Tale XII: How Herwic Made War on Hettel, and How Gudrun Was Betrothed to Him

What more befell young Hartmut we now forbear to say.Upon the brave King Herwic a weight of sorrow lay,As great as that of Hartmut, for love of the high-born lady.He, with all his kinsmen, to woo Gu-drun, as best they might, made ready.

Near her he was dwelling, and there he held his land.A thousand times tho’ daily he should send to ask her hand,Ever would his wooing be met with scorn and flouting;But though he now was thwarted, later on her, as his wife, he was fondly doting.

The king forbade him longer to woo Gu-drun, his child;Then sent he word in anger that never would he yield:Hettel should see him coming, with men and shields, a-wooing;And this to him and Hilda would evil bring, that they would long be ruing.

Whose rede it was I know not, but thrice a thousand men,Showing thus their friendship, were soon with Herwic seen.By them against the Hegelings harm erelong was plottedFor the sake of the lovely maiden he fondly hoped would be to him allotted.

Those who came from Sturmland the tale would not believe,To those from Denmark also none the tidings gave;But Irold, lord of Ortland, soon the word was hearingThat now the daring Herwic for warlike ends to Hettel’s home was faring.

When ’twas known to Hettel that Herwic, fearing naught,E’en now the land was nearing, and followers with him brought,Then asked he of his kinsmen, and of the queen, his lady:“What say you to the tidings? I hear that guests to our home have come already.”

She said: “What can I answer, but that ’tis well and right,When one such deeds is doing as befit a worthy knight,Tho’ good or ill it bring us, praise should they be earning.Can aught amiss befall him? Herwic is wise, and aye for honor yearning.”

His queenly wife said further: “Yet must we beware,That he may bring no burden unto our kinsmen here.This have many told me,— ’tis for the sake of your daughterThat he with many warriors has come into your borders, o’er the water.”

Hettel with his kinsmen had waited a little too long:The wrath of young King Herwic now had waxen strong.In the cool of the early morning, he, with followers daring,Reached King Hettel’s castle, and later with his men the strife was sharing.

While yet the men were sleeping within King Hettel’s halls,The watchman from the castle down to them loudly calls:“Up from your rest now, quickly! Arm yourselves and listen!Foes from abroad are coming! E’en now, on their way, I see the helmets glisten.”

From off their beds upsprang they, no longer dared they lie;Whoe’er there was among them, in rank or low or high,Must bear a heavy burden, for life and honor caring.Thus the young King Herwic strove for a wife, the storm of warfare daring.

Hettel and Queen Hilda had now to the window come:Men they saw with Herwic, brought from a far-off homeAmong the hills of Galeis, where they had their dwelling;These the mighty Morunc in Waleis knew, and oft of them was telling.

The foes were seen by Hettel, thronging towards the gate.Well Gu-drun’s brave father must fear to meet their hate,As they were rushing onward, tho’ high his heart was swelling:Much they roused his anger, but them his burghers helped erelong in quelling.

Armed to guard the castle were a hundred men or more;Hettel himself fought boldly, goodwill for this he bore.His lieges all were doughty, but yet they could not save him;Hard were the blows for Hettel, that in the fight the brave young Herwic gave him.

Upon his foeman’s helmet whizzing blasts, fire-hot,Were struck by the daring Herwic. The many blows he smoteGu-drun now saw with wonder, her eyes upon him feeding:He seemed a knight most worthy, and love she felt, e’en though her heart was bleeding.

Hettel bore his weapon grimly ’gainst his foe;Of strength no less than riches he had, in truth, enow:But soon he did unwisely, he pressed on him too nearly,And those within the castle saw the fight between them all too clearly.

The sore-beleaguered dwellers the gates would gladly shut;But now their losses told them that this would nothing boot:Friends as well as foemen near the gates were thronging,And great was the hope of Herwic to win the maid for whom his heart was longing.

Hettel then and Herwic against each other dashed,In sight of all their followers; flames shot out and flashedOn the bosses of the bucklers which they both were wearing:But little while it lasted, ere knowledge of each other they were sharing.

When Hettel saw in Herwic a warrior so proud,And one so truly daring, he cried to all aloud:“Should any here forbid me that I with him be friendly,He knows the knight but little; deadly wounds he hews, in mood unkindly.”

Gu-drun, the lovely maiden, looked on, and heard the din.Luck is round and rolling, like a ball, I ween;And since to end the fighting to her it was not given,She hoped that, when ’twas over, her father and his foe would find their strength was even.

She then began to call to him, from out the palace hall:“Hettel, my noble father, behold how blood doth fall,From out the hauberks flowing! Everywhere about usThe walls therewith are spattered! A neighbor ill is Herwic, and harm hath wrought us.

“If you would grant my wishes, you now will be at peace;Give rest to heart from anger, and let your fighting cease,Till I can ask of Herwic, and he to us be telling,About his land and kingdom, and where his nearest kinsmen have their dwelling.”

Then said the proud young Herwic: “Not yet may peace begin,Unless without my weapons I your love may win.If rest a while be granted, the knowledge you are seekingI then will give you freely, and of my kinsmen will to you be speaking.”

Now, for love of the maiden, the strife did they forego.Then shook they off their armor, each battle-weary foe,And bathed in running waters, from rusty stains to free them.They soon were cheered and rested, and none could grudge in happy mood to see them.

A hundred knights with Herwic went from the field to findGu-drun, the Hegeling maiden, still wavering in her mind.She, with other ladies, gave him welcome kindly;But the worthy, high-born Herwic hardly dared to think their wishes friendly.

The fair and comely maiden showed the guests their seats;The bravery of Herwic erelong with love she meets:His high and noble breeding earned him kindest greeting.’Twas thought Gu-drun and Hilda should grant his suit, without a longer waiting.

To the ladies then spake Herwic: “I oft have heard it saidThat you of me speak lightly, and think me lowly bred:Your scorn may bring you sorrow, after all my striving;The rich may from the poorest a blessing gain, the while with them they’re living.”

She said: “Where is the maiden who could behold with scornA knight who strove so bravely, or from his love could turn?Believe me,” said the maiden, “I do not hold you lightly;Never maid more kindly has looked on you, or prized your worth more rightly.

“If now my friends and kindred leave for this will give,Even as you wish it, with you I will gladly live.”Then with fondest glances he her eye was seeking:In her heart she bore him, and owned the truth to all, no falsehood speaking.

The brave and happy Herwic begged that he might dareTo woo the fair young maiden. Now to grant his prayerWere Hettel and Hilda ready; but first must they be knowingWhether Gu-drun, their daughter, was glad or sorry for the kingly Herwic’s wooing.

Herwic was quick in learning how kindly was her mood:And now the brave young warrior before the maiden stood,In shape as fair and comely as if the hand of a masterOn a white wall had drawn him: while there he stood her love but grew the faster.

“If you your love will give me,” he said, “most lovely maid,Then shall my truest worship to you be ever paid;Throughout my lands and castles to you there shall be givenMy kinsmen’s faithful service, and ne’er shall I repent that thus I’ve striven.”

She said: “I give you freely the love for which you pray;By all your toils and daring you well have earned to-dayThat you and all my kindred foes shall be no longer.Now none can make me sorrow, and every day our bliss shall grow the stronger.”

Then they sent for Hettel: thus ended was the fight.Soon came he to his daughter; and many a faithful knightFollowed the king, their master, who unto him had riddenFrom all the Hegeling kingdom. Thus to the strife a long farewell was bidden.

Now when Hettel’s kinsmen their wish for this did speak,Then asked he of his daughter if she would gladly takeHerwic, the knight so noble, who in his heart had set her.Then said the lovely maiden: “There’s not another I could love the better.”

They then betrothed the maiden at once to the knightly king,Who in his land would crown her. This did gladness bringTo him, and sorrow likewise: ere many years were ended,And she to him was wedded, good knights in stormy fight their lives defended.

To take the maiden with him Herwic now was fain;But this her mother grudged him: thereby much woe and painCame upon him later from foes as yet unheeded.The king was told by Hilda that longer time ere she be crowned was needed.

They thought it best for Herwic to leave the maiden there,While he with other women might pass the time elsewhere,And wait to wed the lady until a year were ended.This learned the men of Alzabie: to wait so long for her young Herwic ill befriended.