ew wet and dim.

Whether they prayed or sang, the service seemed too long to Brunhild, for
her heart and her mind were troubled, the which many a bold and good man
paid for afterward.

Brunhild stopped before the minster with her women, for she thought,
"Kriemhild, the foul-mouthed woman, shall tell me further whereof she so
loud accuseth me. If he hath boasted of this thing, he shall answer for
it with his life."

Then Kriemhild with her knights came forth, and Brunhild began, "Stop!
thou hast called me a wanton and shalt prove it, for know that thy words
irk me sore."

Said Kriemhild, "Let me pass. With this gold that I have on my hand I
can prove it. Siegfried brought it when he came from thee."

It was a heavy day for Brunhild. She said, "That gold so precious was
stolen from me, and hath been hidden these many years. Now I know who
hath taken it." Both the women were furious.

"I am no thief," cried Kriemhild. "Hadst thou prized thine honour thou
hadst held thy peace, for, with this girdle round my waist, I can prove
my word, and that Siegfried was verily thy leman." She wore a girdle of
silk of Nineveh, goodly enow, and worked with precious stones.

When Brunhild saw it she started to weep. And soon Gunther knew it, and
all his men, for the queen cried, "Bring hither the King of Rhineland; I
would tell him how his sister hath mocked me, and sayeth openly that I be
Siegfried's leman."

The king came with his warriors, and, when he saw that his dear one wept,
he spake kindly, "What aileth thee, dear wife?"

She answered, "Shamed must I stand, for thy sister would part me from
mine honour? I make my plaint to thee. She proclaimeth aloud that
Siegfried hath had me to his leman."

Gunther answered, "Evilly hath she done."

"She weareth here a girdle I have long lost, and my red gold. Woe is me
that ever I was born! If thou clearest me not from this shame, I will
never love thee more."

Said Gunther, "Bid him hither, that he confess whether he hath boasted of
this, or no."

They summoned Siegfried, who, when he saw their anger and knew not the
cause, spake quickly, "Why weep these women? Tell me straight; and
wherefore am I summoned?"

Whereto Gunther answered, "Right vexed am I. Brunhild, my wife, telleth
me here that thou hast boasted thou wert her leman. Kriemhild declareth
this. Hast thou done it, O knight?"

Siegfried answered, "Not I. If she hath said so, I will rest not till