are."

When they saw plain that she would not go, Siegmund's men all fell to
weeping. How right piteously Siegmund parted from Kriemhild! His grief
was bitter, and he said, "Woe is me for this hightide! Never yet hath
such evil befallen a king and his men at a feast. They shall see us no
more in Burgundy."

Siegfried's men said openly, "Nay, we might well ride hither again if we
knew who had murdered our master. Among his kinsmen they have stark foes
enow."

Siegmund kissed Kriemhild, and spake dolefully when he saw she would
tarry, "We fare home joyless to our land. Now, for the first time, I
know all my sorrows."

They rode, without an escort, from Worms across the Rhine. Well might
the Nibelungs fear nothing from the assault of foemen, with their own
strong hand to guard them.

They took leave of none; but Gernot and Giselher went to them lovingly,
for they grieved for their loss, and told them so.

Gernot said courteously, "God in Heaven knoweth that I had no blame in
Siegfried's death; neither was it told me, that any here bare him
malice. With true heart I sorrow for him."

Giselher the youth gave them good escort. He brought the king and his
knights home to the Netherland without further mischance.

How it fared with them after, I cannot tell. But Kriemhild was ever
heard mourning, and none comforted her save Giselher--he was true and
good.

Fair Brunhild sat misproud, and recked little how Kriemhild wept. She
was never kind to her again. Also to her, afterward, Kriemhild caused
bitter heart's dole.

Nineteenth Adventure

How the Nibelung Hoard Came to Worms

When noble Kriemhild was widowed, Count Eckewart stayed by her in
Burgundy with his men, as honour bade him, and served his mistress with
goodwill till his death.

At Worms, by the minster, they gave her a room, wide and high, rich and
spacious, where she sat joyless with her attendants. To church she went
often and gladly. Since her dear one was buried, how seldom she failed
there! She went thither sorrowfully every day, and prayed to great God
for his soul. Faithfully and without stint the knight was mourned.

Uta and her women ceased not to comfort her. But her heart was wounded
so deep that she could not be cheered. She sorrowed for Siegfried more
than wife ever did for husband. Her great love appeared therein, and she
mourned him to the end, while her life endured. Strong and true she took
vengeance at the last