Since we in stormy battle with many deadly blows our lives defended.”
He asked whence they had ridden from off the stormy field.
They said: “It was from Portugal, where the strife was held;
There the mighty ruler from fighting would not spare us;
Daily within our borders he did us wrong, and much ill-will did bear us.”
The young King Hettel answered: “Now cast all care away;
I know that the aged Wâ-te will never yield the sway
He holds o’er the Sturmisch marches; he of the land is owner;
Who wins from him a castle will earn high praise and long be held in honor.”
Within the roomy palace the guests then took their seats.
Both Horant and Sir Fru-te with thoughtless, merry wits,
Of the loves of high-born ladies began to gossip gaily.
To them the young king listened, and costly gifts he gave unto them freely.
Hettel turned to Horant, and thus to ask began:
“If aught hath reached your hearing, then tell me, if you can,
How ’tis with Lady Hilda, King Hagen’s lovely daughter?
To her would I send most gladly, and would that words of love from me were brought her.”
The youthful knight then answered: “She is to me well known;
A maid so fair and lovely my eyes ne’er looked upon
As she, that maid of Ireland, Hilda, the rich and stately,
The daughter of wild Hagen; to wear a crown with you would befit her greatly.”
On this King Hettel asked him: “Now think you, can it be
That ever her lordly father will give this maid to me?
If I deemed he were so friendly, I would seek to win her,
And would reward him ever who gave to me his ready help to gain her.”
“That can never happen,” to him young Horant said:
“No rider with this errand to Hagen need be sped.
To hasten thither boldly I feel, myself, no longing;
The man sent there to seek her is either slain with blows, or dies by hanging.”
Then spake again King Hettel: “Not so for her I care;
To hang my trusty vassal should Hagen ever dare,
Then he, the king of Ireland, himself must death be facing.
Be he ne’er so boastful, he’ll find his rashness is to him no blessing.”
Then spake the knightly Fru-te: “If Wâ-te deigns to go
Unto the king of Ireland, to woo this maid for you,
Lucky will be our errand, and we shall bring the lady;
Or wounds throughout our bodies, e’en to the heart, to take shall we be ready.”
Then said to him King Hettel: “My men I now will send
With word to the lord of Sturmland; I do not fear the end,
For Wâ-te will hasten gladly wherever I shall bid him.
Bring Irold, too, from Friesland, with all his men, for sorely do I need him.”
His riders then went quickly into the Sturmisch land,
Where the brave old Wâ-te they found among his band.
Then the word they gave him, now to the king to betake him;
But Wâ-te felt great wonder, to know for what the Hegeling king did seek him.
He asked if it were needful to bring, when he should go,
His breastplate and his helmet, and any followers, too?
One of the heralds answered: “We did not hear it spoken
That he had need of fighters; for you alone did his words a wish betoken.”
Wâ-te would be going, but left behind a guard,
To care for lands and castles. Then taking horse, at his word,
Twelve of his followers only with him from home now started;
Wâ-te, the brave old warrior, at once on his way to court in haste departed.
He reached the land of the Hegelings. When he now was seen,
As he came near Kampatille, but little sorrow, I ween,
Was felt by the kingly Hettel; with speed he went to greet him,
And thought of the kindly welcome he would give his friend, old Wâ-te, when he met him.
Right glad was he to see him; with hearty speech he says:
“Sir Wâ-te, thou art welcome; many are the days
Since I have looked upon you, when on our horses sitting,
Side by side together, we proudly met our foes with blows befitting.”
Then answered him old Wâ-te: “Ever should good friends
Be glad to be together; that fight the better ends
Where, before the foeman, friends as one are fighting.”
Then by the hand he held him, to him his love and friendship warmly plighting.
They took their seats together, nor place to other gave.
Hettel, he was mighty, and Wâ-te, he was brave;
He yet was also haughty, and proud in all his bearing.
Hettel now was thinking how Wâ-te could be brought to Ireland to be faring.
Then spake the knightly Hettel: “For this I bade thee come;
Need have I of riders, to send to Hagen’s home.
Truly I know of no one whom I would send the sooner
Than thee, my good friend Wâ-te, or who in this could bring me greater honor.”
Then said the aged Wâ-te: “Whatever I can do
To show my love and fealty, I’ll gladly do for you.
Herein I may be trusted, to be for you bold-hearted;
And to bring about your wishes, unless in this by death I should be thwarted.”
Then quoth the kingly Hettel: “Many friends have said
That if the mighty Hagen will my wooing heed,
And give to me his daughter, she, as my queen, would honor
Me and my kingdom also; my heart is bent as a wife and queen to own her.”
Angrily spoke Wâ-te: “Whoever this has said
Would truly feel no sorrow if I this day were dead.
’Tis Fru-te, he of Denmark, I know it is no other,
Who to this has stirred you, to send me to the maid, your suit to further.
“This young and lovely maiden is guarded now with care;
Horant and Fru-te also, who say she is so fair,
And speak to you her praises, must go with me to seek her.
Never shall I rest easy unless they strive with me your own to make her.”
Both these faithful vassals King Hettel sent for soon;
To others good and trusty they also made it known,
That by their king and master they at court were wanted.
No more their thoughts men whispered, but freely spoke of the coming raid, undaunted.
When Wâ-te, the brave old warrior, did on Horant look,
And on the Danish Fru-te, how sharply then he spoke!
“Brave knights, may God reward you, to me you are so friendly,
And of my fame so careful, and my trip to court this time you help so kindly.
“You are, forsooth, most willing that I this errand do;
But both of you are bounden with me thereon to go,
To serve the king, our master, even as our duty calleth.
He who my life endangers himself the risk must share, whate’er befalleth.”
“For this I now am ready,” answered Horant the Dane;
“If leave the king will grant us, I then will shun
