But great was the wrath in her heart to find that her spear had sped in vain.  And now she turned to the great stone where it lay, and poised it in her hand, and hurled it with all her might.  And having hurled it, she herself leapt after it.  Twelve full arms’ length hurtled the great stone through the air, so mighty was the maiden, and she herself overpassed it by a pace.  Then came Gunther to the place, with Siegfried unseen by his side.  And Siegfried caught the stone and poised it—­but it seemed to all as if Gunther did it—­and threw it yet another arm’s length beyond the cast of the maid, and passed the stone himself, aye, and carried King Gunther along with him, so mighty was he!

But when the Queen saw that she was vanquished, she flushed with shame and wrath, and turning to her lords, she spake aloud, “Come hither, my kinsmen and lieges.  You must now be thralls of King Gunther of Burgundy.”

So the chiefs of Isenland laid their swords at Gunther’s feet and did him homage, for they thought that he had vanquished by his own strength; and he, for he was a very gentle, courteous knight, greeted the maid right pleasantly, and she, for her part, took him by the hand and said, “Henceforth, Sir King, all the rule and power that I have held is yours.”

There is no need to tell how Gunther and Brunhild and all their company travelled to Rhineland with great joy, and how Queen Ute and her sons and the fair Kriemhild, and all the people of the land, gave them a hearty welcome and how in due time King Gunther was married to the fair Brunhild.  Nor is there need of many words to relate how Siegfried also took to wife the beautiful Kriemhild, as it had been promised him.  Nor were there any to gainsay save Brunhild only, for she grudged that her husband’s sister should be given to a vassal, for such in truth she deemed him to be.  Very ill content she was, though the King would fain have satisfied her, saying that he was a very noble knight, and was lord of many woodlands, and had great store of gold and treasure.

So Siegfried wedded the fair Kriemhild and took her with him to his own land.  A goodly welcome did the Netherlands give her.  And Siegmund gave up his kingdom to his son, and the two lived in much peace and love together; and when in the tenth year a son was born to them, they called him by the name of his uncle Gunther.

Also Gunther and Brunhild lived together in much happiness.  They also had a son, and they called him by the name of Siegfried.

But Brunhild was ill content that Siegfried being, far so she deemed, her husband’s vassal, should pay no homage to his lord and do no service for his fee.  And she was very urgent with her husband that he should suffer this no longer.  But the King was fain to put her off.  “Nay,” said he, “the journey is too long.  Their land is far from ours; why should we trouble him to come?  Also he is a great prince and a powerful.”  “Be he as great as he will,” she answered,