She answered: "I cease not to pity her fairness, her royal birth. Of a truth would I flee hence, knew I a place of refuge on earth! --Never, I tell thee, never will I couch me by thy side, Or ever I know cause wherefore is Kriemhild Siegfried's bride!" Answered and spake King Gunther to her: "Unto thee be it known, He hath in possession castles and lands as wide as mine own. Yea, I tell thee this of a surety, a mighty king is he, And I give him my comely sister with a glad heart and free." Yet, how pleaded the King soever, she sat with lowering eyes. But by this from the banquet-table doth many a good knight rise, And they clash so hotly in tourney that the courts of the castle ring. --But amidst of his guests for the host-king time traileth a broken wing. {P. 85} "By the side of my love, my fair one," he thought, "how sweet to lie!" His heart to the dream was captive, he could not thrust it by, The dream of her lovingkindness, and all the joy thereof. And ever on Lady Brunhild he glanced with eyes of love. So they gave command to the good knights from tourney-sport to refrain, For that now for the peace of the night-tide the King and his bride were fain. And before the great hall-stairway face to face they met, Kriemhild and Brunhild--nothing had sundered their love as yet. Followed the train of the handmaids; they lingered there no more As on to the bridal-chamber the torches led before. Now came the Kings, and parted the knights of either's train. Then followed after Siegfried full many a noble thane. Now over the bridal threshold are King and Hero gone, And the heart of either was leaping at the thought of a winsome one, And of Love the Overcomer--how glad were their souls for this! And for Siegfried the arms of the loving were a haven of infinite bliss. As Siegfried the hero gathered Kriemhild unto his breast, And poured out his love upon her in the glory of love's twin-rest, As a knight all-courteous, his darling became unto him as his life. Not for a thousand fair ones had he given his belovèd--his wife!