daughter went with their attendants into a wide chamber, and a merry din
was heard over all.

The chairs were set, for the king was ready to go to table with his
guests, and beautiful Brunhild stood by him, and were her crown in
Gunther's land. Certes, she was proud enough.

Many were the seats, they say, and the tables goodly and broad, and laden
with food. Little, I trow, was lacking! And many a noble guest sat
there with the king. Gunther's chamberlains carried round water in
golden ewers. If any tell you of a prince's table better served, believe
it not.

Or Gunther took the water, Siegfried, as was meet, minded him of his oath
that he had sworn or ever he saw Brunhild in Issland.

He said, "Forget not the vow thou swarest with thy hand, that, if
Brunhild came into Burgundy, thou wouldst give me thy sister. Where is
thine oath now? Mickle toil was mine on the journey."

The king answered his guest, "Thou hast done well to remind me. I go not
back from the oath of my hand. What I can do therein I will do."

They bade Kriemhild to the court before the king. She went up the hall
with her maidens, but Giselher sprang down the stair and cried, "Send
back these maidens. My sister goeth alone to the king."

They brought Kriemhild before Gunther, where he stood amidst of knights
from many lands. And they bade her stand in the middle of the hall.
Brunhild, by this time, was come to the table, and knew naught of what