[8]

The teaching of his mother  he heard in kindly mood,

And began at once to follow,  as that of a friend one should.

The best of high-born maidens,  ’mong those in Norway dwelling,

He bade his men to sue for:  to help in this he found his kinsmen willing.

[9]

She soon to him was wedded,  as hath of old been said.

With her, among her followers,  came many a lovely maid,

And, from over Scotland’s border,  seven hundred warriors fully;

They came with her right gladly,  when the worth of the king was known to them more truly.

[10]

Proudly their way they wended,  as beseemed the maiden’s birth;

With all the care they led her  befitting his kingly worth;

Hidden were the roadways  by gazers without number,

Who hasted to behold her;  for three miles and a half the throngs the ways did cumber.

[11]

Where’er along the roadside  the path with green was spread,

Flowers and grass were trampled,  by crowds, with heavy tread.

It fell upon that season  when the leaves are springing,

And in every copse and thicket  all the birds their best of songs are singing.

[12]

Of simple folk and merry  there rode with her enough;

While many loaded horses  bore much costly stuff,

Brought there from her birthland  by followers of the maiden;

They came with her by thousands,  with gold as well as clothing heavy-laden.

[13]

On the shore of two wide marches,  the dwellers by the sea,

As they saw the west wind waft her,  gave her welcome free;

They found a seemly lodging  for the lovely, well-born lady,

And brought her all things needful,  by the youthful king, before, for her made ready.

[14]

The fair young maid they welcomed  with knightly tournament;

Not soon their games they ended,  when on the spear-fight bent.

To the land of Ger his father  they bore her to be wedded;

She there was loved and mighty,  and men to sound her name she never needed.

[15]

All, as they were able,  waited on the maid;

The gaudy cloth for her saddle  down to the grass was spread;

The horses’ hoofs were hidden  by the housing, heavy drooping.

Aha! In mood how gleeful  was Ireland’s lord, once more a blessing hoping!

[16]

When now the time was fitting  that he the maid should kiss,

All crowded thick about him,  in haste to see their bliss.

The bosses of their bucklers  were now heard loudly clashing,

Struck with blows together;  each strove to shun the throngs, in uproar crashing.

[17]

Now with the dawn of morning,  they sent out, far and wide,

To give to all the tidings  of the coming of the bride,

And that, with their master,  they erelong would crown her.

His queen she was thereafter,  and well she earned from him the honor shown her.

[18]

It was not deemed becoming  that he his love should plight,

Since she by birth was queenly,  and he not yet a knight:

He first, before his lieges,  must the crown be wearing;

To this his kinsmen helped him,  and later of his worth were all men hearing.

[19]

He, with knights five hundred,  then was dubbed with the sword;

Whatever they could wish for  was given them at his word,—

Both shields, and, for their wearing,  every kind of clothing.

The youthful king so dauntless,  thro’ life, of fame and honor wanted nothing.

[20]

For many a day thereafter  his sway did Ireland bless,

And never did his greatness  at any time grow less.

To all he freely listened;  the poor man’s wrongs he righted;

Widely known was his goodness;  no truer knight than he his word e’er plighted.

[21]

His boundless acres yielded  a full and ready gain;

His wife was known for wisdom,  and worthy to be his queen.

To hold her as their mistress  full thirty lords it booted;

As long as the sway she wielded,  her hand to each his lands and home allotted.

[22]

She bore unto her husband,  within the next three years,

A child to see most comely;  (such is the tale one hears.)

When later he was christened,  and they were told to name him,

They gave the name of Hagen;  and never since, the tale of his life doth shame him.

[23]

He had most careful breeding,  and kindly was he nursed;

Should he be like his fathers,  he would of knights be first.

Watched over by wise women,  and by maidens of early age,

His father and fond mother  found in