He made as though he were Gunther, Burgundia's mighty King; And around that peerless maiden a sudden arm did he fling. But forth of the couch she hurled him, and against a high-seat dashed, That his brows against the footstool thereof full heavily crashed. Then leapt to his feet the hero, and he summoned up all his might To essay it with better fortune; and these twain closed in a fight Wherein he strove to tame her, and bitter she made it for him. --Never, I ween, of woman was made a defence so grim! Forasmuch as he would not refrain him, the Maiden sprang full-height-- "How dar'st thou so much as ruffle the hem of my vesture white, Thou insolent knave, thou ruffian? The deed shalt thou dearly abide! Yea, now will I make thee to know it!" that warrior maiden cried. {P. 91} Arms like unto bands of iron she locked round the valiant thane. She was minded in fetters to lay him even as the King had lain, That still she might lie untroubled in the peace of her maiden sleep. That he touched but her vesture, how fiercely did the flame of her fury upleap! Despite his brawny sinews, in his magic power's despite, She gave dread proof to the hero of her matchless bodily might: She bare him resistlessly backward with overmastering stress. As in vice of steel she crushed him 'twixt the bed and an oaken press. "Out on it!" his heart indignant cried; "if my limb and life Be lost at the hands of a maiden, then every shrewish wife-- Who had dreamed not else of rebellion--against her lord shall upraise Malapert brows of defiance through all earth's coming days!" Now the King heard all: for his champion with exceeding fear was he filled. Then swift through the heart of Siegfried fierce shame and anger thrilled. With the might of the Dwarfs and the Giants he hurled himself on his foe, And strained his strength against Brunhild as in fury of madness-throe. (C) Yea, even as she thrust him backward, it spurred his fury on, So stinging each mighty sinew, that, spite of her vantage won, He upwrithed himself against her: the flame of his rage outflashed, And from wall unto wall of the chamber those wrestlers hurtled and crashed. (C) Great fear and tribulation the King endured in that hour: Oft must he flee before them to this side and that of the bower. So furiously they grappled and strained, that a marvel it seemed That out of the hands of each other their very lives were redeemed. (C) In anguish of dread King Gunther trembled for each of twain; But most was his spirit quaking lest Siegfried should be slain. Oft thought he, "The life of the hero is well nigh reft by the maid!" Had he but dared to essay it, he would fain have gone to his aid.