She said: “I fain were hearing, if thou the truth hast learned,
If Horant, lord of Denmark, his way has hither turned,
And with him leads his kinsmen? They leave me here forsaken.
Knowing him brave and daring, I would my lonely lot his care might
waken.”
[1181]
“From Denmark sailing hither, Horant, your kinsman, comes;
He to war is leading his followers from their homes.
The banner of Queen Hilda aloft in his hand he is bearing;
’Tis thus the Hegeling warriors now the Norman Hartmut’s land are
nearing.”
[1182]
Gu-drun then asked him further: “This would I also hear:
Lives Wâ-te still of Sturmland? If so, no more I fear.
We all might then be happy, if thou could’st this be telling,—
That under the flag of my mother he and the aged Fru-te are hither
sailing.”
[1183]
To her the angel answered: “Hither comes in haste
Wâ-te the old from Sturmland. He in his hand holds fast
The strong and guiding rudder, and Fru-te’s ship is steering.
Truer friends or better you ne’er need wish their swords for you
were bearing.”
[1184]
Once more the bird was ready upon his way to go;
Then said the wretched maiden: “I still am full of woe;
And now to know am longing— if life such bliss can lend me—
When I, poor homeless maiden, shall see my mother’s knights, whom
she doth send me.”
[1185]
The angel answered quickly: “Your happiness is near;
To-morrow morning early, will two brave knights be here.
Both are true and upright, and falsehood ne’er will tell you;
Whatever news they bring you you well may trust, and never will it
fail you.”
[1186]
At last the heavenly angel hence in truth must go:
From him the homeless maidens sought no more to know.
In mind they ever wavered, ’twixt hope and fear still tossing;
Where their helpers lingered they could not know, yet trust were
never losing.
[1187]
Lazily and slowly they washed the livelong day;
Of knights sent there by Hilda, who now were on their way
From over the Hegeling border, busily they chatted:
Gu-drun’s good, faithful kinsmen were by the long-lost maids
uneasily awaited.
[1188]
Each day must have its ending; to the castle now must go
The weary, homesick maidens. They there must harshness know
From evil-minded Gerlind, who their lives still harrowed;
A day went by but seldom that she scolded them not, nor still their
bondage narrowed.
[1189]
Thus she spoke to the maidens: “Who gave the word to you
That you might wash so slowly my clothes and linen, too?
All the things I gave you must be quickly whitened;
’Twere best that you be careful, you else shall weep, and for your
lives be frightened.”
[1190]
Then answered her young Hildeburg: “Our work we ever mind;
Truly you ought, fair lady, to be to us more kind.
We oft are almost freezing, with water o’er us splashing;
If only the winds were warmer, we might for you far better then be
washing.”
[1191]
Grimly answered Gerlind, and roughly them did twit:
“Whatever be the weather, my work you may not slight.
Early must you be washing, nor rest till night be knowing;
To-morrow morn, at daybreak, you from my room must down to the beach
be going.
[1192]
“I ween you know already that Holytide is near;
Palm-Sunday soon is coming, and guests will then be here:
If to ill-washed clothing my knights shall then be treated,
Never in kingly castle to those who washed have woes like yours been
meted.”
[1193]
Then the maidens left her; they laid aside, all wet,
The clothing they were wearing— they better care should get.
All they had known of kindness for them no longer lasted,
And soon for this they sorrowed, for bread and water now was all
they tasted.
[1194]
Now the downcast maidens for sleep had sought their bed;
But this was not the softest, and each one, in her need,
A dirty shirt was wearing. Thus was Gerlind showing
Her care and kindness for them, on benches hard a pillow ne’er
bestowing.
[1195]
Never Gu-drun, poor maiden, on a harder bed had lain;
All were tired with watching till day should dawn again.
They had but broken slumber; I ween, they oft bethought them
How soon the knights were coming, of whom the angel-bird the news
had brought them.
[1196]
Soon as the morning lightened, Hildeburg the good,
Erst from Galicia stolen, at the window gazing stood;
All night she slept but little, but on her bed lay tossing.
She saw that snow had fallen, and hope the heart-sick maid was
wellnigh losing.
[1197]
Then spake the hapless maiden: “To wash we now must go.
Should God not change the weather, and we, in storm and snow,
To-day must stand a-washing, before the evening cometh
We, all chilled and barefoot, shall dead be found, while us the cold
benumbeth.”
[1198]
By hope they yet were gladdened, e’en as they well might be,
That those sent out by Hilda they ere night should see.
When the lovely maidens upon this thought were dwelling,
It made them now more happy, and lighter was the pain their hearts
were feeling.
[1199]
Then said Hilda’s daughter: “My friend, you should beseech
The stern, ill-minded Gerlind, that on the pebbly beach
Shoes she will allow us; she may herself be learning
That if we go there barefoot we soon shall freeze, and there our
death be earning.”
[1200]
The maidens then went seeking King Ludwig and his queen.
He, in sleep held fondly, in Gerlind’s arms was seen;
Both were sunk in slumber, and the maids, their anger fearing,
Dared not them to waken: erelong Gu-drun yet greater woe was
bearing.
[1201]
The weeping of the maidens by the sleeping queen was heard,
Who quick began to chide them with many a surly word:
“Why, you heedless maidens, are you not to the seashore going,
There to wash my clothing, and rinse them with clean water o’er them
flowing?”
[1202]
Then said Gu-drun, in sorrow: “I know not where to go,
For in the night has fallen a deep and heavy snow.
That we by death be stricken unless you now are willing,
Do not send us washing; to stand without our shoes will us be
killing.”
[1203]
To her the she-wolf answered; “That I do not fear;
Now to the shore betake you, or weal or woe to bear.
If you be slow in washing, my wrath may you be dreading;
E’en if you die, what care I?” At this the hopeless maids more tears
were shedding.
[1204]
Taking then the clothing, they went to the water’s brink:
“Of this,” said Gu-drun, “God willing, I will make you think.”
Then, in the cold, barefooted, through the snow they waded;
The very high-born maidens, forsaken in their woe, were worn and
faded.
[1205]
Down to the beach they plodded, as was their wont before,
Bearing the clothing with them to the bleak and sandy shore.
They once more were standing, over the washing stooping;
Ever they were thinking of their sorry plight, and sadly were they
hoping.
[1206]
Often now, and earnestly, over the watery waste,
While they toiled and sorrowed, longing looks they cast;
Still of those now dreaming sent by the queen to free them,
Who o’er the sea were sailing. The high-born maidens hoped erelong
to see them.
Tale the Twenty-Fifth.
HOW HERWIC AND ORTWIN FOUND GUDRUN.
[1207]
After they long had waited, now saw these washers lone
Two in a boat fast nearing; others were there none.
Then said the maiden, Hildeburg, unto Gu-drun, the lady:
“These two are sailing hither; perhaps the friends sent here are
come already.”
[1208]
She, full of sorrow, answered: “Ah, woe is me, poor maid!
Although, in truth I’m happy, I yet am also sad.
If at the seaside washing Queen Hilda’s men shall see us,
Standing thus barefooted, we from the shame of this can never free
us.
[1209]
“A poor, unhappy woman, I know not what to do:
Hildeburg, my dearest, your mind now let me know;
To hide me were it better, or shall I stay to shame me
When they shall find me toiling? Rather would I that they a drudge
should name me.”
[1210]
Then said the maiden Hildeburg: “E’en how it stands you see;
A thing that is so weighty you should not leave to me,
Whate’er you think the better, your choice will I be sharing;
With you I’ll stay forever, both good, and ill together with you
bearing.”
[1211]
Then from the water turning, both fled away in haste;
But now the boat of the sailors had neared the land so fast,
They saw the lovely washers, away from the seashore hieing,
And at once bethought them that they for shame away from the clothes
were flying.
[1212]
They called unto the maidens, as they sprang upon the beach:
“Whither so fast are you fleeing, fair washers, we beseech?
We are far-off wanderers, as well our looks are showing;
Your linen may be stolen, if you leave it here, and from us in haste
are going.”
[1213]
They kept their way still swiftly, as if they heard it not:
But yet the boisterous shouting had reached their ears, I wot.
The bold and knightly Herwic too roughly bade them hear him,
For he not yet mistrusted ’twas his betrothed that now he saw so
near him.
[1214]
Cried Herwic, lord of Sealand: “Maidens fair and young,
Tell us now, we pray you, to whom these clothes belong.
We ask you in all honor, by the faith to maidens owing,
Most fair and lovely ladies, that back to the shore you will again
be going.”
[1215]
Gu-drun, the maid, then answered: “It were a shame, forsooth,
Since to the trust of woman you give your pledge in truth,
Were I of this unworthy, nor faith in you were showing:
To the shore we back will hasten, although my eyes with tears are
overflowing.”
[1216]
They, in their smocks, came nearer; both with the sea were wet.
Before that time, the maidens were always clean and neat;
Now the wretched drudges with cold and frost were quaking;
Little of late had they eaten, and with the March-like winds were
chilled and shaking.
[1217]
The time had come already for snows to melt away,
And, with each other vying, the little birds, each day,
Again their songs would warble, as soon as March was ended;
But in the snow, and ice-cold, the maids were found forlorn, and
unbefriended.
[1218]
Stiff were their locks and frosted, when they now drew near;
However well and carefully they had smoothed their hair,
It now was tossed and tumbled by the wind so wildly blowing:
Hard bestead were the maidens, toiling there, whether it rained or
was snowing.
[1219]
The ice was loose and broken, floating everywhere
Upon the sea before them. The maids were filled with care;
Pale were now their bodies, e’en as the snow around them,
By their scanty clothes scarce hidden. Sad was the lot in which the
knights had found them.
[1220]
Then the high-born Herwic a kind “Good-morning” bade
To the sad and homeless maidens; of this sore need they had,
For oft their keeper, Gerlind, had them with harshness taunted.
To hear “Good-morning,” “Good-evening,” was now to the maids but
very seldom granted.
[1221]
Then said the youthful Ortwin: “I beg you say to me
To whom belongs this clothing, that on the sands I see?
For whom are you here washing? You both are so comely showing,
Who can this shame have done you? May God bring low the man such
outrage doing!
[1222]
“So fair are you and lovely, you well might wear the crown;
If all that is your birthright you now could call your own,
You would, in truth, be worthy to be with ladies seated.
Has he for whom you are toiling more such washers fair so foully
treated?”
[1223]
To him the lovely maiden in greatest sorrow spoke:
“Many he hath beside us who fairer still do look.
All that you list now ask us; yet, with eye unsleeping,
One from the leads doth watch us, who ne’er will forgive the talk
with you we’re keeping.”
[1224]
“Be not at this uneasy, but deign our gold to take,
And with it these four arm-bands. These your reward we make,
If you, most lovely ladies, of speech will not be wary;
To you we give them gladly, if of the truth we seek you be not
chary.”
[1225]
“God leave to you your arm-bands, albeit you we thank;
Nought for hire may you give us,” quoth the lady high in rank.
“Ask what you will, but quickly, for we must hence be going;
If we were seen here with you, nothing but sorrow should we then be
knowing.”
[1226]
“We beg you first to tell us who this land doth own?
Whose are the castles also? By what name is he known
Who leaves you without clothing, low tasks upon you laying?
He may of his worth be boastful; that he doeth well no man may now
be saying.”
[1227]
To him Gu-drun thus answered: “Hartmut is one of the lords
To whom these lands owe fealty. His castles well he guards,
With Ludwig, king of the Normans, who is Hartmut’s father:
And many knightly vassals, to keep their lands from foes, they round
them gather.”
[1228]
“Gladly would we see them,” said Ortwin, the friendly knight;
“Happy were I, fair lady, if we could learn aright
Where, within their kingdom, we might those kings be meeting,
We bring to them an errand; as henchmen of a king, we bear his
greeting.”
[1229]
Gu-drun, the high-born lady, thus to the warrior spake:
“This very morning early, ere yet they were awake,
I left them in their castle; in their beds they slumbered.
I know not if thence they have ridden: their men, I think, full
forty hundred numbered.”
[1230]
Again King Herwic asked her: “To us yet further tell,
Why is it such brave princes in fear like this should dwell,
That they so many warriors always should be needing?
Had I that band of fighters, to gain a kingdom I would them be
leading.”
[1231]
To him Gu-drun thus answered: “Of that we nothing know;
And where their lands are lying, that neither can we show:
But from the Hegeling kingdom, although it is not near them,
They fear that harm awaits them from foes who soon may come, who
hatred bear them.”
[1232]
Trembling, cold, and shivering, the maids before them stood;
Then the knightly Herwic spake, in kindly mood:
“I would, most lovely ladies, if we might be so daring,
And if no shame it gave you, that on the shore our cloaks you would
be wearing.”
[1233]
Hilda’s daughter answered: “May God your kindness bless;
We cannot take your mantles, but we thank you none the less.
No eye shall ever see me manly clothing wearing.”
If only the maidens knew it, much greater ills would they yet be
often bearing.
[1234]
Oft the eyes of Herwic did on the maiden rest;
To him she seemed most comely, and her bearing was the best.
For all her heavy sorrows sighs in his heart were wakened;
And to one erst thought of kindly, from him long taken, he the
maiden likened.
[1235]
Then spake again young Ortwin, who was of Ortland king:
“Can either of you ladies tidings whatever bring
Of a band of homeless maidens who to this land were carried?
Gu-drun was one among them, and gladly would we learn where she has
tarried.”
[1236]
To him the maiden answered: “To me is that well known;
A maiden throng came hither in days now long bygone:
They to this far-off kingdom by fighters bold were taken;
And full of heavy sorrow came these maids forlorn, of hope forsaken.
[1237]
“The maid whom you are seeking I know,” she said, “full well;
I here have seen her toiling, this for a truth I tell.”
She was herself the maiden who was by Hartmut stolen,
Gu-drun, Queen Hilda’s daughter, and all she told had erst herself
befallen.
[1238]
Then spake the knightly Herwic: “Ortwin, list to me:
If fair Gu-drun, your sister, yet alive may be,
In any land whatever, for us on earth still watching,
This must be that lady; ne’er have I seen two maids so nearly
matching.”
[1239]
To him then said young Ortwin: “The maid in truth is fair,
But to my long-lost sister no likeness doth she bear.
The days are not forgotten when we were young together;
Should I rove the whole world over, so fair as she I ne’er could
find another.”
[1240]
When now Gu-drun, who listened, heard the name of the man,
That his friend did call him Ortwin, she looked at him again:
For she indeed were happy if she were thus befriended,
And found in him a brother, for then her cares were o’er and her
sorrows ended.
[1241]
“However they may call you, a worthy knight are you:
A man in all things like you in days of yore I knew;
The name of Herwic bore he, in Sealand was his dwelling.
If that brave knight were living, to loose us from our bonds he were
not failing.
[1242]
“I am one of the maidens whom Hartmut’s warriors stole,
And bore across the waters, in thraldom sorrowful.
Gu-drun you here are seeking, but need not thus have hasted;
The queenly Hegeling maiden at last is dead, with toil and hardship
wasted.”
[1243]
The eyes of Ortwin glistened, filling fast with tears;
Nor was it without weeping that now King Herwic hears
The tidings to them given,— that fair Gu-drun, their lady,
From them by death was taken; at this their heavy hearts to break
were ready.
[1244]
When both, before her weeping, were seen by the homeless maid,
With eyes upon them fastened, thus to them she said:
“It seems to me most likely, by the mood that you are wearing,
That to Gu-drun, the maiden, you worthy knights are love and kinship
bearing.”
[1245]
To her young Herwic answered: “Yes, for the maid, forsooth,
I shall pine till life be ended; to me she gave her troth,
And to me, in wedlock plighted, with faithful oaths was given:
Since then, by the craft of Ludwig, her have I lost, by him from her
birthland riven.”
[1246]
Then said the sorrowing maiden: “Your words would me mislead,
For men have often told me that Herwic long is dead.
No bliss on earth were greater, that God to me were granting,
Could I learn that he is living; a friend to lead me hence were then
not wanting.”
[1247]
Then said the knightly Herwic: “Upon my hand now look;
Know you this ring I am wearing? Mine is the name you spoke;
With this were we betrothéd: to Gu-drun I am faithful ever,
And if you were my loved one, I would lead you hence, and would
forsake you never.”
[1248]
Upon his hand then looking, a ring there met her sight,
Set with a stone from Abalie, in gold that glittered bright;
Never her eyes had rested on one more rich or fairer.
Gu-drun, the queenly maiden, of this same ring had whilom been the
wearer.
[1249]
The happy maiden, smiling, with words her bliss did show:
“Of this I once was owner, and well the ring I know.
Look upon this I am wearing; ’twas the gift of my early lover,
While I, a gladsome maiden, still dwelt at home, nor stepped its
borders over.”
[1250]
He, on her hand now gazing, upon the ring did look;
Then unto the maiden the knightly Herwic spoke:
“That a queenly mother bore thee, I see by many a token;
After my heavy sorrows, a blessed sight upon my eyes has broken.”
[1251]
Then in his arms he folded the fair and high-born maid:
For all they told each other they were both glad and sad.
He kissed the maiden fondly, how oft I cannot reckon;
So, too, he greeted Hildeburg, showing his love to both the maids
forsaken.
[1252]
Then the youthful Ortwin begged the maid to say
Whether to do her task-work there was no other way
Than, standing by the seaside, all day to wash the clothing?
At this she greatly sorrowed, and felt for her work the deepest
shame and loathing.
[1253]
“Tell me now, fair sister, where may your children be
Whom you have borne to Hartmut, in his land across the sea,
That all alone on the seashore to wash they thus allow you?
If here a queen they call you, the name you bear but little good can
do you.”
[1254]
Shedding tears, she answered: “How should I have a child?
No love could Hartmut kindle, that I to him should yield;
And well do all men know it who near him here are dwelling.
Because I would not love him I now must toil, and woe my heart is
swelling.”
[1255]
Then spake the knightly Herwic: “We now can truly say
That we good luck have met with, on our errand far away;
And nought could have befallen that for us were better.
It behooves us now to hasten to free the maid from the ills that
here beset her.”
[1256]
Then said the knight, young Ortwin: “That may never be.
Had I a hundred sisters, I would sooner let them die
Than here, in another’s kingdom, to hide a deed of plunder;
Stealing those from our foemen whom they by stormy fight from us did
sunder.”
[1257]
Then spake the lord of Sealand: “This do I greatly fear,
Should our search be known to any, or if they find us here,
They then may take the maiden, and her far hence may carry,
And never shall we see her: ’twere best to hide the deed, nor longer
tarry.”
[1258]
Him did Ortwin answer: “How can we leave in need
Her faithful band of maidens? So long a stay they’ve made
Here in this land of foemen that well may they be weary:
Gu-drun, my worthy sister, should ne’er forsake her maids, in
bondage dreary.”
[1259]
To him then spake brave Herwic: “Is this in truth your mind?
Ne’er shall my well-belovéd be left by me behind;
To take the ladies with us, e’en as we can, ’tis better.”
Him did Ortwin answer: “Here to be hacked with the sword for me were
fitter.”
[1260]
Then said the downcast maiden: “What have I done to thee,
My dearest brother Ortwin? Never as yet in me
Was seen such ill-behavior that I for that was chidden.
For what great sin I know not am I, my lord, to make atonement
bidden?”
[1261]
“I do not thus, dear sister, for want of love to thee;
Thereby your band of maidens I shall the better free.
Only as fits my honor, hence will I ever take you;
Herwic for your lover you yet shall have, and ne’er will he forsake
you.”
[1262]
Gu-drun was heavy-hearted as they went on board the boat;
She said: “Woe worth my wanderings! my sorrow endeth not.
He whom once I trusted, must hope in him be shaken
That he will break my bondage? My bliss is yet far off, and my faith
mistaken.”
[1263]
In haste the daring warriors turned from the shore away.
Gu-drun, the maid, heart-broken, to Herwic called to stay:
“Of me you once thought highly, but now you hold me lightly:
To whom, in my woe, do you leave me? Bereft of kin, to whom can I
trust me rightly?”
[1264]
“I do not hold you lightly; you are of maids the best.
My coming, queenly lady, hide within your breast;
Again, ere morning lightens, these shores will I be treading,—
For this my troth I pledge you,— eighty thousand followers with me
leading.”
[1265]
As fast as they were able they hastened then away;
Never friends were sundered more sadly than that day
Were these from one another; (the truth to you I’m telling.)
As far as their eyes could follow, the maidens watched the boat away
fast sailing.
[1266]
Gu-drun, the queenly maiden, her washing now forgot;
Betwixt her bliss and sorrow, her toil she heeded not.
The harsh and wicked Gerlind, the idle women spying
Standing by the seashore, in anger stormed, that her clothes
unwashed were lying.
[1267]
Then said the maiden Hildeburg, from Ireland, o’er the sea:
“Why do you let the clothing here uncared for be?
The clothes of Ludwig’s followers still unwashed are waiting.
If this be known to Gerlind, yet harder blows from her shall we be
getting.”
[1268]
Queen Hilda’s daughter answered: “Too proud I am, I ween,
That for the wicked Gerlind I e’er should wash again.
Henceforth a toil so lowly in scorn shall I be holding,
For two young kings have kissed me, they in kindness me in their
arms enfolding.”
[1269]
Then Hildeburg made answer: “Scorn not that I should teach
Or that I now would show you how best the clothes to bleach:
We must not leave them yellow, but carefully must whiten;
Else do I greatly fear me our backs with blows and stripes will well
be beaten.”
[1270]
Then said old Hagen’s grandchild: “At last my lot is bright,
With hope and gladness beaming. If they my back shall smite
With rods, from now till morning, I trow it will not kill me;
But soon shall those who wronged us know themselves the ills they
chose to deal me.
[1271]
“These clothes I should be washing down to the tide I’ll bear,
And fling them into the water,” said the maiden fair;
“Their freedom I will give them, even as ’tis fitting
That I, a queen, should do it; hence they may float away, no
hindrance meeting.”
[1272]
Whate’er was said by Hildeburg, Gu-drun the clothes then took,
That Gerlind her had given; her task she would not brook,
But far into the billows she threw them, strongly hurling:
I know not if ever she found them; they soon were lost to sight, in
the waters swirling.
[1273]
The night was drawing nearer, and the light began to wane;
To the castle, heavy-laden, went Hildeburg again.
Seven robes of finest linen she bore, with other clothing;
Gu-drun, young Ortwin’s sister, with Hildeburg went also, bearing
nothing.
[1274]
When they had reached the castle, the time was very late.
Before King Ludwig’s palace, standing at the gate,
They saw the wicked Gerlind, watching there to meet them:
Soon as she saw the washers, with words of bitter scorn she ’gan to
greet them.