As they fell to the gallant tourney to wing with mirth the hours.
From the hall men hasted to watch them, and maidens from their bowers.
There sat those Queens together, queens famous far and near,
And of two knights still were they thinking, two knights without a peer.
Then spake Kriemhild the lovely: “My lord is such a knight
That beneath him all these kingdoms might well be bowed as of right.”
Answered the Lady Brunhild: “Tush! how may such thing be?
If there lived on the earth no mortal save only thou and he,
Then haply might this kingdom be subject to Siegmund’s son;
But so long as Gunther liveth, may such thing never be done.”