Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/172

114 noble knights have ever worn, these were but the wind against her retinue. She was so rich in goods, that what the wives of thirty kings could not purvey, that Kriemhild did. An’ one would wish to, yet he could not aver that men had ever seen such costly dresses as at this time her fair-fashioned maidens wore. Kriemhild had not done it, save to anger Brunhild. They met before the spacious minster. Through her great hate the mistress of the house in evil wise bade Kriemhild stand: “Forsooth no vassaless should ever walk before the queen.“

Then spake fair Kriemhild (angry was her mood): “Couldst thou have held thy peace, ’t were well for thee. Thou hast disgraced thee and the fair body of thine. How might a vassal’s leman ever be the wife of any king?”

“Whom callest thou here leman?” spake the queen.

“That call I thee,” quoth Kriemhild. “Thy fair person was first caressed by Siegfried, my dear husband. Certes, it was not my brother who won thy maidhood. Whither could thy wits have wandered? It was an evil trick. Wherefore didst thou let him love thee, sith he be thy vassal? I hear thee make plaint without good cause,” quoth Kriemhild.

“I’ faith,” spake then Brunhild, “Gunther shall hear of this.”

“What is that to me?” said Kriemhild. “Thy pride hath bewrayed thee. With words thou hast claimed me for thy service. Know, by my troth, it will ever grieve me, for I shall be no more thy faithful friend.”

Then Brunhild wept. Kriemhild delayed no longer,