639
She recked not how 'twere with him, / as she full softly lay.
There hung he, will he nill he, / the night through unto day,
Until the light of morning / through the windows shone.
Could he e'er boast of prowess, / small now the measure he did own.
640
" Now tell me, lordly Gunther, / wert thou thereat so sad,
If that in bonds should find thee " / — spake the fairest maid —
" Thy royal men-in-waiting, / bound by lady's hand? "
Then spake the knight full noble: / " Thou should'st in case most evil stand.
641
" Eke had I little honor / therefrom, " continued he.
" For all thy royal honor / let me then go to thee.
Since that my fond embracements / do anger thee so sore,
With these my hands I pledge thee / to touch thy garment nevermore. "
642
Then she loosed him straightway / and he once more stood free.
To the bed he went as erstwhile / where rested his lady.
But far from her he laid him / and well he now forebore
To stir the lady's anger / by touching e'en the gown she wore.
643
At length came their attendants / who garments fresh did bring,
Whereof was ready for them / good store on that morning.
Yet merry as his folk were, / a visage sad did own
The lord of that proud country, / for all he wore that day a crown.
644
As was the country's custom, / a thing folk do of right,
Gunther and Brunhild / presently were dight
To go unto the minster / where the mass was sung.
Thither eke came Siegfried, / and in their trains a mighty throng.
645
As fitted royal honor / for them was thither brought
The crown that each should carry / and garments richly wrought.
There were they consecrated; / and when the same was done,
Saw ye the four together / happy stand and wearing crown.
646
There was knighted many a squire, / — six hundred or beyond —
In honor of the crowning, / that shall ye understand.
Arose full great rejoicing / in the land of Burgundy
As hand of youthful warrior / did shatter shaft right valiantly.
647
Then sat in castle casement / maidens fair to see,
And many a shield beneath them / gleamed full brilliantly.
Yet himself had sundered / from all his men the king;
Though joyous every other, / sad-visaged stood he sorrowing.
648
He and the doughty Siegfried, / how all unlike their mood!
Well wist the thing did grieve him / that noble knight and good.
He went unto the monarch / and straight addressed him so:
" This night how hast thou fared? / In friendship give thou me to know. "
649
To his guest the king gave answer: / " Than shame and scathe I've naught
The devil's dam I surely / into my house have brought.
When as I thought to have her / she bound me like a thrall;
Unto a nail she bore me / and hung me high upon the wall.
650
" There hung I sore in anguish / the night through until day
Ere that she would unbind me, / the while she softly lay!
And hast thou friendly pity / know then the grief I bear. "
Then spake the doughty Siegfried: / " Such grieves me verily to hear.
651
" The which I'll show thee truly, / wilt thou me not deny.
I'll bring it that to-night she / so near to thee shall lie
That she to meet thy wishes / shall tarry nevermore. "
Thereat rejoice did Gunther / to think perchance his trials o'er.
652
Then further spake Sir Siegfried: / " With thee 'twill yet be right.
I ween that all unequal / we twain have fared this night.
To me thy sister Kriemhild / dearer is than life;
Eke shall the Lady Brunhild / be yet this coming night thy wife. "
653
" I'll come unto thy chamber / this night all secretly, "
Spake he, " and wrapped in mantle / invisible I'll be,
That of this my cunning / naught shall any know;
And thy attendants shalt thou / bid to their apartments go.
654
" The lights I'll all extinguish / held by each page in hand,
By the which same token / shalt thou understand
I present am to serve thee. / I'll tame thy shrewish wife
That thou this night enjoy her, / else forfeit be my caitiff life. "
655
" An thou wilt truly leave me " / — answered him the king —
" My lady yet a maiden, / I joy o'er this same thing.
So do thou as thou willest; / and takest thou her life,
E'en that I'll let pass o'er me, / — to lose so terrible a wife. "
656
" Thereto, " spake then Siegfried, / " plight I word of mine,
To leave her yet a maiden. / A sister fair of thine
Is to me before all women / I ever yet have seen. "
Gunther believed right gladly / what had by Siegfried plighted been.
657
Meanwhile the merry pastime / with joy and zest went on.
But all the din and bustle / bade they soon be done,
When band of fairest ladies / would pass unto the hall
'Fore whom did royal chamberlains / bid backward stand the people all.
658
The chargers soon and riders / from castle court were sped.
Each of the noble ladies / by bishop high was led,
When that before the monarchs / they passed to banquet board,
And in their train did follow / to table many a stately lord.
She recked not how 'twere with him, / as she full softly lay.
There hung he, will he nill he, / the night through unto day,
Until the light of morning / through the windows shone.
Could he e'er boast of prowess, / small now the measure he did own.
640
" Now tell me, lordly Gunther, / wert thou thereat so sad,
If that in bonds should find thee " / — spake the fairest maid —
" Thy royal men-in-waiting, / bound by lady's hand? "
Then spake the knight full noble: / " Thou should'st in case most evil stand.
641
" Eke had I little honor / therefrom, " continued he.
" For all thy royal honor / let me then go to thee.
Since that my fond embracements / do anger thee so sore,
With these my hands I pledge thee / to touch thy garment nevermore. "
642
Then she loosed him straightway / and he once more stood free.
To the bed he went as erstwhile / where rested his lady.
But far from her he laid him / and well he now forebore
To stir the lady's anger / by touching e'en the gown she wore.
643
At length came their attendants / who garments fresh did bring,
Whereof was ready for them / good store on that morning.
Yet merry as his folk were, / a visage sad did own
The lord of that proud country, / for all he wore that day a crown.
644
As was the country's custom, / a thing folk do of right,
Gunther and Brunhild / presently were dight
To go unto the minster / where the mass was sung.
Thither eke came Siegfried, / and in their trains a mighty throng.
645
As fitted royal honor / for them was thither brought
The crown that each should carry / and garments richly wrought.
There were they consecrated; / and when the same was done,
Saw ye the four together / happy stand and wearing crown.
646
There was knighted many a squire, / — six hundred or beyond —
In honor of the crowning, / that shall ye understand.
Arose full great rejoicing / in the land of Burgundy
As hand of youthful warrior / did shatter shaft right valiantly.
647
Then sat in castle casement / maidens fair to see,
And many a shield beneath them / gleamed full brilliantly.
Yet himself had sundered / from all his men the king;
Though joyous every other, / sad-visaged stood he sorrowing.
648
He and the doughty Siegfried, / how all unlike their mood!
Well wist the thing did grieve him / that noble knight and good.
He went unto the monarch / and straight addressed him so:
" This night how hast thou fared? / In friendship give thou me to know. "
649
To his guest the king gave answer: / " Than shame and scathe I've naught
The devil's dam I surely / into my house have brought.
When as I thought to have her / she bound me like a thrall;
Unto a nail she bore me / and hung me high upon the wall.
650
" There hung I sore in anguish / the night through until day
Ere that she would unbind me, / the while she softly lay!
And hast thou friendly pity / know then the grief I bear. "
Then spake the doughty Siegfried: / " Such grieves me verily to hear.
651
" The which I'll show thee truly, / wilt thou me not deny.
I'll bring it that to-night she / so near to thee shall lie
That she to meet thy wishes / shall tarry nevermore. "
Thereat rejoice did Gunther / to think perchance his trials o'er.
652
Then further spake Sir Siegfried: / " With thee 'twill yet be right.
I ween that all unequal / we twain have fared this night.
To me thy sister Kriemhild / dearer is than life;
Eke shall the Lady Brunhild / be yet this coming night thy wife. "
653
" I'll come unto thy chamber / this night all secretly, "
Spake he, " and wrapped in mantle / invisible I'll be,
That of this my cunning / naught shall any know;
And thy attendants shalt thou / bid to their apartments go.
654
" The lights I'll all extinguish / held by each page in hand,
By the which same token / shalt thou understand
I present am to serve thee. / I'll tame thy shrewish wife
That thou this night enjoy her, / else forfeit be my caitiff life. "
655
" An thou wilt truly leave me " / — answered him the king —
" My lady yet a maiden, / I joy o'er this same thing.
So do thou as thou willest; / and takest thou her life,
E'en that I'll let pass o'er me, / — to lose so terrible a wife. "
656
" Thereto, " spake then Siegfried, / " plight I word of mine,
To leave her yet a maiden. / A sister fair of thine
Is to me before all women / I ever yet have seen. "
Gunther believed right gladly / what had by Siegfried plighted been.
657
Meanwhile the merry pastime / with joy and zest went on.
But all the din and bustle / bade they soon be done,
When band of fairest ladies / would pass unto the hall
'Fore whom did royal chamberlains / bid backward stand the people all.
658
The chargers soon and riders / from castle court were sped.
Each of the noble ladies / by bishop high was led,
When that before the monarchs / they passed to banquet board,
And in their train did follow / to table many a stately lord.
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