Tale the Fifteenth

Now at Hartmut’s bidding heralds quickly rode To where the queenly Hilda and her daughter dear abode. To them his word they carried, that if to wed the maiden They should think him worthy, her and her mother both it well might gladden.

If she her love would give him, as he had asked before,— Ofttimes his heart was heavy for the love to her he bore,— That he would ever serve her so long as he was living, And many lands wide-reaching, held of his father, would to her be giving.

But if she would not love him, she then would earn his hate; He asked of her that kindly she his love would meet, So that he to his fatherland his lovely bride might carry Without a fight or struggle. To hope for this brave Hartmut ne’er was weary.

Did she gainsay his wooing, Hartmut sent this word: “I will not be bought with silver, albeit a heavy hoard, To leave in peace her kingdom; she yet shall give me heeding. I will show Gu-drun, fair maiden, brave knights enough, to be for her eyes fine feeding!

“Further, good errand-bearers, this say to her from me: I ne’er will leave her borders to sail on the wide, deep sea; Better will I think it to be hewn in pieces even, Unless the Hegeling maiden will follow me hence, to me in wedlock given.