The Reception
Soon the fleet reached the shore, and Hartmut sent messengers to his
mother to bid her prepare to receive Gudrun as became her rank. Gerlinda
was overjoyed when she learned that the daughter of that haughty monarch
who had once offered her such an affront was with the Normans on the
ships, and ordered the costliest apparel to be made ready, though
rather, it must be said, to display her own riches than to fulfil the
wishes of her son.
Now Hartmut had a sister named Ortrun, who rejoiced in the thought that
Gudrun would be a beloved sister to her, and joyfully assisted in all
the preparations for the festivities. Three days were thus occupied, and
on the fourth morning a splendid procession wended its way down from the
royal castle to the shore. Gerlinda and Ortrun came first, mounted on
white palfreys and arrayed in magnificent robes of silk interwoven with
gold, while behind them rode a glittering train of knights, all
sumptuously attired.
Joyous strains of music penetrated to the ships, but they fell on
Gudrun's ear like the harsh cry of the screech-owl. Soon she with her
maidens was conducted to the land.
The broken-hearted royal maid
With tottering steps was seen--
Shrinking from Hartmut's proffered aid--
Approach the haughty Queen.
Ortrun, impatient, longed to make
Her loving welcome known,
For to her seemed this stranger maid
Like sister all her own.
But as she joyously draws nigh,
With sinking heart she sees
In Gudrun's eyes the bitter tears--
Then all her rapture flees.
They closely clasp each other's hand--
A kiss--and then they part:
No words they speak, but in their eyes
Each reads the other's heart.
Then Queen Gerlinda turned to her
With falsely flattering look
And would have sought a greeting kiss--
This Gudrun would not brook.
"Approach me not!" she proudly said,
"Thou cause of all my woe!
For me to suffer thy embrace
Were worse than crime, I trow!"
Gerlinda seemed not to hear these words, but her heart swelled within
her with rage. Tents were now pitched on the green sunny meadow, and
Hartmut spared no pains to please and cheer Gudrun with music and
tilting, but her tears flowed unceasingly, nor could all his efforts
avail to comfort her. She sat with her head on Ortrun's shoulder, and
Ortrun wept with her.
Moved by her sorrow, Hartmut put an end to the games and gave the signal
for departure. At the castle Gudrun found sumptuous apartments prepared
for her and her maidens, but she felt as if she were entering a tomb; in
truth, it would have been a welcome thought to her could she have felt
that never again should she awake.