iven, had but the noble dame
allowed it. She waxed so wroth that he was sore a-troubled; he weened
that they were lovers, but he found here hostile hate. She spake: "Sir
Knight, pray give this over, which now ye hope. Forsooth this may not
hap, for I will still remain a maid, until I hear the tale; now mark ye
that."

Then Gunther grew wroth; he struggled for her love and rumpled all her
clothes. The high-born maid then seized her girdle, the which was a
stout band she wore around her waist, and with it she wrought the king
great wrong enow. She bound him hand and foot and bare him to a nail and
hung him on the wall. She forbade him love, sith he disturbed her sleep.
Of a truth he came full nigh to death through her great strength.

Then he who had weened to be the master, began to plead. "Now loose my
bands, most noble queen. I no longer trow to conquer you, fair lady, and
full seldom will I lie so near your side."

She reeked not how he felt, for she lay full soft. There he had to hang
all night till break of day, until the bright morn shone through the
casements. Had he ever had great strength, it was little seen upon him
now.

"Now tell me, Sir Gunther, would that irk you aught," the fair maid
spake, "and your servants found you bound by a woman's hand?"

Then spake the noble knight: "That would serve you ill; nor would it
gain me honor," spake the doughty man. "By your courtesie, pray let me
lie now by your side. Sith that my love mislike you so, I will not touch
your garment with my hands."

Then she loosed him soon and let him rise. To the bed again, to the lady
he went and laid him down so far away, that thereafter he full seldom
touched her comely weeds. Nor would she have allowed it.

Then their servants came and brought them new attire, of which great
store was ready for them against the morn. However merry men made, the
lord of the land was sad enow, albeit he wore a crown that day. As
was the usage which they had and which they kept by right, Gunther and
Brunhild no longer tarried, but hied them to the minster, where mass was
sung. Thither, too, Sir Siegfried came and a great press arose among the
crowd. In keeping with their royal rank, there was ready for them all
that they did need, their crowns and robes as well. Then they were
consecrated. When this was done, all four were seen to stand joyful
'neath their crowns. Many young squires, six hundred or better, were now
girt with sword in honor of t