Part 10

[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.

[699] Before they yet could help him, to Herwic and his men The strife had now gone badly, his luck began to wane: To him and all his followers was evil sore betiding; Altho’ they struggled bravely, his foes too near his castle gate were riding.

[700] Great mishaps to Herwic from Siegfried’s kin arose; For now the gates of the castle were shattered by their blows. False friends had made it easy, and boasts too loudly spoken: If e’er to such one trusteth, it worketh him no good, and his hopes are broken.

[701] Now ’twas told to Herwic, men fast for help had gone. The foes from fight ne’er rested, by anger driven on; From early morn to even, they oft to the strife were bidden: But now the friends of Herwic on every side drew near, nor long lay hidden.

[702] When this the men of Karadie did learn, they well might fear That now two kings against them in the fight should share: For them it was unlucky that Hettel now was leading His many fighters thither; he from afar had come, to Herwic speeding.

[703] Friends were they to each other; so both would meet the foe. These, the men from Moorland, bold themselves did show: One saw by all their bearing they would from none be flying; Those who with them struggled by hardest toil must their reward be buying.

[704] Wâ-te, the very daring, with all his knights had come; Gu-drun, the lovely lady, had called him from his home To help her lover, Herwic, and a host had ridden hither: Whate’er might now befall them, later full happy rode they thence together.

[705] Although their foes were heathen, from out the Moorish land, They might not back be driven: one well might understand That in any earthly kingdom they were the best and boldest. To all who came to meet them they gave a sorry welcome and a shelter coldest.

[706] Herwic, king of Sealand, his loss would now make good Upon his foes from Alzabie. For this must flow the blood On either side of many; to friends and kin were given Wounds full fast and heavy: to bear his own was hard for Hettel even.

[707] When they had come together of whom I spoke before, Bringing all their followers, gladness they knew no more; On them were ever resting heavy care and sorrow For what the night might bring them. They thought: “How shall we live to see the morrow?”

[708] Thrice with the Moorish foemen they strove on the stormy field, While peace was given the castle, as knights are wont to yield. Again with sword and spear-shaft they the strife would settle: Peace not yet they wished for, but wounds the more they got in hard-fought battle.

[709] Nor Herwic’s men nor Siegfried’s yet would leave the fight; They to the last had struggled, and many a bravest knight Upon the field lay wounded, or in death was sleeping. This was told to the women, who now began a wild, unmeasured weeping.

[710] How well the daring Wâ-te in battle-storm did fight! Strong was he and skilful, and oft the aged knight Gave to the foe heart-sorrow, by all the ill he wrought him: Ever to fight with his warriors, by the side of the boldest and best, his wishes taught him.

[711] Horant, too, from Denmark, brave was he enough! Beneath his hand were shattered helmets strong and tough; Ne’er by him ’twas forgotten to wear his armor shining; Ill he wrought to many, and oft the ranks of his foemen he was thinning.

[712] The quick and fearless Morunc boldly stretched his hand Ofttimes beyond his buckler, and oft the fight he gained. To shun the king of Moorland ne’er would he be seeking; Upon that king, so mighty, he the wrath of Herwic now was wreaking.

[713] The great and doughty Hettel, when that his daughter fair Had sent to beg her father in Herwic’s fight to share, That peace at last might follow, fought for him not idly: If life were dear to any, ’twere best to shun King Hettel’s borders widely.

[714] Bravely strove King Herwic on the field and at the gate; None than he fought better. His head was often wet, Beneath his armor dripping, with sweat that fast was oozing. In death were many deafened; they who would crush him must their lives be losing.

[715] Wigaleis, the faithful, great ill to many wrought. Sir Fru-te, too, from Daneland, with knightly prowess fought: The thanks of all his fellows he should of right be sharing; He strove where the fight was stormy, and none e’er knew an aged knight so daring.

[716] The lord who came from Ortland, Ortwin, brave and young, Showed the hand of a warrior; it was on many a tongue, That never man in warfare bore himself more boldly: Wounds he gave the deepest, and this by none was ever told of coldly.

[717] For twelve long days of fighting, earnestly they strove. The men led on by Hettel oft their spear-shafts drove Thro’ their foes’ light bucklers, as close they met together: The fighters proud from Moorland sorely rued the day that brought them thither.

[718] Upon the thirteenth morning, ere early mass was said, With sorry heart spake Siegfried: “How many here lie dead Of all our bravest warriors! In his lofty wooing The king of Sealand also here to himself has evil great been doing.”

[719] Then to the men of Karadie made he known his will, To a stronghold to betake them, there their wounds to heal: They, with those from Alzabie, were earnest to go thither; Right glad were these far-riders that all in death might not be found together.

[720] Then to a sheltering castle to turn they all began, Where onward, fast beside it, a wide, deep river ran. While they were thither riding, fleeing away from danger, They were still seen fighting with those who ne’er would yield their homes to a stranger.

[721] Now against King Hettel the king of Moorland rode: Well might one believe it, his former warlike mood Was but a slight beginning; he soon a foe was meeting Who many of his kinsmen with deep and deadly wounds of late was greeting.

[722] Hettel, he of the Hegelings, and Siegfried, the Moorland king, There unto the struggle all their strength did bring; Shields were hacked to pieces by the swords they wielded: The mighty lord of Moorland to the castle fled, nor to him of Daneland yielded.

[723] Camps by the men from Denmark for themselves were made: Then the beleaguered warriors,— it cannot be gainsaid,— E’er many days were over, with care were burdened sadly; However good their shelter, all would then have been at home more gladly.

[724] Thus the boastful fighters were by the foeman’s hand Fast held within the stronghold; nor was their knightly band Now able to give battle, although for this yet longing. Their castle well they guarded, as best they might, wherein they now were thronging.

Tale the Fourteenth. HOW HETTEL SENT TIDINGS FROM HERWIC’S LAND.

[725] Hettel then sent tidings, to still their fears at home. To the fair and high-born ladies men with news did come, That unto the old and youthful, throughout the stormy fighting, Good luck had aye befallen; and now, with hope must they for them be waiting.

[726] He bade his men to tell them how Siegfried was besieged, While he with all his followers war against him waged, To help the lord of Sealand, loved by Gu-drun, his daughter; That all, as they were able, daily fought for her, and for him who sought her.

[727] Hettel’s queen, fair Hilda, the hope began to have That luck would follow Herwic and all his warriors brave; And, as their worth befitted, all might well be speeding. Then said Gu-drun: “God grant it, that they our friends may back in health be leading.”

[728] By Wâ-te’s men from Sturmland, the foes from Alzabie And all who came from Moorland were kept away from the sea; Sadly must they tarry within the sheltering castle: In Wâ-te and in Fru-te foes they had with whom they ill could wrestle.

[729] Loudly swore King Hettel the castle ne’er to leave; That he and all his followers still to the end would strive, Till those to him had yielded who now the Moor befriended. Unwise had been their inroad, and this for them one day in sorrow ended.

[730] Meanwhile the spies of Hartmut, whom he had thither sent, Tho’ little good they looked for, from the Norman border went; Ever to learn what happened they a watch were keeping, And from the stormy warfare they hoped that Hettel might no gain be reaping.

[731] Now they saw that Siegfried, the Moorland king high-born, Was kept within the castle, besieged both eve and morn; Thence could he sally never, and this he knew with sorrow; His lands so far were lying, he little help from them could hope to borrow.

[732] The Norman errand-bearers, sent forth their watch to make By Ludwig and young Hartmut, to them now hastened back: The happy news they carried, and soon at home were giving, That Hettel, the king, and Herwic were busy now, in warfare ever striving.

[733] To them the lord of Normandy thanks for the tidings gave, And asked them: “Can you tell us how long those foemen brave, The men from the land of Karadie, will in Sealand tarry, Fighting ’gainst its warriors, till they, their wrongs avenged, of war are weary?”

[734] One of them made answer: “The truth you now may hear: There they yet must linger more than another year. Never from their stronghold will the Hegelings free them; They there so well are guarded, that on their homeward way none e’er shall see them.”

[735] Then the knight of Normandy, the daring Hartmut, spake: “This frees my heart from sorrow, and hope in me doth wake! If they are now beleaguered, then are we well befriended; We must to Hegeling hasten, ere Hettel’s fight with Siegfried shall be ended.”

[736] Ludwig and young Hartmut had both the selfsame mind,— Had they ten thousand fighters whom they at once could find, Gu-drun they might lay hold on, and to their home might carry, Before her father, Hettel, came back again from the land where he did tarry.

[737] Hartmut’s mother, Gerlind, earnestly gave thought To wreak her wrath on Hettel, that he to harm be brought, Because her dear son Hartmut he shamefully had slighted. She wished the aged Wâ-te and Fru-te might be hanged, for the help they plighted.

[738] Then spake the old she-devil: “Good knights, your hire behold! If you will now ride thither, my silver and my gold, That will I give you freely,— but women shall not share it. I care not if Hettel and Hilda shall rue their wrong, and ne’er again will dare it.”

[739] Quoth Ludwig, Hartmut’s father: “We from our Norman land Forthwith must make an inroad: soon will I have at hand Twenty thousand fighters whom I for war will gather; With these it will be easy to seize Gu-drun, and bear her from her father.”

[740] Then spake the youthful Hartmut: “Might ever this betide, That Hilda’s lovely daughter I here should see my bride, I would not take in barter for that a princedom fairest; Then might we here together pass our lives, each one to the other dearest.”

[741] Busily his followers, hour by hour, gave thought How they could do his wishes. A host King Ludwig brought To lead against the Hegelings; well were they outfitted. How should Hilda know it, that soon thereby her welfare would be blighted?

[742] The wife of Ludwig also helped them as she could. For this she plotted ever, that fair Gu-drun be wooed, And, as the bride of Hartmut, to Normandy be carried; She did her best most busily that the maid one day should to her son be married.

[743] Ludwig said to Hartmut, his well belovéd son: “Think well, O knight most worthy, no toil we now must shun, Until our foes are mastered and from their lands are driven. Reward the guests who help us; to our men at home by me shall gifts be given.”

[744] These they soon were sharing, all and every one. Never yet in Suabia gifts so rich were known, Of steeds for war or burden, saddles, and shields fair shining; I ween they were gladly given: Ludwig ne’er before such thanks was winning.

[745] Quickly all made ready to start upon their way. Sailors were found by Ludwig; skilful men were they, Who the deep sea-pathways knew, and well could follow; Hard must they be toiling to win their wages high upon the billow.

[746] Now, in seemly measure, fit were they to go. Throughout the lands and highways soon the news did grow That Ludwig and young Hartmut home and land were leaving. They yet would see much sorrow, when they erelong their Hegeling foe were braving.

[747] When to the shore they had ridden, ships were floating there, That workmen well had builded, the knights away to bear; Gerlind’s gold and riches had made them strong and steady. Nor Wâ-te the old nor Fru-te of this knew aught, nor were for their coming ready.

[748] With three and twenty thousand they sailed the waters o’er. Now for Gu-drun young Hartmut a weight of sorrow bore: This, before his followers, to hide he was not earnest; He hoped to meet King Hettel, and him to overcome in strife the sternest.

[749] As yet they knew not fully how they his land could reach. To the sons of many a mother the raid did sorrow teach. Near to the shores of Ortland the rolling billows bore them, Before ’twas known to Hettel: now Hilda’s castle rose in sight before them.

[750] The warriors led by Hartmut were still twelve miles away; Yet had they come already over the wide, deep sea, Unto the land of the Hegelings, and to its shores so nearly That castles, towers, and palaces in Hilda’s town they all could see most clearly.

[751] Ludwig, king of Normandy, bade that on the sand They now should drop the anchors; he then gave word to land To all his men together, and bade them do it quickly: They now had come so near them, they feared the Hegeling bands would gather thickly.

[752] Then bore they up the weapons, with shields and helmets good, That they had with them carried over the heaving flood: They to fight made ready; yet they at first bethought them To send through the land their runners, to learn if friendly helpers might be brought them.

Tale the Fifteenth. HOW HARTMUT CARRIED AWAY GUDRUN.

[753] Now at Hartmut’s bidding heralds quickly rode To where the queenly Hilda and her daughter dear abode. To them his word they carried, that if to wed the maiden They should think him worthy, her and her mother both it well might gladden.