e her case upon the bed. The lady avenged full
sore, that he had rumpled thus her clothes. What availed his mickle
force and his giant strength? She showed the knight her masterly
strength of limb; she carried him by force (and that must needs be) and
pressed him rudely 'twixt a clothes-press and the wall.

"Alas," so thought the knight, "if now I lose my life at a maiden's
hands, then may all wives hereafter bear towards their husbands haughty
mien, who would never do it else."

The king heard it well and feared him for his liegeman's life. Siegfried
was sore ashamed; wrathful he waxed and with surpassing strength he set
himself against her and tried it again with Lady Brunhild in fearful
wise. It thought the king full long, before he conquered her. She
pressed his hands, till from her strength the blood gushed forth from
out the nails: this irked the hero. Therefore he brought the highborn
maiden to the pass that she gave over her unruly will, which she
asserted there afore. The king heard all, albeit not a word he spake.
Siegfried pressed her against the bed, so that she shrieked aloud.
Passing sore his strength did hurt her. She grasped the girdle around
her waist and would fain have bound him, but his hand prevented it in
such a wise that her limbs and all her body cracked. Thus the strife was
parted and she became King Gunther's wife.

She spake: "Most noble king, pray spare my life. I'll do thee remedy for
whatso I have done thee. I'll no longer struggle against thy noble
love, for I have learned full well that thou canst make thee master over
women."

Siegfried let the maiden be and stepped away, as though he would do off
his clothes. From her hand he drew a golden finger ring, without that
she wist it, the noble queen. Thereto he took her girdle, a good stout
band. I know not if he did that for very haughtiness. He gave it to his
wife and rued it sore in after time.

Then lay Gunther and the fair maid side by side. He played the lover,
as beseemed him, and thus she must needs give over wrath and shame. From
his embrace a little pale she grew. Ho, how her great strength failed
through love! Now was she no stronger than any other wife. He caressed
her lovely form in lover's wise. Had she tried her strength again, what
had that availed? All this had Gunther wrought in her by his love. How
right lovingly she lay beside him in bridal joy until the dawn of day!

Now was Sir Siegfried gone again to where he was