Siegfried let the maiden be and stepped away, as though he would
do off his clothes. From her hand he drew a golden finger ring,
without that she wist it, the noble queen. Thereto he took her
girdle, a good stout band. I know not if he did that for very
haughtiness. He gave it to his wife and rued it sore in after
time.

Then lay Gunther and the fair maid side by side. He played the
lover, as beseemed him, and thus she must needs give over wrath
and shame. From his embrace a little pale she grew. Ho, how her
great strength failed through love! Now was she no stronger than
any other wife. He caressed her lovely form in lover's wise.
Had she tried her strength again, what had that availed? All
this had Gunther wrought in her by his love. How right lovingly
she lay beside him in bridal joy until the dawn of day!

Now was Sir Siegfried gone again to where he was given fair
greetings by a woman fashioned fair. He turned aside the
question she had thought to put and hid long time from her what
he had brought, until she ruled as queen within his land. How
little he refused to give her what he should!

On the morn the host was far cheerier of mood than he had been
afore. Through this the joy of many a noble man was great in all
his lands, whom he had bidden to his court, and to whom he
proffered much of service. The wedding feast now lasted till the
fourteenth day, so that in all this while the sound never died
away of the many joys which there they plied. The cost to the
king was rated high. The kinsmen of the noble host gave gifts in