Part 14

[1001] Then spake unto his mother Hartmut, the knight so brave: “Pray treat the maiden kindly, howe’er she may behave: So, for the care you show her, my thanks will you be earning. Greatly have I wronged her; it well may be that she my love is spurning.”

[1002] Then said to him old Gerlind: “Whate’er by us is done, In mood she is so stubborn that she will yield to none. Unless we treat her harshly she ne’er, as you would have her, Will come to you in wedlock; this must we do, or else to herself must leave her.”

[1003] Then to her thus answered the worthy Norman knight: “Good lady, show her kindness henceforth in all men’s sight, Now for the love you bear me; such care I beg you give her That from her love and friendship the king’s fair daughter may not bar me ever.”

[1004] Then his devilish mother, with anger brimming o’er, To the throng of Hegeling maidens quickly went once more. She said: “Make ready, maidens, and to your toil betake you, To do what you are bidden; the task to each that’s given ne’er forsake you.”

[1005] The maidens then were sundered, and soon from each other torn; They saw not one another, and long must live forlorn. Those who once so worthily lofty rank were taking, In winding yarn were busied; while they sat at work their hearts were aching.

[1006] Some her flax were combing, others for her must spin; Ladies of lofty breeding, whose pastime it had been On their silken clothing to lay, with skill unsparing, Gold and gems most costly, these for her now heavy toil were bearing.

[1007] The first in birth among them at the court was kept; Water she must carry to the room where Ortrun slept: To wait upon that lady the high-born maid was bidden; By name was she called Hergart; her lofty birth was nought, she still was chidden.

[1008] Among them was another, brought from Galicia’s strand; The griffin her from Portugal had borne to a far-off land. She to the Hegeling kingdom with Hagen’s child was carried, From over Ireland’s borders; now with the maids in the Norman land she tarried.

[1009] She was a prince’s daughter, who castles owned and lands; The fire must now be lighted by her, with fair white hands, While in the room well heated Gerlind’s ladies rested. For all the work she was doing no thanks on her by them were ever wasted.

[1010] Now you well may wonder to hear her sorry plight. For Gerlind’s lowest wenches she drudged both day and night; Whatever task they set her, to do must she be willing. It helped her not with the Normans that she at home a lofty rank was filling.

[1011] The work was mean and shameful that they were made to do For seven half years and over, —this is all too true,— Until the young Lord Hartmut, when three wars were ended, Had come again to his kingdom, and found the maids at work, and ill-befriended.

[1012] To see again his loved one Hartmut deeply yearned; But when he looked upon her, the truth he quickly learned, That she good food and lodging of late had seldom tasted: For choosing to live rightly, ’twas her reward to be with sorrow wasted.

[1013] When forth she came to meet him, to her young Hartmut said: “Gu-drun, most lovely maiden, what is the life you have led Since I, with all my warriors, my lands and home was leaving?” She said: “Such tasks they set me, ’twas sin for you, and shame to me ’twas giving.”

[1014] Then outspoke young Hartmut: “Why has this been done, Gerlind, my dearest mother? Your love she should have known; When with you I left her, her lot you should have brightened, And all her heavy sorrows you should for her within my land have lightened.”

[1015] His wolfish mother answered: “How could I better teach King Hettel’s ill-bred daughter? ’Twas bootless to beseech, Nor could I ever bend her, to make her leave her jeering: She scorned both you and your father and kindred, too: to this should you give hearing.”

[1016] Then again spake Hartmut: “Much wrong we’ve done the maid. Slain by us, her kindred and many knights lie dead; While from the lovely maiden her father we have taken, Slain by my father, Ludwig, and now with thoughtless words her woes we waken.”

[1017] Then answered him his mother: “My son, ’tis truth I say; If we Gu-drun, proud maiden, for thirty years should pray, If she with brooms were stricken, or with rods were beaten, Your wife we ne’er could make her; hopeless it is the wayward maid to threaten.”

[1018] She farther said to Hartmut: “However, since you bid, I’ll gladly treat her better.” But still her mind she hid, And Hartmut never knew it; erelong Gu-drun would find her Harsher yet than ever; and now the maiden’s wrongs could no one hinder.

[1019] Then went again old Gerlind to where Gu-drun then sat, And said to the Hegeling maiden, in her wrath and hate: “’Twere best you now bethink you, or else, my fair young maiden, You with your flowing tresses must wipe the stools and seats, with dust thick laden.

[1020] “Then the room I sleep in, mark what now I say, You, to do my bidding, must sweep three times a day; You carefully must warm it, and keep the fire well burning.” Said she: “That do I gladly, rather than take a lover I am spurning.”

[1021] Whatever she was bidden the willing maiden did; No work of hers she slighted, nor should for aught be chid. For seven years, full-numbered, in a land far over the water, The maid was toiling wearily, and none did hold her as a kingly daughter.

[1022] The years had long been running, and the ninth was coming on, When Hartmut to bethink him wisely had begun, That indeed ’twas shameful that he no crown was wearing; And for himself and his kinsmen ’twas right the name of king he now were bearing.

[1023] After heavy fighting, Hartmut, with his men, Bearing the prize of bravery, riding home was seen. He hoped the love of the maiden would now to him be granted; For, more than any other, he the fair Gu-drun for his true love wanted.

[1024] When he reached his homestead, he bade them bring the maid. His evil mother, Gerlind, allowed her to be clad In meanest clothing only: Gu-drun but little heeded The youthful Hartmut’s wooing; steadfast and true, no love from him she needed.

[1025] To him his friends then whispered, that, whether glad or no For this might be his mother, he never should forego To bend the maid to his wishes; and must his care be giving That so he might with the lady for many a happy day in love be living.

[1026] To the ladies’ room he hastened, when thus his kinsmen spoke, And there he found the maiden; her by the hand he took, And said to her: “Fair lady, love me now, I pray you, And sit as queen beside me; my knights and men shall worship ever pay you.”

[1027] Then said the lovely maiden: “For this I have no mind; For while the fiendish Gerlind to me is so unkind, The love of knights, tho’ worthy, I can long for never. To her and all her kindred henceforth am I a bitter foe forever.”

[1028] “Sorry am I,” said Hartmut; “to you will I make good The hate my mother Gerlind to you so harshly showed; As for both of us is worthy, your wrongs shall now be righted.” The high-born maiden answered: “I trust you not; your word need ne’er be plighted.”

[1029] Then said to her young Hartmut, the lord of the Norman land: “Gu-drun, most lovely maiden, you well must understand Mine are these lands and castles: to none may you betake you; Who is there here would hang me if, ’gainst your will, I now my own should make you?”

[1030] Then said King Hettel’s daughter: “That were a deed of shame: Of aught so wrong and hateful never did I dream. It would be said by princes, should they the tale be hearing, That one of the kin of Hagen in Hartmut’s land a harlot’s name is bearing.”

[1031] Then did Hartmut answer: “What care I what they say? If only you, fair lady, do not say me nay, A king my men shall see me, and you my seat be sharing.” Then said the maid to Hartmut: “That I should love you be you never fearing.

[1032] “Well you know, Sir Hartmut, how with me it stands; And all the wrong and sorrow I met with at your hands, When far from home you carried me whom you had stolen, And, wounded by your warriors, my father’s men erewhile in death had fallen.

[1033] “Well known to you ’tis also, —for this I mourn again,— How my father, Hettel, was by your father slain. Were I knight, and not a woman, he durst not come before me Unless his weapons wearing. Why wed the man who from my kindred tore me?”

[1034] For many years now bygone, it ever was the way, No man should take a woman, and have her in his sway, Unless they both were willing. Much praise for this is owing. Gu-drun, the homeless maiden, her father’s loss still mourned, with tears o’erflowing.

[1035] Then spake to her in anger Hartmut, the youthful knight: “Whatever may befall you, I reck not for your plight; Since now you are not willing to wear the crown beside me, You’ll have what you are seeking, your meed you’ll daily earn, nor need you chide me.”

[1036] “That will I earn most gladly, as I have done before, Though for the men of Hartmut the hardest toil I bore, And for Queen Gerlind’s women. If God my wrongs forgetteth, To bear them I am willing; but heavy is the woe that me besetteth.”

[1037] Still they sought to soothe her: first to the court they sent Young Ortrun, Hartmut’s sister, whose looks all kindness meant; ’Twas hoped that she and her maidens, now by friendly dealing, Would bring Gu-drun, poor lone one, to bear towards them all a better feeling.

[1038] Then to his sister Ortrun Hartmut freely spake: “Wealth I will give you, sister, if kindly, for my sake, To me you will be helpful, and bring Gu-drun, fair lady, Soon to forget her sorrows; nor o’er her woes to brood be ever ready.”

[1039] Then spake the youthful Ortrun, the Norman maiden fair: “To help both her and her maidens shall ever be my care, Till they forget their sorrows: I bow my head before her, And I and mine will hold her even as our kin, and watchful love spread o’er her.”

[1040] Gu-drun now said to Ortrun: “My hearty thanks you win, That you, with kindly wishes, would see me sit as queen, By the side of Hartmut, while with pride I’m gladdened: For this my trust I give you, but homeless, none the less, my days are saddened.”

Tale the Twenty-First. HOW GUDRUN MUST WASH CLOTHES ON THE BEACH.

[1041] Then to Gu-drun they offered castles strong and lands: Of these would she have nothing. So, upon the sands, She must wash their clothing, from early morn till even. Great ill this wrought for Ludwig, when he with Herwic in the fight had striven.

[1042] First, Gu-drun was bidden to leave her seat, that soon She, the high-born maiden, should go with fair Ortrun; They bade that she be merry, and wine with her be drinking. The homeless wanderer answered: “To make me queen you never need be thinking.

[1043] “Well you wot, Lord Hartmut, whate’er your wish may be, Betrothed am I to another, and am no longer free. That I one day shall wed him has with an oath been plighted; Until by death he’s taken I will not wed with any man e’er knighted.”

[1044] Then spake the lordly Hartmut: “You only waste your breath; By nought shall we be sundered unless it shall be death. In friendship with my sister you should now be living; Your hardships she will lighten, and will, I know, her love to you be giving.”

[1045] Fain to think was Hartmut that her unyielding mood Might now by this be softened; he hoped, whatever good Should e’er befall his sister, the maiden would be sharing: Thus for both he trusted, that a happy life erelong would them be cheering.

[1046] Gu-drun soon greeted kindly many a friend and maid. Ortrun sat beside her; her hue grew rosy-red With eating and with drinking, ere many days were ended. Enough was always ready: still the poor girl her mood ne’er wisely mended.

[1047] If Hartmut thought to greet her, and spoke in friendly mood, How little did it cheer her! She o’er her woes did brood, That she and all her maidens in a far-off land were bearing. Soon, against young Hartmut, of harsh and angry words she was not sparing.

[1048] So long a time this lasted, the king at length was wroth; He said: “Gu-drun, fair lady, as good am I in birth As is the young King Herwic, who now you think is fitter Than I to be your lover: too much you jeer at me, with words most bitter.

[1049] “If you would leave your sorrow, for both of us ’twere gain. It wounds me out of measure when any gives you pain, Or seeks your heart to burden, or in your wish to cross you: Though now you are unfriendly, to be my queen I yet would gladly choose you.”

[1050] Then young Hartmut left her, and straight his men he sought. He bade them to be watchful of ills that threatened aught, And well to guard his kingdom; for he the while bethought him, So sorely was he hated, ’twas much to fear some harm would yet be wrought him.

[1051] The cross and wicked Gerlind for her hard tasks did set; She on a seat but seldom any rest did get. Erst ’mong princes’ daughters men were wont to greet her, As for her was rightful; now with the scorned and lowly they must meet her.

[1052] To her, in mood unfriendly, the old she-wolf then spake: “Now Queen Hilda’s daughter I a drudge will make; Although her evil feelings seem so strong and steady, We yet shall see her toiling as ne’er before to do has she been ready.”

[1053] Then said the high-born maiden: “To work with all my might, With hand and heart, I’m willing; in this, both day and night, Will I be always busy, and every hour be striving; Since ill-luck begrudges that I among my friends should now be living.”

[1054] The wicked Gerlind answered: “Now daily to the beach You my clothes must carry, there on the sands to bleach. You must for me and my maidens be washing and be drying; And that no one find you idle, your work with care you ever must be plying.”

[1055] Then spake the high-born maiden: “Wife of a mighty king, If they will only teach me the way to wash and wring, And how to cleanse your clothing, to do it I am willing. Bliss no more I look for; still greater woe my heart must yet be filling.

[1056] “Bid them now to teach me, and I will gladly learn; So high I do not hold me that I the task should spurn. Thus shall I be earning the food I here am eating; Nought I say against it.” The poor Gu-drun her lot was wisely meeting.

[1057] Then by a washerwoman clothes to the sands were brought, And how to wash and dry them the maiden now was taught. Much at first she sorrowed, and by the work was flurried, Yet was she spared by no one. So was the fair Gu-drun by Gerlind worried.

[1058] Before King Ludwig’s castle, she gained a skilful hand; For knights who there were dwelling within the Norman land, None could be more helpful, their clothing better washing. Loudly mourned her maidens to see her toiling where the waves were dashing.

[1059] One there was among them who was also a great king’s child; The wailing of the others was to hers a whisper mild. This work so mean and lowly went to their hearts too nearly, As they saw the high-born lady drudging on the shore, both late and early.

[1060] Then with love true-hearted Hildeburg made moan: “Well we all must rue it— to God may this be known— Who in this Norman kingdom erst with Gu-drun were landing; No rest ought we to hope for while on the sea-beach washing she is standing.”

[1061] This was heard by Gerlind, who in anger spoke: “If on the toils of your lady with such ill-will you look, The work shall you be doing, and her place be filling.” “That would I do right gladly,” said Hildeburg, “if only you were willing.

[1062] “For the love of God Almighty, Gerlind, my lady queen, Let not this great king’s daughter toiling alone be seen: A crown, too, wore my father, yet work would I be doing; Let me with her stand washing, whatever good or ill we may be knowing.

[1063] “It fills my heart with sorrow, I feel her woes my own. Once the greatest honor to her by God was shown: Her forefathers and kindred were kings, and none were higher; Though now her work is lowly, to toil with the maiden I shall never tire.”

[1064] Then said the wicked Gerlind: “This oft will bring you pain; However hard the winter, still in snow and rain My clothes must you be washing, altho’ cold winds are blowing; So will you be wishing that you the warmth of heated rooms were knowing.”

[1065] Unwillingly she waited until the night drew near; From this Gu-drun the high-born gained at last some cheer. Then into her bedroom went Hildeburg in sorrow; There they wept together for the work that they must do upon the morrow.

[1066] Then the Lady Hildeburg said to her in tears: “The woes that you are bearing my heart with you now shares; I begged the old she-devil no more alone to leave you Upon the sea-sands washing; with you I’ll bear the burden, and my help will give you.”

[1067] The homeless maiden answered: “May Christ your love reward, That you with so much sorrow of all my woes have heard. If we may wash together, the days will be the brighter, And time will seem far shorter, and on our hearts the shame will weigh the lighter.”

[1068] Soon as her wish was granted, down to the sandy shore The clothing then she carried, gladness to know no more. There must they wash in sorrow, whatever was the weather; Whate’er was done by others, yet still these two must wash and toil together.

[1069] When her throng of handmaidens had time from work to spare, Bitter was their weeping, to see her standing there Upon the sea-sands washing. Loud were their moans and many, Nor did their sorrow lessen; greater woe was never known by any.

[1070] Long the toiling lasted,— that is true enough; There must they be working full five years and a half. Clothes for Hartmut’s followers they must wash and whiten: Ne’er were maidens sadder; their toils before the castle nought could lighten.

Tale the Twenty-Second. HOW HILDA MADE WAR TO BRING BACK HER DAUGHTER.

[1071] We now will speak no longer of the toil the maidens bore For knights as well as ladies. Queen Hilda evermore Her thoughts to this had given how to win back her daughter, Out of the Norman kingdom, whither from home the daring Hartmut brought her.

[1072] First were workmen bidden, near to the deep sea-flood, Of ships to build her seven, strong, well made, and good; With two-and-twenty barges, broad, with both ends rounded. Whate’er for them was needed was quickly brought, and everything abounded.

[1073] Forty galleys also lay upon the sea; On these her eyes were feeding. Longing great had she To see the throng of fighters who should soon be sailing. She their food made ready; for this the knights her praise were loudly telling.

[1074] The time was drawing nearer, when now to cross the sea No more should they be waiting, who wished the maids to free, That in a far-off kingdom in hardest toil were living. Now Hilda sent for her liegemen; to those who called them clothes she first was giving.

[1075] The day that she had chosen was at the Christmas-tide, When they must seek the foemen by whom King Hettel died. Forthwith to friends and kinsmen Hilda gave her bidding, That they to bring her daughter back from the Norman land must then be speeding.

[1076] Trusty men were bidden by Hilda first to go To Herwic and his followers, that one and all should know Of the inroad on the Normans that she had sworn and plotted. To many Hegeling children this erelong an orphan’s life allotted.

[1077] The men sent out by Hilda to Herwic rode in haste: For what they then were coming the king full quickly guessed; Then went he forth to meet them, soon as he saw them nearing; Gladly them he greeted, and soon from them Queen Hilda’s wish was hearing.

[1078] “Well you know, Lord Herwic, our woe and plight forlorn, And how the Hegeling warriors to help the queen have sworn. Yourself Queen Hilda trusteth more than any other; To none Gu-drun is dearer,— the homeless maid, long sundered from her mother.”

[1079] The well-born knight thus answered: “I know in truth too well How Hartmut had the boldness my fair betrothed to steal, Because his love she slighted, and hearkened to my wooing; For this Gu-drun, my lady, her father lost, and still her lot is ruing.

[1080] “My pledge and hearty greeting bear to your lady good; No more the Norman Hartmut by me shall be allowed To hold so long in bondage my own betrothéd maiden: For me, of all, ’tis fittest to bring the lady home, our lives to gladden.

[1081] “To Hilda and her kinsmen this answer you may say: When Christmas time is over, on the sixth-and-twentieth day, I will ride to the Hegelings, three thousand fighters taking.” Then the men of Hilda waited no more, but home their way were making.

[1082] Now Herwic made him ready, and to the strife gave thought, With many faithful liegemen who oft had bravely fought. Those who to go were willing he for war outfitted; Though wintry was the weather, they to take the field no longer waited.

[1083] Of help the widowed Hilda sorely felt the need: Soon to her friends in Denmark she sent her men with speed, To tell the knights and warriors no more at home to tarry; For they to the Norman kingdom must ride, to free Gu-drun from bondage dreary.