Brake Brunhild forth into weeping: but Kriemhild tarried no more, And before the wife of Gunther she entered the minster-door, She and her train. Most bitter hate did her words beget. Therefrom bright eyes full many were grief-overclouded and wet. For all the solemn service, and the holy chant and song, That hour of worship to Brunhild lasted all too long; She was heart-overclouded with anguish, and darkly did she brood; And for this full penalty lighted on warriors brave and good. In front of the gate of the minster with her maids did Brunhild stay; And she said to her heart: "Now Kriemhild unto me shall the whole truth say Of those loud-throated railings, who hath whetted her tongue like a sword. If Siegfried thus hath vaunted, his life shall pay for the word!"
Now Kriemhild with bold knights many came forth of the holy place; And sharply spake Queen Brunhild: "Abide thou there for a space! Thou hast chosen to call me leman: the proof thereof will I see. Thy word, know thou, is an evil and a loathly word to me." Spake Kriemhild the Fair: "It were better for thee hadst thou let me go! With the golden ring I prove it on mine hand that glittereth--lo! Unto me did Siegfried bring this what time by thy side he lay." Never had dawned on Brunhild such an utter-wretched day. She cried: "This gold ring royal--even this was stolen from me! It hath been for long years hidden by caitiff treachery! I am now on the track of the felon, the thief that my jewel hath ta'en!" Raging in reinless fury were now these ladies twain.
Spake Kriemhild again: "Of thy jewel the thief was nowise I. Far better hadst thou kept silence, hadst thou held thine honour high! Lo, I prove it again by the girdle which compasseth my waist. Not I am the liar!--by Siegfried first was thy body embraced." Fair-plaited of silk of the Orient was the girdle that she ware, With precious stones thick-studded, a marvel passing fair. That Brunhild beheld, and she brake forth into stormy weeping then, Crying, "This shall be known of Gunther and of all his mighty men!"
Then spake the Queen of Rhineland: "Send unto me straightway Gunther the Lord of the Kingdom, for he shall hear this day How foully his sister hath slandered and spoken shame of the Queen. She saith before all people that Siegfried's wife have I been." The King came girt with his barons: he saw the grief-bowed head And the tears of his dear wife Brunhild, and lovingly he said: "Of whom, my wife, my belovèd, hath a hurt been done unto thee?" And she spake to the King, and she answered: "Joyless for aye must I be! Of all my wifely honour this thy sister is fain To strip me by shameful accusing: unto thee I must needs complain. She saith that with Siegfried her husband I have wantoned in shame and sin." Answered and spake King Gunther: "She hath wickedly done herein!" "She weareth here my girdle, which long time since I lost, And withal my ring of the red gold--O me, to my bitter cost Was I born, and I rue it ever! If thou clear not my name From the stain of such utter abasement, my love never more shalt thou claim."