weened to bind him, as she had done the king, that she might have
her case upon the bed. The lady avenged full sore, that he had
rumpled thus her clothes. What availed his mickle force and his
giant strength? She showed the knight her masterly strength of
limb; she carried him by force (and that must needs be) and
pressed him rudely 'twixt a clothes-press and the wall.

"Alas," so thought the knight, "if now I lose my life at a
maiden's hands, then may all wives hereafter bear towards their
husbands haughty mien, who would never do it else."

The king heard it well and feared him for his liegeman's life.
Siegfried was sore ashamed; wrathful he waxed and with surpassing
strength he set himself against her and tried it again with Lady
Brunhild in fearful wise. It thought the king full long, before
he conquered her. She pressed his hands, till from her strength
the blood gushed forth from out the nails: this irked the hero.
Therefore he brought the highborn maiden to the pass that she
gave over her unruly will, which she asserted there afore. The
king heard all, albeit not a word he spake. Siegfried pressed
her against the bed, so that she shrieked aloud. Passing sore
his strength did hurt her. She grasped the girdle around her
waist and would fain have bound him, but his hand prevented it in
such a wise that her limbs and all her body cracked. Thus the
strife was parted and she became King Gunther's wife.

She spake: "Most noble king, pray spare my life. I'll do thee
remedy for whatso I have done thee. I'll no longer struggle
against thy noble love, for I have learned full well that thou
canst make thee master over women."