Arms like unto bands of iron she locked round the valiant…

Arms like unto bands of iron she locked round the valiant thane. She was minded in fetters to lay him even as the King had lain, That still she might lie untroubled in the peace of her maiden sleep. That he touched but her vesture, how fiercely did the flame of her fury upleap! Despite his brawny sinews, in his magic power's despite, She gave dread proof to the hero of her matchless bodily might: She bare him resistlessly backward with overmastering stress. As in vice of steel she crushed him 'twixt the bed and an oaken press. "Out on it!" his heart indignant cried; "if my limb and life Be lost at the hands of a maiden, then every shrewish wife— Who had dreamed not else of rebellion—against her lord shall upraise Malapert brows of defiance through all earth's coming days!"

Now the King heard all: for his champion with exceeding fear was he filled. Then swift through the heart of Siegfried fierce shame and anger thrilled. With the might of the Dwarfs and the Giants he hurled himself on his foe, And strained his strength against Brunhild as in fury of madness-throe. (C) Yea, even as she thrust him backward, it spurred his fury on, So stinging each mighty sinew, that, spite of her vantage won, He upwrithed himself against her: the flame of his rage outflashed, And from wall unto wall of the chamber those wrestlers hurtled and crashed. (C) Great fear and tribulation the King endured in that hour: Oft must he flee before them to this side and that of the bower. So furiously they grappled and strained, that a marvel it seemed That out of the hands of each other their very lives were redeemed. (C) In anguish of dread King Gunther trembled for each of twain; But most was his spirit quaking lest Siegfried should be slain. Oft thought he, "The life of the hero is well nigh reft by the maid!" Had he but dared to essay it, he would fain have gone to his aid.

(C) Long, long between those wrestlers endured that desperate strife: But he slowly at last bare backward to the couch that maiden-wife. How grimly she fought soever, her strength waxed faint at the last: But aye through the heart of Gunther a tumult of wild thoughts passed.

Long, long it seemed unto Gunther ere Siegfried tamed her mood. Her grip on his hands was so mighty that from 'neath his nails the blood At her terrible crushing spirted, that his soul was wrung with pain: Yet he wore her down by his stubborn endurance, and forced to refrain From the fury of eager onset, from the erstwhile tiger-leap. —Ware of all this was Gunther, though he hearkened in silence deep. He crushed her against the bed-beam, that for pain aloud she cried; For the strength of Siegfried the mighty tortured at last the bride. In a desperate hope, at the girdle that around her sides she wore She snatched, if she haply might bind him; but this from her grasp he tore. Her joints are strained unto breaking, on the rack is her fainting frame— Lo, now is the strife's decision: wife to the King is the dame. She moaned, "O king and hero, take not my life from me! Atoned for in wifely duty shall be all scathe done unto thee! Against thy noble embraces myself no more do I ward. At last have I throughly proved it, that thou art master and lord."

Uprose from the grapple Siegfried—while faint lay the panting bride— Back drew he as though he were minded to put but his raiment aside: Yet first did he draw from her finger a little golden ring; But thereof the Queen outwearied knew not anything. That silken marvel, her girdle, for a trophy withal took he: I know not if haply he did it in pride of victory. To his wife he gave them thereafter—his own bane came thereof! He is gone; and the King and Brunhild are alone in the bed of love.

All in the old sweet fashion he gathered her unto his breast: The erstwhile shame and the anger are for ever laid to rest. As Love the Overcomer prevailed, her cheek waxed wan— There is no more Brunhild the Maiden, and her might as a dream is gone! O yea, she is now no stronger than any woman beside! He poured out his love upon her, he cherished his winsome bride. Ay, though she now should withstand him, what were her strength made frail? Unto Gunther is victory given by Love who is strong to prevail.

Ah, in what lovingkindness the knight and the lady lay Through the glory-litten darkness till the shadows fled away!

But long since had the hero Siegfried from the Bower of Slain Hate hied To the welcoming arms of the lovely, to the lips of a waiting bride. Lightly he put by questions that trembled on her tongue; And he kept those victory-trophies hidden from sight full long, Until to his Queen in his kingdom he gave, afar and late, The Gifts of Doom—how little availeth to strive with fate!

That King on the morrow's dawning far blither was of cheer Than yestermorn: through the marches of his kingdom far and near High swelled the tides of joyance in stately homes and fair; And the guests to the palace bidden rendered him homage there. Through days twice seven lasted the joy of the bridal-feast, So that in all that season never the music ceased Of all manner of mirth and pastime that the wit of man may devise: And all was at Gunther's charges at his marriage-solemnities. The noble Gunther's kinsmen, according to his behest, Gave gifts of gold in his honour, and many a rich-wrought vest. Silver withal and horses on the wandering bard they bestowed: All lovers of royal bounty from Worms glad-hearted rode.

Yea, also Siegfried the Hero, the Prince of the Nether Land, Caused all the goodly raiment that was brought by his Niblung band, His thousand, to Rhine, to be given to whosoever might crave, Fair horses withal, and saddles: like kings his vassals gave. Ere the giving of costly presents to an end had wholly come, Long seemed the time to the sated guests that yearned for home. Ne'er with such royal bounty were desires of guests fulfilled. So ended the marriage high-tide, and all was as Gunther willed.

XI. How Siegfried and his Wife journeyed Home