[They leave and enter the cathedral.]

  [Illustration:  “SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD THE QUARREL OF THE QUEENS”]

  SCENE VII

  BRUNHILDA.

  Where are the lords of Burgundy!—­Oh Frigga! 
  Didst thou hear that?

  FRIGGA.

  I heard, and I believe it.

  BRUNHILDA.

  Oh this is death!  ’Tis true?

  FRIGGA.

  She said too much,
  Surely too much—­but this is plain to me,
  That thou hast been betrayed!

  BRUNHILDA.

  ’Tis not a lie?

  FRIGGA.

  ’Twas Balmung’s master.  On the shore he stood
  When died the flames.

  BRUNHILDA.

  Then he rejected me. 
  For I was on the rampart and I know
  He saw me.  But his heart was full of her.

  FRIGGA.

  That thou mayst know what thou hast lost by fraud,
  I too deceived thee!

  BRUNHILDA (without listening to her).

  Hence the haughty calm
  With which he gazed upon me!

  FRIGGA.

  Not alone
  This narrow country, but the whole wide earth
  Was meant to be thy kingdom, and to thee
  The stars should tell their message.  Even death
  Should lose his fell dominion over thee!

  BRUNHILDA.

  Speak not of that!

  FRIGGA.

  Why not?  Thy glories lost
  Thou’lt not regain, but yet thou canst avenge
  Thy wrongs, my child!

  BRUNHILDA.

  And I will have revenge! 
  Despised and scorned!  Oh, woman, in his arms
  If thou hast mocked at me a single night,
  Thou shalt weep bitterly for many years! 
  I will—­Alas!  I am as weak as she.

  [Throws herself on FRIGGA’s bosom.]

  SCENE VIII

  Enter GUNTHER, HAGEN, DANKWART, RUMOLT, GERENOT, GISELHER and
  SIEGFRIED.

  HAGEN.

  What then is wrong?

  BRUNHILDA (drawing herself up to her full height, to
  GUNTHER).

  Am I concubine?

  GUNTHER.

  A concubine?

  BRUNHILDA.

  Thy sister calls me so!

  HAGEN (to FRIGGA).

  What happened here?

FRIGGA.

Ye are discovered now! 
We know the conqueror, and Kriemhild vows
That he was twice a victor.

HAGEN

(to GUNTHER). 
He has told!

[He speaks to him aside.]

SCENE IX

KRIEMHILD (who has meanwhile come out of the cathedral).

Forgive me, Siegfried, for the wrong I did! 
Yet if thou knewest how she slandered thee—­

  GUNTHER (to SIEGFRIED).

  Hast thou then boasted?

  SIEGFRIED (laying his hand on KRIEMHILD’s head). 
                         By her life I swear,
  I never did.