Part 6

[342] Both the well-clad heroes before their seats now stood; Well they knew fine breeding, and made their teaching good. In many a bitter struggle, in their manhood early, They gained a name as warriors; and men to them gave praises for it fairly.

[343] Queen Hilda and her daughter, in lively, merry mood, Began to ask of Wâ-te, whether he thought it good, Thus with lovely ladies to sit in ease and pleasure, Or if to him ’twere better his strength in stormy fight with foes to measure?

[344] The aged Wâ-te answered: “To me the last seems best; Altho’ among fair ladies glad am I to rest, Never am I happier than when with knights most daring, Wherever that may happen, upon the stormy field the fight I am sharing.”

[345] At this the gay young maiden broke into laughter loud; Well she saw, with ladies, his stern, uneasy mood. With this in the halls yet longer were the maidens merry; Queen Hilda and her daughter to talk with Morunc’s knights were never weary.

[346] She asked about old Wâ-te: “Say, by what name is he known? Has he any liegemen? Doth he lands and castles own? Has he a wife and children in the land whence he is roving? There, as I am thinking, at his home and hearth, there must be little loving.”

[347] Then answered one of the warriors: “Both children and a wife In his home and land await him. His riches and his life He risketh for his duty; a hero brave he has shown him. A bold and daring champion, throughout his life, both friend and foe have known him.”

[348] Irold the tale was telling about this fearless knight, That never worthier liegeman, or bolder man in fight, A king need e’er be seeking, his lands and castles over: Though mildly now he bears him, there ne’er was found a stronger or a braver.

[349] The queen then said to Wâ-te: “Give heed to what I say; Since in his Danish kingdom Hettel forbids your stay, I here, within my borders, a home will gladly give you; There lives no lord so mighty that he would ever dare from hence to drive you.”

[350] Then to the queen he answered: “I too, myself, own land; There give I clothes and horses, at will, with open hand. To wait on you as liegeman, would make me sorry-hearted; And from my lands and castles, more than a year, I never can be parted.”

[351] At last they all were going: then begged the lovely queen, That when at court they waited, they always might be seen Seated among the ladies; no shame by this were done them: Then said to her brave Irold, that in their home this seat was ever shown them.

[352] To load with gifts these wanderers the king was ever bent. But in a mood so haughty had they been thither sent, To no man were they willing to be for a mark beholden. Hagen, the king, was lordly, and took it ill that their pride should them embolden.

[353] To the king they now betook them; many were they who came; There they found, for pastime, for each some merry game: Draughts were many playing, or spear and shield were trying; For these they cared but little, but ever were in Hagen’s praises vying.

[354] As happens oft in Ireland, with every kind of fun Forthwith the men made merry. In this old Wâ-te won A friend for himself in Hagen; but to win the ladies’ praises, Horant, the knight from Denmark, his time in lightsome frolic with them passes.

[355] Fru-te and also Wâ-te were knights full brave and bold; When standing near each other, both alike looked old. Their locks were gray and hoary, and with gold were twisted; But where the bold were needed, to show their bravery earnestly they listed.

[356] The followers of King Hagen wore their shields at court, With clubs as well as bucklers; there they strove in sport, In the sword-play slashing; thrusts of spears they parried; Well themselves they shielded. The youthful knights in games were never wearied.

[357] Then asked the brave King Hagen of Wâ-te and his men, “If, where they erst were living, such fights were ever seen, Or such heavy onslaughts, as his good knights were dealing, Here in his Irish kingdom?” A smile of scorn o’er Wâ-te’s face was stealing.

[358] Then quoth the knight from Sturmland: “The like I never saw; If any here could teach it, from here would I not withdraw Till a year was fully ended, and I had learned it rightly. Whoe’er should be my master, for his care and pains would I not reward him lightly.”

[359] The king to him then answered: “For the love to you I bear, I will bid my best of masters teach you his art with care, Till the three strokes are easy, that, in field-storms raging, Men give to one another; by this will you be helped when battle waging.”

[360] Then came a fencing-master, and began his craft to show To Wâ-te, the daring fighter; in him he found a foe Who fear for his life soon gave him. Wâ-te his onset parried, With all the skill of a fencer. The face of Fru-te the Dane a smile now carried.

[361] To save himself, the teacher gave a spring as wide As doth an untamed leopard. Wâ-te his weapon plied, And in his hand it clattered, until the fire-sparks glistened Upon his foeman’s buckler; he well might thank the youth who to him had listened.

[362] Then said the king, wild Hagen: “Give me the sword in hand. I will take a little pastime with him of the Sturmisch land; I will be his teacher, and he my four strokes be learning. He for this will thank me.” Soon was the king high praise from Wâ-te earning.

[363] To him old Wâ-te answered: “A pledge I now must hear That I from you, great Hagen, no guile soe’er may fear; Should I by you be wounded, with ladies’ scorn shall I redden.” In the fight was Wâ-te nimble; such quickness to believe should none be bidden.

[364] The simple, untaught fencer smote Hagen many a blow; Till, like a wet brand steaming, was the king before his foe. The learner outdid his teacher: well his strength he boasted. The host laid strokes unnumbered upon the guest, who in his skill had trusted.

[365] Many looked on gladly to see the strength of both. To own the skill of Wâ-te the king was nothing loth; He might have shown his anger, and brought no shame upon him. Great was the strength of Wâ-te, but yet ’twas seen that Hagen had outdone him.

[366] To the king then spake old Wâ-te: “Let each no favor show, While we together struggle. Well have I learned from you Your four strokes to be plying; my thanks be you now sharing.” Such thanks he later showed him as doth a fighting Frank or Saxon daring.

[367] No more a truce was thought of by Wâ-te and the king; With strokes that loud were crashing, the hall began to ring. Harder blows than ever they gave, as now they battled; All their thrusts were sudden; the knobs upon their swords snapped off and rattled.

[368] The two sat down to rest them; then Hagen said to his guest: “You fain would be a learner, but you in truth are the best That ever I was teaching the skill that the foeman dazes. Wherever you are fighting, you in the field will win most worthy praises.”

[369] Then to the king spake Irold: “My lord, the strife is done That you so well were waging; such fights have we seen won, In the land of our king and master. Oft, at home, we freely Try our skill with weapons; knights and squires there meet in matches daily.”

[370] Then again spoke Hagen: “Did I this understand, I never a fighting weapon had taken in my hand. No youth have I ever met with who was so quick at learning.” When to these words they listened, the face of many a one to smiles was turning.

[371] Now by the king ’twas granted to his guests to pass the day As they might all be choosing. Glad of this were they, The men from out the Northland. When the hours grew weary, They vied huge stones in hurling; or else in shooting arrows made them merry.

Tale the Sixth. HOW SWEETLY HORANT SANG.

[372] It came to pass one evening, good luck did so befall, That Horant, the knight of Daneland, sang before them all. His singing was so wondrous that all who listened near him Found his song well-pleasing; the little birds all hushed their notes to hear him.

[373] King Hagen heard him gladly, and with him all his men: The song of the Danish Horant friends for him did gain. Likewise the queenly mother hearkened with ear befitting, As it sounded thro’ the opening where she upon the leaded roof was sitting.

[374] Then spake the fair young Hilda: “What is it that I hear? Just now a song the sweetest was thrilling on mine ear, That e’er from any singer I heard until this hour. Would to God in heaven my chamberlain to raise such notes had power!”

[375] Then she bade them bring her him who so sweetly sung; Soon as the knight came forward, thanks were on her tongue. For her with song the evening blissfully was ended; By Lady Hilda’s women the minstrel-knight was carefully befriended.

[376] Then spake the lovely Hilda: “Once more you must let us hear The songs that you this evening have made to us so dear. Truly it were blissful every day, at even, To hear from you such singing; for this would great reward to you be given.”

[377] “Since you your thanks, fair lady, have thus on me bestowed, Every day will I gladly sing you a song as good; And whoso listens rightly shall find his pains departed, His cares shall all be lessened, and he henceforth will feel himself light-hearted.”

[378] When he his word had given, forthwith he left the queen. Great reward in Ireland did his singing win; Never in his birthland had such to him been meted. Thus did the knight from Denmark give his help to Hettel, as him befitted.

[379] Soon as the night was ended, with the early dawn of day, Horant raised his carol; the birds soon stopped their lay, And to his song they listened, while in hedges hidden. The folk who yet were sleeping rested no more, by his sweet tones upbidden.

[380] Horant’s song rose softly, higher and yet more sweet; King Hagen also heard it, while near his wife was his seat. From out their inner chamber drawn to the roof, they waited; Their guest of this had warning; and Hilda the young gave ear, where she was seated.

[381] The daughter of wild Hagen with her maids around her heard From where they sat and listened; and now each little bird Wholly forgot his singing, and in the court-yard lighted; The warriors hearkened also, and well the song of the Danish minstrel greeted.

[382] Thanks to him were given by women and by men; “But,” said the Danish Fru-te, “would that I ne’er again Such songs might hear him singing. Whom would he be pleasing? To whom is my witless nephew such worthless morning-hymns so bent on raising?”

[383] Then spake King Hagen’s liegemen: “My lord, let him be heard; There’s none so sick is lying but would in truth be cheered, If to the songs he listened which fall from him so sweetly.” Said Hagen: “Would to Heaven such skill to sing were mine; ’twould glad me greatly.”

[384] When the knightly minstrel three songs to the end had sung, No one there who heard him thought they were too long, The turn of a hand, not longer, they had thought it lasted, E’en if they had listened while for a thousand miles a horseman hasted.

[385] When his song he ended, and to leave his seat was seen, The youthful, queenly maiden more blithe had never been, Nor decked, at early morning, in gayer clothes or better; Forthwith the high-born lady sent to beg her father now to meet her.

[386] Then came her father quickly, and on the maiden looked, While, in a mood of sadness, her father’s chin she stroked; With her hand she coaxed him, to make her word the stronger, And said: “My dearest father, bid that he at court may sing yet longer.”

[387] He answered: “Best loved daughter, if again, at the hour of eve, His songs he deigns to sing you, a thousand pounds I’ll give. But now a mien so lofty these guests of ours are wearing, To us ’tis not so pleasant here, at court, to give his songs a hearing.”

[388] However much she pressed him, would the king no longer stay; Then strove again young Horant, and never on any day, Had his knightly song been better. Sick and well together All lost their wits in hearing, and none could leave who to listen once came hither.

[389] The wild beasts in the forest let their pasture grow; The little worms that creeping through grass are wont to go, The fishes, too, that ever amidst the waves were swimming, All now stopped to listen; the singer’s heart with pride was overbrimming.

[390] Whatever he might sing to them, to no one seemed it long; Ill vied with his song the choral which by priests is sung. Even the bells no longer rang as of yore so sweetly; Every one who heard him was moved by Horant’s song, and saddened greatly.

[391] Then begged the lovely maiden that he to her be brought; Without her father’s knowledge, she slyly this besought. From her mother, Hilda, also must the tale be hidden That unto her, in her bower, unknown to all, the minstrel had been bidden.

[392] It was a yielding chamberlain who did the wages gain, That, for his help, she gave him; red gold it was, I ween. Glittering and heavy, with armlets twelve, full-weighted. ’Twas thus within her bower the maid, at eventide, the singer greeted.

[393] By hidden ways he did it; Horant was glad indeed That such good-will and kindness, at court, had been his meed. To win her love for his master from far had he been faring; To his tuneful skill he owed it that she such friendly will to him was bearing.

[394] She bade her faithful chamberlain to stand before the house; That so there might be no one who could the threshold cross Until the songs were ended, soon heard with praises truthful. None went into her bower but Horant only and Morunc the youthful.

[395] She bade the bard be seated: “Now sing to me once more,” Thus spake the high-born maiden, “those songs I heard before. For this I feel sore craving; than aught beside ’tis sweeter Unto your lays to listen; than any gem or pastime ’tis far better.”

[396] “If I might dare to sing to you, most fair and lovely maid, And never need be fearful for this to lose my head, Thro’ your father’s anger, never will I falter In any wise to serve you, if in my master’s land you’ll seek a shelter.”

[397] He then began a ditty of a mermaid of Amilé, Which never man nor Christian had learned to sing or say, Although he may have heard it on some wild, unknown water. In this the good knight, Horant, gave honor meet at court to Hagen’s daughter.

[398] At last, when he the love-song had sung unto the end, Then said the lovely maiden: “Thanks I give, my friend.” She drew a ring from her finger, nought of gold were fairer, And said: “I give it gladly; be this of my good-will to you the bearer.”

[399] Now her word she pledged him, and with it gave her hand: “Should she of a crown be wearer, and ever sway the land, That ne’er by the hand of any need he be further driven Than unto her in her castle; there to live in honor would leave be given.”

[400] Of all she pressed upon him nothing would he take Unless indeed a girdle. He said: “Let no man speak, And say that I the maiden e’er for myself was wooing; I will to my master bring her, and for this his heart shall be with bliss o’erflowing.”

[401] She asked: “Who is thy master? By name how is he known? Have e’er his liegemen crowned him? And any lands doth he own? For love of thee, most truly, good-will I bear him ever.” The knight from Denmark answered: “A king so rich and mighty saw I never.”

[402] He said: “To none betray us, most fair and lovely maid; To thee will I tell most gladly what our master said, When from his land we started, hither to come at his bidding; For thy dear sake, fair lady, unto thy father’s land and castle speeding.”

[403] She said: “Then tell me freely the errand on which you’re sent By him you call your master; if my will that way is bent I shall let you know it truly, before we yet are parted.” But Horant feared wild Hagen, and began at court to feel himself faint-hearted.

[404] To the lady thus he answered: “To you he sends this word,— That his heart for you is longing; his love alone is stirred. For him, I beg, fair lady, let now your kindness waken; He from other women has for your sake his love and longing taken.”

[405] She said: “May God reward him; such love for me he shows. If he in birth is my fellow, I fain would be his spouse, If you will deign to sing to me every morn and even.” He said: “That will I gladly; to this no care by you need e’er be given.”

[406] Quoth he to the queenly Hilda: “Most fair and high-born maid, There daily live with my master, and long at court have staid, Twelve minstrels who, before me, earn much higher praises; But, though sweet their singing, my lord, the king, in song still better pleases.”

[407] She said: “If your loving master in song so skilful be, Of longing for him, truly, I never can be free; My best of thanks I give him for the love he now is showing, And, dared I leave my father, gladly from here would I with you be going.”

[408] Then spake the knightly Morunc: “Lady, with us there are Warriors full seven hundred: our weal or woe they share, And each for this is ready; if once in our hands we have you, Know you nor fear nor sorrow lest we to meet wild Hagen’s wrath should leave you.”

[409] He said: “From Hagen’s kingdom we wish forthwith to go; Therefore beg your father the kindness to us to show, Youthful, high-born maiden, that he and your queenly mother Will deign our bark to look on; and you must also come, e’en if no other.”

[410] “That will I do most gladly, if my father’s leave you have; Of him and those about him this boon you now must crave, That I and my maidens also may ride to the shore some morning. If he shall grant your wishes, three days before, of the time you must give us warning.”

[411] The first of all the chamberlains was wont, and had a right, Often to be with the maidens. Just then, this very knight There had come for pastime, and to give to them his greeting; There found he Horant and Morunc; well might they fear some harm was their lives awaiting.

[412] He said to Lady Hilda: “Who are they sitting here?” From the lord so hot and hasty was never such wrath to fear. He said: “Whoe’er allowed you to come into this bower? Whoso in this hath helped you ne’er showed you falser friendship to this hour.”

[413] She said: “Now soothe your anger: in peace pray let them live. If to yourself great evil you do not wish to give, You must unseen by any, them to their rooms be bringing; It else hath helped but little that his knightly songs the minstrel here was singing.”

[414] “Is this the knight,” he asked her, “they say so well can sing? E’en such a minstrel know I: never hath any king Had a braver fighter. My father and his mother Were children of one father; worthier knight than he there’s not another.”

[415] The maid began to ask him: “Tell me, then, his name.” He said: “Men call him Horant; from the Danish land he came. Although no crown he weareth, he yet for one is fitted: We now know not each other, but once at Hettel’s court our love we plighted.”

[416] When Morunc, too, was telling that erst, in his fatherland, He also had been outlawed, his heart was sorely pained. His eyes with tears were welling, and now were overflowing; Then the queenly lady kindly looked on him, her sorrow showing.

[417] Then saw the chamberlain also how that his eyes were wet. He said: “Most worthy lady, these friends whom here we meet I know to be my kinsmen; help now that all goes rightly With both these worthy champions: most careful will I be to keep them fitly.”

[418] Much for them he sorrowed, and felt heart-pain, forsooth; “Durst I before my ladies, I would kiss upon the mouth Each of these knights so worthy. The days indeed are many Since tidings of King Hettel I could from a Hegeling ask, or learn from any.”

[419] Then spake the maiden further: “Since these thy kinsmen be, Now so much the dearer are they as guests to me. Known unto my father thou should’st quickly make them; They will not then so hastily to their homes afar across the sea betake them.”

[420] A busy talk began they, those two young heroes brave; Morunc unto the chamberlain his mind most freely gave. He said for Lady Hilda they came within those borders; And that their master Hettel to bring her back had sent them, as her warders.

[421] Then said to them the chamberlain: “A twofold care I feel, As liegeman of my master, and to help you, too, as well. How could I turn his anger, if he knew you now were seeking To win his maiden daughter? Never from here could you your way be taking.”

[422] Then spake the knightly Horant: “Hear well what now I say; In four days’ time to Hagen, we will come, and him will pray That we may leave his kingdom, if such may be his pleasure. The king will then make ready gifts for us of clothes, as well as treasure.

[423] “We will ask for nothing further, (help you here must lend,) But that Hagen shall be willing, as well beseems a friend, To come to the shore to see us, my lady with him riding,— His wife, the high-born Hilda; there to see the ship in which we’re biding.