Tale XXI: How Gudrun Must Wash Clothes on the Beach

Then to Gu-drun they offered castles strong and lands:Of these would she have nothing. So, upon the sands,She must wash their clothing, from early morn till even.Great ill this wrought for Ludwig, when he with Herwic in the fight had striven.

First, Gu-drun was bidden to leave her seat, that soonShe, the high-born maiden, should go with fair Ortrun;They bade that she be merry, and wine with her be drinking.The homeless wanderer answered: “To make me queen you never need be thinking.

“Well you wot, Lord Hartmut, whate’er your wish may be,Betrothed am I to another, and am no longer free.That I one day shall wed him has with an oath been plighted;Until by death he’s taken I will not wed with any man e’er knighted.”

Then spake the lordly Hartmut: “You only waste your breath;By nought shall we be sundered unless it shall be death.In friendship with my sister you should now be living;Your hardships she will lighten, and will, I know, her love to you be giving.”

Fain to think was Hartmut that her unyielding moodMight now by this be softened; he hoped, whatever goodShould e’er befall his sister, the maiden would be sharing:Thus for both he trusted, that a happy life erelong would them be cheering.

Gu-drun soon greeted kindly many a friend and maid.Ortrun sat beside her; her hue grew rosy-redWith eating and with drinking, ere many days were ended.Enough was always ready: still the poor girl her mood ne’er wisely mended.

If Hartmut thought to greet her, and spoke in friendly mood,How little did it cheer her! She o’er her woes did brood,That she and all her maidens in a far-off land were bearing.Soon, against young Hartmut, of harsh and angry words she was not sparing.

So long a time this lasted, the king at length was wroth;He said: “Gu-drun, fair lady, as good am I in birthAs is the young King Herwic, who now you think is fitterThan I to be your lover: too much you jeer at me, with words most bitter.

“If you would leave your sorrow, for both of us ’twere gain.It wounds me out of measure when any gives you pain,Or seeks your heart to burden, or in your wish to cross you:Though now you are unfriendly, to be my queen I yet would gladly choose you.”

Then young Hartmut left her, and straight his men he sought.He bade them to be watchful of ills that threatened aught,And well to guard his kingdom; for he the while bethought him,So sorely was he hated, ’twas much to fear some harm would yet be wrought him.

The cross and wicked Gerlind for her hard tasks did set;She on a seat but seldom any rest did get.Erst ’mong princes’ daughters men were wont to greet her,As for her was rightful; now with the scorned and lowly they must meet her.

To her, in mood unfriendly, the old she-wolf then spake:“Now Queen Hilda’s daughter I a drudge will make;Although her evil feelings seem so strong and steady,We yet shall see her toiling as ne’er before to do has she been ready.”

Then said the high-born maiden: “To work with all my might,With hand and heart, I’m willing; in this, both day and night,Will I be always busy, and every hour be striving;Since ill-luck begrudges that I among my friends should now be living.”

The wicked Gerlind answered: “Now daily to the beachYou my clothes must carry, there on the sands to bleach.You must for me and my maidens be washing and be drying;And that no one find you idle, your work with care you ever must be plying.”

Then spake the high-born maiden: “Wife of a mighty king,If they will only teach me the way to wash and wring,And how to cleanse your clothing, to do it I am willing.Bliss no more I look for; still greater woe my heart must yet be filling.

“Bid them now to teach me, and I will gladly learn;So high I do not hold me that I the task should spurn.Thus shall I be earning the food I here am eating;Nought I say against it.” The poor Gu-drun her lot was wisely meeting.

Then by a washerwoman clothes to the sands were brought,And how to wash and dry them the maiden now was taught.Much at first she sorrowed, and by the work was flurried,Yet was she spared by no one. So was the fair Gu-drun by Gerlind worried.

Before King Ludwig’s castle, she gained a skilful hand;For knights who there were dwelling within the Norman land,None could be more helpful, their clothing better washing.Loudly mourned her maidens to see her toiling where the waves were dashing.

One there was among them who was also a great king’s child;The wailing of the others was to hers a whisper mild.This work so mean and lowly went to their hearts too nearly,As they saw the high-born lady drudging on the shore, both late and early.

Then with love true-hearted Hildeburg made moan:“Well we all must rue it— to God may this be known—Who in this Norman kingdom erst with Gu-drun were landing;No rest ought we to hope for while on the sea-beach washing she is standing.”

This was heard by Gerlind, who in anger spoke:“If on the toils of your lady with such ill-will you look,The work shall you be doing, and her place be filling.”“That would I do right gladly,” said Hildeburg, “if only you were willing.

“For the love of God Almighty, Gerlind, my lady queen,Let not this great king’s daughter toiling alone be seen:A crown, too, wore my father, yet work would I be doing;Let me with her stand washing, whatever good or ill we may be knowing.

“It fills my heart with sorrow, I feel her woes my own.Once the greatest honor to her by God was shown:Her forefathers and kindred were kings, and none were higher;Though now her work is lowly, to toil with the maiden I shall never tire.”

Then said the wicked Gerlind: “This oft will bring you pain;However hard the winter, still in snow and rainMy clothes must you be washing, altho’ cold winds are blowing;So will you be wishing that you the warmth of heated rooms were knowing.”

Unwillingly she waited until the night drew near;From this Gu-drun the high-born gained at last some cheer.Then into her bedroom went Hildeburg in sorrow;There they wept together for the work that they must do upon the morrow.

Then the Lady Hildeburg said to her in tears:“The woes that you are bearing my heart with you now shares;I begged the old she-devil no more alone to leave youUpon the sea-sands washing; with you I’ll bear the burden, and my help will give you.”

The homeless maiden answered: “May Christ your love reward,That you with so much sorrow of all my woes have heard.If we may wash together, the days will be the brighter,And time will seem far shorter, and on our hearts the shame will weigh the lighter.”

Soon as her wish was granted, down to the sandy shoreThe clothing then she carried, gladness to know no more.There must they wash in sorrow, whatever was the weather;Whate’er was done by others, yet still these two must wash and toil together.

When her throng of handmaidens had time from work to spare,Bitter was their weeping, to see her standing thereUpon the sea-sands washing. Loud were their moans and many,Nor did their sorrow lessen; greater woe was never known by any.

Long the toiling lasted,— that is true enough;There must they be working full five years and a half.Clothes for Hartmut’s followers they must wash and whiten:Ne’er were maidens sadder; their toils before the castle nought could lighten.