ey came, singly
and in companies. Then with a large escort Brunhild sailed across the
sea and up the Rhine to Worms.

Siegfried and Brunhild

It now became increasingly clear that Siegfried and Brunhild had had
affectionate relations in the past. [Indeed, in the Volsunga Saga, which
is an early version of the Nibelungenlied, we find Grimhild, the mother
of Gudrun (Kriemhild), administering to Sigurd (Siegfried) a magic
potion in order that he should forget about Brunhild.] On seeing
Siegfried and Kriemhild greet each other with a kiss, sadness and
jealousy wrung the heart of the war-maiden, and she evinced anything but
a wifely spirit toward her husband Gunther, whom, on the first night
of their wedded life, she wrestled with, defeated, and bound with her
girdle, afterward hanging him up by it on a peg in the wall! Next day he
appealed to Siegfried for assistance, and that night the hero donned his
magic cloak of invisibility, contended with Brunhild in the darkness,
and overcame her, she believing him to be Gunther, who was present
during the strife. But Siegfried was foolish enough to carry away her
ring and girdle, "for very haughtiness." These he gave to Kriemhild, and
sore both of them rued it in after-time. Brunhild's strength vanished
with her maidenhood and thenceforth she was as any other woman.

Siegfried and Kriemhild now departed to the capital of Santen, on the
Lower Rhine, and peace prevailed for ten years, until Brunhild persuaded
Gunther to invite them to a festival at Worms. She could not understand
how, if Siegfried was Gunther's vassal, as Gunther had informed her, he
neither paid tribute nor rendered homage. The invitation was accepted
cordially enough. But Kriemhild and Brunhild quarrelled bitterly
regarding a matter of precedence as to who should first enter church,
and at the door of the minster of Worms there was an unseemly squabble.
Then Kriemhild taunted Brunhild with the fact that Siegfried had won
and deserted her, and displayed the girdle and ring as proof of what she
asserted.

Siegfried, confronted with Brunhild, denied that he had ever approached
her in any unseemly way, and he and Gunther attempted to make peace
between their wives. But all to no avail. A deadly feud had sprung up
between them, which was to end in woe for all. Hagen swore a great oath
that Siegfried should pay for the insult his wife had put upon Brunhild.

The Plot against Siegfried

Now, but four days after, ne