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.”