“Now against old Wâ-te let my flag be carried.”
Herwic then pressed forward, and none of all his men behind him tarried.
To do the lady’s bidding hard it was for him;
But Herwic called out loudly to Wâ-te old and grim,
And said, “My dear friend Wâ-te, to grant my wish be ready:
Let strife be ended quickly: this is the prayer of many a lovely lady.”
Then spake in wrath old Wâ-te: “Sir Herwic, get you gone!
Did I mind the will of a woman, how should I do my own?
If I thought to spare the foeman, unasked I’d do it even.
I will not do your bidding: Hartmut to pay for his sins must now be driven.”
Herwic, for love of his lady, on both the fighters sprang
Right fearlessly and boldly; loud the sword-blades rang.
Wâ-te was wild with anger, and bitter pain it gave him
That, ere the foeman yielded, Herwic from his hand should dare to save him.
Then he smote King Herwic a strong and heavy blow,
Ere he could part the fighters, and quickly laid him low;
Now rushed the men of Herwic, and did from Wâ-te bear him.
Hartmut was seized and taken, though Herwic and his knights had sought to spare him.
Tale XXIX
How Hartmut Was Taken Prisoner
The Hegelings obtain possession of the castle, and spare neither old nor young. Ortrun seeks refuge with Gudrun, and Gerlind also implores her protection, but she is recognized and killed by Wâ-te. The Hegeling army devastate the land: Hartmut and Ortrun are held captive.
Wâ-te loud was storming; then went he towards the hall
That stood before the gateway. On every side did fall
The din of sword-blades clashing, of groaning and of weeping.
Hartmut was in bondage; ill luck alone his liegemen, too, were reaping.
With him were also taken eighty warriors brave;
The others all were slaughtered. Hartmut his life did save,
But to a ship was carried, and fast and long they kept him.
Not yet was sorrow ended; greater ills must they know who now bewept him.
Though often from the stronghold Wâ-te’s men they drove,
Both with slings and arrows, yet still he grimly strove,
And won from them the castle. The heavy bolts were broken
That once the gates had fastened; at this fair women wept, with fear outspoken.
Horant, the lord of Denmark, Queen Hilda’s flag now bore;
Him followed many warriors, he might not wish for more.
Up to a palace tower that high its walls was rearing,
Far above all others, the Hegeling men the banner soon were bearing.
As I have told already, the castle now was won:
To those they found within it grimmest deeds were done.
Great was the crowd on-pressing, for booty to enrich them.
Then cried the stern old Wâ-te: “Where are now the sacks, and youths to fetch them?”
Now was broken open many a well-filled room;
Loud was the din and uproar that from within did come:
But all were not like-minded who the halls were thronging;
While wounds were dealt by many, others for plunder searched, for riches longing.
They bore so much from the castle, as we have heard it told,
That such a heavy burden two ships could never hold:
Richest silken clothing, silver and gold, were taken,
To load the ships on the waters; though much they took, yet much must be forsaken.
Now within the castle joy was all unknown.
To all the folk there gathered the greatest wrongs were done;
Men alike and women were slain who there were dwelling:
To children in their cradles, even to them, the foemen death were dealing.
Irold then to Wâ-te thus his mind made known:
“Of harm to you these children devil-a-bit have done.
They indeed are blameless, nor hate to our kin were showing;
For the love of God, I beg you, spare the poor babes, some pity now bestowing.”
The aged Wâ-te answered: “Thou hast the mind of a child;
Though now in the cradle wailing, say, wouldst thou have willed
That I should leave them living? As soon as they are older,
They never can be trusted; to trust a Saxon wild would be no bolder.”
Blood throughout the castle flowed on every side.
Those who saw the slaughter, how bitterly they cried!
Now the high-born Ortrun, filled with care and sorrow,
Sought Gudrun, kind maiden: she feared yet greater wrongs before the morrow.
Then, her head low bending before the lovely maid,
She said: “Gudrun, my lady, have pity on my need,
And, in my sharpest sorrow, leave me not forsaken;
I trust me to your kindness, or else my life will by your friends be taken.”
“Gladly will I shield you,” she answered, “if I can;
Ever to do you kindness, and help you, I am fain.
I will gain for you forgiveness; no more for life be fearing.
Your maids and women also must stand near me, my care they, too, are sharing.”
“This doth make me happy,” the youthful Ortrun said.
With three and thirty maidens, she was kindly kept and fed;
Warriors two and sixty there the ladies guarded:
If they should gain their freedom, their keepers would be slain, and thus rewarded.
The old and wicked Gerlind ran to Gudrun in haste;
As if she were her bondwoman, herself at her feet she cast,
Saying: “Most high-born lady, thou alone canst save us
From Wâ-te and his followers; else will his wrath, I ween, of life bereave us.”
To her said Hilda’s daughter: “I hear you asking now
That I to you be friendly; how should I kindness show?
Nought that e’er I wished for to grant me were you willing:
To me you showed but hatred; and now my heart with hate for you is swelling.”
That Ortrun then was near him Wâ-te became aware:
He his teeth was gnashing, and straight upstood he there;
Now his eyes were flashing; his yard-wide beard was flowing;
And all were sorely frightened, and feared what the Sturmisch lord would next be doing.
Over him blood was streaming, with it his clothes were wet.
Though Gudrun was glad to see him, she had liked it better yet
If he, in mood less wrathful, had come for her to greet him;
Such fear they all were feeling, I ween that no one there was glad to meet him.
To meet her friend, old Wâ-te, went Gudrun alone;
Then said Hilda’s daughter, with sad and care-fraught tone:
“Welcome art thou, Wâ-te! How glad would be my greeting,
If now these folk so many no evil from thy hand should here be meeting.”
“I thank you, fair young maiden! Are you Queen Hilda’s child?
Who are these many women, whom here you seek to shield?”
“This,” said Gudrun, in answer, “is Ortrun, high in breeding;
I beg you, Wâ-te, spare her: her women here your wrath are sorely dreading.
“Those there are wretched maidens, from far across the sea,
Brought from the Hegeling kingdom by Ludwig’s men with me.
But you are wet and bloody; do not come so near
