Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/187

X.]

His feet and hands together she fasten’d therewithal;

Then to a nail she bore him, and hung him on the wall!

Because her sleep he hinder’d, to him she love forbad:

Her strength, in sooth, was such that his death he well-nigh had.

Then fell he to beseeching, who master should have been:

“Loose now my bonds, I pray you, most good and noble queen!

I’ll take an oath, fair lady, you never to constrain;

And never will I lay me so nigh to you again.”

She little reck’d how fared he, so she but softly lay:

He needs must stay there hanging all night until the day,—

Until the light of morning athwart the lattice shone.

If e’er of strength he boasted, that strength was well-nigh gone.

“Now say to me Lord Gunther, would you not be afraid

To be found tied and hanging,” question’d the beauteous maid,

“By your own body-servants?— bound by a woman, too?”

The noble knight made answer: ’Twould evil bode for you !

“I, too, should win small honour,” the worthy man did say:

“I pray you of your goodness to let me by you stay,

And since it seems my wooing doth anger you so much,

’Twill long be ere my fingers shall dare your robe to touch!”

Then speedily she loosed him, and let him to his feet.

Again into the bride-bed he to his wife did get;

Yet so far did he lay him, that he her raiment fair

Thenceforth could scarcely ruffle— of that she took good care.