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

I know, too, who only Shall draw the sword from the stem. Regained were then All I had lost, And won, too, were then All I had wept for— Found the delivering friend, My hero, held in my arms. S'mund {ardently embracing her) :

Thee, woman most blest, Holdst now the friend For weapon and wife decreed: Hot in my breast Burns now the oath That weds me ever to thee. S'linde: A marvel wakes my remembrance: My eyes hcheld thee of old, Whom first I saw to-day. (pausing) Wehwalt art thou in truth? S'mund: Ne'er call me so,

Since thou art mine! Call me thyself

As thou wouldst I were called. S'linde: Yet calledst thou Wolfe thy father? S'mund: Wolfe was he to fearful foes But he of old Walse was named S'linde: Was Walse thy father,

And art thou a Walsung? Struck was for thee The sword in the tree. So let me name thee As I have loved thee: " Siegmund "—so name I thee! S'MUND: Siegmund call me,

For Siegmund am I! Be witness this sword 319

I hold now undaunted! Nothung! Nothung! So name I thee, sword ! Nothung! Nothung! Conquering steel! [With a tremendous effort, he pulls from the Ash-tree

the sward which was sticking in the trunk. S'mund: Far from here follow me now,

Forth to the laughing house of the Spring; Bride and sister Be to thy brother, Then flourish the Walsungs for aye!

[He clasps her passionately. Curtain.

Scene II

A wild, rocky place. Wotan and Brunnhilde, both fully armed.

Wotan: Brunnhilde, haste to the fray, To shield the Walsung in fight! Then let Hunding go Where he belongs: In Walhall I want him not. [Enter Fricka, in a car drawn by two rams. Wotan {seeing her): What troubles Fricka? Fricka: I have heard Hunding's cry,

For vengeance called he on me And wedlock's guardian Gave ear to him. I made oath to punish the deed Of this infamous pair. Wotan: Whatso evil wrought the pair?

I rule not where love doth reign! Fricka: Deemest thou praiseworthy

Wedlock's breach? Was it ere known 320

That brother and sister were lovers? Since thou begott'st The riotous Walsungs Shall in my shame The basest one scorn me? Wotan: What demandest thou?

Fricka: Shield not the Walsung!

Wotan: I—shelter him not.

Fricka : Seek not to trick me;

The Valkyrie too turn from him! Wotan: The Valkyrie free shall choose.

Fricka: Not so, for alone

Thy command they obey: Give orders that Siegmund may fall. Wotan: I cannot o'verthrow him,

He found my sword. Fricka: Destroy, then, its magic,

Be shattered the steel! The Walsung now falls from my honour: Doth Wotan now pledge me his oath? Wotan (in deep dejection):

Take my oath!

[Fricka drives quickly away. Brunn. : Tell me what task must be mine. Wotan : Fight truly for Fricka,

Ward for her wedlock's oath. Brunn. : Ah, repent; take back thy word! Thou lovest Siegmund. To serve thee, safe will I shield him. Wotan : Siegmund shalt thou vanquish,

And Hunding as victor shall strike. Brunn. : He whom thou still

Has taught me to love, For his sake now thy wavering Word I defy! Wotan.; Darest thou ! floutest thou me! Who art thou but the fettered 321

Blind slave of my will?

I warn thee, then,

Wake not my wrath ! With heed fulfil my behest:

Siegmund strike thou! Such be the Valkyrie's task.

[Exit Wotan. Siegmund and Sieglinde appear on the pass. Brunniiilde conceals herself.

S'linde: Hark! the horn calls!

Hunding has wakened. Kinsmen and bloodhounds Calls he together. Dogs are howling, Loud baying to heaven 'gainst breaking of wedlock's oath. [She sinks senseless into Siegmund's arms. Brunn. (advancing) : Siegmund Look on me! I come to call thee hence; Death doomed is he who looks on me. On the warfield alone I come to heroes, Those whom I greet With me needs must go hence. To Walhall follow thou me; His father there will a Walsung find. S'mund : Yet one thing tell me, immortal!

Shall there Siegmund see Sieglinde? Brunn. : Here on earth

Must she still linger. S'mund: Then greet for me Walhall,

Greet for me Wotan, Greet for me Walse: To them I follow thee not. Where Sieglinde lives, in weal or woe, There, too, will Siegmund linger. 322

Brunn. : While life is thine

Force were in vain : But death shall vanquish thee, fool. He who bestowed the sword

Sends thee now death, For the spell he takes from the sword. S'mund: If death be my doom

I will slay the slumberer here.

Two lives now

Laugh to thee, Nothung!

Take them, Nothung,

Coveted steel! Brunn.: Forbear, Walsung! hearken to me:

Sieglinde shall live then, And Siegmund, live thou with her.

Trust to the sword

And strike without fear: Sure striketh the blade As the Valkyrie's shield is sure.

[Exit. Enter Hunding.

H'ding : Wehwalt! Wehwalt!

Stand and fight!

[They fight. A light breaks through the clouds, in which Wotan appears holding his spear.

Wotan : Go back from the spear

In splinters, thou sword! [Siegmund's sword breaks in fragments. Hunding

pierces him to the heart. Wotan (to H'ding): Go hence, slave! Kneel before Fricka: Tell her that Wotan's spear Avenged what wrought her wrong. [Hunding sinks dead on the ground. Brunnhilde seizes Sieglinde's form and flies off on a horse.