Chapter II: Part 2

Woe! Defeated! Undone!
Of wretches the wretchedest slave!

WOTAN [_Contemplating the ring._

I own what makes me supreme,
The mightiest lord of all lords!

[_He puts on the ring._

LOGE [_To Wotan._

Shall he go free?

WOTAN

Loose his bonds.

LOGE [_Sets Alberich quite free._

Slip away home,
For no fetter binds thee!
Fare forth, thou art free!

ALBERICH [_Raising himself with furious laughter._

Am I now free,
Free in truth?
My freedom's first
Greeting take, for it is thine!
As a curse gave me the ring,
My curse go with the ring!
As its gold
Gave measureless might,
May now its magic
Deal death evermore!
No man shall gain
Gladness therefrom;
May ill-fortune befall him
On whom it shines.
Fretted by care
Be he who shall hold it,
And he who doth not,
By envy be gnawed!
All shall covet
And crave its wealth,
Yet none shall it profit
Or pay when won.
Those who guard it nothing shall gain,
Yet shall murder go where they go.
The coward, death-doomed,
By fetters of fear shall be bound;
His whole life long
He shall languish to death--
The ring's proud lord
And its poorest slave--
Till again I have
In my hand the gold I was robbed of.
So blesses
The Nibelung
The ring in bitter despair!
Hold fast to it!

[Laughing.

Keep it with care;

[Grimly.

From my curse none shall escape!

[_He vanishes quickly through the cleft. The thick
mist in the foreground gradually clears away._

LOGE

Hadst thou ears
For his fond farewell?

WOTAN [_Left in contemplation of the ring._

Grudge him not vent to his spleen!

[_It keeps growing lighter._

LOGE [_Looking to the right._

Fasolt and Fafner
Come from afar
Bringing Freia again.

[_Through the vanishing mist Donner, Froh, and
Fricka appear, and hasten towards the foreground._

FROH

The giants return.

DONNER

Be greeted, brother!

FRICKA [_Anxiously to Wotan._

Dost bring joyful tidings?

LOGE [_Pointing to the hoard._

By fraud and by force
We have prevailed:
There Freia's ransom lies.

DONNER

From the giant's grasp
Freed comes the fair one.

FROH

How sweetly the air
Fans us again!
Balmy delights
Steal soft through each sense!
Sad, forlorn had our lot been,
For ever severed from her
Who gives us youth everlasting,
And bliss triumphant o'er pain.

[_Fasolt and Fafner enter, leading Freia between
them. Fricka hastens joyfully towards her sister.
The foreground has become quite bright again, the
light restoring to the aspect of the Gods its
original freshnesh. The background, however, is
still veiled by the mist so that the distant castle
remains invisible._

FRICKA

Sweetest of sisters!
Lovely delight!
Once more for mine have I won thee!

FASOLT [_Keeping her off_

Hold! Touch her not yet!
Freia still is ours.
On Riesenheim's
Rampart of rock
Resting we stayed.
The pledge we held
In our hands we used
Loyally.
With deep regret,
I bring her back now
In case ye brothers
Can ransom her.

WOTAN

Prepared lies the ransom;
Mete out the gold,
Giving generous measure.

FASOLT

In truth it grieves me
Greatly the woman to lose;
And that my heart may forget her
Ye must heap the hoard,
Pile it so high
That it shall hide
The blossom-sweet maid from mine eyes!

WOTAN

Be Freia's form
The gauge of the gold.

[_Freia is placed in the middle by the two giants,
who then stick their staves into the ground in
front of her so that her height and breadth is
indicated._

FAFNER

Our staves give the measure
Of Freia's form;
Thus high now heap ye the hoard.

WOTAN

On with the work:
Irksome I find it!

LOGE

Help me, Froh!

FROH

I will end
Freia's dishonour.

[_Loge and Froh heap up the treasure hastily
between the staves._

FAFNER

Let the pile
Less loosely be built;
Firm and close
Pack ye the gauge!

[_He presses down the treasure with rude strength;
he bends down to look for gaps._

I still can see through;
Come, fill up the crannies!

LOGE

Hands off, rude fellow!
Touch nothing here!

FAFNER

Come here! This gap must be closed!

WOTAN [_Turning away angrily._

Deep in my breast
Burns the disgrace!

FRICKA

See how in shame
Beautiful Freia stands;
For release she asks,
Dumb, with sorrowful eyes.
Heartless man!
The lovely one owes this to thee!

FAFNER

Still more! Pile on still more.

DONNER

My patience fails;
Mad is the wrath
Roused by this insolent rogue!
Come hither, hound!
Measure must thou?
Thy strength then measure with mine!

FAFNER

Softly, Donner!
Roar where it serves;
Thy roar is impotent here.

DONNER [_Lunging out at him._

It will crush thee to thy cost, rogue.

WOTAN

Calm thyself!
Methinks that Freia is hid.

LOGE

The hoard is spent.

FAFNER

[_Measures the hoard carefully with his eye, and
looks to see if there are any crevices._

Still shines to me Holda's hair.
Yonder thing, too,
Throw on the hoard!

LOGE

Even the helm?

FAFNER

Make haste! Here with it!

WOTAN

Let it go also!

LOGE [_Throws the Tarnhelm on the heap._

At last we have finished.
Have ye enough now?

FASOLT

Freia, the fair,
Is hidden for aye!
The price has been paid.
Ah, have I lost her?

[_He goes up to the hoard and peers through it._

Sadly shine
Her eyes on me still,
Like stars they beam
Softly on me;
Still through this chink
I look on their light.

[_Beside himself._

While her sweet eyes I behold thus,
From the woman how can I part?

FAFNER

Hey! Come hither,
And stop me this cranny!

LOGE

Greedy grumblers!
Can ye not see
The gold is all gone?

FAFNER

Not the whole, friend!
On Wotan's finger
Shines a golden ring still;
Give that to close up the crevice!

WOTAN

What! Give my ring?

LOGE

Be ye counselled!
The Rhine-Maidens
Must have the gold;
Wotan will give them what theirs is.

WOTAN

What nonsense is this?
The ring I won so hardly,
Undismayed I hold and will keep.

LOGE

Broken then
Must be the promise
I gave the maidens who grieved.

WOTAN

By thy promise I am not bound;
As booty mine is the ring.

FAFNER

Not so. The ring
Must go with the ransom.

WOTAN

Boldly ask what ye will:
It shall be granted;
But not for all
The world would I give you the ring.

FASOLT [_Furious, pulls Freia from behind the hoard._

All is off!
The bargain stands:
Fair Freia ours is for ever!

FREIA

Help me! Help me!

FRICKA

Heartless God,
Grant it! Give way!

FROH

Keep not the gold back!

DONNER

Give them the ring too!

WOTAN

Let me alone!
I hold to the ring.

[_Fafner stops Fasolt as he is hastening off. All
stand dismayed; Wotan turns from them in anger. The
stage has grown dark again. From a cleft in the
rock on one side issues a bluish flame in which
Erda suddenly becomes visible, rising so that her
upper half is seen._

ERDA [_Stretching out a warning hand towards Wotan._

Yield it, Wotan! Yield it!
Flee the ring's dread curse!
Awful
And utter disaster
It will doom thee to.

WOTAN

What woman woe thus foretells?

ERDA

All things that were I know,
And things that are;
All things that shall be
I foresee.
The endless world's
Ur-Wala,
Erda, bids thee beware.
Ere the earth was,
Of my womb born
Were daughters three;
And my knowledge
Nightly the Norns tell to Wotan.
Now summoned by
Danger most dire,
I myself come.
Hearken! Hearken! Hearken!
All things will end shortly;
And for the Gods
Dark days are dawning!
Be counselled; keep not the ring!

[_Erda sinks slowly as far as the breast, while the
bluish light grows fainter._

WOTAN

A mystic might
Rang in thy words.
Tarry, and tell me further.

ERDA [_Disappearing._

Thou hast been warned;
Enough dost know;
Weigh my words with fear!

[_She vanishes completely._

WOTAN

If thus doomed to foreboding--
I must detain thee
Till all is answered!

[_Wotan is about to follow Erda in order to detain
her. Froh and Fricka throw themselves in his way
and prevent him._

FRICKA

What meanest thou, madman?

FROH

Go not, Wotan!
Fear thou the warner,
Heed her words well!

[_Wotan gazes thoughtfully before him._

DONNER [_Turning to the giants with a resolute air._

Hark, ye giants!
Come back and wait still!
The gold we give you also.

FRICKA

Ah, dare I hope it?
Deem ye Holda
Worthy of such a price?

[_All look at Wotan in suspense; he, rousing
himself from deep thought, grasps his spear and
swings it in token of having come to a bold
decision._

WOTAN

To me, Freia,
For thou art free!
Bought back for aye,
Youth everlasting, return!
Here, giants, take ye the ring!

[He throws the ring on the hoard. The giants
release Freia; she hastens joyfully to the Gods,
who caress her in turns for a space, with every
manifestation of delight.

FASOLT [_To Fafner._

Hold there, greedy one!
Grant me my portion!
Honest division
Best for both is.

FAFNER

More on the maid than the gold
Thou wert set, love-sick fool,
And much against
Thy will the exchange was.
Sharing not, Freia
Thou wouldst have wooed for thy bride;
Sharing the gold,
It is but just
That the most of it should be mine.

FASOLT

Infamous thief!
Taunts? And to me!

[_To the Gods._

Come judge ye between us;
Halve ye the hoard
As seems to you just!

[_Wotan turns away in contempt._

Let him have the treasure;
Hold to what matters: the ring!

FASOLT

[_Falls upon Fafner, who has meanwhile been
steadily packing up the treasure._

Back, brazen rascal!
Mine is the ring.
I lost for it Freia's smile.

[_He snatches haply at the ring._

Off with thy hands!
The ring is mine.

[_There is a struggle. Fasolt tears the ring from
Fafner._

FASOLT

I hold it. It is mine now!

FAFNER

Hold fast, lest it should fall!

[_Lunging out with his stave, he fells Fasolt to
the ground with one blow; from the dying man he
then hastily tears the ring._

Now feast upon Freia's smile:
No more shalt thou touch the ring!

[_He puts the ring into the sack and tranquilly
continues to pack up the rest of the hoard. All the
Gods stand horrified. A solemn silence._

WOTAN

Dread indeed
I find is the curse's might.

LOGE

Unmatched, Wotan,
Surely thy luck is!
Great thy gain was
In getting the ring;
But the gain of its loss
Is gain greater still:
There thy foemen, see,
Slaughter thy foes
For the gold thou hast let go.

WOTAN

Dark forebodings oppress me!
Care and fear
Fetter my soul;
Erda must teach me,
Tell how to end them:
To her I must descend.

FRICKA [_Caressing and coaxing him._

Why linger, Wotan?
Beckon they not,
The stately walls,
Waiting to offer
Welcome kind to their lord?

WOTAN [_Gloomily._

With wage accurst
Paid was their cost.

DONNER [_Pointing to the background, which is still
enveloped in mist._

Heavily mists
Hang in the air;
Gloomy, wearisome
Is their weight!
The wan-visaged clouds
Charged with their storms I will gather,
And sweep the blue heavens clean.

[_Donner mounts a high rock on the edge of the
precipice, and swings his hammer; during what
follows the mists gather round him._

Hey da! Hey da! Hey do!
To me, O ye mists!
Ye vapours, to me!
Donner, your lord,
Summons his hosts!

[_He swings his hammer._

To my hammer's swing
Hitherward sweep
Vapours and fogs!
Hovering mists!
Donner, your lord, summons his hosts!
Hey da! Hey da! Hey do!

[_Donner disappears completely in a thunder-cloud
which has been growing darker and denser. The
stroke of his hammer is heard falling heavily on
the rock. A vivid flash of lightning comes from the
cloud, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Froh has
also disappeared in the cloud._

DONNER [_Invisible._

Brother, to me!
Show them the way by the bridge!

[_Suddenly the clouds roll away. Donner and Froh
become visible. A rainbow of dazzling radiance
stretches from their feet across the valley to
the castle, which is gleaming in the light of the
setting sun._

FROH

[_Who, with outstretched hand, indicates to the
Gods that the bridge is the way across the valley._

Lo, light, yet securely,
Leads the bridge to your halls.
Undaunted tread;
Without danger the road!

[_Wotan and the other Gods stand speechless, lost
in contemplation of the glorious sight._

WOTAN

Smiling at eve
The sun's eye sparkles;
The castle ablaze
Gleams fair in its glow.
In the light of morning
Glittering proudly,
It stood masterless,
Stately, tempting its lord.
From dawn until sundown
No little toil
And fear have gone to the winning!
From envious night,
That now draws nigh
Shelter it offers us.

[_Very firmly, as if struck by a great thought._

So greet I my home,
Safe from dismay and dread.

[_He turns solemnly to Fricka._

Follow me, wife!
In Valhall sojourn with me.

FRICKA

What means the name Valhall?
I never seem to have heard it.

WOTAN

That which, conquering fear,
My fortitude brought
Triumphant to birth--
Let that explain the word!

[_He takes Fricka's hand and walks slowly with her
towards the bridge. Froh, Freia, and Donner follow._

LOGE [_Remaining in the foreground and looking
after the Gods._

They are hasting on to their end,
They who dream they are strong and
enduring.
I almost blush
To be of their number;
A fancy allures me
And wakes in me longing
Flaming fire to become:
To waste and burn them
Who tamed me of old,
Rather than perish,
Blind with the blind--
Yes, even if godlike the Gods were--
More wise were it, perhaps!
I must consider:
The outcome who knows!

[_With a show of carelessness he goes to the Gods._

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [_From the valley. Invisible._

Rhinegold!
Rhinegold!
Rhinegold pure!
How radiant and clear
Once thou didst shine on us!
For thy lost glory
We are grieving.
Give us the gold!
Give us the gold!
O give us the Rhinegold again!

WOTAN

What wailing sound do I hear?

[_About to set his foot on the bridge, pauses and
turns round._

LOGE [_Looks down into the valley._

The Rhine's fair children,
Bewailing their lost gold, weep.

WOTAN

Accursèd nixies!
Bid them tease us no more!

LOGE [_Calling down towards the valley._

Ye in the water,
Why wail ye to us?
List to Wotan's decree.
Ye have seen
The last of the gold;
In the Gods' increase of splendour
Bask and sun yourselves now.

[_The Gods laugh and cross the bridge during what
follows._

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

Rhinegold!
Rhinegold!
Rhinegold pure!
Oh, if in the waves
There but shone still our treasure pure!
Down in the deeps
Can faith be found only:
Mean and false
Are all who revel above!

[_As the Gods cross the bridge to the castle the
curtain falls._

* * * * *

THE VALKYRIE

CHARACTERS

WOTAN HUNDING
FRICKA SIEGMUND
SIEGLINDE
BRÜNNHILDE, Valkyrie
EIGHT OTHER VALKYRIES:
Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Waltraute,
Schwertleite, Helmwige, Siegrune,
Grimgerde, Rossweisse

SCENES OF ACTION

ACT I. THE INTERIOR OF HUNDING'S DWELLING
ACT II. A WILD ROCKY MOUNTAIN
ACT III. ON THE TOP OF A ROCKY MOUNTAIN
(BRÜNNHILDE'S ROCK)

THE FIRST ACT

_The interior of a dwelling-place built of wood, with the stem of a mighty ash-tree as its centre; to the right, in the foreground, is the hearth, and behind this the store-room. At the back is the large entrance door; to the left, far back, steps lead up to an inner chamber; on the same side, nearer the front, stands a table with a broad bench behind it, fixed to the wall, and with stools in front. The stage remains empty for a space. Outside a storm is just subsiding. Siegmund opens the entrance door from without, and enters. With his hand on the latch he surveys the room. He seems overwhelmed with fatigue; his dress and appearance indicate that he is in flight. He shuts the door behind him when he sees nobody, walks to the hearth with the final effort of an utterly exhausted man, and throws himself down on a bearskin rug._

SIEGMUND

I rest on this hearth,
Heedless who owns it.

[_He sinks back and remains stretched out
motionless. Sieglinde enters from the inner
chamber; she thinks her husband has returned. Her
grave look changes to one of surprise when she sees
the stranger stretched out on the hearth._

SIEGLINDE [_Still at the back._

A stranger here!
He must be questioned.

[_Coming nearer._

What man came in
And lies on the hearth?

[_As Siegmund does not move, she draws nearer still
and looks at him._

Way-worn, weary
He seems and spent.
Faints he from weariness?
Can he be sick?

[_She bends over him, and listens._

He breathes still, his eyelids
Are sealed but in slumber.
Worthy, valiant his mien,
Though so worn he rests.

SIEGMUND [_Suddenly raising his head._

A drink! A drink!

SIEGLINDE

I go to fetch it.

[_She takes a drinking-horn and hurries out. She returns with it full, and offers it to Siegmund._

Lo, the water
Thy thirsting lips longed for:
Water brought at thy wish!

[_Siegmund drinks, and hands her back the horn.
As he signifies his thanks with a movement of the
head, he gazes at her with growing interest._

SIEGMUND

Welcome the water!
Quenched is my thirst.
My weary load
Lighter it makes;
New courage it gives;
Mine eyes that slept
Re-open glad on the world.
Who soothes and comforts me so?

SIEGLINDE

This house and this wife
Belong to Hunding.
Stay thou here as his guest;
Tarry till he comes home.

SIEGMUND

Shelter he surely
Will grant a worn,
Wounded, weaponless stranger.

SIEGLINDE [_With anxious haste._

Quick, show me! Where are thy wounds?

SIEGMUND

[_Shakes himself and springs up briskly to a
sitting posture._

My wounds are slight,
Scarce worthy remark;
My limbs are well knit still,
Whole and unharmed.
If my spear and shield had but been
Half so strong as my arm is,
I had vanquished the foe;
But in splinters were spear and shield.
The horde of foemen
Harassed me sore;
Through storm and strife
Spent was my force;
But, faster than I from foemen,
All my faintness has fled;
Darkness fell deep on my lids,
But now the sun again laughs.

SIEGLINDE

[_Goes to the storeroom, fills a horn with
mead, and proffers it to Siegmund with friendly
eagerness._

This healing and honeyed
Draught of mead
Deign to accept from me.

SIEGMUND

Set it first to thy lips.

[_Sieglinde sips from the horn and hands it back
to him. Siegmund takes a long draught, regarding
Sieglinde with increasing warmth. Still gazing,
he takes the horn from his lips and lets it sink
slowly, while his features express strong emotion.
He sighs deeply, and lowers his gaze gloomily to
the ground._

SIEGMUND [_In a trembling voice._

Thou hast tended an ill-fated one!
May all evil
Be turned from thee!

[_He starts up quickly, and goes towards the the
back._

I have been solaced
By sweet repose:
Onward now I must press.

SIEGLINDE

Who pursues thee so close at thy heels?

[_Turning round quickly._

SIEGMUND [_Stops._

Bad luck pursues me,
Everywhere follows;
And where I linger
Trouble still finds me:
Be thou preserved from its touch!
I must not gaze but go.

[_He strides hastily to the door and lifts the
latch._

SIEGLINDE [_Forgetting herself calls impetuously after him._

Then tarry here!
Misfortune thou canst not bring
To those who abide with it!

SIEGMUND

[_Deeply moved, remains standing; he looks
searchingly at Sieglinde, who, ashamed and sad,
lowers her eyes. Returning, he leans against the
hearth, his gaze fixed on Sieglinde, who continues
silently embarrassed._

Wehwalt named I myself:
Hunding here will I wait for.

_Sieglinde starts, listens and hears Hunding
outside leading his horse to the stable. She
hurries to the door and opens it. Hunding, armed
with shield and spear, enters, but, perceiving
Siegmund, pauses on the threshold. Hunding turns
with a look of stern inquiry to Sieglinde._

SIEGLINDE [_In answer to Hunding's look._

On the hearth
Fainting I found
One whom need drove here.

HUNDING

Hast succoured him?

SIEGLINDE

I gave him, as a guest,
Welcome and a drink.

SIEGMUND [_Regarding Hunding firmly and calmly._

Drink she gave,
Shelter too:
Wouldst therefore chide the woman?

HUNDING

Sacred is my hearth:
Sacred hold thou my house.

[_To Sieglinde, as he takes off his armour and
hands it to her._

Set the meal for us men!

[_Sieglinde hangs up the arms on the stem of
the ash-tree, fetches food and drink from
the store-room and sets supper on the table.
Involuntarily she turns her gaze on Siegmund
again._

HUNDING

[_Examining Siegmund's features keenly and with
amaze, compares them with Sieglinde's. Aside._

How like to the woman!
In his eye as well
Gleams the guile of the serpent.

[_He conceals his surprise, and turns with apparent
unconcern to Siegmund._

Far, I trow,
Must thou have fared;
The man who rests here
Rode no horse:
What toilsome journey
Made thee so tired?

SIEGMUND

Through wood and meadow,
Thicket and moor,
Chased by the storm
And peril sore,
I ran by I know not what road.
I know as little
What goal it led to,
And I would gladly be told.

HUNDING [_At table, inviting Siegmund to be seated._

'Tis Hunding owns
The roof and room
Which have harboured thee.
If to the westward
Thou wert to wend,
In homesteads rich
Thou wouldst find kinsmen
Who guard the honour of Hunding.
May I ask of my guest
In return to tell me his name?

[_Siegmund, who has taken his seat at the table,
looks thoughtfully before him. Sieglinde, who
has placed herself beside Hunding and opposite
Siegmund, gazes at him with evident sympathy and
suspense._

HUNDING [_Watching them both._

If thou wilt not
Trust it to me,
To this woman tell thy secret:
See, how eagerly she asks!

SIEGLINDE [_Unembarrassed and interested._

Gladly I'd know
Who thou art.

SIEGMUND [_Looks up and, gazing into her eyes, begins gravely._

Not for me the name Friedmund;
Frohwalt fain were I called,
But forced was I to be Wehwalt.
Wölfe they called my father;
And I am one of twins:
With a sister twin I was born.
Soon lost were
Both mother and maid;
I hardly knew
Her who gave me my life,
Nor her with whom I was born.
Warlike and strong was Wölfe,
And never wanting for foes.
A-hunting oft
Went the son with the father.
One day we returned
Outworn with the chase
And found the wolf's nest robbed.
The brave abode
To ashes was burnt,
Consumed to dust
The flourishing oak,
And dead was the mother,
Dauntless but slain.
No trace of the sister
Was ever found:
The Neidungs' heartless horde
Had dealt us this bitter blow.
My father fled,
An outlaw with me;
And the youth
Lived wild in the forest
With Wölfe for many years.
Sore beset and harried were they,
But boldly battled the pair of wolves.

[_Turning to Hunding._

A Wölfing tells thee the tale,
And a well-known Wölfing, I trow.

HUNDING

Wondrous and wild the story
Told by thee, valiant guest:
Wehwalt--the Wölfing!
I think that dark rumours anent
This doughty pair have reached me,
Though unknown Wölfe
And Wölfing too.

SIEGLINDE

But tell me further, stranger:
Where dwells thy father now?

SIEGMUND

The Neidungs, starting anew,
Hounded and hunted us down;
But slain by the wolves
Fell many a hunter;
They fled through the wood,
Chased by the game:
Like chaff we scattered the foe.
But trace of my father I lost;
Still his trail grew fainter
The longer I followed;
In the wood a wolf-skin
Was all I found;
There empty it lay:
My father I had lost.--
In the woods I could not stay;
My heart longed for men and for women.--
By all I met,
No matter where,
If friend I sought,
Or woman wooed,
Still I was branded an outlaw;
Ill-luck clung to me;
Whatever I did right,
Others counted it wrong;
What seemed evil to me
Won from others applause.
Grim feuds arose
Wherever I went;
Wrath met me
At every turn;
Longing for gladness,
Woe was my lot:
I called myself Wehwalt therefore,
For woe was all that was mine.

[_He looks at Sieglinde and marks her sympathetic
gaze._

HUNDING

Thou wert shown no grace by the Norns
That cast thy grievous lot;
No one greets thee as guest
With gladness in his home.

SIEGLINDE

Only cowards would fear
A weaponless, lonely man!--
Tell us, O guest,
How in the strife
At last thy weapon was lost!

SIEGMUND

A sorrowful child
Cried for my help;
Her kinsmen wanted
To wed the maiden
To one whom her heart did not choose.
To her defence
Gladly I hied;
The heartless horde
Met me in fight:
Before me foemen fell.
Fordone and dead lay the brothers.
The slain were embraced by the maid,
Her wrongs forgotten in grief.
She wept wild streams of woe,
And bathed the dead with her tears;
For the loss of her brothers slain
Lamented the ill-fated bride.
Then the dead men's kinsmen
Came like a storm,
Vowing vengeance,
Frantic to fall on me;
Foemen on all sides
Rose and assailed me.
But from the spot
Moved not the maid;
My shield and spear
Sheltered her long,
Till spear and shield
Were hewn from my hand.
Standing weaponless, wounded,
I beheld the maid die:
I fled from the furious host--
She lay lifeless on the dead.

[_To Sieglinde with a look of fervent sorrow._

The reason now I have told
Why none may know me as Friedmund.

[_He rises and walks to the hearth. Pale and deeply
moved, Sieglinde looks on the ground._

HUNDING [_Rises._

I know a wild-blooded breed;
What others revere
It flouts unawed:
All hate it, and I with the rest.
When forth in haste I was summoned,
Vengeance to seek
For my kinsmen's blood,
I came too late,
And now return home
To find the impious wretch
In haven under my roof.--
My house holds thee,
Wölfing, to-day;
For the night thou art my guest.
But wield to-morrow
Thy trustiest weapon.
I choose the day for the fight:
Thy life shall pay for the dead.

[_To Sieglinde, who steps between the two men with
anxious gestures; harshly._

Forth from the hall!
Linger not here!
Prepare my draught for the night,
And wait until I come.

[_Sieglinde stands for a while undecided and thoughtful. Slowly and with hesitating steps she goes towards the store-room, There she pauses again, lost in thought, her face half averted. With quiet resolution she opens the cupboard, fills a drinking-horn, and shakes spices into it out of a box. She then turns her eyes on Siegmund, in order to meet his gaze, which he never removes from her. She perceives that Hunding is watching, and proceeds immediately to the bed-chamber. On the steps she turns once more, looks yearningly at Siegmund, and indicates with her eyes, persistently and with speaking plainness, a particular spot in the stem of the ash-tree. Hunding starts, and drives her off with a violent gesture. With a last look at Siegmund, she disappears into the bed-chamber, and shuts the door behind her._

HUNDING [_Taking his weapons from the tree-stem._

With weapons man should be armed.
We meet tomorrow then Wölfing.
My word thou hast heard;
Ward thyself well!

[_He goes into bed-chamber. The shooting of the
bolt is heard from within._

[_Siegmund alone. It has grown quite dark. All the
light in the hall comes from a dull fire on the
hearth. Siegmund sinks down on to a couch beside
the fire and broods forsome time silently in great
agitation._

SIEGMUND

My father said when most wanted
A sword I should find and wield.
Swordless I entered
My foeman's house,
As a hostage here
I remain.
I saw a fair
Woman and sweet,
And bliss and dread
Consume my heart.
The woman for whom I long--
She whose charm both wounds and
delights--
In thrall is held by the man
Who mocks a weaponless foe.
Wälse! Wälse!
Where is thy sword?--
The trusty sword
To be swung in battle,
When from my bosom should burst
The fury that fills my heart?

[_The fire collapses. From the flame which leaps up
a bright light falls on the spot in the ash-tree's
stem indicated by Sieglinde's look, and on which
the hilt of a sword is now plainly visible._

What can that be
That shines so bright?
What a ray streams
From the ash-tree's stem!
My eyes that saw not
See the bright flash;
Gay as laughter it gleams.
How the radiant light
Illumes my heart!
Is it the look
That lingered behind,
Yonder clinging,
When forth from the hall
The lovely woman went?

[_From this point the fire gradually goes out._

Darkly the shadows
Covered my eyes,
Till her shining glance
Over me gleamed,
Bringing me warmth and day.
Gay and splendid
The sun appeared,
And blissfully circled
With glory my head--
Till by the hills it was hid.

[_The fire flickers up faintly again._

But once more, ere it set,
Bright it shone upon me,
And the ancient ash-tree's stem
Was lit by its golden glow.
The splendour passes,
The light grows dim,
Shadowy darkness
Falls and enshrouds me;
Deep in my bosom's fastness
Glimmers still faintly the flame!

[_The fire goes out altogether. Total darkness.
The door of the bed-chamber opens noiselessly.
Sieglinde comes out in a white garment and advances
softly but quickly towards the hearth._

SIEGLINDE

Art asleep?

SIEGMUND [_Joyfully surprised._

Who steals this way?

SIEGLINDE [_With stealthy haste._

'Tis I: listen to me!
In sleep profound lies Hunding;
The draught that I mixed him I drugged.
Use to good purpose the night!

SIEGMUND [_Ardently interrupting._

Thou here, all is well!

SIEGLINDE

I have come to show thee a weapon;
O couldst thou make it thine!
I then might call thee
First among heroes,
For only by him
Can it be won.
O hearken: heed what I tell thee!
Here Hunding's kinsmen
Sat in the hall,
Assembled to honour his wedding.
He took as his wife,
Against her will,
One who was bartered by thieves.
Sad I sat there
Through their carousing.
A stranger entered the hall,
An old and grey-coated man.
So slouched was his hat
That one of his eyes was hidden;
But the other flashed
So that all feared it:
Overwhelming
Its menace they found;
I alone
Suffered, when looked on,
Sweet pain, sad delight,
Sorrow and solace in one.
On me glancing,
He scowled at the others,
As he swung a sword in his hands.
This sword he plunged
In the ash-tree's stem,
To the hilt driving it home.
The weapon he gains in guerdon
Who draws it from its place.
Though sore they struggled,
Not one of the heroes
Could win the weapon for his;
Coming, going,
The guests essayed it,
The strongest tugged at the steel;
Not an inch it stirred in the stem;
In silence yonder it cleaves.
I knew then who he was
That in sorrow greeted me.
I know too
Now for whom
The sword was stuck in the tree.
O might I to-day
Find here the friend
Brought from afar
By a woman's woe!
Then all I have suffered
In sorrow untold,
All scorn and all shame
In anger endured--
All would avenged be,
Sweetly atoned for--
Regained fully
The good I had lost;
For mine I should win
All I had wept for,
Could I but find the dear friend,
And clasp him close in my arms!

SIEGFRIED [_Embracing Sieglinde with passionate ardour._

Dear woman, that friend
Holds thee at last,
Both woman and sword are his.
Here in my breast
Burns hot the oath
That welds us twain into one.
For all that I sought
I see now in thee,
In thee all
That once failed me I find.
Thou wert despised,
My portion was pain;
I was an outlaw,
Dishonoured wert thou;
Sweet revenge beckons,
Bids us be joyful;
I laugh
From sheer fulness of joy,
Holding thee, love, in my arms thus,
Feeling the beat of thy heart!

[_The outer door swings open._

SIEGLINDE [_With a start of alarm tears herself away._

Ha, who went? Who entered there?

[_The door remains open. Outside a glorious spring
night. The full moon shines in, throwing its bright
light on the pair, so that they can suddenly see
one another quite plainly._

SIEGMUND [_In soft ecstasy._

No one went--
But one has come:
Laughing the spring
Enters the hall!

[_He draws Sieglinde with tender force on to the
couch, so that she sits beside him. The moon shines
more and more brightly._

Winter storms have yielded
To May's sweet moon,
And mild and radiant
Sparkles the spring.
On balmy breezes
Light and lovely,
Weaving wonders,
Soft she sways.
Through field and forest
She is breathing;
Wide and open
Laughs her eye;
When blithe the birds are singing
Sounds her voice;
Fragrant odours
She exhales;
From her warm blood blossom flowers
Welcome and joyous.
Shoot and bud,
They wax by her aid.
With tender weapons armed,
She conquers the world.
Winter and storm yield
To the strong attack.
No wonder that, beaten boldly,
At last the door should have opened,
Which, stubborn and stiff,
Was keeping her out.
To find her sister
Hither she came;
By love has spring been allured;
Within our bosoms
Buried she lay;
Now glad she laughs to the light.
The bride who is sister
Is freed by the brother;
In ruin lies
What held them apart.
Loud rejoicing,
They meet and greet;
Lo! Love is mated with spring!

SIEGLINDE

Thou art the spring
That I used to pine for,
When pinched by the winter frost;
My heart hailed thee friend
With bliss and with fear,
When thy first glance fell on me sweetly
All I had seen appeared strange;
Friendless were my surroundings;
I never seemed to have known
Any one who came nigh.
Thee, however,
Straightway I knew,
And I saw thou wert mine
When I beheld thee:
What I hid in my heart,
All I am,
Clear as the day
Dawned to my sight
Like tones to the ear
Echoing back,
When, upon my frosty desert,
My eyes first beheld a friend.

[_She hangs enraptured on his neck, and looks him
close in the face._

SIEGMUND [_Transported._

O rapture most blissful!
Woman most blest!

SIEGLINDE [_Close to his eyes._

O let me, closer
And closer clinging,
Discern more clearly
The sacred light
That from thine eyes
And face shines forth,
And so sweetly sways every sense!

SIEGMUND

The May-moon's light
Falls on thy face
Framed by masses
Of waving hair.
What snared my heart
'Tis easy to guess:
My gaze on loveliness feasts.

SIEGLINDE [_Pushing the hair back from his brow,
regards him with astonishment._

How broad and open
Is thy brow!
Blue-branching the veins
In thy temples entwine.
I hardly can endure
My burden of bliss.--
Of something I am reminded:--
The man I first saw to-day
Already I have seen!

SIEGMUND

A dream of love
I too recall;
I saw thee there
And yearned for thee sore!

SIEGLINDE

The stream has shown me
My imaged face--
Again I see it before me;
As in the pool it arose
It is reflected by thee.

SIEGMUND

Thine is the face
I hid in my heart.

SIEGLINDE [_Quickly averting her gaze._

O hush! That voice!
O let me listen!
These tones as a child
Surely I heard--
But no! I heard the sound lately,
When, calling in the wood,
My voice re-echoing rang.

SIEGMUND

To sweet and melodious
Music I listen!

SIEGLINDE [_Gazing into his eyes again._

And ere now thy glowing
Eye have I seen:
The old man whose glance
Solaced my grief,
When he greeted me had that eye--
I knew him
Because of his eye,
And almost addressed him as father.

[_After a pause._

Art thou Wehwalt in truth?

SIEGMUND

If dear to thee,
Wehwalt no more;
My sway is o'er bliss not sorrow!

SIEGLINDE

And Friedmund does not
Fit with thy fortunes.

SIEGMUND

Choose thou the name
Thou wouldst have me be known by:
Thy choice will also be mine!

SIEGLINDE

The name of thy father was Wölfe?

SIEGMUND

A wolf to the fearful foxes!
But he whose eye
Shone with the brightness
Which, fairest one, shines in thine own,
Was named--Wälse of old.

SIEGLINDE [_Beside herself._

Was Wälse thy father,
And art thou a Wälsung?--
Stuck was for thee
His sword in the stem?--
Then let my love call thee
What it has found thee;
Siegmund
Shall be thy name.

SIEGMUND [_Springs up._

Siegmund call me
For Siegmund am I!
Be witness this sword
I grasp without shrinking!
That I should find it
In sorest need
Wälse foretold.
I grasp it now!
Love the most pure
In utmost need,
Passionate love,
Consuming desire
Burning bright in my breast,
Drive to deeds and death!
Nothung! Nothung!
That, sword, is thy name.
Nothung! Nothung!
Conquering steel!
Show me thy sharp
And sundering tooth:
Come forth from thy scabbard to me!

[_He draws the sword with a violent effort from the
stem of the tree and shows it to the amazed and
enraptured Sieglinde._

Siegmund the Wälsung
Thou dost see!
As bride-gift
He brings thee this sword;
With this he frees
The woman most blest;
He bears thee
From the house of his foe.
Far from here
Follow thou him:
Forth to the laughing
House of the spring;
Thy shield be Nothung, the sword,
When Siegmund is captive to love!

[_He throws his arm round her so as to draw her
forth with him._

SIEGLINDE [_Delirious with excitement, tears herself away and stands before him._

Art thou Siegmund
Standing before me,
Sieglinde am I
Who longed for thee;
Thy own twin-sister
As well as the sword thou hast
won!

[_She throws herself on his breast._

SIEGMUND

Bride and sister
Be to thy brother--
So Wälsungs shall flourish for aye!

[_He draws her to him with fervent passion. The
curtain falls quickly._

THE SECOND ACT

_A wild, mountainous spot. In the background a gorge rises from below to a high ridge of rocks, from which the ground slopes down again towards the front. Wotan, in full armour, carrying his spear. Before him Brünnhilde as a Valkyrie, also fully armed._

WOTAN

Go bridle thy steed,
Valorous maid!
Bitter strife
Soon will break forth;
Brünnhilde, storm to the fray
And cause the Wälsung to win!
Hunding choose for himself
Where to bide:
No place in Walhall has he.
So up and to horse!
Haste to the field!

BRÜNNHILDE [_Ascends the height on the right, shouting and springing from rock to rock._

Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Hojoho!

[_She pauses on a high peak, looks down into the
gorge and calls back to Wotan._

I warn thee, Father,
See to thyself;
Stern the strife
That is in store:
Here comes Fricka, thy wife,
Drawn hither in her car by her rams,
Swinging the golden
Scourge in her hand!
The wretched beasts
Are groaning with fear;
And how the wheels rattle!
Hot she hastes to the fray.
Such strife as this
No strife is for me,
Though I love boldly waged
Strife 'twixt men.
The battle alone thou must brave;
I go; thou art left in the lurch!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Ha!

[_She disappears behind the mountain peak at the
side. Fricka, in a car drawn by a pair of rams, has
driven up the gorge to the mountain ridge, where
she suddenly stops, alights and strides angrily
towards Wotan in the foreground._

WOTAN [_Aside, when he sees Fricka approaching._

The usual storm!
The usual strife!
But I must act with firmness

FRICKA [_Moderating her pace as she approaches, and confronting Wotan with dignity._

All alone among the hills
I seek thee, where thou dost hide
Fearing the eyes
Of thy wife,
That help in need thou may'st promise.

WOTAN

Let Fricka tell
Her trouble in full.

FRICKA

I have heard Hunding's cry,
For vengeance calling on me;
As wedlock's guardian
I gave ear:
My word passed
To punish the deed
Of this impious pair
Who boldly wrought him the wrong.

WOTAN

Have this pair then
Done such harm,
Whom spring united in love?
'Twas love's sweet magic
That lured them on;
None pays for love's might to me.

FRICKA

How dull and how deaf thou wouldst seem!
As though thou wert not aware
That it is wedlock's
Holy oath
Profaned so rudely I grieve for.

WOTAN

Unholy
Hold I the bond
That binds unloving hearts;
Nor must thou
Imagine that I
Will restrain by force
What transcends thy power;
For where bold natures are stirring
I urge them frankly to strife.

FRICKA

Deeming thus laudable
Wedlock's breach,
Pray babble more nonsense
And call it holy
That shame should blossom forth
From bond of a twin-born pair!
I shudder at heart,
My brain reels and whirls.
Sister embraced
As bride by the brother--
Who has ever heard
Of brother and sister as lovers?

WOTAN

Thou hearest it now!
Be taught by this
That a thing may be
Which has never befallen before.
That those two are lovers
Thou must admit;
So take advice and be wise!
Thy blessing surely
Will bring to thee gladness,
If thou wilt, laughing on love,
Bless Siegmund and Sieglinde's bond.

FRICKA [_With a burst of deep indignation._

Then nothing to thee
Are the gods everlasting
Since the wild Wälsungs
Won thee for father?
I speak plainly--
Is that thy thought?
The holy and high
Immortals are worthless;
And all that once
Was esteemed is thrown over;
The bonds thou didst bind
By thyself now are broken;
Heaven's hold
Is loosed with a laugh,
That this twin-born pair, unimpeded,
The fruit of thy lawless love,
May in wantonness flourish and rule!
But why wail over
Wedlock and vows,
Since by thee the first they are scorned!
The faithful wife
Betrayed at each turn,
Lustfully longing
Wander thy glances;
Thine eyes scan
Each hollow and height
As thy fickle fancy allures thee,
While grief is gnawing my heart.
Heavy of soul
I had to endure it,
When to the fight
With the graceless maidens
Born out of wedlock,
Forth thou hast fared;
For, thy wife still holding in awe,
Thou didst give her as maids
The Valkyrie band
To obedience bound,
Even Brünnhilde, bride of thy Wish.
But now that new names
Afford thee new pleasure,
And Wälse, wolfish, in
Forests has wandered;
Now that to bottomless
Shame thou hast stooped,
And a pair of mortals
Hast vilely begotten--
Now thy wife at the feet
Of whelps of a wolf thou dost fling!
Come finish thy work!
Fill the cup full!
Mock and trample now the betrayed one!

WOTAN [_Quietly._

Thou couldst not learn,
Though I might teach thee;
To thee there is nothing plain
Till day has dawned on the deed,
Wonted things
Thou alone canst conceive,
Whereas my spirit broods
On things not yet brought forth.
Listen, woman!
Some one we need,
A hero gods have not shielded,
And who is not bound by their law.
So alone
Were he fit for the deed
Which no god can accomplish,
Yet which must be done for the gods.

FRICKA

With sayings dark
Thou fain wouldst deceive me!
What deed by hero
Could be accomplished
That was beyond the strength of the gods,
By whose grace alone he is strong?

WOTAN

Then his own heart's courage
Counts not at all?

FRICKA

Who breathed their souls into men?
Who opened their eyes, that they see?
Behind thy shield
Strong they appear;
With thee to goad them,
Upward they strive;
Those men that thou praisest,
'Tis thou who spurrest them on.
With falsehoods fresh
Thou wouldst fain delude me,
With new devices
Thou wouldst evade me;
Thou shalt not shelter
The Wälsung from me;
He lives only through thee,
And is bold through thee alone.

WOTAN [_With emotion._

He grew unaided
In grievous distress;
My shield sheltered him not.

FRICKA

Then shield him not to-day;
Take back the sword
That thou hast bestowed.

WOTAN

The sword?

FRICKA

Yes, the sword,
The magic sword
Sudden and strong
That thou gavest to thy son.

WOTAN

Nay, Siegmund won it
Himself in his need.

[_From here Wotan's whole attitude expresses an
ever-deepening uneasiness and gloom._

WOTAN [_Continuing passionately._

Both conquering sword
And the need came from thee.
Wouldst thou deceive me
Who, day and night,
At thy heels follow close?
For him thou didst strike
The sword in the stem;
Thou didst promise him
The peerless blade.
Canst thou deny
That thy cunning it was
Which led him where it lay hid?

[_Wotan makes a wrathful gesture. Fricka goes
on more and more confidently as she sees the
impression produced on him._

The Gods
Do not battle with bondsmen;
The free but punish transgressors.
Against thee, my peer,
Have I waged war,
But Siegmund is mine as my slave.

[_Another violent gesture from Wotan, who then
seems to succumb to the feeling of his own
powerlessness._

Shall thy eternal
Consort obey one
Who calls thee master
And bows as thy slave?
What! Shall I be
Despised by the basest,
To the lawless a spur,
A scoff to the free?
My husband cannot desire me,
A goddess, to suffer such shame!

WOTAN [_Gloomily._

What then wouldst thou?

FRICKA

Shield not the Wälsung.

WOTAN [_In a muffled voice._

His way let him go.

FRICKA

Thou wilt grant him no aid,
When to arms the avenger calls?

WOTAN

I shield him no more.

FRICKA

Seek not to trick me;
Look in my eyes!
The Valkyrie turn from him too.

WOTAN

The Valkyrie free shall choose.

FRICKA

Not so; she but acts
To accomplish thy will;
Give order that Siegmund die.

WOTAN [_After a violent internal struggle._

Nay, slay him I cannot,
He found my sword!

FRICKA

Remove thou the magic,
And shatter the blade:
Swordless let him be found.

BRÜNNHILDE [_Is heard calling from the heights._

Heiaha! Heiaha!
Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Heiohotojo! Hotojoha!

FRICKA

Thy valorous maiden comes;
Shouting, hither she rides.

WOTAN

For Siegmund I called her to horse.

[_Brünnhilde appears with her horse on the rocky
path to the right. When she sees Fricka she stops
abruptly and, during the following, slowly and
silently leads her horse down the path. She then
puts it in a cave._

FRICKA

By her shield to-day
Be guarded the honour
Of thy eternal spouse!
Derided by men,
Shorn of our power,
Perish and pass would the Gods
If thy valiant maid
Avenged not to-day
My sacred and sovereign right.
The Wälsung falls for my honour.
Does Wotan now pledge me his oath?

WOTAN [_Throwing himself on to a rocky seat in terrible dejection._

Take the oath!

[_Fricka strides towards the back, where she meets
Brünnhilde and halts for a moment before her._

FRICKA

Warfather
Waits for thee;
He will instruct thee
How the lot is decreed!

[_She drives off quickly._

BRÜNNHILDE

[_Comes forward anxious and wondering to Wotan,
who leaning back on his rocky seat, is brooding
gloomily._

Ill closed
The fight, I fear;
Fricka laughs at the outcome!
Father, what news
Hast thou to tell me?
Sad thou seemest and troubled!

WOTAN [_Dropping his arm helplessly and sinking his head on his breast._

By self-forged fetters
I am bound,
I, least free of all living!

BRÜNNHILDE

I know thee not thus:
What gnaws at thy heart?

WOTAN

[_His expression and gestures working up, from this
point, to a fearful outburst._

O sacrilege vile!
O grievous affront!
Gods' despair!
Gods' despair!
Infinite wrath!
Woe without end!
Most sorrowful I of all living!

BRÜNNHILDE

[_Alarmed, throws her shield, spear and helmet from
her and kneels with anxious affection at his feet._

Father! Father!
Tell me what ails thee?
With dismay thou art filling thy child!
Confide in me
For I am true;
See, Brünnhilde begs it!

[_She lays her head and hands with tender anxiety
on his knees and breast._

WOTAN

[_Looks long in her eyes, then strokes her hair
with involuntary tenderness. As if coming out of a
deep reverie, he at last begins, very softly._

What if, when uttered,
Weaker it made
The controlling might of my will?

BRÜNNHILDE [_Very softly._

To Wotan's will thou speakest
When thou speakest to me?
What am I
If I am not thy will?

WOTAN [_Very softly._

What never to any was spoken
Shall be unspoken now and for ever.
Myself I speak to,
Speaking to thee.

[_In a low, muffled voice._

When young love grew
A waning delight,
'Twas power my spirit craved;
By rash and wild
Desires driven on,
I won myself the world.
Unknown to me
Dishonest my acts were;
Bargains I made
Wherein hid mishap,
Craftily lured on by Loge,
Who straightway disappeared.
Yet I could not leave
Love altogether;
When grown mighty still I desired it.
The child of night,
The craven Nibelung,
Alberich, broke from its bond.
All love he forswore,
And procured by the curse
The gleaming gold of the Rhine,
And with it measureless might.
The ring that he wrought
I stole by my cunning,
But I restored it not
To the Rhine;
It paid the price
Of Walhall's towers:
The home the giants had built me,
From which I commanded the world.
She who knows all
That ever was,
Erda, the holy,
All-knowing Wala,
Warned me touching the ring:
Prophesied doom everlasting.
Of this doom I was fain
To hear further,
But silent she vanished from sight.
Then my gladness of heart was gone,
The god's one desire was to know.
To the womb of the earth
Downward then I went:
By love's sweet magic
Vanquished the Wala,
Troubled her wisdom proud,
And compelled her tongue to speak.
Tidings by her I was told;
And with her I left a fair pledge:
The world's wisest of women
Bore me, Brünnhilde, thee.
With eight sisters
Fostered wert thou,
That ye Valkyries
Might avert the doom
Which the Wala's
Dread words foretold:
The gods' ignominious ending.
That foes might find us
Strong for the strife,
Heroes I got ye to gather.
The beings who served us
As slaves aforetime,
The men whose courage
Aforetime we curbed:
Who through treacherous bonds
And devious dealings
Were bound to the gods
In blindfold obedience--
To kindle these men
To strife was your duty,
To drive them on
To savage war,
That hosts of dauntless heroes
Might gather in Walhall's hall.

BRÜNNHILDE

And well filled surely thy halls were;
Many a one I have brought.
We never were idle,
So why shouldst thou fear?

"Father! Father!
Tell me what ails thee?
With dismay thou art filling thy child!"]

WOTAN [_His voice muffled again._

Another ill--
Mark what I say--
Was by the Wala foretold!
Through Alberich's hosts
Doom may befall us;
A furious grudge
Alberich bears me;
But now that my heroes
Make victory certain
I defy the hosts of the night.
Only if he won
The ring again from me,
Walhall were forfeit for ever.
Used by him alone
Who love forswore
Could the runes of the ring
Bring doom
To the mighty gods,
And shame without end.
My heroes' valour
He would pervert,
Would stir to strife
The bold ones themselves,
And with their strength
Wage war upon me.
So, alarmed, I resolved
To wrest the ring from the foeman.

[_In a low voice._

I once paid Fafner,
One of the giants,
With gold accurst
For work achieved.
Fafner guards now the hoard
For which his own brother he slew.
The ring I must needs recover
With which his work I rewarded.
But I cannot strike one
By treaties protected;
Vanquished by him
My valour would fail.
These are the bonds
That bind my power;
I, who by treaties am lord,
To my treaties also am slave.
But what I dare not
One man may dare--
A hero never
Helped by my favour,
To me unknown
And granted no grace,
Unaware,
Bidden by none,
Constrained thereto
By his own distress--
He could achieve
What I must not do:
The deed I never urged,
Though it was all my desire.
But, alas! how to find
One to fight me, the god,
For my good--
Most friendly of foes!
How fashion the free one
By me unshielded,
In his proud defiance
Most precious to me?
How get me the other
Who, not through me,
But of himself
Will perform my will?
O woe of the gods!
Horrible shame!
Soul-sick am I
Of seeing myself
In all I ever created.
The other whom I so long for,
That other I never find.
The free by themselves must be fashioned,
All that I fashion are slaves!

BRÜNNHILDE

But the Wälsung, Siegmund,
Works for himself.

WOTAN

Wild I roamed
In the woodland with him,
Ever against the gods
Goading him to rebel.

[_Slowly and bitterly._

Now, when the gods seek vengeance,
Shield he has none but the sword
Given to him
By the grace of a god.
Why did I try
To trick myself vainly?
How easily Fricka
Found out the fraud!
She read my inmost
Heart to my shame.
I must bend my will to her wishes.

BRÜNNHILDE

Of victory wouldst Siegmund deprive?

WOTAN

I have handled Alberich's ring,
Loth to let the gold go.
The curse that I fled
Is following me:
I must always lose what I love most,
Slay what my heart holds dearest,
Basely betray
All those who trust.

[_His gestures, at first those of terrible grief
end by expressing despair._

Pale then and pass
Glory and pomp,
Godhead's resplendent,
Glittering shame!
In ruins fall
The fabric I built!
Ended is my work;
I wait but one thing more:
The downfall--
The downfall!

[_He pauses thoughtfully._