The king, as well beseemed him, greeted all the band;
First, his liegeman Irold he kindly took by the hand;
Then he turned to Wâ-te, to where he found him seated:
At last, his hardy warriors, ready to leave the land, his word awaited.
To all it now was bidden that they should give good heed,
And everything make ready that knights could ever need.
Now were seen by the warriors the ships so fair and stately;
To woo the lovely Hilda the king in all things showed his forethought greatly.
Two new and well-made galleys they had upon the flood,
With two broad ships of burden; both were strong and good.
A ship of state went with them; than this had ne’er a better,
By any friend or foeman, on the shores of any land, been seen upon the water.
To start they now are willing; already on the ships
Were the clothes and horses loaded. Then from Wâ-te’s lips
Came kindly words to Hettel; he begged him to feel easy,
Till they should again be coming, for to do his bidding they would all be busy.
The king to him said mournfully: “I give into your care
The knights, untaught and youthful, who such risks will dare,
With you upon this errand: most earnestly I pray you
That, for your honor, daily you teach these youths with care, and make them to obey you.”
Him thus Wâ-te answered: “To that give not a thought;
Keep a brave heart, I beg you, that here at home, in nought
You fail of being steadfast, where’er your honor reaches:
Watch well, too, o’er our holdings: these youths shall learn from me what wisdom teaches.”
The good and trusty Fru-te the wealth of the king did guard—
The gold and costly jewels, and of many things a hoard.
The king was free in spending whatsoe’er was wanted;
If Fru-te aught did ask for, thirty-fold to him he gladly granted.
A hundred men were chosen, and now within the ship,
Wherein to woo the maiden his friends must cross the deep,
All craftily were hidden, to help them, if ’twere needful.
Gifts both rich and worthy the king to give these faithful men was heedful.
With these, among the followers, every rank was seen;
Of knights and squires also, thirty hundred men,
Who, for toil and struggle, from far-off lands came riding.
Then said the king to his lieges: “May God in heaven to you give careful guiding.”
To him thus Horant answered: “From fear now be you free;
When you shall see us coming, you then with us will see
A maid so fair and lovely, you well may wish to greet her.”
This the king heard gladly, but far was the day when he at last should meet her.
They took their leave with kisses, the king and many a guest;
For these the king was feeling wearisome unrest.
While they for him are toiling, each hour he fear must borrow;
He forsooth was downcast, and nought could cheer him, in his mood of sorrow.
This was for his welfare, that a wind from out the north
Now their sails was swelling, and briskly helped them forth.
The ships were wafted evenly, as they from land were turning;
But hardships they had known not the youths, upon their way, erelong were learning.
The truth we cannot tell you, nor can it e’en be guessed,
For nights full six and thirty what lodgings gave them rest,
While upon the water. The youths they with them carried,
Bound by oaths of fealty, swore again to keep them, where’er they tarried.
However willing were they to sail on the tossing sea,
Yet sometimes it befell them in great unrest to be.
Ease they took but seldom, as the waves would spare it;
But he who ploughs the waters pain must often feel, and yet must bear it.
After the waves had borne them full a thousand miles,
They came to Hagen’s castle, where, as was said erewhiles,
He, the master of Ballian, shamefully had lorded:
This was a wicked falsehood, the deeds were never done as the tale was worded.
When now the men from Hegeling over the sea had gone,
And neared wild Hagen’s castle, their coming soon was known;
Much the folk there wondered from what far kingdom sailing
The waves had borne them thither; how finely they were clad all men were telling.
First the ship with an anchor was fastened on the strand;
To furl the sails then quickly each gave a ready hand.
It was not long thereafter before the news was bruited,
Throughout King Hagen’s castle, that ships, with unknown men, in his harbor floated.
Now on the shore they landed, and did their goods unlade;
Whatever could be wanted on the sands, for sale, they spread,
And all that any asked for. In wealth they were not lacking;
But though their men had silver, ’twas little that they bought, or for themselves were taking.
Clothed in the garb of tradesmen, on the shore did stand
Sixty men or over, well-dight, a goodly band.
Fru-te, the lord of Denmark, was busy as their leader;
His clothing was far better than there was worn by any other trader.
The worthy lord and master over Ballian town,
When he heard of their coming, and the riches they did own,
Rode down with many followers to where those crafty sellers
He found, himself awaiting. Kind was the mien of all who there were dwellers.
First the master asked them: “Whence their way they had made,
And over the sea come thither?” To him then Fru-te said:
“God have you in his keeping; we from afar are sailing;
Tradesmen truly are we; our masters rich, near by, in ships are dwelling.”
“Let peace with us be plighted,” old Wâ-te then began;
But from the master’s grimness, the truth to see was plain,
That, where he was the ruler, stern and harsh was his bearing.
Straightway then to Hagen they led the guests, who with their tale were faring.
Hagen said, as he met them: “Safeguard to you I give;
My peace I pledge you willingly. He shall no longer live,
But hang upon the gallows, who these guests shall harry:
Let them not be fearful; them shall nothing harm while in my land they tarry.”
Rich and costly jewels they to Hagen gave,
In worth, of marks a thousand. From them he nought did crave,
Nor even so much as a penny; but what for sale they offered
He begged of them to show him, such as to knights and ladies might be proffered.
For all he thanked them warmly; he said: “If I should live
Not more than three days longer, for all that now they give
My guests shall be rewarded. If my liegeman do not heed me,
And these for aught be lacking, all shall then for this with right upbraid me.”
Now the gifts they gave him the king with his men did share;
Among them there were necklaces, fit for ladies fair,
With finger-rings and arm-bands, as well as ribbons dainty,
And head-gear, to bedeck them: these the king
