The fair and queenly Hilda, with all her will and mind

The fair and queenly Hilda, with all her will and mind, Gave her thoughts now wholly trusty men to find To bear the tale to Hettel. Her heart indeed was riven By the wrongful deeds of Hartmut, and food for tears he to her eyes had given.

To Herwic and her husband she bade that it be said That foes had seized her daughter, that many knights lay dead; And she was left in wretchedness, lonely and forsaken; That all her gold and jewels the Normans on their way had with them taken.

Quickly rode the heralds and through the land they went: The queen in greatest sorrow these on their way had sent. Upon the seventh morning, they came where they were greeted With the sight of beleaguering Hegelings who before their Moorland foes were seated.

Oft in knightly matches strove they every day, And one might also hear them at many a game and play, That they might not be weary who the siege were keeping; Some at a mark were shooting, and others strove in running and in leaping.

When by the Danish Horant errand-bearers were seen Who to the land were coming, thither sent by the queen, Then said he unto Hettel: “With news for us they’re riding; May God in kindness grant it, no ill to those at home is now betiding!”