Volume 9 / Act 5 — SCENE V
Reading edition
A Chamberlain cries out before the door.
CHAMBERLAIN.
Almighty God!
UTE.
What is it? What is wrong?
CHAMBERLAIN (enters).
I almost fell.
UTE.
And that was why you called?
CHAMBERLAIN.
Some one is dead!
UTE.
What's that?
CHAMBERLAIN.
A dead man lying at the door!
UTE.
A dead man?
KRIEMHILD (falls).
Then 'tis Siegfried, 'tis my lord!
UTE (catches her in her arms).
Impossible!
(To the CHAMBERLAIN.)
Bring light!
[CHAMBERLAIN brings a light and then nods his head.]
UTE.
'Tis Siegfried? Go! Awaken all!
CHAMBERLAIN.
Help, help!
[The maidens rush in.]
UTE.
O piteous wife!
KRIEMHILD (rising).
Brunhild commanded, Hagen did the deed!— A light!
UTE.
My child!
KRIEMHILD (seizes a torch).
'Tis he! I know, I know! Let no one tread on him; for thou didst hear The servants stumble over him.—The servants! Yet once great kings made way for him.
UTE.
The light!
KRIEMHILD.
I'll place it there myself.
[She opens the door and falls to the floor.]
Oh Mother, Mother, Why didst thou bear thy child! Oh thou dear head, But let me kiss thee. I'll not seek thy mouth, For all to me is precious. Thou canst not Forbid me as thou would'st perhaps.—Thy lips— 'Tis too much pain!
CHAMBERLAIN.
She's dying.
UTE.
I could wish That she might die!