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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
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.”
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 VII
How the Maidens Came to See the Ship, and Were Carried to Hettel’s Kingdom
Hilda, with her father and mother and her maidens, rides down to the shore; she and the maidens go on board the ship. While Hagen’s attention is occupied, the vessel sets sail, and they arrive in Hettel’s land.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, upsprang and sorrow made for Hagen on the water.
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-belovèd sorrow and anger the queen aloud did utter.
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!”
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!”
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.
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.
Onward came King Hagen; his fighting-gear
