that two picked men met
between their two armies--Hildebrand and Hadubrand.
Father and son, they arranged their armor.
5 They made their war-clothes ready, strapped on their swords
over their chain-mail, these warriors, as they rode into combat.
Then spoke Hildebrand, Heribrand's son: he was the older man,
and wiser, and he began to ask,
with few words, who the other man's father was,
10 of what people . . .
. . . "Or of what family you are.
If you tell me one name, I will know the others.
Son, I know all the people in the kingdom.
Then spoke Hadubrand, Hildebrand's son:
15 "our people told me--
old and wise men who lived long ago--
that my father was called Hildebrand; my name is Hadubrand.
Long ago he left for the east, fleeing Odoacer's hatred,
along with Theoderic and many of his warriors.
20 He left behind at home, in poverty,
a bride in the bower and a little child
with no inheritance. He rode towards the east.
Later Theoderic stood in great need
of my father, for he was a friendless man.
25 He [my father] had measureless anger towards Odoacer--
he was Theoderic's most loyal warrior.
He was always at the front of the army, he loved fighting so much.
He was known . . . to brave men.
I do not believe he is still alive."
30 "I call God from Heaven as my witness [said Hildebrand],
that you have never chosen a more closely related man
as an opponent in battle. . . ."
Then he took from his arm spiral rings,
made of imperial gold, which the king had given him,
35 the lord of the huns: "I give you this for the sake of friendship."
Then spoke Hadubrand, Hildebrand's son:
"a man should accept gifts with a spear,
point against point. . .
You are very clever, you old Hun,
40 you lure me with your words, but mean to throw your spear at me.
You have grown so old because you always practice treachery.
Sailors told me,
coming west over the sea, that a battle took him:
dead is Hildebrand, Heribrant's son."
45 Then spoke Hildebrand, Heribrant's son:
"I see by your armor
that you have a good lord at home,
that you have never been exiled because of this ruler.--
Alas, Lord God, [said Hldbr.], an evil destiny is working itself out.
50 I have wandered, out of the country, sixty summers and winters.
All that time they assigned me to the ranks of the archers:(2)
after no one at any castle managed to bring about my death,
now my own son is to cut me down with his sword,
batter me with his broadsword--or else I shall become his killer.
55 But if your strength is sufficient you can now easily
win the armor from such an old man,
carry away the spoils--if you have any right to them.
He would be the most cowardly of the eastern men [said Hildebrand],
who would refuse you battle, now that you so desire
60 single combat. So now let us see, if you want to,
which of us today must give up his armor,
and which of us will win both coats of mail."
Then they first let the ash [spears] fly
in sharp showers, so that they stuck in the shields.
65 Then they clashed together their loud skirmish-boards,(3)
hewed harmfully at the white shields
until the linden-wood became small,
hacked to pieces by the weapons . . .