How much he desired soever, no man had dared to say
That in all his days he had gazed on such royal-rich array
As shone in that hour on her maidens magnifical-bedight.
Never Kriemhild had done it, but to render to Brunhild despite for despite.
Each face to face met other at that wide minster-gate;
And thereat the wife of Gunther in her jealousy and hate
Cried out, “Stand still, thou Kriemhild!”—her rage in her voice rang keen—
“It beseems not the wife of a vassal to pass before a Queen!”
Swift answer made Kriemhild the lovely in angry and scornful mood:
“Hadst had but the grace to be silent, for thee had it been right good.