[Illustration: "SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD THE QUARREL OF THE QUEENS"] SCENE VII BRUNHILDA. Where are the lords of Burgundy!--Oh Frigga! Didst thou hear that? FRIGGA. I heard, and I believe it. BRUNHILDA. Oh this is death! 'Tis true? FRIGGA. She said too much, Surely too much--but this is plain to me, That thou hast been betrayed! BRUNHILDA. 'Tis not a lie? FRIGGA. 'Twas Balmung's master. On the shore he stood When died the flames. BRUNHILDA. Then he rejected me. For I was on the rampart and I know He saw me. But his heart was full of her. FRIGGA. That thou mayst know what thou hast lost by fraud, I too deceived thee! BRUNHILDA (_without listening to her_). Hence the haughty calm With which he gazed upon me! FRIGGA. Not alone This narrow country, but the whole wide earth Was meant to be thy kingdom, and to thee The stars should tell their message. Even death Should lose his fell dominion over thee! BRUNHILDA. Speak not of that! FRIGGA. Why not? Thy glories lost Thou'lt not regain, but yet thou canst avenge Thy wrongs, my child! BRUNHILDA. And I will have revenge! Despised and scorned! Oh, woman, in his arms If thou hast mocked at me a single night, Thou shalt weep bitterly for many years! I will--Alas! I am as weak as she. [_Throws herself on FRIGGA's bosom._] SCENE VIII _Enter_ GUNTHER, HAGEN, DANKWART, RUMOLT, GERENOT, GISELHER _and_ SIEGFRIED. HAGEN. What then is wrong? BRUNHILDA (_drawing herself up to her full height, to GUNTHER_). Am I concubine? GUNTHER. A concubine? BRUNHILDA. Thy sister calls me so! HAGEN (_to FRIGGA_). What happened here? FRIGGA. Ye are discovered now! We know the conqueror, and Kriemhild vows That he was twice a victor. HAGEN (_to GUNTHER_). He has told! [_He speaks to him aside._] SCENE IX KRIEMHILD (_who has meanwhile come out of the cathedral_). Forgive me, Siegfried, for the wrong I did! Yet if thou knewest how she slandered thee-- GUNTHER (to SIEGFRIED). Hast thou then boasted? SIEGFRIED (_laying his hand on KRIEMHILD's head_). By her life I swear, I never did. HAGEN. No oath is needed here! He only told the truth. SIEGFRIED. And even that Upon compulsion! HAGEN. That I do not doubt! The tale can wait the telling. 'Tis our part To separate the women, for we know That serpents' crests may ever rise again If they too soon gaze in each other's eyes. SIEGFRIED. I'm soon departing hence. Come, Kriemhild, come! KRIEMHILD (_to BRUNHILDA_). If thou couldst know how thou didst anger me, Then even thou-- BRUNHILDA (_turns away_). KRIEMHILD. Since thou dost love my brother, How canst thou hate the means that gave thee him To be his bride? BRUNHILDA. Oh, Oh! HAGEN. Away! Away!