such lordly dress. Full sore it rued the queen when this she
heard. She spake: "Sir King, I fain would have your aid, lest
your chamberlain leave naught of all my store of dress; he
squandereth eke my gold. If any would forfend this, I'd be his
friend for aye. He giveth such royal gifts, the knight must
ween, forsooth, that I have sent for death. I would fain use it
longer and trow well myself to waste that which my father left
me." No queen as yet hath ever had so bounteous a chamberlain.

Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, be it told you that the
king of the Rhineland hath such great store of gold and robes to
give, that we have no need to carry hence aught of Brunhild's
weeds."

"Nay, and ye love me," spake the queen, "let me fill twenty
traveling chests with gold and silk as well, the which my hand
shall give, when we are come across to Gunther's land."

Men filled her chests with precious stones, the while her
chamberlains stood by. She would not trust the duty to
Giselher's men. Gunther and Hagen began to laugh thereat.

Then spake the queen: "With whom shall I leave my lands? This my
hand and yours must first decree."

Quoth the noble king: "Now bid draw near whom ye deem fit and we
will make him steward."

The lady spied near by one of her highest kin (it was her
mother's brother); to him the maiden spake: "Now let be