Legends of the Middle Ages | Page 9

and his family to visit their ship, and cleverly managing to separate the
willing princess from her parents and train, they sailed rapidly away,
leaving the angry father to hurl equally ineffectual spears, curses, and
threats after them.
[Sidenote: Marriage of Hettel and Hilde.] The Hegelings sailed with
their prize direct to Waleis, in Holland (near the river Waal), where the
impatient Hettel came to meet them, and tenderly embraced his
beautiful young bride. There their hasty nuptials were celebrated; but,
as they were about to sail away on the morrow, Hettel became aware of
the rapid approach of a large fleet. Of course the foremost vessel was
commanded by Hagen, who had immediately started out in pursuit of
his kidnaped daughter. Landing, with all his forces, he challenged his
new-made son-in-law to fight.
"King Hagen, full of anger, leaped forward in the sea. Unto the shore
he waded; no braver knight than he! Full many pointed arrows against
him were seen flying, Like flakes of snow, from warriors of Hetel's

host defying." Gudrun (Dippold's tr.).
The result of this battle was that Hettel was wounded by Hagen, who,
in his turn, was injured by Wat, and that the distracted Hilde suddenly
flung herself between the contending parties, and by her tears and
prayers soon brought about a reconciliation. Hagen, who had tested the
courage of his new son-in-law and had not found it wanting, now
permitted his daughter to accompany her husband home to Matelan,
where she became the mother of a son, Ortwine, and of a daughter,
Gudrun, who was even fairer than herself.
[Sidenote: Gudrun's suitors.] Ortwine was fostered by Wat, the
dauntless hero, who taught him to fight with consummate skill; while
Hilde herself presided over the education of Gudrun, and made her so
charming that many suitors soon came, hoping to find favor in her eyes.
These were Siegfried, King of Moorland, a pagan of dark complexion;
Hartmut, son of Ludwig, King of Normandy; and, lastly, Herwig of
Zealand. Although the latter fancied that he had won some favor in the
fair Gudrun's sight, Hettel dismissed him as well as the others, with the
answer that his daughter was yet too young to leave the parental roof.
Herwig, who was not ready to give the maiden up, then remembered
that Hettel had won his own bride only after he had measured his
strength with her father's; so he collected an army, invaded Matelan,
and proved his courage by encountering Hettel himself in the fray.
Gudrun, who stood watching the battle from the palace window, seeing
them face to face, loudly implored them to spare each other, an entreaty
to which they both lent a willing ear.
"Fair Gudrun saw the combat, and heard the martial sound. Like to a
ball is fortune, and ever turns around.
"Then from the castle chamber the royal maid cried out: 'King Hetel,
noble father, the blood flows all about Athwart the mighty hauberks.
With gore from warlike labor The walls are sprinkled. Herwig is a most
dreadful neighbor.'" Gudrun (Dippold's tr.).
Herwig had in this encounter proved himself no despicable foe; so
Hettel, preferring to have him as a friend, no longer opposed his
betrothal, but even promised that the wedding festivities should be
celebrated within a year. Herwig tarried in Matelan with his betrothed
until he heard that Siegfried, King of Moorland, jealous of his
successful wooing of Gudrun, had invaded his kingdom and was

raiding his unprotected lands.
[Sidenote: Gudrun kidnaped by Hartmut.] These tidings caused the
brave young warrior to bid Gudrun a hasty farewell and sail home as
quickly as possible, Hettel promising to follow him soon and help him
repel the invaders, who were far superior in number to his small but
oft-tried host. While Herwig and Hettel were thus occupied in warring
against one of the disappointed suitors, Hartmut, the other, hearing that
they were both away, invaded Matelan and carried off Gudrun and all
her attendants to Normandy. He paused only once on his way thither to
rest for a short time on an island called Wülpensand, at the mouth of
the Scheldt.
The bereaved Hilde, who had seen her beloved daughter thus carried
away, promptly sent messengers to warn Hettel and Herwig of
Gudrun's capture. These tidings put an immediate stop to their warfare
with Siegfried, who, joining forces with them, sailed in pursuit of the
Normans in the vessels of a party of pilgrims, for they had none of their
own ready for instant departure.
[Sidenote: The Wülpensand battle.] Hettel, Herwig, and Siegfried
reached Wülpensand before the Normans had left it, and there took
place a frightful conflict, in the course of which King Ludwig slew the
aged Hettel. The conflict raged until nightfall, and although there were
now but few Hegelings