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

Scene III

At the foot of the Valkyrie's rocks stands Wotan, disguised as the Wanderer. Enter Siegfried. The Wanderer refuses to let him pass.

S'fried : Oh ! ho! my withholder,

And who are you, who thus arrests my road? Wotan : My spear shall spare thee no path. The sword that thou sway'st Was shivered on this shaft:

So, too, again 'Twill snap on the eternal spear. S'fried: Then my father's foe faces me here!

How that will serve me For sweet revenge. [He attacks the zuandercr and hews his spear in pieces. Wotan : Advance! I cannot hinder thee.

[The stage becomes filled with a rolling sea of fire. Siegfried plunges into the flames, and at the top of the rock finds Brunnhilde sleeping. He removes her armour, and wakens her with a kiss. Brunn. : Who is he who rouses me ? S'fried: Siegfried I

By whom thou art awaked. Brunn.: O Siegfried, Siegfried,

Sanctified hero! Oh knowest thou, Lord of the World, How long thou hast had my love? 334

I loved thee always,

For I alone Distinguished Wotan's intention:

Truly that intention Was but my love should be thine! S'fried : With timid fear thou fillest me:

For thou alone Has fear aroused in me!

Laugh that thou livest,

Sweetest delight! Be mine! be mine! be mine! Brunn. : Oh Siegfried, thine

Ever I've been! S'fried : Ever thou hast been,

Then so abide! Brunn. : Thine ever will I be.

Gladly Love do I glow with! Gladly yield to thee blindly! Gladly glide to destruction! Gladly go to the grave!

Thou art for ever

My own and my only!

Love that illumines,

Laughing at death!

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Gotterdammerung (The Dusk of the Gods)

Prelude :—On the Valkyrie's rock by night, sit the three Nornir (Fates), weaving their rope of runes. It breaks in the middle, and they disappear, knowing that the end of the Gods is at hand. At dawn, " Siegfried " arises, to part from Brunnhilde, and go to fresh exploits. At parting, he gives her the Ring, and she gives him her horse, Grane, in return.

Scene I

The Hall of the Gibichungs, on the Rhine. Gunther, Hagen, and Gutrune,1 sister to Gunther.

Hagen : In radiance of summer brightness Rises Gibich's race. But Gunther fails to wed Gutrune finds no mate. A wife awaits him The fairest in the world: A far-off rock's her home, Fire burns around her hall, He alone who braves that fire May fitly woo Brunnhilde!

Gunther: And may not my might so far stretch?

Hagen : For a stronger it is reserved: Siegfried of Walsung descent, His is the strongest hand, Him I'd have for Gutrune's mate.

Gunther: And Brunnhilde's won only by him?

Hagen : To no other waneth the blaze.

1 Or Gudrun, who is the same as Kriemhild in the German rersion of the story, just as the name of Siegfried also occurs us Sigurd among the many different variations of the myth, etc.

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Gunther: Why wouldst thou induce in me Desire for a treasure I may not touch?

Hagen : Thy prayer could work thy wishes If Gutrune wove a spell.

Gutrune: Thou scoff est, wicked Hagen! How can I bind this man?

Hagen : Recall the drink in your shrine: The hero for whom thou burnest Fondly it will bind to thy heart. Bid now but Siegfried come And taste of the wonderful draught: That he'd seen any woman ere thee Would utterly pass from his mind.

[A horn is heard in the distance.

Hagen : Within a vessel, a horse and man! Siegfried it is, surely no other!

[Enter Siegfried, leading Grane.

Siegfried: Which is Gibich's son?

Gunther: Gunther, I, whom thou seek'st. [Siegfried and Gunther exchange presents, and take the oath of blood-brotherhood. Hagen tells Siegfried of the pozvers of the Tarnhelm, or invisible helmet. Gutrune then brings a magic drink, zvhich causes Siegfried to utterly forget Brunnhilde, and to fall violently in love with herself. Gunther agrees to bestow her hand upon him if he will fetch Brunnhilde, disguising himself with the Tarnhelm, so that she may believe that it is Gunther himself who fetches her.

Scene II The Valkyrie's Rock. Valtrauta has come to see if her sister is awake yet, and tells her of Wotan's fears.

Valtrauta : Deep sighs he uttered: Oosed his eyelids as he were dreaming, and spake these words:

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" The day the Rhine's three daughters Gain by surrender from her the Ring, From the curse's load Released are Gods and men." Then, my sister I supplicate:— Ward off the woe of the Gods!

Brunnhilde: The Ring! Resign?

Valtrauta : Surrender it back to the Rhine!

Brunnhilde: Surrender it? I? The Ring? Siegfried's bridal gift? More than Walhall's honour More than the Eternal Realm I hold this Ring. One look at its beauteous Gold Delights me more than unending good to all the

Eternal Gods. I'll lose not love from my heart! No command can hinder my loving: Sooner to ruins Walhalla's splendour shall crash!

Valtrauta : Woe's me! Woe's me! Woe to thee, sister! Woe to Walhalla's Gods! [She rides off hastily. Through the flames comes Siegfried, in Gunther's form.

Brunnhilde (in horror) : What man art thou?

Siegfried : A Gibichung am I and Gunther is my name, who, maid, will mate with thee.

Brunnhilde : Wotan ! Resentful! stern-hearted sire! Woe! Now I fathom thy fiat fell. My shame and sorrow well hast thou shaped! [Siegfried seises her and tears the ring from her finger.