a mighty king, therefore did I give him the peerless maid to
love."

But whatsoever the king might say, she remained full sad of mood.

Now many a good knight hastened from the board. Their hurtling
waxed so passing hard, that the whole castle rang. But the host
was weary of his guests. Him-thought that he might lie more soft
at his fair lady's side. As yet he had not lost at all the hope
that much of joy might hap to him through her. Lovingly he began
to gaze on Lady Brunhild. Men bade the guests leave off their
knightly games, for the king and his wife would go to bed.
Brunhild and Kriemhild then met before the stairway of the hall,
as yet without the hate of either. Then came their retinue.
Noble chamberlains delayed not, but brought them lights. The
warriors, the liegemen of the two kings, then parted on either
side and many of the knights were seen to walk with Siegfried.

The lords were now come to the rooms where they should lie. Each
of the twain thought to conquer by love his winsome dame. This
made them blithe of mood. Siegfried's pleasure on that night was
passing great. When Lord Siegfried lay at Kriemhild's side and
with his noble love caressed the high-born maid so tenderly, she
grew as dear to him as life, so that not for a thousand other
women would he have given her alone. No more I'll tell how
Siegfried wooed his wife; hear now the tale of how King Gunther
lay by Lady Brunhild's side. The stately knight had often lain
more soft by other dames. The courtiers now had left, both maid
and man. The chamber soon was locked; he thought to caress the
lovely maid. Forsooth the time was still far off, ere she became