Or ever the true and faithful, the wife, to the grave-side came, With such fierce throes of anguish shaken was all her frame, That they needs must with cool spring-water besprinkle her once and again, So racked was her heart overmeasure with agonies of pain. In sooth, 'twas a marvel exceeding that she died not there outright. Weeping her women upbare her with their hands on the left and the right. {P. 145} "O ye true men of Siegfried," thus did the sad Queen cry, "I pray you of your compassion, and of your fealty, Vouchsafe unto me in my sorrow this one little grace That once more and for the last time I may look on his lovely face!" So long in her anguish she pleaded, so earnestly she besought, That they needs must at last wrench open the coffin richly wrought. The Queen then thitherward led they, and she bowed her over her dead. In her white hands she enfolded and lifted his comely head; And she kissed that faded glory, that noble knight and good. Her starry eyes for sorrow wept very tears of blood. An exceeding pitiful parting saw all men in that hour. Then softly thence they bare her in whose limbs was left no power. Senseless and stirless lay she in their arms, that stricken wife. It seemed that for very sorrow from her body would fleet her life. When thus in his grave lay buried that noble and princely thane, Then bowed in measureless sorrow sat all his warrior-train, Even all from the land of the Niblungs that led of his banner had come. Yea, and the old King Siegmund was whelmed in morningless gloom. There was many a man among them that for three days long made moan, And the tears of his bitter anguish were his meat and his drink alone, Till their bodily frames no longer could so endure and live: So they took up the burden of living, and a little they ceased to grieve. (C) But lost unto all things Kriemhild in a deathlike swoon still lay Through the hours of the day and the darkness, even till the second day. Whatsoe'er in her ears they whispered, she knew not anything: And no less stricken of sorrow lay grey-haired Siegmund the King. (C) Scarce to the mind's re-dawning he slowly won at the last: From his limbs by reason of anguish all bodily strength had passed. No marvel that weak was Siegmund! At last drew his liegemen near, Saying: "Lord, let us fare hence homeward: boots not that we linger here!" XVIII. How Kriemhild would not return to the Lowland with Siegmund {P. 146}