A fearless king was Herwic, and long and bravely fought;
But quickly Hartmut’s father the youthful Herwic smote,
Till he began to stagger ’neath blows by Ludwig given,
Who gladly would have slain him, or would from out his lands his foe have driven.
If Herwic’s faithful followers so near him had not been,
And given help so quickly, never could he, I ween,
Have freed himself from Ludwig, or left the field yet living;
So well that aged warrior to make young Herwic dread him now was striving.
But help to him was granted, his life he did not lose;
And, neither stunned nor wounded, he from his fall arose.
Then to the roof quick turning, his eyes he now was raising,
To see if, ’mongst the ladies, his heart’s beloved had on his fall been gazing.
Tale XXVIII
How Herwic Slew Ludwig
Herwic, feeling mortified that Gudrun from the castle should see his fall, returns to the fight, and slays Ludwig. Gerlind bribes one of her men to put Gudrun to death, but he is prevented by the threats of Hartmut. Hartmut is taken prisoner, and carried on board a ship.
Now said Herwic sadly: “Ah, welaway! Woe’s me!
If fair Gudrun, my lady, my fall did lately see.
Should e’er the hour be coming when I shall clasp the maiden,
And as a wife shall own her, with blame and scorn shall I by her be laden.
“Sorely doth it shame me, that now the gray old man
Thus has overthrown me.” Forthwith he bade again
His men to raise his banner, and ’gainst King Ludwig bear it;
Then rushed they on the foemen, who might not flee the fight, but all must share it.
Ludwig heard behind him an uproar loud and din;
Then he turned him quickly, and Herwic sought again.
Soon he heard on helmets many sword-blows stricken.
Those who stood near Ludwig well might dread the wrath that both did quicken.
They sprang upon each other, and fast and well they smote;
Blows on blows loud sounded the stormy field throughout.
Who can tell how many now in death were lying?
The day was lost to Ludwig, who there his strength with Herwic would be trying.
Soon Gudrun’s betrothèd reached over Ludwig’s shield,
And smote him ’neath his helmet; well his sword did he wield.
Him he sorely wounded, and strength no more did leave him;
Grim death he there awaited until King Herwic should of life bereave him.
Then Herwic with his broadsword smote the king anew;
At once the head of Ludwig from off his shoulders flew.
Well repaid was Herwic for his shameful overthrowing;
The king lay dead before him. For this fair eyes must soon be overflowing.
Ludwig’s faithful followers, after their king was slain,
His banner to the castle thought to bear again;
But all too far from the gateway they had now been straying:
From them the flag was taken, and death must them erelong with their lord be laying.
The watchman saw from the castle how Ludwig lost his life;
Then was heard the mourning of knights and many a wife:
Their king, so old and mighty, they knew in death was lying;
Gudrun and all her maidens stood in the hall in fear, and loud were crying.
As yet the Norman Hartmut, knew nothing of the tale,
How that the king, his father, and kinsmen young as well,
With many bravest warriors, now in death were sleeping,
Then he heard from the castle the shrieks and wails of those who there were weeping.
Now the knightly Hartmut unto his followers said:
“ ’Tis best we hence withdraw us; how many here lie dead
Who in stormy fighting thought our men to be slaying!
Now will we seek the castle, and there until a better time be staying.”
To him they listened gladly, and followed where he rode.
Great was the work of slaughter the field around them showed,
Where with grimmest foemen they were closely warring;
Freely had blood been flowing beneath the hand of Hartmut and his followers daring.
“So well,” he said, “have you helped me, who my kinsmen are,
That all my lands and riches gladly with you I’ll share.
We now will ride to my castle, and there to rest betake us;
Men the gates will open, and wine for us will pour, and mead will make us.”
Fallen knights full many they left on the field behind:
Were these of the land the owners, still with no braver mind
They then had met the onset. Those for the gates now striving,
By Wâ-te and his thousand were not allowed to reach the castle living.
He with a host of fighters near the gates was seen,
When Hartmut with his followers sought to come within;
They in this were baffled, and their strength were wasting.
Those who the castle guarded heavy stones from off the wall were casting.
They hurled them down so wildly on Wâ-te and his men,
Like hailstones they were falling, with not a stop between.
Wâ-te recked but little how many were dead or living,
Might he the day be gaining; to this alone his thoughts he now was giving.
Hartmut saw old Wâ-te before the castle-gate.
He said: “Though from our foemen our gains this day are great,
Before it shall be ended, for this their hate they’ll show us:
Let now the strong be heedful; dead must many lie on the field below us.
“Fear and care it gives me that many here are seen
Whom we must now be meeting. Wâ-te with all his men
I see before the gateway, there with sword-strokes hewing.
If he of the gate be keeper, I look for little kindness he’ll be doing.
“See for yourselves, my warriors, the gateways and the walls
By foes on all sides girded; knight to knight there calls.
The roadways all are crowded, whichever way we’re turning:
Gudrun’s good friends and champions will spare no toil; to win the day they’re burning.
“That you may know too truly, as I see already well;
Friends we must lose full many. Howe’er it so befell,
Before the outer gateway already see I waving
The Moorland foeman’s banner; lest they get in, a care must you be having.
“Near to the second gateway I see yet other foes:
I saw Lord Ortwin’s banner, as on the breeze it rose.
Gudrun’s young brother is he; fair women’s smiles he’s seeking:
Ere he shall cool his anger, beneath his blows will helmets yet be breaking.
“Now see I, too, brave Herwic, before the third gate there;
With him seven thousand followers upon the field are near.
He comes in guise most knightly, to win his own heart’s lady;
On him are gazing gladly the fair Gudrun, and many maids already.
“To hasten back to my castle, the thought too late has come.
I know not where, with my warriors, now to seek a home.
I see the stern old Wâ-te before the fourth gate fighting;
My many friends in the castle, I fear indeed must long for us be waiting.
“Fly from
