Hettel then sent tidings, to still their fears at home

Hettel then sent tidings, to still their fears at home. To the fair and high-born ladies men with news did come, That unto the old and youthful, throughout the stormy fighting, Good luck had aye befallen; and now, with hope must they for them be waiting.

He bade his men to tell them how Siegfried was besieged, While he with all his followers war against him waged, To help the lord of Sealand, loved by Gu-drun, his daughter; That all, as they were able, daily fought for her, and for him who sought her.

Hettel’s queen, fair Hilda, the hope began to have That luck would follow Herwic and all his warriors brave; And, as their worth befitted, all might well be speeding. Then said Gu-drun: “God grant it, that they our friends may back in health be leading.”

By Wâ-te’s men from Sturmland, the foes from Alzabie And all who came from Moorland were kept away from the sea; Sadly must they tarry within the sheltering castle: In Wâ-te and in Fru-te foes they had with whom they ill could wrestle.

Loudly swore King Hettel the castle ne’er to leave; That he and all his followers still to the end would strive, Till those to him had yielded who now the Moor befriended. Unwise had been their inroad, and this for them one day in sorrow ended.

Meanwhile the spies of Hartmut, whom he had thither sent, Tho’ little good they looked for, from the Norman border went; Ever to learn what happened they a watch were keeping, And from the stormy warfare they hoped that Hettel might no gain be reaping.

Now they saw that Siegfried, the Moorland king high-born, Was kept within the castle, besieged both eve and morn; Thence could he sally never, and this he knew with sorrow; His lands so far were lying, he little help from them could hope to borrow.

The Norman errand-bearers, sent forth their watch to make By Ludwig and young Hartmut, to them now hastened back: The happy news they carried, and soon at home were giving, That Hettel, the king, and Herwic were busy now, in warfare ever striving.

To them the lord of Normandy thanks for the tidings gave, And asked them: “Can you tell us how long those foemen brave, The men from the land of Karadie, will in Sealand tarry, Fighting ’gainst its warriors, till they, their wrongs avenged, of war are weary?”

One of them made answer: “The truth you now may hear: There they yet must linger more than another year. Never from their stronghold will the Hegelings free them; They there so well are guarded, that on their homeward way none e’er shall see them.”

Then the knight of Normandy, the daring Hartmut, spake: “This frees my heart from sorrow, and hope in me doth wake! If they are now beleaguered, then are we well befriended; We must to Hegeling hasten, ere Hettel’s fight with Siegfried shall be ended.”