RICHARD WAGNER

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

BY ARTHUR RACKHAM

TRANSLATED BY MARGARET ARMOUR

LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN

NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY PACE & Co

1910

CONTENTS THE RHINEGOLD FIRST SCENE SECOND SCENE THIRD SCENE FOURTH SCENE THE VALKYRIE THE FIRST ACT THE SECOND ACT THE THIRD ACT

"Raging, Wotan Rides to the rock! Like a storm-wind he comes!"

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"Raging, Wotan Rides to the rock! . . . . . . . Like a storm-wind he comes" (Frontispiece)

The frolic of the Rhine-Maidens plate 02

The Rhine-Maidens teasing Alberich plate 03

"Mock away! Mock! The Niblung makes for your toy!" plate 04

"Seize the despoiler! Rescue the gold! Help us! Help us! Woe! Woe!" plate 05

Freia, the fair one plate 06

"The Rhine's pure-gleaming children Told me of their sorrow" plate 07

Fasolt suddenly seizes Freia and drags her to one side with Fafner plate 08

The Gods grow wan and aged at the loss of Freia plate 09

Mime, howling. "Ohé! Ohé! Oh! Oh!" plate 10

Mime writhes under the lashes he receives plate 11

Alberich drives in a band of Niblungs laden with gold and silver treasure plate 12

"Ohé! Ohé! Horrible dragon, O swallow me not! Spare the life of poor Loge! plate 13

"Hey! Come hither, And stop me this cranny!" plate 14

"Erda bids thee beware" plate 15

Fafner kills Fasolt plate 16

"To my hammer's swing Hitherward sweep Vapours and fogs! Hovering mists! Donner, your lord, summons his hosts!" plate 17

"The Rhine's fair children, Bewailing their lost gold, weep" plate 18

"This healing and honeyed Draught of mead Deign to accept from me." "Set it first to thy lips" plate 19

Hunding discovers the likeness between Siegmund and Sieglinde plate 20

Sieglinde prepares Hunding's draught for the night plate 21

"Siegmund the Wälsung Thou dost see! As bride-gift He brings thee this sword" plate 22

Brünnhilde plate 23

Fricka approaches in anger plate 24

Brünnhilde slowly and silently leads her horse down the path to the cave plate 25

"Father! Father! Tell me what ails thee? With dismay thou art filling thy child!" plate 26

Brünnhilde stands for a long time dazed and alarmed plate 27

Brünnhilde with her horse, at the mouth of the cave plate 28

"I flee for the first time And am pursued: Warfather follows close . . . . . . . . He nears, he nears, in fury! Save this woman! Sisters, your help!" plate 29

"There as a dread Dragon he sojourns, And in a cave Keeps watch over Alberich's ring" plate 30

The ride of the Valkyries plate 31

"Appear, flickering fire, Encircle the rock with thy flame! Loge! Loge! Appear!" plate 32

As he moves slowly away, Wotan turns and looks sorrowfully back at Brünnhilde plate 33

The sleep of Brünnhilde plate 34

THE RHINEGOLD

CHARACTERS

GODS: WOTAN, DONNER, FROH, LOGE NIBELUNGS: ALBERICH, MIME GIANTS: FASOLT, FAFNER GODDESSES: FRICKA, FREIA, ERDA RHINE-MAIDENS: WOGLINDE, WELLGUNDE, FLOSSHILDE

SCENES OF ACTION

I.AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RHINE

II.OPEN SPACE ON A MOUNTAIN HEIGHT NEAR THE RHINE

III.THE SUBTERRANEAN CAVERNS OF NIBELHEIM

IV.OPEN SPACE AS IN SCENE II.

FIRST SCENE

At the bottom of the Rhine

A greenish twilight, lighter above than below. The upper part is filled with undulating water, which streams respectively from right to left. Towards the bottom the waves resolve themselves into a mist which grows finer as it descends, so that a space, as high as a mans body from the ground, appears to be quite free from the water, which floats like a train of clouds over the gloomy stretch below. Steep rocky peaks jut up everywhere from the depths, and enclose the entire stage. The ground is a wild confusion of jagged rocks, no part of it being quite level, and on every side deeper fisures are indicated by a still denser gloom. Woglinde circles with graceful swimming movements round the central rock.

WOGLINDE Weia! Waga! Roll, O ye billows, Rock ye our cradle! Wagala weia! Wallala, weiala, weia! WELLGUNDE [From above. Woglinde, watchest alone? WOGLINDE If Wellgunde came we were two. WELLGUNDE [Dives down to the rock. How keepest thou watch? WOGLINDE [Swimming off, eludes her. Wary of thee.

[They playfully tease and chase one another.

FLOSSHILDE [From above. Heiaha weia! Ho! ye wild sisters! WELLGUNDE Flosshilde, swim! Woglinde flies: Help me to hinder her flying. FLOSSHILDE [Dives down between the two at play. The sleeping gold Badly ye guard; Watch with more zeal The slumberer's bed, Or dear you'll pay for your sport!

[They swim asunder with merry cries. Flosshilde tries to catch first the one, then the other. They elude her, and then combine to chase her, darting like fish from rock to rock with jests and laughter. Meanwhile Alberich climbs out of a dark ravine on to a rock. He pauses, still surrounded by darkness, and watches the frolic of the Rhine-Maidens with increasing pleasure.

ALBERICH Hey, hey! ye nixies! Ye are a lovely, Lovable folk! From Nibelheim's night Fain would I come, Would ye be kind to me.

[The maidens, as soon as they hear Alberich's voice, stop playing.

WOGLINDE Hei! Who is there? WELLGUNDE A voice! It grows dark! FLOSSHILDE Who listens below?

[They dive down and see the Nibelung.

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE Fie! the loathsome one!

The frolic of the Rhine-Maidens.

FLOSSHILDE [Swimming up quickly. Look to the gold! Father warned us Of such a foe.

[Both the others follow her, and all three gather quickly round the central rock.

ALBERICH You above there! THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS What wouldst thou below there? ALBERICH Do I spoil sport By standing and gazing here? Dived ye but deeper, Fain the Niblung Would join in your frolic and play. WELLGUNDE He wishes to join us? WOGLINDE Is he in jest? ALBERICH Ye gleam above me So glad and fair! If one would only Glide down, how close in my arms Fondly clasped she would be! FLOSSHILDE I laugh at my fears: The foe is in love. WELLGUNDE The amorous imp! WOGLINDE Let us approach him.

[She sinks down to the top of the rock, whose base Alberich has reached.

ALBERICH Lo! one of them comes! WOGLINDE Climb up to me here! ALBERICH

[Climbs with gnome-like agility, though with repeated checks, to the summit of the rock. Irritably.

Horrid rock, So slippery, slimy! I slide and slip! My hands and feet vainly Attempt to hold on To the slithery surface! Vapour damp Fills up my nostrils— Accursed sneezing!

[He has got near Woglinde.

WOGLINDE [Laughing. Sneezing tells That my suitor comes! ALBERICH Be thou my love! Adorable child!

[He tries to embrace her.

WOGLINDE [Escaping from him. Here thou must woo, If woo me thou wilt!

[She swims up to another rock.

ALBERICH [Scratching his head. Alas! not yet caught? Come but closer! Hard I found What so lightly thou didst. WOGLINDE [Swims to a third rock lower down. Deeper descend: Thou'lt certainly seize me! ALBERICH [Clambers down quickly. Down there it is better! WOGLINDE [Darts upwards to a higher rock at the side. But better still higher! WELLGUNDE AND FLOSSHILDE [Laughing Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ALBERICH How capture this coy, Elusive fish? Wait for me, false one!

[He tries to climb after her in haste.

WELLGUNDE

[Has sunk down to a lower rock on the other side.

Heia! my friend there! Dost thou not hear? ALBERICH [Turning round. What? Didst thou call? WELLGUNDE Be counselled by me: Forsake Woglinde, Climb up to me now! ALBERICH

[Climbs hastily over the river-bottom towards Wellgunde.

Thou art more comely Far than that coy one; Her sheen is duller, Her skin too smooth. But thou must deeper Dive to delight me! WELLGUNDE

[Sinking down till she is a little nearer him.

Well, now am I near? ALBERICH Not near enough. Thine arms around me Tenderly throw, That I may fondle Thy neck with my fingers, And closely may cling To thy bosom with love and with longing. WELLGUNDE Art thou in love? For love art thou pining? Approach and show me Thy face and thy form. Fie! thou horrible Hunchback, for shame! Swarthy, horny-skinned Rogue of a dwarf! Find thou a sweetheart Fonder than I! ALBERICH

[Tries to detain her by force

I may not be fair, But fast I can hold! WELLGUNDE

[Swimming up quickly to the middle rock.

Hold firm, or I will escape! WOGLINDE AND FLOSSHILDE [Laughing. Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ALBERICH [Angrily calling after Wellgunde. Fickle maid! Bony, cold-blooded fish! Fair if I seem not, Pretty and playful, Smooth and sleek— Hei! if I am so loathsome Give thy love to the eels! FLOSSHILDE What ails thee, dwarf? Daunted so soon? Though two have been wooed, Still a third waits thee, Solace sweet Fain at a word to grant! ALBERICH Soothing song Sounds in my ear! 'Twas well I found Three and not one! The chance is I charm one of many, Whilst, single, no one would choose me! Hither come gliding, And I will believe! FLOSSHILDE [Dives down to Alberich. How senseless are ye, Silly sisters, Not to see he is fair! ALBERICH [Hastening towards her. I well may deem them Dull and ill-favoured, Seeing how lovely thou art! FLOSSHILDE Sing on! Thy song, So soft and sweet, Entrancing sounds in my ear! ALBERICH [Caressing her with confidence. My heart burns And flutters and fails, Flattered by praises so sweet! FLOSSHILDE [Gently resisting him. Thy grace and beauty Make glad my eye; And thy smile refreshes My soul like balm

[She draws him tenderly towards her.

Dearest of men! ALBERICH Sweetest of maids! FLOSSHILDE Wert thou but mine! ALBERICH Wert mine for ever! FLOSSHILDE [Ardently. To be pierced by thy glance, To be pricked by thy beard, To see and to feel them for aye! Might thy hair hard as bristles Flow ever more Enraptured Flosshilde wreathing! And thy form like a frog's, And the croak of thy voice— O could I, dumb with amaze, Marvel forever on these! WOGLINDE and WELLGUNDE

[Dive down close to them and laugh.

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ALBERICH [Starting in alarm. Wretches, dare ye thus scoff? FLOSSHILDE [Suddenly darting away from him.

A suitable end to the song.

[She swims up quickly with her sisters.

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE [Laughing. Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ALBERICH [In a wailing voice. Woe's me! Ah, woe's me! Alas! Alas! The third one, so dear, Does she too betray? O sly and shameful Worthless and dissolute wantons! Live ye on lies Alone, O ye false nixie brood? THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS Wallala! Wallala! Lalalelai leialalei! Heia! Heia! ha! ha! Shame on thee goblin, Scolding down yonder! Cease, and do as we bid thee! Faint-hearted wooer, Why couldst not hold The maid, when won, more fast? True are we, And troth we keep With lovers when once caught. Grasp then and hold; Away with all fear! In the waves we scarce can escape. Wallala! Lalaleia! Leialalei! Heia! Heia! Ha hei!

[They swim apart hither and thither, now lower, now higher, to provoke Alberich to give chase.

The Rhine-Maidens teasing Alberich.

ALBERICH Fiercely within me Passionate fires Consume and flame! Love and fury, Wild, resistless, Lash me to frenzy! So laugh and lie your fill— One of you I desire, And one must yield to my yearning!

[He starts chasing them with desperate energy. He climbs with terrible agility, and, springing from rock to rock, tries to catch one maiden after another. They keep eluding him with mocking laughter. He stumbles and falls into the abyss, and clambers up quickly again and resumes the chase. They sink down a little towards him; he almost reaches them, but falls, back again, and once more tries to catch them. At last he pauses out of breath, and, foaming with rage, stretches his clenched fist up towards the maidens.

ALBERICH If but this fist had one!

[He remains speechless with rage, gazing upwards, when he is suddenly attracted and arrested by the following spectacle. Through the water a light of continually increasing brilliance breaks from above, and, at a point near the top of the middle rock, kindles to a radiant and dazzling golden gleam. A magical light streams from this through the waves.

WOGLINDE Look, sisters! The wakener laughs to the deep. WELLGUNDE Through the billows green The blissful slumberer greets. FLOSSHILDE He kisses the eyelid, Making it open; Bathed in splendour, Behold it smiles, Sending, like a star, Gleaming light through the waves. THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

[Swimming gracefully round the cliff together.

Heia jaheia! Heia jaheia! Wallala la la la leia jahei! Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Radiant delight, How glorious and glad thy smile, Over the water Shooting effulgence afar! Heia jahei! Heia jaheia! Waken, friend! Wake in joy! That we may please thee, Merry we'll play, Waters afire, Billows aflame, As, blissfully bathing, Dancing and singing, We dive and encircle thy bed! Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Heia jaheia! Heia jaheia! Wallala la la la heia jahei!

[With increasing mirthful abandonment the maidens swim round the rock. The water is filled with a glimmering golden light.

ALBERICH

[Whose eyes, strongly attracted by the radiance, stare fixedly at the gold.

What is it, sleek ones, That yonder gleams and shines? THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS Where dost thou hail from, O churl, Of the Rhinegold not to have heard? WELLGUNDE Knows not the elf Of the famed eye golden That wakes and sleeps in turn? WOGLINDE Of the star resplendent Down in the depths Whose light illumines the waves? THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [Together See how gaily We glide in the glory! Wouldst thou also Be bathed in brightness, Come, float and frolic with us! Wallala la la leia lalei! Wallala la la leia jahei! ALBERICH Has the gold no value Apart from your games? It were not worth getting! WOGLINDE He would not scoff, Scorning the gold, Did he but know all its wonders! WELLGUNDE That man surely The earth would inherit Who from the Rhinegold Fashioned the ring Which measureless power imparts. FLOSSHILDE Our father told us, And strictly bade us Guard with prudence The precious hoard That no thief from the water might steal it. Be still, then, chattering fools. WELLGUNDE O prudent sister, Why chide and reproach? Hast thou not heard That one alone Can hope to fashion the gold? WOGLINDE Only the man Who love defies, Only the man From love who flies Can learn and master the magic That makes a ring of the gold. WELLGUNDE Secure then are we And free from care: For love is part of living; No one would live without loving. WOGLINDE And least of all he, The languishing elf, With pangs of love Pining away. FLOSSHILDE I fear him not Who should surely know, By his savage lust Almost inflamed.

"Mock away! Mock away! The Niblung makes for your toy!"

WELLGUNDE A brimstone brand In the surging waves, In lovesick frenzy Hissing loud. THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [Together. Wallala! Wallaleia la la! Join in our laughter, Lovable elf! In the golden glory How gallant thy sheen! O come, lovely one, laugh as we laugh! Heia jaheia! Heia jaheia! Wallala la la la leia jahei!

[They swim, laughing, backwards and forwards in the light.

ALBERICH

[His eyes fixed on the gold, has listened attentively to the sisters rapid chatter.

Could I truly The whole earth inherit through thee? If love be beyond me My cunning could compass delight?

[In a terribly loud voice.

Mock away! Mock! The Niblung makes for your toy!

[Raging he springs on to the middle rock, and clambers to the top. The maidens scatter, screaming, and swim upwards on different sides.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS Heia! Heia!heia jahei! Save yourselves! The elf is distraught! Swirling waters splash At every leap: The creature's crazy with love! Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ALBERICH

[Reaching the top with a last spring.

Still undismayed? Go, wanton in darkness. Water-born brood!

[He stretches his hand out towards the gold.

My hand quenches your light; I tear the gold from the rock; Forged be the ring for revenge! Bear witness, ye floods— I forswear love and curse it!

[He tears the gold from the rock with terrific force, and immediately plunges with it into the depths, where he quickly disappears. Sudden darkness envelops the scene. The maidens dive down after the robber.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS Seize the despoiler! Rescue the gold! Help us! Help us! Woe! Woe!

[The water sinks with them. From the lowest depth Alberich's shrill, mocking laughter rings up. The rocks are hidden by impenetrable darkness. The whole stage from top to bottom is filled with black waves, which for some time appear to sink even lower.

"Seize the despoiler! Rescue the gold! Help us! Help us! Woe! Woe!"

SECOND SCENE

The waves have gradually changed into clouds which, becoming lighter and lighter by degrees, finally disperse in a fine mist. As the mist vanishes upwards in light little clouds an open space on a mountain height becomes visible in the dim light which precedes dawn. At one side Wotan with Fricka beside him both asleep, lie on a flowery bank. The dawning day illumines with increasing brightness a castle with glittering pinnacles which stands on the summit of a cliff in the background. Between this and the foreground a deep valley is visible through which the Rhine flows.

FRICKA

[Awakes; her gaze falls on the castle, which has become plainly visible; alarmed.

Wotan! My lord! Awaken!

WOTAN [Continuing to dream. The happy hall of delight Is guarded by gate and door: Manhood's honour, Power for aye, Rise to my lasting renown! FRICKA [Shakes him. Up from deceitful Bliss of a dream! My husband, wake and consider! WOTAN

[Awakes and raises himself slightly. His glance is immediately arrested by the view of the castle.

The walls everlasting are built! On yonder summit The Gods' abode Proudly rears Its radiant strength! As I nursed it in dream And desired it to be, Strong it stands, Fair to behold, Brave and beautiful pile! FRICKA While thou rejoicest, Joyless am I. Thou hast thy hall; My heart fears for Freia. Heedless one, hast thou forgotten The price that was to be paid? The work is finished, And forfeit the pledge: Hast thou then no care for the cost? WOTAN My bargain well I remember With them who built the abode. 'Twas a pact tamed them, The obstinate race, So that this hallowed Hall they have built me. It stands—the strong ones' doing:— Fret not thou, counting the cost. FRICKA O laughing, insolent lightness! Mirth how cruel and callous! Had I but known of thy pact, The trick had never been played; But far from your counsels Ye men kept the women, That, deaf to us and in peace, Alone ye might deal with the giants. So without shame Ye promised them Freia, Freia, my beautiful sister, Proud of playing the thief. What remains holy Or precious to men Once grown greedy of might? WOTAN [Calmly. From such greed Was Fricka then free Herself when the castle she craved? FRICKA I was forced to ponder some means To keep my husband faithful, True to me when his fancy Tempted him far from his home. Halls high and stately, Decked to delight thee, Were to constrain thee To peaceful repose. But thou hadst the work designed Intent on war alone; It was to add More to thy might still, To stir up to tumult still fiercer That built were the towering walls WOTAN Wouldst thou, O Wife! In the castle confine me, To me, the god, must be granted, Faithful at home, The right to wage war And conquer the world from without. Ranging and changing All men love: That sport at least thou must leave me. FRICKA Cold, hard-hearted, Merciless man! For the idle baubles, Empire and sway, Thou stakest in insolent scorn Love and a woman's worth! WOTAN When I went wooing, to win thee I staked ungrudging, Gladly one of my eyes: What folly now then to scold! Women I honour Beyond thy desire! I will not abandon Frei, the fair: Such never was my intent. FRICKA

[ Anxiously looking towards a point not on the stage.

Then succour her now: Defenceless, in fear, Hither she hastens for help! FREIA

[Enters as if flying from someone.

Help me, sister! Shield me, o brother! From yonder mountain Menaces Fasolt: He comes to bear me off captive. WOTAN Let him come! Sawest thou Loge? FRICKA To this tricky deceiver O why wilt thou trust? He always snares thee anew, Though from his snares thou hast suffered. WOTAN I ask for no aid Where simple truth suffices; But to turn the spite Of foes to profit, Craft and cunning alone Can teach, as by Loge employed. He whose advice I obeyed Has promised ransom for Freia: On him my faith I have fixed. FRICKA And art left in the lurch. The giants come. Lo! hither they stride: Where lingers now thine ally? FREIA Where tarry ye, my brothers, When help ye should bring me, Weak and bartered away by my kin? O help me, Donner! Hither! Hither! Rescue Freia, my Froh! FRICKA Now the knaves who plotted and tricked thee Abandon thee in thy need.

[Fasolt and Fafner, both of gigantic stature, enter, armed with stout clubs.

FASOLT Soft sleep Sealed thine eyes While we, both sleepless, Built the castle walls: Working hard Wearied not, Heaping, heaving Heavy stones. Tower steep, Door and gate Keep and guard Thy goodly castle halls.

[Pointing to the castle.

There stands What we builded, Shining fair Beneath the sun. Enter in And pay the price! WOTAN Name, Workers, your wage. What payment will appease you? FASOLT We made the terms That seemed to us meet. Hast thou forgot so soon? Freia, the fair one, Holda, the free one— The bargain is We bear her away. WOTAN [Quickly. Ye must be mad To moot such a thing! Ask some other wage; Freia I will not grant. FASOLT

Stands for a space speechless with angry surprise.

What is this? Ha! Wouldest deceive?— Go back on thy bond? What thy spear wards Are they but sport, All the runes of solemn bargain? FAFNER O trusty brother! Fool, dost now see the trick? FASOLT Son of light, Light, unstable, Hearken! Have a care! In treaties keep thou troth! What thou art Thou art only by treaties, For, built on bonds, There are bounds to thy might. Though cunning thou, More clever than we: Though we once freemen, Are pledged to peace, Cursèd be all thy wisdom;— Peaceful promises perish!— Wilt thou not open, Honest and frank Stand fast by a bargain once fixed. A stupid giant Tells thee this: O wise one, take it from him!

Freia, the fair one

WOTAN How sly to judge us serious When plainly we were but jesting! The beautiful Goddess Light and bright— For churls what charm could she have? FASOLT Jeerest thou? Ha! how unjust! Ye who by beauty rule, Proud and radiant race! How foolish, striving For towers of stone, Woman's love to pledge— Price of walls and of halls! We dolts, despising ease, Sweating with toil-hardened hands, Have worked, that a woman With gentle delight In our midst might sojourn And ye call the pact a jest? FAFNER Cease thy childish chatter; No gain look we to get. Freia's charms Mean little; But it means much, If from the Gods we remove her. Golden apples Ripen within her garden; She alone Grows the apples and tends them. The goodly fruit Gives to her kinsfolk, Who eat thereof, Youth everlasting. Sick and pale, Their beauty would perish, Old and weak, Wasting away, Were not Freia among them.

[Roughly.

From their midst, therefore, Freia must forth! WOTAN [Aside. Loge lingers long! FASOLT We wait for thy word! WOTAN Ask some other wage! FASOLT No other: Freia alone! FAFNER Thou there, follow us!

[Fafner and Fasolt press towards Freia. Froh and Donner enter in haste.

FREIA Help! Help from the harsh ones! FROH [Clasping Freia in his arms. To me, Freia!

[To Fafner.

Back, overbold one! Froh shields the fair one! DONNER [Confronting the giants. Fasolt and Fafner, Have ye not felt With what weight my hammer falls? FAFNER What means thy threat? FASOLT What wouldst thou here? No strife we desire; We want but our due reward. DONNER Oft I've doled out Giants their due: Come, your reward is here Waiting, full measure and more!

[He swings his hammer.

WOTAN

[Stretching out his spear between the combatants.

Hold, thou fierce one! Nothing by force! All bonds and treaties My spear protects; Spare then thy hammer's haft! FREIA Woe's me! Woe's me! Wotan forsakes me! FRICKA Can such be thy thought, Merciless man? WOTAN

[Turns away and sees Loge coming.

There comes Loge! Hot is thy haste Smoothly to settle Thy sorry, badly-made bargain! LOGE

[Has come up out of the valley in the background.

What is this bargain That I am blamed for?— The one with the giants That thou thyself didst decide? O'er hill and o'er hollow Drives me my whim; House and hearth I do not crave. Donner and Froh, They dream but of roof and room: Wedding, must have A home in which to dwell, A stately hall, A fortress fast. It was such Wotan wished. Hall and house, Castle, court, The blissful abode Now stands complete and strong. I proved the lordly Pile myself; In fear of flaws, Scanning it close. Fasolt and Fafner Faithful I found; Firm-bedded is each stone. I was not slothful Like many here: Who calls me sluggard, he lies! WOTAN Cunningly Thou wouldst escape! Warned be, and wisely Turn from attempts to deceive. Of all the Gods I alone stood by thee As thy friend, In the gang that trusted thee not. Now speak, and to the point! For when the builders at first As wage Freia demanded, I gave way only, Trusting thy word When thou didst solemnly promise To ransom the noble pledge. LOGE Perplexed to puzzle, Plans to ponder For its redeeming— That promise I gave; But to discover What cannot be, What none can do, No man can possibly promise. FRICKA See the treacherous Rogue thou didst trust! FROH Named art Loge, But liar I call thee! DONNER Accursèd flame, I will quench thy fire! LOGE From their shame to shelter, Foolish folk flout me.

[Donner threatens to strike Loge.

WOTAN

[Stepping between them.

Forbear and let him alone! Ye wot not Loge's wiles. His advice, Given slowly, gains Both in weight and in worth. FAFNER Do not dally; Promptly pay! FASOLT Long waits our reward. WOTAN

[Turns sternly to Loge.

Speak up surly one! Fail me not! How far hast thou ranged and roamed? LOGE Still with reproach Is Loge paid! Concerned but for thee, Thorough and swift, I searched and ransacked To the ends of the earth To find a ransom for Freia Fair to the giants and just. In vain the search, Convincing at last That the world contains Nothing so sweet That a man will take it instead Of woman's love and delight.

[All seem surprised and taken aback.

Where life moves and has being, In water, earth and air I questioned, Asking of all things, Where weak still is strength, And germs only stirring, What men thought dear— And stronger deemed— Than woman's love and delight. But where life moves and has being My questions met But with laughter and scorn. In water, earth and air Woman and love Will none forego.

[Varied gestures of amazement.

One man, one only, I met who, renouncing love, Prized ruddy gold Above any woman's grace. The Rhine's pure-gleaming children Told me of their sorrow. The Nibelung, Night-Alberich, Wooed for the favour Of the swimmers in vain, And vengeance took, Stealing the Rhinegold they guard. He thinks it now A thing beyond price, Greater than woman's grace. For their glittering toy Thus torn from the deep The sorrowful maids lamented. They pray, Wotan, Pleading to thee, That thy wrath may fall on the robber The gold too They would have thee grant them To guard in the water for ever. Loge promised The maidens to tell thee, And, keeping faith, he has told.

"The Rhine's pure-gleaming children Told me of their sorrow"

WOTAN Dull thou must be Or downright knavish! In parlous plight myself, What help have I for others? FASOLT

[Who has been listening attentively, to Fafner.

The Niblung has much annoyed us; I greatly grudge him this Rhinegold; But such his craft and cunning, He has never been caught. FAFNER Other malice Ponders the Niblung; Gains he might from gold Listen, Loge! Tell us the truth. What wondrous gift has the gold, That the dwarf desires it so? LOGE A plaything, In the waves providing Children with laughter and sport, It gives, when to golden Ring it is rounded, Power and might unmatched; It wins its owner the world. WOTAN [Thoughtfully. Rumours I have heard Of the Rhinegold; Runes of riches Hide in its ruddy glow; Pelf and power Are by the ring bestowed. FRICKA [Softly to Loge. Could this gaud, This gleaming trinket Forged from the gold, Be worn by a woman too? LOGE The wife who wore That glittering charm Never would lose Her husband's love— That charm which dwarfs are welding, Working in thrall to the ring. FRICKA [Coaxingly to Wotan. O could but my husband Come by the ring! WOTAN

[As if falling more and more under the influence of a spell.

Methinks it were wisdom, Won I the ring to my service. But say, Loge, How shall I learn To forge and fashion it true? LOGE A magic rune Can round the golden ring. No one knows it, Yet plain the spell to him Who happy love forswears.

[Wotan turns away in annoyance.

That suits thee not; Thou art too late too. Alberich did not delay; Fearless he mastered The potent spell,

[Harshly.

And wrought aright was the ring. DONNER [To Wotan. We should all be Under the dwarf, Were not the ring from him wrested. WOTAN The ring I must capture! FROH Lightly now, Without cursing love it were won. LOGE [Harshly. Just so: Without guile, as in children's games! WOTAN Then tell us how. LOGE By theft! What a thief stole Steal thou from the thief; How better could object be won? But with baleful arms Battles Alberich. Wary, wise Must be thy scheming, If the thief thou wouldst confound,

[With warmth.

And restore the ruddy And golden toy, The Rhinegold, to the maidens. For this they pray and implore. WOTAN The river-maidens? What profit were mine? FRICKA Of that billow-born brood Bring me no tidings, For they have wooed To my woe Full many a man to their caves.

[Wotan stands silent, struggling with himself. The other Gods gaze at him in mute suspense. Fafner, meanwhile, has been consulting aside with Fasolt.

FAFNER [To Fasolt Worth far more than Freia Were the glittering gold. Eternal youth, too, were his Who could use the charm in its quest.

[Fasolt's gestures indicate that he is being convinced against his will. Fafner and Fasolt approach Wotan again.

FAFNER Hear, Wotan, Our word while we wait; Freia we will restore you, And will take Paltrier payment: The Niblung's red-gleaming gold Will guerdon us giants rude. WOTAN Ye must be mad! With what I possess not How can I, shameless ones, pay you? FAFNER Hard labour Went to those walls; How easy With fraud-aided force (What our malice never achieved) The Niblung to break and bind!

Fasolt suddenly seizes Freia and drags her to one side with Fafner

WOTAN [More quickly. Why should I make War on the Niblung?— Fight, your foe to confound? Insolent And greedily grasping Dolts you grow through my debt! FASOLT

[Suddenly seizes Freia and drags her to one side with Fafner.

Maiden, come! We claim thee ours! As pledge thou shalt be held Till the ransom is paid. FREIA [Screaming. Woe's me! Woe's me! Woe! FAFNER From your midst We bear her forth! Till evening—mark it well!— As a pledge she is ours. We will return then. But when we come, If the Rhinegold be not ready, The Rhinegold bright and red— FASOLT The respite is ended, Freia is forfeit And bides among us for aye! FREIA Sister! Brothers! Save me! Help!

[The giants hasten off, dragging Freia with them.

FROH Up! Follow fast! DONNER Fall now the heavens!

[They look inquiringly at Wotan.

FREIA [In the distance. Save me! Help! LOGE [Looking after the giants. Downward over stock and stone Striding they go; Through the ford across the Rhine Wade now the robbers. Sad at heart Hangs Freia, Thrown rudely over rough shoulders! Heia! hei! The louts, how they lumber along! Through the Rhine valley they reel. Not till Riesenheim's march Is reached will they rest!

[He turns to the Gods.

How darkly Wotan doth dream! What ails the high, happy Gods?

[A pale mist, gradually increasing in density, fills the stage. Seen through it the Gods look more and more wan and aged. All stand in dismay and apprehension regarding Wotan, whose eyes are fixed broodingly on the ground.

LOGE Does a mist mock me? Tricks me a dream? Dismayed and wan, How swiftly ye fade! Lo! the bloom forsakes your cheeks, And quenched is the light of your eyes! Courage, Froh! Day's but begun! From thy hand, Donner, The hammer is falling! And why frets Fricka? Sees she with sorrow That Wotan's hair, growing grey, Has made him gloomy and old? FRICKA Woe's me! Woe's me! What does it mean?

The Gods grow wan and aged at the loss of Freia.

DONNER My hand sinks down. FROH My heart stands still. LOGE I have it: hear what ye lack! Of Freia's fruit Ye have not partaken to-day. The golden apples Within her garden Restored you your strength and your youth, Ate ye thereof each day. The garden's guardian In pledge has been given. On the branches dries And droops the fruit, To drop soon and decay. My loss is lighter, For still did Freia, Stingy to me, Stint the delectable fruit. Not half as godlike Am I, ye high ones, as you!

[Freely, but quickly and harshly.

But ye trusted solely To the fruit that makes young, As well both the giants wist. Your life they played for, Plotted to take; Contrive so that they fail. Lacking the apples, Old and worn, Grey and weary, Wasting, the scoff of the world, The Gods must pine and pass. FRICKA [Anxiously Wotan, alas! Unhappy man! See what thy laughing Lightness has brought us— Scoff and scorn for all! WOTAN [Coming to a sudden resolve, starts up. Up, Loge, And follow me! To Nibelheim hastening downward, I go in search of the gold. LOGE The Rhine-daughters Thy aid invoked: Not vainly they hoped for thy help then? WOTAN [Angrily. Fool, be silent! Freia, the fair one— Freia's ransom we go for. LOGE Where thou wouldst go Gladly I lead. Shall we dive Sheer through the depths of the Rhine? WOTAN Not through the Rhine. LOGE Then swift let us swing Through this smoky chasm. Together, come, creep we in!

[He goes in front and vanishes at the side through a cleft, from which, immediately afterwards, sulphurous vapour streams forth.

WOTAN Ye others wait Till evening here; The golden ransom When got will again make us young.

[He descends after Loge into the chasm. The sulphurous vapour which rises from it spreads over the whole stage and quickly fills it with thick clouds. Those who remain behind are soon hidden.

DONNER Fare thee well, Wotan! FROH Good luck! Good luck! FRICKA O come back soon To thy sorrowing wife!

[The sulphurous vapour darkens till it becomes a black cloud, which rises upwards from below. This then changes to a dark, rocky cavern which keeps rising, so that the stage seems to sink deeper and deeper into the earth.

THIRD SCENE

From various points in the distance ruddy lights gleam out. An increasing clamour, as of smiths at work, is heard on all sides. The clang of the anvils dies away. A vast subterranean chasm becomes visible which seems to open into narrow gorges on all sides. Alberich drags the screaming Mime out of a side cleft.

ALBERICH Héhé! Héhé! Come here! Come here! Mischievous dwarf! Prettily pinched Promptly thou'lt be Hast thou not ready, Wrought to my wish, The dainty thing I desire! MIME [Howling. Ohé! Ohé! Oh! Oh! Let me alone! It is forged; Heeding thy hest I laboured hard Till it was done! Take but thy nails from my ear! ALBERICH Then why this delay To show thy work? MIME I feared that something Might still be wanting.

MIME, howling. "Ohé! Ohé! Oh! Oh!"

ALBERICH What is there to finish? MIME [Embarrassed. Here—and there—— ALBERICH How here and there? Hand me the thing!

[He tries to catch hold of his ear again. In his terror Mime drops a piece of metal-work which he has been clutching convulsively. Alberich picks it up hastily and examines it with care.

Rogue, observe! See how all wrought is Well finished and feat, Done as desired! The simpleton wants Slyly to trick me And keep by cunning The wonderful work, Though all his skill Came alone from my craft. Thou art discovered, thief.

[He puts the Tarnhelm on his head.

The helmet fits the head; But will the spell prosper too?

[Very softly.

"Night and darkness, Seen of none!"

[He vanishes, and a pillar of cloud takes his place.

Brother, canst see me? MIME [Looks round in amaze. Where art thou? I see no one. ALBERICH [Invisible. Then feel me instead, Thou lazy scamp! Take that for thy thievish thoughts! MIME

[Writhes under the lathes he receives, the sound of which is heard without the whip being seen.

Ohé! Ohé! Oh! Oh! Oh!

ALBERICH [Invisible and laughing. Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! I thank thee, blockhead; Thy work has stood the test. Hoho! Hoho! Nibelungs all Bow now to Alberich! For he is everywhere, Waiting and watching; Peace and rest Are past for ever; Ye must all serve him, Though see him can none; Where he cannot be spied Look out for his coming; None shall escape from his thraldom!

[Harshly.

Hoho! hoho! Hearken, he nears: The Nibelung's lord!

[The pillar of cloud disappears in the background. Alberich's scolding voice is heard more and more faintly. Mime lies huddled up in pain. Wotan and Loge come down through a cleft in the rock.

LOGE Nibelheim here. Through pale mists gleaming, How bright yonder fiery sparks glimmer! MIME Oh! Oh! Oh! WOTAN I hear loud groans. Who lies on the ground?

Mime writhes under the lashes he receives.

LOGE [Bends over Mime. Why all this whimpering noise? MIME Ohé! Ohé! Oh! Oh! LOGE Hei, Mime! Merry dwarf! Who beats and bullies thee so? MIME Leave me in peace, pray. LOGE So much is certain, And more still. Hark! Help I promise thee, Mime!

[He raises him with difficulty.

MIME What help for me? To do his bidding My brother can force me, For I am bound as his slave. LOGE But, Mime, how has he Thus made thee his thrall? MIME By evil arts Fashioned Alberich A yellow ring, From the Rhinegold forged, At whose mighty magic Trembling we marvel; This spell puts in his power The Nibelung hosts of night. Happy we smiths Moulded and hammered, Making our women Trinkets to wear— Exquisite Nibelung toys— And lightly laughed at our toil. The rogue now compels us To creep into caverns, For him alone To labour unthanked. Through the golden ring His greed can divine Where untouched treasure In hidden gorge gleams. We still must keep spying, Peering and delving: Must melt the booty, Which, molten, we forge Without pause or peace, To heap up higher his hoard. LOGE Just now, then, an idler Roused him to wrath? MIME Poor Mime, ah! My lot was the hardest. I had to work, Forging a helmet, With strict instructions How to contrive it; And well I marked The wondrous might Bestowed by the helm That from steel I wrought. Hence I had gladly Held it as mine, And, by its virtue Risen at last in revolt: Perchance, yes, perchance The master himself I had mastered, And, he in my power, had wrested The ring from him and used it That he might serve me, the free man,

[Harshly

As now I must serve him, a slave! LOGE And wherefore, wise one, Sped not the plan? MIME Ah! though the helm I fashioned, The magic that lurks therein I foolishly failed to divine. He who set the task And seized the fruits— From him I have learnt, Alas I but too late! All the helmet's cunning craft. From my sight he vanished, But, viciously lashing, Swung his arm through unseen.

[Howling and sobbing.

This, fool that I am, Was all my thanks!

[He rubs his back. Wotan and Loge laugh.

LOGE [To Wotan. Confess, our task Will call for skill. WOTAN Yet the foe will yield, Use thou but fraud. MIME [Observes the Gods more attentively. Who are you, ye strangers That ask all these questions? LOGE Friends to thee, Who from their straits Will free all the Nibelung folk. MIME [Shrinking back in fear when he hears Alberich returning. Hark! Have a care! Alberich comes!

[He runs to and fro in terror.

WOTAN We'll wait for him here.

[He sits down calmly on a stone. Alberich, who has taken the Tarnhelm from his head and hung it on his girdle, is brandishing his scourge and driving before him a band of Nibelungs from the gorges below. These are laden with gold and silver treasure, which, urged on by Alberich, they pile up so as to form a large heap.

ALBERICH Hither! Thither! Héhé! Hoho! Lazy herd! Haste and heap Higher the hoard. Up with thee there! On with thee here! Indolent dolts, Down with the treasure! Need ye my urging? Here with it all!

[He suddenly perceives Wotan and Loge.

Hey! Who are they That thus intrude? Mime! Come here! Rascally rogue! Gossiping art With the pilgriming pair? Off, thou idler! Back to thy bellows and beating!

[Lashing Mime, he chases him into the crowd of Nibelungs.

Hey! to your labour! Get ye all hence now! Swing ye down swift! From the virgin gorges Get me the gold! This whip will follow, Delve ye not fast! That labour ye shirk not Mime be surety, Or surely the lash Of my whip will find him; That where no one would guess I watch and I wander, None knows it better than he. Loitering still? Lingering there?

Alberich drives in a band of Nibelungs laden with gold and silver treasure.

[He pulls the ring from his finger, kisses it and stretches it out in menace.

Fear ye and tremble, O fallen host, And obey The ring's dread lord!

[Howling and shrieking, the Nibelungs, among them Mime, scatter, and creep down into the clefts in all directions.

ALBERICH

[Looks long and distrustfully at Wotan and Loge.

What seek ye here? WOTAN From Nibelheim's gloomy realm Strange tidings have travelled up, Tales of wonders Worked here by Alberich; And, greedy of marvels, Hither came we as guests. ALBERICH By envy urged, Hither ye hie. Such doughty guests I do not mistake. LOGE Since I am known, Ignorant elf, Say then, with growling Whom dost thou greet? In caverns cold Where once thou didst crouch, Who gave thee light And fire for thy comfort, Had Loge not smiled on thee? Or what hadst thou fashioned Had not I heated thy forge? I am thy kinsman And once was kind: Lukewarm, methinks, are thy thanks! ALBERICH On light-born elves Laughs now Loge, The crafty rogue: Art thou, false one, their friend As my friend thou wert once, Haha! I laugh! No harm from such need I fear. LOGE No cause then for thy distrust. ALBERICH I can trust thy falsehood, Not thy good faith!

[Taking up a defiant attitude.

Yet I dare you all unflinching. LOGE 'Tis thy might That makes thee so bold; Grimly great Groweth thy power. ALBERICH Seest thou the hoard Yonder heaped High by my host? LOGE A richer one never was seen. ALBERICH A wretched pile Is this to-day, though. Boldly mounting, 'Twill be bigger henceforward. WOTAN But what is gained by the hoard In joyless Nibelheim, Where wealth finds nothing to buy? ALBERICH Treasure to gather And treasure to garner— Thereto Nibelheim serves. But with the hoard In the caverns upheaped Wonders all wonder surpassing Will I perform And win the whole world and its fairness. WOTAN But, my friend, how compass that goal? ALBERICH Ye who live above and breathe The balmy, sweet airs, Love and laugh: A hand of gold Ere long, O ye Gods, will have gripped you! As I forswore love, even so No one alive But shall forswear it; By golden songs wooed, For gold alone will his greed be. On hills of delight Your home is, where gladness Softly lulls; The dark elves Ye despise, O deathless carousers! Beware! Beware! For first your men Shall bow to my might; Then your women fair Who my wooing spurned The dwarf will force to his will, Though frowned on by love.

[Laughing savagely.

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Mark ye my word? Beware! Beware of the hosts of the night, When rise shall the Nibelung hoard From silent depths to the day! WOTAN [Furiously. Avaunt, impious fool! ALBERICH What says he? LOGE [Stepping between them. Cease from thy folly!

[To Alberich.

Who would gaze not in wonder, Beholding Alberich's work? If only thy skill can achieve Everything hope has promised, Almighty I needs must acclaim thee! For moon and stars And the sun in his glory, Forced to do thee obeisance, Even they must bow down. But what would seem of most moment Is that they who serve thee, The Nibelung hosts, Bow and bear no hate. When thy hand held forth a ring Thy folk were stricken with fear. But in thy sleep A thief might slip up And steal slyly the ring. Say, how wouldst thou save thyself then? ALBERICH Most shrewd to himself seems Loge; Others always Figure as fools. If I had to ask for Advice or aid On bitter terms, How happy the thief would be! This helmet that hides I schemed for myself, And chose for its smith Mime, finest of forgers. I am now able Swift to assume Any form that I fancy, Through the helm. No one sees me, Search as he will; Though everywhere hidden, I always am there. So, fearing nothing, Even from thee I am safe, Most kind, careful of friends! LOGE I have met Full many a marvel, But one so wondrous Have never known. Achievement so matchless Scarce can I credit. Were this possible, truly Thy might indeed were eternal. ALBERICH Dost thou believe I lie, as would Loge? LOGE Till it is proved I must suspect thy word. ALBERICH Puffed up with wisdom, The fool will explode soon: Of envy then die! Decide to what I shall change; In that form I shall stand. LOGE Nay, choose for thyself, But strike me dumb with amaze. ALBERICH [Puts the Tarnhelm on his head. "Dragon dread, Wreathe thou and wriggle!"

[He immediately disappears. An enormous serpent writhes on the floor in his place. It rears and threatens Wotan and Loge with its open jaws.

LOGE [Pretends to be terrified. Ohé! ALBERICH [Laughing. Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! LOGE Ohé! Ohé! Horrible dragon, O swallow me not! Spare the life of poor Loge! WOTAN Good, Alberich! Well done, rascal! How swiftly grew The dwarf to the dragon immense!

[The dragon disappears and, in its stead, Alberich is again seen in his own shape.

ALBERICH He he! Ye scoffers, Are ye convinced?

"Ohé! Ohé! Horrible dragon, O swallow me not! Spare the life of poor Loge!"

LOGE [In a trembling voice. My trembling tells thee how truly. A giant snake Thou wert in a trice. Having beheld, I just credit the wonder. Couldest thou turn To something quite tiny As well as bigger? Methinks that way were best For slyly slipping from foes; That, though, I fear were too hard! ALBERICH For thee, yes; Thou art so dull! How small shall I be? LOGE The most cramped of crannies must hold thee That hides the timorous toad. ALBERICH Nothing simpler! Look at me now!

[He puts the Tarnhelm on his head again.

"Crooked toad, Creep and crawl there!"

[He vanishes. The Gods see a toad on the rocks creeping towards them.

LOGE [To Wotan. Quick and catch it! Capture the toad!

[Wotan sets his foot on the toad. Loge makes a dash at its head and holds the Tarnhelm in his hand.

ALBERICH

[Is suddenly seen in his own shape writhing under Wotan's foot.

Ohé! I'm caught! My curse upon them! LOGE Hold him fast Till he is bound.

[Loge binds his hands and feet with a rope.

Now swiftly up! Then he is ours.

[Both seize hold of the prisoner, who struggles violently, and drag him towards the shaft by which they descended. They disappear mounting upwards.

FOURTH SCENE

The scene has changed as before, only in reverse order. Open space on mountain heights. The prospect is veiled by pale mist as at the end of the second scene. Wotan and Loge climb up out of the cavern, bringing with them Alberich bound.

LOGE Here, kinsman, Thou canst sit down! Friend, look round thee; There lies the world That was thine for the winning, thou fool! What corner, say, Wilt give to me for my stall?

[He dances round Alberich, snapping his fingers.

ALBERICH Infamous robber! Thou knave! Thou rogue! Loosen the rope, Set me at large, Or dear for this outrage shalt answer! WOTAN My captive art thou, Caught and in fetters. As thou hadst fain Subdued the world And all that the world containeth, Thou liest bound at my feet, And, coward, canst not deny it. A ransom alone Shall loose thee from bondage. ALBERICH Ah, the dolt, The dreamer I was, To trust blindly The treacherous thief! Fearful revenge Shall follow this wrong! LOGE Vain talk this of vengeance Before thy freedom is won. To a man in bonds No free man expiates outrage. If vengeance thou dreamest, Dream of the ransom First without further delay!

[He shows him the kind of ransom by snapping his fingers.

ALBERICH Declare then your demands. WOTAN The hoard and thy gleaming gold. ALBERICH Pack of unscrupulous thieves!

[Aside.

If I only can keep the ring, The hoard I can lightly let go, For anew I could win it And add to its worth By the powerful spell of the ring. If as warning it serves To make me more wise, The warning will not have been lost, Even though lost may be the gold. WOTAN Wilt yield up the hoard? ALBERICH Loosen my hand To summon it here.

[Loge frees his right hand.

ALBERICH

[Touches the ring with his lips and secretly murmurs the command.

Behold the Nibelungs Hither are called; I can hear them coming, Bid by their lord, With the hoard from the depths to the day. Now loosen these burdensome bonds. WOTAN Nay, first in full thou must pay.

[The Nibelungs come up out of the cleft laden with the objects of which the hoard is composed.

ALBERICH O bitter disgrace That my shrinking bondsmen Should see me captive and bound!

[To the Nibelungs.

Lay it down there, As ye are bid! In a heap Pile up the hoard. Must I aid, idlers? No spying at me! Haste there! Haste! Then get ye gone quickly. Hence to your work. Home to your gorges! Let the sluggards beware, For I follow hard at your heels!

[He kisses the ring and holds it out with an air of command. As struck with a blow, the Nibelungs press terrified and cowering towards the cleft, down which they hastily disappear.

ALBERICH The price is paid; Let me depart! And that helm of mine Which Loge still holds, That also pray give me again! LOGE

[Throwing the Tarnhelm on to the heap.

The plunder must pay for the pardon. ALBERICH Accursed thief! But patience! Calm! He who moulded the one Makes me another; Still mine is the might That Mime obeys. Loath indeed Am I to leave My cunning defence to the foe! Nothing Alberich Owns at all now; Unbind, ye tyrants, his bonds! LOGE [To Wotan. Ought I to free him? Art thou content? WOTAN A golden ring Girdles thy finger: Hearest, elf? That also belongs to the hoard. ALBERICH [Horrified. The ring? WOTAN The ring must also Go to the ransom. ALBERICH [Trembling. My life—but the ring: not that! WOTAN [With greater violence. The ring I covet; For thy life I care not at all. ALBERICH But if my life I ransom The ring I must also rescue Hand and head, Eye and ear Are not mine more truly Than mine is the ruddy ring! WOTAN The ring thou claimest as thine? Impudent elf, thou art raving. Tell the truth; Whence was gotten the gold To fashion the glittering gaud? How could that be Thine which reft was, Thou rogue, from watery deeps? To the Rhine's fair daughters Down and inquire If the gold Was as gift to thee given That thou didst thieve for the ring! ALBERICH Vile double-dealing! Shameless deceit! Wouldst thou, robber, Reproach in me The sin so sweet to thyself? How fain thou hadst Bereft the Rhine of its gold, If it had been As easy to forge as to steal! How well for thee, Thou unctuous knave, That the Nibelung, stung By shameful defeat, And by fury driven, Was fired into winning the spell That now alluringly smiles! Shall I, bliss debarred, Anguish-burdened Because of the Curse-laden deed, My ring as a toy Grant to princes for pleasure, My ban bringing blessing to thee? Have a care, Arrogant God! My sin was one Concerning myself alone: But against all that was, Is and shall be Thou wouldst wantonly sin, Eternal one, taking the ring. WOTAN Yield the ring! Thy foolish talk Gives no title to that.

[He seizes Alberich and draws the ring from his finger by force.

ALBERICH [With a frightful cry. Woe! Defeated! Undone! Of wretches the wretchedest slave! WOTAN [Contemplating the ring. I own what makes me supreme, The mightiest lord of all lords!

[He puts on the ring.

LOGE [To Wotan. Shall he go free? WOTAN Loose his bonds. LOGE [Sets Alberich quite free. Slip away home, For no fetter binds thee! Fare forth, thou art free! ALBERICH [Raising himself with furious laughter. Am I now free, Free in truth? My freedom's first Greeting take, for it is thine! As a curse gave me the ring, My curse go with the ring! As its gold Gave measureless might, May now its magic Deal death evermore! No man shall gain Gladness therefrom; May ill-fortune befall him On whom it shines. Fretted by care Be he who shall hold it, And he who doth not, By envy be gnawed! All shall covet And crave its wealth, Yet none shall it profit Or pay when won. Those who guard it nothing shall gain, Yet shall murder go where they go. The coward, death-doomed, By fetters of fear shall be bound; His whole life long He shall languish to death— The ring's proud lord And its poorest slave— Till again I have In my hand the gold I was robbed of. So blesses The Nibelung The ring in bitter despair! Hold fast to it!

[Laughing.

Keep it with care;

[Grimly.

From my curse none shall escape!

[He vanishes quickly through the cleft. The thick mist in the foreground gradually clears away.

LOGE Hadst thou ears For his fond farewell? WOTAN [Left in contemplation of the ring. Grudge him not vent to his spleen!

[It keeps growing lighter.

LOGE [Looking to the right. Fasolt and Fafner Come from afar Bringing Freia again.

[Through the vanishing mist Donner, Froh, and Fricka appear, and hasten towards the foreground.

FROH The giants return. DONNER Be greeted, brother! FRICKA [Anxiously to Wotan. Dost bring joyful tidings? LOGE [Pointing to the hoard. By fraud and by force We have prevailed: There Freia's ransom lies. DONNER From the giant's grasp Freed comes the fair one. FROH How sweetly the air Fans us again! Balmy delights Steal soft through each sense! Sad, forlorn had our lot been, For ever severed from her Who gives us youth everlasting, And bliss triumphant o'er pain.

[Fasolt and Fafner enter, leading Freia between them. Fricka hastens joyfully towards her sister. The foreground has become quite bright again, the light restoring to the aspect of the Gods its original freshnesh. The background, however, is still veiled by the mist so that the distant castle remains invisible.

FRICKA Sweetest of sisters! Lovely delight! Once more for mine have I won thee! FASOLT [Keeping her off Hold! Touch her not yet! Freia still is ours. On Riesenheim's Rampart of rock Resting we stayed. The pledge we held In our hands we used Loyally. With deep regret, I bring her back now In case ye brothers Can ransom her. WOTAN Prepared lies the ransom; Mete out the gold, Giving generous measure. FASOLT In truth it grieves me Greatly the woman to lose; And that my heart may forget her Ye must heap the hoard, Pile it so high That it shall hide The blossom-sweet maid from mine eyes! WOTAN Be Freia's form The gauge of the gold.

[Freia is placed in the middle by the two giants, who then stick their staves into the ground in front of her so that her height and breadth is indicated.

FAFNER Our staves give the measure Of Freia's form; Thus high now heap ye the hoard. WOTAN On with the work: Irksome I find it! LOGE Help me, Froh! FROH I will end Freia's dishonour.

[Loge and Froh heap up the treasure hastily between the staves.

FAFNER Let the pile Less loosely be built; Firm and close Pack ye the gauge!

[He presses down the treasure with rude strength; he bends down to look for gaps.

I still can see through; Come, fill up the crannies! LOGE Hands off, rude fellow! Touch nothing here! FAFNER Come here! This gap must be closed! WOTAN [Turning away angrily. Deep in my breast Burns the disgrace! FRICKA See how in shame Beautiful Freia stands; For release she asks, Dumb, with sorrowful eyes. Heartless man! The lovely one owes this to thee! FAFNER Still more! Pile on still more. DONNER My patience fails; Mad is the wrath Roused by this insolent rogue! Come hither, hound! Measure must thou? Thy strength then measure with mine! FAFNER Softly, Donner! Roar where it serves; Thy roar is impotent here. DONNER [Lunging out at him. It will crush thee to thy cost, rogue. WOTAN Calm thyself! Methinks that Freia is hid. LOGE The hoard is spent. FAFNER

[Measures the hoard carefully with his eye, and looks to see if there are any crevices.

Still shines to me Holda's hair. Yonder thing, too, Throw on the hoard! LOGE Even the helm? FAFNER Make haste! Here with it! WOTAN Let it go also! LOGE [Throws the Tarnhelm on the heap. At last we have finished. Have ye enough now? FASOLT Freia, the fair, Is hidden for aye! The price has been paid. Ah, have I lost her?

[He goes up to the hoard and peers through it.

Sadly shine Her eyes on me still, Like stars they beam Softly on me; Still through this chink I look on their light.

[Beside himself.

While her sweet eyes I behold thus, From the woman how can I part? FAFNER Hey! Come hither, And stop me this cranny! LOGE Greedy grumblers! Can ye not see The gold is all gone? FAFNER Not the whole, friend! On Wotan's finger Shines a golden ring still; Give that to close up the crevice! WOTAN What! Give my ring? LOGE Be ye counselled! The Rhine-Maidens Must have the gold; Wotan will give them what theirs is.

FAFNER. "Hey! Come hither, And stop me this cranny!"

WOTAN What nonsense is this? The ring I won so hardly, Undismayed I hold and will keep. LOGE Broken then Must be the promise I gave the maidens who grieved. WOTAN By thy promise I am not bound; As booty mine is the ring. FAFNER Not so. The ring Must go with the ransom. WOTAN Boldly ask what ye will: It shall be granted; But not for all The world would I give you the ring. FASOLT [Furious, pulls Freia from behind the hoard. All is off! The bargain stands: Fair Freia ours is for ever! FREIA Help me! Help me! FRICKA Heartless God, Grant it! Give way! FROH Keep not the gold back! DONNER Give them the ring too! WOTAN Let me alone! I hold to the ring.

[Fafner stops Fasolt as he is hastening off. All stand dismayed; Wotan turns from them in anger. The stage has grown dark again. From a cleft in the rock on one side issues a bluish flame in which Erda suddenly becomes visible, rising so that her upper half is seen.

ERDA [Stretching out a warning hand towards Wotan. Yield it, Wotan! Yield it! Flee the ring's dread curse! Awful And utter disaster It will doom thee to. WOTAN What woman woe thus foretells? ERDA All things that were I know, And things that are; All things that shall be I foresee. The endless world's Ur-Wala, Erda, bids thee beware. Ere the earth was, Of my womb born Were daughters three; And my knowledge Nightly the Norns tell to Wotan. Now summoned by Danger most dire, I myself come. Hearken! Hearken! Hearken! All things will end shortly; And for the Gods Dark days are dawning! Be counselled; keep not the ring!

[Erda sinks slowly as far as the breast, while the bluish light grows fainter.

WOTAN A mystic might Rang in thy words. Tarry, and tell me further. ERDA [Disappearing. Thou hast been warned; Enough dost know; Weigh my words with fear!

[She vanishes completely.

"Erda bids thee beware"

WOTAN If thus doomed to foreboding— I must detain thee Till all is answered!

[Wotan is about to follow Erda in order to detain her. Froh and Fricka throw themselves in his way and prevent him.

FRICKA What meanest thou, madman? FROH Go not, Wotan! Fear thou the warner, Heed her words well!

[Wotan gazes thoughtfully before him.

DONNER [Turning to the giants with a resolute air. Hark, ye giants! Come back and wait still! The gold we give you also. FRICKA Ah, dare I hope it? Deem ye Holda Worthy of such a price?

[All look at Wotan in suspense; he, rousing himself from deep thought, grasps his spear and swings it in token of having come to a bold decision.

WOTAN To me, Freia, For thou art free! Bought back for aye, Youth everlasting, return! Here, giants, take ye the ring!

[He throws the ring on the hoard. The giants release Freia; she hastens joyfully to the Gods, who caress her in turns for a space, with every manifestation of delight.

FASOLT [To Fafner. Hold there, greedy one! Grant me my portion! Honest division Best for both is. FAFNER More on the maid than the gold Thou wert set, love-sick fool, And much against Thy will the exchange was. Sharing not, Freia Thou wouldst have wooed for thy bride; Sharing the gold, It is but just That the most of it should be mine. FASOLT Infamous thief! Taunts? And to me!

[To the Gods.

Come judge ye between us; Halve ye the hoard As seems to you just!

[Wotan turns away in contempt.

Let him have the treasure; Hold to what matters: the ring! FASOLT

[Falls upon Fafner, who has meanwhile been steadily packing up the treasure.

Back, brazen rascal! Mine is the ring. I lost for it Freia's smile.

[He snatches haply at the ring.

Off with thy hands! The ring is mine.

[There is a struggle. Fasolt tears the ring from Fafner.

FASOLT I hold it. It is mine now! FAFNER Hold fast, lest it should fall!

[Lunging out with his stave, he fells Fasolt to the ground with one blow; from the dying man he then hastily tears the ring.

Now feast upon Freia's smile: No more shalt thou touch the ring!

[He puts the ring into the sack and tranquilly continues to pack up the rest of the hoard. All the Gods stand horrified. A solemn silence.

Fafner kills Fasolt.

WOTAN Dread indeed I find is the curse's might. LOGE Unmatched, Wotan, Surely thy luck is! Great thy gain was In getting the ring; But the gain of its loss Is gain greater still: There thy foemen, see, Slaughter thy foes For the gold thou hast let go. WOTAN Dark forebodings oppress me! Care and fear Fetter my soul; Erda must teach me, Tell how to end them: To her I must descend. FRICKA [Caressing and coaxing him. Why linger, Wotan? Beckon they not, The stately walls, Waiting to offer Welcome kind to their lord? WOTAN [Gloomily. With wage accurst Paid was their cost. DONNER [Pointing to the background, which is still enveloped in mist. Heavily mists Hang in the air; Gloomy, wearisome Is their weight! The wan-visaged clouds Charged with their storms I will gather, And sweep the blue heavens clean.

[Donner mounts a high rock on the edge of the precipice, and swings his hammer; during what follows the mists gather round him.

Hey da! Hey da! Hey do! To me, O ye mists! Ye vapours, to me! Donner, your lord, Summons his hosts!

[He swings his hammer.

To my hammer's swing Hitherward sweep Vapours and fogs! Hovering mists! Donner, your lord, summons his hosts! Hey da! Hey da! Hey do!

[Donner disappears completely in a thunder-cloud which has been growing darker and denser. The stroke of his hammer is heard falling heavily on the rock. A vivid flash of lightning comes from the cloud, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Froh has also disappeared in the cloud.

DONNER [Invisible. Brother, to me! Show them the way by the bridge!

[Suddenly the clouds roll away. Donner and Froh become visible. A rainbow of dazzling radiance stretches from their feet across the valley to the castle, which is gleaming in the light of the setting sun.

FROH

[Who, with outstretched hand, indicates to the Gods that the bridge is the way across the valley.

Lo, light, yet securely, Leads the bridge to your halls. Undaunted tread; Without danger the road!

[Wotan and the other Gods stand speechless, lost in contemplation of the glorious sight.

"To my hammer's swing Hitherward sweep Vapours and fogs! Hovering mists! Donner, your lord, summons his hosts!"

WOTAN Smiling at eve The sun's eye sparkles; The castle ablaze Gleams fair in its glow. In the light of morning Glittering proudly, It stood masterless, Stately, tempting its lord. From dawn until sundown No little toil And fear have gone to the winning! From envious night, That now draws nigh Shelter it offers us.

[Very firmly, as if struck by a great thought.

So greet I my home, Safe from dismay and dread.

[He turns solemnly to Fricka.

Follow me, wife! In Valhall sojourn with me. FRICKA What means the name Valhall? I never seem to have heard it. WOTAN That which, conquering fear, My fortitude brought Triumphant to birth— Let that explain the word!

[He takes Fricka's hand and walks slowly with her towards the bridge. Froh, Freia, and Donner follow.

LOGE [Remaining in the foreground and looking after the Gods. They are hasting on to their end, They who dream they are strong and enduring. I almost blush To be of their number; A fancy allures me And wakes in me longing Flaming fire to become: To waste and burn them Who tamed me of old, Rather than perish, Blind with the blind— Yes, even if godlike the Gods were— More wise were it, perhaps! I must consider: The outcome who knows!

[With a show of carelessness he goes to the Gods.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [From the valley. Invisible. Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Rhinegold pure! How radiant and clear Once thou didst shine on us! For thy lost glory We are grieving. Give us the gold! Give us the gold! O give us the Rhinegold again! WOTAN [About to set his foot on the bridge, pauses and turns round. What wailing sound do I hear? LOGE [Looks down into the valley. The Rhine's fair children, Bewailing their lost gold, weep. WOTAN Accursèd nixies! Bid them tease us no more! LOGE [Calling down towards the valley. Ye in the water, Why wail ye to us? List to Wotan's decree. Ye have seen The last of the gold; In the Gods' increase of splendour Bask and sun yourselves now.

"The Rhine's fair children, Bewailing their lost gold, weep"

[The Gods laugh and cross the bridge during what follows.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Rhinegold pure! Oh, if in the waves There but shone still our treasure pure! Down in the deeps Can faith be found only: Mean and false Are all who revel above!

[As the Gods cross the bridge to the castle the curtain falls.

THE VALKYRIE

CHARACTERS

WOTAN HUNDING FRICKA SIEGMUND SIEGLINDE BRÜNNHILDE, Valkyrie EIGHT OTHER VALKYRIES: Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Waltraute, Schwertleite, Helmwige, Siegrune, Grimgerde, Rossweisse

SCENES OF ACTION

ACT I. THE INTERIOR OF HUNDING'S DWELLING ACT II. A WILD ROCKY MOUNTAIN ACT III. ON THE TOP OF A ROCKY MOUNTAIN (BRÜNNHILDE'S ROCK)

THE FIRST ACT

The interior of a dwelling-place built of wood, with the stem of a mighty ash-tree as its centre; to the right, in the foreground, is the hearth, and behind this the store-room. At the back is the large entrance door; to the left, far back, steps lead up to an inner chamber; on the same side, nearer the front, stands a table with a broad bench behind it, fixed to the wall, and with stools in front. The stage remains empty for a space. Outside a storm is just subsiding. Siegmund opens the entrance door from without, and enters. With his hand on the latch he surveys the room. He seems overwhelmed with fatigue; his dress and appearance indicate that he is in flight. He shuts the door behind him when he sees nobody, walks to the hearth with the final effort of an utterly exhausted man, and throws himself down on a bearskin rug.

SIEGMUND I rest on this hearth, Heedless who owns it.

[He sinks back and remains stretched out motionless. Sieglinde enters from the inner chamber; she thinks her husband has returned. Her grave look changes to one of surprise when she sees the stranger stretched out on the hearth.

SIEGLINDE [Still at the back. A stranger here! He must be questioned.

[Coming nearer.

What man came in And lies on the hearth?

[As Siegmund does not move, she draws nearer still and looks at him.

Way-worn, weary He seems and spent. Faints he from weariness? Can he be sick?

[She bends over him, and listens.

He breathes still, his eyelids Are sealed but in slumber. Worthy, valiant his mien, Though so worn he rests. SIEGMUND [Suddenly raising his head. A drink! A drink! SIEGLINDE I go to fetch it.

[She takes a drinking-horn and hurries out. She returns with it full, and offers it to Siegmund.

Lo, the water Thy thirsting lips longed for: Water brought at thy wish!

[Siegmund drinks, and hands her back the horn. As he signifies his thanks with a movement of the head, he gazes at her with growing interest.

SIEGMUND Welcome the water! Quenched is my thirst. My weary load Lighter it makes; New courage it gives; Mine eyes that slept Re-open glad on the world. Who soothes and comforts me so? SIEGLINDE This house and this wife Belong to Hunding. Stay thou here as his guest; Tarry till he comes home. SIEGMUND Shelter he surely Will grant a worn, Wounded, weaponless stranger. SIEGLINDE [With anxious haste. Quick, show me! Where are thy wounds? SIEGMUND

[Shakes himself and springs up briskly to a sitting posture.

My wounds are slight, Scarce worthy remark; My limbs are well knit still, Whole and unharmed. If my spear and shield had but been Half so strong as my arm is, I had vanquished the foe; But in splinters were spear and shield. The horde of foemen Harassed me sore; Through storm and strife Spent was my force; But, faster than I from foemen, All my faintness has fled; Darkness fell deep on my lids, But now the sun again laughs. SIEGLINDE

[Goes to the storeroom, fills a horn with mead, and proffers it to Siegmund with friendly eagerness.

This healing and honeyed Draught of mead Deign to accept from me. SIEGMUND Set it first to thy lips.

[Sieglinde sips from the horn and hands it back to him. Siegmund takes a long draught, regarding Sieglinde with increasing warmth. Still gazing, he takes the horn from his lips and lets it sink slowly, while his features express strong emotion. He sighs deeply, and lowers his gaze gloomily to the ground.

SIEGMUND [In a trembling voice. Thou hast tended an ill-fated one! May all evil Be turned from thee!

[He starts up quickly, and goes towards the the back.

I have been solaced By sweet repose: Onward now I must press. SIEGLINDE [Turning round quickly. Who pursues thee so close at thy heels? SIEGMUND [Stops. Bad luck pursues me, Everywhere follows; And where I linger Trouble still finds me: Be thou preserved from its touch! I must not gaze but go.

[He strides hastily to the door and lifts the latch.

SIEGLINDE [Forgetting herself calls impetuously after him. Then tarry here! Misfortune thou canst not bring To those who abide with it!

SIEGLINDE "This healing and honeyed Draught of mead Deign to accept from me." SIEGMUND "Set it first to thy lips."

SIEGMUND

[Deeply moved, remains standing; he looks searchingly at Sieglinde, who, ashamed and sad, lowers her eyes. Returning, he leans against the hearth, his gaze fixed on Sieglinde, who continues silently embarrassed.

Wehwalt named I myself: Hunding here will I wait for.

Sieglinde starts, listens and hears Hunding outside leading his horse to the stable. She hurries to the door and opens it. Hunding, armed with shield and spear, enters, but, perceiving Siegmund, pauses on the threshold. Hunding turns with a look of stern inquiry to Sieglinde.

SIEGLINDE [In answer to Hunding's look. On the hearth Fainting I found One whom need drove here. HUNDING Hast succoured him? SIEGLINDE I gave him, as a guest, Welcome and a drink. SIEGMUND [Regarding Hunding firmly and calmly. Drink she gave, Shelter too: Wouldst therefore chide the woman? HUNDING Sacred is my hearth: Sacred hold thou my house.

[To Sieglinde, as he takes off his armour and hands it to her.

Set the meal for us men!

[Sieglinde hangs up the arms on the stem of the ash-tree, fetches food and drink from the store-room and sets supper on the table. Involuntarily she turns her gaze on Siegmund again.

HUNDING

[Examining Siegmund's features keenly and with amaze, compares them with Sieglinde's. Aside.

How like to the woman! In his eye as well Gleams the guile of the serpent.

[He conceals his surprise, and turns with apparent unconcern to Siegmund.

Far, I trow, Must thou have fared; The man who rests here Rode no horse: What toilsome journey Made thee so tired? SIEGMUND Through wood and meadow, Thicket and moor, Chased by the storm And peril sore, I ran by I know not what road. I know as little What goal it led to, And I would gladly be told. HUNDING [At table, inviting Siegmund to be seated. 'Tis Hunding owns The roof and room Which have harboured thee. If to the westward Thou wert to wend, In homesteads rich Thou wouldst find kinsmen Who guard the honour of Hunding. May I ask of my guest In return to tell me his name?

[Siegmund, who has taken his seat at the table, looks thoughtfully before him. Sieglinde, who has placed herself beside Hunding and opposite Siegmund, gazes at him with evident sympathy and suspense.

Hunding discovers the likeness between Siegmund and Sieglinde.

HUNDING [Watching them both. If thou wilt not Trust it to me, To this woman tell thy secret: See, how eagerly she asks! SIEGLINDE [Unembarrassed and interested. Gladly I'd know Who thou art. SIEGMUND [Looks up and, gazing into her eyes, begins gravely. Not for me the name Friedmund; Frohwalt fain were I called, But forced was I to be Wehwalt. Wölfe they called my father; And I am one of twins: With a sister twin I was born. Soon lost were Both mother and maid; I hardly knew Her who gave me my life, Nor her with whom I was born. Warlike and strong was Wölfe, And never wanting for foes. A-hunting oft Went the son with the father. One day we returned Outworn with the chase And found the wolf's nest robbed. The brave abode To ashes was burnt, Consumed to dust The flourishing oak, And dead was the mother, Dauntless but slain. No trace of the sister Was ever found: The Neidungs' heartless horde Had dealt us this bitter blow. My father fled, An outlaw with me; And the youth Lived wild in the forest With Wölfe for many years. Sore beset and harried were they, But boldly battled the pair of wolves.

[Turning to Hunding.

A Wölfing tells thee the tale, And a well-known Wölfing, I trow. HUNDING Wondrous and wild the story Told by thee, valiant guest: Wehwalt—the Wölfing! I think that dark rumours anent This doughty pair have reached me, Though unknown Wölfe And Wölfing too. SIEGLINDE But tell me further, stranger: Where dwells thy father now? SIEGMUND The Neidungs, starting anew, Hounded and hunted us down; But slain by the wolves Fell many a hunter; They fled through the wood, Chased by the game: Like chaff we scattered the foe. But trace of my father I lost; Still his trail grew fainter The longer I followed; In the wood a wolf-skin Was all I found; There empty it lay: My father I had lost.— In the woods I could not stay; My heart longed for men and for women.— By all I met, No matter where, If friend I sought, Or woman wooed, Still I was branded an outlaw; Ill-luck clung to me; Whatever I did right, Others counted it wrong; What seemed evil to me Won from others applause. Grim feuds arose Wherever I went; Wrath met me At every turn; Longing for gladness, Woe was my lot: I called myself Wehwalt therefore, For woe was all that was mine.

[He looks at Sieglinde and marks her sympathetic gaze.

HUNDING Thou wert shown no grace by the Norns That cast thy grievous lot; No one greets thee as guest With gladness in his home. SIEGLINDE Only cowards would fear A weaponless, lonely man!— Tell us, O guest, How in the strife At last thy weapon was lost! SIEGMUND A sorrowful child Cried for my help; Her kinsmen wanted To wed the maiden To one whom her heart did not choose. To her defence Gladly I hied; The heartless horde Met me in fight: Before me foemen fell. Fordone and dead lay the brothers. The slain were embraced by the maid, Her wrongs forgotten in grief. She wept wild streams of woe, And bathed the dead with her tears; For the loss of her brothers slain Lamented the ill-fated bride. Then the dead men's kinsmen Came like a storm, Vowing vengeance, Frantic to fall on me; Foemen on all sides Rose and assailed me. But from the spot Moved not the maid; My shield and spear Sheltered her long, Till spear and shield Were hewn from my hand. Standing weaponless, wounded, I beheld the maid die: I fled from the furious host— She lay lifeless on the dead.

[To Sieglinde with a look of fervent sorrow.

The reason now I have told Why none may know me as Friedmund.

[He rises and walks to the hearth. Pale and deeply moved, Sieglinde looks on the ground.

HUNDING [Rises. I know a wild-blooded breed; What others revere It flouts unawed: All hate it, and I with the rest. When forth in haste I was summoned, Vengeance to seek For my kinsmen's blood, I came too late, And now return home To find the impious wretch In haven under my roof.— My house holds thee, Wölfing, to-day; For the night thou art my guest. But wield to-morrow Thy trustiest weapon. I choose the day for the fight: Thy life shall pay for the dead.

[To Sieglinde, who steps between the two men with anxious gestures; harshly.

Forth from the hall! Linger not here! Prepare my draught for the night, And wait until I come.

[Sieglinde stands for a while undecided and thoughtful. Slowly and with hesitating steps she goes towards the store-room, There she pauses again, lost in thought, her face half averted. With quiet resolution she opens the cupboard, fills a drinking-horn, and shakes spices into it out of a box. She then turns her eyes on Siegmund, in order to meet his gaze, which he never removes from her. She perceives that Hunding is watching, and proceeds immediately to the bed-chamber. On the steps she turns once more, looks yearningly at Siegmund, and indicates with her eyes, persistently and with speaking plainness, a particular spot in the stem of the ash-tree. Hunding starts, and drives her off with a violent gesture. With a last look at Siegmund, she disappears into the bed-chamber, and shuts the door behind her.

HUNDING [Taking his weapons from the tree-stem. With weapons man should be armed. We meet to-morrow then Wölfing. My word thou hast heard; Ward thyself well!

[He goes into bed-chamber. The shooting of the bolt is heard from within.

[Siegmund alone. It has grown quite dark. All the light in the hall comes from a dull fire on the hearth. Siegmund sinks down on to a couch beside the fire and broods forsome time silently in great agitation.

SIEGMUND My father said when most wanted A sword I should find and wield. Swordless I entered My foeman's house, As a hostage here I remain. I saw a fair Woman and sweet, And bliss and dread Consume my heart. The woman for whom I long— She whose charm both wounds and delights— In thrall is held by the man Who mocks a weaponless foe. Wälse! Wälse! Where is thy sword?— The trusty sword To be swung in battle, When from my bosom should burst The fury that fills my heart?

[The fire collapses. From the flame which leaps up a bright light falls on the spot in the ash-tree's stem indicated by Sieglinde's look, and on which the hilt of a sword is now plainly visible.

Sieglinde prepares Hunding's draught for the night

What can that be That shines so bright? What a ray streams From the ash-tree's stem! My eyes that saw not See the bright flash; Gay as laughter it gleams. How the radiant light Illumes my heart! Is it the look That lingered behind, Yonder clinging, When forth from the hall The lovely woman went?

[From this point the fire gradually goes out.

Darkly the shadows Covered my eyes, Till her shining glance Over me gleamed, Bringing me warmth and day. Gay and splendid The sun appeared, And blissfully circled With glory my head— Till by the hills it was hid.

[The fire flickers up faintly again.

But once more, ere it set, Bright it shone upon me, And the ancient ash-tree's stem Was lit by its golden glow. The splendour passes, The light grows dim, Shadowy darkness Falls and enshrouds me; Deep in my bosom's fastness Glimmers still faintly the flame!

[The fire goes out altogether. Total darkness. The door of the bed-chamber opens noiselessly. Sieglinde comes out in a white garment and advances softly but quickly towards the hearth.

SIEGLINDE Art asleep? SIEGMUND [Joyfully surprised. Who steals this way? SIEGLINDE [With stealthy haste. 'Tis I: listen to me! In sleep profound lies Hunding; The draught that I mixed him I drugged. Use to good purpose the night! SIEGMUND [Ardently interrupting. Thou here, all is well! SIEGLINDE I have come to show thee a weapon; O couldst thou make it thine! I then might call thee First among heroes, For only by him Can it be won. O hearken: heed what I tell thee! Here Hunding's kinsmen Sat in the hall, Assembled to honour his wedding. He took as his wife, Against her will, One who was bartered by thieves. Sad I sat there Through their carousing. A stranger entered the hall, An old and grey-coated man. So slouched was his hat That one of his eyes was hidden; But the other flashed So that all feared it: Overwhelming Its menace they found; I alone Suffered, when looked on, Sweet pain, sad delight, Sorrow and solace in one. On me glancing, He scowled at the others, As he swung a sword in his hands. This sword he plunged In the ash-tree's stem, To the hilt driving it home. The weapon he gains in guerdon Who draws it from its place. Though sore they struggled, Not one of the heroes Could win the weapon for his; Coming, going, The guests essayed it, The strongest tugged at the steel; Not an inch it stirred in the stem; In silence yonder it cleaves. I knew then who he was That in sorrow greeted me. I know too Now for whom The sword was stuck in the tree. O might I to-day Find here the friend Brought from afar By a woman's woe! Then all I have suffered In sorrow untold, All scorn and all shame In anger endured— All would avenged be, Sweetly atoned for— Regained fully The good I had lost; For mine I should win All I had wept for, Could I but find the dear friend, And clasp him close in my arms! SIEGFRIED [Embracing Sieglinde with passionate ardour. Dear woman, that friend Holds thee at last, Both woman and sword are his. Here in my breast Burns hot the oath That welds us twain into one. For all that I sought I see now in thee, In thee all That once failed me I find. Thou wert despised, My portion was pain; I was an outlaw, Dishonoured wert thou; Sweet revenge beckons, Bids us be joyful; I laugh From sheer fulness of joy, Holding thee, love, in my arms thus, Feeling the beat of thy heart!

[The outer door swings open.

SIEGLINDE [With a start of alarm tears herself away. Ha, who went? Who entered there?

[The door remains open. Outside a glorious spring night. The full moon shines in, throwing its bright light on the pair, so that they can suddenly see one another quite plainly.

SIEGMUND [In soft ecstasy. No one went— But one has come: Laughing the spring Enters the hall!

[He draws Sieglinde with tender force on to the couch, so that she sits beside him. The moon shines more and more brightly.

Winter storms have yielded To May's sweet moon, And mild and radiant Sparkles the spring. On balmy breezes Light and lovely, Weaving wonders, Soft she sways. Through field and forest She is breathing; Wide and open Laughs her eye; When blithe the birds are singing Sounds her voice; Fragrant odours She exhales; From her warm blood blossom flowers Welcome and joyous. Shoot and bud, They wax by her aid. With tender weapons armed, She conquers the world. Winter and storm yield To the strong attack. No wonder that, beaten boldly, At last the door should have opened, Which, stubborn and stiff, Was keeping her out. To find her sister Hither she came; By love has spring been allured; Within our bosoms Buried she lay; Now glad she laughs to the light. The bride who is sister Is freed by the brother; In ruin lies What held them apart. Loud rejoicing, They meet and greet; Lo! Love is mated with spring! SIEGLINDE Thou art the spring That I used to pine for, When pinched by the winter frost; My heart hailed thee friend With bliss and with fear, When thy first glance fell on me sweetly All I had seen appeared strange; Friendless were my surroundings; I never seemed to have known Any one who came nigh. Thee, however, Straightway I knew, And I saw thou wert mine When I beheld thee: What I hid in my heart, All I am, Clear as the day Dawned to my sight Like tones to the ear Echoing back, When, upon my frosty desert, My eyes first beheld a friend.

[She hangs enraptured on his neck, and looks him close in the face.

SIEGMUND [Transported. O rapture most blissful! Woman most blest! SIEGLINDE [Close to his eyes. O let me, closer And closer clinging, Discern more clearly The sacred light That from thine eyes And face shines forth, And so sweetly sways every sense! SIEGMUND The May-moon's light Falls on thy face Framed by masses Of waving hair. What snared my heart 'Tis easy to guess: My gaze on loveliness feasts. SIEGLINDE

[Pushing the hair back from his brow, regards him with astonishment.

How broad and open Is thy brow! Blue-branching the veins In thy temples entwine. I hardly can endure My burden of bliss.— Of something I am reminded:— The man I first saw to-day Already I have seen! SIEGMUND A dream of love I too recall; I saw thee there And yearned for thee sore! SIEGLINDE The stream has shown me My imaged face— Again I see it before me; As in the pool it arose It is reflected by thee. SIEGMUND Thine is the face I hid in my heart. SIEGLINDE [Quickly averting her gaze. O hush! That voice! O let me listen! These tones as a child Surely I heard— But no! I heard the sound lately, When, calling in the wood, My voice re-echoing rang. SIEGMUND To sweet and melodious Music I listen! SIEGLINDE [Gazing into his eyes again. And ere now thy glowing Eye have I seen: The old man whose glance Solaced my grief, When he greeted me had that eye— I knew him Because of his eye, And almost addressed him as father.

[After a pause.

Art thou Wehwalt in truth? SIEGMUND If dear to thee, Wehwalt no more; My sway is o'er bliss not sorrow! SIEGLINDE And Friedmund does not Fit with thy fortunes. SIEGMUND Choose thou the name Thou wouldst have me be known by: Thy choice will also be mine! SIEGLINDE The name of thy father was Wölfe? SIEGMUND A wolf to the fearful foxes! But he whose eye Shone with the brightness Which, fairest one, shines in thine own, Was named—Wälse of old. SIEGLINDE [Beside herself. Was Wälse thy father, And art thou a Wälsung?— Stuck was for thee His sword in the stem?— Then let my love call thee What it has found thee; Siegmund Shall be thy name. SIEGMUND [Springs up. Siegmund call me For Siegmund am I! Be witness this sword I grasp without shrinking! That I should find it In sorest need Wälse foretold. I grasp it now! Love the most pure In utmost need, Passionate love, Consuming desire Burning bright in my breast, Drive to deeds and death! Nothung! Nothung! That, sword, is thy name. Nothung! Nothung! Conquering steel! Show me thy sharp And sundering tooth: Come forth from thy scabbard to me!

[He draws the sword with a violent effort from the stem of the tree and shows it to the amazed and enraptured Sieglinde.

Siegmund the Wälsung Thou dost see! As bride-gift He brings thee this sword; With this he frees The woman most blest; He bears thee From the house of his foe. Far from here Follow thou him: Forth to the laughing House of the spring; Thy shield be Nothung, the sword, When Siegmund is captive to love!

[He throws his arm round her so as to draw her forth with him.

SIEGLINDE [Delirious with excitement, tears herself away and stands before him. Art thou Siegmund Standing before me, Sieglinde am I Who longed for thee; Thy own twin-sister As well as the sword thou hast won!

[She throws herself on his breast.

SIEGMUND Bride and sister Be to thy brother— So Wälsungs shall flourish for aye!

[He draws her to him with fervent passion. The curtain falls quickly.

THE SECOND ACT

A wild, mountainous spot. In the background a gorge rises from below to a high ridge of rocks, from which the ground slopes down again towards the front. Wotan, in full armour, carrying his spear. Before him Brünnhilde as a Valkyrie, also fully armed.

WOTAN Go bridle thy steed, Valorous maid! Bitter strife Soon will break forth; Brünnhilde, storm to the fray And cause the Wälsung to win! Hunding choose for himself Where to bide: No place in Walhall has he. So up and to horse! Haste to the field! BRÜNNHILDE [Ascends the height on the right, shouting and springing from rock to rock. Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Hojoho!

"Siegmund the Wälsung Thou dost see! As bride-gift He brings thee this sword"

[She pauses on a high peak, looks down into the gorge and calls back to Wotan.

I warn thee, Father, See to thyself; Stern the strife That is in store: Here comes Fricka, thy wife, Drawn hither in her car by her rams, Swinging the golden Scourge in her hand! The wretched beasts Are groaning with fear; And how the wheels rattle! Hot she hastes to the fray. Such strife as this No strife is for me, Though I love boldly waged Strife 'twixt men. The battle alone thou must brave; I go; thou art left in the lurch! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Ha!

[She disappears behind the mountain peak at the side. Fricka, in a car drawn by a pair of rams, has driven up the gorge to the mountain ridge, where she suddenly stops, alights and strides angrily towards Wotan in the foreground.

WOTAN [Aside, when he sees Fricka approaching. The usual storm! The usual strife! But I must act with firmness FRICKA [Moderating her pace as she approaches, and confronting Wotan with dignity. All alone among the hills I seek thee, where thou dost hide Fearing the eyes Of thy wife, That help in need thou may'st promise. WOTAN Let Fricka tell Her trouble in full. FRICKA I have heard Hunding's cry, For vengeance calling on me; As wedlock's guardian I gave ear: My word passed To punish the deed Of this impious pair Who boldly wrought him the wrong. WOTAN Have this pair then Done such harm, Whom spring united in love? 'Twas love's sweet magic That lured them on; None pays for love's might to me. FRICKA How dull and how deaf thou wouldst seem! As though thou wert not aware That it is wedlock's Holy oath Profaned so rudely I grieve for. WOTAN Unholy Hold I the bond That binds unloving hearts; Nor must thou Imagine that I Will restrain by force What transcends thy power; For where bold natures are stirring I urge them frankly to strife.

Brünnhilde

FRICKA Deeming thus laudable Wedlock's breach, Pray babble more nonsense And call it holy That shame should blossom forth From bond of a twin-born pair! I shudder at heart, My brain reels and whirls. Sister embraced As bride by the brother— Who has ever heard Of brother and sister as lovers? WOTAN Thou hearest it now! Be taught by this That a thing may be Which has never befallen before. That those two are lovers Thou must admit; So take advice and be wise! Thy blessing surely Will bring to thee gladness, If thou wilt, laughing on love, Bless Siegmund and Sieglinde's bond. FRICKA [With a burst of deep indignation. Then nothing to thee Are the gods everlasting Since the wild Wälsungs Won thee for father? I speak plainly— Is that thy thought? The holy and high Immortals are worthless; And all that once Was esteemed is thrown over; The bonds thou didst bind By thyself now are broken; Heaven's hold Is loosed with a laugh, That this twin-born pair, unimpeded, The fruit of thy lawless love, May in wantonness flourish and rule! But why wail over Wedlock and vows, Since by thee the first they are scorned! The faithful wife Betrayed at each turn, Lustfully longing Wander thy glances; Thine eyes scan Each hollow and height As thy fickle fancy allures thee, While grief is gnawing my heart. Heavy of soul I had to endure it, When to the fight With the graceless maidens Born out of wedlock, Forth thou hast fared; For, thy wife still holding in awe, Thou didst give her as maids The Valkyrie band To obedience bound, Even Brünnhilde, bride of thy Wish. But now that new names Afford thee new pleasure, And Wälse, wolfish, in Forests has wandered; Now that to bottomless Shame thou hast stooped, And a pair of mortals Hast vilely begotten— Now thy wife at the feet Of whelps of a wolf thou dost fling! Come finish thy work! Fill the cup full! Mock and trample now the betrayed one!