Wild Hagen bade his maidens so to rear the child,
That the sun ne’er shone upon her; nor were rough winds wild
Oft allowed to touch her. She was by ladies guarded,
And cared for by her kinsmen; most wisely was the trust to them awarded.
Before twelve years were ended the fair and well-born maid
Was comely more than any, and her name was widely spread;
Rich and high-born princes gladly would have sought her,
And earnestly were thinking how they could win wild Hagen’s lovely daughter.
One of these same princes in Denmark had his home,
Within the land of Waleis. When the tale to him had come
About this lovely maiden, his longing ne’er would leave him;
But he was scorned by Hagen, who swore of life and name he would bereave him.
Whene’er to seek the maiden men were by wooers sent,
In his pride, wild Hagen upon their death was bent.
He to none would give her who than himself was weaker;
Of the tale of the mighty Hagen, far and near, was every man the speaker.
He bade that more than twenty of those sent there be hung;
None might wreak his anger, though sore his heart was wrung.
When all had done their errand, for Hagen’s daughter suing,
“Enough,” soon went the saying: “ ’Twere best that none should go for her a-wooing.”
But still by high-born warriors the maid was not unsought.
Let pride be ne’er so lofty, as we have long been taught,
There always is another with just as high a bearing;
While to win her kindness his yearning grows, and his toil he is never sparing.
Tale V
How Wâ-te Was Sent to Ireland as a Suitor
Hettel, king of the Hegelings, a suitor for Hilda, summons his vassals, Wâ-te, Horant, and Fru-te, and sends them to obtain her for his wife. They go, purporting to be merchants, carrying seven hundred warriors concealed in the hold of the ship. They send rich gifts to Hagen, and at the request of his daughter, Hilda, they are kindly received at court.
Hettel was lord in Daneland; to be its king he rose;
’Twas in the Sturmisch marches, as many a one well knows;
There abode his kindred, who ways of honor taught him.
Ortland also served him. His might and worth high fame with all soon brought him.
One among his kinsfolk the name of Wâ-te bore;
He for his lands and castles fealty to Hettel swore.
As kinsman of his master, he careful teaching gave him
In all things good and worthy, and in his watchful care did ever have him.
A landed knight in Daneland was Wâ-te’s sister’s son,
The brave and upright Horant. Later his faith was shown
Unto his lord, King Hettel, who for his worth did crown him.
This to him he grudged not, but ever for a prince was glad to own him.
Hettel, rich and mighty, at Hegeling held his seat,
Not far from the lord of Ortland; this is true, I weet.
He there owned many castles, eighty at least or over;
They who these strongholds guarded in truest faith and honor held them ever.
Lord he was of Friesland, its waters and its land;
Ditmarsh, as well as Waleis, were swayed by his kingly hand.
Hettel was truly mighty; his kinsmen they were many;
Bold was he and daring, and ’gainst his foes he plotted, well as any.
Hettel was an orphan, and so he felt the need
That he a wife should find him. To him, at last, were dead
Father as well as mother, who their lands had left him.
He friends in truth had many, yet found he much in life that of bliss bereft him.
The best of these besought him some maiden’s love to seek,
Who of his birth was worthy. The knight did answer make:
“I here know none who fitly should be o’er the Hegelings seated,
Nor is there any lady who, brought from far, should as my queen be greeted.”
Then spake a knight of Nifland, Morunc, a youthful lord:
“I know of a lovely maiden, of whom I oft have heard;
She in truth is fairer than all on earth now living.
Her will we gladly sue for, that she her troth to you may soon be giving.”
Then quoth the king: “Who is she? her name I pray you tell.”
Then said Morunc: “ ’Tis Hilda, in Ireland she doth dwell;
Her father’s name is Hagen; King Ger was her forefather.
If to this land she cometh, your life will then be blissful altogether.”
Then spake the young King Hettel: “I oft have heard it said,
Whoever woos this maiden her father’s wrath must dread.
Many a worthy suitor his life for her has ended;
But none among my vassals must meet his death for having me befriended.”
Morunc quickly answered: “Then send to Horant’s land,
And bid that he come hither; he well doth understand
The ways and moods of Hagen, for often has he seen them.
Unless his help he gives you, ’twill come to nought, howe’er your friends demean them.”
He said: “Your will I follow, since she is so fair;
But if my friends shall seek her, yourself the suit must share;
And if unto your friendship the task I’ve trusted fitly,
Wealth shall you have and honor, when as the Hegeling’s queen she’s greeted rightly.”
He quickly sent out riders through the Danish land to haste;
By them was the mighty Horant, his nephew, found at last,
And to the court was bidden; to come must he be speedy,
Within seven days, not later, if he to help his lord in truth were ready.
When Horant met the heralds, and did their errand hear,
Then for friendly service himself he would not spare.
Right gladly did he listen to the bidding of his master;
But this, on a day thereafter, to him brought sorrow great, and sore disaster.
To the court he soon went riding, with sixty of his men;
Of friends at home young Horant to take his leave was seen.
He then made haste the faster, when now the tale was told him
How he must help his master, if for a faithful knight he now would hold him.
Upon the seventh morning he came to Hettel’s land;
Decked in finest clothing was he and all his band.
The king to welcome Horant rode forth, most glad to greet him,
And saw that with him Fru-te, another Danish knight, was there to meet him.
Good news it was of their coming, of which all men now spoke;
Glad was the king to see them; from him a share it took
Of the deep and heavy sorrow which his heart was filling.
“Welcome, Cousin Fru-te!” cried he, the while he looked upon him smiling.
When Horant now with Fru-te before the king did stand,
Then he asked for tidings of their home in the Danish land.
Both
