Hildebrandslied

The only surviving fragment of OHG alliterative lay is the "Hildebrandslied." This heroic lay consists of 68 lines. The ending is missing and one can only speculate as to the length of the original. However, it is likely that only small portion has been lost. The language used is Bavarian; however, it appears to have been adapted for a northern audience whose language was Low German. A northern influence may also be noted in the use of the "þ" and "ð." The existing manuscript was copied around 810-820 c.e. by two scribes, possibly at the Fulda monastery. The story is regarded as being of Langobardic origin and is thought to have originated in the 7th century, because of its connection to Dietrich von Bern. The "Hildebrandslied" tells of the encounter between Hildebrand, a voluntary exile with his king, Dietrich, and his son Hadubrand. Hildebrand recognizes his son, but his overtures are seen as treachery by Hadubrand and the battle ensues. The conflict is largely portrayed in the dialogue between the two characters. It represents the ethical outlook of the warrior caste, for which honor and unconditional loyalty are the highest values. Fate dominates the soldier's life, and be is an active executant.

Hildebrandslied 
Ik gihorta dat seggen, 
dat sih urhettun aenon muotin, 
Hiltibrant enti Hadubrant untar heriun tuem. 
sunufatarungos iro saro rihtun, 
garutun se iro gudhamun, gurtun sih iro suert ana, 
helidos ubar hringa, do sie to dero hiltiu ritun. 
Hiltibrant gimahalta Heribrantes sunu -- her was heroro man, 
ferahes frotoro --, her fragen gistuont 
fohem uuortum, hwer sin fater wari 
fireo in folche, ...........................................
...........................................`eddo hwelihhes cnuosles du sis ; 
ibu du mi enan sages, ik mi de odre uuet, 
chind, in chunnincriche: chud ist mir al irmindeot. » 
Hadubrant gimahalta, Hiltibrantes sunu : 
« dat sagetun mi usere liuti, 
alte anti frote, dea erhina warun, 
dat Hiltibrant haetti min fater ; ih heittu Hadubrant. 
forn her ostar giweit -- floh her Otachres nid -- 
hina miti Theotrihhe enti sinero degano Filu. 
her furlaet in lante luttila sitten, 
prut in bure, barn unwahsan, 
arbeo laosa : her raet ostar hina. 
des sid Detrihhe darba gistuontun 
fateres mines: dat uuas so friuntlaos man. 
her was Otachre unmet tirri, 
degano dechisto miti Deotrichhe. 
her was eo folches at ente, imo was eo fehta ti leop : 
chud was her uuito chonnem mannum. 
ni waniu ih iu lib habbe. » 
«wettu irmingot,» quad Hiltibrant, « obane ab heuane, 
dat du neo dana halt mit sus sippan man 
dinc ni gileitos........................................... » 
want her do ar arme wuntane bauga, 
cheisuringu gitan, so imo se der chunning gap, 
Huneo truhtin : « dat ih dir it nu bi huldi gibu. » 
Hadubrant gimahalta, Hiltibrantes sunu : 
« mit geru scal man geba infahan, 
ort widar orte ! 
du bist dir alter Hun, unmet spaher, 
spenis mih mit dinem wortun, wili mih dinu speru werpan. 
pist also gialtet man, so du ewin inwit fortos. 
dat sagetun mi seolidante 
westar ubar wentilseo, dat inan wic furnam : 
tot ist Hiltibrant, Heribrantes suno ! » 
Hiltibrant gimahalta, Heribrantes suno : 
« wela gisihu ih in dinem hrustim, 
dat du habes heme herron goten, 
dat du noh bi desemo riche reccheo ni wurti. » 
« welaga nu, waltant got, » quad Hiltibrant, « wewurt skihit! 
ih wallota sumaro enti wintro sehstic ur lante, 
dar man mih eo scerita in folc sceotaatero ; 
so man mir at burc enigeru banum ni gifasta, 
nu scal mih suasat chind suertu hauwan, 
breton mit sinu billiu eddo ih imo ti banin werdan. 
doh maht du nu aodlihho, ibu dir din ellen taoc, 
in sus heremo man hrusti giwinnan, 
rauba birahanen, ibu du dar enic reht habes. » 
«der si doh nu argosta, » quad Hiltibrant, « ostarliuto, 
der dir nu wiges warne, nu dih es so wel lustit, 
gudea gimeinun: niuse de motti, 
hwerdar sih hiutu dero hregilo rumen muotti 
erdo desero brunnono bedero uualtan ! » 
do lettun se aerist asckim scritan 
scarpen scurim, dat in dem sciltim stont. 
do stoptun tosamane, staimbort chludun. 
heuwun harmlicco huitte scilti, 
unti im iro lintun luttilo wurtun, 
giwigan miti wabnum...........................................