Queen Hilda then gave bidding to shut the castle gates, and wait no longer.
[780]
But the men of brave King Hettel followed not her hest;
They who the castle guarded thought to fight their best.
They bade that now their banners to the shafts be fastened;
King Hettel’s daring followers, to slay his foes, from out the castle hastened.
[781]
The bars that should be lowered, to keep the foemen out,
Were left, in over-boldness, and the gates not fully shut,
Since from Hartmut’s foreguard they little harm foreboded.