, her defence was grown weak. It
seemed long to the king, that stood there, till Siegfried had won. She
squeezed his hands till, by her strength, the blood spurted out from his
nails. Then he brake the strong will that she had shown at the first.
The king heard it all, but he spake no word. Siegfried pressed her down
till she cried aloud, for his might hurt her greatly. She clutched at
her side, where she found her girdle, and sought to tie his hands. But
he gripped her till the joints of her body cracked. So the strife was
ended.

She said, "Noble king, let me live. I will make good to thee what I have
done, and strive no more; truly I have found thee to be my master."

Siegfried rose up then and left her, as though he would throw off his
clothes. He drew from her hand a gold ring, without that she was ware of
it. He took her girdle also, a good silken band. I know not if he did
it from pride. He gave them to his wife, and suffered for it after.

The king and the fair maiden were left together, and, for that she was
grown weak, she hid her anger, for it availed her nothing. So the abode
there till the bright day.

Meanwhile Siegfried went back to his sweet love, that received him
kindly. He turned the questions aside that she asked him, and hid from
her for long what he had brought with him, till at the last, when they
were gotten home to the Netherland, he gave her the jewel; the which
brought him and many knights to their graves.

Much merrier was Gunther of his cheer the next morning than afore.
Throughout his lands many a noble knight rejoiced, and the guests that
he had bidden to the hightide were well feasted and served.

The hightide lasted fourteen days, during the which time the din of the
sports, and of the pastimes they practised, ceased not. Mickle was the
cost to the king. The king's kinsmen gave, in his honour, to the
stranger knights, as their lord willed it, apparel, and ruddy gold and
horses, and thereto silver enow; and they that received the gifts took
their leave well content. Also Siegfried of the Netherland and his
thousand knights gave all that they had brought with them--goodly horses
with saddles. Certes, they lived right royally. Nevertheless, or they
had made an end of giving, they deemed it long; for they were weary for
their home. So ended the hightide, and the warriors went their ways.

Eleventh Adventure

How Siegfried Brought his Wife Home

When the gues