Page:The Nibelungenlied - tr. Shumway - 1909.pdf/173

Rh but entered the minster with her train before the queen. Thus there rose great hatred, from which bright eyes grew dim and moist.

Whatso men did or sang to God’s service there, the time seemed far too long for Brunhild, for she was sad of heart and mood. Many a brave knight and a good must later rue this day. Brunhild with her ladies now went forth and stopped before the minster. Her-thought: “Kriemhild must tell me more of what this word-shrewd woman hath so loudly charged me. Hath Siegfried made boast of this, ’t will cost his life.”

Now the noble Kriemhild came with many a valiant liegeman. Lady Brunhild spake: “Stand still a while. Ye have declared me for a leman, that must ye let be seen. Know, that through thy speech, I have fared full ill.”

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: “Ye should have let me pass. I’ll prove it by the ring of gold I have upon my hand, and which my lover brought me when he first lay at your side.”

Brunhild had never seen so ill a day. She spake: “This costly hoop of gold was stolen from me, and hath been hid full long a time from me in evil wise. I’ll find out yet who hath ta’en it from me.”

Both ladies now had fallen into grievous wrath.

Kriemhild replied: “I’ll not be called a thief. Thou hadst done better to have held thy peace, an’ thou hold thine honor dear. I’ll prove it by the girdle which I wear about my waist, that I lie not. Certes, my Siegfried became thy lord.”

She wore the cord of silk of Nineveh, set with precious stones; in sooth ’t was fair enow. When Brun-