How the Two Queens Reviled One Another, XXXVI–LXIII

"Thief?" made answer Kriemhild, "I will not brook the name. Thou would'st have kept silence, hadst thou a sense of shame. By the girdle here about me prove full well I can That I am ne'er a liar; Siegfried was indeed thy man."

'Twas of silk of Nineveh the girdle that she brought, With precious stones well garnish'd; a better ne'er was wrought; When Brunhild but beheld it, her tears she could not hold. The tale must needs to Gunther and all his men be told.

Then outspake Queen Brunhild; "Go some one straight and call Hither the Prince of Rhineland; sure will I tell him all, What infamy his sister has forc'd me to endure, And how his wife she voices for Siegfried's paramour."

The king with his chieftains up came hastily; There saw he his beloved weeping bitterly. "Dearest heart!" soft said he, "who has serv'd you so?" With many a sob she answer'd, "Deep cause have I for woe.

"Of my good name and honor than life more dear would fain Thy cruel sister rob me; to thee I needs must plain. She says her husband Siegfried my virgin favors won." Thereto replied King Gunther, "Then she foul wrong has done."

"Besides, my long-lost girdle she weareth as in scorn, My gold adorns her finger;—would I had ne'er been born! Is not all this an outrage to sting and wound me sore? King! if thou dost not clear me, I'll never love thee more."

Thereto return'd King Gunther, "I will do no less; If Siegfried so has boasted, he shall the same confess, Or frankly disavow it." Then turn'd he to his band, And bade them summon forthwith the Chief of Netherland.

No sooner had Sir Siegfried seen them so ill appaid (He knew not what had happen'd), suddenly he said, "Why are these women weeping? the cause, I pray you, show, And why I'm hither summon'd, I should be glad to know."

Thereto replied King Gunther, "With anguish I'm oppress'd. My wife has told me something that's poison in my breast. She says, thou hast been boasting her virgin love to have won; So thy wife Kriemhild told her. Hast thou, Sir Knight, so done?"

"Not I," made answer Siegfried, "and if she so did say, Ere I rest, she surely shall for her folly pay, And before all thy liegemen my solemn oath I'll take, That not to her nor others such words I ever spake."

Then said the King of Rhineland, "Make this at once appear; The oath, which thou hast proffer'd, take before us here, And of all idle charges at once I'll set thee free." In circle the Burgundians all standing you might see.

Straight the noble Siegfried swore with uplifted hand, "'Tis enough," said Gunther, "so well I understand Thy innocence, that freely all doubts I here remit, My sister did accuse thee, and I with joy acquit."

Then answer'd noble Siegfried, "If it avail her aught To have griev'd thy gentle consort, and set her thus at naught, Such gain of her's assure thee, I deeply shall lament." Then the bold knights fix'd glances each on the other bent.

"Women must be instructed," said Siegfried the good knight, "To leave off idle talking, and rule their tongues aright. Keep thy fair wife in order, I'll do by mine the same. Such overweening folly puts me indeed to shame."

Hasty words have often sunder'd fair dames before. Then went on sad Brunhild to weep and wail so sore, That Gunther's warriors could not but pity such deep grief. Then to his sovran lady came Hagan, Trony's chief.

He ask'd her, what had happen'd—wherefore he saw her weep She told him all the story; he vow'd to her full deep, That reap should Kriemhild's husband as he had dar'd to sow, Or that himself thereafter content should never know.

Ortwine of Metz and Gernot both came to the debate, Where the collected chieftains advis'd on Siegfried's fate. Fair Uta's son, young Giselher, alike the council sought; He, when he heard the question, thus spoke his honest thought.

"Ye good knights and noble, why would you do this? Never sure has Siegfried done so much amiss, Or merited such hatred, that he should lose his life. Sure 'tis but a trifle to stir an angry wife."

"Shall we bring up bastards?" said Hagan furiously; "That were little honor for knights of our degree. He hath slander'd my dear lady in his boastful fit. Die will I in this quarrel, or his life shall answer it."

Then spake himself King Gunther, "Naught has he done but give To us all love and honor; we needs must let him live. How can it be fitting that I should do him ill? True was he to us ever alike in deed and will."

The Knight of Metz in answer, Ortwine, then sternly said, "That strength of his, so matchless, shall stand him in no stead. Let but my lord permit me, myself will do the deed." Against him then the chieftains unrighteous doom decreed.

None urged the matter further, except that Hagan still, Kept ever prompting Gunther the guiltless blood to spill; Saying, that, if Siegfried perish'd, his death to him would bring The sway o'er many a kingdom. Sore mourn'd the wavering king.

Still shrunk they from performance; fair sports meanwhile were plied. Ah! what spears were shiver'd between the palace wide And the lofty minster Siegfried's fair dame before! This with angry murmurs the men of Gunther bore.

Then said the king, "Ye warriors, refrain your murderous hate; Born was he for the safety and honor of our state. Besides, so stout of body is he, and so strong of hand; That, should he come to know it, none durst his fury stand."

"Nay, my good lord," said Hagan, "take comfort and good cheer. The weeping of fair Brunhild, be sure, shall cost him dear. Trust to my secret practice to guide this matter right. Ever shall he find in Hagan a fatal opposite."

Thereto replied King Gunther, "But how can this befall?" To him straight answer'd Hagan, "List, and I'll tell you all. Let messengers ride hither, whom here no person knows, And bid you open battle as if from foreign foes.

"Before your guests make public, that you and all your men Must forthwith hence to battle; he will not dally then, But proffer you his service, and thus will lose his life; I'll worm us out his secret from his loquacious wife."

The king took to his ruin, th' advice his liegeman gave. The chiefs their horrid treason 'gainst th' innocent and brave Carried with such close practice, that none the train could spy. Thus brought two women's quarrel many a good knight to die.