Just as the maid was sinking Hartmut reached her side

Just as the maid was sinking Hartmut reached her side; Had not her lover helped her drowned were she in the tide. Her yellow locks well grasping, then from out the water With his hands he drew her: else nought from death had spared Queen Hilda’s daughter.

Back to the ship did Hartmut bring the maiden fair;— Rough ways to lovely women Ludwig did not spare. Dragged from out the water, she in her smock was seated; How full was she of sadness! Never before had the maiden thus been treated.

Then all her friends together wept for the lovely maid, None could there be happy; for what could be more sad Than to see the king’s own daughter handled thus so roughly? The thought to them was rising: “To us they now will bear themselves more gruffly.”

Then said the knightly Hartmut: “Why drown my hoped-for wife, Gu-drun, the lovely maiden, dear to me as life? If any but my father so foul a wrong had done her, Sore would be my anger, and I from him would take both life and honor.”

To him King Ludwig answered: “Ever free from shame Have I till age been living, and still a worthy name And rank among my fellows will hold till life is ending. Bid now Gu-drun, your lady, that she no more her scorn on me be spending.”

Now unto Queen Gerlind errand-bearers came, Who, in mood most happy, bore in Hartmut’s name Words of love and honor, as from her son was fitting. He asked a friendly welcome for his many knights who on the shore were waiting.

They bore from him the tidings that he across the wave Had brought the Hegeling maiden, to whom his love he gave Ere he had looked upon her, and for whom he still was pining. When this was heard by Gerlind, a happier day on her was never shining.

Then said he who told it: “Lady, you now should ride To the sea before the castle, where yet the maid doth bide, And give her, in her sorrow, your love and kindly greeting; You and your daughter, Ortrun, should haste to the shore, the homeless maiden meeting.

“Likewise, riding with you down unto the flood, Should go both maids and women, and also warriors good. Her you will find in the harbor who from home was riven; Both to the maid and her followers a welcome kind by you should now be given.”

Then Queen Gerlind answered: “That will I gladly do; ’Twill make me richly happy King Hettel’s child to know, And to find that, with her maidens, she has come to tarry. Well I know that Hartmut will soon be blest, when he the maid shall marry.”

Then she bade that horses, with saddle-cloths, be brought. Ortrun, the youthful princess, was happy in the thought Soon in her father’s kingdom to see Gu-drun, the maiden, If this might truly happen; for the speech of all was with her praises laden.

Then out of chests were taken of all the clothes the best They knew therein were lying, to be worn to meet the guest. Soon the knights of Hartmut to don the clothes were bidden; Erelong a throng of followers, gaily bedight, from Gerlind’s halls had ridden.

Upon the third day early, women as well as men, All who there had gathered before Gerlind, their queen, To give the maidens welcome, were ready and outfitted; Out of the gates they crowded, and on their steeds not long in the court-yard waited.

The Normans now with the women had into the harbor come: The booty they unloaded that they would carry home. All unto their birthland back had come right gladly; Gu-drun and her band of maidens, alone of all, demeaned themselves but sadly.

Now the brave Sir Hartmut led her forth by the hand, If she had deemed it fitting, this she had not deigned; Yet the poor child, in sorrow, took his love but coldly, Altho’ he showed it warmly, and worship more had done freely and boldly.

With her went sixty maidens who over the sea had come: One saw, as he beheld them, how that all from their home Came with proudest bearing. They erst high rank had taken, In other lands and kingdoms; their hearts were heavy now, of bliss forsaken.

The sister of young Hartmut between two barons rode; Now to Hilda’s daughter a welcome warm she showed: Ortrun, Ludwig’s daughter, her eyes now wet with weeping, Kissed the homeless maiden, while she her fair white hands in her own was keeping.

Then the wife of Ludwig to kiss her, too, was fain, But to the youthful maiden the thought was full of pain. Thus she spake to Gerlind: “Why come you here to meet me? Loath am I to kiss you, and neither can I bear that you should greet me.

“’Twas by your own ill-doing that I, poor wretched maid, Have known no home nor dwelling; heart-sorrow long I’ve had; My lot, alas! is shameful, and will, I fear, grow harder.” Then Ortrun strove to soothe her, and did her best that with love Gu-drun should reward her.

One by one she greeted the maids on every side. Now rose a wondrous shouting; men flocked from far and wide: Upon the pebbly sea-beach stakes for tents were driven; With silken ropes were they fastened; to Hartmut and his men was shelter in them given.

To bear the goods from the seaside the folk were all astir. Gu-drun, fair maiden, sorrowed, and pain it gave to her To see that all around her the Normans were so many; Unless it were to Ortrun, she never showed a friendly mood to any.

The maidens on the seashore must all the day abide. With tears their eyes were flowing, whatever others did; Dry were they but seldom, their cheeks were pale with sorrow: Hartmut tried to soothe them, but their sadness lasted yet through many a morrow.

To hold Gu-drun in honor was Ortrun ever stern, And, e’en if others wronged her, with love to her did turn: She in her father’s kingdom strove to make her merry, But, far from friends and kindred, often the poor young girl was sad and weary.