In honour of the crowning;— of that ye may be sure;
And great rejoicing was there throughout Burgundian land.
One heard the lances splinter in every new knight’s hand.
647
The fair maids in the windows sat, and o’erlook’d the field:
They saw below them flashing full many a polish’d shield.
King Gunther kept aloof from his lieges’ revelry—
Whate’er the rest were doing, a mournful man was he:
648
How great was the unlikeness of his and Siegfried’s mood!
And well he knew what ailed him that noble knight and good.
Unto the king he hastened, and straight to question fell:
“How fared you yestereven? to me you this should tell.”
649
Then to his guest the host spake: “A foul disgrace ’twill be!
I’ve brought the very devil home to the house with me!
For when I sought to woo her, she bound me tight withal,
Then to a nail she bore me and hang’d me on the wall.
650
“There hung I in mine anguish all night until the day,
Before she would unbind me. How softly, too, she lay!
This, trusting in your friendship, I tell you secretly.”
Then cried the stalwart Siegfried: “This grieves me, verily;
651
“I’ll see if I can help you, so put your grief away.
I’ll manage that this evening she’ll let you by her stay;—
She shall not even flout you, nor scorn your love again.”
This saying was to Gunther sweet comfort after pain.
652
And further spake Sir Siegfried: “Thou yet mayst prosper well.
Right different, I ween, was the luck that us befell!
To me your sister Kriemhild is dearer than my life:
This same night Dame Brunhilda shall be your willing wife.”
653
He said: “Unto your chamber I’ll come this very night,
Clad in my hood of darkness, unseen of any wight—
That ne’er another person my artifice may know;
So let your chamber-servants unto their hostel go.
654
“The lights the pages carry I’ll suddenly put out;
And this will be the token, that you may have no doubt
But I am nigh to aid you: yea! I will tame your wife
That you this night can woo her;— thereon I stake my life!”
655
“Then,” quoth the king, “be careful thou yieldest not to love;
She is mine own dear lady! The rest I do approve—
Do with her what thou choosest;— if thou shouldst take her life
Methinks I would o’erlook it: she is a fearsome wife!”
656
“I do agree,” cried Siegfried, “and, by my faith, I swear
I will not seek to woo her. Is not thy sister dear
Before all other women I have set eyes on aye?”
Right well believéd Gunther what Siegfried then did say.
657
The merry games brought gladness and also weariness.
The tilting and the shouting were bidden soon to cease:
For to the hall the ladies were shortly to depart.
The chamberlains commanded the folk to stand apart.
658
The horses and the people were driven from the court.
Each of the beauteous ladies a bishop did escort,
When they in kingly presence must go to sit at meat.
And many a goodly liegeman them follow’d to their seat.
659
The king, with hopes encouraged, in joyous humour sat:
What Siegfried had assured him, his mind was full of that!
To him this one day seeméd as long as thirty days.
Upon his lady’s wooing his thoughts were set always.
660
He scarcely could content him until the meal was done.
Then was the fair Brunhilda at leisure to be gone,
As also was Kriemhilda; both to their rooms would go,
The thanes around them thronging;— ha! ’twas a gallant show!
661
Sir Siegfried by Kriemhilda his beauteous wife still sate,
And with her held sweet converse with joy unmarr’d by hate.
His hands she softly fondled with hers that were so white—
Until—but how she knew not— he vanish’d from her sight.
662
As she with him was toying and found he’d slipped away,
She turned to his attendants, and thus the queen did say:
“I marvel what hath happen’d the king, where hath he gone?
His hands he but this moment hath taken from mine own.”
663
She did not question further. Meanwhile he quickly came
To where the chamber-servants did wait with links aflame:
He straight began to quench them, each in the page’s hand.
That it was done by Siegfried Gunther did understand.
664
Well knew he what he wanted: he therefore bade begone
The maids and dames who waited. As soon as this was done
The noble king was careful himself to lock the door:
Two strong bolts drew he quickly and fastened therebefore.
665
Behind the tester-hangings he hid the tapers’ light.
And then began a play-piece, which ended not that night,
Betwixt the stalwart Siegfried and that fair maiden wife;—
Which was unto King Gunther with joy and sorrow rife.
666
When on the couch lay Siegfried alongside of the queen:
“Take care,” quoth she, “Lord Gunther, —though sweet it might have been
To love me—lest you suffer as you have done before.”
The lady for bold Siegfried had bitter woe in store.
667
To hide his voice he fail’d not, and ne’er a word spake he.
And so ’twas plain to Gunther, although he could not see,
That nothing sly or secret was passing ’twixt the twain.
But little peace or comfort did either of them gain!
668
He bore himself as though he the great King Gunther were,
And in his arms clasp’d closely that maiden passing fair.
But on a bench by-standing she hurl’d him from the bed,
So that against a footstool he loudly smote his head.
669
Arising, strong as ever, up leapt the gallant man:
This time he would do better! but soon as he began
To try and overpower her, again she wrought him woe.
Ne’er wife hath made a fending the like of that, I trow!
670
And when he gave not over, the maiden sprang upright:
“Full ill doth it beseem you to touch my shift so white!
Coarse are you and unmanner’d: woe therefore you betide!
You shall not soon forget it!” the comely maiden cried.
671
She clasp’d the good knight tightly with both her arms around,
And would have laid and bound him, as she the king had bound—
That she in peace and quiet might lie upon her bed.
The ruffling of her raiment she vengefully repaid.
672
What did his valour serve him, and what his power of limb,
When she essayed to show him that she could master him?
By might and main she bore him— not elsewise could it be—
And ’twixt the bed and cupboard she crush’d him cruelly.
673
“Ah, woe is me!” the knight thought, “am I to lose my life,
And that through a mere maiden? if so be, every wife,
From this day forth for ever, with arrogance and pride
Will treat her lawful husband; which else should ne’er betide.”
674
The king could hear all plainly, and grievéd for the man.
Siegfried, full sore ashaméd, to rage within began;
His monstrous strength outputting he with the maid did close,
And strove with all his forces Dame Brunhild to oppose.
675
Long time it seemed to Gunther ere he the maid did quell.
She grasp’d
