And show your skill to his liegemen who stood by him, when he their help was needing.
“Nor must you be forgetful of those of the Hegeling land,
Who were friends to Hettel; wet with their blood is the sand
On which they now are lying, as if a rain were falling:
Sorrowful tales of their fighting for me there ne’er can be an end of telling.”
Then spake the aged Wâ-te: “Their wounds I cannot heal—
In that I will not meddle, until as friends they feel
Each unto the other— Hagen brave and knightly,
And Hettel, my lord and master; till then shall I withhold my skill most rightly.”
The high-born maiden answered: “This I may not dare
To ask of the king, my father; his tears I did not spare,
And now have not the boldness to bring to him my greeting;
Both he and all his kinsmen I fear would now my love with scorn be meeting.”
Then ’twas asked of Hagen: “My lord, may this now be,
That it would not stir your anger your daughter here to see,
The youthful, queenly Hilda? If you for this are willing,
She will come most gladly, and soon your many wounds will help in healing.”
“Gladly will I see her, whatever she has done;
To me will she be welcome: why should I her disown,
Here in a land of foemen, nor take her greeting kindly?
To me and to my daughter, King Hettel must atone for deeds unfriendly.”
Horant, the knight from Daneland, led her by the hand,
And with him went brave Fru-te, to where the king did stand;
One maiden only with them looked on Hagen wounded.
For friends did Hilda sorrow, though Hettel’s love for her was all unbounded.
On Hildeburg and Hilda when Hagen now did look,
Then, from his seat upspringing, thus he quickly spoke:
“Welcome be thou, my daughter, Hilda, most noble lady!
I cannot leave unspoken the greeting warm which I to give am ready.”
His daughter he allowed not the care of his wounds to take;
While Wâ-te these was binding he bade the maids step back—
The youthful high-born ladies. Wâ-te’s wish was the stronger
To heal her father quickly, that so his daughter there might weep no longer.
Healed with plants and herbage and many a far-sought weed,
From all his pain did Hagen feel himself now freed;
They eased his hurts with plaster, and when again the maiden
Turned to see her father, she found him well, with aches no longer laden.
Wâ-te, the healing-master, made haste—no time he lost;
He hoped to gain such riches among this wounded host,
That scarce could they by camels be carried to his dwelling.
A skill so great and wondrous never, that I have heard, have men been telling.
First he healed King Hettel, the lord of the Hegeling land;
Then all he saw there wounded he helped by his skilful hand.
Those in the care of others still with pain did sicken;
But they, when nursed by Wâ-te, were turned to life, though they by death were stricken.
There would they no longer let the maidens stay.
Hagen said to Hilda: “Elsewhere must we to-day
Find us rest and shelter; while others must not idly
Leave the dead thus lying, who burial scarce can wait, here scattered widely.”
Hettel begged King Hagen with him to his home to go;
Though loath, to this he yielded, as soon as he came to know
That he, the king of the Hegelings, of many lands was owner:
Hagen then with his daughter went with him to his home, and there had honor.
The youthful knights were singing, as they left the field.
Happy then were the living; but, never to be healed,
They behind were leaving three hundred dead and dying,
The rich and poor together, slashed with the sword, and pitifully lying.
Then the war-worn fighters through the land went home;
All who there were dwelling were blithe to see them come:
But the kinsmen of the warriors who in death lay sleeping
Were slow their hearts to gladden; they for kindred slain long time were weeping.
Hettel and Hilda with him took their homeward way.
Many, bereft of fathers, sorely wept that day,
Whose after life was happy. The mighty Hettel later
Crowned the fair young Hilda; by this the Hegeling name became the greater.
Hettel now had thriven— his suit he well did gain.
Old and young together with swords at court were seen,
As were the guests of Hagen who from the ships came kindly.
The wedding of his daughter was highly praised by Hagen, now grown friendly.
Then with what great honor to the bridal seat was led
That high-born, lovely lady! Moreover, it is said
That full five hundred liegemen then at court were knighted.
Fru-te the wise from Denmark to guard King Hettel’s wealth was thought well fitted.
The riches of King Hettel by Hagen now were seen;
The tale had erst been told him by many of Hettel’s kin,
That over seven princedoms well his sway had thriven.
All the poor there with them were home in gladness sent, and lodgings given.
Hettel gave rich clothing to Ireland’s warriors brave;
Bright-red gold and silver, and horses, too, he gave.
The whole they scarce could carry, as they homeward wended:
Thus good friends he won him, and this for Hilda in highest praises ended.
Upon the twelfth day’s morning they left King Hettel’s land.
The horses bred in Denmark led they out on the sand;
Each his mane, thick hanging, down to his hoofs was shaking.
The guests from afar were happy that they King Hettel’s friendship had been making.
Grooms and also stewards with Hagen then did ride,
With cup-bearers and carvers. Ne’er, in his greatest pride,
In his home and kingdom, had he been served so truly.
The crown was worn by Hilda, and Hagen’s heart with bliss was brimming fully.
Food as well as lodgings they found upon their road;
On Hagen and his followers all men their care bestowed:
So to their homes most gladly they the tale did carry
Of how the friends of Hettel in showing them all kindness ne’er were weary.
Hagen greeted Hildeburg, and clasped her in his arms;
He said, “Watch over Hilda for the love your bosom warms.
So great a throng of followers at times a woman dazes;
Care for her so kindly that of your worth all men shall speak with praises.”
“My lord, that will I gladly: to you has much been told
Of the woes that with her mother I bore in days of old;
And I for years my friendship for her did never loosen;
Her for miles I followed ere for a lover you by her were chosen.”
Hagen bade the others their way to court to take;
Never then could the maidens an end of weeping make:
Now by the hand he took them, and to Hettel they were given;
He asked for them his kindness, since from their homes they sadly had been riven.
Then said he to his daughter: “So well the crown now wear,
That neither I
