Classic Poem

834

The people there did wonder / how the thing might be,
That no more together / the queens they thus did see,
And that beside each other / they went not as before.
Thereby came thanes a many / anon to harm and trouble sore.

835

Here before the minster / the wife of Gunther stood.
And good knights full many / were there of merry mood
With the fair ladies / that their eyes did see.
Then came the Lady Kriemhild / with a full stately company.

836

Whate'er of costly raiment / decked lofty maids before,
'Twas like a windy nothing / 'gainst what her ladies wore.
The wives of thirty monarchs / — such riches were her own —
Might ne'er display together / what there by Lady Kriemhild shown.

837

Should any wish to do so / he could not say, I ween,
That so rich apparel / e'er before was seen
As there by her maidens / debonair was worn:
But that it grieved Brunhild / had Kriemhild that to do forborne.

838

There they met together / before the minster high.
Soon the royal matron, / through mickle jealousy,
Kriemhild to pass no further, / did bid in rage full sore:
" She that doth owe her homage / shall ne'er go monarch's wife before. "

839

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild / — angry was her mood:
" An could'st thou but be silent / that for thee were good.
Thyself hast brought dishonor / upon thy fair body:
How might, forsooth, a harlot / ever wife of monarch be? "

840

" Whom mak'st thou now a harlot? " / the king's wife answered her.
" That do I thee, " spake Kriemhild, / " for that thy body fair
First was clasped by Siegfried, / knight full dear to me.
In sooth 'twas ne'er my brother / won first thy maidenhead from thee.

841

" How did thy senses leave thee? / Cunning rare was this.
How let his love deceive thee, / since he thy liegeman is?
And all in vain, " quoth Kriemhild, / " the plaint I hear thee bring. "
" In sooth, " then answered Brunhild, / " I'll tell it to my spouse the king. "

842

" What reck I of such evil? / Thy pride hath thee betrayed,
That thou deem'st my homage / should e'er to thee be paid.
Know thou in truth full certain / the thing may never be:
Nor shall I e'er be ready / to look for faithful friend in thee. "

843

Thereat did weep Queen Brunhild: / Kriemhild waited no more,
But passed into the minster / the monarch's wife before,
With train of fair attendants. / Arose there mickle hate,
Whereby eyes brightly shining / anon did grow all dim and wet.

844

However God they worshipped / or there the mass was sung,
Did deem the Lady Brunhild / the waiting all too long,
For that her heart was saddened / and angry eke her mood.
Therefore anon must suffer / many a hero keen and good.

845

Brunhild with her ladies / 'fore the minster did appear.
Thought she: " Now must Kriemhild / further give me to hear
Of what so loud upbraideth / me this free-tongued wife.
And if he thus hath boasted, / amend shall Siegfried make with life. "

846

Now came the noble Kriemhild / followed by warrior band.
Then spake the Lady Brunhild: / " Still thou here shalt stand.
Thou giv'st me out for harlot: / let now the same be seen.
Know thou, what thus thou sayest / to me hath mickle sorrow been. "

847

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / " So may'st thou let me go.
With the ring upon my finger / I the same can show:
That brought to me my lover / when first by thee he lay. "
Ne'er did Lady Brunhild / know grief as on this evil day.

848

Quoth she: " This ring full precious / some hand from me did steal,
And from me thus a season / in evil way conceal:
Full sure will I discover / who this same thief hath been. "
Then were the royal ladies / both in mood full angry seen.

849

Then gave answer Kriemhild: / " I deem the thief not I.
Well hadst thou been silent, / hold'st thou thine honor high.
I'll show it with this girdle / that I around me wear,
That in this thing I err not: / Siegfried hath lain by thee full near. "

850

Wrought of silk of Nineveh / a girdle there she wore,
That of stones full precious / showed a goodly store.
When saw it Lady Brunhild / straight to weep gan she:
Soon must Gunther know it / and all the men of Burgundy.

851

Then spake the royal matron: / " Bid hither come to me
Of Rhine the lofty monarch. / Hear straightway shall he
How that his sister / doth my honor stain.
Here doth she boast full open / that I in Siegfried's arms have lain. "

852

The king came with his warriors, / where he did weeping find
His royal spouse Brunhild, / then spake in manner kind:
" Now tell me, my dear lady, / who hath done aught to thee? "
She spake unto the monarch: / " Thy wife unhappy must thou see.

853

" Me, thy royal consort, / would thy sister fain
Rob of all mine honor. / To thee must I complain:
She boasts her husband Siegfried / hath known thy royal bed. "
Then spake the monarch Gunther: / " An evil thing she then hath said. "