ever happily with the knight."

She spake: "I sorrow ever for her beauty and her courtesie. I fain would
flee, and I wist whither I might; go, for never will I lie close by
your side, unless ye tell me through what cause Kriemhild be Siegfried's
bride."

Then spake the noble king: "I'll do it you to wit; he hath castles
and broad domains, as well as I. Know of a truth, he is a mighty king,
therefore did I give him the peerless maid to love."

But whatsoever the king might say, she remained full sad of mood.

Now many a good knight hastened from the board. Their hurtling waxed so
passing hard, that the whole castle rang. But the host was weary of his
guests. Him-thought that he might lie more soft at his fair lady's side.
As yet he had not lost at all the hope that much of joy might hap to him
through her. Lovingly he began to gaze on Lady Brunhild. Men bade the
guests leave off their knightly games, for the king and his wife would
go to bed. Brunhild and Kriemhild then met before the stairway of the
hall, as yet without the hate of either. Then came their retinue. Noble
chamberlains delayed not, but brought them lights. The warriors, the
liegemen of the two kings, then parted on either side and many of the
knights were seen to walk with Siegfried.

The lords were now come to the rooms where they should lie. Each of the
twain thought to conquer by love his winsome dame. This made them blithe
of mood. Siegfried's pleasure on that night was passing great. When Lord
Siegfried lay at Kriemhild's side and with his noble love caressed the
high-born maid so tenderly, she grew as dear to him as life, so that not
for a thousand other women would he have given her alone. No more I'll
tell how Siegfried wooed his wife; hear now the tale of how King Gunther
lay by Lady Brunhild's side. The stately knight had often lain more
soft by other dames. The courtiers now had left, both maid and man. The
chamber soon was locked; he thought to caress the lovely maid. Forsooth
the time was still far off, ere she became his wife. In a smock of snowy
linen she went to bed. Then thought the noble knight: "Now have I here
all that I have ever craved in all my days." By rights she must needs
please him through her comeliness. The noble king gan shroud the lights
and then the bold knight hied him to where the lady lay. He laid him at
her side, and great was his joy when in his arms he clasped the lovely
fair. Many loving caresses he might have g