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.”
Tale the Eleventh.
HOW HERWIC SENT TO SEEK GUDRUN AND HOW HARTMUT CAME HIMSELF.
[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.
Tale the Twelfth.
HOW HERWIC MADE WAR ON HETTEL, AND HOW GUDRUN WAS BETROTHED TO HIM.
[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.
Tale the Thirteenth.
HOW SIEGFRIED MADE WAR AGAINST HERWIC.
[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.