Hearty were his embraces / as such king became:
Perforce must she relinquish / her anger and her shame.
In sooth not little pallid / within his arms she grew,
And in that love-surrender / how waned her mighty prowess too!
Then was e'en she not stronger / than e'er another bride;
He lay with fond embraces / the beauteous dame beside.
And had she struggled further, / avail how could it aught?
Gunther, when thus he clasped her, / such change upon her strength had wrought.
And with right inward pleasure / she too beside him lay
In warmest love embracings / until the dawn of day!
Meantime now had Siegfried / departure ta'en from there,
And was full well receivéd / by a lady debonair.
Her questioning he avoided / and all whereon she thought,
And long time kept he secret / what he for her had brought,
Until in his own country / she wore a royal crown;
Yet what for her he destined, / how sure at last it was her own.
Upon the morn was Gunther / by far of better mood
Than he had been before it; / joy thus did spread abroad
'Mid host of knights full noble / that from his lands around
To his court had been invited, / and there most willing service found.