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“Where hadst thou left thy senses? it was a trick of his.

Why didst thou let him woo thee, who but thy liegeman is?

I hear thee,” said Kriemhilda, “without all reason scold.”

“Now this, in truth,” cried Brunhild, “shall be to Gunther told!”

“And why should that annoy me? thy pride hath thee betray’d:

To cite me to thy service by word thou hast essay’d.

This know now, of a surety I grieve that it be so:

All confidence is over for aye betwixt us two.”

Brunhilda wept, but Kriemhild no longer tarried there;

Before the king’s wife passing, with all her maidens fair,

She went into the minster: such hate did this beget

That many bright eyes later were sore bedimm’d and wet.

How much soe’er they worshipp’d, by service and by song,

Unto the Queen Brunhilda the time seem’d all too long:

So full she was of trouble, in body and in mood.

For which hereafter suffer’d bold warriors and good.

Brunhilda with her women stay’d by the minster door;

She thought: “Now must Kriemhilda, let me hear something more

Of what she rail’d so loudly,— the scolding, sharp-tongued wife!

If Siegfried hath been boasting, ’twill stand him in his life.”

Forth came the noble Kriemhild, with many gallant men.

Dame Brunhild called unto her: “Now stand you still again,—

You said I was a wanton, that shall you prove to me:

That word of yours, be certain, hath stung me bitterly!”