Said Siegfried, "It will yet be well. Unequal was our fortune last
night. Thy sister Kriemhild is dearer to me than mine own body. This
day must Brunhild be thy wife. I will come to-night to thy room secretly
in my _Tarnkappe_, that none may guess the trick. Send the chamberlains
to their beds. I will put out the lights in the hands of the pages, and
by this sign thou shalt know that I am night. I will win thy wife for
thee or perish."

"If only thou winnest her not for thyself. She is my dear wife.
Otherwise I rejoice. Do to her what thou wilt. If thou tookest her
life, I would bear it. She is a terrible woman."

"I vow to thee on mine honour that I will have naught to do with her.
Thy dear sister is more to me than any I have ever seen." And Gunther
believed Siegfried's word.

Meanwhile the guests rode at the tourney with fortune good and bad, but,
when it was time for the women to go to the hall, they stopped the
tilting and the din, and the chamberlains bade the folk void the way.

And now the courtyard was empty of horses and men. A bishop led each
queen before the kings to table, and many proud knights followed them to
their seats. The king sat beside his wife in good hope, for he minded
Siegfried's promise. The one day seemed to him as thirty, for he thought
only on Brunhild.

Scarce could he wait till they rose from the table.

Fair Kriemhild and also Brunhild were led to their chambers. Ha! what