seen from afar by Hettel;  happy in heart was he.

His horse he set a-prancing;  right glad was he to see

Two of his bravest liegemen,  sent by him o’er the water,

With fighters bold to Ireland,  in hopes to win for him wild Hagen’s daughter.

[472]

On him, too, looked they gladly,  their worthy king, so good;

Each day they spent there with him  found them in happy mood.

Wâ-te with all his fellows,  while far away they were living,

Had known much bitter hardship:  for this would Hettel now reward be giving.

[473]

As he met his friendly liegemen,  King Hettel wore a smile;

Then said he to them kindly:  “Much have I feared erewhile

For you, my faithful helpers,  and a heavy heart was bearing,

Lest in Hagen’s castles  my men were held, and all were bondage sharing.”

[474]

Then for love he kissed them,  both those gray old men;

His eyes had never rested  on so glad a sight as then,

Nor on a fairer pasture  had fed, with longing fonder.

I ween that never to Hettel  was aught so full of bliss and sudden wonder.

[475]

Then spake the aged Wâ-te:  No harm to us was done;

But yet a sway so mighty  I ne’er before have known,

As this that wild King Hagen  over his lands now wieldeth:

His followers bear them proudly,  and he himself in strength to no one yieldeth.

[476]

“It was a day as happy  as ever could be thought,

When we to you sent tidings  that we had Hilda brought,

The loveliest of maidens  (no falsehood have I spoken,

Believe the tale I tell you)  that ever in this world my eyes did look on.”

[477]

The high-born knight then added:  “Belike with greatest speed

Will come these daring foemen;  for this should you take heed

Lest the angry Hagen  soon shall overtake us

Here within your marches;  if so, his hatred bitter woe will make us.”

[478]

Then Wâ-te and Sir Fru-te  down to the shore did bring

Many worthy followers,  knights of Hettel, the king,

There to see fair Hilda,  and there must they await her.

Upon their shining bucklers  many a spear-shaft crashed in battle later.

[479]

Now came the fair young maiden,  under a comely hat;

Then all the men of the Hegelings  who on their horses sat

By the side of the king, their master,  upon the grass alighted.

With merry hearts then gladly  the well-bred throng their love and friendship plighted.

[480]

Irold, he of Ortland,  and Morunc of the Frisian land,

Both of those brave champions,  one on either hand,

Came with lovely Hilda,  and Hettel soon were meeting;

Worthy was she of praises.  Now thought the maid to give the king her greeting.

[481]

With her there came young maidens,  twenty or even more,

All clad in fair white linen,—  whiter none e’er wore,—

Or best of silken clothing,  that could be found by any:

Proud were they to wear them,  and, gaily decked, they there were seen by many.

[482]

The king, both good and stately,  then began to greet

With well-bred, seemly bearing,  the maid he thought was meet

To wear the crown hereafter.  He gazed on her with yearning;

Her in his arms he folded,  and fondly kissed the maid, her face upturning.

[483]

Then one by one he welcomed  all the maidens fair;

But one there was among them  so lofty in her air

She might of birth be kingly:  in nought her kin were lacking.

She was one of the maidens  who with the griffin long her home was making.

[484]

She bore the name of Hildeburg:  from Hilda, Hagen’s wife,

She ever had won the honor  befitting her worthy life;

Born in the land of Portugal,  thence had she been taken.

She now saw many strangers:  a longing sad for her friends did this awaken.

[485]

Hettel to all the maidens  gave a welcome free,

Yet was their lot no brighter;  for when they thought to see

An end of all their sadness,  upon the coming morrow,

Soon as the day was dawning,  there came to them again as great a sorrow.

[486]

Her throng of high-born followers  were greeted on every side;

Near to Hagen’s daughter  on a flowery meadow wide,

Under silken awnings,  many there were seated.

But Hagen was now too near them;  to them from him must many ills be meted.

[487]

When the day was dawning,  there was seen full well,

And known by Horant of Daneland,  a cross upon a sail,

With other emblems blazoned,  that pilgrims did betoken.

For such a band of pilgrims  in Wâ-te’s heart was little love bespoken.

[488]

Loudly Morunc shouted  to Irold brave and true:

“Now ask our lord, King Hettel,  what he thinks to do?

A sail with the arms of Hagen  comes to our shore too nearly:

Too long have we been sleeping,  and well to be rid of this will cost us dearly.”

[489]

To Hettel the tale was carried  that the father of his bride,

Hither from Ireland sailing,  with ships broad-built and wide

As well as many a galley,  now their shore was nearing.

From Wâ-te and from Fru-te  their wisest thoughts the king was bent on hearing.

[490]

Both those knights of Denmark  could hardly this believe,

Had not their eyes beheld it,  that Hagen, with followers brave,

Seeking his daughter Hilda,  to the river Waal was steering.

The men who came from Ortland  lay happy on the beach, no danger fearing.

[491]

The fair and noble Hilda  soon heard the wondrous tale,

Whereat the kindly maiden  did loudly thus bewail:

“My father, if he comes hither,  soon will make such slaughter,

That none e’er knew the sorrow  that will be felt by many a wife and daughter.”

[492]

“We ’gainst that can guard us,”  answered the knight Irold:

“However he may bluster,  I would not take of gold

A mountain’s weight in barter,  that day when foes are mated,

Could I see my uncle Wâ-te  near wild Hagen come, with anger heated.”

[493]

Then the lovely maidens  began to wail and mourn.

The ship was tossed and rolling,  now by the west wind borne,

With warriors filled and crowded,  near to Waal, the river.

They there, in heavy fighting,  soon found a blood-stained resting-place forever.

[494]

Wâ-te bade that Hilda  on board a ship should stay.

To guard the queenly maiden,  while near the shore it lay,

On every side all hastily  men their shields were bearing:

To keep a watch o’er the ladies,  there were on board a hundred warriors daring.

[495]

Ready now for battle  were all who to the strand

Had brought the lovely Hilda  from her Irish fatherland,

Whence they the maid had stolen,  to her father Hagen’s sorrow.

Many, sound and healthy,  must sorely fear for their lives before the morrow.

[496]

Hettel was soon heard shouting  and calling aloud to his men:

“Be on your guard, brave fighters!  Who never gold did gain,

To him it shall be measured,  in handfuls, without weighing.

Let this be not forgotten,—  that now your Irish foes you may be slaying.”

[497]

Bearing then their weapons,  down they rushed to the sand;

Stirred with warlike bustle  was all the Waalisch strand.

Thither to King Hettel  flocked his champions daring;

Friends as well as foemen  soon towards the self-same spot were faring.

[498]

Now had Hagen also  reached the sandy shore,

And men at him were hurling  the spears they bravely bore:

Those upon the seashore  well their lives then guarded

From the stormy Irish onset;  but wounds yet all the more their bravery rewarded.

[499]

How seldom would a father  have wished to send his child

Where sparks of fire, all-glowing,  were struck by foemen wild

Forth from hardened helmets,  in sight of many a maiden!

To have sailed with these roving fighters  did now at last the lovely Hilda sadden.

[500]

By turns they smote each other  with heavy spears and long:

Altho’ themselves they guarded  beneath their bucklers strong,

Yet wounded thro’ their hauberks,  they were gashed and bloody;

And soon with flowing life-blood  the waters’ depths were deeply stained and ruddy.

[501]

Then to his trusty liegemen  Hagen called aloud:

The sea gave back his shouting,—  truly his strength was good,—

He bade them help to land him,  their wounds by them unheeded;

Glad were they to do it:  thereby were spears in many hearts imbedded.

[502]

Hagen now drew nearer,  not far was he from the sand;

His sword it clattered loudly;  Hettel, near at hand,

Was standing by the water,  on the seashore waiting:

There, with daring followers,  deeds he did that praise should aye be meeting.

[503]

Hagen, wild with anger,  leaped into the wave,

And to the shore he waded.  Then on that warrior brave

Came a shower of lances;  like snowflakes falling thickly,

Fast they fell around him,  shot by the Hegeling foemen, thronging quickly.

[504]

Then from the clash of sword-blades  a mighty noise arose.

Those who would slay wild Hagen  soon beneath his blows

Were seen to reel and stagger.  Hettel, the noble fighter,

Drew near to Hilda’s father;  at this the maiden wept, with tears most bitter.

[505]

It was indeed a wonder,  as we the tale have heard,

So strong and brave was Hagen,  that Hettel, the Hegeling lord,

Before him held his footing.  As soon as, wildly fighting,

They had reached each other,  their helmets rang beneath the heavy smiting.

[506]

But not so quickly ended  was yet the stormy fight.

Soon was Hettel wounded  by brave King Hagen’s might:

Wâ-te the old of Sturmland,  with his kin, to Hettel hasted,

With Irold, too, and Morunc,—  knights as good as foemen’s lands e’er wasted.

[507]

Now came the brave old Fru-te  and Wâ-te with his throng:

Knights there were a thousand,—  the press of them was strong.

Hettel’s Hegeling kinsmen,  well their weapons plying,

Wounded many foemen;  on every side stretched low, the men were lying.

[508]

After bravest fighting,  now had reached the land

The followers of Hagen;  then crowded to the sand,

After his friends so faithful,  a host from Ireland’s borders.

Soon were helmets shattered:  grimly they fought to win the maids from their warders.

[509]

Hagen saw then near him  Hettel, the youthful knight:

Many strong and stalwart  were shorn of strength outright,

Both by those from Daneland  and the Hegeling lieges:

Now to meet wild Hagen  every one old Wâ-te loud beseeches.

[510]

Then, by his strength, King Hagen  broke thro’ the crowd a path,

And with his sword hewed boldly;  well he wreaked his wrath,

Because his much-loved daughter  from him by craft was taken;

Coats of mail lay fallen:  the wrongs of Hagen hate in him did waken.

[511]

He might not quench his anger  with the sword alone;

By the thrust of his heavy long-spear  soon were overthrown

Many a knight most daring:  never the tale was given

By these unto their kinsmen,  of how in the stormy fight their luck had thriven.

[512]

Now came Wâ-te quickly,  the knight well born and good;

Soon of his well-loved kinsmen  he saw the flowing blood,

Under the slash of broadswords,  out of their armor dripping:

Of those who would have helped him,  five hundred wounded men in death were sleeping.

[513]

Everywhere were gathered  friends as well as foes,

All in uproar minged;  a mighty din arose.

Wâ-te and wild Hagen  rushed on each other madly,

Whoe’er could shun their pathway  of all the risk he had fled was thinking gladly.

[514]

Hagen laid on Wâ-te  many a heavy blow,—

Well his strength he wielded.  Their helmets were aglow

With fiery sparks outflashing,—  like to brands they glittered;

Each cleft the other’s helmet,  and ever still, each other’s blows they bettered.

[515]

The ground beneath was trembling  with aged Wâ-te’s stroke:

Scarcely could the maidens  of his onslaught shun the shock.

Now the wounds of Hettel  his faithful friends were binding;

He then began to ask them  where his cousin Wâ-te he could be finding.

[516]

With Hagen, “of kings the Devil,”  he found old Wâ-te soon:

The skill of him of Sturmland  to guard himself was shown:

Brave were both these warriors,  and oft the tale was spoken

How Wâ-te the bold and Hagen  in hardest strife had each his anger wroken.

[517]

Hagen’s spear was broken  erelong on Wâ-te’s shield:

Well in the fight he bore it,  and strength enough did wield.

Ne’er on the field of warfare  did blows of men fall thicker,

Even of bravest warriors;  Wâ-te scorned to flinch, or seem the worker.

[518]

Hagen cleft the head-piece  of Hettel’s brave old man,

The trusty, daring Wâ-te,  till blood from his helmet ran,

From out his wounds fast flowing.  Now the wind blew colder,

For eventide was nearing;  the struggling throng in fight but grew the bolder.

[519]

Wâ-te gave back in anger  each grim and deadly blow,

Making the blood, like tear-drops,  on Hagen’s breast to flow;

Strokes he gave his foeman,  until the sword-blade glittered

On the bosses of his helmet;  daylight before his darkened eyesight flittered.

[520]

Wounded, too, was Irold,  Ortland’s champion brave.

Though many there lay dying  from the wounds that Hagen gave,

Yet the blows of Wâ-te  still did Hagen batter.

Sorely wept the maidens  when of so many swords they heard the clatter.

[521]

Now, in fear and sorrow,  Hilda, the maiden fair,

Cried unto King Hettel,  and begged of him to spare

Her father from old Wâ-te,  the fight so grimly waging.

He called for his standard-bearer,  and bade him lead his men where the strife was raging.

[522]

Then the kingly Hettel  right well and bravely fought;

Soon he found old Wâ-te,  to whom no joy it brought:

Then Hettel called to Hagen:  “Let hatred hence be driven;

So shall it raise your honor,  if now our friends no more to death be given.”

[523]

Hagen shouted loudly,—  fell indeed was his mood,—

“Who bids that we be parted?”  Then cried the warrior good:

“I bid it, I, King Hettel,  the Hegelings’ lord and master,

Who for the Lady Hilda  sent my friends so far, from you to wrest her.”

[524]

Then spake the lordly Hagen:  “Since first to me ’twas told

How you to win my daughter  showed yourself so bold,

This to your name with warriors  shame has ne’er been doing;

Clever was the cunning  to which your winning of my child is owing.”

[525]

Hettel then sprang nearer,  as oft by one is done,

Who thinks to stop the fighting.  Grim was the mood yet shown

By the bold and aged Wâ-te;  but he and Hagen yielded:

Then with all his followers  Hagen stepped back, nor longer his weapon wielded.

[526]

Now the lordly Hettel  his helmet laid aside;

A truce was loudly called for  by all, both far and wide;

’Twas said by Hilda’s father  there was an end of fighting:

For many a day, the maidens  had heard no tale their ears so much delighting.

[527]

The men took off the armor  which they in fight had worn,

And now at last they rested.  Many then must mourn

For wounds, in warfare given,  whence the blood was welling;

But many lay there also  who never more on thoughts of war were dwelling.

[528]

Then stepped forth King Hettel  and near to Hagen stood,

And thus he spake to the warrior:  “Since I well have wooed

Your lovely daughter Hilda,  ’tis fit that you allow her

To wear the crown beside me:  my many well-bred knights will fealty show her.”

[529]

Then Hettel sent for Wâ-te,  of whom he was in need;

For many years now ended,  of him it had been said

That he from some wild woman  had learned a leech’s cunning:

Wâ-te, forsooth, was skilful  to heal deep wounds and stanch the life-blood running.

[530]

Wâ-te laid by his weapons;  his wounds he first had bound.

Herbs that were good for healing  by him were quickly found;

He had a box full costly,  that in it held a plaster.

Now the fair Queen Hilda  besought his help, and at his feet she cast her.

[531]

She said, “My dear friend Wâ-te,  my father heal, I pray;

For this, whate’er you ask me,  I ne’er will say you nay;

And help his warriors also,  who in the dust lie bleeding,

And show your skill to his liegemen  who stood by him, when he their help was needing.

[532]

“Nor must you be forgetful  of those of the Hegeling land,

Who were friends to Hettel;  wet with their blood is the sand

On which they now are lying,  as if a rain were falling:

Sorrowful tales of their fighting  for me there ne’er can be an end of telling.”

[533]

Then spake the aged Wâ-te:  “Their wounds I cannot heal,—

In that I will not meddle,  until as friends they feel

Each unto the other,—  Hagen brave and knightly,

And Hettel, my lord and master;  till then shall I withhold my skill most rightly.”

[534]

The high-born maiden answered:  “This I may not dare

To ask of the king, my father;  his tears I did not spare,

And now have not the boldness  to bring to him my greeting;

Both he and all his kinsmen  I fear would now my love with scorn be meeting.”

[535]

Then ’twas asked of Hagen:  “My lord, may this now be,

That it would not stir your anger  your daughter here to see,

The youthful, queenly Hilda?  If you for this are willing,

She will come most gladly,  and soon your many wounds will help in healing.”

[536]

“Gladly will I see her,  whatever she has done;

To me will she be welcome:  why should I her disown,

Here in a land of foemen,  nor take her greeting kindly?

To me and to my daughter,  King Hettel must atone for deeds unfriendly.”

[537]

Horant, the knight from Daneland,  led her by the hand,

And with him went brave Fru-te,  to where the king did stand;

One maiden only with them  looked on Hagen wounded.

For friends did Hilda sorrow,  though Hettel’s love for her was all unbounded.

[538]

On Hildeburg and Hilda  when Hagen now did look,

Then, from his seat upspringing,  thus he quickly spoke:

“Welcome be thou, my daughter,  Hilda, most noble lady!

I cannot leave unspoken  the greeting warm which I to give am ready.”

[539]

His daughter he allowed not  the care of his wounds to take;

While Wâ-te these was binding  he bade the maids step back,—

The youthful high-born ladies.  Wâ-te’s wish was the stronger

To heal her father quickly,  that so his daughter there might weep no longer.

[540]

Healed with plants and herbage  and many a far-sought weed,

From all his pain did Hagen  feel himself now freed;

They eased his hurts with plaster,  and when again the maiden

Turned to see her father,  she found him well, with aches no longer laden.

[541]

Wâ-te, the healing-master,  made haste,—no time he lost;

He hoped to gain such riches  among this wounded host,

That scarce could they by camels  be carried to his dwelling.

A skill so great and wondrous  never, that I have heard, have men been telling.

[542]

First he healed King Hettel,  the lord of the Hegeling land;

Then all he saw there wounded  he helped by his skilful hand.

Those in the care of others  still with pain did sicken;

But they, when nursed by Wâ-te,  were turned to life, tho’ they by death were stricken.

[543]

There would they no longer  let the maidens stay.

Hagen said to Hilda:  “Elsewhere must we to-day

Find us rest and shelter;  while others must not idly

Leave the dead thus lying,  who burial scarce can wait, here scattered widely.”

[544]

Hettel begged King Hagen  with him to his home to go;

Though loath, to this he yielded,  as soon as he came to know

That he, the king of the Hegelings,  of many lands was owner:

Hagen then with his daughter  went with him to his home, and there had honor.

[545]

The youthful knights were singing,  as they left the field.

Happy then were the living;  but, never to be healed,

They behind were leaving  three hundred dead and dying,

The rich and poor together,  slashed with the sword, and pitifully lying.

[546]

Then the war-worn fighters  through the land went home;

All who there were dwelling  were blithe to see them come:

But the kinsmen of the warriors  who in death lay sleeping

Were slow their hearts to gladden;  they for kindred slain long time were weeping.

[547]

Hettel and Hilda with him  took their homeward way.

Many, bereft of fathers,  sorely wept that day,

Whose after life was happy.  The mighty Hettel later

Crowned the fair young Hilda;  by this the Hegeling name became the greater.

[548]

Hettel now had thriven,—  his suit he well did gain.

Old and young together  with swords at court were seen,

As were the guests of Hagen who from the ships came kindly.

The wedding of his daughter  was highly praised by Hagen, now grown friendly.

[549]

Then with what great honor  to the bridal seat was led

That high-born, lovely lady!  Moreover, it is said

That full five hundred liegemen  then at court were knighted.

Fru-te the wise from Denmark  to guard King Hettel’s wealth was thought well fitted.

[550]

The riches of King Hettel  by Hagen now were seen;

The tale had erst been told him  by many of Hettel’s kin,

That over seven princedoms  well his sway had thriven.

All the poor there with them  were home in gladness sent, and lodgings given.

[551]

Hettel gave rich clothing  to Ireland’s warriors brave;

Bright-red gold and silver,  and horses, too, he gave.

The whole they scarce could carry,  as they homeward wended:

Thus good friends he won him,  and this for Hilda in highest praises ended.

[552]

Upon the twelfth day’s morning  they left King Hettel’s land.

The horses bred in Denmark  led they out on the sand;

Each his mane, thick hanging,  down to his hoofs was shaking.

The guests from afar were happy  that they King Hettel’s friendship had been making.

[553]

Grooms and also stewards  with Hagen then did ride,

With cup-bearers and carvers.  Ne’er, in his greatest pride,

In his home and kingdom,  had he been served so truly.

The crown was worn by Hilda,  and Hagen’s heart with bliss was brimming fully.

[554]

Food as well as lodgings  they found upon their road;

On Hagen and his followers  all men their care bestowed:

So to their homes most gladly  they the tale did carry

Of how the friends of Hettel  in showing them all kindness ne’er were weary.

[555]

Hagen greeted Hildeburg,  and clasped her in his arms;

He said, “Watch over Hilda  for the love your bosom warms.

So great a throng of followers  at times a woman dazes;

Care for her so kindly  that of your worth all men shall speak with praises.”

[556]

“My lord, that will I gladly:  to you has much been told

Of the woes that with her mother  I bore in days of old;

And I for years my friendship  for her did never loosen;

Her for miles I followed  ere for a lover you by her were chosen.”

[557]

Hagen bade the others  their way to court to take;

Never then could the maidens  an end of weeping make:

Now by the hand he took them,  and to Hettel they were given;

He asked for them his kindness,  since from their homes they sadly had been riven.

[558]

Then said he to his daughter:  “So well the crown now wear,

That neither I nor your mother  the tale shall ever hear

That men ill-will do bear you.  High your lot has raised you,

And you of blame were worthy,  if when men spoke your name they never praised you.”

[559]

Low bowed to the king wild Hagen,  and kissed his child again.

Neither by him nor his followers  ever more was seen

The kingdom of the Hegeling:  too far away was their dwelling.

Back to his home in Ballian,  in his trusty ships, King Hagen soon was sailing.

[560]

When he had reached his castle,  and sat with the queen alone,

The mother of fair Hilda,  Hagen was free to own

That none to win his daughter  more fitly could have pleaded;

And if he had yet others,  he fain to the Hegeling land would send them to be wedded.

[561]

Hilda for this gave praises  to her master, Christ the Lord:

“That I of my dear daughter  such happy news have heard

Fills my heart with gladness,  and with bliss o’erflowing.

How fares it with her followers,  and Hildeburg, who long her love was showing?”

[562]

Then spake the kingly Hagen:  “Now in their land and home

All of them are happy;  great hath our child become;

Ne’er, with us, were her maidens  clothed in such fine dresses.

There we now must leave them:  for her were many breastplates hacked to pieces.”

[563]

We speak no more of Hagen.  A word may now be told

About King Hettel’s kinsmen:  they who land did hold

Ever owed him fealty  for these and for their castles;

To court they all came often  when Hettel and Hilda sent to call their vassals.

[564]

Wâ-te went to Sturmland,  Morunc to Nifland rode;

Horant, prince of Denmark,  led his warriors good

To Givers, by the seashore,  where as lord they held him;

There their homes they guarded,  and many, far and wide, their master called him.

[565]

With mighty sway in Ortland  Irold had his seat;

Its lands he held of Hettel;  so, as a vassal meet,

Near and far to serve him,  his duty was the greater:

The king was brave and worthy;  and ne’er for a lord of lands was known a better.

[566]

If ever in any kingdom  Hettel heard them speak

Of a fair and well-born maiden,  her he sought to take

Into his home and castle,  as handmaid to his lady:

Whatever Hilda wished for,  to help wild Hagen’s child they all were ready.

[567]

The king, with his wife beside him,  was happy on the throne;

Their life was ever blissful.  To all in the land ’twas known

That better far and dearer  than all on earth he thought her.

Never by all his kinsmen  a lovelier could be found, where’er they sought her.

[568]

Within seven years thereafter  Hettel, in stormy fight,

Thrice to his foes gave battle.  They who, day and night,

To wrong his name and honor  did their utmost gladly,

Now by the knightly Hettel  found themselves brought low and chastened sadly.

[569]

His castles he did strengthen,  and peace he gave to his land,

As well a king befitteth:  such were the deeds of his hand,

That never in any kingdom,  when his name was spoken,

Was it said he was faint-hearted.  The praise of all did well his worth betoken.

[570]

While, with name so worthy,  Hettel held the throne,

Wâ-te, the man of wisdom,  never left undone

His duty to his master,  to see him three times yearly;

Truly he was faithful,  far and near, to the lord he held so dearly.

[571]

Horant, the lord from Denmark,  to court not seldom rode;

Costly gems and clothing  on the maids he there bestowed,

With gold and silken raiment,  meet for women’s wearing:

He from Daneland brought them,  and to all who wished was he of gifts unsparing.

[572]

The service true and steady  that the liegemen of the king

Gave to the lordly Hettel  honor to him did bring.

Praised was he for knighthood  more than any other:

This Hilda also furthered,  a queen herself, and child of a queenly mother.

[573]

Hilda, Hagen’s daughter,  children two did bear

Unto her lord, King Hettel:  to bring them up with care

His faithful friends were bidden.  Soon among his vassals

Were the tidings bruited  that an heir no more was lacking for his lands and castles.

[574]

One became a warrior,  Ortwin was his name;

To Wâ-te he was trusted.  It was the teacher’s aim

That he from early boyhood  should his thoughts be turning

To all things good and worthy;  to be a trusty knight he thus was learning.

[575]

The very comely daughter  of Hilda and the king

Was called Gu-drun the lovely:  from the land of the Hegeling

To Denmark she was carried,  to be in her kinsmen’s wardship.

Thus they helped King Hettel,  and this they never felt to be a hardship.

[576]

When the maid grew older,  her shape became so fair

That neither man nor woman  to praise her could forbear:

Far from the maiden’s birthplace,  all her worth were telling.

Gu-drun her kinsfolk called her,  in the Danish land where now she had her dwelling.

[577]

That age she now was reaching  when, had she been a man,

A sword she might have wielded.  Many a prince was fain

To wed the lovely maiden,  and sought her love and favor;

But many came a-wooing  who soon their hopes must lose, and win her never.

[578]

However fair was Hilda,  Hettel’s lovely wife,

Yet was Gu-drun more lovely,  and fair beyond belief;

More fair than the early Hilda,  erst to Ireland carried.

Above all other women  Gu-drun was praised, ere yet the maid was married.

[579]

Her father scorned to give her  to the king of Alzabé;

When he heard he could not win her  to him ’twas a sorry day.

He held himself most highly  for all his kingly graces,

And thought there could be no one  whose deeds, like his, were worthy of men’s praises.

[580]

Both brave he was and daring,  and from the Moorland came:

He was known afar and widely,  Siegfried was his name;

A king was he full mighty  over vassals seven.

He sued for Hilda’s daughter,  such tales of her lofty worth to him were given.

[581]

He, with his faithful liegemen  from far Icaria’s strand,

Won many costly prizes  there in Hettel’s land:

His strong and doughty warriors,  in sight of ladies seated

Before King Hettel’s castle,  in games of knighthood often there were mated.

[582]

When Hilda and her daughter  passed the hall within,

Before the house of Wigaleis  there rose a mighty din

From warriors of the Moorland,  who, all boldly dashing,

Rode in the sight of the women;  oft of spears and shields was heard the clashing.

[583]

Never could knight in tilting  better in this behave.

A friendly will she bore him,  and oft kind words she gave,

Though he was brown to look on,  and in hue was dusky even.

He for her love was yearning,  yet for a wife she ne’er to him was given.

[584]

This pained him beyond measure,  and truly he was wroth

That he from far had ridden,  yet gave she not her troth.

To burn the land of Hettel  then did he threaten madly:

His followers from Moorland,  when now his hopes were lost, were mourning sadly.

[585]

From him was the maid withholden  by Hettel’s lofty pride;

And now their loving friendship  was ended on either side.

Then swore the Moor that never  he his hate would slacken,

And that the grudge he bore him,  whate’er befell, should never be forsaken.

[586]

Then from the land of the Hegeling  rode they all away.

When many years were ended,  there came at last a day

When by a knight most worthy  was bitter sorrow tasted;

Then the foes of Herwic  did him the worst they could, nor in it rested.

[587]

Now in the land of Normandy  the tale was widely told,

That never fairer maiden  did any man behold

Than was King Hettel’s daughter,  Gu-drun, the high-born lady.

A king, whose name was Hartmut,  to her then turned his love, to woo her ready.

[588]

Gerlind, Hartmut’s mother,  her wish to him made known,

That he should woo the maiden;  her word he followed soon.

First they sent for his father,  when they of this had spoken;

He bore the name of Ludwig,  and in Norman lands he wore the kingly token.

[589]

Then the aged father  rode to see his son.

Of the end that he was seeking  had Ludwig knowledge won;

But when to him he hearkened,  and learned his wishes wholly,

Evil he foreboded,  yet still the youth’s fond hopes upheld he fully.

[590]

“Who tells you,” said King Ludwig,  “she is so very fair?

Tho’ she all lands were owning,  the home is not so near,

Wherein the maid is dwelling,  that we should go a-wooing;

If we sent our men before us  to ask her love, their task they would soon be ruing.”

[591]

Then did Hartmut answer:  “For me ’tis not too far;

Whene’er the lord of a kingdom  no pain or toil doth spare

To win a wife and riches,  he gains a life-long blessing.

My wish, I pray you, follow;  let men be sent, that they my suit be pressing.”

[592]

Then spake his mother, Gerlind,  of Normandy the queen:

“Letters must now be written;  let clothes, the best e’er seen,

With gold, to those be given  upon your errand speeding;

They, too, must learn the roadways  that towards the home of fair Gu-drun are leading.”

[593]

Then spake again King Ludwig:  “Know you not full well

That Hilda, the maiden’s mother,  did erst in Ireland dwell?

And know you not what happened  to many a one who sought her?

Her kin are proud and lofty,  and now will scorn the love we shall have brought her.”

[594]

Then young Hartmut answered:  “Tho’ with a warlike band

I afar must seek her,  over sea and land,

That shall I do most willingly:  my heart to her is given,

And never will I rest me  till I for Hilda’s daughter happily have striven.”

[595]

“Gladly will I help you,”  King Ludwig then did say:

“Let this now make you happy;  erelong, upon the way

I’ll send twelve sumpter-horses  bearing silver treasure;

That when they hear our errand,  our wealth and worth they may more rightly measure.”

[596]

By Hartmut then were chosen  sixty men, to send

To woo the fair young maiden,  and help to him to lend;

With food and clothing also  well were they outfitted,

And on the road well guided:  Ludwig was wise, and was in this foresighted.

[597]

When everything was ready  that soon the men would need,

Then were letters written,  sealed, and given with speed,

Both by brave young Hartmut  and his queenly mother.

Then from home they started;  so proud a throng there never was another.

[598]

Fast they rode and steadily  for many a day and night,

Until the land they sought for  came at last in sight,

And they might tell the errand  they were thither bringing.

Long was Hartmut waiting,  while love and care were in his heart upspringing.

[599]

Over land and rivers  they took their toilsome way,

As far as in days a hundred  a pasturing herd may stray,

Until the land of the Hegelings  lay before them stretching.

Their steeds were worn and weary  ere they gave the letters they were fetching.

[600]

At last they far had ridden,  and to the sea had come,

Upon the shores of Denmark:  sadly they long did roam,

Before they reached the kingdom,  and its lord did know them;

Now they begged for guidance,  and men were bid the nearest way to show them.

[601]

The news was given to Horant,  the knight well-bred and bold;

Now asked the errand-bearers,  and the truth to them was told,

About King Hettel and Hilda,  and all they had been hearing.

They saw the men of Hettel  coming in throngs, their shields and weapons bearing.

[602]

Horant, lord of Daneland,  then to his liegemen spake,

And bade for the errand-bearers  a safeguard now to make,

And that the men of Hartmut  should be by them well guided

To the court of his lord, King Hettel;  they grudged no toil, and well his bidding heeded.

[603]

When thro’ the Hegeling kingdom  the heralds took their way,

So lordly was their bearing,  that often men did say:

“These folk are rich and mighty,  whatever they are seeking.”

The news to the king was carried,  and soon to him all men the tale were speaking.

[604]

To all the guests from Normandy  were lodgings given there;

The king now bade his liegemen  to wait on them with care.

He knew not yet their errand,  and why to him they had ridden;

But on the twelfth day, early,  young Hartmut’s men before the king were bidden.

[605]

An earl there was among them;  how well his breeding showed!

Upon their clothing also  were praises high bestowed;

They rode the best of horses  on which men e’er were seated,

And before the king they gathered,  in fairest guise, that well they might be greeted.

[606]

The king gave kindly welcome,  as also did his men,

Until their wooing errand  was unto him made plain:

Then were they ill-treated,  and knew the king’s hard feeling.

I ween the mighty Hettel  to grant young Hartmut’s wish would ne’er be willing.

[607]

One who in that was skilful  to the king the letters read;

But he was greatly angered  that they to court were led

By the good and upright Horant,  a knight so brave and noble;

And, had they not his friendship,  they had not left the king without more trouble.

[608]

Then spake to them King Hettel:  “No good to you ’twill bring

That you were sent a-wooing  by Hartmut, your lord and king.

To pay for this full dearly  you may well be fearing;

Your kingly master’s wishes  both I and Lady Hilda are wroth at hearing.”

[609]

One among them answered:  “Hartmut makes it known

That much he loves the maiden;  and if to wear the crown

In Normandy she deigneth,  before his friends there living,

That he, a knight all spotless,  will rightly earn the love she shall be giving.”

[610]

Then quoth the Lady Hilda:  “How can she be his wife?

A hundred and three of his castles  his father held in fief,

Within the land of Cardigan,  from Hagen, my noble sire;

It ill becomes my kinsmen  to be King Ludwig’s vassals, or owe him hire.

[611]

“Ludwig dwelt in Scotland,  and there it erst befell

That a brother of King Otto  did wrong to Ludwig deal:

Both were Hagen’s vassals,  and of him their lands had taken;

And thus my father’s friendship  for him was lost, and hate instead did waken.

[612]

“Say you now to Hartmut  she ne’er his wife shall be.

Your lord is not so worthy  that he to boast is free,

That he doth love my daughter,  and she doth not disdain him;

Bid him elsewhere be looking,  if he be fain a queen for his land to gain him.”

[613]

The heralds’ hearts were heavy;  ’twas not for their good name

That they, for miles full many,  in sorrow and in shame,

Back to their homes in Normandy  this news must carry sadly.

Hartmut, as well as Ludwig,  was vexed that they herein were foiled so badly.

[614]

Forthwith to them said Hartmut:  “Tell me now the truth,

The grand-daughter of Hagen  have you seen, forsooth?

Is the maid, Gu-drun, as lovely  as men have here been saying?

May God bring shame to Hettel,  that he my suit with such ill-will is paying!”

[615]

Then the earl thus answered:  “This can I truly say,—

Whoe’er shall see the maiden  must feel her charms and sway;

Above all maids and women,  her worth is past the telling.”

Then quoth the kingly Hartmut:  “To live without her ne’er shall I be willing.”

[616]

Whereon his mother, Gerlind,  sadly thus did say,

With tears her lot bewailing:  “My son, oh, lack-a-day!

Alas that e’er the heralds  to win the maiden started!

If we at home had kept them,  e’en to this day had I been still light-hearted.”

[617]

Hartmut left his wooing  to wait for many a year.

Soon a tale was bruited  (’twas true what men did hear)

Of one whose name was Herwic,  a king as yet but youthful;

Often his worth was spoken,  and men yet speak of him with praises truthful.

[618]

He began his wooing,  trusting the lovely maid

Would take him for her lover;  long his hopes he fed,

And much he toiled to win her,  both with love and riches:

But tho’ the maid was willing,  her father, Hettel, he in vain beseeches.

[619]

Though Herwic long was striving,  and men to seek her rode,

Yet was his wooing slighted;  for this his wrath he showed.

The heart of proud young Herwic  by heavy care was fettered;

Freely his love he gave her,  and thought a life with her could not be bettered.

[620]

There came at length a morning  when it to them befell

That in the Hegeling kingdom  both knights and maids as well,

With many lovely ladies,  his coming never fearing,

Before them saw bold Hartmut;  Hettel could not believe he’d be so daring.

[621]

From this did endless evil  soon come upon the land:

These guests high-born and worthy  were yet an unknown band;

Hartmut and his kinsmen  their host’s goodwill were sharing,

And he the hope still harbored  that the maid would yet the crown with him be wearing.

[622]

Now before Queen Hilda  by ladies he was seen

To stand with lofty breeding,  and with a stately mien.

There the proud young Hartmut  wore a look so knightly,

That he the love of ladies  well might ask, and ’twould be granted rightly.

[623]

Well-grown was he in body,  fair he was and bold,

Kind as well as lordly.  Why I ne’er was told

Had Hettel and Queen Hilda  from him withheld their daughter,

When he had thought to woo her;  wroth was he to be scorned when now he sought her.

[624]

Of her his heart had longed for  he now had gained the sight;

There oft were stolen glances  between Gu-drun and the knight.

He made it known to the maiden,  by speech from others hidden,

That he was young King Hartmut,  and from the Norman land had lately ridden.

[625]

Then she told her wooer  the pain to her it gave;

And tho’ she wished he ever  a happy life might have,

Yet from her father’s kingdom  she begged him now to hasten,

For in the land of Hettel  was his life at risk, and this would never lessen.

[626]

She looked on him so kindly  that now her heart was warned

That he should stay no longer,  for here his suit was spurned.

Friendly was she to Hartmut,  who her love so wanted,

But his hopes she little heeded,  and while he wooed, not much to him she granted.

[627]

At last her well-bred lover  from Hettel’s land must go;

He bore upon his shoulders  a heavy load of woe:

To wreak his wrath on Hettel  would he now be choosing,

Yet feared he, if he harmed him,  that he the maiden’s love would then be losing.

[628]

’Twas thus the daring Hartmut  the Hegeling kingdom left;

Much he felt of sadness,  though not of hope bereft.

He knew not yet the ending  of his wooing of the maiden;

For the sake of her, thereafter,  were helmets cleft, and many sorrow-laden.

[629]

When he had reached his kingdom,  and home again did turn,

Where dwelt his father and mother,  Hartmut, grim and stern,

For war with Hettel longing,  began to make him ready.

Gerlind, the old she-devil,  at all times spurred him on with hatred steady.

[630]

What more befell young Hartmut  we now forbear to say.

Upon the brave King Herwic  a weight of sorrow lay,

As great as that of Hartmut,  for love of the high-born lady.

He, with all his kinsmen,  to woo Gu-drun, as best they might, made ready.

[631]

Near her he was dwelling,  and there he held his land.

A thousand times tho’ daily  he should send to ask her hand,

Ever would his wooing  be met with scorn and flouting;

But though he now was thwarted,  later on her, as his wife, he was fondly doting.

[632]

The king forbade him longer  to woo Gu-drun, his child;

Then sent he word in anger  that never would he yield:

Hettel should see him coming,  with men and shields, a-wooing;

And this to him and Hilda  would evil bring, that they would long be ruing.

[633]

Whose rede it was I know not,  but thrice a thousand men,

Showing thus their friendship,  were soon with Herwic seen.

By them against the Hegelings  harm erelong was plotted

For the sake of the lovely maiden  he fondly hoped would be to him allotted.

[634]

Those who came from Sturmland  the tale would not believe,

To those from Denmark also  none the tidings gave;

But Irold, lord of Ortland,  soon the word was hearing

That now the daring Herwic  for warlike ends to Hettel’s home was faring.

[635]

When ’twas known to Hettel  that Herwic, fearing naught,

E’en now the land was nearing,  and followers with him brought,

Then asked he of his kinsmen,  and of the queen, his lady:

“What say you to the tidings?  I hear that guests to our home have come already.”

[636]

She said: “What can I answer,  but that ’tis well and right,

When one such deeds is doing  as befit a worthy knight,

Tho’ good or ill it bring us,  praise should they be earning.

Can aught amiss befall him?  Herwic is wise, and aye for honor yearning.”

[637]

His queenly wife said further:  “Yet must we beware,

That he may bring no burden  unto our kinsmen here.

This have many told me,—  ’tis for the sake of your daughter

That he with many warriors  has come into your borders, o’er the water.”

[638]

Hettel with his kinsmen  had waited a little too long:

The wrath of young King Herwic  now had waxen strong.

In the cool of the early morning,  he, with followers daring,

Reached King Hettel’s castle,  and later with his men the strife was sharing.

[639]

While yet the men were sleeping  within King Hettel’s halls,

The watchman from the castle  down to them loudly calls:

“Up from your rest now, quickly!  Arm yourselves and listen!

Foes from abroad are coming!  E’en now, on their way, I see the helmets glisten.”

[640]

From off their beds upsprang they,  no longer dared they lie;

Whoe’er there was among them,  in rank or low or high,

Must bear a heavy burden,  for life and honor caring.

Thus the young King Herwic  strove for a wife, the storm of warfare daring.

[641]

Hettel and Queen Hilda  had now to the window come:

Men they saw with Herwic,  brought from a far-off home

Among the hills of Galeis,  where they had their dwelling;

These the mighty Morunc  in Waleis knew, and oft of them was telling.

[642]

The foes were seen by Hettel,  thronging towards the gate.

Well Gu-drun’s brave father  must fear to meet their hate,

As they were rushing onward,  tho’ high his heart was swelling:

Much they roused his anger,  but them his burghers helped erelong in quelling.

[643]

Armed to guard the castle  were a hundred men or more;

Hettel himself fought boldly,  goodwill for this he bore.

His lieges all were doughty,  but yet they could not save him;

Hard were the blows for Hettel,  that in the fight the brave young Herwic gave him.

[644]

Upon his foeman’s helmet  whizzing blasts, fire-hot,

Were struck by the daring Herwic.  The many blows he smote

Gu-drun now saw with wonder,  her eyes upon him feeding:

He seemed a knight most worthy,  and love she felt, e’en though her heart was bleeding.

[645]

Hettel bore his weapon  grimly ’gainst his foe;

Of strength no less than riches  he had, in truth, enow:

But soon he did unwisely,  he pressed on him too nearly,

And those within the castle  saw the fight between them all too clearly.

[646]

The sore-beleaguered dwellers  the gates would gladly shut;

But now their losses told them  that this would nothing boot:

Friends as well as foemen  near the gates were thronging,

And great was the hope of Herwic  to win the maid for whom his heart was longing.

[647]

Hettel then and Herwic  against each other dashed,

In sight of all their followers;  flames shot out and flashed

On the bosses of the bucklers  which they both were wearing:

But little while it lasted,  ere knowledge of each other they were sharing.

[648]

When Hettel saw in Herwic  a warrior so proud,

And one so truly daring,  he cried to all aloud:

“Should any here forbid me  that I with him be friendly,

He knows the knight but little;  deadly wounds he hews, in mood unkindly.”

[649]

Gu-drun, the lovely maiden,  looked on, and heard the din.

Luck is round and rolling,  like a ball, I ween;

And since to end the fighting  to her it was not given,

She hoped that, when ’twas over,  her father and his foe would find their strength was even.

[650]

She then began to call to him,  from out the palace hall:

“Hettel, my noble father,  behold how blood doth fall,

From out the hauberks flowing!  Everywhere about us

The walls therewith are spattered!  A neighbor ill is Herwic, and harm hath wrought us.

[651]

“If you would grant my wishes,  you now will be at peace;

Give rest to heart from anger,  and let your fighting cease,

Till I can ask of Herwic,  and he to us be telling,

About his land and kingdom,  and where his nearest kinsmen have their dwelling.”

[652]

Then said the proud young Herwic:  “Not yet may peace begin,

Unless without my weapons  I your love may win.

If rest a while be granted,  the knowledge you are seeking

I then will give you freely,  and of my kinsmen will to you be speaking.”

[653]

Now, for love of the maiden,  the strife did they forego.

Then shook they off their armor,  each battle-weary foe,

And bathed in running waters,  from rusty stains to free them.

They soon were cheered and rested,  and none could grudge in happy mood to see them.

[654]

A hundred knights with Herwic  went from the field to find

Gu-drun, the Hegeling maiden,  still wavering in her mind.

She, with other ladies,  gave him welcome kindly;

But the worthy, high-born Herwic  hardly dared to think their wishes friendly.

[655]

The fair and comely maiden  showed the guests their seats;

The bravery of Herwic  erelong with love she meets:

His high and noble breeding  earned him kindest greeting.

’Twas thought Gu-drun and Hilda  should grant his suit, without a longer waiting.

[656]

To the ladies then spake Herwic:  “I oft have heard it said

That you of me speak lightly,  and think me lowly bred:

Your scorn may bring you sorrow,  after all my striving;

The rich may from the poorest  a blessing gain, the while with them they’re living.”

[657]

She said: “Where is the maiden  who could behold with scorn

A knight who strove so bravely,  or from his love could turn?

Believe me,” said the maiden,  “I do not hold you lightly;

Never maid more kindly  has looked on you, or prized your worth more rightly.

[658]

“If now my friends and kindred  leave for this will give,

Even as you wish it,  with you I will gladly live.”

Then with fondest glances  he her eye was seeking:

In her heart she bore him,  and owned the truth to all, no falsehood speaking.

[659]

The brave and happy Herwic  begged that he might dare

To woo the fair young maiden.  Now to grant his prayer

Were Hettel and Hilda ready;  but first must they be knowing

Whether Gu-drun, their daughter,  was glad or sorry for the kingly Herwic’s wooing.

[660]

Herwic was quick in learning  how kindly was her mood:

And now the brave young warrior  before the maiden stood,

In shape as fair and comely  as if the hand of a master

On a white wall had drawn him:  while there he stood her love but grew the faster.

[661]

“If you your love will give me,”  he said, “most lovely maid,

Then shall my truest worship  to you be ever paid;

Throughout my lands and castles  to you there shall be given

My kinsmen’s faithful service,  and ne’er shall I repent that thus I’ve striven.”

[662]

She said: “I give you freely  the love for which you pray;

By all your toils and daring  you well have earned to-day

That you and all my kindred  foes shall be no longer.

Now none can make me sorrow,  and every day our bliss shall grow the stronger.”

[663]

Then they sent for Hettel:  thus ended was the fight.

Soon came he to his daughter;  and many a faithful knight

Followed the king, their master,  who unto him had ridden

From all the Hegeling kingdom.  Thus to the strife a long farewell was bidden.

[664]

Now when Hettel’s kinsmen  their wish for this did speak,

Then asked he of his daughter  if she would gladly take

Herwic, the knight so noble,  who in his heart had set her.

Then said the lovely maiden:  “There’s not another I could love the better.”

[665]

They then betrothed the maiden  at once to the knightly king,

Who in his land would crown her.  This did gladness bring

To him, and sorrow likewise:  ere many years were ended,

And she to him was wedded,  good knights in stormy fight their lives defended.

[666]

To take the maiden with him  Herwic now was fain;

But this her mother grudged him:  thereby much woe and pain

Came upon him later  from foes as yet unheeded.

The king was told by Hilda  that longer time ere she be crowned was needed.

[667]

They thought it best for Herwic  to leave the maiden there,

While he with other women  might pass the time elsewhere,

And wait to wed the lady  until a year were ended.

This learned the men of Alzabie:  to wait so long for her young Herwic ill befriended.

[668]

Siegfried, king of Moorland,  called for all his men;

Ships were soon made ready,  wherever they were seen;

Then with food and weapons  to load them it was bidden,

For war against King Herwic:  from all but faithful friends his thoughts were hidden.

[669]

A score of wide, strong barges  bade he to be made.

I ween they liked it little  to whom the king now said

That forthwith unto Sealand  to fight must they be faring;

And he would thither hasten  as soon as, winter o’er, springtide was nearing.

[670]

Eighty thousand warriors  soon to him had come;

Of fighting men in Alzabie  none were left at home.

Then swore the Moorland princes  for war to make them ready;

Some of these still lingered,  others to follow with the king were speedy.

[671]

Then against the Sealands  the threat of war he made.

This roused the wrath of Herwic,  who well might him upbraid;

To earn the hate of Siegfried  wrong had he done him never.

His marches and his castles  he bade his men to guard, now more than ever.

[672]

Then he said in sorrow  to friends who came in haste

That foes would burn his castles,  and his lands lay waste:

All he could give his liegemen,  that he held but lightly.

They took their wages gladly;  that war would bring them riches, hoped they rightly.

[673]

About the gladsome May-time,  there went across the sea

Warriors out of Alzabie,  and eke from Abakie.

Onward came they proudly,  as tho’ the world’s end seeking;

Many now trod boldly  who in the dust their rest would soon be taking.

[674]

Into the land of Herwic  they cast the burning brand.

Then all whom he could gather,  and all his friends at hand,

Rode to the field with Herwic.  Thro’ war-storms grimly driven,

They with their lives must bargain  for gold and gems and silver to them given.

[675]

To him, the king of Sealand,  great ill erelong was wrought.

A stalwart foeman was he:  Aha, how well he fought!

He made the land the richer  with the dead there lying:

The old in fight grew youthful:  the strong were slain, who recked not yet of dying.

[676]

Long the fighting lasted,  till thickly lay the dead:

Then to the brave King Herwic  came at last the need

To flee into his marches,  for life he there was turning;

All his lands lay smoking:  of this to Gu-drun, his lady, sent he warning.

[677]

Now to the land of Hettel  men at his bidding went:

Many tears and bitter  they shed when they were sent

To find the great King Hettel,  and the tale to him to carry.

They were not long in showing  unto the king their plight so hard and dreary.

[678]

Tho’ sad in mood he found them,  a welcome kind he gave,

Such as far-off wanderers  and homeless friends should have.

He asked if from their homesteads  they were hither driven,

When foes their lands had wasted,  and all their marches had to flames been given.

[679]

Then to him they answered:  “In sorrow did we leave:

The faithful men of Herwic,  from early morn till eve,

Sell their lives full dearly,  and well his gifts are earning;

They fight for name and honor:  for this at home are many women mourning.”

[680]

Then to them said Hettel:  “To my daughter make it known;

Whatever she shall wish for  at once shall that be done.

If she for vengeance calleth  for the wrongs he wrought you,

We then will help you gladly,  and pay him back the ill that he has brought you.”

[681]

Before they yet had spoken  unto the fair young maid,

Already of her sorrow  her friends had taken heed.

The lady had been longing  to see the heralds hourly;

Them in haste she sent for,  the loss of land and honor, mourning sorely.

[682]

When they came before her,  they found the queenly maid

Sitting sad, and weeping,—  faithful love she had;

She asked them of her lover,  and how they leave had taken,

And if he still was living  when they of late had land and home forsaken.

[683]

Then answered one among them:  “We left him sound and well;

But since the day we saw him  we know not what befell,

Or how the men of Moorland  may his home have wasted:

Mischief they had done him,  neither from fire and plunder had they rested.

[684]

“Listen, high-born maiden!  my master’s bidding heed:

He and all his warriors  are now in sorest need.

To lose both life and honor  they are fearing daily;

And now my lord, King Herwic,  sends to beg your men to his help to rally.”

[685]

Gu-drun, the lovely maiden,  then from her seat upstood;

The wrongs that had been done her  she to her father showed:

She said her men were slaughtered,  and her castles wasted,

And told her father, Hettel,  that to ride to Herwic’s help she would he had hasted.

[686]

Then in her arms she pressed him,  her eyes with weeping wet:

“Help, O dearest father!  My woes are all too great,

Unless your many liegemen,  with ready hand, are willing

To help my good friend Herwic:  none else can end the strife, my sorrow healing.”

[687]

“That will I leave to no one,”  the king did freely say;

“I will haste to help King Herwic,  and wait not many a day.

As well as I am able,  I will end your sorrow:

I will call for the aged Wâ-te  and many other friends, before the morrow.

[688]

“He will bring from Sturmland  all the men of his lands;

And when ’tis known by Morunc  how ill with us it stands,

Fighters full a thousand  to bring will he be speedy.

Our foes shall find out quickly,  that under helmets we to march are ready.

[689]

“Horant, too, from Denmark  shall bring upon the way

Of men full thrice a thousand:  nor will Irold stay;

But he will raise his banner,  and hasten to the slaughter.

Then, too, thy brother Ortwin  will come, and all will earn the blessing of my daughter.”

[690]

The heralds soon went riding  whom the maid did send.

Her friends far off were living,  but all who help would lend

To heal the maiden’s sorrow  would honor great be earning;

Knights would she warmly welcome:  for this erelong the more to her were turning.

[691]

Hilda, the maiden’s mother,  unto her daughter spake:

“Whoe’er is quick to help you,  and now his shield shall take

To follow with your warriors  when they to war are faring,

Whate’er we gain by fighting  he shall, in truth, henceforth with us be sharing.”

[692]

Then the chests were opened;  men to court soon bore

Whate’er therein was lying,  of fighting-gear a store,

Fast with steel well studded;  then the knights were laden

With armor white as silver:  this made glad the heart of the queenly maiden.

[693]

To full a thousand warriors  were given clothes and steeds;

Out of stalls men brought them,  as oft the horse one leads,

When, along the highways,  men to the fight go riding.

Of all the king’s good horses  they left but very few at rest abiding.

[694]

When from his queenly lady  the king his leave did take,

Both Hilda and her daughter  began to weep for his sake;

But on the knights forth riding  gladly they were gazing,

And said: “May God in heaven  so help the fight that men may you be praising.”

[695]

After they all were gathered  without the castle gate,

Youths were there heard singing,  hoping for plunder great.

Each thought, by hardest fighting,  to win himself much riches;

But far must they yet be riding,  for long the way to their master’s foemen stretches.

[696]

On the third morning early  came, at break of day,

The very aged Wâ-te  with a thousand to the fray;

And from the Danish kingdom,  as the seventh day was dawning,

Came Horant with four thousand,  to whom the fair Gu-drun had sent her warning.

[697]

From out the Waalisch marches  Morunc thither rode;

He ever fought for the ladies,  for the love to them he owed.

Twenty thousand warriors  he brought,—for nought he tarried:

These were all well-weaponed,  and happily rode, while help to the king they carried.

[698]

The queenly maiden’s brother,  Ortwin, the youthful knight,

Brought across the water,  to help her in the fight,

Forty hundred warriors,  or even a number greater:

Were it known to the men of Alzabie,  well might they have feared to meet him later.

[699]

Before they yet could help him,  to Herwic and his men

The strife had now gone badly,  his luck began to wane:

To him and all his followers  was evil sore betiding;

Altho’ they struggled bravely,  his foes too near his castle gate were riding.

[700]

Great mishaps to Herwic  from Siegfried’s kin arose;

For now the gates of the castle  were shattered by their blows.

False friends had made it easy,  and boasts too loudly spoken:

If e’er to such one trusteth,  it worketh him no good, and his hopes are broken.

[701]

Now ’twas told to Herwic,  men fast for help had gone.

The foes from fight ne’er rested,  by anger driven on;

From early morn to even,  they oft to the strife were bidden:

But now the friends of Herwic  on every side drew near, nor long lay hidden.

[702]

When this the men of Karadie  did learn, they well might fear

That now two kings against them  in the fight should share:

For them it was unlucky  that Hettel now was leading

His many fighters thither;  he from afar had come, to Herwic speeding.

[703]

Friends were they to each other;  so both would meet the foe.

These, the men from Moorland,  bold themselves did show:

One saw by all their bearing  they would from none be flying;

Those who with them struggled  by hardest toil must their reward be buying.

[704]

Wâ-te, the very daring,  with all his knights had come;

Gu-drun, the lovely lady,  had called him from his home

To help her lover, Herwic,  and a host had ridden hither:

Whate’er might now befall them,  later full happy rode they thence together.

[705]

Although their foes were heathen,  from out the Moorish land,

They might not back be driven:  one well might understand

That in any earthly kingdom  they were the best and boldest.

To all who came to meet them  they gave a sorry welcome and a shelter coldest.

[706]

Herwic, king of Sealand,  his loss would now make good

Upon his foes from Alzabie.  For this must flow the blood

On either side of many;  to friends and kin were given

Wounds full fast and heavy:  to bear his own was hard for Hettel even.

[707]

When they had come together  of whom I spoke before,

Bringing all their followers,  gladness they knew no more;

On them were ever resting  heavy care and sorrow

For what the night might bring them.  They thought: “How shall we live to see the morrow?”

[708]

Thrice with the Moorish foemen  they strove on the stormy field,

While peace was given the castle,  as knights are wont to yield.

Again with sword and spear-shaft  they the strife would settle:

Peace not yet they wished for,  but wounds the more they got in hard-fought battle.

[709]

Nor Herwic’s men nor Siegfried’s  yet would leave the fight;

They to the last had struggled,  and many a bravest knight

Upon the field lay wounded,  or in death was sleeping.

This was told to the women,  who now began a wild, unmeasured weeping.

[710]

How well the daring Wâ-te  in battle-storm did fight!

Strong was he and skilful,  and oft the aged knight

Gave to the foe heart-sorrow,  by all the ill he wrought him:

Ever to fight with his warriors,  by the side of the boldest and best, his wishes taught him.

[711]

Horant, too, from Denmark,  brave was he enough!

Beneath his hand were shattered  helmets strong and tough;

Ne’er by him ’twas forgotten  to wear his armor shining;

Ill he wrought to many,  and oft the ranks of his foemen he was thinning.

[712]

The quick and fearless Morunc  boldly stretched his hand

Ofttimes beyond his buckler,  and oft the fight he gained.

To shun the king of Moorland  ne’er would he be seeking;

Upon that king, so mighty,  he the wrath of Herwic now was wreaking.

[713]

The great and doughty Hettel,  when that his daughter fair

Had sent to beg her father  in Herwic’s fight to share,

That peace at last might follow,  fought for him not idly:

If life were dear to any,  ’twere best to shun King Hettel’s borders widely.

[714]

Bravely strove King Herwic  on the field and at the gate;

None than he fought better.  His head was often wet,

Beneath his armor dripping,  with sweat that fast was oozing.

In death were many deafened;  they who would crush him must their lives be losing.

[715]

Wigaleis, the faithful,  great ill to many wrought.

Sir Fru-te, too, from Daneland,  with knightly prowess fought:

The thanks of all his fellows  he should of right be sharing;

He strove where the fight was stormy,  and none e’er knew an aged knight so daring.

[716]

The lord who came from Ortland,  Ortwin, brave and young,

Showed the hand of a warrior;  it was on many a tongue,

That never man in warfare  bore himself more boldly:

Wounds he gave the deepest,  and this by none was ever told of coldly.

[717]

For twelve long days of fighting,  earnestly they strove.

The men led on by Hettel  oft their spear-shafts drove

Thro’ their foes’ light bucklers,  as close they met together:

The fighters proud from Moorland  sorely rued the day that brought them thither.

[718]

Upon the thirteenth morning,  ere early mass was said,

With sorry heart spake Siegfried:  “How many here lie dead

Of all our bravest warriors!  In his lofty wooing

The king of Sealand also  here to himself has evil great been doing.”

[719]

Then to the men of Karadie  made he known his will,

To a stronghold to betake them,  there their wounds to heal:

They, with those from Alzabie,  were earnest to go thither;

Right glad were these far-riders  that all in death might not be found together.

[720]

Then to a sheltering castle  to turn they all began,

Where onward, fast beside it,  a wide, deep river ran.

While they were thither riding,  fleeing away from danger,

They were still seen fighting  with those who ne’er would yield their homes to a stranger.

[721]

Now against King Hettel  the king of Moorland rode:

Well might one believe it,  his former warlike mood

Was but a slight beginning;  he soon a foe was meeting

Who many of his kinsmen  with deep and deadly wounds of late was greeting.

[722]

Hettel, he of the Hegelings,  and Siegfried, the Moorland king,

There unto the struggle  all their strength did bring;

Shields were hacked to pieces  by the swords they wielded:

The mighty lord of Moorland  to the castle fled, nor to him of Daneland yielded.

[723]

Camps by the men from Denmark  for themselves were made:

Then the beleaguered warriors,—  it cannot be gainsaid,—

E’er many days were over,  with care were burdened sadly;

However good their shelter,  all would then have been at home more gladly.

[724]

Thus the boastful fighters  were by the foeman’s hand

Fast held within the stronghold;  nor was their knightly band

Now able to give battle,  although for this yet longing.

Their castle well they guarded,  as best they might, wherein they now were thronging.

[725]

Hettel then sent tidings,  to still their fears at home.

To the fair and high-born ladies  men with news did come,

That unto the old and youthful,  throughout the stormy fighting,

Good luck had aye befallen;  and now, with hope must they for them be waiting.

[726]

He bade his men to tell them  how Siegfried was besieged,

While he with all his followers  war against him waged,

To help the lord of Sealand,  loved by Gu-drun, his daughter;

That all, as they were able,  daily fought for her, and for him who sought her.

[727]

Hettel’s queen, fair Hilda,  the hope began to have

That luck would follow Herwic  and all his warriors brave;

And, as their worth befitted,  all might well be speeding.

Then said Gu-drun: “God grant it,  that they our friends may back in health be leading.”

[728]

By Wâ-te’s men from Sturmland,  the foes from Alzabie

And all who came from Moorland  were kept away from the sea;

Sadly must they tarry  within the sheltering castle:

In Wâ-te and in Fru-te  foes they had with whom they ill could wrestle.

[729]

Loudly swore King Hettel  the castle ne’er to leave;

That he and all his followers  still to the end would strive,

Till those to him had yielded  who now the Moor befriended.

Unwise had been their inroad,  and this for them one day in sorrow ended.

[730]

Meanwhile the spies of Hartmut,  whom he had thither sent,

Tho’ little good they looked for,  from the Norman border went;

Ever to learn what happened  they a watch were keeping,

And from the stormy warfare  they hoped that Hettel might no gain be reaping.

[731]

Now they saw that Siegfried,  the Moorland king high-born,

Was kept within the castle,  besieged both eve and morn;

Thence could he sally never,  and this he knew with sorrow;

His lands so far were lying,  he little help from them could hope to borrow.

[732]

The Norman errand-bearers,  sent forth their watch to make

By Ludwig and young Hartmut,  to them now hastened back:

The happy news they carried,  and soon at home were giving,

That Hettel, the king, and Herwic  were busy now, in warfare ever striving.

[733]

To them the lord of Normandy  thanks for the tidings gave,

And asked them: “Can you tell us  how long those foemen brave,

The men from the land of Karadie,  will in Sealand tarry,

Fighting ’gainst its warriors,  till they, their wrongs avenged, of war are weary?”

[734]

One of them made answer:  “The truth you now may hear:

There they yet must linger  more than another year.

Never from their stronghold  will the Hegelings free them;

They there so well are guarded,  that on their homeward way none e’er shall see them.”

[735]

Then the knight of Normandy,  the daring Hartmut, spake:

“This frees my heart from sorrow,  and hope in me doth wake!

If they are now beleaguered,  then are we well befriended;

We must to Hegeling hasten,  ere Hettel’s fight with Siegfried shall be ended.”

[736]

Ludwig and young Hartmut  had both the selfsame mind,—

Had they ten thousand fighters  whom they at once could find,

Gu-drun they might lay hold on,  and to their home might carry,

Before her father, Hettel,  came back again from the land where he did tarry.

[737]

Hartmut’s mother, Gerlind,  earnestly gave thought

To wreak her wrath on Hettel,  that he to harm be brought,

Because her dear son Hartmut  he shamefully had slighted.

She wished the aged Wâ-te  and Fru-te might be hanged, for the help they plighted.

[738]

Then spake the old she-devil:  “Good knights, your hire behold!

If you will now ride thither,  my silver and my gold,

That will I give you freely,—  but women shall not share it.

I care not if Hettel and Hilda  shall rue their wrong, and ne’er again will dare it.”

[739]

Quoth Ludwig, Hartmut’s father:  “We from our Norman land

Forthwith must make an inroad:  soon will I have at hand

Twenty thousand fighters  whom I for war will gather;

With these it will be easy  to seize Gu-drun, and bear her from her father.”

[740]

Then spake the youthful Hartmut:  “Might ever this betide,

That Hilda’s lovely daughter  I here should see my bride,

I would not take in barter  for that a princedom fairest;

Then might we here together  pass our lives, each one to the other dearest.”

[741]

Busily his followers,  hour by hour, gave thought

How they could do his wishes.  A host King Ludwig brought

To lead against the Hegelings;  well were they outfitted.

How should Hilda know it,  that soon thereby her welfare would be blighted?

[742]

The wife of Ludwig also  helped them as she could.

For this she plotted ever,  that fair Gu-drun be wooed,

And, as the bride of Hartmut,  to Normandy be carried;

She did her best most busily  that the maid one day should to her son be married.

[743]

Ludwig said to Hartmut,  his well belovéd son:

“Think well, O knight most worthy,  no toil we now must shun,

Until our foes are mastered  and from their lands are driven.

Reward the guests who help us;  to our men at home by me shall gifts be given.”

[744]

These they soon were sharing,  all and every one.

Never yet in Suabia  gifts so rich were known,

Of steeds for war or burden,  saddles, and shields fair shining;

I ween they were gladly given:  Ludwig ne’er before such thanks was winning.

[745]

Quickly all made ready  to start upon their way.

Sailors were found by Ludwig;  skilful men were they,

Who the deep sea-pathways  knew, and well could follow;

Hard must they be toiling  to win their wages high upon the billow.

[746]

Now, in seemly measure,  fit were they to go.

Throughout the lands and highways  soon the news did grow

That Ludwig and young Hartmut  home and land were leaving.

They yet would see much sorrow,  when they erelong their Hegeling foe were braving.

[747]

When to the shore they had ridden,  ships were floating there,

That workmen well had builded,  the knights away to bear;

Gerlind’s gold and riches  had made them strong and steady.

Nor Wâ-te the old nor Fru-te  of this knew aught, nor were for their coming ready.

[748]

With three and twenty thousand  they sailed the waters o’er.

Now for Gu-drun young Hartmut  a weight of sorrow bore:

This, before his followers,  to hide he was not earnest;

He hoped to meet King Hettel,  and him to overcome in strife the sternest.

[749]

As yet they knew not fully  how they his land could reach.

To the sons of many a mother  the raid did sorrow teach.

Near to the shores of Ortland  the rolling billows bore them,

Before ’twas known to Hettel:  now Hilda’s castle rose in sight before them.

[750]

The warriors led by Hartmut  were still twelve miles away;

Yet had they come already  over the wide, deep sea,

Unto the land of the Hegelings,  and to its shores so nearly

That castles, towers, and palaces  in Hilda’s town they all could see most clearly.

[751]

Ludwig, king of Normandy,  bade that on the sand

They now should drop the anchors;  he then gave word to land

To all his men together,  and bade them do it quickly:

They now had come so near them,  they feared the Hegeling bands would gather thickly.

[752]

Then bore they up the weapons,  with shields and helmets good,

That they had with them carried  over the heaving flood:

They to fight made ready;  yet they at first bethought them

To send through the land their runners,  to learn if friendly helpers might be brought them.

[753]

Now at Hartmut’s bidding  heralds quickly rode

To where the queenly Hilda  and her daughter dear abode.

To them his word they carried,  that if to wed the maiden

They should think him worthy,  her and her mother both it well might gladden.

[754]

If she her love would give him,  as he had asked before,—

Ofttimes his heart was heavy  for the love to her he bore,—

That he would ever serve her  so long as he was living,

And many lands wide-reaching,  held of his father, would to her be giving.

[755]

But if she would not love him,  she then would earn his hate;

He asked of her that kindly  she his love would meet,

So that he to his fatherland  his lovely bride might carry

Without a fight or struggle.  To hope for this brave Hartmut ne’er was weary.

[756]

Did she gainsay his wooing,  Hartmut sent this word:

“I will not be bought with silver,  albeit a heavy hoard,

To leave in peace her kingdom;  she yet shall give me heeding.

I will show Gu-drun, fair maiden,  brave knights enough, to be for her eyes fine feeding!

[757]

“Further, good errand-bearers,  this say to her from me:

I ne’er will leave her borders  to sail on the wide, deep sea;

Better will I think it  to be hewn in pieces even,

Unless the Hegeling maiden  will follow me hence, to me in wedlock given.

[758]

“But, should she scorn me wholly,  and never my bride will be,

Then me, with my daring fighters,  riding here she will see.

Before the Hegeling castle  I will then leave lying

Twenty thousand warriors,  on both sides of the roadway, dead or dying.

[759]

“Since by the craft of Wigaleis  King Hettel has been led,

And by the aged Wâ-te,  hither our way we’ve made

Into the Hegeling kingdom,  time and toil thus spending;