Then spake unto her King Gunther: "My sister, noble maid, Let thy queenly blood and thine heart's love for mine oath's redemption aid. I have pledged thine hand to a warrior; if thou take him for thy lord, Then thou by thy loyal obedience hast redeemed my plighted word." Answered the noble maiden: "Heart's dearest, brother mine, Needs not that thou supplicate me: my will shall be even as thine. What thing thou commandest soever, of a surety shall that be done: Whom thou, Lord, appointest my bridegroom, I will wed that noble one." As a fire was the face of Siegfried, his eyes were rapture-ablaze As the knight unto Kriemhild tendered love-service through all his days. Then hand in hand they set them in the midst of the great hushed ring, And they asked, "Wilt thou take this hero for thy lord and for thine heart's king?" A little she hung in the balance in maiden shamefastness; But the Fortune of Siegfried whispered to her heart's love, "Answer 'Yes!'" That she could not, and ah, she would not, deny unto him her hand; And he plighted him her husband, the Hero of Netherland. And so soon as his troth was spoken, and her troth unto his had replied, Swiftly in arms enfolding he drew unto him his bride. There in the arms of Siegfried that tender maiden lay, And he kissed the noble princess in the midst of that knightly array. {P. 84} As parted the throngs asunder, and the banquet's order was seen, Lo, in the place of honour, facing the King and the Queen, Was Siegfried by Kriemhild seated, with service of many a knight; And there were the Niblung warriors beside him to left and to right. Beside the King at the banquet sat Brunhild the maiden Queen: Then Kriemhild she saw--no dagger to her heart had stabbed more keen-- By the side of Siegfried seated; and from weeping she could not refrain, So that adown her fair cheeks fast did the hot tears rain. Then spake the Lord of Rhineland: "What aileth thee, lady mine, That thou drawest a cloud of grieving o'er the brightness of thine eyne? Thou shouldst rather be heart-uplifted, for bowed in subjection to thee This day are my land and my castles and all her chivalry." "Nay, I do well to be weeping," unto him did the maid-queen say; "My heart for the sake of thy sister is in bitterness this day, That I see her beside one sitting who is nought but thy vassal, thy thrall! Well may I weep unceasing that she unto this should fall." Answered and spake King Gunther: "Thy peace as now do thou hold. Unto thee at a fitting season shall all the tale be told, For what cause unto this Siegfried I have given my sister to wife. A blessing on them! With the hero be hers a happy life!"