Hettel was lord in Daneland;
to be its king he rose;
’Twas in the Sturmisch marches,
as many a one well knows;
There abode his kindred,
who ways of honor taught him.
Ortland also served him.
His might and worth high fame with all soon brought him.
One among his kinsfolk
the name of Wâ-te bore;
He for his lands and castles
fealty to Hettel swore.
As kinsman of his master,
he careful teaching gave him
In all things good and worthy,
and in his watchful care did ever have him.
A landed knight in Daneland
was Wâ-te’s sister’s son,
The brave and upright Horant.
Later his faith was shown
Unto his lord, King Hettel,
who for his worth did crown him.
This to him he grudged not,
but ever for a prince was glad to own him.
Hettel, rich and mighty,
at Hegeling held his seat,
Not far from the lord of Ortland;
this is true, I weet.
He there owned many castles,
eighty at least or over;
They who these strongholds guarded
in truest faith and honor held them ever.
Lord he was of Friesland,
its waters and its land;
Ditmarsh, as well as Waleis,
were swayed by his kingly hand.
Hettel was truly mighty;
his kinsmen they were many;
Bold was he and daring,
and ’gainst his foes he plotted, well as any.
Hettel was an orphan,
and so he felt the need
That he a wife should find him.
To him, at last, were dead
Father as well as mother,
who their lands had left him.
He friends in truth had many,
yet found he much in life that of bliss bereft him.
The best of these besought him
some maiden’s love to seek,
Who of his birth was worthy.
The knight did answer make:
“I here know none who fitly
should be o’er the Hegelings seated,
Nor is there any lady
who, brought from far, should as my queen be greeted.”
Then spake a knight of Nifland,
Morunc, a youthful lord:
“I know of a lovely maiden,
of whom I oft have heard;
She in truth is fairer
than all on earth now living.
Her will we gladly sue for,
that she her troth to you may soon be giving.”
Then quoth the king: “Who is she?
her name I pray you tell.”
Then said Morunc: “ ’Tis Hilda,
in Ireland she doth dwell;
Her father’s name is Hagen;
King Ger was her forefather.
If to this land she cometh,
your life will then be blissful altogether.”
Then spake the young King Hettel:
“I oft have heard it said,
Whoever woos this maiden
her father’s wrath must dread.
Many a worthy suitor
his life for her has ended;
But none among my vassals
must meet his death for having me befriended.”
Morunc quickly answered:
“Then send to Horant’s land,
And bid that he come hither;
he well doth understand
The ways and moods of Hagen,
for often has he seen them.
Unless his help he gives you,
’twill come to nought, howe’er your friends demean them.”
He said: “Your will I follow,
since she is so fair;
But if my friends shall seek her,
yourself the suit must share;
And if unto your friendship
the task I’ve trusted fitly,
Wealth shall you have and honor,
when as the Hegeling’s queen she’s greeted rightly.”
He quickly sent out riders
through the Danish land to haste;
By them was the mighty Horant,
his nephew, found at last,
And to the court was bidden;
to come must he be speedy,
Within seven days, not later,
if he to help his lord in truth were ready.
When Horant met the heralds,
and did their errand hear,
Then for friendly service
himself he would not spare.
Right gladly did he listen
to the bidding of his master;
But this, on a day thereafter,
to him brought sorrow great, and sore disaster.
To the court he soon went riding,
with sixty of his men;
Of friends at home young Horant
to take his leave was seen.
He then made haste the faster,
when now the tale was told him
How he must help his master,
if for a faithful knight he now would hold him.
Upon the seventh morning
he came to Hettel’s land;
Decked in finest clothing
was he and all his band.
The king to welcome Horant
rode forth, most glad to greet him,
And saw that with him Fru-te,
another Danish knight, was there to meet him.
Good news it was of their coming,
of which all men now spoke;
Glad was the king to see them;
from him a share it took
Of the deep and heavy sorrow
which his heart was filling.
“Welcome, Cousin Fru-te!”
cried he, the while he looked upon him smiling.
When Horant now with Fru-te
before the king did stand,
Then he asked for tidings
of their home in the Danish land.
Both of them now answered:
“Not many days are ended
Since we in stormy battle
with many deadly blows our lives defended.”
He asked whence they had ridden
from off the stormy field.
They said: “It was from Portugal,
where the strife was held;
There the mighty ruler
from fighting would not spare us;
Daily within our borders
he did us wrong, and much ill-will did bear us.”
The young King Hettel answered:
“Now cast all care away;
I know that the aged Wâ-te
will never yield the sway
He holds o’er the Sturmisch marches;
he of the land is owner;
Who wins from him a castle
will earn high praise and long be held in honor.”
Within the roomy palace
the guests then took their seats.
Both Horant and Sir Fru-te
with thoughtless, merry wits,
Of the loves of high-born ladies
began to gossip gaily.
To them the young king listened,
and costly gifts he gave unto them freely.
Hettel turned to Horant,
and thus to ask began:
“If aught hath reached your hearing,
then tell me, if you can,
How ’tis with Lady Hilda,
King Hagen’s lovely daughter?
To her would I send most gladly,
and would that words of love from me were brought her.”
The youthful knight then answered:
“She is to me well known;
A maid so fair and lovely
my eyes ne’er looked upon
As she, that maid of Ireland,
Hilda, the rich and stately,
The daughter of wild Hagen;
to wear a crown with you would befit her greatly.”
On this King Hettel asked him:
“Now think you, can it be
That ever her lordly father
will give this maid to me?
If I deemed he were so friendly,
I would seek to win her,
And would reward him ever
who gave to me his ready help to gain her.”
“That can never happen,”
to him young Horant said:
“No rider with this errand
to Hagen need be sped.
To hasten thither boldly
I feel, myself, no longing;
The man sent there to seek her
is either slain with blows, or dies by hanging.”
Then spake again King Hettel:
“Not so for her I care;
To hang my trusty vassal
should Hagen ever dare,
Then he, the king of Ireland,
himself must death be facing.
Be he ne’er so boastful,
he’ll find his rashness is to him no blessing.”
Then spake the knightly Fru-te:
“If Wâ-te deigns to go
Unto the king of Ireland,
to woo this maid for you,
Lucky will be our errand,
and we shall bring the lady;
Or wounds throughout our bodies,
e’en to the heart, to take shall we be ready.”
Then said to him King Hettel:
“My men I now will send
With word to the lord of Sturmland;
I do not fear the end,
For Wâ-te will hasten gladly
wherever I shall bid him.
Bring Irold, too, from Friesland,
with all his men, for sorely do I need him.”
His riders then went quickly
into the Sturmisch land,
Where the brave old Wâ-te
they found among his band.
Then the word they gave him,
now to the king to betake him;
But Wâ-te felt great wonder,
to know for what the Hegeling king did seek him.
He asked if it were needful
to bring, when he should go,
His breastplate and his helmet,
and any followers, too?
One of the heralds answered:
“We did not hear it spoken
That he had need of fighters;
for you alone did his words a wish betoken.”
Wâ-te would be going,
but left behind a guard,
To care for lands and castles.
Then taking horse, at his word,
Twelve of his followers only
with him from home now started;
Wâ-te, the brave old warrior,
at once on his way to court in haste departed.
He reached the land of the Hegelings.
When he now was seen,
As he came near Kampatille,
but little sorrow, I ween,
Was felt by the kingly Hettel;
with speed he went to greet him,
And thought of the kindly welcome
he would give his friend, old Wâ-te, when he met him.
Right glad was he to see him;
with hearty speech he says:
“Sir Wâ-te, thou art welcome;
many are the days
Since I have looked upon you,
when on our horses sitting,
Side by side together,
we proudly met our foes with blows befitting.”
Then answered him old Wâ-te:
“Ever should good friends
Be glad to be together;
that fight the better ends
Where, before the foeman,
friends as one are fighting.”
Then by the hand he held him,
to him his love and friendship warmly plighting.
They took their seats together,
nor place to other gave.
Hettel, he was mighty,
and Wâ-te, he was brave;
He yet was also haughty,
and proud in all his bearing.
Hettel now was thinking
how Wâ-te could be brought to Ireland to be faring.
Then spake the knightly Hettel:
“For this I bade thee come;
Need have I of riders,
to send to Hagen’s home.
Truly I know of no one
whom I would send the sooner
Than thee, my good friend Wâ-te,
or who in this could bring me greater honor.”
Then said the aged Wâ-te:
“Whatever I can do
To show my love and fealty,
I’ll gladly do for you.
Herein I may be trusted,
to be for you bold-hearted;
And to bring about your wishes,
unless in this by death I should be thwarted.”
Then quoth the kingly Hettel:
“Many friends have said
That if the mighty Hagen
will my wooing heed,
And give to me his daughter,
she, as my queen, would honor
Me and my kingdom also;
my heart is bent as a wife and queen to own her.”
Angrily spoke Wâ-te:
“Whoever this has said
Would truly feel no sorrow
if I this day were dead.
’Tis Fru-te, he of Denmark,
I know it is no other,
Who to this has stirred you,
to send me to the maid, your suit to further.
“This young and lovely maiden
is guarded now with care;
Horant and Fru-te also,
who say she is so fair,
And speak to you her praises,
must go with me to seek her.
Never shall I rest easy
unless they strive with me your own to make her.”
Both these faithful vassals
King Hettel sent for soon;
To others good and trusty
they also made it known,
That by their king and master
they at court were wanted.
No more their thoughts men whispered,
but freely spoke of the coming raid, undaunted.
When Wâ-te, the brave old warrior,
did on Horant look,
And on the Danish Fru-te,
how sharply then he spoke!
“Brave knights, may God reward you,
to me you are so friendly,
And of my fame so careful,
and my trip to court this time you help so kindly.
“You are, forsooth, most willing
that I this errand do;
But both of you are bounden
with me thereon to go,
To serve the king, our master,
even as our duty calleth.
He who my life endangers
himself the risk must share, whate’er befalleth.”
“For this I now am ready,”
answered Horant the Dane;
“If leave the king will grant us,
I then will shun no pain,
Nor aught of toil will grudge me.
Only to see this lady,
For me and for my kinsman,
were happiness enough, and bliss already.”
“Then we ought,” said Fru-te,
“to take upon our way
Seven hundred warriors.
No man doth honor pay
To Hagen without grudging.
He is overweening, truly;
If he thinks that he can crush us,
he soon must lay aside his boasting wholly.
“Sir king, you should bid your workmen
a ship of cypress-wood
To build upon the river;
strong must it be and good,
So your band of warriors
shall shipwreck ne’er be ruing.
From timber white as silver
the lofty masts your men must soon be hewing.
“Also food for your fighters
you must now bespeak;
And bid that men be busy
helmets for us to make,
And hauberks strong for many;
when we these are wearing,
Then wild Hagen’s daughter
we shall the easier win by craft and daring.
“Also my nephew Horant,
who is shrewd and wise,
Must go with us as a shopman;
(I grudge him not his guise)
There must he to the ladies
be clasps and arm-bands selling,
With gold and costly jewels;
thus greater trust in us will they be feeling.
“For sale we also must carry
weapons and clothing, too;
And since wild Hagen’s daughter
it is such risk to woo,
That only now by fighting
one can hope to wed her,
Let Wâ-te choose the warriors
to go with him, and home to the king to lead her.”
Then spake the aged Wâ-te:
“A shop I cannot keep;
Not often doth my money
in coffers idly sleep;
My lot I’ve shared with fighters,
and that I still am doing;
Therein I am not skilful,
that I to ladies gew-gaws should be showing.
“But since my nephew Horant
on me this task has laid,
He knows full well that Hagen
will never yield the maid:
He prides himself on owning
the strength of six and twenty;
If he shall learn of our wooing,
our hope to leave his land will be but scanty.
“Good king, now let us hasten,
but bid that first our hull
With a deck of deal be covered;
let it, below, be full
Of knights both strong and doughty,
who shall help be giving,
If ever the wild King Hagen
forbids that we shall leave his kingdom, living.
“Of these brave knights a hundred,
with outfits good for war,
Unto the land of Ireland
we in our ships must bear;
There shall my nephew Horant
in his shop be seated,
Keeping two hundred near him; thus shall the ladies’ coming be awaited.
“Your men must also build us
barges strong and wide,
To carry food and horses,
and to sail our ships beside:
Enough for a year or longer
we must take to feed us;
And we will say to Hagen
that to leave our land King Hettel did forbid us,
“And that our lord and master
great wrong to us hath wrought.
Then with our gifts so costly
we often shall be brought
To Hagen and to Hilda,
where they their court are keeping;
Our gifts shall make us welcome,
and kindness from the king shall we be reaping.
“We then the tale will tell him,
we wretched outlaws are;
And thus at once the pity
of Hagen we shall share.
To us, poor homeless wanderers,
shelter will be granted,
And in his land King Hagen
thenceforth will see that nought by us is wanted.”
Hettel asked his warriors:
“My friends, I pray you tell,
Since you to go are willing,
how soon you hence will sail?”
“So soon as comes the summer,
and May with gladsome weather,”
They said, “we shall be ready,
and, riding again to court, will we come hither.
“Meanwhile must men be making
whatever we shall need—
Sails and also rudders,
well-made, and that with speed,
Barges wide, and galleys,
to bear us to our haven;
So the swell of the waters
shall stir us not, nor make us sick or craven.”
King Hettel said: “Ride quickly,
now, to your land and home.
For horses and for clothing
no cost to you shall come;
For you and all your followers
such outfit shall be ready,
That you no shame shall suffer,
whenever you are seen by any lady.”
When he his leave had taken,
Wâ-te to Sturmland rode;
Horant and with him Fru-te
followed in hurried mood,
Back to the land of Denmark,
where they held the lordship.
To help their master Hettel
they thought could never be to them a hardship.
Then, in his home, King Hettel
let his will be known;
Of shipwrights and of workmen
idle was not one.
While the ships were building
to do their best they hastened;
The beams that met together,
were with bands of silver strongly fastened.
All the spars and mast-trees,
they were strong and good;
Red gold, and brightly shining,
was laid on the rudder-wood,
And like to fire was glowing:
wealth their master blesses.
When time it was for leaving,
the men their tasks had done, and won high praises.
The ropes that held the anchors
came from a far-off strand,
Brought from the shores of Araby;
never on sea or land,
Before that day or after,
had any man seen better:
So might the men of the Hegelings
easier make their way o’er the deep sea-water.
They who the sails were making
worked late, and early rose;
For the king had bid them hurry.
For making these they chose
Silken stuff from Abalie,
as good as could be brought them.
Truly far from idle
were, in those days, the busy hands that wrought them.
Can any one believe it?
They had the anchors made
Of purest beaten silver.
The heart of the king was led
Strongly now to wooing;
no rest would he be knowing,
Nor of his men was sparing,
until the day when they should thence be going.
Well-framed, with heavy planking,
now the ships were seen,
Sound ’gainst war and weather.
Then word was sent to the men,
That to seek the lovely lady
they must soon be faring.
This was told to no one
but those who the trust of the king were rightly sharing.
Wâ-te to meet King Hettel
from Sturmland held his course;
With silver gear and housing,
heavily went his horse.
To court went, too, his followers,
four hundred men undaunted;
And now the doughty Hettel
brave knights enough, for guests, no longer wanted.
Morunc, the brave and daring,
from Friesland thither went,
And with him brought two hundred.
Word to the king was sent
That now, with helms and breastplates,
they were thither riding;
In haste came Irold also;
thus gladly Hettel’s kinsmen did his bidding.
Thither rode from Denmark
Horant young and brave;
Hettel to do his errand
did trusty liegemen have;
A thousand men or over
might he for this be sending;
Only a prince so mighty
of such a task had ever made an ending.
Irold, too, of Ortland,
was ready now to go:
E’en though on him King Hettel
should never clothes bestow,
Yet, for himself and his followers,
he had of these so many,
That wheresoe’er they were going,
they never need to beg for aught from any.
The king, as well beseemed him,
greeted all the band;
First, his liegeman Irold
he kindly took by the hand;
Then he turned to Wâ-te,
to where he found him seated:
At last, his hardy warriors,
ready to leave the land, his word awaited.
To all it now was bidden
that they should give good heed,
And everything make ready
that knights could ever need.
Now were seen by the warriors
the ships so fair and stately;
To woo the lovely Hilda
the king in all things showed his forethought greatly.
Two new and well-made galleys
they had upon the flood,
With two broad ships of burden;
both were strong and good.
A ship of state went with them;
than this had ne’er a better,
By any friend or foeman,
on the shores of any land, been seen upon the water.
To start they now are willing;
already on the ships
Were the clothes and horses loaded.
Then from Wâ-te’s lips
Came kindly words to Hettel;
he begged him to feel easy,
Till they should again be coming,
for to do his bidding they would all be busy.
The king to him said mournfully:
“I give into your care
The knights, untaught and youthful,
who such risks will dare,
With you upon this errand:
most earnestly I pray you
That, for your honor, daily
you teach these youths with care, and make them to obey you.”
Him thus Wâ-te answered:
“To that give not a thought;
Keep a brave heart, I beg you,
that here at home, in nought
You fail of being steadfast,
where’er your honor reaches:
Watch well, too, o’er our holdings:
these youths shall learn from me what wisdom teaches.”
The good and trusty Fru-te
the wealth of the king did guard—
The gold and costly jewels,
and of many things a hoard.
The king was free in spending
whatsoe’er was wanted;
If Fru-te aught did ask for,
thirty-fold to him he gladly granted.
A hundred men were chosen,
and now within the ship,
Wherein to woo the maiden
his friends must cross the deep,
All craftily were hidden,
to help them, if ’twere needful.
Gifts both rich and worthy
the king to give these faithful men was heedful.
With these, among the followers,
every rank was seen;
Of knights and squires also,
thirty hundred men,
Who, for toil and struggle,
from far-off lands came riding.
Then said the king to his lieges:
“May God in heaven to you give careful guiding.”
To him thus Horant answered:
“From fear now be you free;
When you shall see us coming,
you then with us will see
A maid so fair and lovely,
you well may wish to greet her.”
This the king heard gladly,
but far was the day when he at last should meet her.
They took their leave with kisses,
the king and many a guest;
For these the king was feeling
wearisome unrest.
While they for him are toiling,
each hour he fear must borrow;
He forsooth was downcast,
and nought could cheer him, in his mood of sorrow.
This was for his welfare,
that a wind from out the north
Now their sails was swelling,
and briskly helped them forth.
The ships were wafted evenly,
as they from land were turning;
But hardships they had known not
the youths, upon their way, erelong were learning.
The truth we cannot tell you,
nor can it e’en be guessed,
For nights full six and thirty
what lodgings gave them rest,
While upon the water.
The youths they with them carried,
Bound by oaths of fealty,
swore again to keep them, where’er they tarried.
However willing were they
to sail on the tossing sea,
Yet sometimes it befell them
in great unrest to be.
Ease they took but seldom,
as the waves would spare it;
But he who ploughs the waters
pain must often feel, and yet must bear it.
After the waves had borne them
full a thousand miles,
They came to Hagen’s castle,
where, as was said erewhiles,
He, the master of Ballian,
shamefully had lorded:
This was a wicked falsehood,
the deeds were never done as the tale was worded.
When now the men from Hegeling
over the sea had gone,
And neared wild Hagen’s castle,
their coming soon was known;
Much the folk there wondered
from what far kingdom sailing
The waves had borne them thither;
how finely they were clad all men were telling.
First the ship with an anchor
was fastened on the strand;
To furl the sails then quickly
each gave a ready hand.
It was not long thereafter
before the news was bruited,
Throughout King Hagen’s castle,
that ships, with unknown men, in his harbor floated.
Now on the shore they landed,
and did their goods unlade;
Whatever could be wanted
on the sands, for sale, they spread,
And all that any asked for.
In wealth they were not lacking;
But though their men had silver,
’twas little that they bought, or for themselves were taking.
Clothed in the garb of tradesmen,
on the shore did stand
Sixty men or over,
well-dight, a goodly band.
Fru-te, the lord of Denmark,
was busy as their leader;
His clothing was far better
than there was worn by any other trader.
The worthy lord and master
over Ballian town,
When he heard of their coming,
and the riches they did own,
Rode down with many followers
to where those crafty sellers
He found, himself awaiting.
Kind was the mien of all who there were dwellers.
First the master asked them:
“Whence their way they had made,
And over the sea come thither?”
To him then Fru-te said:
“God have you in his keeping;
we from afar are sailing;
Tradesmen truly are we;
our masters rich, near by, in ships are dwelling.”
“Let peace with us be plighted,”
old Wâ-te then began;
But from the master’s grimness,
the truth to see was plain,
That, where he was the ruler,
stern and harsh was his bearing.
Straightway then to Hagen
they led the guests, who with their tale were faring.
Hagen said, as he met them:
“Safeguard to you I give;
My peace I pledge you willingly.
He shall no longer live,
But hang upon the gallows,
who these guests shall harry:
Let them not be fearful;
them shall nothing harm while in my land they tarry.”
Rich and costly jewels
they to Hagen gave,
In worth, of marks a thousand.
From them he nought did crave,
Nor even so much as a penny;
but what for sale they offered
He begged of them to show him,
such as to knights and ladies might be proffered.
For all he thanked them warmly;
he said: “If I should live
Not more than three days longer,
for all that now they give
My guests shall be rewarded.
If my liegeman do not heed me,
And these for aught be lacking,
all shall then for this with right upbraid me.”
Now the gifts they gave him
the king with his men did share;
Among them there were necklaces,
fit for ladies fair,
With finger-rings and arm-bands,
as well as ribbons dainty,
And head-gear, to bedeck them:
these the king to many gave in plenty.
His wife and lovely daughter
now most rightly thought
That never to their kingdom
had gifts for them been brought,
That were so rare and costly,
by sellers or by traders.
Horant and Wâ-te also
in sending gifts to court were now the leaders.
Sixty silken garments,
the best that e’er were sold,
Up to the shore were carried,
and forty wrought with gold.
They would have prized but lightly
cloths from Bagdad even;
Of linen suits a hundred,
the best they had, now to the king were given.
Beside the handsome clothing,
made of silken stuff,
Of richest inner garments
they also gave enough;
There might perhaps be forty,
or more, if reckoned fully;
Could ever man buy praises,
they by their costly gifts had gained them truly.
Twelve Castilian horses,
all saddled, were brought, I trow;
Also many breastplates,
and well-made helmets, too,
Men were bidden to carry;
twelve bucklers likewise bore they,
Rimmed with golden edges.
Kind were Hagen’s guests; free givers were they.
Then, too, with gifts came riding
Horant the brave and bold;
Irold the strong came with him;
this to the king was told:
’Twas said to him, moreover,
that those now thither faring
Of lands were the lords and owners.
This might well be seen by the gifts they were bearing.
After these came riding
four and twenty men
Whom they were thither leading,
well-bred were they, I ween;
Such also was their clothing,
they seemed as if well fitted,
And now in truth were coming,
that very day to be by Hagen knighted.
Then unto King Hagen
one of his friends thus spake:
“The gifts the men now bring you
’tis best you deign to take:
Never must you leave them
unthanked for all their treasure.”
Hagen lacked not riches,
but yet his thanks he gave them without measure.
He said: “I thank you kindly,
as I of right should do.”
Then he bade that his stewards
to see the gifts should go;
And also that the clothing,
piece by piece, be shown them.
Glad were they to see them,
and wondered greatly as they gazed upon them.
Then said one of the stewards:
“Hear now the truth I tell:
Chests there are of silver,
and filled with gold as well,
With many costly jewels,
rich and kingly even:
Marks fully twenty thousand
the goods are worth, which they to you have given.”
Then the king thus answered:
“Blessings on my guests!
I now will share with others
the riches in these chests.”
Then to his knights was given
whate’er of these they wanted;
To every one among them
all that he might wish by the king was granted.
The king now seated near him
both the two young men—
Irold and also Horant;
he began to ask them then,
“Whence to his kingdom sailing,
they to come had striven?
Gifts so rich and worthy
have ne’er before by guests to me been given.”
Then spake the knightly Horant:
“This shall you know full well;
My lord, now hear us kindly
while we our sorrows tell.
Outlawed wanderers are we,
and from our homes were driven;
A king most rich and mighty,
to wreak his anger, woe to us hath given.”
Then spake again wild Hagen:
“What may be his name,
From whose rich kingdom driven,
outcasts you became?
You of wealth are owners,
and, if not by his wits forsaken,
To keep such worthy lieges
within his land he would some pains have taken.”
He asked “Who them had outlawed,
and what name he bore?
Of what misdoings guilty,
had they to this far shore
Made their flight in sorrow,
to ask the help of strangers?”
To him then answered Horant:
“To you will we make known our woes and dangers.
“He bears the name of ‘Hettel,
Lord of the Hegeling land’;
Brave and mighty is he,
and sways with a heavy hand.
We of all our happiness
have been robbed and plundered;
Of right are we embittered,
since from our land and home we now are sundered.”
To him spoke Hagen kindly:
“This to your good shall turn;
I will in full repay you
the losses that you mourn.
If I make myself a beggar,
by thus so freely giving,
Yet from the king of the Hegelings
you need not ask for help while I am living.
“If you, good knights,” he added,
“here with me will stay,
With you will I share right gladly
the lands I own to-day;
Such guerdon by King Hettel
ne’er to you was given.
The wealth from you he has taken,
that give I you, and more by tenfold even.”
“To stay with you we are ready,”
then said Horant the Dane,
“But we fear that when King Hettel
shall learn that we were seen
Within the Irish borders,
he will find a way to reach us;
And I am ever dreading
that we can nowhere live, and this he’ll teach us.”
Then to the band of wanderers
the lordly Hagen said:
“Do what now I bid you,
and a home for you is made.
Never will King Hettel
dare for your harm to seek you
Within my land and kingdom;
it were a wrong to me from hence to take you.”
He bade they should be sheltered,
at once, within his town;
Then to his men and lieges
he made his wishes known,
That now unto the wanderers
all honor should be granted.
The water-weary sailors
soon found the rest that they so long had wanted.
Then the townsmen freely
did the king’s behest;
To do it they were ready:
houses, the very best,
Forty, or even over,
were empty left, to be taken
By the Danish sailors;
their homes, by the king’s good lieges were willingly forsaken.
Up on the beach were carried
the wares, full many a pile,
That in the ships lay hidden.
Their owners thought, the while,
That they would rather struggle
with storms upon the water,
Than to seek their luck and welfare
in wooing Hilda, Hagen’s lovely daughter.
Hagen bade his followers:
“Now ask these guests of mine
If they will deign most kindly
to eat my bread and wine,
Till they, within my kingdom,
on lands they hold are living.”
The Danish Fru-te answered:
“To take your food would shame to us be giving.”
“If erst the great King Hettel
had been to us so good,
That he both gold and silver
would give to us for food,
We in our houses had them,
and might of them be wasteful;
We e’en could stay our hunger,
and feed thereon, if this to us were tasteful.”
’Twas bidden then by Fru-te
that his booth should be set up.
To see for sale such riches
men ne’er again could hope.
Never within their borders
did any trader offer
Fine goods at such a bargain;
they easily were sold before the day was over.
All could buy who wished them,
gold and jewels rare.
The king, by greatest kindness,
was to his guests made dear.
If any, without buying,
still these treasures wanted,
The traders were so friendly
that they, as gifts, the goods to many granted.
Whate’er of Wâ-te or Fru-te
was said by any one—
Of all the deeds of kindness
that here by them were done—
The tale might not be trusted,
how they for these were ready;
They strove to gain high praises,
and this at court was told to many a lady.
Of the poor nor man nor woman
for clothes was seen to lack;
To those in need among them
they gave their pledges back,
And from debt they freed them.
To the princess, morn and even,
Oft by her faithful steward
the tale of these guests from far was truly given.
To the king she made her prayer:
“Dearest father mine,
Ask that these guests so worthy
to ride to court will deign.
They say that one among them
hath charms beyond all measure;
Should he to your bidding listen,
the sight of him ofttimes would give me pleasure.”
To her the king thus answered:
“That shall quickly be;
His well-bred ways and bearing
I soon will let you see.”
But still the great King Hagen
never yet had known him;
Long the ladies waited
till Wâ-te came, and they could look upon him.
Word to the guests was carried;
to them ’twas kindly said,
That if it e’er should happen
that they of aught had need,
They should to the king betake them,
and his food be sharing.
To Fru-te this was pleasing,
for wise he was, not less than he was daring.
Those who came from Denmark,
when at court, took care
Ever to be blameless
for the clothes that they should wear:
’Twas so with the men of Wâ-te,
from Sturmland thither faring,
And than himself no sword-knight
in any land could show a finer bearing.
Those who came with Morunc
wore mantles over all,
With robes from far Kampalia.
Fiery red, as a coal,
Gold and gems that sparkled
on their clothes were shining.
Irold, the daring champion,
came not alone, young Hilda bent on winning.
Thither came brave Horant;
all others he out-vied
In rich and costly clothing.
With mantles long and wide,
Gay in hue and gaudy,
his men were decked out brightly:
Those brave men from Denmark
proudly came, and had a look most knightly.
Though Hagen’s birth was kingly,
and lordly was his mood,
He yet went forth to meet them.
His daughter, fair and good,
Rose up before old Wâ-te
from where she now was seated.
Such was Wâ-te’s bearing
as if with smiles his friends he never greeted.
She said, in way most seemly:
“Welcome to you I give;
Both I and the king, my father,
must from your looks believe
That you are weary warriors,
and sorely have been fighting.
Goodwill the king will show you,
and soon his faith to you will he be plighting.”
To her they all bent lowly;
their ways, they were well-bred.
The king then bade to be seated,
as hosts are wont to bid.
Of drink to them was given,
wine the best and rarest;
Better ne’er was tasted
in the home of any lord, albeit the fairest.
In talk and fun and merriment
seated were they all.
Soon the queenly maiden
was seen to leave the hall:
But first she begged her father
the kindness now to show her
To bid the knights so worthy
to come to her, for pastime, to her bower.
Her wish the king then granted,
(so to us, ’tis said);
His young and lovely daughter
at this was truly glad.
Soon fair clothes and jewels
the maidens all were wearing;
And earnestly were watching
the many knights from far, to see their bearing.
When now the elder Hilda
sat by her daughter fair,
Each one of her lovely maidens
demeaned herself with care;
So that all who saw her
high in breeding thought her,
And nothing else could say of her,
but that she was indeed a king’s fair daughter.
Now bade they that old Wâ-te
should to the maids be brought;
Though he was gray and aged,
none the less they thought,
To guard against his wooing,
they must as children meet him.
Then to the aged Wâ-te
stepped forth the youthful queen, right glad to greet him.
She was the first to do so,
but wished she might be spared
When she now must kiss him:
broad and gray was his beard,
And the hair of the aged Wâ-te
with golden strings was braided.
He and the Danish Fru-te
the queen’s behest to seat them slowly heeded.
Both the well-clad heroes
before their seats now stood;
Well they knew fine breeding,
and made their teaching good.
In many a bitter struggle,
in their manhood early,
They gained a name as warriors;
and men to them gave praises for it fairly.
Queen Hilda and her daughter,
in lively, merry mood,
Began to ask of Wâ-te,
whether he thought it good,
Thus with lovely ladies
to sit in ease and pleasure,
Or if to him ’twere better
his strength in stormy fight with foes to measure?
The aged Wâ-te answered: “To me the last seems best;
Altho’ among fair ladies
glad am I to rest,
Never am I happier
than when with knights most daring,
Wherever that may happen,
upon the stormy field the fight I am sharing.”
At this the gay young maiden
broke into laughter loud;
Well she saw, with ladies,
his stern, uneasy mood.
With this in the halls yet longer
were the maidens merry;
Queen Hilda and her daughter
to talk with Morunc’s knights were never weary.
She asked about old Wâ-te:
“Say, by what name is he known?
Has he any liegemen?
Doth he lands and castles own?
Has he a wife and children
in the land whence he is roving?
There, as I am thinking,
at his home and hearth, there must be little loving.”
Then answered one of the warriors:
“Both children and a wife
In his home and land await him.
His riches and his life
He risketh for his duty;
a hero brave he has shown him.
A bold and daring champion,
throughout his life, both friend and foe have known him.”
Irold the tale was telling
about this fearless knight,
That never worthier liegeman,
or bolder man in fight,
A king need e’er be seeking,
his lands and castles over:
Though mildly now he bears him,
there ne’er was found a stronger or a braver.
The queen then said to Wâ-te:
“Give heed to what I say;
Since in his Danish kingdom
Hettel forbids your stay,
I here, within my borders,
a home will gladly give you;
There lives no lord so mighty
that he would ever dare from hence to drive you.”
Then to the queen he answered:
“I too, myself, own land;
There give I clothes and horses,
at will, with open hand.
To wait on you as liegeman,
would make me sorry-hearted;
And from my lands and castles,
more than a year, I never can be parted.”
At last they all were going:
then begged the lovely queen,
That when at court they waited,
they always might be seen
Seated among the ladies;
no shame by this were done them:
Then said to her brave Irold,
that in their home this seat was ever shown them.
To load with gifts these wanderers
the king was ever bent.
But in a mood so haughty
had they been thither sent,
To no man were they willing
to be for a mark beholden.
Hagen, the king, was lordly,
and took it ill that their pride should them embolden.
To the king they now betook them;
many were they who came;
There they found, for pastime,
for each some merry game:
Draughts were many playing,
or spear and shield were trying;
For these they cared but little,
but ever were in Hagen’s praises vying.
As happens oft in Ireland,
with every kind of fun
Forthwith the men made merry.
In this old Wâ-te won
A friend for himself in Hagen;
but to win the ladies’ praises,
Horant, the knight from Denmark,
his time in lightsome frolic with them passes.
Fru-te and also Wâ-te
were knights full brave and bold;
When standing near each other,
both alike looked old.
Their locks were gray and hoary,
and with gold were twisted;
But where the bold were needed,
to show their bravery earnestly they listed.
The followers of King Hagen
wore their shields at court,
With clubs as well as bucklers;
there they strove in sport,
In the sword-play slashing;
thrusts of spears they parried;
Well themselves they shielded.
The youthful knights in games were never wearied.
Then asked the brave King Hagen
of Wâ-te and his men,
“If, where they erst were living,
such fights were ever seen,
Or such heavy onslaughts,
as his good knights were dealing,
Here in his Irish kingdom?”
A smile of scorn o’er Wâ-te’s face was stealing.
Then quoth the knight from Sturmland:
“The like I never saw;
If any here could teach it,
from here would I not withdraw
Till a year was fully ended,
and I had learned it rightly.
Whoe’er should be my master,
for his care and pains would I not reward him lightly.”
The king to him then answered:
“For the love to you I bear,
I will bid my best of masters
teach you his art with care,
Till the three strokes are easy,
that, in field-storms raging,
Men give to one another;
by this will you be helped when battle waging.”
Then came a fencing-master,
and began his craft to show
To Wâ-te, the daring fighter;
in him he found a foe
Who fear for his life soon gave him.
Wâ-te his onset parried,
With all the skill of a fencer.
The face of Fru-te the Dane a smile now carried.
To save himself, the teacher
gave a spring as wide
As doth an untamed leopard.
Wâ-te his weapon plied,
And in his hand it clattered,
until the fire-sparks glistened
Upon his foeman’s buckler;
he well might thank the youth who to him had listened.
Then said the king, wild Hagen:
“Give me the sword in hand.
I will take a little pastime
with him of the Sturmisch land;
I will be his teacher,
and he my four strokes be learning.
He for this will thank me.”
Soon was the king high praise from Wâ-te earning.
To him old Wâ-te answered:
“A pledge I now must hear
That I from you, great Hagen,
no guile soe’er may fear;
Should I by you be wounded,
with ladies’ scorn shall I redden.”
In the fight was Wâ-te nimble;
such quickness to believe should none be bidden.
The simple, untaught fencer
smote Hagen many a blow;
Till, like a wet brand steaming,
was the king before his foe.
The learner outdid his teacher:
well his strength he boasted.
The host laid strokes unnumbered
upon the guest, who in his skill had trusted.
Many looked on gladly
to see the strength of both.
To own the skill of Wâ-te
the king was nothing loth;
He might have shown his anger,
and brought no shame upon him.
Great was the strength of Wâ-te,
but yet ’twas seen that Hagen had outdone him.
To the king then spake old Wâ-te:
“Let each no favor show,
While we together struggle.
Well have I learned from you
Your four strokes to be plying;
my thanks be you now sharing.”
Such thanks he later showed him
as doth a fighting Frank or Saxon daring.
No more a truce was thought of
by Wâ-te and the king;
With strokes that loud were crashing,
the hall began to ring.
Harder blows than ever
they gave, as now they battled;
All their thrusts were sudden;
the knobs upon their swords snapped off and rattled.
The two sat down to rest them;
then Hagen said to his guest:
“You fain would be a learner,
but you in truth are the best
That ever I was teaching
the skill that the foeman dazes.
Wherever you are fighting,
you in the field will win most worthy praises.”
Then to the king spake Irold:
“My lord, the strife is done
That you so well were waging;
such fights have we seen won,
In the land of our king and master.
Oft, at home, we freely
Try our skill with weapons;
knights and squires there meet in matches daily.”
Then again spoke Hagen:
“Did I this understand,
I never a fighting weapon
had taken in my hand.
No youth have I ever met with
who was so quick at learning.”
When to these words they listened,
the face of many a one to smiles was turning.
Now by the king ’twas granted
to his guests to pass the day
As they might all be choosing.
Glad of this were they,
The men from out the Northland.
When the hours grew weary,
They vied huge stones in hurling;
or else in shooting arrows made them merry.