Now came the noble Kriemhild / followed by warrior band. Then spake the Lady Brunhild: / "Still thou here shalt stand. Thou giv'st me out for harlot: / let now the same be seen. Know thou, what thus thou sayest / to me hath mickle sorrow been." 847 Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / "So may'st thou let me go. With the ring upon my finger / I the same can show: That brought to me my lover / when first by thee he lay." Ne'er did Lady Brunhild / know grief as on this evil day. 848 Quoth she: "This ring full precious / some hand from me did steal, And from me thus a season / in evil way conceal: Full sure will I discover / who this same thief hath been." Then were the royal ladies / both in mood full angry seen. 849 Then gave answer Kriemhild: / "I deem the thief not I. Well hadst thou been silent, / hold'st thou thine honor high. I'll show it with this girdle / that I around me wear, That in this thing I err not: / Siegfried hath lain by thee full near." 850 Wrought of silk of Nineveh / a girdle there she wore, That of stones full precious / showed a goodly store. When saw it Lady Brunhild / straight to weep gan she: Soon must Gunther know it / and all the men of Burgundy. 851 Then spake the royal matron: / "Bid hither come to me Of Rhine the lofty monarch. / Hear straightway shall he How that his sister / doth my honor stain. Here doth she boast full open / that I in Siegfried's arms have lain." 852 The king came with his warriors, / where he did weeping find His royal spouse Brunhild, / then spake in manner kind: "Now tell me, my dear lady, / who hath done aught to thee?" She spake unto the monarch: / "Thy wife unhappy must thou see. 853 "Me, thy royal consort, / would thy sister fain Rob of all mine honor. / To thee must I complain: She boasts her husband Siegfried / hath known thy royal bed." Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "An evil thing she then hath said." 854 "I did lose a girdle: / here by her 'tis worn, And my ring all golden. / That I e'er was born, Do I rue full sorely / if thou wardest not from me This full great dishonor: / that will I full repay to thee." 855 Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "Now shall he come near, And hath he such thing boasted, / so shall he let us hear: Eke must full deny it / the knight of Netherland." Then straight the spouse of Kriemhild / hither to bring he gave command. 856 When that angry-minded / Siegfried them did see, Nor knew thereof the reason, / straightway then spake he: "Why do weep these ladies? / I'd gladly know that thing, Or wherefore to this presence / I am bidden by the king." 857 Then spake the royal Gunther: / "Sore grieveth me this thing: To me my Lady Brunhild / doth the story bring, How that thereof thou boastest / that her fair body lay First in thy embraces: / this doth thy Lady Kriemhild say." 858