Then said the lord of the Hegelings: “To you I make my moan

Then said the lord of the Hegelings: “To you I make my moan; And, trusting in your friendship, my sorrows must I own: The queen, my Lady Hilda, has sent to give us warning, That the men of the Hegeling kingdom are ill bestead, and bitterly are mourning.

“My lands with fire are wasted, and my castle broken down; Ill our walls were guarded while we from home were gone: Foes have seized my daughter; my kin in death are sleeping; My trusty men are slaughtered to whom I left my land and name in keeping.”

Herwic now was weeping, in his eyes the tear-drops stood; Wet were the eyes of Hettel, and fast they overflowed: So it was with others, at seeing them thus weeping; Every one was sorrowful who, near the king, his faith to him was keeping.

Then said the aged Wâ-te: “Further of this say nought. For all the woe and losses these friends to us have brought, Soon will we repay them, and we shall yet be gladdened; Ludwig’s kin and Hartmut’s shall at our hands for this erelong be saddened.”

Hettel asked in wonder: “How can that be done?” To him old Wâ-te answered: “’Tis best that peace be won Now with the king of Moorland, with whom we yet are warring; Our men, who here besiege him, to seek for fair Gu-drun we may then be sparing.”

Wise was the aged Wâ-te, the words he spake were meet: “To-morrow morning early, let us with Siegfried treat; And we ought so to bear us that he shall well be knowing That, should we not allow it, he with his men can ne’er be homeward going.”

Then said the daring Herwic: “Wâ-te has spoken right; To-day must you be thinking how, with the morrow’s light, You all before the foeman may show a warlike bearing: It gives me pain that women should make us leave our siege, and hence be faring.”

Then they got together horses and clothes with speed; Unto the words of Wâ-te they readily gave heed. When the day was dawning, they again were striving ’Gainst those from Abakia. Great praise for this were all to them soon giving.

On every side, with banners, they to the field did throng; Many, sound in body, there were slain erelong: Wâ-te’s men from Sturmland “Nearer! Nearer!” shouted; But those they would o’ermaster were quicker yet in fight, and nought it booted.

Soon the knightly Irold, over the edge of his shield, Called out, “Men of Moorland, to peace with us will you yield? King Hettel bids us ask you, will you this be choosing? Your lands so far are lying, that you your goods and men will else be losing.”

Siegfried, lord of Moorland, answered to him thus: “Would you for peace have pledges, then win the fight o’er us; With no one will I bargain for aught my name may lessen: If you think to overcome us, you will the more by this your losses hasten.”