Both the well-clad heroes before their seats now stood

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.