have I
ridden to woo thee for my bride."

But she looked sadly at the floor and said: "Methought none but Sigurd
the Volsung could have dared those awful flames."

Then Sigurd thought to entice the maiden. "Much gold shall be thine,"
said he, "if thou wilt marry Gunnar the Niblung."

But she said: "Talk not to me of gold. All-Father Odin promised me a
hero-husband, and I, a warrior-maiden, will marry no silken knight for
gold."

Now Brunhild had bound herself by a solemn pledge to marry him who
should ride through the fire, so in the end she was obliged to submit
to her wooer's will; wherefore she took off the ring from Andvari's
hoard that Sigurd had placed upon her finger, and gave it to him, with
her promise to appear at the court of the Niblungs in ten days' time.
Sigurd gave her another ring in exchange, and then rejoined Gunnar,
with whom he rode back home, after having taken back his own form and
likeness.

And only to Gudrun, his wife, did Sigurd reveal the secret of how
Brunhild had been won for her brother Gunnar, and to her he gave the
ring from Andvari's hoard which she had returned to him.

Now, when ten days had passed by, Brunhild came to the land of the
Niblungs, and was met in solemn state by Gunnar at the door of his
palace. Then was held high festival at the marriage celebration, after
which Gunnar led his bride into the great hall where Sigurd and Gudrun
sat side by side upon the high dais. When Brunhild saw her old lover
she trembled violently and her face went ashy pale, then her beautiful
eyes met Sigurd's with a look of such intense sadness and meaning that
the spell was dissolved, and the remembrance of the love he had given
her rushed suddenly back into his mind, well-nigh overwhelming him
with grief.

Yet was he bound to Gudrun, as Brunhild was to Gunnar, so no more
passed at that time.

Now one day, when the birds sang pleasantly and all nature rejoiced in
the warmth of the summer sun, the two princesses, Gudrun and Brunhild,
went down to the river to bathe; and Gudrun waded the farther into the
water, saying scornfully that thus it became the wife to do whose
husband was the bravest in the world.

Then the bitter feelings which for long had vexed the soul of Brunhild
would not be restrained, and they poured forth in a torrent of wrath
like some mighty waters when the dam gives way before its constant
force.

Gudrun retorted upon her by telling how that it was Sigurd, not
Gunna