The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Lately Alberic

hath wrought from Rheingold a yellow Ring, And its spell of magic masters our spirits. This wretch now compels us without peace or pause to heap up a hoard for him. But who are ye? Loki : Friends to you;

from all their troubles We'll free all the Nibelung folk. [Enter Alberic, driving a crowd of Nibelungs, laden with gold and silver. Having piled this in a heap, they and Mime are driven off to get more. Alberic perceives Wotan and Loki. 311

Alb.: What want you here?

Wotan: From Nibelheim's night-bound land

Strange news to our notice came, Of rarest wonders worked here by Alberic. To witness these marvels we are guests at thy gate. Alb. : Beware! beware!

For soon ye men shall work to my might! Beware of the night-begot host! Loki: What if in sleep

a thief to you slipped The Ring slyly to wrest? What, wise one, would warrant you then ? Alb. : The helm that hides

Myself I designed: Swiftly to waft me, Or, at my will, To assume other semblance.

So, undisturbed, By aught I stand safe. Loki: This work without fellow

I cannot believe. Till it be proved, I doubt, Dwarf, thy word. Alb. : Now say, then, what shape

shall my figure assume? Loki: Whatever you will.

[Alberic puts on helm. Alb. : Come thou here,

Mightiest dragon. [In his place immediately appears a dragon. Alb. {reappearing in his proper form) :

Ha ! ha ! do you believe now ? Loki: My trembling surely attests it

Well I credit the wonder. But as you waxed great 312

Can you not become smaller? More cunning, it seems to me, From danger so to withdraw. Alb. : Pah! nought simpler!

Look at me now. {Puts on helm again.

Crooked Toad

Creep from cranny.

[He appears as a toad. Wotan instantly sets his foot on it and Loki seises the tarn-helm. Alberic thereupon returns to his own shape, writhing under Wotan's foot. They bind him, and drag him off struggling furiously. [Curtain.

Scene IV

A mountain top. Enter Wotan and Loki, dragging Albouc tightly bound. They compel him to make the gnomes bring all the hoarded gold and silver, and finally to surrender the Ring, and then release him.

Alb. (screaming) : As at first by my curse thou wast made, Henceforth be cursed, thou Ring! Now may thy magic Deal each owner death! To gladden no life Shall thy lustre gleam! Aye the murderer's brand thou shalt bring. To death he is fated Though long he live, The jewel's lord And the jewel's slave, Till within my hand I in triumph once more behold it! [Exit, screaming horribly. Fricka, Donner, and Froh enter on one side.

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Fas.: To lose the maiden

Look you, you will make me forlorn: So, from my soul to unseat her, Be the sparkling horde Heaped in a stack So as to hide The heavenly maid from my sight. [Loki and Froh build the treasure all around Freia. Faf. : Still shines on me Holda's hair!

Throw me that woven work on the heap! Loki: What! the tarn-helm?

Wotan : Let it go freely!

Fas. : Her eyes like stars—

Yes, I can spy them Still through this space. Fas. : That chink must be hidden!

On Wotan's finger Gleams a glittering ring: Give that, to fill up the fissure! Wotan: Make demand as you will,

All I'll award you; But the whole world Moves not this ring from my hand! Fas. : All's off, then!

And Freia's forfeit for ever! [All the gods do their utmost to persuade him to give up

the Ring. Wotan: Leave me at rest,

The ring I retain! [Suddenly the stage grows dark, and Erda arises. Erda: Waver, Wotan, waver!

Quit the Ring accursed. Ruin and dismal downfall Wait thee in its wealth. Wotan: Who art thou, threatening wight! Erda: Whatever was, wot I,

3H

What is, as well,

What ages shall work

All I show. The endless world's all-wise one, Erda, opens thine eyes. Hear me! hear me! hear me!

All that exists, endeth!

A dismal day

Dawns for the Gods: I conjure you, render the ring! [She sinks slowly to the ground. After a pause, absorbed in deep thought Wotan: Return, Freia,

I set thee free,

Purchased again Gladly in youth we rejoice. Ye giants, there is your ring.

[The Giants at once begin to quarrel about the division of the treasure. Fasolt wrests the Ring from Fafner, who fells him to the ground, tears the Ring from his dying hand, and makes off with the booty. All the Gods stand horrified.

Wotan: Fearful power

I find in the fatal curse. Follow me, wife, In Walhalla abide with me. [As the Gods depart, the song of the Rhinemaidens is heard:

Rheingold. rarest gold! For thee, our plaything Now implore we: Give us our gold ! Oh, give us our glory again.

[Still singing as the Curtain falls.

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The Valkyrie

Scene I

The interior of a dwelling-place: in the centre stands the stem of a mighty Ash tree. Enter Siegmund, exhausted. S'mund: Who e'er owns this hearth,

Here I must rest me. [Enter Sieglinde. S'linde ': Who lies on the hearth? Valiant he is, methinks, Though there he lies so worn. S'mund: Mine eyes are gladdened

By blissful rapture of sight: Who is't that gladdens them so? S'linde: Sieglinde.