The bold and daring Wâ-te from the sands had given a bound

The bold and daring Wâ-te from the sands had given a bound Into a well-manned row-boat; loud did his mail resound, As he, with fifty warriors, after Hilda hasted: Hagen’s careless followers now must rouse themselves, no time they wasted.

Onward came King Hagen; his fighting-gear he wore, And a heavy sword, the sharpest, he proudly with him bore; But now the aged Wâ-te almost too long had waited; Wild and grim was Hagen, and high his spear he raised ’gainst his foe belated.

Loudly then he shouted, and bade his men make haste; None of all his followers would he allow to rest, Hoping these guests, now fleeing, who had been such traitors, Might be with speed o’ertaken, and either should be slain, or bound in fetters.

The king had now about him fighters many and brave, But yet he could not follow across the wild sea-wave; His ships were all unready, and many of them leaking, When now he would be sailing; of Hagen’s blame for this were all soon speaking.

On the gravelly sea-shore standing, no other way he knew But that more ships be builded for him and his liegemen true, And workmen called together, who must therein be speedy: All came who now were able, and these he found to be both skilled and ready.

Upon the seventh morning, there left the Irish land The men sent forth by Hettel to ask for Hilda’s hand, And bring to him the lady. They were a thousand barely; Hagen brought against them thirty hundred men, if reckoned fairly.

The daring knights of Denmark sent men home before, To carry word to Hettel that Hagen’s child they bore, And to his land would bring her, with honor him befitting. Though now they little thought it, still harder work erelong must they be meeting.

To them their master, Hettel, in happy mood then spoke: “My sorrows now are over. Great toils my liegemen took For me in Hagen’s kingdom, and now have brought me gladness; Since they on their errand left me, fear for their doom has filled my heart with sadness.