Meanwhile the Norman had its destination.
Queen Gerlind, her Ortrûn, their ladies, and many of
the citizens of Cassian to the to welcome the heroes
home. After they had the kings, Ortrûn to sad Gudrûn's
side, and, her, told her to be of good courage. Gudrûn was
touched by the maiden's kindness, though it not stop her tears;
but when Queen Gerlind would have her, she from her
touch, for the sharp-featured woman with the bold, eyes
seemed to her a snake, to on his and it
in his coils.
"Eh, puppet," said the queen. "What, so shy? But you'll
soon under my training." She would have said more, but
Hartmut interposed, saying that Gudrûn was to be his wife when the days
of for her father were over. He then offered the his
arm, and against her will, she had to enter the by
side with him. Some of the townsfolk, her, said, "How
beautiful she is!" to which others answer, "But how sad!"
Days and passed on. Hartmut did his best to win Gudrûn's
love, but all his were vain. One day he asked her why she would
not love him, and she that he was a great and warrior,
well of a woman's love, but she was to Herwig, and
would her troth. Queen Gerlind was not of so patient a
disposition as her son: she was to Gudrûn's proud
spirit, and her to to Hartmut. At she tried
soft and speeches; but these of no avail, she
had to measures, though she waited till her son had
left home on a expedition. Before going he Gudrûn to
his mother's care, telling her she might "try to the wild bird" in
any fashion she liked, that was not with the maiden's
royal dignity.
No sooner was Hartmut gone, than Queen Gerlind set to work. She made
Gudrûn dress like a servant, and then set her and her to cook
and sweep, and do all the work in the palace. Gudrûn her
wrongs in patient silence. Her soft hands were with scrubbing
pots and pans, and doing other work, with which she was busied
from early till late at night. The queen would sometimes ask
her if she would not wear the Norman than
continue to in that manner, but she answered that she
would keep her troth.
So she did all that was her to do through the days,
and in the cold of winter, without a single at her
hard fate.
Year after year she this life. At length Hartmut came
home from his wars. He his father, mother, and
sister with warm affection, and then looked for Gudrûn. When he
saw her in clothing, and doing hard work, he was very
angry with his mother for her ill-treatment of the girl. He begged
Gudrûn to what was past and gone, and him her love,
trying to her by on the and of
the he offered to with her. But Gudrûn answered that a
noble-minded woman love but once, and again. So he left
her, but took to protect her from Gerlind's malice.
Gudrûn was to her position, and slept that night in her
old room. Next morning, when she awoke, she the Ortrûn,
whom she had not for a long time, over her. The two girls
spent the together, and learnt to love each other warmly. As
autumn came on, Gudrûn that her friend looked and sadder
than her wont, and asked her the of the change. Ortrûn then
confessed that as Gudrûn had not way to Hartmut's entreaties, but
remained as ever, Gerlind to her daughter
from the Hegeling princess.
While the two girls were talking, Hartmut joined them, and said:
"Lady Gudrûn, the to you your is not worthy
of your love, otherwise he would not have allowed so many years to pass
without in search of you at the of his men. He has
forgotten you, and is most likely married to another."
"You do not know him, hero," answered Gudrûn; "death alone, which
looses all bonds, us."
"What if he has in battle, or has died of some illness?" asked
the king.
"Then he shall me when I join him where there is no more
parting," the princess, with a look of resolve.
So Hartmut took of her, and again away to try and her
amid the of battle.
When he was gone, Queen Gerlind once more Gudrûn from her high
estate, and sent her to wash the clothes, making her work from early
morning till late at night, and her with the if she
were lazy; but the too hard to give her an for
inflicting this last indignity.
More years passed on, and at length Hartmut returned as at
first. He spoke to Gudrûn, but her as to Herwig.
Gerlind, after this, was than to Gudrûn. The other Hegeling
maidens were than she. They had to and card
flax and wool, while their had to wash the all
the cold winter through, and often, on her return from the shore, she
sank into an sleep on her pallet, without having the
strength to take off her wet garments. At last came to
such a pass that her Hildburg her peace no longer,
and asked the queen how she a with such cruelty
and disrespect. Upon which Gerlind set her to join her in her
work.
This was just what Hildburg wanted. Her great was to be with her
mistress, to and her, and her toil. Still Gudrûn
had often to go to the alone when Hildburg was at the
castle. On one of these occasions she saw a come over the
sea.
"O swan, had I wings, I would into the sky and me to my
home."
While she spoke, the into the sea, and in its place up came
a mermaid:
"O long and true, shall pass away: lover and
thy live, and lo, they to rescue."
So saying, the dived, and again the white on the
wave. He spread his and rose in the air, three times round
the princess, and sang:
"True love on the earth may yet be found,
True that roam;
Lo, through the breakers' foam
'Tis warrior's o'er the bound,
To lead his true-love home."
[Illustration: MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS.]
It was well for Gudrûn that she had this to support her,
for Gerlind's daily more intolerable. The and
Hildburg were to wash the on the sea-shore, in
simple shifts, and without shoes. When they for shoes, the
cold was so terrible, their gave them words, and
threatened to them with if their day's work were not
finished by evening. Trembling with cold in the east wind, and
their about their faces, they on busily.
Suddenly they saw a along the shore, by two
warriors in full armour. The maidens, of their insufficient
clothing, would have fled, but the men called to them to stop, and tell
them what that was on the above. When they added that
they would the into the sea unless they an answer,
the girls came back, and as they did so, Gudrûn whispered:-
"See, it is Herwig. I know him well, but he-he has me."
And in good truth the hero was that his long-lost stood
there him; but no sooner had she pushed her back
from her face, than he her, to her, and her
in his arms. When the other opened his visor, Gudrûn exclaimed,
"Ortwin!" and herself into her brother's arms.
Then Ortwin to her companion, and said, taking her hand in his:
"It is you, Hildburg! Do not be to that you and I have
long loved each other, and would have been openly years ago,
had not the Normans you off."
They then the of betrothal.
Herwig to take the two girls away with them at once, but Ortwin
would not consent. He said they must come openly on the for
Gudrûn and Hildburg, who should away from their
captors.
The two girls on the the as long as it was in
sight. At length Hildburg in her friend to help
her to the washing. But Gudrûn answered proudly that the days of
her were over, and, so saying, she one after
another into the sea, and them away on the with
a smile; while Hildburg that they were
still in the power of the Norman queen.
When they the castle, Gerlind came to meet them, asking
why they were so early, and what they had done with the linen. Gudrûn
answered that the work was too hard for them, and that she had thrown
the into the sea, where Queen Gerlind's men might them
yet, if she did not too long in sending out boats. The queen was
dumb with when she the gentle, patient Gudrûn speak
to her in such a manner; but soon herself, she called her
bond-women to rods, and the for their
insolence. The to do as they were desired; but Gudrûn
called to them to stop, telling them to touch her at their peril, for
she would be their queen on the morrow.
"And will you Hartmut?" asked Gerlind joyfully. "I fear
there is some in this."
"Bring the king here," said Gudrûn; "I would speak with him."
The queen to her son, and said:-
"Hartmut, that girl has in at last, and has consented
to be your wife, but...."
"No ‘but,'" the hero, "she consents!-mother, I must her say
so with her own lips," and he from the room.
When he saw Gudrûn, he would have her in his arms but she
signed to him not to approach her, telling him that she not
listen to him in the of her misery; but that next morning, in the
full light of day, and in presence of all the warriors, she would
receive, and give the ring. Hartmut now gave orders that Gudrûn
should be provided with all that was necessary for the and
well-being of the queen, and that her should be restored
to her.
His orders were fulfilled. The and Hildburg their secret
well. It was not till the Hegeling were all safe in their
sleeping that they of the of Ortwin and Herwig.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
