Dietrich's flight
276
Now Ermenrik was king in Rome, and all kings and dukes south of the mountains served him, and many other kings in the part of the earth called Europe. Because even the emperor himself ruled only Bolgerland and Griechenland, but king Ermenrik's realm stretched to the sea called Adria.
And one day king Ermenrik sent his counselor Sibich to Sarkastein in order to do the king's work there and dispense justice, and this was a very honourable journey. Sibich's wife, Odilia, stayed home, and when she was alone in her house, king Ermenrik came there alone and covertly, and demanded her favours, as he had wanted for a long time. She did not want him, but didn't dare to oppose his wishes, so he slept with her.
277
When Sibich came home she stood and cried. He asked her why she cried, and she explained: "It is because of king Ermenrik's evil. He came one day, while I was mending your silk shirt, and he did me such dishonour that you couldn't repay him with evil." and she explained everything. Sibich told her to pretend nothing had happened, but promised he would take revenge.
Then Sibich went to the king, as usual, and together they decided about everything as before.
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- Fridrich's name and death before his father were known to the Quedlinburger Annalen of ca. 1000 (MGH SSRG 72 p. 410), though the annals know nothing of any evil intentions. His brothers are not mentioned.
- This chapter is the reason some interpolators, as well as Von der Hagen, spared Osantrix in 144. The question is why Osantrix is so important here. To me, he isn't.
One day, when Ermenrik and Sibich sat together, Sibich said that all kings of the world paid tribute to Ermenrik, except only Osantrix of Wilkinaland, and counseled him to send his son Fridrich and many men to Osantrix to demand tribute. Ermenrik liked this counsel, called Fridrich, and sent him out.
Thus Fridrich went to Wilkinenland, and came to the Wilkinenburg, where one of Osantrix's jarls lived. Sibich, however, had secretly sent out a messenger to this jarl, who was his relative. He invited the jarl to slay Fridrich. Thus, when Fridrich reached the castle the jarl and his men attacked him, and killed all seven of themSee also 303. When king Ermenrik heard about this he assumed Osantrix had given the order because he didn't want to pay tribute.
279
Again Ermenrik and Sibich took consel together, and Sibich said that it annoyed him the king of Angland didn't pay tribute. Maybe it would be a good idea to send Ermenrik's son Reginbald there with many knights to demand it. Also, Ermenrik should have a ship made ready for this expedition, because this would cost only half as muchThis remark is unclear to me, and it could be used to transport the tribute as well. The king liked this counsel, called his son and gave him the orders.
Now Reginbald went to where ships were moored in the streamriver?, and Sibich went with him. Reginbald demanded the best ship, but Sibich said the king needed it for himself, and instead gave him the worst ship, which would be sufficient for the trip. Reginbald refused, but Sibich told him his father would be angry if he returned without having gone on his journey. Reginbald gave in and departed on the worst ship, but when he came to sea a rainstorm sank it, and Reginbald drowned with all his men.
280
One day king Ermenrik went hunting with his youngest son Samson and his counselor Sibich, but Sibich was displeased, and the king asked him why. Sibich replied that the king's son Samson had done him great dishonour by desiring his daughter, and this dishonour was never avenged, unless the king would do it.
This made king Ermenrik very angry at his son Samson, and he grappled him angrily by his hair, so that Samson fell from his horse. Then the king had his horse trample his son, and rode home.
And that night the king heard that his son Reginbald had drowned, and thus he had lost all his sons thanks to Sibich's treason.
281
One day Odilia, Sibich's wife, went to the queen, Ermenrik's wife, and they drank and were merry. But then she spoke of Egard and AkeSons of the elder Ake and thus Ermenrik's nephews in Amelungenland, and how Egard wouldn't even spare the queen, and that she should be careful. And the queen became angry, and believed Egard had done her dishonour.
Then king Ermenrik came in, and drank with them. Odilia said: "Now we have west and south wind, and sunshine and warmth, and then light rain and it's clear in the east and north, what else would come but Egard and his brother Ake? No wild animal or forest bird will be safe from them." The king was silent and didn't reply.
Then the queen said: "They give peace to neither animal nor bird, and each time they come here the serving girls won't have peace, either." Still Ermenrik did not reply, though he thought about what the women were saying, and Fritila, Egard's and Ake's foster, was with him.
Then the queen said: "I myself should take care, and they would certainly do me dishonour if it were in their power."
Then the king spoke angrily: "If you are not safe from them, then they should not be safe from me. They'll hang so high no one will hang higher."
Then Fritila said that Egard and Ake would suffer because WitigNow their stepfather and protector has gone to king Dietrich, and that if Witig would come home and find his stepsons hanged war would break out. And the king said they would hang even higher than he had planned. Fritila and his son fled.
282
- The death of Ermenrik's patrueles (which can mean nephews) by hanging was known to the Quedlinburger Annalen of ca. 1000 (MGH SSRG 72 p. 410).
- Here Ake's sons live at Trelinborg and their tutor is Fritila.
- In 123 they live at Fritila.
- In the Quedlinburger Annalen they are called Embrica and Fritla.
King Ermenrik gathered his army. Meanwhile Fritila and his son came to the Rhine, and swam through the strong stream, and pulled their horses with them.
Trelinborg stands on the Rhine, and Egard saw them swimming, and he thought that Fritila was bringing word of trouble because he didn't want to wait for the ship.
Fritila told them Ermenrik was coming with his army, but Egard thought they would be reconciled, and he was not afraid of his uncle. Frtilia told them everything he had heard, and now the brothers sent for their own men.
King Ermenrik came to the castle, took his banner, rode to the dyke and shot the banner polemerkistöng, like Walther borrows from Attila in 129 across the dykedíki; maybe the moat, but I still find this sentence hard to interpret. Egard asked why he wanted to take their castle, and what they were guilty of. Ermenrik replied that whatever he blamed them for, they would hang from the highest tree he could find before the day was done. Ake said that they would defend themselves.
Now king Ermenrik had a throwing engine erected, and had fire flung into the castle so that it burned. Fritila said they should go out, so that they would die fighting instead of burning like mice. They went out with 60 men, and fought king Ermenrik, until Ermentik had lost 500 men. But the brothers were captured and hanged, and so they died, as Sibich had wanted. Then Ermenrik went home.
283
Witig came home, and found his castle burned, and he found his wife in a village hut. Then Witig took all his men and his possessions, and went to king Dietrich to ask for advice. Together with Witig King Dietrich went to Ermenrik, and asked why all this happened, and whether Witig was to blame for anything. The king replied that Witig was blameless, and that he would not think less of him. And he gave Witig the castle named Rana, and Witig ruled that castle. King Dietrich went home, but was perturbed about how Ermenrik treated his relatives.
284
One day king Ermenrik and Sibich were talking, and Sibich said that Ermenrik should worry about his nephew Dietrich, because Dietrich was plotting high treason against him, and was a great hero besides. He has increased his kingdom by many cities, but refuses to pay tribute over the land your father took with his sword. While Dietrich rules in Bern Ermenrik would get nothing.
The king agreed that his father had held the land, and that he was not of lesser birth than Dietrich. Sibich counseled to send the knight Reinald to Amelungenland to demand tribute. The king took this counsel, and when the ambassadors reached Amelungenland they called all the men to a meetingþing, and Reinald told them about his errand.
The men said that they were already paying tribute to king Dietrich, and that when he wanted to give Ermenrik some that was fine, but they would not give twice. And they send messengers to king Dietrich, who came to the meeting and talked to them, and at the end he told Reinald to go home to tell Ermenrik he would never get tribute from Amelungenland as long as Dietrich was king.
After Reinald told Ermenrik what had happened, Sibich said it was as he had feared: Dietrich wanted to be equal to Ermenrik.
285
- Heime and Witig are at Ermenrik's court all of a sudden.
King Ermenrik replied that he now saw Dietrich wanted to measure himself against him, and that he should hang before he could attain his goal, because everyone knew who was the most powerful.
Then Heime said that Ermenrik would pay for the evil he did to so many of his kinsmen, and that Sibich was the cause of it all. And Witig agreed that this was a great dishonour that would always be told as long as the world remained. And Witig jumped onto his horse and rode day and night as quickly as he could.
288
- I need to figure out if Witig helps Heime escape or attempts to stop him. The former reading is common, but the text almost seems to indicate it's the latter. To be ascertained.
Now Witig and Heime went back to king Ermenrik. Heime angrily confronted Ermenrik, and said that he had done many evils to his relatives, his sons Fridrich, Reginbald, and Samson, and his brother-sons Egard and Ake, and now his nephews Dietrich and Diether, and his sister-son Wolfhart, and that Sibich was guilty of all of this.
Then Sibich said that Ermenrik had done wrong by raising Heime so high, and that it would be better if he sent him to the same forest where his father is, and minds yourErmenrik's horses.
Then Heime said that if he had had his good sword NagelringWhy doesn't he have his sword? Because he's in the presence of Ermenrik?, he would slay Sibich like a dog. And he hit Sibich on the cheek with his fist, and Sibich fell at Ermenrik's feet, and lost five teeth and his consciousness.
Then Ermenrik ordered his men to hang Heime, but Heime hurried away to where his weapons were, armed himself, saddled his horse Rispa, and rode away with sixty men. But Witig came to the doors, Mimung in hand, and no one but Heime himself dared ride through the doors. Now Heime rode into the forest, and wherever he found a farmstead or other property of Ermenrik or Sibich he burned it. But Sibich didn't dare to ride out with fewer than 60 men, and they still feared Heime.
The Wilkinen wars
303
Then king Dietrich said: Bring my armour and weapons. And again: Bring my shield, for Didrik and I will meet today. When Dietrich had armed himself he ordered his horse saddled and brought to him, and he mounted and rode as quickly as he could, but while he rode his wounds bled so that his armour and horse were all red.Now he rode to Wilkinenburg, where Fridrich Ermenrik's son had been killed278 by Sibich's treason. On the tower of this castle stood the daughter of the jarl that ruled it, and she had seen Didrik travel, and now she saw a man ride after him, so she went to the tower as stealthily and quickly as she could.
And king Dietrich came so close they could talk with one another, and he said: Lady, did you see a man ride past with a white armour and shield, and a grey horse? He is my companion, and I want to follow him to his realm. And she said she had seen him not long ago. Then Dietrich spurred on his horse Falke and rode even faster than before.
Now the lady started to doubt that this man was a friend of the man that had come before, but rather wanted to kill him, and she deplored having said there was little distance between them. And she called out: Good lord, com here, I see that you are wounded. I will dress your wounds, and after that you can still ride after this man. Now your wounds bleed so much you may not reach him, but if you let me dress them you can overtake him all the quicker.
But Dietrich didn't want to stop, and he rode off. And now she considered they were truly enemies, and that the one had wounded the other, and she didn't want to leave before she knew how the fight ended.
306
When day came the jarl went to his men and asked for counsel on what to offer Dietrich for his relativei.e. what compensation to offer him.
One knight, who was a relative of Sibich, said: Since Dietrich has come alone and is wounded, let's take his weapons and kill him, then we don't have to be afraid of him any more. But if we let him get away he could take all our towns and kill us all.
The jarl replied: If we kill king Dietrich we will surely have war with king Attila as soon as he hears about this. And he is much more powerful that we are, so we will lose our town.
Then another chief said: Then let's invite Dietrich to a feast and give him gifts of gold and silver, and many knights to bring him back to Soest, he will surely appreciate this. And the jarl followed this counsel.
307
Now the jarl had a feast laid out for king Dietrich, and he stayed there for many days. Then the jarl had six of his best knights decked out in purple and other fineries, and said to Dietrich: These knights I'd like to give to you in exchange for your good will. And Dietrich thanked him and accepted. Then the jarl added: There is one thing I'd like to ask you, though. And Dietrich asked him what, and said he would likely grant it due to the honour the jarl had done him.
And the jarl said: I would ask that you forgive me for killing your kinsman Fridrich due to Sibich's treason. I would not have done so if I had known the truth. And Dietrich said: I forgive you, since you have received me so graciously. But if you had not done so I'd have avenged my cousin.
And now Dietrich was ready to depart with his six knights. And the jarl went to Dietrich's horse and took off the cloth and thus saw Didrik's head. Then Dietrich mounted and rode to Hunnenland with the six knights.
And when he came home to Soest queen Erka came to him and, seeing the knights, thought that Didrik was also returning, and she was happy about that. But king Dietrich took his namesake's head and threw it at her feet. Then queen Erka cried because so many of her relatives lost their lives because of herOne would like to know about the others.
But Dietrich went back to bed because he was still wounded, and the six knights served him from now on with honour and loyalty.
The battle of Gransport
324
And now Rome was filled with calls and shouts throughout the city, and weapons clanging, and horses neighing, and all the streets were full with warriors.
Then king Ermenrik went on to the highest tower and said: My good friend Sibich, you will carry my banner and my personal guard, and no less than six thousand warriors. And when you get to the battle, you shall stand against Dietrich von Bern, and your men will attack his men, and it would be best if you carried his sword in your hand when the battle ends.
Then he said: My good relative ReinaldTheir exact relation is unknown, you will be duke over five thousand knights, and you will lead them against the Huns, and my nephews Dietrich and Diether should be killed in this battle.
And now hear, my good friend Witig, my best duke, you shall have six thousand knights and you should not return in defeat. I would like to see Dietrich and Diether killed in this battle, and do not let king Attila's sons get away with their lives. May God grant you victory, and may you have great fame from this war.
Then Witig replied that he was quite ready to fight the Huns and Attila's sons, but he would not harm king Dietrich when it was in his power. Now they blew all their horns, mounted on their hroses, and rode with shouts and calls and horns from the city.
325
They followed the road northward over the mountains, and did not stop until they came to Gransport, and there they saw king Dietrich and his army on the northern side of the river. Then the AmelungenErmenrik's army erected their tents on the south side of the river, but the Huns on the north side, and thus they spent the night.
This night master Hildebrand was king Dietrich's watchman, and when everyone was asleep he rode down to the river, alone and stealthily, until he found a ford in the river. He rode through the river, but before he found itdon't know what that means; from 328 it becomes clear he crossed the river a man rode to him, and the night was so dark that neither saw the other until they were on top of one another.
Master Hildebrand saidVon der Hagen gives this first line to Reinald Who are you, man, and why do you ride so fiercely?
ReinaldVon der Hagen: Hildebrand replied: I do not need to tell you my name, since you ride alone, like I do, but I do not have to ask for your name, because I know it, even though we haven't seen each other for twenty winters.Von der Hagen adds: The man said You are master Hildebrand, king Dietrich's follower.
Then Hildebrand replied: You are right, I am truly Hildebrand, king Dietrich's best friend, and I will never hide that. And welcome to you, my friend Reinald, please tell me news about your army.
Reinald said: The first piece of news is, that king Ermenrik's army is led by duke Witig, your good friend, and the next Sibich, your great enemy, and I can also tell you that I rode away so silently that everybody thinks I'm still in bed, but I wanted to ride to king Dietrich and tell him all this if I hadn't met you, and I truly wish that he will do well, even though I will lead my men against him, but I do not want to hide from Dietrich whatever he desires to know.
326
Now they rode up the riverunclear. Upstream? and talked, and the moon rose and made the night so clear they could see both armies. Then Hildebrand said: Where is Sibich's army and tent? He is our worst enemy, and I'd like to do something bad to him, unless you prevent it. And Reinald replied: You can see a large tent with three golden knots on the pole. The tent belongs to king Ermenrik, and Sibich sleeps there. I will not prevent you from doing him harm, but you won't be able to, since a large army lies around it.
Then Hildebrand said: And where is our dear friend Witig with his people? And Reinald replied: You can see a green tent with a large silver knot on the pole. Witig sleeps there, and many Amelungen who have sworn to cleave many a Hunnish helmet tomorrow.
Then Hildebrand asked: And whose is the black tent? And Reinald said: That is mine, and my men sleep there. Then Hildebrand said: ou did well, to show me how you divided your army. Now come with me up the river, where our tents are, and I will tell you our division. And they did that.
327
And as they rode up from the river, five men rode towards them; they were Amelungen from Sibich's following. They assumed that thesetwo riders must be Hunnish spies, and drew their swords and wanted to kill them.
Then Hildebrand drew his sword and rode to them. And Reinald ordered them not to come towards them, because this manHildebrand is my man.
But they thought they recognised master Hildebrand, and one of them hit his helmet hatthis is apparently a thing so that it broke in two, but the helmet itself was unscathed. Then master Hildebrand beheaded him, but they were separated because Reinald did not want them to fight on. Now Reinald and Hildebrand rode on to their destination, while the patrol went its way.
328
Now Hildebrand and Reinald came to the river bank opposite theHunnish army, and Hildebrand said: You can see a tent with five poles, and golden knots on every one, that is king Dietrich's tent. And on the right you can see a tent of red silk with nine poles and nine golden knots, and that is king Attila's tent, where his sons and Diether sleep. And to the right of king Dietrich's tent you can see a green tent, which is margrave Rodinger's, who wants to aid king Dietrich nd Diether. Now I have told you how our tents are ordered. And Sibich will find out that king Dietrich will lead his banner mostly against him, oh yes he will.
Then Reinald said: Sibich has also decided to fight against king Dietrich. But I will lead my banner against margrave Rodinger, because the Huns who follow him are not our friends. But Witig, your friend, will attack Diether and Attila's sons, although he is loath to fight against Diether because he is king Dietrich's brother, but it must be done.
And now they separated, and wished each other safe travel.
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Hildebrand rode back through the ford. But when Reinald came to his tent he found there Sibich with many of his men, ready for battle. He had heard about Hildebrand's mission and wanted to ride after him and kill him.
Then Reinald said: If you want to kill my good friend Hildebrand I can get no fewer men than you have in a short time, and then you'll have to fight me rather than him, and you'll have many fewer men before you catch up with him. And it is more likely than not that he will ride his way, whether you pursue him or notlikely means: he will kill the lot of you even if I don't.
Then Sibich replied: Reinald, do you want to become king Ermenrik's enemy, who made me chief of this campaign? Do you want to help our enemies?
Reinald said: I don't want to become king Ermenrik's enemy. Instead, I will fight for him, even though I fight against my relatives and friends, but I will not let you kill Hildebrand while he rides alone. You will have plenty of opportunity to kill him before the day is over, and when he leads his men I will not prevent anyone from riding against him. But it could be that he defends himself. And these words stopped Sibich and his men from riding after Hildebrand.
But Hildebrand rode to king Dietrich's tent and told him all he had learned that night. And the king said he had done well, as before.
330
And when light came king Dietrich rose and had his horns blown, and then Diether did the same, as did margrave Rodinger. And now all rose and armed themselves. And when they had mounted master Hildebrand rode in front with king Dietrich's banner pole in his hands, and close behind him king Dietrich with all his men. And they rode to the same ford that Hildebrand had used during the night.
And when the Amelungen saw this, Sibich had king Ermenrik's horns blown, and Witig and Reinald did the same, and all their men armed themselves. Witig mounted his horse Schimming and was ready to fight; and so too Reinald with his army.
Walther of Waskastein bore king Ermenrik's banner in his hand, this banner had the outer part in black like a raven's, and the next part gold, and the third one green as grass, and seventy golden bells were sewn into this banner, so that one could hear it throughout the entire army as soon as the banner was moved or touched by the wind. And behind him came Sibich with his men.
And when king Dietrich saw king Ermenrik's banner and knew Sibich followed it, he called on master Hildebrand to carry his banner that way; and this banner was made of white silk, and had a golden lion with a crown, and no fewer than seventy bells hung from it; queen Erka had had this banner made and gave it to king Dietrich. So these two armies rode to one another.
Then rode Reinald with his troupe; and his banner was red silk like blood, and on the tip of the pole were three golden knots. And he led his army against margrave Rodinger.
Then rode Witig with his army, and his banner was carried by the strong Runga - no giant was found with equal strength - and this banner was black, and a white hammer, tongues, and anvil on it. Against him rode duke Nudung, and he bore a white banner with a golden lion, and this banner queen Erka had given to Diether. And after him rode Diether and Erp and Ortwin, Attila's sons, and the good knight Helfrich. Their shoes were covered with red gold so that they had a glow as if of fire.
331
Now the six army groups met. Dietrich rode in front on his good stallion Falke with his sword Eckisax, and killed men and horses on both sides, and before him rode master Hildebrand carrying his banner and slaying men with his free hand, and their companion Wildeber followed them, and many Amelungen from Sibich's army fell.
Then king Dietrich called loudly: You have fought against the Reussen and Wilkinenmen, and we were usually victorious, but in this battle we fight for our lands and realm, so let's win great fame by reconquering it.
Now king Dietrich rode in the middle of Sibich's army and slew man and horse, and when he had come in the middle he went back by another way, and he was much feared. And by another route Wildeber rode through the Amelungen army, and no man held against him.
Walther of Waskastein saw how much damage Wildeber was doing to the Amelungen, and how they fled for him, and rode against him and hit him with his spear in the breast so that it exited between the shoulder blades. And Wildeber struck off the spear's shaft and struck Walther's thigh in the saddle, and pierced the armour and his sword got stuck in the saddle, and both fell dead from their horsesIt is unclear to me why Walther would die instantly of this wound..
When Sibich saw that his banner had fallen, and the strong Walther with it, he turned his horse and fled, and his men with him. But king Dietrich and his men pursued the fugitives for a long time and killed them all day long, and it took quite a while before he returned.
332
Witig saw that Sibich fled, and knew the Amelungen would lose if the same happened elsewhere. Therefore he pressed the attack and rode against duke Nudung, who had killed many men. Quickly a fight ensued, which ended when Witig hacked the banner pole in two with his sword and the banner fell to the ground. And then he gave Nudung a blow on the neck that pierced the armour so that head and body fell to the ground.
And the three young men saw this, and Ortwin said to Helfrich: Do you see how that evil dog Witig kills duke Nudung? Let's ride to him and not let him get away.
333
Then Ortwin bravely rode against Witig, and Helfrich with him, and against them came the strong Runga, and a fight broke out, and before it ended Ortwin and Helfrich fell dead on the ground.
And when Erp and Diether saw that the rode forward and Diether and Runga fought with great bravery, and Diether hit Runga on the helmet and went through helmet and head to the shoulders, so that Runga fell dead. But in the mean time Witig had killed Erp, and when Diether saw that both his friends were dead, he rode against Witig and wanted to either lose his life or avenge his foster brothers, and hit Witig hard and often.
But Witig said: Aren't you Diether, king Dietrich's brother? I know you, now ride elsewhere, because for his sake I will not harm you, so go fight other men.
But Diether replied: God knows, since you killed Erp and Ortwin, you vile dog, I'll take revenge for them. and one of us will die. And again he hit Witig as strongly as he could.
Witig said: God knows I hate to do this, for your brother Dietrich's sake. Then Diether hit Witig on his helmet, but the helmet was so hard that his steel could not penetrate it, and the sword sprang from the helmet down along the saddle bow and hit the head of his horse, and thus Schimming, Witig's war stallion, died.
Now Witig said, when he stood on the ground: Great necessity forces me to do something I'd rather not do. And now Witig took his sword Mimung in both hands and hit Diether in the back so that armour and body were rent apart and he fell to the ground in two pieces. And now the battle continued, and Witig killed many men, but also lost many men from the Amelungen.
334
The good knight Wolfhart fought with great courage all day, and he carried margrave Rodinger's banner and had ridden far into the Amelung army. And margrave Rodinger followed him. In the same way Reinald rode into the Hun army and killed many men. Now he saw what great damage Wolfhart his relative did, and his men wanted to flee from Rodinger and Wolfhart. So he rode against them and hit his relative Wolfhart in the breast with his spear, so that it exited through the shoulder blades and he fell dead from his horse.
Margrave Rodinger was close by and took the banner pole and carried his banner himself, and attacked Reinald's banner bearer and beheaded him and also cut the banner pole so that the banner fell to the ground. When Reinald's men saw their banner fall and Sibich had fled they fled as well, and when Reinald saw that he went after them.
Dietrich's return
395
Now king Dietrich von Bern had lost many warriors. King Dietrich and master Hildebrand conferred, and the king said: It has always been my greatest regret that I have been away from my realm for so long, and now I lost all my heroes and friends, and my honour. See, master Hildebrand, how many of our friends are dead: good margrave Rodinger, and king Gunther of Niflungenland was killed, and HagenMs B adds: and their brothers, who have been our greatest friends. What are we doing here in Hunnenland? Why should we grow old here? And God knows I'd prefer to die for my realm of Amelungenland and my good city of Bern than grow old and lose my honour here in Hunnenland. We have served king Attila for too long.
Master Hildebrand replied: My lord, we've been away from our realm for a long time, and lost much, first of all by Sibich's treason, and we will fight against superior numbers in king Ermenrik's realm. But still I agree with you: it's better to die in Amelungenland than to grow old dishonourably in Hunnenland.
King Dietrich said: Master Hildebrand, what have you heard about my town of Bern. Who rules there now?
And master Hildebrand said: My lord, I do not know, but I have heard something about it, that there would be a duke there named Alebrand, and he is supposed to be my son. And it is said he is a great warrior. It could be that my wife Oda was pregnant when I left Bern, and that he was born afterwards.
King Dietrich replied: If your son were duke of Bern it would be a stroke of luck. He would receive us well if he is as loyal to us as you have been.
And Hildebrand said: Lord, how will we arrange this trip?
And the king said: We cannot come to Amelungenland with an army. Since Hunnenland has too few men left king Attila will not send his leaders with us to win back our realm. I want to go to Amelungenland in secret, and it would be good if there were no more men than the two of us, and I will swear I will not leave Amelungenland again with dishonour, but die there or win my kingdom back.
Master Hildebrand said: If the two of us go alone, lord, this journey will only have little honourApparently honour requires a large army?, but it's better to travel like this than not to go to Amelungenland at all.
401
- Von der Hagen says in a note that this is the last chapter in the Membrame, and that from now on he will use A and B.
- Ritter amends Von der Hagen's note and says that he actually used the Svava, not A and B, and proceeds to give another translation, presumably from A and B.
- However, it seems the Membrame actually breaks off in 427, so I don't understand what Von der Hagen and Ritter are talking about.
Then all wanted to be back home in Babilonia, but in a short while Dietrich had killed seven more, but Hildebrand nine more. Young Amelung attacked Hildebrand, but all the others fled. Then Hildebrand gave Amelung blows on his shield and helmet, and Amelung fell, and Hildebrand leapt on top of him and told him to surrender. Amelung said it would not be better for him to live after being defeated by such an old manThis again happens in 408. More in general it seems that this fight against Amelung is a copy of the fight against Alebrand., but gave up his weapons.
Then Hildebrand allowed him to get up and asked him who he was and why these man had attacked them. Amelung explained that jarl Elsung the Younger wanted to avenge jarl Elsung the Elder who had been killed by Samson. And Dietrich asked him for news from the south, and told him he could keep life and arms, and all others with him, and thus would he repay the elder Elsung's death.
Then Amelung told him Ermenrik was gravely ill because his belly had been slit open, and Sibich had advised to cut out part of the belly fat and he was as good as dead. Dietrich and Hildebrand thanked him for the news, let him go and continued on their way.
404
And Hildebrand and the man went to the castle, and Hildebrand asked the man to get jarl Konrad. Konrad wanted to know what a foreign man with a broad white beard wanted from him, and came out of the castle alone. Hildebrand asked him who he was, and he replied he was Konrad son of Ludwig, and Konrad asked who Hildebrand was. Hildebrand answered he was Hildebrand master of the WölfingenThis family name is new, it does not occur in 15. And Konrad told him he, too, was a Wölfing, and invited his kinsman into the castle to meet his father.
But Hildebrand said he couldn't come this time, but was there any news? Big news! Konrad replied, king Ermenrik of Rome is dead. And who now wears his crown, Hildebrand asked. Evil news, Konrad replied, it’s that traitor Sibich. But what news do you have? And Hildebrand told him jarl Elsung had been killed and king Dietrich was back in Amelungenland.
God be praised, Konrad replied. Alebrand has already sent messengers north into Hunnenland to tell Dietrich to come back to his realm. And Alebrand does not want to give up his castle to Sibich, nor any other place. The Amelungs prefer to die before allowing Sibich to rule Bern.
And Hildebrand said he had to return to the forest where Dietrich waited. But Konrad asked him to wait, because he wanted to tell his father what had happened.
410
Now Alebrand sent messengers throughout the castle and town and called all the most powerful men to him. When a large crowd had gathered in the royal hall he told them king Dietrich was coming back to reclaim his realm. And he asked them to choose between Dietrich and the traitor Sibich. And one chieftain replied: If king Dietrich has truly come to Amelungenland and we could meet him, I know the will of all in the realm. All would rather die with him rather than him not regaining his lands.
And many agreed with him, and all who were present that night called out and praised God for Dietrich coming back to them. Some said that they wanted to serve him and would never take another lord as long as he was alive, but others said that Dietrich had not really returned to Amelungenland. Then Alebrand said that Dietrich had truly returned, followed by Hildebrand, my father, who is now with us. And all said that Hildebrand was welcome here. Then Alebrand said that, if they truly wanted Dietrich for a king, the best men should arm themselves and take their horses and ride out to meet him.
411
The next morning Alebrand and his knights departed, and master Hildebrand with them, for the forest where king Dietrich and jarl Ludwig waited. They all dismounted and bowed before him, and Dietrich kissed Alebrand. Then they all mounted and went to Bern. When the people of the town saw them coming they rejoiced. And Hildebrand bore his banner and Alebrand rode on his other side. Then Alebrand placed a small golden finger-ring in Dietrich’s hand and said: Lord, since your kinsman Ermenrik, who appointed me lord of this town and directed me to guard all of Amelungenland, died, Sibich has never ruled this kingdom. I give you this small finger-ring, and with it Bern and Amelungenland, and myself with all my men in your following.
King Dietrich thanked him, and promised to reward him well. Now each of the knights gave something to king DietrichVery weird. One would expect Dietrich to give gifts to his new followers, but the Old Norse really says Nú gefa Þiðreki konungi allir riddarar; now to king Dietrich all knights gave. some large estates, others good horses, yet others good swords, armour, and shields, or gold and silver, and the powerful gave him treasures.
And with all of them king Dietrich rode to his hall, and Alebrand and Hildebrand brought him to his throne, and that day he had no fewer than ten hundreds at his dish. Then the king sent word to all who ruled over castles and towns and districts, and every day many arrived to give their holdings into Dietrich’s lordship.
412
A few days later Dietrich rode out of Bern with a large army to the town called Ran. There he held an assemblyÞing and he said Sibich had assembled a great army with which he wanted to conquer Amelungenland. He asked the assembled men if they would have him or Sibich as king, and added that he would not flee from Sibich. Everyone replied that they wanted to serve king Dietrich, and not give Sibich a penny. Then he told them all to arm, and he didn’t want to spend any night at a place he had done so already before he encountered Sibich.
413
Then king Dietrich rode out of Rana with his army of seven thousand men. But Sibich had thirteen thousand and had come to the town called Gegenburg, and there Dietrich met him. Hildebrand rode in front with Dietrich’s banner, then the king himself, and then all his men. A great battle ensued, and an army of seven thousand came from Roma to help Sibich, and they attacked Dietrich in the back. Then Dietrich had his standard turned against the Romans, while Hildebrand with the Amelungen continued against Sibich.
Duke Alebrand now rode against Sibich until he was under his banner, and with his first blow he cut off the hand that held the banner and the banner pole itself, and the banner fell to the ground. And then Sibich himself rode against him, and they gave one another mighty blows, until Sibich fell dead from his horse. And when the king of the Romans had fallen the Amelungen raised a great victory cheer, and the Romans surrendered.
When king Dietrich became aware of this he said he had had great luck that day, and that the realm of the Amelungs would be better if he had done this nineNot entirely consistent with 396, but this is from A and B, and 396 from the Membrame winters ago. The Romans did not grieve much for their lord and gave themselves into Dietrich’s power.