Then said King Hettel’s daughter: “That were a deed of shame

Then said King Hettel’s daughter: “That were a deed of shame: Of aught so wrong and hateful never did I dream. It would be said by princes, should they the tale be hearing, That one of the kin of Hagen in Hartmut’s land a harlot’s name is bearing.”

Then did Hartmut answer: “What care I what they say? If only you, fair lady, do not say me nay, A king my men shall see me, and you my seat be sharing.” Then said the maid to Hartmut: “That I should love you be you never fearing.

“Well you know, Sir Hartmut, how with me it stands; And all the wrong and sorrow I met with at your hands, When far from home you carried me whom you had stolen, And, wounded by your warriors, my father’s men erewhile in death had fallen.

“Well known to you ’tis also, —for this I mourn again,— How my father, Hettel, was by your father slain. Were I knight, and not a woman, he durst not come before me Unless his weapons wearing. Why wed the man who from my kindred tore me?”

For many years now bygone, it ever was the way, No man should take a woman, and have her in his sway, Unless they both were willing. Much praise for this is owing. Gu-drun, the homeless maiden, her father’s loss still mourned, with tears o’erflowing.

Then spake to her in anger Hartmut, the youthful knight: “Whatever may befall you, I reck not for your plight; Since now you are not willing to wear the crown beside me, You’ll have what you are seeking, your meed you’ll daily earn, nor need you chide me.”

“That will I earn most gladly, as I have done before, Though for the men of Hartmut the hardest toil I bore, And for Queen Gerlind’s women. If God my wrongs forgetteth, To bear them I am willing; but heavy is the woe that me besetteth.”