Chapter III: Part 3

[312]
Then spake again wild Hagen: “What may be his name,
From whose rich kingdom driven, outcasts you became?
You of wealth are owners, and, if not by his wits forsaken,
To keep such worthy lieges within his land he would some pains have
taken.”

[313]
He asked “Who them had outlawed, and what name he bore?
Of what misdoings guilty, had they to this far shore
Made their flight in sorrow, to ask the help of strangers?”
To him then answered Horant: “To you will we make known our woes and
dangers.

[314]
“He bears the name of ‘Hettel, Lord of the Hegeling land’;
Brave and mighty is he, and sways with a heavy hand.
We of all our happiness have been robbed and plundered;
Of right are we embittered, since from our land and home we now are
sundered.”

[315]
To him spoke Hagen kindly: “This to your good shall turn;
I will in full repay you the losses that you mourn.
If I make myself a beggar, by thus so freely giving,
Yet from the king of the Hegelings you need not ask for help while I
am living.

[316]
“If you, good knights,” he added, “here with me will stay,
With you will I share right gladly the lands I own to-day;
Such guerdon by King Hettel ne’er to you was given.
The wealth from you he has taken, that give I you, and more by
tenfold even.”

[317]
“To stay with you we are ready,” then said Horant the Dane,
“But we fear that when King Hettel shall learn that we were seen
Within the Irish borders, he will find a way to reach us;
And I am ever dreading that we can nowhere live, and this he’ll
teach us.”

[318]
Then to the band of wanderers the lordly Hagen said:
“Do what now I bid you, and a home for you is made.
Never will King Hettel dare for your harm to seek you
Within my land and kingdom; it were a wrong to me from hence to take
you.”

[319]
He bade they should be sheltered, at once, within his town;
Then to his men and lieges he made his wishes known,
That now unto the wanderers all honor should be granted.
The water-weary sailors soon found the rest that they so long had
wanted.

[320]
Then the townsmen freely did the king’s behest;
To do it they were ready: houses, the very best,
Forty, or even over, were empty left, to be taken
By the Danish sailors; their homes, by the king’s good lieges were
willingly forsaken.

[321]
Up on the beach were carried the wares, full many a pile,
That in the ships lay hidden. Their owners thought, the while,
That they would rather struggle with storms upon the water,
Than to seek their luck and welfare in wooing Hilda, Hagen’s lovely
daughter.

[322]
Hagen bade his followers: “Now ask these guests of mine
If they will deign most kindly to eat my bread and wine,
Till they, within my kingdom, on lands they hold are living.”
The Danish Fru-te answered: “To take your food would shame to us be
giving.”

[323]
“If erst the great King Hettel had been to us so good,
That he both gold and silver would give to us for food,
We in our houses had them, and might of them be wasteful;
We e’en could stay our hunger, and feed thereon, if this to us were
tasteful.”

[324]
’Twas bidden then by Fru-te that his booth should be set up.
To see for sale such riches men ne’er again could hope.
Never within their borders did any trader offer
Fine goods at such a bargain; they easily were sold before the day
was over.

[325]
All could buy who wished them, gold and jewels rare.
The king, by greatest kindness, was to his guests made dear.
If any, without buying, still these treasures wanted,
The traders were so friendly that they, as gifts, the goods to many
granted.

[326]
Whate’er of Wâ-te or Fru-te was said by any one,—
Of all the deeds of kindness that here by them were done,—
The tale might not be trusted, how they for these were ready;
They strove to gain high praises, and this at court was told to many
a lady.

[327]
Of the poor nor man nor woman for clothes was seen to lack;
To those in need among them they gave their pledges back,
And from debt they freed them. To the princess, morn and even,
Oft by her faithful steward the tale of these guests from far was
truly given.

[328]
To the king she made her prayer: “Dearest father mine,
Ask that these guests so worthy to ride to court will deign.
They say that one among them hath charms beyond all measure;
Should he to your bidding listen, the sight of him ofttimes would
give me pleasure.”

[329]
To her the king thus answered: “That shall quickly be;
His well-bred ways and bearing I soon will let you see.”
But still the great King Hagen never yet had known him;
Long the ladies waited till Wâ-te came, and they could look upon
him.

[330]
Word to the guests was carried; to them ’twas kindly said,
That if it e’er should happen that they of aught had need,
They should to the king betake them, and his food be sharing.
To Fru-te this was pleasing, for wise he was, not less than he was
daring.

[331]
Those who came from Denmark, when at court, took care
Ever to be blameless for the clothes that they should wear:
’Twas so with the men of Wâ-te, from Sturmland thither faring,
And than himself no sword-knight in any land could show a finer
bearing.

[332]
Those who came with Morunc wore mantles over all,
With robes from far Kampalia. Fiery red, as a coal,
Gold and gems that sparkled on their clothes were shining.
Irold, the daring champion, came not alone, young Hilda bent on
winning.

[333]
Thither came brave Horant; all others he out-vied
In rich and costly clothing. With mantles long and wide,
Gay in hue and gaudy, his men were decked out brightly:
Those brave men from Denmark proudly came, and had a look most
knightly.

[334]
Tho’ Hagen’s birth was kingly, and lordly was his mood,
He yet went forth to meet them. His daughter, fair and good,
Rose up before old Wâ-te from where she now was seated.
Such was Wâ-te’s bearing as if with smiles his friends he never
greeted.

[335]
She said, in way most seemly: “Welcome to you I give;
Both I and the king, my father, must from your looks believe
That you are weary warriors, and sorely have been fighting.
Good-will the king will show you, and soon his faith to you will he
be plighting.”

[336]
To her they all bent lowly; their ways, they were well-bred.
The king then bade to be seated, as hosts are wont to bid.
Of drink to them was given, wine the best and rarest;
Better ne’er was tasted in the home of any lord, albeit the fairest.

[337]
In talk and fun and merriment seated were they all.
Soon the queenly maiden was seen to leave the hall:
But first she begged her father the kindness now to show her
To bid the knights so worthy to come to her, for pastime, to her
bower.

[338]
Her wish the king then granted, (so to us, ’tis said);
His young and lovely daughter at this was truly glad.
Soon fair clothes and jewels the maidens all were wearing;
And earnestly were watching the many knights from far, to see their
bearing.

[339]
When now the elder Hilda sat by her daughter fair,
Each one of her lovely maidens demeaned herself with care;
So that all who saw her high in breeding thought her,
And nothing else could say of her, but that she was indeed a king’s
fair daughter.

[340]
Now bade they that old Wâ-te should to the maids be brought;
Though he was gray and aged, none the less they thought,
To guard against his wooing, they must as children meet him.
Then to the aged Wâ-te stepped forth the youthful queen, right glad
to greet him.

[341]
She was the first to do so, but wished she might be spared
When she now must kiss him: broad and gray was his beard,
And the hair of the aged Wâ-te with golden strings was braided.
He and the Danish Fru-te the queen’s behest to seat them slowly
heeded.

[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.

[424]
“Might we in this be lucky, our toil we well shall spend;
And, with a happy outcome, our sorrows have an end.
If only to the seashore he will ride with his daughter,
We well shall be rewarded at home by our master Hettel, for whom we
sought her.”

[425]
Then from out the castle they were led by the crafty man,
So that the kingly Hagen mistrusted not their plan.
When, for their floating shelter, they the courtyard quitted,
All they had done for their master should not, I ween, by him at
home be slighted.

[426]
They told the aged Wâ-te what yet to none was known:
They said the high-born maiden her love did freely own
Unto their master, Hettel, for whom they now had sought her;
They talked with wise old Wâ-te how best to bring her home across
the water.

[427]
Then spake the aged Wâ-te: “Were she once outside the gate,
And I the lovely maiden there might only meet,
However hard the struggle that there we had with the foeman,
To cross her father’s threshold none again should see that lovely
woman.”

[428]
Their plot, well-laid and crafty, to no one did they break,
But slyly made them ready their homeward way to take.
This they told the warriors on board their ship there lying;
Not loth were they to hear it, for now to sail the weary men were
sighing.

[429]
They quickly brought together such goods as they did own;
Then, in stillness whispered, their hidden thought made known.
Later, throughout Ireland, it was mourned, with bitter wailing;
Though woe it brought to Hagen, the Hegeling’s greatness would it
soon be telling.

[430]
Upon the fourth day’s morning to court they bravely rode,
With new and well-cut clothing; none better ever showed.
Then the guests there gathered were their wishes speaking;
Of the king and all his liegemen they asked that they their leave
might now be taking.

[431]
Then spake to them King Hagen: “Why will you leave my land?
So far as I was able, I have striven for this end,—
That you within my kingdom should meet with kindness only;
Now would you hence be sailing, leaving me here, to lead a life all
lonely.”

[432]
To him old Wâ-te answered: “The Hegeling king, our lord,
Has sent to call us homeward; he will not hear a word
Of aught but our forgiveness. Then, too, for us are mourning
Those we left behind us; we therefore soon must back on our way be
turning.”

[433]
Then said to him wild Hagen: “Your loss my heart doth break;
Horses and fine clothing deign, for my love, to take,
With gold and costly jewels. Right well it doth beseem me
For all your gifts to pay you; in this shall no one ever dare to
blame me.”

[434]
Then said the hoary Wâ-te: “Too rich am I to-day
That I the gold you give us should wish to take away.
Our master, whose forgiveness our friends have lately won us,
The rich and mighty Hettel, in such a deed would truly never own us.

[435]
“One thing we have yet further, my lord, to ask of thee;
(If you this kindness show us, a worthy boon, ’twill be.)
It is that you shall witness how well we can be feasting;
Of food for hearty eaters we have in store what might three years be
lasting.

[436]
“To all who ask we give it, for hence we sail o’er the deep;
May God long give you honor, yourself may He ever keep.
We now betake us homeward, we here may bide no longer;
Now may you and your kinsfolk ride with us to our ship; no guard
were stronger.

[437]
“If but your lovely daughter, and with her my lady, your wife,
Shall look upon our riches, glad will it make our life,
And dear to us forever. If this to us be granted,
Great and good King Hagen, from you no other gifts shall e’er be
wanted.”

[438]
Then to his guests he answered, with seemly, well-bred mien:
“Since you are now so earnest, at early morn shall be seen
A hundred mares made ready, saddled for woman or maiden;
I, too, will ride down with them; right glad am I that to see your
ship I’m bidden.”

[439]
Then for the night they left him, and rode away to the shore.
Then up on the beach was carried of wine a goodly store,
That in the bark was lying; for food they were not lacking.
By this the ship was lightened; wisely had Fru-te of Denmark his
plans been making.

Tale the Seventh.
HOW THE MAIDENS CAME TO SEE THE SHIP, AND WERE CARRIED TO HETTEL’S
KINGDOM.

[440]
Early on the morrow, after the mass was said,
To don their richest clothing strove each wife and maid:
A throng of these King Hagen to the sandy shore was leading;
And with them riding gayly a thousand stalwart Irish knights were
speeding.

[441]
Within the town of Ballian the guests had heard the mass.
Of all the woe and sorrow, that soon would come to pass,
Hagen as yet knew nothing: little honor was left him
By his guests’ withdrawal; this of his fair and well-born child
bereft him.

[442]
When now they all had ridden to the ships upon the strand,
Queen Hilda and her ladies were lifted down on the sand.
The young and lovely maidens to see the ships were taken:
The traders’ booths were open, and the goods did wonder great in the
queen awaken.

[443]
Many fair-wrought jewels lay in sight in the shops,
Such as men prize highly; King Hagen to see them stops,
And many with him also: soon as the goods were shown them,
The maidens, too, must see them, and rings and bands of gold were
pressed upon them.

[444]
To see the sights King Hagen into a boat had gone:
Not all the booths were open, nor all the goods were shown,
When Wâ-te’s men heaved anchor up from the sea-sands deftly,
And Hilda with her maidens was borne away from the land of her
fathers swiftly.

[445]
For no one’s hate and anger Wâ-te greatly cares;
Little he recks what happens to the shops of costly wares:
Hilda, the queenly mother, was sundered from her daughter;
The men, in the ship long hidden, up-sprang and sorrow made for
Hagen on the water.

[446]
Then the sails were hoisted, and ’twas seen that they were set:
From the ship they threw the foemen, who thoroughly were wet,
Like sea-birds on the water, when near the sands they flutter.
For her daughter dear-belovéd sorrow and anger the queen aloud did
utter.

[447]
When the weaponed fighters by Hagen there were seen,
Then, in truth, how scornful and wrathful was his mien!
“Now bring to me my long-spear, to feel it I will teach them;
They all shall die full quickly when my strong right arm with that
shall reach them!”

[448]
Boldly then spoke Morunc: “Be not so much in haste!
Though now you think to fight us, and to rush on us so fast
With a thousand well-armed foemen, we yet will overthrow them,
And fling them into the water; a damp, cold lodging we will quickly
show them!”

[449]
Still, brave Hagen’s followers the fight would not give o’er;
The water shone and glistened with the armor that they wore;
Then they drew their long-swords, spears were thickly flying;
But oars were dipped full quickly, and fast the boats away from the
shore were hieing.

[450]
The bold and daring Wâ-te from the sands had given a bound
Into a well-manned row-boat; loud did his mail resound,
As he, with fifty warriors, after Hilda hasted:
Hagen’s careless followers now must rouse themselves, no time they
wasted.

[451]
Onward came King Hagen; his fighting-gear he wore,
And a heavy sword, the sharpest, he proudly with him bore;
But now the aged Wâ-te almost too long had waited;
Wild and grim was Hagen, and high his spear he raised ’gainst his
foe belated.

[452]
Loudly then he shouted, and bade his men make haste;
None of all his followers would he allow to rest,
Hoping these guests, now fleeing, who had been such traitors,
Might be with speed o’ertaken, and either should be slain, or bound
in fetters.

[453]
The king had now about him fighters many and brave,
But yet he could not follow across the wild sea-wave;
His ships were all unready, and many of them leaking,
When now he would be sailing; of Hagen’s blame for this were all
soon speaking.

[454]
On the gravelly sea-shore standing, no other way he knew
But that more ships be builded for him and his liegemen true,
And workmen called together, who must therein be speedy:
All came who now were able, and these he found to be both skilled
and ready.

[455]
Upon the seventh morning, there left the Irish land
The men sent forth by Hettel to ask for Hilda’s hand,
And bring to him the lady. They were a thousand barely;
Hagen brought against them thirty hundred men, if reckoned fairly.

[456]
The daring knights of Denmark sent men home before,
To carry word to Hettel that Hagen’s child they bore,
And to his land would bring her, with honor him befitting.
Though now they little thought it, still harder work erelong must
they be meeting.

[457]
To them their master, Hettel, in happy mood then spoke:
“My sorrows now are over. Great toils my liegemen took
For me in Hagen’s kingdom, and now have brought me gladness;
Since they on their errand left me, fear for their doom has filled
my heart with sadness.

[458]
“Dear friends, if with your tidings you have not me betrayed,
And do not tell me falsely that you have seen the maid
Near to my land and kingdom, and in my friends’ safe-keeping,
For your tale will I reward you, and gladly will your praise be ever
speaking.”

[459]
They said: “No lie we tell you, that we the maid have seen;
But when we miles had measured, the daughter of the queen
Sadly said, for our welfare she feared, and was heavy-hearted,
Lest the king, her father, to follow with his ships e’en then had
started.”

[460]
For the tidings, Hettel gave them a hundred marks in worth;
For all his knights there gathered, men at once brought forth
Swords as well as helmets, and shields for them were bidden:
Thus from Hettel’s castle they went, as if to court, to bring the
maiden.

[461]
All the men he was able Hettel for this now sought;
Greatly was he hoping, and much thereof he thought,
So great a host to muster, and these so well outfitted,
That never to king’s fair daughter so fine a welcome might again be
meted.

[462]
In haste were all then bidden who ought with him to go;
They still made ready slowly, till gifts he should bestow
Of all things that they needed; they for this were waiting.
At length by him were gathered a thousand men or more, for Hilda’s
greeting.

[463]
Gay were they in clothing,— ’gainst this could none say nay,—
Poor as well as wealthy were shining in war-array:
To bring the lovely ladies to their new home and dwelling
Were Hettel’s lieges earnest; with lofty hopes of this their hearts
were swelling.

[464]
Soon as they left the castle, shouts the land did fill,
As they their way were making thro’ lowland and o’er hill;
Men saw upon the pathways crowds still thronging nearer:
Hettel hastened forward, to see the maid, than every other dearer.

[465]
At last the aged Wâ-te, the knight from the Sturmisch land,
Had reached the Waalisch marches and stepped upon the sand.
There on the shore were gathered the sailors, water-weary;
Shelter they sought for Hilda, and in a friendly land were glad to
tarry.

[466]
Stakes for tents were driven near to the broad sea-flood
By the followers of Wâ-te; they were in happy mood.
Erelong the news was bruited, and soon to them was given,
That Hettel, king of the Hegelings, had left his home, and now was
near them even;

[467]
And that he with many liegemen was riding down to the shore,
To meet his well-belovéd. Now hoped the maids the more
That she with greatest honor should, as her birth befitted,
Be brought into his kingdom. No more the thought of strife their
hearts affrighted.

[468]
The guests for nothing wanted, they had both wine and food;
Those who were living near them freely on them bestowed
The best that they were able; the wants of all they heeded;
Whate’er they had they gave them, and left them not to lack for
aught they needed.

[469]
Hettel now drew nearer to those who had reached his land;
And with him, gathered hastily, the strong and goodly band,
Drawn from his father’s kingdom. They came bedecked so gaily,
And in such glittering armor, the guests looked on full glad, and
praised them freely.

[470]
Then the men of the Hegelings came down upon the plain,
And soon the rushing riders a tilting-match began;
All with youthful boldness for knightly prizes striving:
Then came the Danish Fru-te, and with him Wâ-te, wise as any living.

[471]
They were seen from afar by Hettel; happy in heart was he.
His horse he set a-prancing; right glad was he to see
Two of his bravest liegemen, sent by him o’er the water,
With fighters bold to Ireland, in hopes to win for him wild Hagen’s
daughter.

[472]
On him, too, looked they gladly, their worthy king, so good;
Each day they spent there with him found them in happy mood.
Wâ-te with all his fellows, while far away they were living,
Had known much bitter hardship: for this would Hettel now reward be
giving.

[473]
As he met his friendly liegemen, King Hettel wore a smile;
Then said he to them kindly: “Much have I feared erewhile
For you, my faithful helpers, and a heavy heart was bearing,
Lest in Hagen’s castles my men were held, and all were bondage
sharing.”

[474]
Then for love he kissed them, both those gray old men;
His eyes had never rested on so glad a sight as then,
Nor on a fairer pasture had fed, with longing fonder.
I ween that never to Hettel was aught so full of bliss and sudden
wonder.

[475]
Then spake the aged Wâ-te: No harm to us was done;
But yet a sway so mighty I ne’er before have known,
As this that wild King Hagen over his lands now wieldeth:
His followers bear them proudly, and he himself in strength to no
one yieldeth.

[476]
“It was a day as happy as ever could be thought,
When we to you sent tidings that we had Hilda brought,
The loveliest of maidens (no falsehood have I spoken,
Believe the tale I tell you) that ever in this world my eyes did
look on.”

[477]
The high-born knight then added: “Belike with greatest speed
Will come these daring foemen; for this should you take heed
Lest the angry Hagen soon shall overtake us
Here within your marches; if so, his hatred bitter woe will make
us.”

[478]
Then Wâ-te and Sir Fru-te down to the shore did bring
Many worthy followers, knights of Hettel, the king,
There to see fair Hilda, and there must they await her.
Upon their shining bucklers many a spear-shaft crashed in battle
later.

[479]
Now came the fair young maiden, under a comely hat;
Then all the men of the Hegelings who on their horses sat
By the side of the king, their master, upon the grass alighted.
With merry hearts then gladly the well-bred throng their love and
friendship plighted.

[480]
Irold, he of Ortland, and Morunc of the Frisian land,
Both of those brave champions, one on either hand,
Came with lovely Hilda, and Hettel soon were meeting;
Worthy was she of praises. Now thought the maid to give the king her
greeting.

[481]
With her there came young maidens, twenty or even more,
All clad in fair white linen,— whiter none e’er wore,—
Or best of silken clothing, that could be found by any:
Proud were they to wear them, and, gaily decked, they there were
seen by many.

[482]
The king, both good and stately, then began to greet
With well-bred, seemly bearing, the maid he thought was meet
To wear the crown hereafter. He gazed on her with yearning;
Her in his arms he folded, and fondly kissed the maid, her face
upturning.

[483]
Then one by one he welcomed all the maidens fair;
But one there was among them so lofty in her air
She might of birth be kingly: in nought her kin were lacking.
She was one of the maidens who with the griffin long her home was
making.

[484]
She bore the name of Hildeburg: from Hilda, Hagen’s wife,
She ever had won the honor befitting her worthy life;
Born in the land of Portugal, thence had she been taken.
She now saw many strangers: a longing sad for her friends did this
awaken.

[485]
Hettel to all the maidens gave a welcome free,
Yet was their lot no brighter; for when they thought to see
An end of all their sadness, upon the coming morrow,
Soon as the day was dawning, there came to them again as great a
sorrow.

[486]
Her throng of high-born followers were greeted on every side;
Near to Hagen’s daughter on a flowery meadow wide,
Under silken awnings, many there were seated.
But Hagen was now too near them; to them from him must many ills be
meted.

Tale the Eighth.
HOW HAGEN FOLLOWED HIS DAUGHTER.

[487]
When the day was dawning, there was seen full well,
And known by Horant of Daneland, a cross upon a sail,
With other emblems blazoned, that pilgrims did betoken.
For such a band of pilgrims in Wâ-te’s heart was little love
bespoken.

[488]
Loudly Morunc shouted to Irold brave and true:
“Now ask our lord, King Hettel, what he thinks to do?
A sail with the arms of Hagen comes to our shore too nearly:
Too long have we been sleeping, and well to be rid of this will cost
us dearly.”

[489]
To Hettel the tale was carried that the father of his bride,
Hither from Ireland sailing, with ships broad-built and wide
As well as many a galley, now their shore was nearing.
From Wâ-te and from Fru-te their wisest thoughts the king was bent
on hearing.

[490]
Both those knights of Denmark could hardly this believe,
Had not their eyes beheld it, that Hagen, with followers brave,
Seeking his daughter Hilda, to the river Waal was steering.
The men who came from Ortland lay happy on the beach, no danger
fearing.

[491]
The fair and noble Hilda soon heard the wondrous tale,
Whereat the kindly maiden did loudly thus bewail:
“My father, if he comes hither, soon will make such slaughter,
That none e’er knew the sorrow that will be felt by many a wife and
daughter.”

[492]
“We ’gainst that can guard us,” answered the knight Irold:
“However he may bluster, I would not take of gold
A mountain’s weight in barter, that day when foes are mated,
Could I see my uncle Wâ-te near wild Hagen come, with anger heated.”

[493]
Then the lovely maidens began to wail and mourn.
The ship was tossed and rolling, now by the west wind borne,
With warriors filled and crowded, near to Waal, the river.
They there, in heavy fighting, soon found a blood-stained
resting-place forever.

[494]
Wâ-te bade that Hilda on board a ship should stay.
To guard the queenly maiden, while near the shore it lay,
On every side all hastily men their shields were bearing:
To keep a watch o’er the ladies, there were on board a hundred
warriors daring.

[495]
Ready now for battle were all who to the strand
Had brought the lovely Hilda from her Irish fatherland,
Whence they the maid had stolen, to her father Hagen’s sorrow.
Many, sound and healthy, must sorely fear for their lives before the
morrow.

[496]
Hettel was soon heard shouting and calling aloud to his men:
“Be on your guard, brave fighters! Who never gold did gain,
To him it shall be measured, in handfuls, without weighing.
Let this be not forgotten,— that now your Irish foes you may be
slaying.”

[497]
Bearing then their weapons, down they rushed to the sand;
Stirred with warlike bustle was all the Waalisch strand.
Thither to King Hettel flocked his champions daring;
Friends as well as foemen soon towards the self-same spot were
faring.

[498]
Now had Hagen also reached the sandy shore,
And men at him were hurling the spears they bravely bore:
Those upon the seashore well their lives then guarded
From the stormy Irish onset; but wounds yet all the more their
bravery rewarded.

[499]
How seldom would a father have wished to send his child
Where sparks of fire, all-glowing, were struck by foemen wild
Forth from hardened helmets, in sight of many a maiden!
To have sailed with these roving fighters did now at last the lovely
Hilda sadden.