bold knights went before the queens!

Joyful and without hate Siegfried the knight sat sweetly beside his
beautiful wife. With her white hand she caressed his, till, she knew not
how, he vanished from before her eyes. When she played with him and saw
him no longer, she said to her maidens, "I marvel much where the king is
gone. Who took his hands out of mine?" And so the matter dropped.

He had gone where he found the chamberlains with the lights, which he
began to put out. By this sign Gunther perceived that it was Siegfried.
He knew well what he wanted, and he sent away the women and maidens.
When that was done, the king himself locked the door, and shot two strong
bolts before it. He hid the light quickly behind the bed curtain, and
the struggle that had to come began between stark Siegfried and the
beautiful maiden. King Gunther was both glad and sorry.

Siegfried lay down by the queen, but she said, "Stop, Gunther, lest thou
suffer as afore. Thou mayest again receive a hurt at my hand."

Siegfried concealed his voice and spake not. Gunther heard well all that
passed, albeit he saw nothing. There was little ease for the twain.
Siegfried feigned that he was Gunther, and put his arm round the valiant
maiden. She threw him on to a bench, that his head rang loud against a
foot-stool.

The bold man sprang up undaunted, but evil befell him. Such defence from
a woman I ween the world will never see more. Because he would not let
her be, Brunhild rose up.

"It is unseemly of thee," said the brave maiden. "Thou wilt tear my