What helped it that of Wâ-te men said he was as strong
As six and twenty warriors? Though this was on each tongue,
Yet still to him young Hartmut his knightly skill was showing:
Howe’er his foe was striving, the Norman lord and his men no less
were doing.
[1470]
A knight he was most truly, and well indeed he fought;
Of the dead there lay a mountain whom on the field he smote.
It was, forsooth, a wonder that Hartmut had not yielded,
And died before old Wâ-te: grim was the wrath from which himself he
shielded.
[1471]
Soon heard he, loudly shrieking, old King Ludwig’s wife;
Sorely she was mourning the loss of her husband’s life.
She said she would reward him who felt his death past bearing,
And would Gu-drun be slaying, with all the maids who there her lot
were sharing.
[1472]
Then ran a worthless fellow, to whom the fee was dear,
To where the Hegeling maidens sat together near.
Then the hearts of the women with many fears he loaded;
For the sake of gold to be given, to take their lives he now was
sharply goaded.
[1473]
When that Hilda’s daughter against her saw him bear
A sharp and naked weapon, she well indeed might fear,
And mourn that, far from kindred, she was thus forsaken.
Had not young Hartmut seen it, the knave her head from her would
then have taken.
[1474]
She so forgot her breeding that now she screamed aloud,
As if in dread of dying; great fear made wild her mood.
’Twas the same with all her maidens, there beside her seated,
From out the window gazing; the ladies such behavior ill befitted.
[1475]
At once the sound of her wailing to Hartmut made her known;
And greatly did he wonder what made her scream and moan.
Soon he saw a ruffian whose sword was near to falling,
As if he meant to kill her. Loudly now to him ’gan Hartmut calling:
[1476]
“Who are you, low-born dastard? For what reward or need
Do you affright these maidens, and seek to strike them dead?
If you shall strike one lady, I give you now this warning,
Your life shall quick be ended; your kinsmen too shall hang, this
very morning.”
[1477]
Back then sprang the rascal,— his anger he did fear;
For now the youthful Hartmut held his life not dear,
When to the homeless maidens he his help was giving:
With care was he o’erladen, while from grim death to free them he
was striving.
[1478]
Quickly then came Ortrun, she of Norman lands,
The fair and youthful princess; in woe she wrung her hands.
She to Gu-drun came nearer, the stately, high-born maiden,
And, at her feet down-falling, bewept her father’s death, with
sorrow laden.
[1479]
She said: “Most queenly lady, do not your tears forbear,
For all my many kinsmen who death together share.
Bethink you, if you also a father slain were weeping,
How you would feel, great princess. My father slain I mourn, in
death now sleeping.
[1480]
“Behold, most high-born maiden, my woe and bitter need;
How almost all my kinsmen lie, with my father, dead:
And now the knightly Hartmut is death from Wâ-te fearing.
If I should lose my brother, bereft of kindred, nought could life be
cheering.
[1481]
“Reward the love I’ve shown you,” said the Norman maid.
“Of all that saw your sorrow, when none a tear did shed,
I then alone was friendly, and had you in my keeping;
For all the wrongs they did you, I the livelong day for you was
weeping.”
[1482]
Queen Hilda’s daughter answered: “Thou wast indeed my friend;
But yet this strife so deadly I know not how to end.
Were I indeed a warrior, and knightly weapons wearing,
I’d stop the fighting gladly; and none to slay your brother then
were daring.”
[1483]
Ortrun was sorely weeping; she still the maid besought,
Until within the window Gu-drun at length she brought,
Who with her hand then beckoned, and begged that it be told her
If from the land of her fathers knights had come who did in
friendship hold her.
[1484]
Then the knightly Herwic answer thus did make:
“Who are you, young maiden, who news from us do seek?
We are not the Hegelings, whom you see so near you;
We hither come from the Sealands. Tell us, maiden, how we now can
cheer you?”
[1485]
“This do I beseech you,” said the queenly maid:
“Sore has been the fighting; him will I thank, indeed,
Who now cuts short the struggle. Me will he be cheering
Who from the hands of Wâ-te will Hartmut free in the strife that I
am fearing.”
[1486]
Then asked the well-bred warrior who from the Sealands came:
“Tell me, worthy maiden, what may be your name?”
She said: “Gu-drun they call me, of Hagen’s blood I own me;
Altho’ my birth was lofty, of late but little love has here been
shown me.”
[1487]
He said: “If you, fair lady, my dear Gu-drun can be,
Then faithfully to help you gladness will give to me;
For I, in truth, am Herwic; you for my own I have chosen,
And fain am I to show you how you from bonds of sorrow I can
loosen.”
[1488]
She said: “If you would help me, my good and worthy knight,
I trust that you will grant me that what I ask is right:
To me these lovely maidens their prayers are ever making,
That from the fight with Wâ-te some friendly hand will Hartmut soon
be taking.”
[1489]
“That will I do right gladly, dearest lady mine.”
Then to his men young Herwic called above the din:
“Now against old Wâ-te let my flag be carried.”
Herwic then pressed forward, and none of all his men behind him
tarried.
[1490]
To do the lady’s bidding hard it was for him;
But Herwic called out loudly to Wâ-te old and grim,
And said, “My dear friend Wâ-te, to grant my wish be ready:
Let strife be ended quickly: this is the prayer of many a lovely
lady.”
[1491]
Then spake in wrath old Wâ-te: “Sir Herwic, get you gone!
Did I mind the will of a woman, how should I do my own?
If I thought to spare the foeman, unasked I’d do it even.
I will not do your bidding: Hartmut to pay for his sins must now be
driven.”
[1492]
Herwic, for love of his lady, on both the fighters sprang
Right fearlessly and boldly; loud the sword-blades rang.
Wâ-te was wild with anger, and bitter pain it gave him
That, ere the foeman yielded, Herwic from his hand should dare to
save him.
[1493]
Then he smote King Herwic a strong and heavy blow,
Ere he could part the fighters, and quickly laid him low;
Now rushed the men of Herwic, and did from Wâ-te bear him.
Hartmut was seized and taken, though Herwic and his knights had
sought to spare him.
Tale the Twenty-Ninth.
HOW HARTMUT WAS TAKEN PRISONER.
[1494]
Wâ-te loud was storming; then went he towards the hall
That stood before the gateway. On every side did fall
The din of sword-blades clashing, of groaning and of weeping.
Hartmut was in bondage; ill luck alone his liegemen, too, were
reaping.
[1495]
With him were also taken eighty warriors brave;
The others all were slaughtered. Hartmut his life did save,
But to a ship was carried, and fast and long they kept him.
Not yet was sorrow ended; greater ills must they know who now bewept
him.
[1496]
Though often from the stronghold Wâ-te’s men they drove,
Both with slings and arrows, yet still he grimly strove,
And won from them the castle. The heavy bolts were broken
That once the gates had fastened; at this fair women wept, with fear
outspoken.
[1497]
Horant, the lord of Denmark, Queen Hilda’s flag now bore;
Him followed many warriors, he might not wish for more.
Up to a palace tower that high its walls was rearing,
Far above all others, the Hegeling men the banner soon were bearing.
[1498]
As I have told already, the castle now was won:
To those they found within it grimmest deeds were done.
Great was the crowd on-pressing, for booty to enrich them.
Then cried the stern old Wâ-te: “Where are now the sacks, and youths
to fetch them?”
[1499]
Now was broken open many a well-filled room;
Loud was the din and uproar that from within did come:
But all were not like-minded who the halls were thronging;
While wounds were dealt by many, others for plunder searched, for
riches longing.
[1500]
They bore so much from the castle, as we have heard it told,
That such a heavy burden two ships could never hold:
Richest silken clothing, silver and gold, were taken,
To load the ships on the waters; tho’ much they took, yet much must
be forsaken.
[1501]
Now within the castle joy was all unknown.
To all the folk there gathered the greatest wrongs were done;
Men alike and women were slain who there were dwelling:
To children in their cradles, even to them, the foemen death were
dealing.
[1502]
Irold then to Wâ-te thus his mind made known:
“Of harm to you these children devil-a-bit have done.
They indeed are blameless, nor hate to our kin were showing;
For the love of God, I beg you, spare the poor babes, some pity now
bestowing.”
[1503]
The aged Wâ-te answered: “Thou hast the mind of a child;
Tho’ now in the cradle wailing, say, wouldst thou have willed
That I should leave them living? As soon as they are older,
They never can be trusted; to trust a Saxon wild would be no
bolder.”
[1504]
Blood throughout the castle flowed on every side.
Those who saw the slaughter, how bitterly they cried!
Now the high-born Ortrun, filled with care and sorrow,
Sought Gu-drun, kind maiden: she feared yet greater wrongs before
the morrow.
[1505]
Then, her head low bending before the lovely maid,
She said: “Gu-drun, my lady, have pity on my need,
And, in my sharpest sorrow, leave me not forsaken;
I trust me to your kindness, or else my life will by your friends be
taken.”
[1506]
“Gladly will I shield you,” she answered, “if I can;
Ever to do you kindness, and help you, I am fain.
I will gain for you forgiveness; no more for life be fearing.
Your maids and women also must stand near me, my care they, too, are
sharing.”
[1507]
“This doth make me happy,” the youthful Ortrun said.
With three and thirty maidens, she was kindly kept and fed;
Warriors two and sixty there the ladies guarded:
If they should gain their freedom, their keepers would be slain, and
thus rewarded.
[1508]
The old and wicked Gerlind ran to Gu-drun in haste;
As if she were her bondwoman, herself at her feet she cast,
Saying: “Most high-born lady, thou alone canst save us
From Wâ-te and his followers; else will his wrath, I ween, of life
bereave us.”
[1509]
To her said Hilda’s daughter: “I hear you asking now
That I to you be friendly; how should I kindness show?
Nought that e’er I wished for to grant me were you willing:
To me you showed but hatred; and now my heart with hate for you is
swelling.”
[1510]
That Ortrun then was near him Wâ-te became aware:
He his teeth was gnashing, and straight up-stood he there;
Now his eyes were flashing; his yard-wide beard was flowing;
And all were sorely frightened, and feared what the Sturmisch lord
would next be doing.
[1511]
Over him blood was streaming, with it his clothes were wet.
Tho’ Gu-drun was glad to see him, she had liked it better yet
If he, in mood less wrathful, had come for her to greet him;
Such fear they all were feeling, I ween that no one there was glad
to meet him.
[1512]
To meet her friend, old Wâ-te, went Gu-drun alone;
Then said Hilda’s daughter, with sad and care-fraught tone:
“Welcome art thou, Wâ-te! How glad would be my greeting,
If now these folk so many no evil from thy hand should here be
meeting.”
[1513]
“I thank you, fair young maiden! Are you Queen Hilda’s child?
Who are these many women, whom here you seek to shield?”
“This,” said Gu-drun, in answer, “is Ortrun, high in breeding;
I beg you, Wâ-te, spare her: her women here your wrath are sorely
dreading.
[1514]
“Those there are wretched maidens, from far across the sea,
Brought from the Hegeling kingdom by Ludwig’s men with me.
But you are wet and bloody; do not come so near us:
For all your help we thank you, nor in our woe do scorn the love you
bear us.”
[1515]
Wâ-te went on further, and Herwic soon he found,
And with him youthful Ortwin, as king in Ortland owned.
Irold was there and Morunc; Fru-te had thither hasted:
None of these were idle; many they slew, nor soon from slaughter
rested.
[1516]
Quickly then came Hergart, the lady of a duke,
And said: “Gu-drun, good lady, on me with kindness look,—
On me, a wretched woman. Forget not that we ever
Have been and are your handmaids; and let me, lady, lose thy
friendship never.”
[1517]
Gu-drun in anger answered: “Stand back, come not so near!
Whatever we poor maidens of wrong have had to fear,
For all you wept but little, and cared for it but slightly.
Not much do I care either whether for you it now goes ill or
rightly.
[1518]
“You still among my maidens may linger, if you choose.”
Now the stern old Wâ-te looked round among his foes,
To find the wicked Gerlind, whom he in wrath was seeking.
That devilish crone, with her women, the kindness of Gu-drun was now
bespeaking.
[1519]
Grimly then old Wâ-te stood before the hall,
And said: “Gu-drun, my lady, send down, with her maidens all,
The old and wicked Gerlind, who made you wash by the water;
And with her send her kinsmen, who in our land so many knights did
slaughter.”
[1520]
The lovely maiden answered: “Not one of them is here.”
Then Wâ-te, in his anger, went in and to her came near;
He said: “Now show me quickly the women I am seeking;
Else shall they, with your maidens, all alike in the grave their
home be making.”
[1521]
Wâ-te was sorely angry, of this was she aware.
A wink of her eye then gave him a lovely maiden there,
And he knew the old she-devil, on whom her glance was turning.
“Tell me,” he said, “Queen Gerlind, for other maids to wash are you
still yearning?”
[1522]
Then by the hand he took her, and dragged her thence away;
The while the wicked Gerlind sank down in sore dismay.
Said Wâ-te, wild to madness: “Most lofty queen, I warn you,
Never again, at your bidding, shall my ladies wash for you; they now
can scorn you.”
[1523]
I ween that when he brought her without the palace gate,
All looked on to witness what he would do in his hate.
Then by the hair he grasped her, no one a whit he dreaded,
His wrath indeed was bitter, and at once the evil queen he there
beheaded.
[1524]
Loudly shrieked the maidens, their fright at this was sore.
Back again went Wâ-te, and said: “Who is there more,
Who to the queen owns kinship? To me you now must show her;
However high she holds her, I yet to earth her head will quickly
lower.”
[1525]
Sobbing then and weeping, the child of Hettel said:
“Let these with me find shelter, who now to me have fled,
To ask of me forgiveness, here my love bespeaking.
This is the well-born Ortrun, who with her Norman maids my help is
seeking.”
[1526]
Those who were forgiven she bade stand further back.
Then, in mood unfriendly, the angry Wâ-te spake:
“Where shall I find young Hergart, now of a lord the lady,
Who here within this kingdom to take the love of the king’s great
lord was ready?”
[1527]
None of them would tell him, but he to her came near,
And said: “Were you the owner of all this kingdom here,
Who could in you be looking to see so proud a bearing?
Ill have you served your lady, here in the land where you her lot
were sharing.”
[1528]
Then all cried out together: “Let her now go free.”
But the aged Wâ-te answered: “That can never be;
I have the care of the women; behold my overseeing!”
With a stroke he her beheaded, while the maids in fright behind
Gu-drun were fleeing.
[1529]
Now from the bloody struggle there was a rest for all.
Then the brave King Herwic came to Ludwig’s hall,
Leading in his warriors, with stains of blood upon them.
Gu-drun her welcome gave him; her love for him was shown, and
kindness done them.
[1530]
Soon the knightly Herwic his sword from his side unbound:
He then shook off his armor into his shield on the ground,
And stood before the ladies; iron-stained was his body.
That day, for love of his lady, he oft on the field had hewn a
pathway bloody.
[1531]
With him came Ortwin also, who was of Ortland king.
When Irold came with Morunc, the clothes they off did fling
Worn outside their armor, for they were over-heated.
They wished to see the ladies, and hoped by them they would be
kindly greeted.
[1532]
When now the Danish warriors were both with slaughter spent,
They laid aside their weapons, and before the ladies went.
Shields no longer bore they, their helmets were unfastened;
A very loving welcome to give to both the knights Gu-drun then
hastened.
[1533]
Irold and Morunc with him then most lowly bowed
Before the lovely maiden. How well her bearing showed
That to see these guests so lordly she was indeed most willing!
Right glad and happy truly the child of the Hegeling Hilda now was
feeling.
[1534]
Alike they all were thinking, both lords and all their men:
“Since now we have the castle,— the stronghold Kassiane,—
Of the land are we the masters, and everything is ours.”
Soon bade the aged Wâ-te that men should burn with fire the palace
with its towers.
[1535]
The Danish Fru-te answered: “That may never be;
In this my queenly lady to live must now be free.
Bid that from out the castle men the dead shall carry;
Then ’twill be the better for all our knights who in the land shall
tarry.
[1536]
“Very strong is the castle, wide it is and good;
Bid from the walls now everywhere to wash away the blood,
That for a home the maidens may not dislike it wholly:
Then the land of Hartmut we will raid throughout, and see it fully.”
[1537]
They did as Fru-te bade them, for wise he was, in truth;
They bore from out the castle many who there, forsooth,
Were sorely slashed and wounded, and many who were dying:
Then to the waves they carried those who before the gates in death
were lying.
[1538]
They to the sea intrusted four thousand of the dead;
This to them was toilsome, but Fru-te thus had bade.
The work that they were doing not as yet was ended;
Then in Ludwig’s castle the maid Ortrun was held, now
ill-befriended.
[1539]
Two and sixty warriors and thirty maidens fair
With her were also taken. Then said Gu-drun: “Forbear!
The maids are in my keeping, my word to them I plighted:
Wâ-te may do as he wishes with the knights he seized, until my
wrongs are righted.”
[1540]
Siegfried, king of Moorland, found a welcome warm,
As should to knights be granted after the battle-storm.
Thanks to that worthy warrior were by the ladies given,
That he from the land of Karadie so far had come, and so well for
them had striven.
[1541]
To the care of the Danish Horant they their foes did give
Who in the castle of Kassian still were left alive.
To him was Gu-drun intrusted, and all her maidens near her:
To her was he a kinsman; they so might hope that he would kindness
bear her.
[1542]
Him they made the master of forty towers strong,
And six wide, roomy dwellings, that stood the shore along.
Over three rich palaces to him was lordship granted,
And there Gu-drun, the maiden, with him must stay, and nought she
ever wanted.
[1543]
To guard their ships on the waters others now they bade;
Then back to castle Kassian Hartmut, the knight, was led
With many of his kinsmen, who in the fight were taken;
There the Norman ladies, seized with the knights, were held, by hope
forsaken.
[1544]
They bade that care be taken that none from them might flee;
A thousand of their brave ones must the women oversee:
They, with the men from Denmark, kept guard in many places.
Wâ-te, meanwhile, with Fru-te, sought other foes, and shields to hew
in pieces.
[1545]
Thirty thousand warriors with them the war-path shared.
Fire was thrown on all sides; flames now flashed and flared.
Throughout the land, the dwellings everywhere were burning;
And now the brave young Hartmut, sad at heart, his first true woe
was learning.
[1546]
The warriors from Sturmland, and they of the Danish land,
Broke down the well-built castles on every hill and strand.
They took away more plunder than foemen ever carried;
Many lovely women the Hegelings seized, the while the land they
harried.
[1547]
Before the friends of Hilda came back thro’ the wasted land,
Six and twenty castles fell beneath their hand.
Happy went they homeward; proud were they of their raiding;
Soon of those there taken a thousand or more to Hilda they were
leading.
[1548]
Throughout the Norman kingdom was Hilda’s banner seen,
Waving now unhindered; back again her men
Bore it down to the sea-sand, where they had left their lady.
Here would they stay no longer; to seek their homes they all were
glad and ready.
[1549]
Those who still were resting within King Hartmut’s halls
Down to their friends came riding from out the castle walls.
Gladly both old and youthful now each other greeted;
Then asked they of Denmark: “Youths, what luck in the raid hath you
awaited?”
[1550]
To them King Ortwin answered: “We there have done so well
That I to those who helped me my thanks must ever tell.
Our foes are well rewarded, tho’ sore has been the fighting,
For all the wrongs they did us; a thousand-fold have we ourselves
been righting.”
[1551]
Then spake the aged Wâ-te: “Who best can tarry here
To guard for us this kingdom? Bid now Gu-drun, the fair,
Come down again to meet us; soon shall we be going
To Hilda’s land of the Hegelings; and what we bring we will to her
be showing.”
[1552]
Then said they all together, both the old and young:
“To Horant and to Morunc doth the warder’s task belong;
They, and a thousand with them, here in this land must tarry.”
’Twas done as they had bidden; but those who went did many a hostage
carry.
[1553]
When to go back to Hegeling they now made up their minds,
Then to their ships they carried goods of many kinds,
All they once brought with them, and all they had of plunder.
Gladly they bore their booty; on this their friends at home would
look with wonder.
[1554]
Hartmut now was bidden to leave his father’s hall,
With all his bravest warriors, five hundred men in all;
They now were held in bondage who had in strife been taken,
And won from their foes thereafter many a weary day, of hope
forsaken.
[1555]
Ortrun took they likewise, the fair and high-born maid;
On her and on her maidens a heavy woe they laid:
As they away from fatherland far from friends were carried,
They well might know the sorrows felt by Gu-drun and her maids, who
with them tarried.
[1556]
Those whom they had taken they bore with them away.
The castles, overmastered, henceforth must own the sway
Of Morunc and of Horant: when they homeward started,
They left in the Norman kingdom a thousand of their men, all
fearless-hearted.
[1557]
“Now do I beseech you,” to them young Hartmut spake,
“That in my father’s kingdom my freedom I may take;
If this to me be granted, I pledge my life and riches.”
The aged Wâ-te answered: “Now in our hands to keep you wisdom
teaches.
[1558]
“Why it is I know not, that ’tis my nephew’s will
To carry home young Hartmut, who him would gladly kill,
And take from him his riches. Even before the morrow,
Were only my nephew willing, I would see that his foe no more in
bonds should sorrow.”
[1559]
Then spake the youthful Ortwin: “What gain to us would come
If we should slay our foemen here in their land and home?
Hartmut and his kindred may better things be hoping;
Them will I bring to my mother, as well beseems a knight to wrong
ne’er stooping.”
[1560]
All their goods and riches down to the ships were brought;
With gold and gems and clothing, and horses they were fraught.
Her whom they had sought for they were homeward bringing:
They who once went mourning now on their way were heard in gladness
singing.
Tale the Thirtieth.
HOW GUDRUN WAS BROUGHT HOME TO HILDA.
[1561]
Homeward the men of the Hegelings gladly took their way;
But many whom they carried erewhile across the sea
Now lay dead and wounded; these must they be leaving:
Three thousand men or over were mourned by friends, who tears to
each were giving.
[1562]
Now their ships went smoothly, the winds for them were good:
Bearing home their booty they came in happy mood.
How it was done I know not, they sent on men before them
Unto the Hegeling ladies: of what had them befallen they tidings
bore them.
[1563]
With all their speed they hastened,— that I well can say,—
And reached at last their kingdom,— I cannot tell the day.
Never a tale so happy had Lady Hilda gladdened
As this that now they told her: Ludwig was slain, who long her life
had saddened.
[1564]
She asked: “Still lives my daughter, and all her maiden band?”
They answered: “Herwic brings her, his own, again to her land.
Ne’er to so brave a warrior it hath befallen better.
Ortrun, too, they are bringing, and Hartmut, her brother; these in
bonds they fetter.”