Grudged no toil to help him; and this from that day’s fight one well might gather.
Now the trustful warders began in truth to mourn,
That they, ’gainst Hilda’s bidding, had their care forborne—
The hest of the wife of Hettel, the high and worthy lady.
For this their shields were shattered, and many a life was lost, in fight too ready.
Ludwig now and Hartmut on the field had met,
And, holding speech together, learned that, striving yet,
Queen Hilda’s men were seeking the castle gates to fasten;
Then, with shields before them, to bear their flags within they all did hasten.
Rocks were hurled from the castle, and many spears were thrown,
But the foe it hurt but little, and his daring lessened none.
Little thought was given to the dead around them lying:
With heavy stones down beaten, many bold besiegers there fell dying.
When Hartmut and King Ludwig came within the gate,
Many, badly wounded, from them their death-stroke met.
For this the lovely maiden began to sorrow sorely;
Now in Hettel’s castle the woe they wrought was growing greater hourly.
Then the king of Normandy was glad enough, I ween,
When to the halls of Hettel he could lead his men,
Bearing well their weapons: soon his banner fluttered
Over the roof of the castle. Hilda at this her sorrow loudly uttered.
Greatly do I wonder what might these guests befall,
Had now the grim old Wâ-te been there, and seen it all,
The while the men of Hartmut, with Ludwig, brave and daring,
Thro’ the halls were rushing, and from her home the fair Gudrun were tearing.
Both Wâ-te and King Hettel, if to them that day
A warning had been given, would stoutly have barred the way;
They their foemen’s helmets with swords would so have riven
That back to their homes in Normandy, without Gudrun, would they have soon been driven.
Now within the castle were all in saddest mood;
So men to-day might sorrow. Whate’er the foemen would,
There did they lay hands on, and took from out the dwelling.
Rich grew Hartmut’s followers— you well may trust that I the truth am telling.
Then came the bold young Hartmut where he Gudrun could see,
And said: “Most worthy lady, you erst looked down on me;
But now both I and my followers think of your kin so little,
We will not seize and hold them, but slay and hang them, so the strife to settle.”
Then said the maiden only: “Alas! O father mine,
Had you of this been knowing, that I, a child of thine,
One day from out your kingdom would thus by foes be stolen,
Never to me, poor maiden, such woe and sorry shame had here befallen.”
Then was the gold and clothing borne out by the robber band:
Forth they took Queen Hilda, led by her snow-white hand.
Matelan’s goodly castle they would have burned up gladly;
For what became of the dwellers the Normans never cared, nor thought of sadly.
But Hartmut now had bidden that it should not be burned,
To leave the land he hastened, and home again he turned,
Before ’twas known to Hettel, who with his men was lying
Within the Waalisch marches, and there against his foe his strength was trying.
“Leave your stolen booty!” to his men young Hartmut said;
“At home my father’s riches will I give to you instead:
Thus o’er the watery pathway our sail will be the lighter.”
To Gudrun the hand of Ludwig brought a heavy wrong, and woe full bitter.
They overthrew the castle, the town with fire they burned;
From it the best was taken; with wealth they homeward turned:
Two and sixty women thence with them they carried,
And many lovely maidens. With heartfelt woe was queenly Hilda wearied.
How were they filled with sadness to leave the wine behind!
Now did the queenly mother a seat in the window find,
And looked upon her daughter, from home in sorrow turning.
Many a stately lady the Normans left in tears, and bitterly mourning.
Weeping now and wailing was heard on either hand;
No one there was happy, when from the fatherland
The foe with Hilda’s daughter and with her maidens hasted.
Many, now but children, for this, when men, to work them woe ne’er rested.
Those who were seized by Hartmut down to the shore he took;
All their lands were wasted; their homes went up in smoke.
Now his hopes and wishes happily were granted:
Both Gudrun and Hildeburg he with him carried off—the prize he wanted.
Well he knew that Hettel was many a league away,
And war was grimly waging; no more would Hartmut stay.
Yet from the Hegeling kingdom no whit too fast he speeded,
For word was sent by Hilda to Hettel and his friends, that much their help was needed.
How mournful were the tidings before the king she laid!—
That in his home and castle his knights were lying dead,
Or else were left by Hartmut now with death-wounds bleeding;
That foes had seized his daughter, and with her many maids were homeward speeding.
She said: “Now tell King Hettel that I am here alone;
Evil hath me o’ertaken, and now, with pride o’ergrown,
Our mighty foeman, Ludwig, back to his land is faring;
A thousand men or better lie at our gates, and the pains of death are bearing.”
Quickly then went Hartmut, and, ere three days were o’er,
On board his keels was ready; these the plunder bore,
As much as they could carry, whate’er his men had stolen.
The men of brave King Hettel were dazed and stunned by all that had befallen.
What further did betide them, who in truth can tell?
Loud on the ear it sounded, as they shifted the flapping sail,
And away from the Hegeling kingdom, unto an isle forsaken,
They their barks were turning; the name of Wulpensand—or shore of the wolves—it had taken.
Tale XVI
How Hilda Sent to Hettel and Herwic to Ask Their Help Against Hartmut
Hettel and Herwic, being informed of their losses by Hilda, make peace with Siegfried, and release him on condition that he will unite with them in war against Hartmut. They take possession of the ships of a pilgrim band, and pursue Hartmut.
The fair and queenly Hilda, with all her will and mind,
Gave her thoughts now wholly trusty men to find
To bear the tale to Hettel. Her heart indeed was riven
By the wrongful deeds of Hartmut, and food for tears he to her eyes had given.
To Herwic and her husband she bade that it be said
That foes had seized her daughter, that many knights lay dead;
And she was left in wretchedness, lonely and forsaken;
That all her gold and jewels the Normans on their way had with them taken.
Quickly rode the heralds and through the land they went:
The queen in greatest sorrow these on their way had sent.
Upon the seventh morning, they came where they were greeted
With the sight of beleaguering Hegelings who before their Moorland foes were seated.
Oft in
