How the Lords All Came into Hungary, XXXVII–LXXI

Then thus the first bespake him, "Yet so it needs must be; Not one of you his country again shall ever see, Not one but the king's chaplain; this well to us is known; To Gunther's land in safety return shall he alone."

Then angrily Sir Hagan bespake her, frowning stern, "'Twere ill to tell my masters what they'd disdain and spurn, That we should all in Hungary death and destruction find. Now show us o'er the water, wisest of womankind."

Said she, "Since from this journey, it seems, thou wilt not turn, Up yonder by the river an inn thou may'st discern. A ferryman there dwelleth; no others here abide." The knight believ'd her answer, and took her words for guide.

Him then the first call'd after as gloomily he went, "Stay yet awhile, Sir Hagan, why so on haste intent? Hear better our instructions to reach the farther strand. A margrave, that hight Elsy, is lord of all this land.

"He has a valiant brother (Sir Gelfrat men him call), A great lord in Bavaria; ill might it you befall, If through his march you travel; your course with caution plan, And smoothly deal and gently with yonder ferryman.

"He scarce will leave you scathless (so fierce is he and rude), Unless with sound discretion you temper his rough mood. Would you he'd put you over, pay down at once the fare. He is a friend of Gelfrat's and of this land has care.

"And, should the ferryman tarry, across the river shout, And say your name is Amelrich, whom late a feud drove out Perforce from this, his country, a knight of birth and fame. Good speed will make the ferryman when once he hears the name."

For all reply Sir Hagan to the wise ladies bow'd; Then in his gloomy silence strode off the warrior proud. Still higher up the river along the shore he hied, Until a lonely hostel on th' other bank he spied.

He straight across the water 'gan call with all his might, "Come, carry me over, ferryman," shouted the lusty knight. "Of ruddy gold an armlet I'll give thee for thy meed. Come, carry me, well thou knowest how pressing is my need."

The ferryman was wealthy, to serve he scarce could bear, And hence it seldom happened he deign'd to take a fare. His men were like their master, as moody and misproud. Still on this side Sir Hagan stood ever shouting loud.

So loud and strong he shouted, that all the water rung, While the deep-chested warrior thus thunder'd from his tongue, "Come, put me o'er, I'm Amelrich, who Elsy serv'd and sued, The same who from this country fled for a mortal feud."

High on his sword an armlet held out the champion bold (Bright was it and glittering and ruddy all with gold) That he might be put over thence into Gelfrat's land. Then took the burly boatman himself an oar in hand.

He was in sooth, that boatman, an ill-condition'd elf. Nothing leads men to ruin like hankering after pelf. He thought by ferrying Hagan his ruddy gold to get; A sword-stroke for an armlet, and death for gain he met.

With sinewy might the boatman row'd o'er to yonder strand, But not the man he heard of sprung to the boat from land. The ferryman wax'd furious when Hagan there he found; Thus he bespake the hero, and speaking darkly frown'd.

"Your name it may be Amelrich for ought I know," said he, "But you're like him I look'd for as little as can be. In sooth he was my brother, by father and mother's side You've put a trick upon me, so on this bank shall bide."

"Nay, think again, for heaven's sake," Sir Hagan made reply, "In pain for sundry comrades a foreign knight am I; So take my fare contented, and kindly put me o'er; You'll bind me to your service, your friend for evermore."

"No, no," replied the ferryman, "it must not, faith, be so; My good lords all around them have many a deadly foe; For this, I ne'er put over strangers into this land, So, as your life you value, out with you to the strand."

"Nay, speak not so," said Hagan, "you see my drooping cheer; Take of me, and welcome, the gold I hand you here, And ferry a thousand horses and as many knights of pride." "That will I do never," the ferryman grim replied.

With the word up caught he an oar both broad and long, And lent the knight a buffet so sturdy and so strong, That in the boat he brought him at once upon his knee. Such a boisterous boatman never before met he.

Yet more the haughty stranger to wrath would he provoke, So on the head of Hagan a boat-pole next he broke, The ferryman of Elsy was sure a lusty wight, Yet naught but loss and ruin got he by all his might.

The grim knight up starting ended soon the fray; To the sheath quick gripp'd he wherein his weapon lay. Off he his head has smitten, and to the bottom thrown. Soon were the glad tidings to the bold Burgundians known.

The boat meanwhile, ere Hagan its master yet had slain, Had dropp'd into the current; this wrought him mickle pain, For ere he round could bring it, faint he to wax began, Yet strongly row'd and stoutly King Gunther's large-limb'd man.

The brawny stranger turn'd it with many a sturdy stroke, Till in his grasp o'ermaster'd the oar asunder broke. He long'd to reach his comrades at a near landing-place, But oar had ne'er another, so this he join'd apace.

With a shield-thong together (poor cord, but workman good!) And then adown the river made for a neighboring wood. There his good lords the warrior found waiting on the strand; Many a bold knight ran toward him as he drew nigh the land.

Him well his comrades greeted beside the foamy flood, But when they saw the shallop reeking all with blood From that grim wound, that sudden the ferryman did to death, They put a thousand questions to Hagan in a breath.

When beheld King Gunther the hot blood, how it ran About the heaving ferry, thus he straight began. "Here's a boat, Sir Hagan, but where's the boatman left? Your sturdy strength, I fear me, the wretch's life hath reft."

With lying tongue he answer'd, "The shallop I espied Fast by a desert meadow, myself the same untied. I have seen no boatman; this I can truly say; And harm to none has happen'd by fault of mine to-day."

Thereto the bold Burgundian Sir Gernot made reply, "To-day deep care besets me; many a dear friend must die. With not a boatman ready to put our people o'er, 'Twere hard to cross the river; this I must needs deplore."

Loud then shouted Hagan, "Lay down upon the grass Our riding-gear, ye yeomen! I recollect I was On Rhine the best of ferrymen that e'er took oar in hand. Trust me, I'll put you over safe into Gelfrat's land."

To make their passage quicker, the horses in a throng They drove into the river; these swam so well and strong, That by the forceful current the warriors lost not one; A few down lower landed with weary toil foredone.

Long and broad and massy was that huge ferry-boat. Five hundred men and better it all at once could float With their food and weapons from sounding shore to shore. That day many a good warrior perforce strain'd at the oar.

Aboard then plac'd the heroes their gold and eke their weed. The goal of dark destruction they sought with fatal speed. Hagan was master-boatman; his luckless skill alone Full many a gallant champion brought to that land unknown.

Noble knights a thousand first he ferried o'er, Thereto his own stout followers; behind still tarried more. Nine thousand lusty varlets he after brought away. The hand of him of Trony had little rest that day.

As the good knight thus deftly was putting o'er his freight, He thought on the strange warning he had receiv'd so late From those wise river-ladies with their prophetic breath; It brought King Gunther's chaplain within a hair of death.

By his holy things close seated he found the priest at rest, With one hand gently leaning above a relique-chest; But in the grasp of Hagan that help'd him not the least. Sore wrong perforce he suffer'd, that heaven-forsaken priest.