He for her love was yearning, yet for a wife she ne’er to him was given.
This pained him beyond measure, and truly he was wroth
That he from far had ridden, yet gave she not her troth.
To burn the land of Hettel then did he threaten madly:
His followers from Moorland, when now his hopes were lost, were mourning sadly.
From him was the maid withholden by Hettel’s lofty pride;
And now their loving friendship was ended on either side.
Then swore the Moor that never he his hate would slacken,
And that the grudge he bore him, whate’er befell, should never be forsaken.
Then from the land of the Hegeling rode they all away.
When many years were ended, there came at last a day
When by a knight most worthy was bitter sorrow tasted;
Then the foes of Herwic did him the worst they could, nor in it rested.
Tale X
How Hartmut Sent to Woo Gudrun
Hartmut, a Norman prince, son of Ludwig and Gerlind, hears of the beauty of Gudrun, and resolves to woo her. Messengers are dispatched with letters, but receive a forbidding answer.
Now in the land of Normandy the tale was widely told,
That never fairer maiden did any man behold
Than was King Hettel’s daughter, Gudrun, the high-born lady.
A king, whose name was Hartmut, to her then turned his love, to woo her ready.
Gerlind, Hartmut’s mother, her wish to him made known,
That he should woo the maiden; her word he followed soon.
First they sent for his father, when they of this had spoken;
He bore the name of Ludwig, and in Norman lands he wore the kingly token.
Then the aged father rode to see his son.
Of the end that he was seeking had Ludwig knowledge won;
But when to him he hearkened, and learned his wishes wholly,
Evil he foreboded, yet still the youth’s fond hopes upheld he fully.
“Who tells you,” said King Ludwig, “she is so very fair?
Though she all lands were owning, the home is not so near,
Wherein the maid is dwelling, that we should go a-wooing;
If we sent our men before us to ask her love, their task they would soon be ruing.”
Then did Hartmut answer: “For me ’tis not too far;
Whene’er the lord of a kingdom no pain or toil doth spare
To win a wife and riches, he gains a life-long blessing.
My wish, I pray you, follow; let men be sent, that they my suit be pressing.”
Then spake his mother, Gerlind, of Normandy the queen:
“Letters must now be written; let clothes, the best e’er seen,
With gold, to those be given upon your errand speeding;
They, too, must learn the roadways that towards the home of fair Gudrun are leading.”
Then spake again King Ludwig: “Know you not full well
That Hilda, the maiden’s mother, did erst in Ireland dwell?
And know you not what happened to many a one who sought her?
Her kin are proud and lofty, and now will scorn the love we shall have brought her.”
Then young Hartmut answered: “Though with a warlike band
I afar must seek her, over sea and land,
That shall I do most willingly: my heart to her is given,
And never will I rest me till I for Hilda’s daughter happily have striven.”
“Gladly will I help you,” King Ludwig then did say:
“Let this now make you happy; erelong, upon the way
I’ll send twelve sumpter-horses bearing silver treasure;
That when they hear our errand, our wealth and worth they may more rightly measure.”
By Hartmut then were chosen sixty men, to send
To woo the fair young maiden, and help to him to lend;
With food and clothing also well were they outfitted,
And on the road well guided: Ludwig was wise, and was in this foresighted.
When everything was ready that soon the men would need,
Then were letters written, sealed, and given with speed,
Both by brave young Hartmut and his queenly mother.
Then from home they started; so proud a throng there never was another.
Fast they rode and steadily for many a day and night,
Until the land they sought for came at last in sight,
And they might tell the errand they were thither bringing.
Long was Hartmut waiting, while love and care were in his heart upspringing.
Over land and rivers they took their toilsome way,
As far as in days a hundred a pasturing herd may stray,
Until the land of the Hegelings lay before them stretching.
Their steeds were worn and weary ere they gave the letters they were fetching.
At last they far had ridden, and to the sea had come,
Upon the shores of Denmark: sadly they long did roam,
Before they reached the kingdom, and its lord did know them;
Now they begged for guidance, and men were bid the nearest way to show them.
The news was given to Horant, the knight well-bred and bold;
Now asked the errand-bearers, and the truth to them was told,
About King Hettel and Hilda, and all they had been hearing.
They saw the men of Hettel coming in throngs, their shields and weapons bearing.
Horant, lord of Daneland, then to his liegemen spake,
And bade for the errand-bearers a safeguard now to make,
And that the men of Hartmut should be by them well guided
To the court of his lord, King Hettel; they grudged no toil, and well his bidding heeded.
When thro’ the Hegeling kingdom the heralds took their way,
So lordly was their bearing, that often men did say:
“These folk are rich and mighty, whatever they are seeking.”
The news to the king was carried, and soon to him all men the tale were speaking.
To all the guests from Normandy were lodgings given there;
The king now bade his liegemen to wait on them with care.
He knew not yet their errand, and why to him they had ridden;
But on the twelfth day, early, young Hartmut’s men before the king were bidden.
An earl there was among them; how well his breeding showed!
Upon their clothing also were praises high bestowed;
They rode the best of horses on which men e’er were seated,
And before the king they gathered, in fairest guise, that well they might be greeted.
The king gave kindly welcome, as also did his men,
Until their wooing errand was unto him made plain:
Then were they ill-treated, and knew the king’s hard feeling.
I ween the mighty Hettel to grant young Hartmut’s wish would ne’er be willing.
One who in that was skilful to the king the letters read;
But he was greatly angered that they to court were led
By the good and upright Horant, a knight so brave and noble;
And, had they not his friendship, they had not left the king without more trouble.
Then spake to them King Hettel: “No good to you ’twill bring
That you were sent a-wooing by Hartmut, your lord and king.
To pay for this full dearly you may
