be perjured. I'll bring it to pass as best I can."

Then they bade Kriemhild go to court before the king. She came with her
fair maidens to the entrance of the hall. At this Sir Giselher sprang
down the steps. "Now bid these maidens turn again. None save my sister
alone shall be here by the king."

Then they brought Kriemhild to where the king was found. There stood
noble knights from many princes' lands; throughout the broad hall one
bade them stand quite still. By this time Lady Brunhild had stepped
to the table, too. Then spake King Gunther: "Sweet sister mine, by thy
courtesie redeem my oath. I swore to give thee to a knight, and if he
become thy husband, then hast thou done my will most loyally."

Quoth the noble maid: "Dear brother mine, ye must not thus entreat me.
Certes I'll be ever so, that whatever ye command, that shall be done.
I'll gladly pledge my troth to him whom ye, my lord, do give me to
husband."

Siegfried here grew red at the glance of friendly eyes. The knight then
proffered his service to Lady Kriemhild. Men bade them take their stand
at each other's side within the ring and asked if she would take the
stately man. In maidenly modesty she was a deal abashed, yet such was
Siegfried's luck and fortune, that she would not refuse him out of hand.
The noble king of Netherland vowed to take her, too, to wife. When he
and the maid had pledged their troths, Siegfried's arm embraced eftsoon
the winsome maid. Then the fair queen was kissed before the knights. The
courtiers parted, when that had happed; on the bench over against the
king Siegfried was seen to take his scat with Kriemhild. Thither many
a man accompanied him as servitor; men saw the Nibelungs walk at
Siegfried's side.

The king had seated him with Brunhild, the maid, when she espied
Kriemhild (naught had ever irked her so) sitting at Siegfried's side.
She began to weep and hot tears coursed down fair cheeks. Quoth the lord
of the land: "What aileth you, my lady, that ye let bright eyes grow
dim? Ye may well rejoice; my castles and my land and many a stately
vassal own your sway."

"I have good cause to weep," spake the comely maid; "my heart is sore
because of thy sister, whom I see sitting so near thy vassal's side. I
must ever weep that she be so demeaned."

Then spake the King Gunther: "Ye would do well to hold your peace. At
another time I will tell you the tale of why I gave Siegfried my sister
unto wife. Certes she may well live