Those there are wretched maidens, from far across the sea

“Those there are wretched maidens, from far across the sea, Brought from the Hegeling kingdom by Ludwig’s men with me. But you are wet and bloody; do not come so near us: For all your help we thank you, nor in our woe do scorn the love you bear us.”

Wâ-te went on further, and Herwic soon he found, And with him youthful Ortwin, as king in Ortland owned. Irold was there and Morunc; Fru-te had thither hasted: None of these were idle; many they slew, nor soon from slaughter rested.

Quickly then came Hergart, the lady of a duke, And said: “Gu-drun, good lady, on me with kindness look,— On me, a wretched woman. Forget not that we ever Have been and are your handmaids; and let me, lady, lose thy friendship never.”

Gu-drun in anger answered: “Stand back, come not so near! Whatever we poor maidens of wrong have had to fear, For all you wept but little, and cared for it but slightly. Not much do I care either whether for you it now goes ill or rightly.

“You still among my maidens may linger, if you choose.” Now the stern old Wâ-te looked round among his foes, To find the wicked Gerlind, whom he in wrath was seeking. That devilish crone, with her women, the kindness of Gu-drun was now bespeaking.

Grimly then old Wâ-te stood before the hall, And said: “Gu-drun, my lady, send down, with her maidens all, The old and wicked Gerlind, who made you wash by the water; And with her send her kinsmen, who in our land so many knights did slaughter.”

The lovely maiden answered: “Not one of them is here.” Then Wâ-te, in his anger, went in and to her came near; He said: “Now show me quickly the women I am seeking; Else shall they, with your maidens, all alike in the grave their home be making.”

Wâ-te was sorely angry, of this was she aware. A wink of her eye then gave him a lovely maiden there, And he knew the old she-devil, on whom her glance was turning. “Tell me,” he said, “Queen Gerlind, for other maids to wash are you still yearning?”

Then by the hand he took her, and dragged her thence away; The while the wicked Gerlind sank down in sore dismay. Said Wâ-te, wild to madness: “Most lofty queen, I warn you, Never again, at your bidding, shall my ladies wash for you; they now can scorn you.”

I ween that when he brought her without the palace gate, All looked on to witness what he would do in his hate. Then by the hair he grasped her, no one a whit he dreaded, His wrath indeed was bitter, and at once the evil queen he there beheaded.

Loudly shrieked the maidens, their fright at this was sore. Back again went Wâ-te, and said: “Who is there more, Who to the queen owns kinship? To me you now must show her; However high she holds her, I yet to earth her head will quickly lower.”

Sobbing then and weeping, the child of Hettel said: “Let these with me find shelter, who now to me have fled, To ask of me forgiveness, here my love bespeaking. This is the well-born Ortrun, who with her Norman maids my help is seeking.”

Those who were forgiven she bade stand further back. Then, in mood unfriendly, the angry Wâ-te spake: “Where shall I find young Hergart, now of a lord the lady, Who here within this kingdom to take the love of the king’s great lord was ready?”

None of them would tell him, but he to her came near, And said: “Were you the owner of all this kingdom here, Who could in you be looking to see so proud a bearing? Ill have you served your lady, here in the land where you her lot were sharing.”

Then all cried out together: “Let her now go free.” But the aged Wâ-te answered: “That can never be; I have the care of the women; behold my overseeing!” With a stroke he her beheaded, while the maids in fright behind Gu-drun were fleeing.

Now from the bloody struggle there was a rest for all. Then the brave King Herwic came to Ludwig’s hall, Leading in his warriors, with stains of blood upon them. Gu-drun her welcome gave him; her love for him was shown, and kindness done them.

Soon the knightly Herwic his sword from his side unbound: He then shook off his armor into his shield on the ground, And stood before the ladies; iron-stained was his body. That day, for love of his lady, he oft on the field had hewn a pathway bloody.

With him came Ortwin also, who was of Ortland king. When Irold came with Morunc, the clothes they off did fling Worn outside their armor, for they were over-heated. They wished to see the ladies, and hoped by them they would be kindly greeted.

When now the Danish warriors were both with slaughter spent, They laid aside their weapons, and before the ladies went. Shields no longer bore they, their helmets were unfastened; A very loving welcome to give to both the knights Gu-drun then hastened.

Irold and Morunc with him then most lowly bowed Before the lovely maiden. How well her bearing showed That to see these guests so lordly she was indeed most willing! Right glad and happy truly the child of the Hegeling Hilda now was feeling.

Alike they all were thinking, both lords and all their men: “Since now we have the castle,— the stronghold Kassiane,— Of the land are we the masters, and everything is ours.” Soon bade the aged Wâ-te that men should burn with fire the palace with its towers.

The Danish Fru-te answered: “That may never be; In this my queenly lady to live must now be free. Bid that from out the castle men the dead shall carry; Then ’twill be the better for all our knights who in the land shall tarry.

“Very strong is the castle, wide it is and good; Bid from the walls now everywhere to wash away the blood, That for a home the maidens may not dislike it wholly: Then the land of Hartmut we will raid throughout, and see it fully.”

They did as Fru-te bade them, for wise he was, in truth; They bore from out the castle many who there, forsooth, Were sorely slashed and wounded, and many who were dying: Then to the waves they carried those who before the gates in death were lying.

They to the sea intrusted four thousand of the dead; This to them was toilsome, but Fru-te thus had bade. The work that they were doing not as yet was ended; Then in Ludwig’s castle the maid Ortrun was held, now ill-befriended.

Two and sixty warriors and thirty maidens fair With her were also taken. Then said Gu-drun: “Forbear! The maids are in my keeping, my word to them I plighted: Wâ-te may do as he wishes with the knights he seized, until my wrongs are righted.”

Siegfried, king of Moorland, found a welcome warm, As should to knights be granted after the battle-storm. Thanks to that worthy warrior were by the ladies given, That he from the land of Karadie so far had come, and so well for them had striven.

To the care of the Danish Horant they their foes did give Who in the castle of Kassian still were left alive. To him was Gu-drun intrusted, and all her maidens near her: To her was he a kinsman; they so might hope that he would kindness bear her.

Him they made the master of forty towers strong, And six wide, roomy dwellings, that stood the shore along. Over three rich palaces to him was lordship granted, And there Gu-drun, the maiden, with him must stay, and nought she ever wanted.

To guard their ships on the waters others now they bade; Then back to castle Kassian Hartmut, the knight, was led With many of his kinsmen, who in the fight were taken; There the Norman ladies, seized with the knights, were held, by hope forsaken.

They bade that care be taken that none from them might flee; A thousand of their brave ones must the women oversee: They, with the men from Denmark, kept guard in many places. Wâ-te, meanwhile, with Fru-te, sought other foes, and shields to hew in pieces.

Thirty thousand warriors with them the war-path shared. Fire was thrown on all sides; flames now flashed and flared. Throughout the land, the dwellings everywhere were burning; And now the brave young Hartmut, sad at heart, his first true woe was learning.

The warriors from Sturmland, and they of the Danish land, Broke down the well-built castles on every hill and strand. They took away more plunder than foemen ever carried; Many lovely women the Hegelings seized, the while the land they harried.

Before the friends of Hilda came back thro’ the wasted land, Six and twenty castles fell beneath their hand. Happy went they homeward; proud were they of their raiding; Soon of those there taken a thousand or more to Hilda they were leading.

Throughout the Norman kingdom was Hilda’s banner seen, Waving now unhindered; back again her men Bore it down to the sea-sand, where they had left their lady. Here would they stay no longer; to seek their homes they all were glad and ready.

Those who still were resting within King Hartmut’s halls Down to their friends came riding from out the castle walls. Gladly both old and youthful now each other greeted; Then asked they of Denmark: “Youths, what luck in the raid hath you awaited?”

To them King Ortwin answered: “We there have done so well That I to those who helped me my thanks must ever tell. Our foes are well rewarded, tho’ sore has been the fighting, For all the wrongs they did us; a thousand-fold have we ourselves been righting.”

Then spake the aged Wâ-te: “Who best can tarry here To guard for us this kingdom? Bid now Gu-drun, the fair, Come down again to meet us; soon shall we be going To Hilda’s land of the Hegelings; and what we bring we will to her be showing.”

Then said they all together, both the old and young: “To Horant and to Morunc doth the warder’s task belong; They, and a thousand with them, here in this land must tarry.” ’Twas done as they had bidden; but those who went did many a hostage carry.

When to go back to Hegeling they now made up their minds, Then to their ships they carried goods of many kinds, All they once brought with them, and all they had of plunder. Gladly they bore their booty; on this their friends at home would look with wonder.

Hartmut now was bidden to leave his father’s hall, With all his bravest warriors, five hundred men in all; They now were held in bondage who had in strife been taken, And won from their foes thereafter many a weary day, of hope forsaken.

Ortrun took they likewise, the fair and high-born maid; On her and on her maidens a heavy woe they laid: As they away from fatherland far from friends were carried, They well might know the sorrows felt by Gu-drun and her maids, who with them tarried.

Those whom they had taken they bore with them away. The castles, overmastered, henceforth must own the sway Of Morunc and of Horant: when they homeward started, They left in the Norman kingdom a thousand of their men, all fearless-hearted.

“Now do I beseech you,” to them young Hartmut spake, “That in my father’s kingdom my freedom I may take; If this to me be granted, I pledge my life and riches.” The aged Wâ-te answered: “Now in our hands to keep you wisdom teaches.

“Why it is I know not, that ’tis my nephew’s will To carry home young Hartmut, who him would gladly kill, And take from him his riches. Even before the morrow, Were only my nephew willing, I would see that his foe no more in bonds should sorrow.”

Then spake the youthful Ortwin: “What gain to us would come If we should slay our foemen here in their land and home? Hartmut and his kindred may better things be hoping; Them will I bring to my mother, as well beseems a knight to wrong ne’er stooping.”