Whether they prayed or sang, the service seemed too long to Brunhild, for her heart and her mind were troubled, the which many a bold and good man paid for afterward.
Brunhild stopped before the minster with her women, for she thought, “Kriemhild, the foul-mouthed woman, shall tell me further whereof she so loud accuseth me. If he hath boasted of this thing, he shall answer for it with his life.”
Then Kriemhild with her knights came forth, and Brunhild began, “Stop! thou hast called me a wanton and shalt prove it, for know that thy words irk me sore.”
Said Kriemhild, “Let me pass. With this gold that I have on my hand I can prove it. Siegfried brought it when he came from thee.”
It was a heavy day for Brunhild. She said, “That gold so precious was stolen from me, and hath been hidden these many years. Now I know who hath taken it.” Both the women were furious.
“I am no thief,” cried Kriemhild. “Hadst thou prized thine honour thou hadst held thy peace, for, with this girdle round my waist, I can prove my word, and that Siegfried was verily thy leman.” She wore a girdle of silk of Nineveh, goodly enow, and worked with precious stones.
When Brunhild saw it she started to weep. And soon Gunther knew it, and all his men, for the queen cried, “Bring hither the King of Rhineland; I would tell him how his sister hath mocked me, and sayeth openly that I be Siegfried’s leman.”
The king came with his warriors, and, when he saw that his dear one wept, he spake kindly, “What aileth thee, dear wife?”
She answered, “Shamed must I stand, for thy sister would part me from mine honour? I make my plaint to thee. She proclaimeth aloud that Siegfried hath had me to his leman.”
Gunther answered, “Evilly hath she done.”