Certes my hand shall not be perjured. I'll bring it to pass as
best I can."

Then they bade Kriemhild go to court before the king. She came
with her fair maidens to the entrance of the hall. At this Sir
Giselher sprang down the

steps. "Now bid these maidens turn again. None save my sister
alone shall be here by the king."

Then they brought Kriemhild to where the king was found. There
stood noble knights from many princes' lands; throughout the
broad hall one bade them stand quite still. By this time Lady
Brunhild had stepped to the table, too. Then spake King Gunther:
"Sweet sister mine, by thy courtesie redeem my oath. I swore to
give thee to a knight, and if he become thy husband, then hast
thou done my will most loyally."

Quoth the noble maid: "Dear brother mine, ye must not thus
entreat me. Certes I'll be ever so, that whatever ye command,
that shall be done. I'll gladly pledge my troth to him whom ye,
my lord, do give me to husband."

Siegfried here grew red at the glance of friendly eyes. The
knight then proffered his service to Lady Kriemhild. Men bade
them take their stand at each other's side within the ring and
asked if she would take the stately man. In maidenly modesty she
was a deal abashed, yet such was Siegfried's luck and fortune,
that she would not refuse him out of hand. The noble king of
Netherland vowed to take her, too, to wife. When he and the maid