Page:The lay of the Nibelungs; (IA nibelungslay00hortrich).pdf/221

XIV.]

King Gunther’s wife stood waiting before the minster door;

The while much pleasant pastime had many a warrior

With the fair waiting-women, whom she with her did bring;

Then came the noble Kriemhild with her brave following.

Such costume as the daughters of noble knights might wear,

Compared with what her maids wore was common as the air;

In gear she was so wealthy, that thirty queens had shown

No such display of raiment as this fair queen alone.

Had anyone been wishful he never could have said

That any richer clothing had e’er been worn of maid

Than on that day adornéd her noble company:

Except to vex Brunhilda, Kriemhild had let it be.

The two queens came together before the minster wide,

And thereupon the hostess, by hatred moved and pride,

With evil voice and gesture Kriemhilda bade to stay:

“Before the queen a vassal shall ne’er take right of way!”

Then spake the fair Kriemhilda: (and wrathful was her mood)

“Couldst thou but have been silent, for thee it had been good!

Thou hast disgraced thy beauty and stain’d thy purity:

How should a shameless wanton a king’s wife ever be?”

“Whom art thou calling ‘Wanton’?”  in answer cried the queen.

“That call I thee,” quoth Kriemhild’; “thy body fair hath been

Woo’d first, not by thy husband, but by my lord, Siegfried:

I trow ’twas not my brother who won thy maidenhead!