“Ah! look thou upon my lord! So brave and knightly doth he bear him, as were the whole world’s homage but his due.”
This displeased the haughty Brunhild, and she replied scornfully: “Ay, so indeed, perchance, were thou and he alone upon the earth.”
But Kriemhild, her gaze still fixed on Siegfried, continued: “How truly noble is my royal spouse! Methinks among yon chiefs he is so far the first as doth the moon outshine the starry host!”
“Rare and matchless though he be, forsooth,” returned Brunhild, “yet is he not so great a King as is my Günther!”
At this Kriemhild’s anger began to rise, and she cried out: “In no way is Siegfried behind thy lord or any man on earth!” Whereupon Brunhild with an evil glance at Kriemhild declared that Siegfried with his own lips had owned himself vassal to King Günther when they came to Iceland for the wooing. Kriemhild was greatly troubled, yet she answered proudly:
“Were my lord in truth what thou sayest, then methinks it passing strange that he hath paid no tribute to Günther as his liege lord in all these many years.”
“By my faith, thou dost presume too much!” cried Brunhild, furiously. “We shall see anon whether thou or I be most deserving homage!”
With this the Queens parted, bitter anger swelling in their breasts.
Chapter XIV
The Queens’ Quarrel
