Ortwin

“ Wate’s hunting-horn sounded for the third time, so mighty a blast that it almost seemed to shake the walls and cause great forest trees to tremble. The old hero bade Horant lead the van and bear Queen Hilda’s banner, while he rode hither and thither disposing his men in battle array. At a turret window Gudrun stood, waving a white kerchief.
As the Norman knights appeared, Ortwin asked: “Who may yon hero be who leads the band? His armor gleams like lightning in the sun, and nobly doth he bear him. Methinks an emperor would scarcely ride more proudly.” ”

“ Well might they then send out their longing glances over the sea whence are to come the messengers whom the queen Hilde has sent for their rescue. Suddenly they perceive two men approaching in a boat. Ashamed of their servile work, and still more of their nakedness, they flee, but Herwig and Ortwin call them back and offer their mantles to the unknown and beautiful servants, who tremble from cold, in their wet shirts, their locks flying in the sharp wind. Modestly they refuse to accept the mantles of the men. Ortwin inquires the name of the person who has subjected them to such cruel work. ”

“ Rather let us dig ample graves and bury friend and foe together.”
“Dead foes no longer hatred claim;
Grudge not the dead true hero’s fame!”
This was done, and after all the slain had been consigned to earth, with heavy hearts the heroes once more embarked and set sail for home.
Soon Queen Hilda’s castle rose before them from the sea, whereat groans of anguish burst from many a mail-clad breast. Ortwin cried: “Alas! how can I appear before my mother? Not only have we failed to deliver Gudrun, but now my father lies beneath the stones of Wulpensand!” ”

“ Hartmut was left to languish in his chains, however, and Gudrun bethought her how she might bring all to a happy issue, for she greatly desired that a lasting peace should be established between the two countries. Accordingly, the next day, after all in the castle had risen from the board, she said to Ortwin:
“Hearken, dear brother, to the counsel I would give thee, for great advantage shalt thou reap thereby. I would have thee take Ludwig’s daughter Ortrun as thy wife. Truly never wilt thou find a truer heart on earth!” ”

“ For Witig, when he saw the flight of Sibich, not terrified but all the more enraged, had ridden fiercely towards the place where the banner of Attila's sons was waving and had struck down their standard-bearer. Page 408 "Seest thou", said Ortwin to Helfric, his sworn henchman, "what evil that base dog, Witig, is doing? He has slain our brave standard-bearer; let us ride up to him and stop his deadly work". So spake Ortwin, but in the fierce fray that followed both he and his good comrade Helfric, and then his brother Erp, fell dead around Witig and his standard-bearer. ”

“ She was herself the maiden who was by Hartmut stolen,
Gu-drun, Queen Hilda’s daughter, and all she told had erst herself befallen.
[1238]
Then spake the knightly Herwic: “Ortwin, list to me:
If fair Gu-drun, your sister, yet alive may be,
In any land whatever, for us on earth still watching,
This must be that lady; ne’er have I seen two maids so nearly matching.”
[1239]
To him then said young Ortwin: “The maid in truth is fair,
But to my long-lost sister no likeness doth she bear.
The days are not forgotten when we were young together ”

“ When the warriors had gathered about him in a circle he began: “Fain would I leave unsaid that which I have to tell, good comrades. I have seen my sister Gudrun and her companion Hildburg.”
Here one of the knights interrupted him, saying: “Make no mock of us, Sir Prince! How could that have been? Gudrun, if indeed she yet doth live, would surely be kept safe within the castle.”
“Ill would it become me to make sport of gallant knights,” replied Ortwin. “If you doubt my words, ask Herwig then, for he did also see her; yet, alas! ’twas in such a plight that deeply must we sorrow for her fate. ”

“ The host marked well, what he already wet, how from his very heart the hero of Netherland did love his sister, albeit he had never seen her, whose comeliness men praised above all maids. Then spake the knight Ortwin to the king: "Would ye have full honor at your feast, so should ye let be seen the charming maids, who live in such high honors here in Burgundy. What were the joy of man, what else could give him pleasure, but pretty maids and noble dames? Pray let your sister go forth before the guests." To the joy of many a hero was this counsel given. ”

“ All his shining armor. His boldness on the field not yet did lessen.
[1404]
When he was seen by Ortwin, the lord of Ortland’s throne,
He said: “Will any tell us, to whom this knight is known,
Who is the daring fighter now against us turning?
He shows as bold a bearing as if to win a kingdom he were yearning.”
[1405]
Then said one among them: “’Tis Hartmut whom you see;
There indeed is a warrior! a daring knight is he.
The selfsame foeman is he who erstwhile slew your father.
Where’er the strife is raging, a bolder man than he there’s not another.” ”

“ He and all his friends ran to him. Five hundred knights sprang from their horses. The Huns were well received; never were envoys so richly clad.
Then cried Hagen of Trony, “Welcome, in God’s name, is this knight, the prince of Bechlaren, and all his men.” Worshipful greeting got the Huns. The nearest of kin to the king pressed forward, and Ortwin of Metz said to Rudeger, “We have not, for long, seen guests so gladly. I speak the truth.”
They thanked the heroes for their welcome. Then they went with the warriors into the hall, where they found the king amidst of many bold men. ”

“ To Ortwin and his followers belong the shame and blame for wrongs still done her.”
[1341]
“Ask you, then, King Herwic: he, too, has seen the maid;
And he can also tell you what wrongs on us are laid.
Could you, my friends, bethink you of any shame that’s greater?
We found Gu-drun and Hildeburg upon the seashore standing, washing in the water.”
[1342]
Soon were his kindred weeping, all who there were seen.
At this the aged Wâ-te right scornful was, I ween:
“Truly for women only is such behavior fitting;
Why you weep you know not. This, in a knight, one never should be meeting. ”

“ Thy lands, and mine as well, shall lie alike; whether of us twain can triumph over the other, him shall both land and people serve."
Hagen and Gernot, too, straightway gainsaid this. "We have no wish," spake Gernot, "that we should conquer aught of lands, or that any man lie dead at hero's hands. We have rich lands, which serve us, as is meet, nor hath any a better claim to them than we."
There stood his kinsmen, grim of mood; among them, too, Ortwin of Metz. "It doth irk me much to hear these words of peace," spake he; "the mighty Siegfried hath defied you for no just cause. ”

“ Soon to send for Ortwin; also the Moorland king must them be meeting.
[1645]
When they to court were coming, finest clothes they wore.
The news Gu-drun had told them others to Wâ-te bore;
To Irold, too, they gave it, as soon as he came thither;
This aside they talked of, and fitting speech long time they held together.
[1646]
Then spake the aged Wâ-te: “Peace we can never know
Until Ortrun and Hartmut to Hilda, the queen, shall go,
And ask of her forgiveness, down at her feet low bending.
Only if she allows it, can we be friends, and hatred have an ending.” ”

“ Tale XXV. Herwic and Ortwin, coming in a boat, see the maidens washing on the shore, recognize them, and make themselves known. Thinking it dishonorable to take the maids away without winning them in fight, the knights return to bring their army. The maidens go back to Gerlind, and, feeling sure of her speedy rescue, Gu-drun pretends to agree to Hartmut’s suit, and is restored to favor. 1207-1334. Tale XXVI. On their return to their friends, Herwic and Ortwin make known the result of their search. The Hegeling army arrives before the Norman castle, and is discovered by Ludwig and Hartmut. ”

“ Then Ortwin went with his sister where Hilda had her seat.
She said: “My dearest mother, never this forget,—
We must not reward with evil him who a wrong is doing.
Of your worthy name bethink you; you should on Hartmut smile, forgiveness showing.”
[1596]
She answered: “Dearest daughter, you do not ask aright:
I at the hands of Hartmut the greatest ills have met;
He must atone in bondage for all his wrongful dealing.”
Then at the feet of Hilda Gu-drun fell down, with sixty maidens, kneeling.
[1597]
Then spake the lady Ortrun: “In freedom let him live ”

“ Sad was the lot in which the knights had found them.
[1220]
Then the high-born Herwic a kind “Good-morning” bade
To the sad and homeless maidens; of this sore need they had,
For oft their keeper, Gerlind, had them with harshness taunted.
To hear “Good-morning,” “Good-evening,” was now to the maids but very seldom granted.
[1221]
Then said the youthful Ortwin: “I beg you say to me
To whom belongs this clothing, that on the sands I see?
For whom are you here washing? You both are so comely showing,
Who can this shame have done you? May God bring low the man such outrage doing! ”

“ And, at home, we hail the same ‘rich friend’ in Eadwine, 376the first Christian king of Northumbria, whose conversion is the most striking portion of Bede’s history. His dominion extended over the Lothians, and he disputes with Aodh and the Ædui the naming of Edinburgh. Beloved as he was, his name of Edwin never entirely died away, and became in modern times diffused by the popularity of Goldsmith’s ballad, and of Beattie’s Minstrel. It is just known upon the Continent. Ortwin, or Audoenius, is very possibly the Don Ordoño of the early Spanish kingdoms ”

“ Then quoth Wâ-te angrily: “’Tis childish thus to speak,
Brave and chosen warriors: such risks you should not seek,
And this for truth I tell you. Spurn you not my warning;
Should you be found by Hartmut, you’ll on his gallows hang, your rashness mourning.”
[1157]
To him King Herwic answered: “Though good or ill betide,
Friends should aye be friendly, standing side by side.
I and my friend, young Ortwin, will ne’er the task give over,
Whatever shall befall us, and search will make till we Gu-drun recover.” ”

“ Are you Queen Hilda’s child?
Who are these many women, whom here you seek to shield?”
“This,” said Gu-drun, in answer, “is Ortrun, high in breeding;
I beg you, Wâ-te, spare her: her women here your wrath are sorely dreading.
[1514]
“Those there are wretched maidens, from far across the sea,
Brought from the Hegeling kingdom by Ludwig’s men with me.
But you are wet and bloody; do not come so near us:
For all your help we thank you, nor in our woe do scorn the love you bear us.”
[1515]
Wâ-te went on further, and Herwic soon he found,
And with him youthful Ortwin, as king in Ortland owned. ”

“ 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. ”

“ There was a rueful twist to Ortine's half-smile. "I am not, in any real way, possessed of what you would term supernatural equipment. What may look like magic to you is nothing more than a demonstration of the realities of my own universe."
"But...?" said Justin.
"But"—Ortine grimaced—"I have no actual control over the minds or bodies of human beings. Not on their own world at any rate. Incidentally I have no control over your mind here on Belvoir, though actually, while here, you are in my type of space rather than your own. ”

“ Ortine said, "You have reared quite a structure upon a few involuntary hints, a smidgin of knowledge and a long train of intuition." He smiled ruefully, added, "I might as well confess you are remarkably close to the truth—not a bullseye but close."
"Thank you for that," said Justin ironically.
"You needn't feel too proud of yourself," Ortine told him. "I suppose the indications are there for anyone to read who is able to. You're right about my mission. ”

“ Ortine paused, added, "Your species is aggressive too. As I have already told you, we are very similar."
"Why not simply cut and run and then come back in force and destroy us?" countered Justin.
"Time is much less simple than you people seem to think," said Ortine. "The few months it would require us to organize such an expedition in my universe would be the equivalent of several centuries in this one. And by that time, if you have not destroyed yourselves, you may know as much as we." ”

“ Ortine replied, "You should know better than that, Justin. Why should I trouble to bring all of you here, why should I have spent the time and labor I have on this experiment—when I could blast your planet out of hand?"
Justin studied him for a moment, then said, "I can think of a pair of possible reasons, Ortine. One—your extra-space weapons might not be effective in this universe. Two—from some of the things you have dropped about polymorphous conception and birth, you may not be able to dis-ally yourself from humanity so easily." ”

“ Much against her will, she gave her permission; but Owein, finding himself once more among his fellows, forgot his wife, and remained there, not three months, but three years, until, in fact, a strange maiden, on a horse caparisoned with gold, rode one day into the hall of Arthur's court. She went right up to Owein and took away the ring that was on his hand, saying, 'Thus is done to a deceiver, a false traitor, for a disgrace to thy beard.' She then rode away, and his former adventure came back to Owein's mind. This made him sad, and he left the society of men to live with wild beasts ”