124
Ortrun took refuge in Gudrun’s chamber5. “Alas! dear friend,” she cried, “thy people are slaying7 all they meet within the castle. In pity protect me, or I too must die.”
Gudrun took her by the hand, saying tenderly: “Never shalt thou lack aid from me, dear Ortrun. Indeed, from my heart I wish thee peace and happiness. Remain here with my maidens8.”
Soon Gerlinda came flying in. Forgetful of her pride and arrogance10 she fell on her knees before Gudrun, crying: “Mercy, mercy, most noble Queen! Save me from Wate and his warriors11, I implore12 thee!”
Gudrun answered sternly: “How dost thou ask me to protect thee? Didst thou ever listen to my prayers for mercy? Methinks ’tis little cause I have to show thee favor!”
Therewith Wate himself burst into the hall, blood streaming from his great beard and staining his armor. Much as Gudrun was attached to the old hero, it displeased13 her that he should force his way into the women’s apartments like a raging wild boar; yet she approached and greeted him, while the maidens shrank back, terror-stricken.
Wate bowed before her, saying: “Tell me who are these women here with thee?”
125
“This is my friend Ortrun,” replied Gudrun, “good and kind hath she ever been to me, and with her are her maids. The rest are those poor damsels who were stolen with me from Hegelingen.”
As Wate was about to approach them to seek for Gerlinda, she cried: “Nay—look how thou dost drip with blood! Surely ’tis not thus that thou shouldst appear before fair dames14!” Whereat Wate turned away angry and went back to his comrades who were still fighting in the hall.
Scarcely had he departed when the unfaithful Heregart rushed in with pallid15 cheeks and streaming hair, and falling at Gudrun’s feet begged for mercy. But Gudrun said sharply: “Get thee from my sight, thou false one! What troubles didst thou ever share with me? Rather hast thou added to them!”
Still Heregart pleaded so piteously that at last she said: “Conceal thyself then among Ortrun’s damsels, if thou wilt16; no longer art thou worthy17 of a place with those thou hast so faithlessly abandoned.”
126
Wate meanwhile was searching everywhere for Queen Gerlinda and presently came once more to the hall, shouting wrathfully: “Lady Gudrun, deliver up to me that infamous18 woman who did force thee to wash her garments, whose vile19 deeds have caused thee so much woe20!”
Gerlinda was hidden behind the maidens, but Gudrun would not betray her. “She is not here,” was her only reply.
This only added to the hero’s fury. “Then will I slay6 every woman here!” he shouted, “so that she shall not escape me.”
“Ha!” he cried, dragging the trembling Queen forth22 by the hand, “hast thou aught else to be washed by the daughter of my Queen?”
Therewith he seized his victim by the hair and struck off her head. The maidens shrieked23 aloud at this sight, but Wate turned to them once more and said: “Now would I fain see her who was false to you, for she too must die!”
Gudrun was silent, but a glance from her eyes showed him which was the guilty one. Heregart prostrated24 herself before him and besought25 him to spare her life, but he cried: “Well do I know how to deal with women. ’Tis for that I am chamberlain!” And so saying, he swung his sword, and the head of the unfaithful maiden9 rolled upon the floor.
Gudrun’s Deliverance
127
The fighting was now over; and soon Herwig and Ortwin entered the hall, followed by their comrades. The two Kings had laid aside their blood-stained armor, and Gudrun greeted them tenderly, embracing them with tears of joy. Then she gave her hand to her companions, saying: “Never will I be unmindful of your devotion, so long as I do live!” And all felt how true were her words.
Wate, whose fury had not yet subsided26, wished to fire the castle, but Frute opposed it, saying: “What, then, would the women do for shelter till the time of our return? Moreover, the castle doth afford us safe and ample lodgment. But let us make way with the dead who lie about the halls and passages, and cleanse27 the walls from blood, that our dear lady’s eyes be not offended with the sight thereof.”
So the bodies were all borne to the shore and, with their armor, cast into the sea. Hartmut was taken to the ships in chains. Gudrun had saved his life, but she had not been able to obtain further concession28 from her brother and betrothed29. Ortrun, however, was allowed to remain with her. Some of the knights with their followers30 went farther into the kingdom and stormed twenty-six castles, returning to Gudrun laden31 with treasure and bringing many captives.
128
After a joyous32 meeting, Ortwin cried: “Well hath our journey ended. Beyond our dearest hopes have we succeeded; and never will I forget, my gallant33 comrades, how loyally you have striven in our cause.”
“Time passes,” said Wate, “let us hasten to restore Queen Hilda’s daughter to her.”
Preparations for departure were soon made. The booty was placed on the ships, and all hearts beat high with joy at the thought of home. Ortrun followed Gudrun, weeping bitterly, but Hartmut was taken on another vessel34 with five hundred of his knights. He offered to pledge his life in token of loyalty35 if they would leave him in the land of his fathers. But Wate answered: “’Tis thyself we would have. In truth, I know not why Ortwin bears with him to his own land one who even yet would gladly have his life; yet so it is. Were it for me to say, forsooth, thou shouldst have speedy deliverance from all thy troubles.”
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1
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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2
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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3
hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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linens
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| n.亚麻布( linen的名词复数 )；家庭日用织品 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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6
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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7
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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8
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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9
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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10
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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11
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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12
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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13
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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14
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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16
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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17
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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18
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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19
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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21
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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22
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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23
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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25
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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26
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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27
cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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28
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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29
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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31
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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32
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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33
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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34
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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35
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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