And Kriemhild the lovely wakened the maidens of her bower;

And she bade bring lights, and the raiment withal that she should wear;

And a chamberlain bringing them stumbled on Siegfried lying there.

He beheld one blood-empurpled, with all his vesture wet;

But that this was his own lord Siegfried in no wise knew he yet.

So bare he into the chamber the torch in his hand that burned;

And from him the Lady Kriemhild a tale of horror learned.

For, even as she with her maidens would forth to the holy place,

“O Lady,” the chamberlain stammered, “tarry a little space!

Behold, without the chamber a murdered knight doth lie!”