Gudrun · Chapter
Tale VIII: How Hagen Followed His Daughter explained
Hagen and his warriors sail to the Hegeling land to rescue his daughter Hilda, leading to a fierce battle on the seashore.
What happens
Hagen and his warriors sail to the Hegeling land to rescue his daughter Hilda, leading to a fierce battle on the seashore. At Hilda's entreaty, peace is made, and Hagen consents to her marriage with Hettel. Wâ-te heals the wounded, and Hagen returns home, leaving Hilda and her maidens in Hettel's kingdom.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The central conflict revolves around Hilda's marriage to Hettel, which is ultimately resolved through battle and negotiation.
Power and Warfare
The chapter is dominated by the battle between Hagen's Irish forces and Hettel's Hegelings, showcasing the use of force to resolve disputes.
Family and Kinship
Hagen's pursuit of Hilda and his eventual acceptance of her marriage highlight the bonds and conflicts within families.
Honor and Reputation
Characters act to preserve their honor, as seen in Hagen's determination to reclaim his daughter and Hettel's insistence on a truce that raises his standing.
Characters to notice
- Hagen
Leads the Irish forces to rescue his daughter Hilda; engages in battle with Wâ-te and Hettel; eventually consents to Hilda's marriage.
- Hilda
The maiden whose marriage is contested; pleads for peace and reconciliation between her father Hagen and Hettel.
- Hettel
King of the Hegelings; fights Hagen to keep Hilda; brokers peace and marries Hilda.
- Wâ-te
Fights fiercely against Hagen; later uses his healing skills to treat the wounded, including Hagen and Hettel.
- Horant
Spots Hagen's ships and alerts the Hegelings; later leads Hilda to her father.
- Irold
Wounded in battle; comments on the impending fight with Hagen.
- Morunc
Shouts to Irold about the approaching ships, warning of Hagen's arrival.
- Fru-te
Accompanies Horant in leading Hilda to Hagen; later appointed to guard Hettel's wealth.
Key passages
“Wâ-te gave back in anger each grim and deadly blow, Making the blood, like tear-drops, on Hagen’s breast to flow;”
Wâ-te retaliated with fierce strikes, causing blood to drip from Hagen's chest like tears.
Describes the intensity of the combat between Wâ-te and Hagen.
“Then spake the lordly Hagen: 'Since first to me ’twas told How you to win my daughter showed yourself so bold, This to your name with warriors shame has ne’er been doing; Clever was the cunning to which your winning of my child is owing.'”
Hagen acknowledged that Hettel's cleverness in winning Hilda brought no shame, despite the boldness of the act.
Hagen concedes that Hettel's strategy was honorable, paving the way for peace.
“She said, 'My dear friend Wâ-te, my father heal, I pray; For this, whate’er you ask me, I ne’er will say you nay;'”
Hilda begged Wâ-te to heal her father, promising to grant any request in return.
Hilda's plea demonstrates her filial devotion and her role in brokering peace.
“Then spake the aged Wâ-te: 'Their wounds I cannot heal— In that I will not meddle, until as friends they feel Each unto the other— Hagen brave and knightly, And Hettel, my lord and master;'”
Wâ-te refused to heal anyone until Hagen and Hettel reconciled as friends.
Wâ-te uses his healing skill as leverage to force a truce between the two kings.
