The Two Knights
Beyond the royal castle the coast was thickly wooded for a long
distance, and there the fleet from Hegelingen had lain concealed for two
days, having reached Normandy at last after their long and tedious
voyage. The horses were led ashore to stretch their stiffened limbs, and
all was made ready for the approaching struggle. Wate charged his men to
see that the fastenings of helm and hauberk were well secured, adding:
"If there be any whose shirt of mail too loosely sits upon him, he may
choose another, for Queen Hilda has provided five hundred fresh suits of
armor and each good knight may claim one as his due."
The heroes then held a council and Ortwin said: "Frute hath seen seven
castles from the tree on yonder hill; but which of them is Ludwig's and
Hartmut's stronghold? We first assail that, and before the battle we
must also learn where Gudrun and the other maidens abide."
"Spies must be sent out," declared Frute.
Whereupon Ortwin announced that he would be a spy and go in quest of
what they wished to learn. All protested against this plan, but the
young hero said firmly, "Mine is the task of right, since Gudrun is my
sister."
"'Tis true she is thy sister, brother Ortwin," said Herwig, "but also is
she my betrothed. Therefore I will go with thee."
This did not please Wate, and finding they were not to be moved from
their purpose, he grew very wroth. "This is but childish folly!" he
cried, "and never will I agree to it. 'Twould be bad enough were one of
our knights to be seized by Hartmut's people, but how would it fare with
you, did such befall?"
"We must shrink from no danger when Gudrun's rescue is at stake,"
replied Herwig; "nor would any in all the army be so zealous in her
cause as we ourselves. Wherefore gainsay us not, good Wate, for thou
canst not alter our determination."
Then, summoning the foremost of their comrades, they charged them to
fulfil faithfully the oaths they had sworn. "Mark well my words, bold
warriors!" said Ortwin; "should we be captured and held for ransom, sell
all your lands and goods, if need be, to secure our freedom. But if they
slay us, then avenge our death as befitteth true comrades; and above
all, I charge you, spare no effort to deliver Gudrun and those other
unhappy maidens."
To this they all pledged themselves and gave the princes their hands
upon the promise, vowing never to rest till Gudrun was restored to her
home. Then Ortwin and Herwig took leave of their comrades, stepped into
a boat and pushed off, followed by many an anxious glance. Keeping close
to the shore, they had rowed almost to the nearest castle when, rounding
a wooded point, they beheld two maidens on the strand. At the sight of
the approaching knights Gudrun was seized with mingled joy and fear.
"These must be the warriors of whom we were told!" she said. "Yet how
can I endure the shame of it, should any messenger from my friends find
me in this wretched plight? Tell me, I pray thee, dear Hildburg, what I
shall do,--remain here at my shameful task, or seek refuge in flight?"
"Surely thou knowest best what is befitting," replied Hildburg. "Choose
therefore quickly, and I will do as thou sayst." And with that, Gudrun
turned and fled.
When the heroes saw the maidens disappearing they hastily leaped ashore,
for they had hoped to gain some information from them. "Why do ye flee
from us, fair maids?" they cried; "surely we mean you no harm. Come
back! or ye shall lose all the costly garments that lie here upon the
shore!"
But the maidens paid no heed. Then Herwig shouted: "I charge you in the
name of woman's honor to reply to us!"
At this the tears started to Gudrun's eyes. "Alas!" she cried, "have we
ever forgotten aught that is due to woman's honor? No longer will I seek
to flee!" and therewith she returned to the shore followed by Hildburg.
The knights gazed at them in astonishment; for in spite of their long
and arduous labors they still retained their proud and lofty bearing,
though so scantily clad that they shivered in the chill March snow
falling about them.
"Fear not," said Ortwin. "May God chastise any that would deal evilly by
you! But methinks ye are more fit to wear crowns than thus to toil
beside the shore. Hath your master other washer-maidens so fair as ye?"
"In yonder castle are many maidens more beautiful than we," replied
Gudrun. "Yet, I pray thee, sir, permit us to return to our task, for
should our mistress see us idle it would fare ill with us."
Then Ortwin offered them four golden rings, saying: "Nay, be not angry
at our words, but take these rings. They shall be yours if ye will but
answer truthfully the questions we would ask."
Gudrun shook her head. "We may take no gifts from ye, fair sirs," she
answered, "yet put your questions quickly, for we must not stay. If it
were known at the castle that we had talked with you, we should pay
dearly for it."
"First tell us, then," said Herwig, "to whom may all these rich lands
and castles belong?"
"King Ludwig is lord of this land, and in yonder castle holds his
court," replied Gudrun.
Herwig asked if Hartmut was then at home, and Gudrun answered: "He is
even now within the castle, and with him full four thousand of his
knights."
The maidens would fain have departed, yet they were loath to leave the
strangers, whose speech reminded them so much of home.
"We would learn further," said Ortwin, "wherefore Hartmut hath so many
knights assembled at the castle. Is he perchance at feud with some
neighboring country and seeking to guard himself against attack?"
"Of that I know naught," replied Gudrun; but after a pause she added:
"Yet there is one, a far distant land whose power Hartmut well might
fear. It is called Hegelingen." As the name of the fatherland passed her
lips tears streamed down the maiden's cheeks and she turned away to hide
them.
When the heroes saw how the damsels shook with cold they hastily offered
their cloaks, but Gudrun refused them, saying: "May God reward your
kindness, gentle sirs, but none shall ever see me in man's attire."
Thereupon Herwig looked more closely at her, and a sigh escaped him as
he seemed to see a likeness to the fair betrothed whom he supposed to
have been forced to become Hartmut's wife, little thinking that she now
stood before him.
Again Ortwin questioned her: "Were not some noble damsels once brought
hither from a distant land? One of them was called Gudrun."
"Alas, 'tis true!" she answered. "Well do I know her whom thou namest.
She came as Hartmut's captive, and much hath the poor maid been forced
to bear."
At this the heroes cried with one voice: "Tell us quickly, damsel, where
we may find her!"
"If indeed it be she ye seek, then never shall ye find her more on
earth," said Gudrun. "Of grief and suffering is she dead and lieth deep
beneath the flowery sod."
Herwig covered his eyes with his hand, while Ortwin turned away and
leaned upon his sword, shaking his head sorrowfully.
Then Gudrun cried: "Why are ye so moved by this news, sir knights? Your
breasts heave as they would burst your mail asunder! 'Twould almost seem
that ye were kin to that poor maid."
Herwig could no longer contain his grief, but wrung his hands and cried
aloud: "Alas, noble damsels, she was more than life to me! My bride,
betrothed to me by solemn vows when Hartmut treacherously did steal her
from her home!"
"Thy words are false!" cried Gudrun. "Thou art not Herwig! He would long
since have sought to deliver her; or were she no more, then at the least
her unhappy women, one of whom am I!"
"Nay, by my faith, 'tis truth I speak!" said Herwig. "If thou indeed art
one of Gudrun's maidens, then wilt thou know this ring upon my finger,
for 'twas a gift from her, who once did wear it."
Then Gudrun's eyes shone like stars and her cheeks flushed. "Well do I
know both gold and jewel," she said, "for it was I that wore the ring!"
And raising her own hand, she added: "Perchance thou knowst this also;
'twas Herwig placed it on my finger!"
Now at last brother and sister, bridegroom and bride, knew one another
and wept together in mingled joy and sorrow. Still supposing her to be
Hartmut's wife, Ortwin at length asked Gudrun how she, a Queen, chanced
to be in such wretched plight and forced to perform such menial tasks.
Weeping she answered: "How couldst thou think, my brother, that I would
wed King Hartmut? Ever have I remained true to my plighted troth and
therefore am I forced to bear much evil."
"Well indeed have we succeeded in our task!" cried Herwig. "Come let us
hasten to the boat and thy maiden with thee. Our fleet is close at hand
and we will guide thee thither. Now of a truth are all thy sorrows
ended!"
"This may not be," replied Ortwin, "dear as my sister is to me. Aye, had
I an hundred sisters like to Gudrun I would lose them every one, rather
than steal them thus away like any thief!"
"Yet bethink thee how Gudrun's danger will increase when our presence
here is known," remonstrated Herwig. "Perchance we shall never find her
then!"
"Have no fear, Herwig!" answered Ortwin. "Though my sister be buried in
their deepest dungeon--thou still shalt see her on the morrow. Yet even
should it be otherwise, I would be hacked to pieces with her on this
spot ere she should with my consent be taken away in secret!"
Gudrun said reproachfully: "What evil have I done to thee, my brother,
that thou wouldst leave me longer in servitude? Didst thou know what I
am forced to bear, thou wouldst take me hence this very hour!"
"Think not, dear sister," replied Ortwin, "that I fail in love for thee.
But to do thus, believe me, were no knightly deed."
Reluctantly Herwig agreed with Ortwin in this, and they accordingly took
leave of the maidens and returned to their boat. Gudrun wept bitterly,
crying: "Alas! are my troubles never to cease? For years have I waited
and longed for this, only to be once more forsaken when I scarce have
looked upon your faces?"
"'Tis but for a brief space that we leave thee, dearest maid," cried
Herwig from the boat, "that we may bear thee homeward in all honor.
To-morrow morn at sunrise we shall be before the castle with a host. Be
of good cheer and let no one know that thou hast seen us. God will be
our aid!"
So saying, they seized their oars, and soon the boat was lost to sight
behind the bend in the shore.