by side at the evening meal.

The hour having come for retiring, Gunther, attempting to embrace his
bride, is dismayed to find himself seized, bound fast, and hung up on
a peg, where he dangles all night in spite of piteous entreaties to be
set free. It is only a moment before the servants enter on the morrow
that Brunhild consents to release her spouse, so when the bridegrooms
appear in public, everybody notices that while Siegfried is radiant,
Gunther's brow is clouded by a heavy frown. In course of the day, the
King of Burgundy confides to his new brother-in-law the cause of his
displeasure, whereupon Siegfried promises to don his cloud cloak that
evening and compel Gunther's bride to treat her husband henceforth
with due respect. True to this promise, Siegfried, unseen, follows
Gunther and Brunhild into their apartment that night, and, the lights
having been extinguished, wrestles with the bride until she
acknowledges herself beaten. Although fancying she is yielding to
Gunther, it is Siegfried who snatches her girdle and ring before
leaving Gunther to reap the benefit of his victory, for Brunhild,
having submitted to a man, loses her former fabulous strength.
Meanwhile Siegfried returns to Kriemhild, imprudently relates how he
has been occupied, and bestows upon her the girdle and ring.

_11th Adventure._ The wedding festivities finished, Siegfried returns
to Xanten with his bride, who is escorted thither by her faithful
henchman Ekkewart, who has vowed to follow her wherever she goes.
Siegfried's parents not only receive the bride cordially, but
relinquish their throne to the young couple, who live together most
happily and are overjoyed at the advent of a son.

_12th Adventure._ Twelve whole years elapse ere Brunhild asks Gunther
how it happens his vassal Siegfried has never yet come to Worms to do
homage? Although Gunther now assures his wife Siegfried is a king in
his own right, she nevertheless insists her brother-in-law and his
wife should be invited to Worms, a suggestion which Gunther is only
too glad to carry out.

_13th Adventure._ Overjoyed at the prospect of revisiting the scene of
their courtship, Siegfried and Kriemhild return to Worms, leaving
their infant son at home, but taking with them Siegfried's father who
has recently lost his wife. To honor her sister-in-law, Brunhild
welcomes Kriemhild with the same state that heralded her own entrance
at Worms. Banquets and tournaments also take place,