Part 17

[1248] Upon his hand then looking, a ring there met her sight, Set with a stone from Abalie, in gold that glittered bright; Never her eyes had rested on one more rich or fairer. Gu-drun, the queenly maiden, of this same ring had whilom been the wearer.

[1249] The happy maiden, smiling, with words her bliss did show: “Of this I once was owner, and well the ring I know. Look upon this I am wearing; ’twas the gift of my early lover, While I, a gladsome maiden, still dwelt at home, nor stepped its borders over.”

[1250] He, on her hand now gazing, upon the ring did look; Then unto the maiden the knightly Herwic spoke: “That a queenly mother bore thee, I see by many a token; After my heavy sorrows, a blessed sight upon my eyes has broken.”

[1251] Then in his arms he folded the fair and high-born maid: For all they told each other they were both glad and sad. He kissed the maiden fondly, how oft I cannot reckon; So, too, he greeted Hildeburg, showing his love to both the maids forsaken.

[1252] Then the youthful Ortwin begged the maid to say Whether to do her task-work there was no other way Than, standing by the seaside, all day to wash the clothing? At this she greatly sorrowed, and felt for her work the deepest shame and loathing.

[1253] “Tell me now, fair sister, where may your children be Whom you have borne to Hartmut, in his land across the sea, That all alone on the seashore to wash they thus allow you? If here a queen they call you, the name you bear but little good can do you.”

[1254] Shedding tears, she answered: “How should I have a child? No love could Hartmut kindle, that I to him should yield; And well do all men know it who near him here are dwelling. Because I would not love him I now must toil, and woe my heart is swelling.”

[1255] Then spake the knightly Herwic: “We now can truly say That we good luck have met with, on our errand far away; And nought could have befallen that for us were better. It behooves us now to hasten to free the maid from the ills that here beset her.”

[1256] Then said the knight, young Ortwin: “That may never be. Had I a hundred sisters, I would sooner let them die Than here, in another’s kingdom, to hide a deed of plunder; Stealing those from our foemen whom they by stormy fight from us did sunder.”

[1257] Then spake the lord of Sealand: “This do I greatly fear, Should our search be known to any, or if they find us here, They then may take the maiden, and her far hence may carry, And never shall we see her: ’twere best to hide the deed, nor longer tarry.”

[1258] Him did Ortwin answer: “How can we leave in need Her faithful band of maidens? So long a stay they’ve made Here in this land of foemen that well may they be weary: Gu-drun, my worthy sister, should ne’er forsake her maids, in bondage dreary.”

[1259] To him then spake brave Herwic: “Is this in truth your mind? Ne’er shall my well-belovéd be left by me behind; To take the ladies with us, e’en as we can, ’tis better.” Him did Ortwin answer: “Here to be hacked with the sword for me were fitter.”

[1260] Then said the downcast maiden: “What have I done to thee, My dearest brother Ortwin? Never as yet in me Was seen such ill-behavior that I for that was chidden. For what great sin I know not am I, my lord, to make atonement bidden?”

[1261] “I do not thus, dear sister, for want of love to thee; Thereby your band of maidens I shall the better free. Only as fits my honor, hence will I ever take you; Herwic for your lover you yet shall have, and ne’er will he forsake you.”

[1262] Gu-drun was heavy-hearted as they went on board the boat; She said: “Woe worth my wanderings! my sorrow endeth not. He whom once I trusted, must hope in him be shaken That he will break my bondage? My bliss is yet far off, and my faith mistaken.”

[1263] In haste the daring warriors turned from the shore away. Gu-drun, the maid, heart-broken, to Herwic called to stay: “Of me you once thought highly, but now you hold me lightly: To whom, in my woe, do you leave me? Bereft of kin, to whom can I trust me rightly?”

[1264] “I do not hold you lightly; you are of maids the best. My coming, queenly lady, hide within your breast; Again, ere morning lightens, these shores will I be treading,— For this my troth I pledge you,— eighty thousand followers with me leading.”

[1265] As fast as they were able they hastened then away; Never friends were sundered more sadly than that day Were these from one another; (the truth to you I’m telling.) As far as their eyes could follow, the maidens watched the boat away fast sailing.

[1266] Gu-drun, the queenly maiden, her washing now forgot; Betwixt her bliss and sorrow, her toil she heeded not. The harsh and wicked Gerlind, the idle women spying Standing by the seashore, in anger stormed, that her clothes unwashed were lying.

[1267] Then said the maiden Hildeburg, from Ireland, o’er the sea: “Why do you let the clothing here uncared for be? The clothes of Ludwig’s followers still unwashed are waiting. If this be known to Gerlind, yet harder blows from her shall we be getting.”

[1268] Queen Hilda’s daughter answered: “Too proud I am, I ween, That for the wicked Gerlind I e’er should wash again. Henceforth a toil so lowly in scorn shall I be holding, For two young kings have kissed me, they in kindness me in their arms enfolding.”

[1269] Then Hildeburg made answer: “Scorn not that I should teach Or that I now would show you how best the clothes to bleach: We must not leave them yellow, but carefully must whiten; Else do I greatly fear me our backs with blows and stripes will well be beaten.”

[1270] Then said old Hagen’s grandchild: “At last my lot is bright, With hope and gladness beaming. If they my back shall smite With rods, from now till morning, I trow it will not kill me; But soon shall those who wronged us know themselves the ills they chose to deal me.

[1271] “These clothes I should be washing down to the tide I’ll bear, And fling them into the water,” said the maiden fair; “Their freedom I will give them, even as ’tis fitting That I, a queen, should do it; hence they may float away, no hindrance meeting.”

[1272] Whate’er was said by Hildeburg, Gu-drun the clothes then took, That Gerlind her had given; her task she would not brook, But far into the billows she threw them, strongly hurling: I know not if ever she found them; they soon were lost to sight, in the waters swirling.

[1273] The night was drawing nearer, and the light began to wane; To the castle, heavy-laden, went Hildeburg again. Seven robes of finest linen she bore, with other clothing; Gu-drun, young Ortwin’s sister, with Hildeburg went also, bearing nothing.

[1274] When they had reached the castle, the time was very late. Before King Ludwig’s palace, standing at the gate, They saw the wicked Gerlind, watching there to meet them: Soon as she saw the washers, with words of bitter scorn she ’gan to greet them.

[1275] Thus she spake in anger: “What does this gadding mean? Stripes upon your bodies you both have earned, I ween, Thus upon the seashore, in the evening light, to wander; For me it were unseemly into my room to take you, after loitering yonder.”

[1276] She said: “Now tell me quickly, think you this is meet? You spurn the greatest princes, and show them nought but hate, But linger yet, at nightfall, with low-born varlets flirting. Would you be thought of highly, know you that this your own good name is hurting.”

[1277] The well-born maiden answered: “Why speak of me so ill? Never have I, poor maiden, had the thought or will With any man to tattle, however dear I held him, Unless it were a kinsman; a talk with him I rightfully might yield him.”

[1278] “Say you I chide you wrongly? Hush, you idle jade! For this, to-night, I tell you, a reckoning shall be made. To be so bold and shameless you then will dare no longer; Before with you I’ve ended, your back shall feel that I than you am stronger.”

[1279] “In that will I gainsay you,” said then the maiden proud; “Again with rods to beat me you ne’er shall be allowed. You and all your kindred in birth are far below me; You may yet for this be sorry, if treatment so unseemly you shall show me.”

[1280] Then spake the wolfish Gerlind: “Where is my clothing left, That, folded in your apron, you thus your hands have wrapt; Bearing yourself so idly, now from toil thus turning? If I live a little longer, another kind of work shall you be learning.”

[1281] King Hagen’s grandchild answered: “Down by the deep sea-flood I left your clothing lying. It was too great a load; I found the weight too heavy, alone to the house to carry. If never again you see them, but little I care, the while with you I tarry.”

[1282] Then quoth the old she-devil: “All this shall help you not; Before I sleep this evening, bitter shall be your lot!” Then were tied, at her bidding, rods from hedges broken; Gerlind would not give over the training hard ’gainst which the maid had spoken.

[1283] Then strongly to a bedstead she bade them bind the maid, And alone in a room to leave her, where not a friend she had: There should she be beaten, till skin from bone was falling. When this was known to her women, they all began to weep, and loud were wailing.

[1284] Then spake Gu-drun, with cunning: “Now list to what I say: If I with rods am beaten thus shamefully to-day, Should e’er an eye behold me with kings and princes seated, And I a crown be wearing, to you a fit reward shall then be meted.

[1285] “Henceforth for me such teaching ’twere best you let alone; Sooner the king I’ve slighted shall have me for his own: Then as queen of Normandy here will I be dwelling; And when I here am mighty, what I will do may no one now be telling.”

[1286] “Be this your will,” said Gerlind, “angry no more I’ll be: E’en if a thousand garments you thus had lost for me, I would, in truth, forgive it; well you will have thriven If to my son, young Hartmut, the Norman prince, your love at last be given.”

[1287] Then said the lovely maiden: “I now would take some rest; This care and heavy sorrow my strength doth sorely waste. Send for the young King Hartmut, bid him be hither speeding, And say, whate’er he wishes, that I henceforth will always do his bidding.”

[1288] Those who heard them talking, straightway to Hartmut ran, And to the youthful warrior told the tale again. Some of his father’s liegemen there with him were seated, When word to him was given in haste to seek Gu-drun, who for him waited.

[1289] Then said the one who told him: “Give me now my fee; Queen Hilda’s lovely daughter will grant her love to thee. She bids you now to hasten at once to her in her bower; No longer are you hated, for better thoughts she harbors than of yore.”

[1290] The high-born knight then answered: “To lie you have no need. If true indeed were your tidings, well should you be feed; By me would three great castles and a hide of land be given, With sixty golden arm-bands; while bliss thenceforth my days should long enliven.”

[1291] Then said to him another: “This tale, I know, is true; The fee should I be sharing. At court they wish for you; Gu-drun, the maid, has said it. To love you she is ready; And if in truth you wish it, she in your land will be your queen and lady.”

[1292] To those who told the tidings his thanks young Hartmut gave; From off his seat, o’er-gladdened, upsprang the warrior brave. He thought that, in His kindness, God this boon had done him, And, with a heart now happy, he sought the maiden’s bower who love had shown him.

[1293] In garments wet there standing, was seen the high-born maid; With eyes still dim with weeping, greeting to him she said. Forward she came to meet him; and now so near was standing That he, in fondness turning, her in his arms would clasp, towards her bending.

[1294] She said: “Not so, King Hartmut, this you may not do; For men in truth would wonder if they should look on you. Nought am I but a washer; in scorn would they be holding You, a king so mighty, if in your arms Gu-drun you should be folding.”

[1295] “This will I, Sir Hartmut, freely to you allow, When, by my crown, your kinsmen me as a queen shall know. No longer shall I scorn you, when I that name am bearing: For both will this be fitting; me in your arms to take you may then be daring.”

[1296] Then, with all good-breeding, he farther off withdrew, And thus Gu-drun he answered: “Maiden fair and true, Since now you deign to love me, richly will I reward you; Myself and all my kinsmen, whate’er you bid, will kindness show toward you.”

[1297] Then said to him the maiden: “Such bliss I never knew. If, after my weary toiling, I aught may ask of you, This first of all I wish for, that I, poor wretched lady, This night, before I slumber, may have for me a restful bath made ready.

[1298] “And list to me yet further: another boon I crave; ’Tis that my friendly maidens I now with me may have. Among Queen Gerlind’s women you will find them, sad and weary; But in their room no longer those toiling ones away from me must tarry.”

[1299] “Your wish I grant you freely,” the young King Hartmut said. Then from the room of the women the many maids were led; With hair unkempt and streaming, and scanty clothing wearing, They to court betook them: for them the wicked Gerlind nought was caring.

[1300] Of these came three and sixty; on them did Hartmut look. Then Gu-drun, the high-born, with lofty breeding spoke: “Behold, my lord, these maidens! Is it your worth befitting That they are thus uncared for?” He said: “No more shall they the like be meeting.”

[1301] Then spake the high-born lady: “Hartmut, for love of me, I beg that these my maidens, whom here in shame you see, May have a bath made ready. Let now my word be heeded; You ought yourself to see them decked in the comely clothes they long have needed.”

[1302] To her then answered Hartmut, of knights a worthy one: “Gu-drun, belovéd lady, if clothes the maids have none Erst by them brought hither, when they their home were leaving, To them yet other clothing, the best in all the world, will I be giving.

[1303] “Gladly would I see them, with you, more fitly clad.” Then by those in waiting baths were ready made. Among the kin of Hartmut chamberlains many were there; To help Gu-drun they hastened, thinking that later she their hopes would further.

[1304] Gu-drun and all her maidens were by the bath made glad; Then the best of clothing that any ever had To all the homeless women alike was freely given. The lowliest one among them might gain the love of a king, if she had striven.

[1305] When they their bath had taken, wine to them was brought; In all the land of Normandy none better need be sought; And soon the weary maidens the best of mead were drinking. To Hartmut thanks were given; to gain such praises how could he e’er be thinking!

[1306] Soon the lovely maiden was seated in the hall. Gerlind bade her daughter then, with her maidens all, To don their clothing quickly, the finest and most fitting, If they Queen Hilda’s daughter wished to see, among her maidens sitting.

[1307] At once the well-born Ortrun clothed her in her best; To seek Gu-drun then straightway gladly did she haste. The grandchild of wild Hagen quickly went to meet her; When they saw each other, the happiness of both was never greater.

[1308] Each one kissed the other, ’neath a band of gold on her head; The hue of both was brighter for the golden light they shed. Each in her way was happy; Ortrun’s eyes were beaming, To see the high-born washer in finest clothes now clad, so comely seeming.

[1309] The poor Gu-drun was blithesome, as we have said before, That soon her friendly kinsmen she would see once more. The maidens sat together, with playful talk now gladdened; Whoever looked upon them might gain a happy heart, however saddened.

[1310] “’Tis well for me,” said Ortrun, “that I have lived till now, When as the wife of Hartmut you here yourself will show. To one who loves my brother gladly will I give her The crown of my mother, Gerlind, that I of right should wear did I outlive her.”

[1311] “Ortrun, may God reward you,” thus the maiden spake; “Whatever you shall bid me, that will I do for your sake. You have bewept so often the sorrows I was bearing, From you will I ne’er be sundered, and every day shall you my love be sharing.”

[1312] Then with maiden wiliness spake the fair Gu-drun: “Now you ought, Sir Hartmut, to send out runners soon, Through all the Norman kingdom, to give to friends your bidding, As many as will hear it, to come to your palace now, to see our wedding.

[1313] “When peace is in your borders, this to you I say, Before your host of warriors I will wear the crown one day. How many he has who woos me thus shall I be knowing; Then before your liegemen myself and all my kin will I be showing.”

[1314] The maid in truth was crafty; from the castle on that day A hundred men or over did Hartmut send away. So, when the Hegeling fighters should for him be seeking, Fewer foes should meet them: for this was Gu-drun their going thence bespeaking.

[1315] Then spake the old Queen Gerlind: “Now, fair daughter mine, You two must leave each other; when another morn shall shine, Then may you be together, with none your bliss forbidding.” She left Gu-drun, low bowing, and begged that God would her in his ways be leading.

[1316] Then did Hartmut leave her. All hearkened to her word; They gave to the maiden cup-bearers, and carvers at the board: The high-born lady’s wishes they bade should well be heeded; Nor food nor drink she wanted: busy were they to bring her all she needed.

[1317] Then spake one lovely maiden among the Hegeling band: “When we on this are thinking, how from our fatherland Our foes have brought us hither, to live unblest forever, We still are bowed with sorrow; when in our homes, such woe we thought of never.”

[1318] She then began a-weeping, where sat her lady fair. When this was seen by others who stood beside her there, They felt yet greater sorrow their heavy hearts now filling. All then wept together; but they saw their mistress, fair Gu-drun, was smiling.

[1319] They thought that now forever they far from home must stay: But their lady ne’er was thinking to bide so long away; They would, ere four days later, their freedom all be knowing. The time had come already to whisper to Gerlind that they would soon be going.

[1320] Beyond her wont a little to laugh had the maid begun; For fourteen years now bygone she never bliss had known. Of her glee the bad she-devil quickly now was hearing; She gave the hint to Ludwig, for care she felt, and anger past all bearing.

[1321] She went at once to Hartmut, and said: “Oh, son of mine, List to the truth I tell you! throughout this land of thine, All within it dwelling shall see both strife and toiling. Why it is I know not, the fair young queen, Gu-drun, is now so smiling.

[1322] “I know not how it happened, or how the news she heard, But men sent out by her kinsmen hither to come have dared. Therefore, knightly Hartmut, some way must you be choosing, Lest, thro’ the friends she looks for, your worthy name and life you may be losing.”

[1323] He said: “Be not so fearful. I grudge it not to the maid That she, with all her women, should for a time be glad. All her nearest kinsmen far from me are dwelling; What harm can they be doing? I need not guard ’gainst ills they may be dealing.”

[1324] Gu-drun, now over-wearied, some of her maidens sent To see if her bed were ready, for she on sleep was bent; For a night at least her sorrow she could now be leaving. Then went with them most kindly King Hartmut’s chamberlain, his service giving.

[1325] Youths of the Norman palace before her bore the light; On her they ne’er had waited until that very night. Thirty beds or over now were found made ready; Nice were they and cleanly, meet for Gu-drun and many a well-born lady.

[1326] On them were pillows lying from far Arabia brought, With green, like leaves of clover, and other hues, inwrought. Bedspreads on them hanging were sewed in strips most fairly; And red as fire was shining the gold mixed in with silken threads not sparely.

[1327] Beneath the silken bedspreads fishes’ skins were laid, To make them thicker and warmer. The fair and lovely maid, Thither come from the Hegelings, Hartmut would be wooing, For he as yet knew nothing of the harm to him that her friends would soon be doing.

[1328] Then said the high-born maiden: “To sleep you now may go, All you that wait on Hartmut; we, too, the same will do. I, and my ladies with me, one night at least will rest us; For, since our coming hither, freedom from hardest toil hath never blest us.”

[1329] All who there were gathered of Hartmut’s knights and men, The wise as well as youthful, thence to go were seen; They to rest then hasted, the ladies’ bower now leaving. Wine and mead unstinted to the homeless maids were others freely giving.

[1330] Then said Hilda’s daughter: “Now shut for me the door.” They barred the ladies’ bedroom with heavy bolts full four: The room was shut so tightly that what therein was doing, However much one listened, outside he nought could hear, nor might be knowing.