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To court before the warriors of royal Burgundy.

I’ll prove myself more worthy than e’er was known to be

Any princess whatever who here hath worn the crown!”

Thus hate enough and envy betwixt the dames was sown.

“Dost thou deny,” cried Brunhild, ”that thou our vassal art?

So must thou with thy women keep from my train apart,

When I and my attendants unto the minster go.”

To that Kriemhilda answer’d: “In truth, it shall be so!”

“Now robe yourselves, my maidens,” commanded Siegfried’s wife.

“For we no shame must suffer whilst here we live our life;

That ye have rich apparel ye must let all folk see.

She shall repent at leisure what she hath said to me!”

There was small need to urge them: they sought their richest gear,

And many a dame and maiden right well-dight did appear.

When came with her attendants the noble Gunther’s dame,

Then also in fine raiment the fair Kriemhilda came.

With three and forty maidens, whom she to Rhine had brought,

Who wore fine-woven silk stuffs in Araby y-wrought.

So came unto the minster the comely maidens all:

They found all Siegfried’s liegemen waiting before the hall.

The people fell to marvel how it had come about

That these two royal ladies had plainly fallen out,

And went no more together, as erewhile they were fain.

Therefrom befell hereafter sore woe to many a thane.