Then said Gudrun, the queenly: “Dearest maidens mine,
You well may now be happy, after your heavy sorrow:
Your friends I soon will show you; on gladsome sights your eyes shall feed to-morrow.
“Herwic, my betrothèd, did I this morning kiss,
And Ortwin, too, my brother; you now may think on this.
She shall soon be richer, and care from her be taken,
Who shall well be mindful, when night is over, me in the morn to waken.
“You well shall be rewarded. To us glad days are nigh:
And freely will I give you castles strong and high,
And with them many acres; for these shall I be gaining,
If I the day shall witness when, as a queen, I o’er my lands am reigning.”
They now lay down to slumber, with hearts all free from care.
They knew to them were speeding knights full brave to dare,
Who erelong would help them, and their woes would lighten.
To see them they were hoping, soon as to-morrow’s sun the day should brighten.
Tale XXVI
How the Hegelings Landed Near Ludwig’s Castle
On their return to their friends, Herwic and Ortwin make known the result of their search. The Hegeling army arrives before the Norman castle, and is discovered by Ludwig and Hartmut.
We ask you now to listen to a tale as yet untold:
Ortwin still and Herwic their way did onward hold
Until they found their followers on the seashore standing.
Then ran these Hegeling liegemen to meet them on the sands where they were landing.
Them they gladly welcomed, and bade that they make known
The news that they were bringing, and freely all to own.
First they asked of Ortwin, if he could them be telling,
If still Gudrun were living, and if in Ludwig’s land she now was dwelling?
The knightly Ortwin answered: “Of this I may not speak
To each and all that ask it; the truth I will not break
Till all are met together; then shall you be hearing
All that our eyes there greeted, when we to come near Hartmut’s walls were daring.”
The word was told to others, and soon a mighty band
Of warriors brave and knightly around the two did stand.
Then to them said Ortwin: “Sad is the news I give you,
And, were my wishes granted, gladly I’d spare the tale, for much ’twill grieve you.
“List to what has happened, for wonders now begin;
Gudrun, my long-lost sister, I, in truth, have seen,
And with her also Hildeburg, erst in Ireland living.”
When he the tidings gave them, they thought the tale he told not worth believing.
All then said together: “It is not well to jest;
For her we long have waited, and now our time you waste.
We hoped from Ludwig’s kingdom you would bring her sooner;
To Ortwin and his followers belong the shame and blame for wrongs still done her.”
“Ask you, then, King Herwic: he, too, has seen the maid;
And he can also tell you what wrongs on us are laid.
Could you, my friends, bethink you of any shame that’s greater?
We found Gudrun and Hildeburg upon the seashore standing, washing in the water.”
Soon were his kindred weeping, all who there were seen.
At this the aged Wâ-te right scornful was, I ween:
“Truly for women only is such behavior fitting;
Why you weep you know not. This, in a knight, one never should be meeting.
“But if you are in earnest, to help Gudrun in her need,
The clothes that she has whitened must you in war make red.
Erst white hands did wash them for men who must be bleeding;
So you now may help her, and soon the maid forlorn be homeward leading.”
Then said the Danish Fru-te: “How can this be done?
How can we reach their kingdom before our plan is known,
Before the men of Ludwig, and Hartmut’s knights, are learning
That Hilda’s friends are gathered, and toward the Norman land at length are turning?”
Then said the aged Wâ-te: “Hear what ’tis best to do;
I trust before his castle fitly to meet the foe,
If I may live to see him there before me standing.
Brave knights, your rest now leaving, soon on the Norman shore must you be landing.
“The air is fresh and gladsome, the sky is broad and bright,
And, well for us it happens, the moon will shine to-night.
From the sandy shore now hasten, my warriors bold and daring:
Before it dawns to-morrow, we King Ludwig’s stronghold must be nearing.”
Then they all were busy, when thus old Wâ-te spoke;
Soon their clothes and horses on board the ships they took.
All the night still sailing, towards the land they hasted;
And ere the morrow’s daylight, before the castle, on the sands they rested.
Hushed were all by Wâ-te, throughout the warlike band,
As soon as they to rest them lay down upon the sand.
To his water-weary followers leave for this was granted;
Their shields about them spreading, on them they laid their heads, for sleep they wanted.
“Whoe’er to-morrow morning hopes to gain the fight
Must not,” said the aged Wâ-te, “oversleep to-night.
For the struggle now before us we hardly can be waiting;
As soon as morning lightens, then, good knights, the foe must we be meeting.”
“Further I give you warning: whoe’er my horn shall hear
Along the seashore sounded, soon as it meets his ear,
Let him at once make ready the foeman to be meeting.
When I shall blow at daybreak, no longer then may any there be waiting.
“When I again shall blow it, let each to this give heed;
Quickly let his saddle be laid upon his steed.
Let him then be waiting, till I see ’tis daylight fully,
And the time has come for the onset; let none hang back, but meet the struggle truly.”
To do as Wâ-te bade them their word they gladly gave.
How many a lovely woman did he of bliss bereave!
For soon their dearest kindred unto death were wounded,
Who now were only waiting until the horn in the early morning sounded.
“When you, my friends and kinsmen, thrice my horn shall hear,
Then, seated on your horses, must you your weapons wear;
Thus must you, brave warriors, wait, your steeds bestriding,
Till me you see, well-weaponed, under the fair Queen Hilda’s banner riding.”
Now on the seashore weary lay they, one and all;
Very near were they resting to old King Ludwig’s hall.
Altho’ the night had fallen, its towers they saw while waking;
The brave and fearless warriors in stillness lay, no sound or outcry making.
The early star of morning now had risen high;
Then came a lovely maiden unto the window nigh.
She there was gazing skyward, to see when day was breaking,
That she might bring the tidings, and rich reward from fair Gudrun be seeking.
Ere she long had waited, there dawned on the maiden’s sight,
With its wonted gleam on the waters, the early morning light;
Then the sheen of helmets and many shields there flittered:
Foes had
