Of this bethink you further, my well-belovéd son

“Of this bethink you further, my well-belovéd son: Bread we have in the castle and wine for every one; Food will not be lacking if here for a year we are staying; But if on the field you are taken, our foes will you from bondage ne’er be freeing.”

Then to him spake further old King Ludwig’s wife: “Ever guard your honor, but do not lose your life. Bid men to shoot with longbows at the loop-holes standing; So shall wounds be given, for which their friends at home will tears be spending.

“Let slings with ropes be fitted; we then will meet the foe By hurling rocks upon them: knights we have enow. Before with these new-comers you your swords are crossing, Stones will I and my maidens bring in aprons white, on them to be tossing.”

Angrily spake Hartmut: “Lady, get you gone! Why do you seek to lead me? Is not my mind my own? Before my foes shall find me within my castle hiding, Outside I would die far sooner, in fight with Hilda’s men, against me riding.”

Then to him said, weeping, old King Ludwig’s wife: “I gave to you this warning that you might spare your life, And guard yourself the better. Whoe’er is seen this morning Beneath your banner fighting, rich gifts from us shall he be fairly earning.

“Now arm ourselves,” cried Gerlind, “stand by my son in fight; Strike from your foemen’s helmets a glowing, fiery light. Be always near your master, to help him ever striving; Fitly these guests to welcome, deep be the wounds that you to them are giving.”

Then to his men said Hartmut: “My mother’s words are true; If you to me are faithful, and strive your best to do, And this day, in the struggle, to give your help are ready, When fathers shall have fallen, a friend I’ll be to sons bereft and needy.”

A thousand and a hundred within King Ludwig’s halls Now were all well-weaponed. Before from out the walls Went any thro’ the gateways, they left the stronghold guarded; Still within it posted, five hundred warriors brave the castle warded.

On four gates of the castle the bolts were backward thrown: Ne’er had they been opened to a single spur alone. Then with the youthful Hartmut, outgoing at his bidding, All with helmets fastened, went thirty hundred followers boldly riding.

The hour of strife drew nearer. He of the Sturmisch land, Wâ-te, his horn was blowing; and loud across the sand, For thirty miles or over, men the blast were hearing; The fighters of the Hegelings, to flock to Hilda’s flag, their arms were wearing.

Once again he blew it: at this should all take heed, That every knight among them then should mount his steed, And each his men should gather to ride as they were bidden. A knight so old as Wâ-te, and yet so brave, to the fight had never ridden.

The third time that he blew it, he such a blast did make That all the land was shaken, and the sea a sound gave back; Almost from Ludwig’s castle the corner-stones were falling: To raise Queen Hilda’s banner Wâ-te to Horant then was loudly calling.

They feared old Wâ-te sorely, none dared to speak aloud; A horse was e’en heard neighing. Upon the roof now stood Herwic’s well-belovéd, and saw the warriors daring, Onward proudly riding, to wage the fight with Hartmut, nothing fearing.

Hartmut rode to meet them; he and all his men, Bearing well their weapons, to leave the gates were seen. Those from the windows gazing saw the helmets glisten Of friends as well as foemen. Hartmut not alone to the fight did hasten.

To all four sides of the castle the foes their banners bore; Bright in hue like silver was the armor that they wore; The bosses of their bucklers were seen to glitter brightly. Much was Wâ-te dreaded; no lion grim and wild were feared more rightly.

The fighters from the Moorland were seen apart to ride, And heavy shafts were hurling; splinters were scattered wide. When with the Norman foemen soon the fight did thicken, Sharply from their weapons and from their breastplates fiery sparks were stricken.

The warriors from Denmark near to the castle rode. There the mighty Irold six thousand fighters good Up to the walls was leading, an onslaught to be making: Brave and daring were they; sore ill from them erelong was Ludwig taking.

Elsewhere, riding boldly, Ortwin his followers led, No less than eighty hundred; sorrow and woe they made For many of the Normans, and all the land they harried. Gerlind and Ortrun weeping, watching the fight from the roof, together tarried.

Then came Herwic also, betrothed to fair Gu-drun; Through him full many a woman must come to sorrow soon, When, for his heart’s belovéd, he to the fight was springing. Beneath the heavy weapons were heard the clattering helmets loudly ringing.

Now came the aged Wâ-te, with warriors not a few; Grim was he and fearless, as soon they all well knew. His spear not yet he lowered as he to the walls came riding: Sad was the sight to Gerlind, but other were the thoughts Gu-drun was hiding.

Then came the Norman Hartmut, riding before his men. E’en had he been Kaiser, never would he be seen To bear himself more proudly. In the sun was seen to glisten All his shining armor. His boldness on the field not yet did lessen.

When he was seen by Ortwin, the lord of Ortland’s throne, He said: “Will any tell us, to whom this knight is known, Who is the daring fighter now against us turning? He shows as bold a bearing as if to win a kingdom he were yearning.”

Then said one among them: “’Tis Hartmut whom you see; There indeed is a warrior! a daring knight is he. The selfsame foeman is he who erstwhile slew your father. Where’er the strife is raging, a bolder man than he there’s not another.”

Angrily spake Ortwin: “Me for his wrongs he owes, And must atone full dearly before from here he goes. The ills that he has done us must he be soon undoing; Gerlind cannot help him that he from hence may e’er alive be going.”

Down upon young Ortwin Hartmut riding bore. Altho’ he did not know him, deep he plunged his spur; His horse sprang forward widely, against brave Ortwin driven. Both their spears were lowered; fire on their armor flashed from spear-strokes given.

No thrust against the other did either leave undone: The war-horse then of Ortwin was on his haunches thrown; Soon, too, the steed did stagger whereon was Hartmut seated; They could not bear the onset of kings who rushed together, to madness heated.

High upreared the horses; a mighty clang arose From clash of kingly sword-blades. Thanks were due to those Who the fight thus opened, as knights beseemeth ever. Brave were both and fearless; to shrink from one another thought they never.

On both sides came their followers, lowering their spears, And bringing death to many; each his foeman nears, And in the shock of the onset heavy wounds was giving. All of them were faithful, and well for a worthy name they now were striving.

A thousand ’gainst a thousand, now the strife began Of Hartmut’s men with Wâ-te’s, each man against his man. Soon by the lord of Sturmland were they so badly treated That whoso now came near him never a second time with him was mated.

Now were thickly mingled of foes ten thousand men, Among King Herwic’s warriors; they came in anger keen. Their mood it was so stubborn that rather than be flying Far from the field of fighting, they on the ground would first in death be lying.

A knight indeed was Herwic; what daring deeds he did! Earnest was he in fighting, that so the lovely maid Might be to him the kinder. But how could he be dreaming The boon could e’er befall him, that the eyes of fair Gu-drun on him were beaming?

Ludwig, king of the Normans, and they of the Danish land, Now had met together. Ludwig bore in hand His strong and heavy weapon; lordly was his bearing, Yet he with all his followers to come too far without the walls was daring.

There, with his men from Holstein, Fru-te, brave and bold, Slew full many a foeman; of this could much be told. Now, too, from the land of Waleis, Morunc, many slaying, Before King Ludwig’s castle made rich the earth with the dead he low was laying.

Irold, the youthful champion, a knight both true and good, Slashed thro’ foemen’s armor, shedding their hot life-blood. Under Hilda’s banner was Wâ-te’s kinsman fighting; Many in death grew paler as Horant thinned the crowd he fast was smiting.

Now the young King Hartmut and Ortwin met again. Thicker then than snow-flakes blown by the wind are seen, The sword-strokes of the warriors upon each other lighted: Thus it was that Hartmut once more by Ortwin on the field was greeted.

Gu-drun’s young brother, Ortwin, was bold and brave enow, But Hartmut through his helmet smote him a heavy blow; Over his shining breastplate soon the blood was streaming: The followers of Ortwin sadly saw the flow, its brightness dimming.

Great was the crush and uproar; hand to hand they fought; Many wounds were gaping thro’ rings of steel well-wrought; Many a head had fallen beneath the sword-strokes given: Death was like a robber, that from their kin the dearest friends had riven.

Now saw the Danish Horant that Ortwin from his foe A bloody wound had taken; then Horant bade them show Who ’twas that thus had wounded his master loved so dearly. Hartmut at this was laughing, for both upon the field had met too nearly.

Ortwin himself then answered: “’Tis Hartmut this has done.” Then Hilda’s banner was given by Horant to one of his own; Thinking thus the foeman he could harm the better, And gain himself much honor: now he sought his foe with boldness greater.

Hartmut heard around him a loud and stormy din. On many of his warriors streams of blood were seen Fast from wounds out-welling; down to their feet ’twas flowing. Then cried Hartmut boldly: “For this shall you atone, and this be ruing.”

Now he turned him quickly where Horant met his sight; Then might one be seeing, so brave were both in fight, How from their ringed armor sparks of fire were flying; Blunted were the sword-blades which they on each other’s helmets fast were plying.

Hartmut wounded Horant, even as he had done Not long before to Ortwin; a ruddy stream full soon Ran from out his armor, at Hartmut’s hand forth welling. Strong indeed was his foeman; who now to win his lands could hope be feeling?

Then in bitter struggle many, on either side, Saw their bucklers shattered, tho’ strong and often tried; Beaten were they and broken by sword-strokes quickly given By each upon the other. Well to guard himself had Hartmut striven.