Then said the aged Wâ-te: “This can never be

Then said the aged Wâ-te: “This can never be Till those who now are children fully-grown we see, And worthy to be swordsmen. Then, their fathers mourning, And of their kinsmen mindful, gladly will they with us to war be turning.”

Queen Hilda then made answer: “To wait for this were long; Meanwhile Gu-drun, my daughter, held by foemen strong, Must in a far-off kingdom be kept in bondage bitter; And I, poor queen and mother, shall know no bliss, and my heart will ne’er grow lighter.”

Then said the Danish Fru-te: “The maid we cannot free Until once more your kingdom shall full of warriors be. Then, for the struggle ready, we hence shall ride, unfearing; And so upon our foemen shall work the greatest ill with blows unsparing.”

To this Queen Hilda answered: “That day may God soon give; But I, unhappy woman, a weary life must live. Whoe’er of me is mindful, and of Gu-drun, poor maiden, Him will I trust most fully, knowing his heart for us with care is laden.”