Each face to face met other at that wide minster-gate; And thereat the wife of Gunther in her jealousy and hate Cried out, "Stand still, thou Kriemhild!"--her rage in her voice rang keen-- "It beseems not the wife of a vassal to pass before a Queen!" Swift answer made Kriemhild the lovely in angry and scornful mood: "Hadst had but the grace to be silent, for thee had it been right good. Thou!--thou hast on thy fair body brought shame by wantoning! How might another's leman ever be wife of a King?" "Whom hast thou here named leman?"--the cry from the Queen's lips burst. "That have I thee!" hissed Kriemhild; "for thy fair body first Was embraced by none other than Siegfried, mine own belovèd lord. Of a surety it was not my brother--nay, but by him wert thou whored! How was thy wit so hoodwinked?--a cunning wile was it all! How couldst thou let him embrace thee who is but thy vassal-thrall? I hear thee," scoffed on Kriemhild, "complain where no cause is!" "In veriest deed," cried Brunhild, "I will tell unto Gunther this!" "Wherein unto me is the peril? Thyself hath thine arrogance snared! To summon me to render homage to thee hast thou dared! This one thing know of a surety--I grieve, but the cause art thou-- All trust and friendship is ended between us for ever now." {P. 115} Brake Brunhild forth into weeping: but Kriemhild tarried no more, And before the wife of Gunther she entered the minster-door, She and her train. Most bitter hate did her words beget. Therefrom bright eyes full many were grief-overclouded and wet. For all the solemn service, and the holy chant and song, That hour of worship to Brunhild lasted all too long; She was heart-overclouded with anguish, and darkly did she brood; And for this full penalty lighted on warriors brave and good. In front of the gate of the minster with her maids did Brunhild stay; And she said to her heart: "Now Kriemhild unto me shall the whole truth say Of those loud-throated railings, who hath whetted her tongue like a sword. If Siegfried thus hath vaunted, his life shall pay for the word!" Now Kriemhild with bold knights many came forth of the holy place; And sharply spake Queen Brunhild: "Abide thou there for a space! Thou hast chosen to call me leman: the proof thereof will I see. Thy word, know thou, is an evil and a loathly word to me." Spake Kriemhild the Fair: "It were better for thee hadst thou let me go! With the golden ring I prove it on mine hand that glittereth--lo! Unto me did Siegfried bring this what time by thy side he lay." Never had dawned on Brunhild such an utter-wretched day. She cried: "This gold ring royal--even this was stolen from me! It hath been for long years hidden by caitiff treachery! I am now on the track of the felon, the thief that my jewel hath ta'en!" Raging in reinless fury were now these ladies twain.