Then to the Lady U-te the tale was quickly told;
Glad was she of the tidings, yet mourned she as of old.
She said: “Now let us hasten, that the truth no more be hidden.”
Her lord then bade to saddle; and steeds for himself and his bravest knights were bidden.
Straightway one of the pilgrims to the fair Queen U-te said:
“I will tell you, if you listen, what now to do you need.
You first must carry clothing for each young lovely maiden
Whose coming does you honor; as followers of your son were they hither bidden.”
Soon brought they richest clothing, and tiring-women, too;
The queen was also followed by men both brave and true.
They found the youthful Hagen, who on the shore was standing;
And many men from Garadie, who with the wandering boy on the beach were landing.
Tale IV
How Hagen Was Met by His Father and Mother
Hagen reconciles his father to the men who had brought him home, and receives from his father the government of the kingdom. He marries one of the three maidens, Hilda, from India. She gives birth to a daughter, likewise named Hilda. When she is grown up, her many suitors are rejected by her father.
Soon both men and women riding there were seen;
Then the brave young Hagen went forth to meet his kin.
Who ’twas that came to greet him he now to know was seeking;
The throng grew ever thicker of friends who came in haste, their kindness speaking.
The king a friendly welcome into his land soon gave;
He said: “To send men hither did you the boldness have,
To say that our queen beloved is in truth your mother?
If the words are true you’ve spoken, so glad as now I am there’s not another.”
His queen, the lovely U-te, with lofty breeding, said:
“Bid that for these new-comers lodgings now be made;
I shall know right easily if he for the crown is fitted.”
She found, in truth, the token, and, full of bliss, her youthful son she greeted.
With eyes all wet with weeping, she kissed him on the mouth:
“Though I before was ailing, I now am well in sooth.
Welcome be thou, my Hagen, my only child, loved dearly!
All in the land of Sigeband right glad shall be for him they lost so early.”
The king to the youth came nearer; his happiness was great.
For the hearty love he bore him his manly cheek was wet;
With tears that hot had risen his eyes were overflowing.
For the child, from him erst stolen, rightly the father felt the love he was showing.
The queenly U-te welcomed the homeless maids that day;
Many clothes she gave them, both bright in hue and gray,
Of silk, with downy linings, that much the maidens wanted.
Their sorrows now were lightened by all the gifts the wife of Sigeband granted.
Well they clothed the maidens, as their loveliness became;
This they long had needed, and oft had blushed with shame;
But, decked with gaudy trimmings, now they came less shyly.
The king and all his followers soon to the maidens gave a welcome freely.
Hagen asked that friendship to the men of Garadie
Should by the king and his lieges be granted speedily;
Beseeching his forgiveness for all their foul misdoing.
Soon, at the wish of Hagen, kindness to the pilgrims he was showing.
When the king had kissed them and soothed his angry mood,
He to the shipwrecked pilgrims made their losses good.
To them it was a blessing, and praise to Hagen carried;
The lands of the men of Ireland never since have they as foemen harried.
Then their food and clothing the guests took out, for use,
And up on the sands they bore them, trusting in Hagen’s truce;
To take their rest for a fortnight them did he embolden.
The band of haughty pilgrims to give to him their thanks were now beholden.
Then, in the midst of uproar, they rode away from the shore;
Up the castle of Ballian came also many more,
Led by a tale of wonder that the son of the king was living—
Of their king so rich and mighty; a thing so strange was to many past believing.
The water-weary pilgrims, long-tossed upon the sea,
When fourteen days were ended to leave the land were free.
To them by the host were given gifts of gold, bright shining;
By the help of his son’s great kindness he hoped a lasting friendship to be winning.
Hagen his maidens never henceforth unthought-of leaves;
Kindly doth he teach them ofttimes to bathe in the waves.
He showed himself most loving, ever for them caring;
Rich clothes to them were given, and wise beyond his years was all his bearing.
Now was the youth beginning to be a man well-grown.
He ever showed his kinsmen the skill to warriors known;
Whate’er a knight befitteth with hand and weapon doing.
In the land of his father, Sigeband, his mighty sway he soon to all was showing.
Hagen was ever learning what doth a king beseem.
He who of knights is leader must ever free from shame
And every stain be living; this earns fair women’s praises.
So gentle was he truly that every one with wonder on him gazes.
Brave he was and daring, (such is the olden song,)
And ever was he ready to right his neighbor’s wrong.
He high upheld his honor in all things, never fearing;
Throughout the land, his praises were spoken and were sung in all men’s hearing.
In a waste he grew to manhood, that youthful son of a king,
Wild beasts his only fellows; but none so quick could spring
That they to flee were able, if he for them was striving.
I ween both he and his maidens had wonders seen, while by the waters living.
Rightly his name was Hagen; but later men did own
He was “of kings the Devil;” so came he to be known
In every land and kingdom, such was his strength in fighting.
The bold and wild young Hagen well did earn his name, his foemen smiting.
He oft was begged by his kinsmen that he a wife would take;
One so fair was near him that none had need to seek
A fairer or a lovelier, all earthly kingdoms over.
He himself had taught her; with her in sorrow grown, and now her lover.
She bore the name of Hilda; from India she had come,
And love she oft had shown him under their wretched doom,
Since, in their early childhood, he in the cave had found her.
None better need he wish for, or seek in any land the heavens under.
His father bade him hasten to be knighted with the sword,
With a hundred of his vassals. He gave, with kindly word,
To him and to his maidens, for clothes and horses needed,
A thousand marks of silver. Hagen said that the will of his father
