Tale XXXII: How They All Went to Their Homes

Now with the friendly Hegelings / none would tarry more.
Soon on the way to Alzabie / they Herwic’s sister bore,
Shouting all for gladness / that they the maid were bringing;
While, on their watery pathway, / with proud and happy hearts, the knights were singing.

Queen Hilda gave, at parting, / a kind farewell to them.
Tho’ rich were Herwic’s followers / when first to her they came,
Yet gifts she gave full many / to them, when homeward faring.
When one is seen so lavish, / the name of a wonder-worker is he rightly bearing.

Gu-drun then spake to her mother: / “May blessings on you be!
Mourn not for the fallen; / by both my lord and me
Shall love to you be given: / no more you need be feeling
Heaviness or sorrow; / your woes shall Herwic’s kindness now be healing.”

To her Queen Hilda answered: / “Dearest daughter mine,
If you would make me happy, / henceforth must friends of thine
Come to the land of the Hegeling / thrice to see me yearly;
Else must I greatly sorrow, / and never can bear the loss I feel so nearly.”

Then said Gu-drun, the high-born: / “Mother, it shall be done.”
At once, with smiles and weeping, / and glances backward thrown,
She left the castle of Matelan, / with many a friendly maiden.
Her sorrows now were ended: / nought before did ever maids so gladden.

Hither men brought horses, / saddled and fitly bred,
To bear her hence with her maidens; / these their keepers led:
Light were all the breastplates, / and golden-red each bridle.
I ween the ladies wished not / longer far from home to linger idle.

Many, with hair down-flowing, / and decked with gold, rode there;
Methinks from tears and sorrow / none could then forbear,
Who must at last from Ortrun / and from her maids be parted.
Should Ortrun be unhappy, / Gu-drun would then be sad and heavy-hearted.

Ortrun, betrothed to Ortwin, / then her thanks did give
To fair Gu-drun, the queenly, / that she had granted leave
To hold the Norman kingdom / to Hartmut, her knightly brother:
“Gu-drun, may God reward you! / my cares are gone, I ne’er shall know another.”

To her mother Hilda, also, / Ortrun her thanks did say,
That she in Ortland’s kingdom / the crown should wear one day,
Together with King Ortwin, / and there be called his lady.
Then said to her Queen Hilda / that she to grant her this was ever ready.

Ortwin then and Herwic / each to the other swore,
With strong and steady friendship, / that they forevermore
Would sway with right and honor / the lands to them belonging,
And ever would be earnest / to seize and slay whoe’er was either wronging.