[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.

[754]

If she her love would give him, as he had asked before,—

Ofttimes his heart was heavy for the love to her he bore,—

That he would ever serve her so long as he was living,

And many lands wide-reaching, held of his father, would to her be giving.

[755]

But if she would not love him, she then would earn his hate;

He asked of her that kindly she his love would meet,

So that he to his fatherland his lovely bride might carry

Without a fight or struggle. To hope for this brave Hartmut ne’er was weary.

[756]

Did she gainsay his wooing, Hartmut sent this word:

“I will not be bought with silver, albeit a heavy hoard,

To leave in peace her kingdom; she yet shall give me heeding.

I will show Gu-drun, fair maiden, brave knights enough, to be for her eyes fine feeding!

[757]

“Further, good errand-bearers, this say to her from me:

I ne’er will leave her borders to sail on the wide, deep sea;

Better will I think it to be hewn in pieces even,

Unless the Hegeling maiden will follow me hence, to me in wedlock given.

[758]

“But, should she scorn me wholly, and never my bride will be,

Then me, with my daring fighters, riding here she will see.

Before the Hegeling castle I will then leave lying

Twenty thousand warriors, on both sides of the roadway, dead or dying.

[759]

“Since by the craft of Wigaleis King Hettel has been led,

And by the aged WÂ-te, hither our way we’ve made

Into the Hegeling kingdom, time and toil thus spending;

For this shall many be fatherless, and glad shall I be of the whole to make an ending.”

[760]

Those sent forth by Hartmut fast on their way did ride,

For he bade them wait no longer. They came to a castle wide,

By name ycleped Matelan; therein was Hilda dwelling,

And with her was her daughter, the maid about whose charms all men were telling.

[761]

With them sent Hartmut also two earls of wealth and name,

Who with him out of Normandy over the waters came.

He bade them see Queen Hilda, and kindly to bespeak her;

To pledge to her his friendship, and say that his goodwill would ne’er forsake her.

[762]

Of her they must ask her daughter, for him who in his mind

So high had ever set her, above all womankind:

In worthy love he wooed her, and she would rank be taking

That for aye would make her happy; to do her will she ne’er would find him lacking.

[763]

To the maiden’s waiting-women the news was quickly told,

That from out the land of Normandy a band of wooers bold

Hither rode to Matelan, and for Gu-drun were suing:

Hilda hushed the tidings, for now Gu-drun in fright the tale was ruing.

[764]

Queen Hilda’s faithful warders opened soon the gate;

Those who had ridden thither need no longer wait;

They to come in were bidden. The gate was thrown wide open,

And the men sent there by Hartmut into Matelan rode: no ill to them did happen.

[765]

They quickly told their wishes, to see King Hettel’s wife.

It was not yet allowed them; they who should guard her life,

And to the king must answer, at first had this forbidden:

They never left uncared for Hilda the queen, and eke Gu-drun the maiden.

[766]

At last the men of Hartmut into the hall were led.

To them the queenly Hilda kindly greeting made,

As did Gu-drun the lady, with fair and lofty bearing;

But she, the high-born maiden, love for Herwic in her heart was wearing.

[767]

Altho’ they felt unfriendly, yet drink they gave to the men

Ere yet they told their errand; freely then the queen

Bade them to be seated before herself and her daughter.

She begged them then to tell her: “What boon to seek had brought them o’er the water?”

[768]

All the men of Hartmut before their seats yet stood,

As well-bred men beseemeth, and errand-bearers should.

Then they told the ladies what they would there be doing,—

That for their master, Hartmut, they for the fair Gu-drun had come a-wooing.

[769]

The high-born maiden answered: “Of this I nought will hear,—

That with the young King Hartmut I the crown should share,

Before our friendly kinsmen, and troth to him be plighted:

The name of the knight is Herwic whose love shall never by myself be slighted.

[770]

“To him I am betrothed; me he chose for a wife,

And him for myself I have taken. Ever, throughout his life,

All of good I wish him that can henceforth befall him:

Ne’er, till my days are ended, will I ask the love of another, or my lord will call him.”

[771]

One of them then answered: “This warning Hartmut gives:

If nay shall be your answer, before three days, if he lives,

Against great Matelan castle you shall see him leading

All his knightly followers.” Smiles at this were the maiden’s face o’erspreading.

[772]

Their leave they would be taking, and hasten on their way,

Those two great earls so haughty; but Hilda bade them stay.

Altho’ she ne’er had known them, of gifts she was not chary;

But yet they would not take them, for crafty men were they, and in truth were wary.

[773]

At those sent there by Hartmut Hettel’s followers sneered,

And said, their scorn and anger they very little feared:

If to drink the wine of Hettel they were, in truth, unwilling,

Then this warning gave they: that they their cup with blood would soon be filling.

[774]

When they had heard this answer, back to the shore they went

Whence they had been by Hartmut upon their errand sent.

He then ran forth to meet them, to ask how they were treated,

And what had them befallen, and how his courtship by Gu-drun was greeted.

[775]

Then one of them thus answered: “This to us they said:

The high and queenly maiden a lover long has had,

For whom, beyond all others, love in her heart she is feeling:

If you will not taste their wine-cup, they soon will fill to you, your life-blood spilling.”

[776]

“Ah, woe is me!” said Hartmut, when he this answer heard;

“My heart is full of anger, with shame I hear your word!

Never men more friendly shall I need, till I am dying,

Than those who now will help me.” Straightway his men upsprang, on the shore then lying.

[777]

Ludwig now and Hartmut, with their men, set out for war;

Their banners high uplifted in pride and wrath they bore.

These from Matelan castle were seen afar to shimmer:

“Cheer up!” then said the maiden; “Herwic and Hettel come! their weapons glimmer!”

[778]

But Hilda saw the standard bore not King Hettel’s mark:

“Ah, woe shall now betide us before this day grows dark!

To seek Gu-drun are coming foemen grim and daring;

Many a well-made helmet their blows shall hew before the night is nearing.”

[779]

Then her friendly Hegelings thus to Hilda spake:

“If those led on by Hartmut to-day an onslaught make,

Wounds we then must deal them, and show we are the stronger.”

Queen Hilda then gave bidding to shut the castle gates, and wait no longer.

[780]

But the men of brave King Hettel followed not her hest;

They who the castle guarded thought to fight their best.

They bade that now their banners to the shafts be fastened;

King Hettel’s daring followers, to slay his foes, from out the castle hastened.

[781]

The bars that should be lowered, to keep the foemen out,

Were left, in over-boldness, and the gates not fully shut,

Since from Hartmut’s foreguard they little harm foreboded.

But when they pressed in boldly, then came the rest, who ever on them crowded.

[782]

A thousand men or over stood before the gate;

These, their swords upbearing, the fight did there await.

A thousand more with Hartmut now came thronging thickly;

They then from their steeds alighted, and back to the rear they sent their horses quickly.

[783]

Spears in hand they carried, with points full keen to cut.

Who could shun their onset? With heavy wounds they smote

Those who the castle guarded, in their pride o’erweening.

Just at the hour came Ludwig, with his Norman knights, as the fight was now beginning.

[784]

Much the women sorrowed as Ludwig nearer rode:

The banners o’er them floating well and proudly showed

The fearless foe oncoming; beneath each standard flocking,

Three thousand now came boldly, tho’ sad on their homeward way they might yet be looking.

[785]

Before the walls beleaguered the guards were a busy band:

Never hardier fighters were seen in any land

Than were the faithful warders in Hettel’s castle dwelling;

Their blows they were thickly dealing, and Hartmut’s men their strength were quickly feeling.

[786]

Ludwig, Hartmut’s father, the Norman king, was seen

From hardened rims of bucklers to strike a fiery sheen:

Truly, great was the bravery that now his heart was swelling;

His friends and followers also, in the bloody game, were bold beyond all telling.

[787]

When they who the castle guarded hoped for rest and peace,

Then their daring foemen did nearer to them press,

Led by him of Normandy: the youthful Hartmut’s father

Grudged no toil to help him; and this from that day’s fight one well might gather.