Gudrun and other stories from the epics of the Middle Ages

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The Story of Gudrun (page 62).

Prefatory Note

T HE Stories in this Volume are taken from Poems which are among the earliest remaining of the three greatest nations of Europe — the Germans, the English, and the French. I have not translated but have told their stories faithfully in simple language, with the special design of interesting young people, although I am not without hope that they will be read by some who can no longer be called young. In the Concluding Chapter an account will be found of the History and Character of the Original Poems.

Contents

Gudrun

Wild Hagen Beowulf .

The Death of Roland Walter and Hildegund

II

While Hartmuth was getting ready an army to attack King Hettel and his land, another king, named Herwig, also was preparing war against the Hegelings. The beauty of Gudrun was also the cause of Herwig’s wish to invade King Hetteks land. Herwig desired to win the love of the maiden ; and he had sent rich gifts to Hettel, and had begged for his daughter in marriage. Hettel answered scornfully, as was his wont, and then

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Herwig vowed that he would win Gudrun for his bride with his sword.

Now Seeland, the land of Herwig, lay nearer to the land of the Hegelings than Normandy. And Wate of Sturmland and Horand the Dane knew not that Herwig was going up against King Hettel, for Herwig went swiftly and secretly.

It came to pass that when Hettel and his heroes were sleeping fast in the Castle of Matelane, the watcher on the wall looked down, and behold he saw armed men coming towards the castle. And he shouted aloud —

“ Wake, heroes, wake ! there are strange guests coming. I see swords and helmets gleaming below.”

Every man sprang from his bed at these words, and seized his weapons. Hettel and Hilda hastened to the window, and behold they saw Herwig with his men of war thundering at their gates. King Hettel went forth with all his men, and fought with the bold strangers who had come to his land. The fighting was sore, and many heroes lost their lives in the battle. Hilda and Gudrun looked down from the window and saw the battle. Gudrun knew that it was for love of her that King Herwig was come. She grieved and was also glad when she saw the terrible blows that he dealt around him ; for he was slaying her father’s men, but she loved and was proud of the brave hero.

At length Herwig met Hettel in the fight, and the

IO two Kings fought furiously before all the host ; and soon must one have died by the sword of the other, but when

Gudrun saw the danger, she called with a loud voice from the castle window —

“ Hettel, lord father, the blood flows from your

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1 1

armour, and the castle walls are broken. We cannot stand against these foemen. For my sake, I pray both of you cease fighting and become friends.,,

The two Kings heard the voice of the maid ; they ceased fighting, and consented to be friends. Herwig took off his bloody armour, and went as a guest into the castle. He went into the presence of Gudrun and said —

“ Lady Gudrun, I hear that you scorn me because I am but a poor prince, and am come of a race less noble than your own ; but poor men often take best care of those who are rich and noble.”

“ I scorn you not,” said Gudrun, “ and if my father and mother were favourable, I might listen to your suit.”

Right glad was Herwig when he heard these words of the maiden, and he went straightway to Hettel and to Hilda, and said —

“ Sir King, I would wed your daughter Gudrun, who made us friends to-day.”

Hettel and Hilda answered, “ We say not nay, but we wish to know what Gudrun herself says.”

Herwig returned quickly into the presence of Gudrun; and when the maiden looked on him she thought him fair to look upon, and like a picture painted by the hand of a master upon a white wall. Herwig said —

“ It thou wilt love me, fair maiden, all that I have shall be thine. My land and my people will obey thee as their Queen.”

Gudrun replied, “ Herwig, I will be thy wife; and

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thou and I will make an end of all the strife and hatred between thy people and my people.”

All men were glad when they heard that Herwig and

Gudrun were betrothed lovers. Herwig wished to wed her immediately, and to take her away with him to Seeland to be Queen among his own people. But Lady Hilda said —

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“ Nay, not yet. I must have a year to make preparations for a great wedding feast for my daughter.’’

Herwig was unwilling to wait so long, but Lady Hilda was not to be persuaded ; and she bade him farewell, and sent him back to Seeland to abide there for a year.

III

The tidings came to the ears of Siegfried, King of the Moors, that the King of the Hegelings had promised his daughter in marriage to Herwig of Seeland. Siegfried still remembered with anger the affront that he received from the King of the Hegelings. And he resolved to avenge himself on the King of the Hegelings by invading the kingdom of Seeland. He gathered together a large army and many ships, and when the month of May came, and the seas were calm, he sailed with all his men to Seeland. Herwig and his men went forth to meet the hosts of the King of the Moors. But the land of Seeland was small, and Herwig had few fighting men, while the host of the Moors was a very great multitude. The two armies met, and the men of Seeland were defeated, and Herwig fled with what remained of his fighting men behind the walls of his castle ; and Siegfried and his men went to and fro throughout the land slaying men and women, and burning the cities and houses in all Seeland.

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Herwig was sore distressed, and he sent messengers to King Hettel to tell him of his trouble. When the messengers were come to the land of the Hegelings they sought King Hettel, and told him that Herwig was shut up in his castle, and that the Moors were laying waste his land. Then said Hettel —

“ Go and tell Gudrun what has happened in Seeland, and behold whatsoever she saith, that I will do.”

Gudrun listened to the words of the messengers, and she said —

“ Is my Lord Herwig still alive ?”

And the messengers replied, “ We left Lord Herwig living, but what has taken place since we left we know not”

Gudrun rose quickly and went to her father, and said, “ Father, I beseech thee to go to the help of Herwig, for I fear he is in peril of death.” And the maiden wept. But her father embraced her and comforted her, saying —

“ Weep not, my dear maiden, I will go to the help of thy lover.”

And straightway King Hettel sent swift messengers to old Wate of Sturmland, bidding him come in haste with his men, for he had need of him to help against Siegfried. He likewise sent messengers to Horand the Dane, and to his son Ortwein, the young hero of Ortland. Other heroes he also called, and quickly they came to Matelane ; and all went together in haste to Seeland to the help of Herwig. They found Herwig

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in great trouble, for Siegfried's men surrounded his castle ; and from morning to evening did Herwig and his men fight at the gate and on the wall, to withstand the attacks of the great army.

But soon Hettel and his men attacked the heathen host, and there was a great battle ; and never were greater deeds of war done than by Hettel and his heroes in the battle in Seeland. Old Wate was much seen in the fight, and many a stout blow did he deal to the heathen warriors. Horand the Dane and Morung; struck hard to avenge the wrongs of Herwig. Herwig himself was always to be seen fighting at his castle gate or on the open field, and helmet and armour were always covered with blood. Men who saw the deeds done by Ortwein, the young hero from Ortland, marvelled, and said —

“ Saw you ever such a hero so young ?”

Many other heroes did deeds of might. For twelve days the two armies fought, but on the thirteenth morning Siegfried said in sorrow to his knights —

“ Alas, what heaps of my warriors lie dead upon the field ! Counsel me what is to be done, for we can no longer fight King Hettel’s men.”

Siegfried's knights counselled him saying —

“ Go with your army to yonder strong place, and there perchance you will be able to save some."

Siegfried hearkened to their counsel, and took refuge with his men in the place of strength. But Hettel and

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his host followed them, and attacked the place where they lay and pressed them sore. Hettel saw’ that soon the King of the Moors and his men would be in the hands of his Hegelings. And he rejoiced greatly, and sent messengers to Matelane to Lady Hilda and Gudrun, bidding them be of good cheer, for that Herwig was saved from peril, and soon they wTould all return to Matelane.

IV

It came to pass, soon after the good tidings reached them, that Hilda and her daughter wrere looking from the castle window, and joyfully expecting the return of their lords. And there came in sight two stately knights, who rode up to the castle gates. The gates were opened to them, and they asked to be led into the presence of the Lady Hilda. When they were come into her presence, Lady Hilda commanded the wine-cup to be given to them that they might be refreshed after their journey. When they had drunk they stood forth and gave their message.

“We are messengers,” they said, “come from King Hartmuth, he who wishes to win the love of Lady Gudrun, thy daughter. He and his father Ludwig are come from Normandy in their ships with a mighty host. They are now but a few miles from thy castle. We are commanded by Hartmuth to say that he seeks the

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1 7 love of Gudrun, and that he will dower her with his wealth, and all his lands. But if his request is denied, thou shalt soon see hosts of bold men before thy castle walls, for our master returns not to Normandy without Gudrun”

Gudrun heard the words of the messengers, and she said quickly —

“ It cannot be. Hartmuth and I can never stand side by side under his crown. I have promised to be the wife of Herwig, and King Hettel’s daughter will not break her word.”

Then answered the messengers and said —

“ Ladies, on the third morning expect to see King Hartmuth and his men before Matelane.”

The messengers took their leave ; nor would they drink of Queen Hilda’s wine, nor take the rich presents which she desired to give them. Those who stood by were angry with the messengers when they saw their pride, and said to them —

“ If you will not drink of King Hettel’s wine, you shall have blood instead.”

On their return to the place where Hartmuth and Ludwig were resting with their host, the messengers were questioned by Hartmuth.

“ What reception,” said he, “ met you from the fair Gudrun ? Pray tell me.”

The messengers replied, “ The glorious maiden refuses to love thee, O King, for she has another lover

B

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whom she loves above everything. And men who stood by told us in scorn that if we would not drink King Hettel's wine, we should have blood for our pains.”

Ludwig and Hartmuth were exceeding angry when they heard the words of the messengers, and they gave commandment to their men to march against Matelane. Hilda saw from the wall troops of men advancing towards the castle, and noted the strange devices upon their banners, and she knew that it was not her dear husband returning from the wars, but the foemen coming up against her. She exclaimed in her sorrow —

“ Alas, alas, a woeful day is near ! The fierce strangers come to carry away Gudrun.”

But Hilda's men spake words of encouragement to her, and said —

“ Fear not these strangers, Lady Hilda, for we will protect you and save your daughter.”

Then Hilda gave commandment that the castle gates should be shut fast, and that her men should defend it from within. But the proud Hegelings would not remain behind stone walls, and they heeded not the words of Hilda, and rushed out with their swords in their hands to punish the strangers who were come to their land. But the Hegelings could not stand before the men of Normandy, for they were few, and their foes were many, and they were driven back into the castle. The men of Normandy followed them ; and although the Hegelings fought hard to save their castle, yet

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could they not prevail ; and the castle was filled with the men of Normandy, who slew or made prisoners all the Hegelings that were left. Thus Ludwig and Hartmuth became masters of Matelane. Right proud was Ludwig when he saw the flag of Normandy flying from the wall of Matelane. Hilda and Gudrun wept bitterly, and cried —

“ Oh, had Hettel been here, and had Wate been here, then had there been another tale to tell !”

And the men of Normandy burned the town around Matelane, and broke down much of the castle wall ; and they wished to burn the castle, but Hartmuth forbade them, saying, “ Come, let us be gone from hence, lest King Hettel hear of what we have done, and come upon us with his men.” And the Hegelings made Hilda bring forth all her treasures ; and they found much booty in the castle and in the town, and they wished to carry all away with them to Normandy. But Hartmuth said, “ Leave these treasures, and when we return to Normandy I will give you gold enough from my father’s treasures.” For Hartmuth did not wish to injure King Hettel more, but he was anxious to carry off Gudrun, whom he found in the castle.

When it was told Gudrun that she must go with the men of Normandy, she wept sore, and said —

“ Alas, my father, didst thou but know that the stranger is leading thy daughter away a captive !”

And the men of Normandy led Gudrun to the ships,

The Broken Castle.

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and sixty-two other fair maidens they also led captive with her. The men of Normandy sailed away in their ships, and Hilda was left in the broken castle weeping for the loss of her daughter.

V

The men of Normandy had not been long gone when Hilda sent for messengers and said to them —

“Go quickly to Seeland and say to King Hettel that his castle is broken and plundered, and that Hartmuth and his men have carried away his daughter Gudrun.”

The messengers journeyed with haste over land and sea, and on the seventh morning they reached Seeland and sought the presence of King Hettel. They said to him — “ Lady Hilda sent us to tell thee that thy castle wall is broken, thy lands laid waste, thy treasures plundered, and thy daughter Gudrun led a captive to a strange land.”

“ Who has done all this evil ?” exclaimed Hettel.

“ They who did it,” said the messengers, “ were named ‘ Ludwig’ and ‘ Hartmuth.’ ”

Then Hettel said to those who surrounded him —

“ I refused my daughter to this Hartmuth because his father was Hagen’s vassal, and therefore has he done me this evil ; but let not the foeman know what has taken place.”

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Hettel sent for the chiefs and leaders that they might counsel him. When they were assembled he told them the tidings which the messengers had brought from Matelane. As Herwig heard the tale he wept, and one could see that the cheek of Hettel was not dry as he told it ; nor was there one among all who heard who did not shed a tear over Gudrun’s captivity. Old Wate spake and said —

“ My counsel is that we make peace with this heathen king, and then leave Seeland and give chase to those who have carried Gudrun away.”

Herwig said, “ The counsel of Wate pleases me well ; let us make ready to attack Siegfried early to-morrow, that he may be more ready to accept peace.”

The Hegelings did according to the words of Herwig. Early next morning they attacked the camp of Siegfried, and there was a great battle. In vain did the heathen fight, for the Hegelings pressed nearer and nearer, until at length the heathen could no longer keep them outside of their camp.

Then was the voice of Irold heard shouting aloud above the din of the battle, “ Heroes of Moorland ! King Hettel offers you peace.”

But Siegfried answered, “ I will not make peace with King Hettel unless with honour.”

Then Frute shouted, “ Pledge us your faith to be our friend and to aid us, and you shall depart in peace to your home.”

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Siegfried was well pleased when he heard the words of Frute, and he promised to be the friend of the Hegelings. The battle ceased, and the heroes met as friends; and Hettel told Siegfried the evil tidings which Hilda had sent from Matelane.

Siegfried said, “ Did we but know where to find them, it would go ill, I trow, with Hartmuth and his men.”

“ I can guide you,” said Wate, “ across the sea-path, for I know it.”

“But where,” said Hettel, “ shall we find ships to carry us all ?”

Old Wate spake again and said, “ God is mighty to guide, and swift in His doings. The ships are not far off. Yonder on the strand we shall find seventy good ships, and well provided with victuals. Pilgrims brought them here from over the seas. Let us seize them, and the pilgrims can wait here until we have settled with our enemies.”

Then Wate went down to the strand accompanied by a few men, and he said to the pilgrims, “ We wish to buy from you what you have cheap.”

He and his men went on board the ships of the pilgrims as if to buy their wares. Presently Hettel came down to the strand with all his armed men, and the pilgrims saw that they wished to take their ships. Wate caused all the gold and treasures to be taken out from the ships, and to be laid on the strand, but the victuals he kept for his men.

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“We shall pay you,” he said to the pilgrims, “on our return.”

The pilgrims cried out in sorrow when they saw Wate take their ships, but Wate heeded them not. Hettel and all his men went on board, and the ships sailed away after King Hartmuth. But God in heaven was angry with the Hegelings, and He avenged on them afterwards this wrong they did to the poor pilgrims.

VI

Ludwig and Hartmuth were on the Wulpenstrand, a desert island at which they had stopped to rest their men a while. And as they looked across the sea they saw many ships coming towards the island. On the flags which floated from the masts there was the cross, and they said, “ These are the ships of pilgrims.” But when the ships came close to the shore, they looked again, and behold, those on board had helmets on, and swords in their hands. Hartmuth saw them, and he knew that they were the foemen, and shouted, “Up, up, men of Normandy, the Hegelings are upon us!”

Then was there a great fight on the sands beside the sea. The Hegelings leaped from the ships, and struggled through the waters to the shore; and the men of Normandy sought to slay them before they could set foot upon dry land. When old Wate came on shore, King

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Ludwig flung a sharp spear at the old hero ; but the spear flew into the air in broken pieces, and Wate brought down such a blow with his sword upon the helmet of Ludwig that it was cleft in twain, and the King's head hardly escaped. It was with difficulty that Ludwig got off with his life from Wate’s blows. Wate was an evil guest to meet in the battle crowd, and many a man of Normandy found this to his cost. Hartmuth flew at Irold, and the two heroes struck at one another such blows on the helmets that all around heard the sound of them. Herwig sprang from his ship into the sea, and the waters came up to his shoulders. The men of Normandy thought they could drown the hero, and sent a shower of darts upon him ; but he struggled through the waves and came on shore. Morung and young Ortwein also came on shore with bloody swords. The heathen, too, who had come along with King Hettel struck stout blows for their new friends.

The waves of the sea were red with blood all along the shore. When evening came, and the sun was sinking in the sea, the fight was still raging. At length Hettel met Ludwig in the battle, and they fought. Both found how strong and brave the other was, for their blows were terrible ; but Ludwig prevailed, and King Hettel lay dead upon the Wulpenstrand.

All the while were Gudrun and her maidens watching the fight from a distance. And when Gudrun knew that her father was slain, she lifted up her voice and

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wept ; and even the foemen who were around wept to see the maiden’s sorrow.

When old Wate saw that his lord was slain, he raged like a furious boar. He struck swift and terrible blows on the helmets of the foes, so that one could see the

The Battle

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sparks of fire in the evening air. Young Ortwein also came to avenge his father, and with him came Horand the Dane and his men.

But in the darkness one sprang at Horand, and he smote him dead with his sword ; but behold, when he looked, he whom he had slain was his own nephew.

Then Herwig shouted, “ Here is murder being done ; the day is spent, and in this darkness we know not friend from foe. If this goes on until morning we shall be all dead together.”

Then the two hosts separated, although they were unwilling; and they gathered around their watchfires to wait until the morning. The night was dark, for there was no moon in the sky. And in the darkness Ludwig and Hartmuth took counsel together ; and afterwards the old King said to his men —

“What avails it to remain longer here? We shall be all slain by Wate and his men. Let us escape to Normandy in the darkness/’

And the crafty old King showed them how to deceive the enemy, and they all went down to their ships and sailed away, and the Hegelings knew not that they were gone. The men of Normandy took Gudrun and all her maidens with them when they sailed away in their ships. Very sorrowful were the maidens to leave their kindred and friends, who were now so nigh at hand.

In the early morning Wate blew his horn to call his

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men to the fight, and they rose quickly and went forth to find the foe ; but behold, when they looked, they saw only dead men lying on the sand and masterless weapons. When Wate knew that the men of Normandy were gone he became mad with anger ; and Ortwein lamented aloud that they had escaped who had slain his father, and he shouted —

“ Let us chase and overtake them, they cannot be far from the shore.”

Wate, who was blind with rage, agreed to the proposal of Ortwein, but Frute looked at the wind and said —

“ It is vain to chase them. By this time they are more than thirty miles distant.”

Ortwein said, “ Let us, then, bury our dead that lie on the strand.”

Irold also said, “ Let us bury them, for it were a shame if the raven and the wild wolf devoured the bodies of our heroes.”

Wate commanded the young men to gather together all the dead bodies of the Christians that lay on the sands. And they did so, and buried them. Hettel was buried with much honour, as was fitting for one who died fighting for his friends.

The bodies of the heathen Moors were also buried, and even the dead of the men of Normandy the Hegelings laid in graves. For six days did they labour burying the dead ; for they wished to secure the favour of God, and to make atonement for their sins, and masses

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without number were said for the souls of the dead ; and when they sailed away, priests were left behind to pray for those who died in the fight. Much money was afterwards gathered together, and a rich cloister was built upon the Wulpenstrand, to be a monument for those who died fighting for Gudrun and her maidens.

VII

Now the heroes were ashamed to return to Matelane, and to bear the woeful tidings to Hilda. Her son, young Ortwein, said to the others —

“ I cannot look into my mother’s face. I know she is watching to see us return with Gudrun. What can I say to her ?”

The other heroes said the same ; nor would any chief return to Matelane save Wate only. When Wate and his men came in sight of Matelane, all who saw his coming marvelled greatly, and they said one to another—

“ When Wate came from the war before, it was to the sound of trumpets that his men marched, and they made joyous shoutings. To-day he rides in silence, and all are silent who ride by him.”

Hilda looked from the castle wall and saw the warriors coming, and she exclaimed —

“ Alackaday ! what meaneth this ? They come with

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broken shields, and the horses go heavily. Surely they have suffered evil fortune.” And Hilda looked again, and said, “ Where is the King ? I see him not.”

When Wate drew near the people crowded round him, saying —

“ Wate, Wate, where are those who went out with you to the war ? Few have returned. Where are the many ?”

The old chief replied, “ I will not deceive you, they are all slain.”

Then was the sound of weeping and wailing heard around Matelane, and old men wept along with children. And Lady Hilda bewailed her husband slain, saying —

“Alas! must I part fo t ever from my lord and king, the noble Hettel ? My glory is clean gone from me.”

Knights and maidens beat their hearts in sorrow, and the hall resounded with their cries. But Wate spake to Hilda and said —

“ Weep not any longer, noble lady. From the abodes of the dead no one comes back. Be comforted, we shall take vengeance on Ludwig and on Hartmuth for the evil they have done.”

Hilda said, “ May I live to see the day when vengeance will be taken for those who fell on the Wulpenstrand ; and may I also see once more the face of my daughter Gudrun.”

And Wate said, “Vengeance shall be taken, and Gudrun shall be delivered ; but, lady, I did an evil deed, and I fear it brought an evil fate upon us.”

“What did you do?” said Hilda.

Wate replied, “ Before I went to the Wulpenstrand I took by force the ships of pious pilgrims. These I must restore, that when we fight again we may have better fortune.”

Hilda said, “Wate, you speak wisely. It is a great sin to rob the pilgrims, and dearly he rues it who does such wrong. Go and give them back their ships, and give to them three times the value of that you took away. I myself will pay from my treasures.”

The ships were sent back to the pilgrims, as Hilda wished, and they were richly rewarded for their losses.

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The pilgrims, who had been before cursing the Hegelings as their spoilers, now blessed them, and spoke well of them as those who had opened their hands liberally and given richly to poor pilgrims.

Now Herwig from Seeland came to Matelane to visit Hilda. He found her weeping bitterly for her dead husband, and for her daughter who was led away captive. Herwig also wept when he saw her tears, but he said —