And bringing death to many; each his foeman nears,
And in the shock of the onset heavy wounds was giving.
All of them were faithful, and well for a worthy name they now were striving.
A thousand ’gainst a thousand, now the strife began
Of Hartmut’s men with Wâ-te’s, each man against his man.
Soon by the lord of Sturmland were they so badly treated
That whoso now came near him never a second time with him was mated.
Now were thickly mingled of foes ten thousand men,
Among King Herwic’s warriors; they came in anger keen.
Their mood it was so stubborn that rather than be flying
Far from the field of fighting, they on the ground would first in death be lying.
A knight indeed was Herwic; what daring deeds he did!
Earnest was he in fighting, that so the lovely maid
Might be to him the kinder. But how could he be dreaming
The boon could e’er befall him, that the eyes of fair Gudrun on him were beaming?
Ludwig, king of the Normans, and they of the Danish land,
Now had met together. Ludwig bore in hand
His strong and heavy weapon; lordly was his bearing,
Yet he with all his followers to come too far without the walls was daring.
There, with his men from Holstein, Fru-te, brave and bold,
Slew full many a foeman; of this could much be told.
Now, too, from the land of Waleis, Morunc, many slaying,
Before King Ludwig’s castle made rich the earth with the dead he low was laying.
Irold, the youthful champion, a knight both true and good,
Slashed thro’ foemen’s armor, shedding their hot life-blood.
Under Hilda’s banner was Wâ-te’s kinsman fighting;
Many in death grew paler as Horant thinned the crowd he fast was smiting.
Now the young King Hartmut and Ortwin met again.
Thicker then than snowflakes blown by the wind are seen,
The sword-strokes of the warriors upon each other lighted:
Thus it was that Hartmut once more by Ortwin on the field was greeted.
Gudrun’s young brother, Ortwin, was bold and brave enow,
But Hartmut through his helmet smote him a heavy blow;
Over his shining breastplate soon the blood was streaming:
The followers of Ortwin sadly saw the flow, its brightness dimming.
Great was the crush and uproar; hand to hand they fought;
Many wounds were gaping thro’ rings of steel well-wrought;
Many a head had fallen beneath the sword-strokes given:
Death was like a robber, that from their kin the dearest friends had riven.
Now saw the Danish Horant that Ortwin from his foe
A bloody wound had taken; then Horant bade them show
Who ’twas that thus had wounded his master loved so dearly.
Hartmut at this was laughing, for both upon the field had met too nearly.
Ortwin himself then answered: “ ’Tis Hartmut this has done.”
Then Hilda’s banner was given by Horant to one of his own;
Thinking thus the foeman he could harm the better,
And gain himself much honor: now he sought his foe with boldness greater.
Hartmut heard around him a loud and stormy din.
On many of his warriors streams of blood were seen
Fast from wounds out-welling; down to their feet ’twas flowing.
Then cried Hartmut boldly: “For this shall you atone, and this be ruing.”
Now he turned him quickly where Horant met his sight;
Then might one be seeing, so brave were both in fight,
How from their ringed armor sparks of fire were flying;
Blunted were the sword-blades which they on each other’s helmets fast were plying.
Hartmut wounded Horant, even as he had done
Not long before to Ortwin; a ruddy stream full soon
Ran from out his armor, at Hartmut’s hand forth welling.
Strong indeed was his foeman; who now to win his lands could hope be feeling?
Then in bitter struggle many, on either side,
Saw their bucklers shattered, though strong and often tried;
Beaten were they and broken by sword-strokes quickly given
By each upon the other. Well to guard himself had Hartmut striven.
Now the friends of Ortwin, and those of Horant, too,
Away from the field did lead them; and care did they bestow
To bind their wounds wide-gaping; no time for this they wasted.
Then again to the war-field the knights both rode; once more to the strife they hasted.
We now must leave them fighting as bravely as they will.
Who the day was winning, or whom his foe did kill,
Before King Ludwig’s castle, none could yet be saying.
Grimly strove the Normans; their foes, not less, for fame were strength outlaying.
Of all that there befell them none may ever tell;
But ’tis not yet forgotten that many a knight there fell.
On every side were sword-blades heard together ringing;
Foemen all were mingled, the slow with those who quick in fight were springing.
Wâ-te stood not idle, that can I well believe.
He bade farewell to many, nor longer let them live;
Cut down by him in the struggle, were they before him lying.
Fain were Hartmut’s kinsmen to wreak their wrath for friends who there were dying.
Now came Herwic nearer, so the tale is told,
And led against King Ludwig many a champion bold.
He saw that aged warrior his weapons bravely bearing,
Where he with all his liegemen, a wondrous host of foes beat down, unsparing.
Herwic called out loudly: “Can any one now tell
Who is that fighting graybeard, who all his foes doth fell?
Deepest wounds for many there his hand is hewing,
With bravery so fearless: women in tears will this erelong be ruing.”
When this was heard by Ludwig, outspoke that Norman foe:
“Who in the midst of battle seeks my name to know?
I bear the name of Ludwig: for Normandy I’m fighting;
Could I but meet my foemen, them indeed would I be sorely smiting.”
Then spake to him King Herwic: “This thou well dost earn:
Seeing thou art Ludwig, with hate for thee I burn.
For us, upon the sand-drifts, many knights thou wast slaying:
Thou slewest Hettel also; a warrior brave was he, beyond all saying.
“Still further thou hast wronged us, before thy day was done:
For this we still are mourning. I for my loss have known
Heart-heaviness and sorrow: thou hast my lady stolen
From me upon the Wulpensand; and many knights for her in death have fallen.
“I bear the name of Herwic: thou hast taken my hoped-for wife,
And again to me must give her; else to give his life,
With that of many a liegeman, must one of us be willing.”
Then King Ludwig answered: “Too boldly thou in my land in threats art dealing.
“Thy name, and this thy warning, thou hast no need to tell;
There yet are many others from whom I took, as well,
Their goods and eke their kinsmen. To trust my word be ready,
In this I will not falter; thou nevermore may’st hope to kiss thy lady.”
When they thus had spoken, the kings no more did rest,
But sprang upon each other. If either got the best,
To hold it was not easy; youths were forward pushing
Under both the standards, and daring knights to help their lords were
