It befell, ere it rang unto vespers, that the clash of joyous sport Came up through the palace-casements from many a knight in the court
As they fell to the gallant tourney to wing with mirth the hours.
From the hall men hasted to watch them, and maidens from their bowers.
There sat those Queens together, queens famous far and near,
And of two knights still were they thinking, two knights without a peer.
Then spake Kriemhild the lovely: “My lord is such a knight
That beneath him all these kingdoms might well be bowed as of right.”
Answered the Lady Brunhild: “Tush! how may such thing be?
If there lived on the earth no mortal save only thou and he,
Then haply might this kingdom be subject to Siegmund’s son;
But so long as Gunther liveth, may such thing never be done.”
Thereto made answer Kriemhild: “Dost mark how stands he there?
With the princely pride of his presence none other knight may compare,
As the full moon in her brightness doth all the stars outshine.
Wherefore for good cause ever glad heart and proud is mine.”
But again made answer Brunhild: “Be he goodly as ye will,
And stately and noble-hearted, one standeth above him still,
Gunther, the flower of knighthood, thine high-born brother: in sooth,
High stands he above all earth-kings, and this thou knowest for truth.”
But again made answer Kriemhild: “My lord is of such high worth,
That with fullest right have I praised him for the mightiest man on earth.
{p. 112}
In many a thing is he worthy of honour’s chiefest meed.
Doth thine heart not tell thee, Brunhild, he is Gunther’s peer indeed?”
“Now this my word, O Kriemhild, take not as said in despite,
In that I say that my boasting is made of fullest right.
This said they both—I heard it, when first these twain I beheld
In the day when in my contests my will by the King’s was quelled,
When he won my love, in fashion so knightly triumphing,
Siegfried himself said, ‘Vassal am I unto Gunther the King.’
Therefore I hold him his liegeman: of himself I heard it confessed.”
Made answer Kriemhild the lovely: “For me ’twere a bitter jest!
How like were my noble brethren so to have dealt with me
That they should abase me ever the bride of a vassal to be!
Therefore will I, O Brunhild, entreat thee even as a friend—
For courtesy’s sake, and my love’s sake, let this thy babble have end.”
Made answer the Queen: “I may not refrain me from this my claim.
Am I like to renounce the service of all these knights of fame
Which, even as thine, be bounden to homage unto my lord?”
Then the anger of Kriemhild the lovely leapt into flame at the word:
“This boast, thou must needs forego it, that my lord ever on earth
Hath rendered thee aught of homage! Mine hero is more of worth
Than thy lord, my brother Gunther, be he never so noble a king.
Thou therefore shalt spare me the hearing of thy fond imagining.
Yea, needs must I marvel ever, if he be thy vassal-thane,
And thou be exalted so highly in worship above us twain,
Wherefore so long all tribute to thee hath of him been denied!
Of right I demand to be pestered no more with thine arrogant pride.”
“Too high dost thou exalt thee,” Queen Brunhild made reply:
“Now will I prove of a surety if folk account thee as high
In royal esteem and honour as they hold the Queen, even me!”
By this was the two Queens’ anger kindled unquenchably.
{p. 113}
Flashed out her answer Kriemhild: “Soon shall the issue be shown,
Since thou darest to claim my Siegfried for a vassal of thy throne!
By all the two Kings’ barons this day shall it be seen
If I dare or dare not enter the minster before the Queen!
I will show unto thee right plainly that noble am I and free!
I will prove my lord more worthy than thine may ever be!
Yea I, even I, will brook not thy malapert insults!—know,
This day shalt thyself behold it, how thy vassal—quotha!—shall go
In royal procession leading her knights in Burgundy.
Mine head shall be higher than ever it hath happed unto any to see
The head of a Daughter of Princes—though a crown make the little great!”
By this betwixt those ladies exceeding stern was the hate.
Fiercely made answer Brunhild: “Wouldst not for a vassal be known?
Then of sore need must thou sever thyself with thy train from mine own,
When subject and Queen in procession on to the minster go.”
“Of a truth,” laughed scornfully Kriemhild, “doubt not but it shall be so!”
“Now array yourselves, my maidens,” to her damsels Kriemhild cried.
“Let see if unshamed I may not within this land abide!
Be it seen to-day if ye have not royal-rich attire.
Soon shall the lie be given to herself by Brunhild the liar!”
Small need was to urge them: raiment they sought out rich and rare.
Swiftly radiant in splendour stood matron and maiden there.
Now with the train of her handmaids paced to the minster the Queen—
But lo, cometh Kriemhild the lovely, a very glory-sheen,
With maidens three-and-forty, which had fared with her unto Rhine:
In loveliest loomwork, woven in Araby, did they shine.
So royally swept the maidens up to the minster-door;
And for her the vassals of Siegfried were waiting therebefore.
Then looked the people, and marvelled for what cause this befell
That they saw the Queens from each other sundered, and none could tell
Wherefore they walked not together side by side as of old.
—Thence came unto many a baron affliction manifold.
{p. 114}
Even as in front of the minster the wife of Gunther stood,
And the gallant knights Burgundian made sport in frolic mood
With them of the Queen’s train-royal, fair dame and winsome maid,
Came thither the Lady Kriemhild with her troop all splendour-arrayed.
What raiment soever the daughter of a noble knight might wear,
By the gorgeous attire of her maidens had all been as empty air.
Her wealth was so all-unmeasured that wives of kings thrice ten
Never had shown such splendour as was flaunted by Kriemhild then.
How much he desired soever, no man had dared to say
That in all his days he had gazed on such royal-rich array
As shone in that hour on her maidens magnifical-bedight.
Never Kriemhild had done it, but to render to Brunhild despite for despite.
Each face to face met other at that wide minster-gate;
And thereat the wife of Gunther in her jealousy and hate
Cried out, “Stand still, thou Kriemhild!”—her rage in her voice rang keen—
“It beseems not the wife of a vassal to pass before a Queen!”
Swift answer made Kriemhild the lovely in angry and scornful mood:
“Hadst had but the grace to be silent, for thee had it been right good.
Thou!—thou hast on thy fair body brought shame by wantoning!
How might another’s leman ever be wife of a King?”
“Whom hast thou here named leman?”—the cry from the Queen’s lips burst.
“That have I thee!” hissed Kriemhild; “for thy fair body first
Was embraced by none other than Siegfried, mine own belovèd lord.
Of a surety it was not my brother—nay, but by him wert thou whored!
How was thy wit so hoodwinked?—a cunning wile was it all!
How couldst thou let him embrace thee who is but thy vassal-thrall?
I hear thee,” scoffed on Kriemhild, “complain where no cause is!”
“In veriest deed,” cried Brunhild, “I will tell unto Gunther this!”
“Wherein unto me is the peril? Thyself hath thine arrogance snared!
To summon me to render homage to thee hast thou dared!
This one thing know of a surety—I grieve, but the cause art thou—
All trust and friendship is ended between us for ever now.”
{p. 115}
Brake Brunhild forth into weeping: but Kriemhild tarried no more,
And before the wife of Gunther she entered the minster-door,
She and her train. Most bitter hate did her words beget.
Therefrom bright eyes full many were grief-overclouded and wet.
For all the solemn service, and the holy chant and song,
That hour of worship to Brunhild lasted all too long;
She was heart-overclouded with anguish, and darkly did she brood;
And for this full penalty lighted on warriors brave and good.
In front of the gate of the minster with her maids did Brunhild stay;
And she said to her heart: “Now Kriemhild unto me shall the whole truth say
Of those loud-throated railings, who hath whetted her tongue like a sword.
If Sie............