To her then said fair Hildeburg: “For me it were not well

To her then said fair Hildeburg: “For me it were not well To give my troth to any who ne’er his love did tell, Nor unto me, in fondness, e’er his heart was turning; Should we grow old together, I fear between us oft there’ll be heart-burning.”

Her Gu-drun thus answered: “Give not a thought to that: I soon will send to Hartmut, and bid him answer straight Whether he now would like it if from his pledge I free him, As well as all his followers, and send him home, that his friends again may see him.

“If he his thanks shall tell me, I then in turn will bid That he by deeds shall show it, and shall my wishes heed. I then will freely ask him if he will wed a maiden, That I and all my kinsmen may him with love and friendship ever gladden.”

To her they brought young Hartmut, king of the Norman land, And with him came old Fru-te. Near her, on either hand, Proud Hildeburg and Ortrun within her bower were sitting; If the lady’s word they heeded, their many woes they both would be forgetting.

Hartmut, the son of Ludwig, went through the palace hall; To him a friendly greeting was given by one and all, Alike both high and lowly from their seats arising. None than he was braver; no worth or greatness e’er in him was missing.

He by Gu-drun, fair lady, to seat himself was told; And neither of the others her greeting did withhold. Then said Queen Hilda’s daughter: “I beg you to be sitting Near my faithful maidens, who washed with me for your knights, as was befitting.”

“This in scorn you bid me, fair and lovely queen! Whatever wrong was done you truly gives me pain: ’Twas by my mother’s wishes that this from me was hidden; To keep it from my father, and from his knights as well, were all men bidden.”

To him the maiden answered: “My wish I may not hide: I now, in truth, Sir Hartmut, must speak with you aside. I and yourself, we only, may hear what I am saying.” Hartmut then bethought him: “May God now grant she is not falsely playing.”

No one else but Fru-te allowed she to come near; Then the high-born maiden said in Hartmut’s ear: “If you to me will hearken, and do what I shall tell you With ready heart and freely, now of all your sorrows I will heal you.”

“Well I know your wisdom,” then young Hartmut said; “Of aught that is unworthy I need not be afraid. My heart for nothing wishes, unless to do your bidding: Gladly, high-born lady, to all that you shall say will I give heeding.”

She said: “My wish I tell you, and now your life would cheer; I, and my kinsmen with me, will give you a helpmeet fair. To keep both land and honor you may thus be seeking, And of the hate we bore you none shall evermore a word be speaking.”

“Who is it, say, fair lady, that you for me will choose? Ere yet my love I give her, life would I rather lose Than ever that my kinsmen her with scorn were eying; For me it were far better that I in death upon the field were lying.”