Volume 9 / Act 3 — SCENE III

Enter SIEGFRIED with KRIEMHILD.

KRIEMHILD (calling attention to her attire).

Wilt thou not thank me?

SIEGFRIED.

Nay, what dost thou mean?

KRIEMHILD.

But look at me!

SIEGFRIED. That thou art living, smiling, I give thee thanks, and that thine eyes are blue— I love not black—

KRIEMHILD.

Thou dost but praise the Lord In his handmaiden! Did I make myself, Thou simple fellow? Did I choose the eyes Thou dost admire?

SIEGFRIED.

Yet love, methinks, might dream E'en such strange fancies! One fair morn in May When all things glistened as they glisten now, Two crystal dewdrops, clearer than the rest, Were hanging on the harebells bluest spray; And thou hast stolen them, and evermore All heaven's in thine eyes.

KRIEMHILD.

Then rather give Thy thanks to me that as a child I fell So wisely. My blue eyes I might have lost The day I only marked my temple here!

SIEGFRIED.

Oh, let me kiss the scar!

KRIEMHILD.

Thy healing art Would be but lost. No balsam craves the wound That's long since healed. But tell me more!

SIEGFRIED.

I thank Thy mouth—

KRIEMHILD.

With words?

SIEGFRIED (about to embrace her).

But may I thank thee so?

KRIEMHILD (draws back).

Dost think that I invite thee?

SIEGFRIED.

With words then For thy words! No, for sweeter yet than words, Thy murmuring of tender secret things My ear finds precious, as my lips thy kiss. I thank thee for thy secret gazing forth To see us throwing weights to win the prize. Oh, had I dreamed of it! And for thy scorn And mockery—

KRIEMHILD.

A maiden's pride to soothe For tarrying, thou thinkest? Cruel friend! I told thee in the dark! But wilt thou see My blushes now when in the light of day Thou tellest me the tale? My foolish blood Flushes and pales so fast, my mother says That I am like a rose-bush that sends forth Red buds and white upon a single stem— Else hadst thou never found my secret out. For I could feel the burning of my cheeks, When yestermorn my brother teased me so. I saw no way but to confess to thee.

SIEGFRIED.

Then may he start the noblest stag today!

KRIEMHILD.

And may he miss him! Yes, I wish it too.— see thou art just like my uncle, Hagen, Who, if one lays a garment by his bed, That one has made in secret, will not heed Unless perchance it is too tight.

SIEGFRIED.

And why?

KRIEMHILD.

Thou only see'st God's and nature's gifts In all that's mine, but my own handiwork, The raiment that adorns me, thou see'st not— Not even the fair girdle that I wear.

SIEGFRIED.

The girdle's gay, and yet I'd rather wind About thy waist the rainbow's lovely hue; Methinks that ye would suit each other well.

KRIEMHILD.

But bring it me at night and I will change, Yet do not throw it down like this I wear. 'Tis but by chance I did not lose thy gift.

SIEGFRIED.

What sayest thou?

KRIEMHILD.

But for the precious stones, It might be underneath the table still, But fire is a thing one cannot hide.

SIEGFRIED.

Is that my gift?

KRIEMHILD.

It is.

SIEGFRIED.

But thou art dreaming!

KRIEMHILD.

I found it in the room.

SIEGFRIED.

It is thy mother's! She must have let it fall.

KRIEMHILD.

It is not hers! For well I know her ornaments. I thought It had been taken from the Niblung's hoard; To give thee joy I put it on at once.

SIEGFRIED.

I thank thee, but the girdle I know not!

KRIEMHILD (takes the girdle off).

Then for my golden girdle make thou room Which thou concealest! I was all attired, And only put it on to honor thee, My mother also, for this golden one She gave to me.

SIEGFRIED.

But that is very strange!— 'Twas lying on the floor?

KRIEMHILD.

It was.

SIEGFRIED.

And crumpled?

KRIEMHILD.

I see you know it well! The second trick Succeeded like the first, and now I have My task twice over!

[She starts to put the girdle on again.]

SIEGFRIED.

No! For God's sake, no!

KRIEMHILD.

Art thou in earnest?

SIEGFRIED (to himself).

'Twas with that she strove To tie my hands.

KRIEMHILD.

Art laughing?

SIEGFRIED (to himself).

Then I raged, And put forth all my strength.

KRIEMHILD.

Nay, thou art not?

SIEGFRIED (to himself).

I snatched at something.

KRIEMHILD.

That I'll soon believe.

SIEGFRIED (to himself).

I thrust it, when she grasped for it again, Into my bosom, and—Now give it me! No well is deep enough to hide it in; With a great stone I'll sink it in the Rhine!

KRIEMHILD.

Siegfried!

SIEGFRIED.

I must have lost it—Give it me!

KRIEMHILD.

Where didst thou get this girdle?

SIEGFRIED.

Nay, this is A dark and fearful secret; thou should'st seek To learn no whit about it.

KRIEMHILD.

Yet thou hast Confided one still greater, and I know The place where Death may strike the fatal blow.

SIEGFRIED.

That I alone protect!

KRIEMHILD.

And there are two To guard the other!

SIEGFRIED (to himself).

I was far too quick.

KRIEMHILD (covers her face).

Thou gav'st thy oath to me! Why didst thou that? I had not even asked it.

SIEGFRIED.

Still I swear, I ne'er have known a woman!

KRIEMHILD (holds up the girdle).

SIEGFRIED.

That was used To bind me.

KRIEMHILD.

If a lion told the tale 'Twere less incredible!

SIEGFRIED.

And yet 'tis true.

KRIEMHILD.

This hurts me most! To such a man as thou, The sin itself, however black it be, Is more becoming than the cloak of lies Wherewith he fain would hide it.

Enter GUNTHER and BRUNHILDA.

SIEGFRIED.

We must go! They come!

KRIEMHILD.

But who! Does Brunhild know the girdle?

SIEGFRIED.

Pray hide it quickly!

KRIEMHILD.

No, I'll show it them!

SIEGFRIED.

I pray thee hide it. Then thou shalt know all.

KRIEMHILD (hiding the girdle).

So Brunhilda knows the girdle?

SIEGFRIED.

Listen then!

[Both follow the procession.]