"Now tell me, Sir Gunther, would that irk you aught," the fair
maid spake, "and your servants found you bound by a woman's
hand?"

Then spake the noble knight: "That would serve you ill; nor would
it gain me honor," spake the doughty man. "By your courtesie,
pray let me lie now by your side. Sith that my love mislike you
so, I will not touch your garment with my hands."

Then she loosed him soon and let him rise. To the bed again, to
the lady he went and laid him down so far away, that thereafter
he full seldom touched her comely weeds. Nor would she have
allowed it.

Then their servants came and brought them new attire, of which
great store was ready for them against the morn. However merry
men made, the lord of the land was sad enow, albeit he wore a
crown that day. As was the usage which they had and which they
kept by right, Gunther and Brunhild no longer tarried, but hied
them to the minster, where mass was sung. Thither, too, Sir
Siegfried came and a great press arose among the crowd. In
keeping with their royal rank, there was ready for them all that
they did need, their crowns and robes as well. Then they were
consecrated. When this was done, all four were seen to stand
joyful 'neath their crowns. Many young squires, six hundred or
better, were now girt with sword in honor of the kings, as ye
must know. Great joy rose then in the Burgundian land; one heard
spear-shafts clashing in the hands of the sworded knights. There
at the windows the fair maids sat; they saw shining afore them
the gleam of many a shield. But the king had sundered him from