Tale XIV: How Hettel Sent Tidings from Herwic’s Land explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Power and Warfare

  The chapter centers on military strategy: Hettel besieges Siegfried while Hartmut launches a seaborne invasion to seize Gudrun.

• Love and Marriage

  Hartmut's desire to marry Gudrun drives the invasion; Gerlind plots to make Gudrun Hartmut's bride.

• Family and Kinship

  Hettel sends news to his wife and daughter; Ludwig and Gerlind support their son Hartmut's ambitions.

• Honor and Reputation

  Hettel's vow to never leave the castle until victory reflects the importance of honor in warfare.

Characters to notice

• Hettel

  Sends tidings to Hilda and Gudrun about the siege of Siegfried; swears not to leave the castle until victory.

• Hilda

  Receives Hettel's message and begins to hope for Herwic's success.

• Gudrun

  Hears the news from Hettel and prays for the safe return of Herwic and the Hegelings.

• Hartmut

  Plans to invade Hegeling land and seize Gudrun as his bride; gathers forces with his father Ludwig.

• Ludwig

  Supports Hartmut's plan, assembles twenty thousand fighters, and leads the invasion fleet.

• Gerlind

  Urges the knights to attack Hettel, offers gold and silver, and plots to have Gudrun married to Hartmut.

• Wâ-te

  Mentioned as keeping foes from the sea; Gerlind wishes him hanged.

• Fru-te

  Mentioned alongside Wâ-te as a defender; Gerlind wishes him hanged.

Key passages

• “Hettel then sent tidings, to still their fears at home. To the fair and high-born ladies men with news did come, That unto the old and youthful, throughout the stormy fighting, Good luck had aye befallen; and now, with hope must they for them be waiting.”

  Hettel sent messengers to calm his family's worries, reporting that the battle had gone well and that they should remain hopeful.

  Hettel reassures Hilda and Gudrun of his success in the war against Siegfried.

• “Then spake the old she-devil: 'Good knights, your hire behold! If you will now ride thither, my silver and my gold, That will I give you freely— but women shall not share it.'”

  Gerlind, called an old she-devil, offered the knights silver and gold to attack Hettel, insisting that women would not get any of the reward.

  Gerlind's malicious scheming and bribery to incite an attack on the Hegelings.

• “Then spake the youthful Hartmut: 'Might ever this betide, That Hilda’s lovely daughter I here should see my bride, I would not take in barter for that a princedom fairest; Then might we here together pass our lives, each one to the other dearest.'”

  Young Hartmut declared that if he could have Gudrun as his bride, he would not trade that for the finest princedom, and they would live happily together.

  Hartmut's romantic longing for Gudrun motivates his invasion.