Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods by Richard Wagner- Illustrations by Rachman-1924

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II

SIEGFRIED AND

THE TWILIGHT OF TH E GODS

ARTHUR RAGKHAM'S ILLUSTRATIONS THE

ALLIES' FAIRY BOOK. 7*. 6d. net. A CHRISTMAS CAROL. By CHARLES DICKKNS.

js. 6d.

net.

MOTHER GOOSE. 75.

The Old Nursery Rhymes.

net.

(>

,

him Tear t.Tne Slll 7 Smith i

!

i !

!

boi/leroujly

the wood.

from

He

[Mime

is

urges

towards

him

Mime

in

sword

in terror,

and

takes

while Siegfried, refuge behind the forge ; Jhouting with laughter, keeps driving the bear after him.

leading a big bear by a rope of bajl,

and

drops the

wanton

fun.

Mime

at the anvil

See

p.

2

SIEGFRIED Mime

Hence with the beast I want not the bear

I

!

I come thus paired The better to pinch thee

Bruin, ask for the sword

Hey

!

There It

Let him go the weapon

!

;

!

lies

was

Then thou

;

finished to-day. art safe for to-day ! and Jirikes him on

\_He lets the bear loose back with the rope.

Bruin need thee no more.

Off, I

!

[The bear runs back

Mime

Slay

Comes trembling

from behind

all

down

canst, and welcome But why thus bring the beasts

the

to

recover from his laughter.

into the wood.

the bears

Thou

;

Home Sits

the

alive ?

For better companions seeking sits at home, I blew my horn in the wood,

Than the one who

the forest glades resounded. What I asked with the note

Till

Was

if

some good

friend

glad companion would be. From the covert came a bear

My

Who

listened to me with growls, liked him better than thee, Though better friends I shall find.

And

I

With a

trusty rope bridled the beast, ask thee, rogue, for the weapon. [He jumps up and goes towards the I

To

anvil.

SIEGFRIED JHtme

I

Takes up the

sword it to

to

i

made n

its

hand

the sword keen-edged sharpness thou wilt rejoice. ;

r

Rg M(h

Siegfried.

~

fhg

swgrd anx i oujjy

Siegfried snatches

it

in

from him.

What

matters an edge keen sharpened, Unless hard and true the steel ?

[Teft ing Hei

What an

!

Foolish toy

the sword.

idle,

!

Wouldst have this pin Pass for a sword ? [He

Jlrikes

on

it

the

splinters fly about.

anvil,

so

terror.

There, take back the pieces, Pitiful bungler Tis on thy skull It should have been broken ! Shall such a braggart !

Still

go on boasting,

Telling of giants And prowess in battle,

Of deeds of valour,

And

dauntless defence

?

A

sword true and trusty Try to forge me, Praising the skill He does not possess When I take hold

that the

Mime jhrinks

?

Of what he has hammered, The rubbish crumbles At a mere touch !

Were not the wretch Too mean for my wrath, I would break him in bits As well as his work

back in

SIEGFRIED The doting

And end

fool of a

gnome

!-

the annoyance at once

on [Siegfried throws himself in a rage.

Mime

!

a Jlone seat

to

all the time has been

out of his cautioujly keeping

way.

Again thou ravest like mad, Ungrateful and perverse.

what

If

for

him

I

forge

not perfect on the spot, Too soon the boy forgets The good things I have made Wilt never learn the lesson Of gratitude, I wonder ? Thou shouldst be glad to obey him Who always treated thee well. Is

!

his back on [Siegfried turns

temper, and

fits

with

Mime his

in a

bad

to

the

face

wall.

Thou

dost not like to be told that [Hejiands

perplexed, then goes

to

!

the hearth

in the kitchen.

But thou wouldst fain be fed. Wilt eat the meat I have roasted, Or wouldst thou prefer the broth ? 'Twas boiled solely for thee. brings food to Siegfried, who, without turning round, knocks both bowl and meat out of his hand.

[He

S)tfflfrtetJ

In a wailing voice, as if hurt.

Meat I roast for myself Sup thy filthy broth alone ;

!

This is the reward of all my love !

An my Is

care

paid for with scorn.

SIEGFRIED When

thou wert a babe

was thy nurse,

I

Made the mite clothing To keep him warm, Brought thee thy food, Gave thee to drink,

Kept thee as safe As I keep my skin And when thou wert grown I waited on thee, ;

And made

a bed

For thy slumber

soft.

I fashioned thee toys And a sounding horn,

Grudging no pains,

Wert thou but pleased. With counsel wise I

guided thee well,

With mellow wisdom Training thy mind. Sitting at I toil

To

home, and moil

;

heart's desire

Wander thy

feet.

Through thee alone worried, And working for thee, I wear myself out,

A

poor old dwarf

!

[Sobbing.

And

for

my

trouble

The

sole reward is a By hot-tempered boy [Sobbing.

To be hated and plagued 8

I

Mime and

the infant Siegfried See

p.

8

SIEGFRIED Has

turned round again and has

quietly

watched

Mime s face, while the

latter,

meeting the tries

look,

timidly to

hide his own.

Thou hast taught me much, Mime, And many things I have learned But what thou most gladly hadst taught ;

me A lesson too hard has proved How to endure thy sight. When with my food

Or drink thou dost come,

I

sup

off

loathing alone thou dost softly ;

When

My

Make me a bed, sleep is broken and bad

When thou wouldst How to be wise, Fain were

I

my

If

To

;

teach

me

deaf and dumb.

eyes happen

on thee, thou doest Amiss and ill-done When thou dost stand, Waddle and walk, Shamble and shuffle, I

fall

find all

;

With thine eyelids blinking, By the neck I want To take the nodder,

And choke the life From the hateful twitcher. So much, O Mime, I love thee Hast thou such wisdom, Explain, I pray thee, A thing I have wondered at : Though I go roaming Just to avoid thee, Why do I always return ? Though I love the beasts All better than thee

!

SIEGFRIED Tree and bird

And

the fish in the brook,

One and all They are dearer than thou

MTrl him

How is it I always return ? Of thy wisdom tell me that. to

approach

affectionately.

child > that is

g ht to show thee dear to thy heart.

said I could not bear thee Forget not that so soon. I

Sjiegfcirt

;

The wildness that thou shouldst tame

Jfttme Recoils,

Mv

That Mime

and fits

down again

apart,

oppofete Siegfried.

the cause, bad boy, of that. Young ones are always longing After their parents nest . What we love we all long for, And so thou dost yearn for me Is

>

;

thou lovest thy Mime, And always must love him.

'Tis plain

What

the old bird is to the young one, Feeding it in its nest Ere the fledgling can flutter, is what careful, clever Mime To thy young life is, And always must be.

That

Well, Mime, being so clever, This one thing more also tell

me

:

[Simply.

The

birds sang together So gaily in spring, [

Tenderly.

The one alluring the other And thou didst say,

;

When I asked thee why, That they were wives with their husbands. 10

"

And there I learned What love was like" See

p.

ii

SIEGFRIED They chattered so

sweetly,

Were never

apart ; They builded a nest In which they might brood

The

fluttering

Came flying out, And both took care of The roes

;

young ones the young.

in the woods, too,

Rested in pairs,

The wild wolves even, and foxes. Food was found them and brought

By

the father,

The mother suckled the young ones.

And there I learned What love was like

A I

whelp from

its

;

mother

never took.

But where hast thou, Mime, A wife dear and loving, That I may call her mother ?

What

Angrily.

dost thou mean ? Fool, thou art mad ! Art thou then a bird or a fox ?

When

I was a babe Thou wert my nurse, Made the mite clothing To keep him warm But tell me, whence Did the tiny mite come ;

?

Could babe without mother Be born to thee ? Greatly tmbarraffed.

Thou must always Trust what I tell thee. j

am

thy fat h er

And mother

in one.

SIEGFRIED Thou liest, filthy The resemblance

old fright ! 'twixt child and parent for myself. seen have I often the I came to limpid brook, And the beasts and the trees I saw reflected ;

Sun and clouds

too,

Just as they are, Were mirrored quite plain in the stream. I also could spy This face of mine, And quite unlike thine

Seemed it to me As little alike As a fish to a toad And when had fish toad ;

:

Very angrily.

How

canst thou talk

Such

terrible stuff ?

Listen With

I

increaftng

What

animation.

At

!

for its father ?

last

understand in vain I pondered so long

Why

I

:

roam the woods

And run to escape thee, Yet return home in the end. [He I

cannot go

What

till

father

What

thou

tell

and mother were mine.

father

?

What mother

Meaningless questions

Springs upon

Mime, and him by

seizes

the throat.

springs up.

me

To answer a question Thou must be caught

!

first

Willingly

Thou never 12

wilt speak

;

;

?

Siegfried sees himself in the stream See p. 12

SIEGFRIED Thou

givest nothing Unless forced to.

How

to talk

hardly had learned it not by force Been wrung from the wretch. Come, out with it, I

Had

Who

r

old scamp ! my father and

Mangy are

mother

?

Dost want to kill me outright Ha nds off, and the facts thou shalt hear, f af kn()wn Jf J !

After makingJigns with hts head and hands,

is

released

^

-.

^

.

t

ungrateful

by Siegfried.

And

Now

graceless child, learn the cause of thy hatred Neither thy father

Nor kinsman

And

!

I,

owe me thy To me, thy one friend, yet thou dost

life

!

A

stranger wert thou ; was pity alone Sheltered thee here ; this is all my reward. It

And And

I

hoped for thanks

A woman once I Who wept in the

like

a fool

found

forest wild helped her here to the cave, That by the fire I might warm her. The woman bore a child here ; Sadly she gave it birth. She writhed about in pain ; I helped her as I could. Bitter her plight she died. ;

I

;

But Siegfried

lived

and throve.

!

SIEGFRIED Slowly.

My

poor mother

To

my

care she

through

died, then,

commended

thee

'Twas willingly bestowed. The trouble Mime would take The worry kind Mime endured " When thou wert a babe

me

?

;

!

was thy nurse

I

That story

Now

say,

I

!

"...

often have heard.

whence came the name

Siegfried

?

'Twas thus that thy mother Told me to name thee, That thou mightst grow

Jfttmc

To be strong and "

made

I

To keep

fair.

the mite clothing it

warm "...

Now tell me, what name was my mother's? I hardly know. Brought thee thy food, Gave thee to drink "...

In truth "

JHtme

My

mother's

tell

Her name I forget. Yet wait ! Sieglinde, that was the name borne By her who gave thee to me. "I kept thee as safe

Jftmu

As Next With

name thou must

tell

I

keep

my

skin

me, who was

my

increasing urgency.

J^Nro* Roughly.

Him

I

have never seen.

H

"...

father ?

me.

Mime

finds the

mother

of Siegfried in the forest

Seep. 13

SIEGFRIED But

my

mother

He

fell

in

Was

all

Babe

to

told

it

thee, surely.

combat

that she said. She left the fatherless

my

care.

"

And when thou wert grown

I

waited on thee,

And made a bed For thy slumber

soft

"...

with thy tiresome Starling song That I may trust thy story, Convinced thou art not lying, Still,

!

Thou must produce some JHtme

But what proof i I

I

After some thought takes from the

place where they are concealed the two pieces of a broken sword.

Enthuftajhcally.

will convince thee ?

trust thee not wit h trust thee but with

What

proof.

my

mine eyes witness speaks for thee ?

got this from thy mother

:

:

pO r

trouble, food, and service Thfs wag sole reward> ,

tf splintered sword She said twas borne b y th y father In the fatal fight when he fell.

fi

fc

,

tf ' .

And thou shalt forge These f ragrne nts together, And furnish my rightful sword Tarry not, Mime Up Quick to thy task If thou hast skill, Thy cunning display. !

;

!

15

!

SIEGFRIED me no more With worthless trash

Cheat

;

These fragments alone Henceforth I trust. Lounge o'er thy work, Weld it not true, Trickily patching The goodly steel, And thou shalt learn on thy limbs How metal best should be beat I swear that this day The sword shall be mine !

;

My weapon Mime Alarmed.

What

to-day

I

shall

win

!

wouldst thou to-day with the

SWOrd

?

Leave the forest For the wide world, Never more to return. Ah, how fair A thing is freedom

!

Nothing holds me or binds No father have I here, And afar shall be my home ; Thy hearth is not my house, Nor my covering thy roof. Like the fish Glad in the water, Like the finch Free in the heavens, !

Off

I

will float,

Forth I will fly, Like the wind o'er the wood Wafted away, Thee, Mime, beholding no more \He rum into !

16

the foreji.

SIEGFRIED Mimt

Stop, boy

Greatly alarmed.

Stop,

!

Whither away

Hey

boy

!

?

Siegfried Siegfried ! Hey !

!

,

!

looks after the retreating figure for some time in ajlonijhment ; then he goes back to the smithy and fits down behind the anvil.

[He

He storms away And I sit here

!

:

To crown my cares Comes still this new one

My plight How help How hold How lead

is

;

piteous indeed

!

myself now ? the boy here ? the young madcap To Fafner's lair ? And how weld the splinters Of obstinate steel ? In no furnace fire Can they be melted,

Nor can Mime's hammer Cope with their hardness. [Shrilly.

The Nibelung's hate, Need and sweat Cannot make Nothung whole, Never

will

weld

[Sobbing,

it

anew.

he finks in despair on

to

a Jlool

behind the anvil.

All hail, cunning smith seat by thy hearth

!

A

Kindly grant

Enters from the

wood

by the door at the back of the cave. carries a spear.

On

his

The wayworn guest. He wears a long dark blue cloak, head

is

and, for ftaff, a round, broad-brimmed Jlouched hat. B I 7

SIEGFRIED Who

Mime Starting up alarm.

in

seeks for me here In desolate woods, Finds my home in the forest wild

Wanderer names Approaching very Jlowly ftep byjlep.

me

?

the world, smith.

From far I have come On the earth's back ranging, Much I have roamed. ;

Wanderer named, Pray wander from here Without halting for rest. If

Good men grudge me not welcome

Many

I

gifts

By bad

;

have received. hearts only

Is evil feared.

JHttne

Ill fate always Dwelt by my side Thou wouldst not add to ;

it,

surely

!

Always searching,

Sffllairtror

Much have

Slowly coming nearer and nearer.

I

seen

;

Things of weight

Have

told to

Oft have rid

many men

;

Of their troubles,

Gnawing and carking

cares.

Though thou hast searched, And though much thou hast found,

ffttmc

need neither seeker nor finder. Lonely am I, And lone would be Idlers I harbour not here.

I

;

18

SIEGFRIED There were Again coming a little

many

Thought they were wise, Yet what they needed

nearer.

Knew not at all Useful lore was Theirs for the asking, Wisdom was their reward. ;

Mimt

Idle

More ahd

more

anxious as he the

sees

Wanderer

I

knowledge

Some may know enough

approach.

My own

covet for

;

my

needs.

[The Wanderer wits suffice,

reaches the hearth.

I want no more, wise So, one, keep on thy way.

Sitting down at the hearth.

Nay, here at thy hearth I

vow by my head

To answer

My

all

head

thou shalt ask. is

thine,

'Tis forfeit to thee, I can give Answers good, Deftly redeeming the pledge.

Unless

Now how

Mimt Who

has been

flaring at the

Wanderer

to get rid of the spy ?

The questions asked must be

open-

ofjiernnefs

mouthed, now /brinks back ;

Thy head 'Tis

pawned

;

;

aloud.

for thy

Lodging pays

dejectedly.

:

now

seek to redeem

Three the questions

Thou Sffltamrmr

artful.

\H.e summons up courage for an affumption

shalt be asked.

Thrice then

I

must answer.

it.

SIEGFRIED iHttnr

Pulh himse/f together and reftefls.

on the back Of the wide earth roving, Thy feet have ranged o'er the world, Since, far

Come, answer me this Tell me what race

:

Dwells in the earth's deep gorges. In the depths of earth

The Nibelungs have

their

home

Nibelheim is their land. Black elves they all are Black Alberich

;

;

Once was their ruler and lord. He subdued the busy Folk by a ring Gifted with magical might

;

And they

piled up Shimmering gold,

Precious, fine-wrought, the world and its glory.

To win him

Proceed with thy questions, dwarf,

Thou knowest much, Sinks into deeper

and

deeper meditation.

Wanderer, Of the hidden depths of earth. Now, answer me this :

Tell

me what

race

Breathes on earth's back and moves there.

On

the earth's broad back The race of the giants arose ;

Riesenheim

is

their land.

Fasolt and Fafner, The rude folk's rulers, Envied the Nibelung's might. 20

SIEGFRIED So his wonderful hoard

They won

And with

it

for themselves,

gained the ring too.

The brothers quarrelled About the

ring,

And

was

slain

Fasolt.

In dragon's form Fafner now watches the hoard.

One question threatens me

Quite

loft

thought.

m

still.

Much, Wanderer,

Jhou

dost

know

of the earth's back rude and rugged.

Now answer aright Tell me what race

:

Dwells above in the clouds.

Above

in the clouds

Dwell the Immortals Walhall is their home.

They are

;

light-spirits

;

Light- Alberich, Wotan, rules as their lord. From the world-ash-tree's Holiest bough once

Wotan made him a

shaft.

Though the stem rot, The spear shall endure, And with that spear-point Wotan rules the world. Trustworthy runes Of holy treaties Deep in the shaft he cut.

Who

wields the spear Carried by Wotan 21

SIEGFRIED The haft

world

of the

Holds in his hand. Before him kneels The Nibelung host The giants, tamed,

;

Bow

All

The

to his will. for ever, spear's eternal lord.

must obey, and [He Jtrikes

ground with the spear

the

by accident,

a>

and a low growl of thunder

heard, by which

Mime is

violently alarmed.

Confess now, cunning dwarf, Are not my answers right, And is not my head redeemed

?

Both thou hast won, After attentively

Wager and head Thy way now, Wanderer, ;

watching the Wanderer with the spear, becomes very frightened,

manner for

his tools,

and

looks

go.

seeks in

a confused

timidly afide.

Knowledge useful to thee Thou wert to ask for ;

Forfeit my head if I failed. Forfeit be thine,

Knowest thou not The thing it would serve thee

know.

to

Greeting thou Gavest me not My head into thy hand I gave That I might rest by thy hearth. ;

By wager

fair

Forfeit thy head,

Canst thou not answer Three things when asked So sharpen well, Mime, thy wits ;

22

if is

J

11

In dragon's form

Fafner

now watches

the hoard See

p. 21

SIEGFRIED Long Very much frightened, after

and

much

hefitation,

at laji

composes himself

with timid

I

it is

my

Since

I

left

Long

it

seems

land

to

;

me

Since I was born. saw here the eye of Wotan

Shine, peering into

my

cave

;

His glance dazes My mother-wit.

submij/ion.

But well were it now to be then, Wanderer, ask.

wise.

Come

Perhaps fortune will favour The dwarf, and redeem his head.

Then first, honest dwarf, Answer this question

Comfortably fitting

down

again.

:

name of the race That Wotan treats most harshly,

Tell the

\Very

And Jttttne

With more cheerfulnefs.

softly,

but audibly.

yet loves beyond all the rest.

Though unlearned In heroes' kinship, This question I answer with ease.

The Walsungs are Wotan 's Chosen stock,

By him begotten And loved with passion, Though they are shown no grace. Siegmund and Sieglinde Born were to Walse, A wild and desperate Twin-born pair Siegfried had they as son, The strongest shoot from the ;

My

head, say,

Still,

is it

Wanderer, mine 23

?

tree.

SIEGFRIED How Pleasantly.

well thou knowest the race ! see thou art clever.

And namest Rogue,

I

The foremost question Thou hast solved ;

The second answer me, dwarf.

A crafty Niblung Shelters Siegfried, Hoping he will slay Fafner, That the dwarf may be lord

of the hoard,

The ring being his. Say, what sword, If

Fafner to

Must be by Forgetting his presen t fit

nation

more and more^ rubs his hands joyfully.

fall is,

Siegfried

swung

?

Nothung is The name of the sword Into an ash- tree's stem

;

Wotan

struck it ; One only might bear it : He who could draw it forth. The strongest heroes Tried it and failed ;

Only by Siegmund Was it done Well he fought with the sword Till on Wotan 's spear it was split. By a crafty smith Are the fragments kept, For he knows that alone With the Wotan sword and foolish boy, brave A Siegfried, can slay the foe. ;

\_Much pleased.

A second time My head have I 24

saved

?

Mime and

the

Wanderer See

p. 17

SIEGFRIED The wisest Thou must

Laughing.

of wise ones

be, surely ; else could so clever be

Who

But wouldst thou by

!

craft

Employ the boy-hero As instrument of thy purpose, With one question more I

threaten thee.

me, thou artful Armourer, Whose skill from the doughty splinters Nothung the sword shall fashion. Tell

The

Mime Starts up in great tfrrer -

splinters

Alas

!

my

!

What shall What can I

say Accursed sword

I

was mad

A

The sword

head I do

reels

!

!

? ? !

to steal

it

!

perilous pass

has brought me to. Always too hard To yield to my hammer It

!

Rivet, solder Useless are both.

[He throws crazy^

The

his took about as if he had gone breaks out in utter despair.

and

cleverest smith

Living has failed ; And, that being so, Who shall succeed ? How rede aright such a riddle SUSEantomt

Has

risen quietly

from

the hearth.

Three things thou wert to ask Thrice was I to reply.

Thy Of

questions were

far-off things, 25

?

me

;

SIEGFRIED But what stood here at thy hand Needed much that was forgot

Now

that

Thou

guess

I

it,

goest crazed,

And won by me cunning one's head. dauntless subduer, Fafner's Now, dwarf. death-doomed thou Hear, not knows who him By Is the

How Nothung

to fear shall be forged.

\Mime ftares So ward thy head

at him

he turns

;

to

go.

Well from to-day. I

leave

Who

it

forfeit to

[He

turns in

away

smiling, the wood.

quickly to the bench

him

into the sunlit

wood, and begins to tremble more and more violently.

and

Mime

disappears has sunk on

overwhelmed.

Accursed light air is on fire !

Jfttme Stares before

him

has never learned to fear.

The

What What

^^^

!

and flashes ? buzzes and whirs ? J & thefe and swi

flickers

And circles about ^? What glitters and gleams .

,

.

In the sun's hot glow

?

What rustles and hums And rings so loud ? roll and roar crashes this way bursts through the wood,

With It It

!

Making Its

for

me

!

[He rises up jaws are wide open, 26

in terror.

SIEGFRIED Eager for prey

The dragon Fafner

;

Fafner

!

[He finks

Ho Behind the scene;, is heard breaking from the

thicket.

Is

me

will catch

I

!

fhrieking behind the anvil.

Thou idler there the work finished ? !

!

[tfe enten ~.

t fje

.

t_

,

,

[He pauses

Where

hides the smith

in surprise.

?

Has he made off ? Hey, there Mime, thou coward !

Where

art thou

?

Where

thou then, child Art thou alone ? 'Tis

In a small

voice,

from behind

Under the anvil

The sword

Comes forward, greatly upset contused.

?

?

Why, what doest thou there ? Wert thou grinding the sword

Mime and

How

Could

? I

The sword weld

?

it ?

How

.

to fear

Nothung shall be forged. Too wise am I To attempt such work. Wilt thou speak plainly Violently.

?

[Half afide. _ By him who knows not ,

Or must 27

I

help thee

?

!

hidest thou ?

the anvil.

Laughing.

cave.

Quick, come show me the sword. ,

SIEGFRIED Where

ffiimt

As

my

I turn in wily head

shall

My

before.

Wagered and

lost

need

?

is,

[Staring before htm.

And

forfeit to

Who

him

it

will fall

has never learned to fear.

Dost thou by shuffling Seek to escape ?

Vehemently.

Small need to

Jftimr

fly

Him who knows

Gradually

fear

!

But that lesson was one never taught thee.

recovering

A

himself.

fool, I forgot

The one great thing

What thou wert Was to love me, And

alas

!

Now how Hey

the task proved hard. shall I teach thee to fear

!

Mimt

?

Must

What work

Seizes him.

;

taught

I help thee ? hast thou done

?

Concerned for thy good, In thought I was sitting Something of weight I would teach thee. :

Laughing.

Mmt

'Twas under the seat That thou wert sitting What weighty thing foundest thou there ;

Down That

Recovering himself more and more.

With

I

learned how to fear, teach thee, dullard. might

there

I

This fear then, what

is it ?

quiet wonder.

Thou knowest not

that,

Yet wouldst from the forest Forth to the world ? 28

?

SIEGFRIED What

help in the trustiest sword,

Hadst thou not learned to fear

?

What Impatiently.

Jfttme Approaching Siegfried with more and ^nore confidence.

absurd Invention is this

?

thy mother's wish Speaking through me. 'Tis

must fulfil ThQ promise I gave her _, ,j M That the world and its wiles Thou shouldst not encounter j

:

,

, ,

,

Until thou hadst learned

.

how

an art ? Why was I not taught ? this fearing, what is Explain

to fear.

Is it

Vehemently

:

it ?

In the dark wood Hast thou not felt, When shades of dusk Fall dim and drear, When mournful whispers

Sigh afar,

And

fierce

growling

Sounds at hand,

When

strange flashes

Dart and

flicker,

And the buzzing And clamour grow [

Trembling.

Hast thou not felt grim horror Hold every sense in its clutches

?

[Quaking.

When

the limbs shiver,

Shaken with

terror,

\With a quivering 29

voice.

SIEGFRIED And

the heart,

with dismay,

filled

Hammers, bursting the

breast

Hast thou not yet felt that, A stranger art thou to fear.

Wonderful truly That must be.

Mufing.

Steadfast, strong heart in

Beats

my

my

breast.

The shiver and shudder, The fever and horror, Burning and fainting, Beating and trembling Ah, how glad I would feel them, [

Could I but learn this delight But how, Mime,

Tenderly.

!

Can it be mine ? How, coward, could it be taught Following me, The way thou shalt find

me

;

have thought it all out. I know of a dragon grim That slays and swallows men Fear thou wilt learn from Fafner, When I lead to where he lies.

I

:

Where has he

Mime

his lair ?

Neidhohl'

Named^ it lies east Towards the end of the wood. It lies

Mime

not far from the world

The world

is

?

quite close to the cave.

30

?

SIEGFRIED That

I

may learn what this fear me there straightway

Lead

Then

Make

forth to the world

haste

In the world fain

Mime

me

Forge

!

The sword

Woe's me

Quick to the smithy

Show me thy work

r

Accursed

JHtme

steel

!

the sword.

would swing

I

?

is, ;

it.

!

!

!

!

the task Unequal my The potent magic skill to

;

Surpasses the poor dwarf's strength. 'Twere more easily done By one who never felt fear. Artful tricks

would play me a bungler should confess, not seek to lie his way out. Here with the splinters Off with the bungler

The

He He

And

idler

;

is

;

!

!

[Coming

to the

hearth.

His father's sword Siegfried will weld By him shall it be forged. :

[Flinging

Mime's

impetuoujly

ffiim

to

tools

about, he sets himself

work.

thou hadst practised Thy craft with care, Thou wouldst have profited But thou wert far If

Too lazy

And now

at

now

;

to learn,

need canst do nothing,

31

SIEGFRIED Where

the master has failed for the scholar,

What hope

Had he obeyed him

in all ?

\H.e makes a contemptuous grimace at him.

Be

off

with thee

!

Meddle no more, In case with the steel

melt thee.

I

\H.e has heaped a large quantity of charcoal on the hearth, and keeps blowing the fire, while he screws up the pieces of the sword in

Why

a vice and

to bits

file it

There

files

them

to

/havings.

?

the solder Who has sat down All a little way off, fused, ready to hand. is

watches Siegfried at work.

Off with the pap,

Sjtegftiefc

I

need

With paste

Now

J&ttm;

not ; fashion no sword

it

I

the

file is

ruined, useless ; grind thus the steel to splinters ?

The rasp

Why

It

5fcgfttrt>

!

is

must be shivered

And ground

into shreds

;

Only so can splinters be patched. \He

JEime

I

see a craftsman

Is useless

By

goes on filing ivith great energy.

here

;

own folly the fool Look how he toils

his

is

best served.

With lusty strokes The steel disappears, ;

And

still

he keeps cool.

[Siegfried has blown thefire 3

2

to

a brightflame.

SIEGFRIED Though I am as old As cave and wood, The like I never yet saw

!

[While Siegfried continues to file the the sword impetuoujly, Mime seats a

He I

little

further

it

Boldly weld

My

sword

plain it

anew.

The Wanderer was

Where

of

himself

off.

will forge the

see

piece

shall

I

right.

hide

luckless head

?

nothing teaches him fear, Forfeit it falls to the boy. If

[Springing up and bending

down

agitation.

But woe to Mime If Siegfried

The dragon And,

if

will

how

so,

never be slain gain the ring ?

Accurst dilemma

Would I

must

I

!

learn fear, ;

!

escape,

find out

some way

Of subduing the boy for myself.

Hey, down the pieces, and puts the filings

That in

Mime

!

a

I

have pounded to

crucible,

!

pieces. which he places on the fire.

Nothung, that

Start sand turns

towards Siegfried.

Mime The name name the sword

Quick,

Has now filed

The name

t

^^

is

sword

^^ Md me 33

of the

.

the

in

growing

SIEGFRIED Nothung During

following song

Nothung

!

Conquering sword

the

yfa^ Wow

l

!

!

won der, broke

theC.

Thy keen-edged

^SSfZ "bellows.

glory l chopped to chaff splinters now I am melting. ;

The

Hoho

Hoho

!

!

Hohei Bellows blow Hohei

Hoho

!

!

!

!

Brighten the flame In the woods A tree grew wild

!

;

by my hand hewn down. The brown -stemmed ash To charcoal I burned Now it lies heaped high on the

It fell,

;

hearth.

Hoho

Hoho

!

!

Hohei Bellows blow Hohei

Hoho

!

!

!

!

Brighten the flame

How

!

bravely, brightly

The charcoal burns How clear and fair its fire With showering sparks It leaps and glows, !

!

Hohei

Hoho

!

Hohei

!

Dissolving the splintered steel

Hoho

Hoho

!

Hohei

!

Hoho

!

!

Brighten the flame

Hoho

!

!

!

Hohei Nothung Nothung Conquering sword Hoho, hohei

!

!

!

!

34

!

!

Hohei blow Bellows,

Hoho

!

!

!

The

forging of Nothung See p. 34

SIEGFRIED steel

Thy

chopped to chaff own sweat Thou swimmest now,

is

fused

;

In thine

the glowing contents of the crucible a mould, which he holds up.

[He pours into

But soon

my

sword thou shalt be

The sword he During

the pauses

in Siegfried^ song,

will forge

And vanquish Fafner, So much I can clearly foresee '

/Jill afide, fitting

at a dt fiance.

!

;

Hoard and rf T*I_ The victor will have How to win them both for myself By wit and wiles They shall be captured, ,,

.

-,

;

And

safe shall be

my

!

head.

[In the foreground, Jiill afide.

After the fight,

when

athirst,

For a cooling draught he will crave Of fragrant juices Gathered from herbs The draught I will brew for him. Let him drink but a drop, And in slumber Softly lapped he shall lie With the very sword That he fashioned to serve him He shall be cleared from my way, And treasure and ring made mine.

;

:

[He

Ha

!

rubs his hands with satisfaction.

dull didst hold

me,

Wanderer wise Does my subtle scheming !

Please thee 35

now

?

SIEGFRIED Have

A

found path to peace I

?

springs up joyfully, fetches several vejfeh, Jhakes spices and herbs from them into a pot^

[He

and

tries to

put

it

on the hearth.

In the water flowed

Has

A

plunged the

mould into a pail Steam of water

and loudhtfmg ensue as it

flood of fire

;

Furious with hate, Grimly it hissad ; it ran, Though & scorching _ & , ,. In the cooling flood

cools.

.

No more

it flows ; stark it became, Stiff, Hard is the stubborn steel Yet warm blood Shall flow thereby !

;

Now

sweat once again, That swift I may weld Nothung, conquering sword

thee, !

[He thru/Is the Jieel into the fire, and blows While doing so he the bellows violently. watches Mime, who, from the other fide of the hearth, carefully puts his pot on thefire.

What Make While

What .fHitn?

A

smith

is

does the booby in his pot

?

melt steel, art thou brewing I

?

put to shame,

And

learns from the lad he taught All the master's lore is useless now He serves the boy as cook. Steel thou dost brew into broth Old Mime boils thee Eggs for thy meal.

;

;

;

[He 36

goes on

with

his cooking.

SIEGFRIED Mime, the craftsman, Learns to cook now, And cares no longer to forge ; I have broken All the swords that he made me ; What he cooks my lips shall not touch. [During the following he takes the mould from the fire, breaks it, and lays the glowing Jl eel on the anvil.

To

find out what fear is Forth he will guide me ;

A

far-off teacher shall teach

Even what he does

me

;

best

He cannot do well Mime must bungle ;

In everything

[During

Hoho

Hoho

!

Hohei

!

!

the forging.

!

Forge me, my hammer, A trusty sword. Hoho Hahei Hoho Hahei Blood-stained was once !

!

!

!

Thy steely blue, The crimson trickle Reddened thy blade. How cold was thy laugh The warm blood cooled at thy touch !

Haha Heiaho Haheiaha Now red thou comest !

!

!

From the fire, And thy softened steel To the hammer yields. Angry sparks thou dost shower On me who humbled thy pride. 37

!

SIEGFRIED Heiaho Heiahohohohoho Heiaho

!

!

!

Hahei

Hoho

Hahei

!

Hoho

!

Hahei Hohei

!

!

!

!

Forge me, my hammer, A trusty sword Hahei Hoho Hoho Hahei ! !

!

!

!

How

I

rejoice

In the merry sparks The bold look best

!

When

by anger stirred thou laugh est to me, Gay Grimly though thou dost pretend Heiaho, haha, haheiaha Both heat and hammer Served me well !

!

!

;

With sturdy strokes stretched thee straight banish thy modest blush, Be as cold and hard as thou canst. I

;

Now

Heiho Heiaho Heiah Heiahohohohoho !

!

!

!

\_He swings the blade, plunges of

tnu While Siegfried is

He

fixing the

blade in the hilt, moves about in the foreground

with the bottle into which he has poured the contents of the pot.

A fide.

I

it

forges a sharp-edged sword Fafner, the foe Of the dwarf, is doomed ;

brewed a deadly draught Siegfried must perish

When

into the pail

water , and laughs aloud at the

Fafner

:

:

falls.

By guile the goal must be reached Soon shall smile my reward For the shining ring My brother once made, !

38

hijjing.

;

SIEGFRIED And which with a

potent

he endowed, The gleaming gold That gives boundless might That ring I have won now,

Spell

I

am

its lord. trots

[He

with increafing

briskly about

satis-

faftion.

Alberich even,

Whom

I served, Shall be the slave Of Mime the dwarf.

As Nibelheim's prince descend there, the host Shall do my will ; I shall

And

all

None so honoured as he, The dwarf once despised To the hoard will come thronging Gods and men !

;

[

With

increafing liuelineis.

The world shall cower, Cowed by my nod, And at my frown Shall tremble

No more

shall

Labour and

and

fall

!

Mime

toil,

When

others win him Unending wealth. Mime, the valiant,

Mime

is

monarch,

Prince and ruler, Lord of the world Great luck has been thine Hei, Mime !

!

Had any one dreamed 39

of this

!

I

SIEGFRIED Nothung During

the

;

and

Jharpening the

sword and

hammering

!

Conquering sword Once more art thou firm in thy hilt. Severed wert thou I shaped thee anew, No second blow thy blade shall shatter. !

pauses in Mimes song has been filing

Nothung

!

The strong

it

with the small hammer, tie flattens the rivets of the hilt with

the laft ftrokes,

and now grasps

My

father

steel fell

was

splintered,

;

The son who now

lives

anew. Shaped Bright-gleaming to him it

And

for

him

its

the sword.

Nothung

!

it

laughs,

edge shall be keen. [Swinging the sword before htm.

Nothung

!

Conquering sword Once more to life I have waked thee. Dead wert thou, In fragments hewn, !

Now

shining defiant and to all robbers !

fair.

Woe

Show them thy sheen

!

Strike at the traitor,

Cut down the rogue Mime, thou smith Thus sunders Siegfried's sword !

See,

;

!

\HeJlrikes the anvil and splits it in two from top to bottom, so that itfalls asunder with a great noise. Mime,

who to

has mounted a Jlool in great delight, falls in terror a fitting pojition on the ground. Siegfried holds the

sword exultantly on

40

high.

The curtain falls,

THE SECOND ACT A deep for eft The ground rises towards Quite in the background the entrance to a cave. a flat knoll in the middle of the ft age, andjlopes down again towards the bac^ so that only the upper part of the entrance to the cave is To the left a fijjured cliff is seen through viftble to the audience. the trees.

It is night, the darknefs being deepeji at the back, at firft the eye can dijlinguijh nothing at all.

where

In night-drear woods Lying by the cliff,

gloomily

brooding.

By Neidhohr I keep watch, With ear alert, Keen and anxious eye. Timid day, Tremblest thou forth ? Pale art thou dawning Athwart the dark ? orm

from a

arises in the

wood

bluifh light.

What comes

yonder, gleaming bright

Nearer shimmers

A It

and down

on the right,

the same quarter there Jhines

radiant form

;

runs like a horse and it shines Breaks through the wood, Rushing this way. 41

;

?

SIEGFRIED Is it the

Can

it

dragon's slayer ? Fafner's death

mean

[The wind It

subjides

? the light vanijbes.

;

The glow has gone, has faded and died ;

All is darkness.

Who

comes

there, shining in

shadow

?

To Neidhohl' Enters from the wood, and Jl ops

By

night

In the dark

oppojite Alberic);+

I

have come

who

is

;

hiding there

?

[As from a sudden rent in the clouds moonlight and lights up the Wanderer's ftr earns forth

figure.

'Tis Recognise, the

Wanderer and Jhrinks back at firjl

in

who comest thus What wilt th U herC ?

thou

Go, get thee hence ! Begone, thou insolent thief

?

!

alarm^ but immediately after breaks out in violent fury.

Schwarz- Alberich Quietly.

Wanders here ? Guardest thou Fafner's house Art thou intent mischief again ? Linger not here Off with thee straightway

?

On

!

Has

grief

!

enough

Not deluged the earth through thy guile Spare it further Sorrow, thou wretch I

!

come as watcher,

Not as worker. The Wanderer's way 42

who

bars ?

?

SIEGFRIED Thou arch, pestilent Were I still the Silly fool that I

plotter blind,

was,

When I was bound thy How easy were it To

!

captive,

from me For thy cunning

steal the ring again

Beware I

know

!

!

well, [Mockingly.

And

I

weakness too. aware am fully were debts cancelled, Thy of thy

Paid with

My

my

treasure

;

ring guerdoned

The

Who

giants' toil, raised thy citadel high.

Still

on the mighty

Haft of thy spear there The runes are written plain Of the compact made with the churls

And of that Which by labour they won Thou dost not dare to despoil them Thy spear's strong shaft Thou thyself wouldst split The staff that makes thee

:

;

Master of

all

Would crumble

to dust in thy hand.

By

the steadfast runes of treaties Thou hast not,

On

thee

Base one, been bound my spear may spend ;

strength,

So keen

I

keep 43

it

for war.

its

;

SIEGFRIED How How And

dire thy threats

!

bold thy defiance ! of fear is thy heart full yet

I

Foredoomed to death Through my curse is he

Who now

guards the treasure. heir will succeed him ? Will the hoard all desire Belong as before to the Niblung ?That gnaws thee with ceaseless torment.

What

I have got it Safe in my grasp, Better than foolish giants

For once

Will

I employ its spell. The God who guards heroes

may

Truly

tremble

!

storm Proud Walhall with Hella's hosts, And rule, lord of the world ! I

Quietly.

will

Thy

design

But

little I

Who

I

know

Will rule by

its

Thou speakest But

to

well,

care : wins the ring

me

might.

darkly,

all is plain.

Thy heart

is

bold

Because of a boy, [Mockingly,

A

hero begot of thy blood. Hast thou not fostered a stripling To pluck the fruit thou durst not \JVith growing violence*

Pluck frankly for thyself 44

?

SIEGFRIED With me 'Tis useless to

Lightly.

wrangle

;

But Mime thou

shouldst beware ; For thy brother brings here a boy To compass the giant's doom.

He knows not of me He works for Mime alone. And so I say to thee, Do as seems to thee best. ;

\_Alberich makes a violent curiofity.

Take my advice, Be on thy guard

The boy

will

When Mime

movement

exprejjive

:

hear of the ring tells

him the

tale.

Wilt thou hold thy hand from the hoard Violently.

Whom

Sl&Jatrtreret;

I

love

Must fight for himself unaided The lord of his fate,

He All

my

stands or

falls

;

:

hope hangs upon heroes.

Does none but Mime Dispute

me

the ring

Only thou and Covet the gold.

And

yet

it is

?

Mime

not to be mine ?

A

Quietly coming nearer.

hero comes set the hoard free Two Nibelungs yearn for the gold. Fafner falls, He who guards the ring Then a hand, seizing, shall hold it.

To

;

;

45

of

?

SIEGFRIED More wouldst thou There Fafner

Who,

warned

if

learn,

lies,

of his death,

Gladly would give up the toy.

Come,

will

I

wake him

for thee.

towards the cave, and, Jianding on the rifing ground in front of it, calk towards it.

\_He goes

Fafner

!

Fafner

Wake, dragon With

Does the anxious

amazement,

Am

I

to

!

Wake

!

!

madman mean have

it ?

it ?

afide.

dFafner's botre

Who

troubles

A

my

well-wisher comes

To warn thee

Facing the cave.

sleep ?

of

danger

;

Thy doom can be If

thou wilt pay

averted, the price

With the treasure that thou guardest. [He 's

What would

bole*

towards the cave, UJlening.

leans his ear

he

?

Waken, Fafner Dragon, awake doughty hero comes !

Has

come

to the

!

Wanderer and

A

calls into the

To

cave. 's botrc

DHatrtimr

try his strength against thine. I

want a meal.

Bold is the boy and strong Sharp-edged is his sword.

The ring he Nothing 46

seeks, besides.

;

SIEGFRIED Give

me

the ring, and so strife shall be stayed. guarding the hoard,

The Still

In peace shalt thou live long I

have and I hold me slumber !

Well, Alberich aloud and

then turns again to Alberich.

:

Let

Yawning.

Laugh

!

That ruse

!

failed,

me

rogue no more. This Qne thing thou S h uldst _T Never rforget Each according to his kind must act Nothing can change him.

But

call

:

now

leave thee the field Show a bold front, I

;

;

And try thy luck with thy brother Thou knowest his kind perhaps better. And things unknown Thou also shalt learn ;

!

[He

turns

away, and disappears quickly in A Jlorm arises and a bright

the wood.

light breaks forth

ttend) Looks after the Wanderer as he gallops

off.

And

then both quickly cease.

;

Away on

his shining

Horse he

rides,

i

eayes

me

to care

an d scorn

Laugh on! Laugh Ye light-minded

And

on,

high-spirited

Race of immortals One day ye shall perish !

And

pass ! Until the gold Has ceased to gleam, 47

!

SIEGFRIED Will wise Alberich watch, And his hate shall prevail. \H.e flips into the chasm at the fide. Dawn. Jlage remains empty.

As

The

dawns Siegfried and Mime enter. Siegfried carries his sword in a sword-belt of rope. Mime examines the place carefully. At laji he looks towards the background^ which remains in deep Jhadow, whilft the rijing ground in the middle becomes, after a time, more

the day

and more

Mime

brightly illuminated by the sun.

Our journey ends here Here we So here

Sits

the

down under lime-tree and

looks

about him.

A

I

;

halt.

shall learn

what

fear is ?

hast led me We have wandered lone together A whole night long in the woods. This is the last far

way thou

;

Of thee, Mime Can I not master !

My

lesson here,

Alone I will push forward And never see thee again. Lad, believe me, If thou canst not Learn it here and now, No other place, No other time Ever will teach thee fear.

Dost thou see That cavern yawning dark Yonder dwells A dragon dread and grim, Horribly fierce, 48

?

SIEGFRIED Enormous in size, With terrible jaws *

\

That threaten and gape

With skin and

;

hair,

All at a gulp,

The brute could swallow thee whole. St:ll fitting

the lime-tree

under

We !J His

C

1

/ * an g s

} *

d

t( > se up his gullet will therefore avoid.

;

Poison pours

From his venomous mouth Were he to spue out Spittle

on

;

thee,

Thy body and bones would

decay.

That the poison may not consume me, I will keep out of its reach.

Mim

A

serpent's tail

Sweeping he swings Were that about thee wound ;

And

folded close,

Thy limbs would be broken like glass. Sjt'ffifricfc

That his swinging tail may not touch me, Warily then I must watch. But answer me this :

Has the brute a heart ? JHRtm*

A

cruel heart.

pitiless, It lies,

however,

Where

all

Brute and

Of course

IHhiw

hearts

human !

The dragon's At

last

lie,

alike ?

There, boy, lies too.

thou beginnest to fear 49

?

D

SIEGFRIED -been

into

Nothung

Who

till

now has

lymg

indolentlyjlrttched out. fits

up

suddenly.

His heart Ig

that

what

is

will thrust

I

!

meant b y fearing?

Jd dotard _ * Canst thou teach me Nothing but this With all thy craft, Linger no longer by me No fear is here to be learnt. ,

>

,

:

Wait awhile yet

Jaime

What

!

have told thee Seems to thee empty sound When thou hast heard

Thy

I

;

And seen him thyself, senses will swoon, overwhelmed When thine eyes grow dim, And when the ground rocks, When in thy breast Thy heart beats loud,

r

[Very friendly.

Thou wilt remember who brought And think of me and my love. love is not wanted Hast thou not heard ? Out of my sight with thee

Thy

>ifSfrit&

Let

!

me

alone

;

!

Begin again talking of love, And on the instant I go The horrible winking, The nods and blinking !

When The

And

shall

last of

I

see

them,

rid be at length of the fool ? 5

thee,

SIEGFRIED Mimt

And And

Well, I will off, rest there by the spring. Thou must stay here, as the sun scales the sky Watch for the foe :

From his cave He lumbers this way, Winds and r

twists

Past this spot, To water at the fountain. Liest thou

Laughs.

by the spring, Unchecked thither the brute

He

shall

go

;

swallow thee Down with the water, Ere with my sword shall

To the heart

I

stab

him

!

So heed well what I say Rest not beside the spring. Seek somewhere else :

A

far-off spot,

And nevermore

return.

Thou

wilt not refuse Cooling refreshment When the fierce fight is over

?

[Siegfried motions him angrily away.

on me too Shouldst thou need counsel,

Call

[Siegfried repeats the gejlure with more violence.

Or

if

felled

on a sudden by

[Siegfried

rises

and

fear.

drives

him away with

furious gejlures.

Jflhne Afide, as he goes

Fafner and Siegfried and Fafner-

Siegfried

away.

[He

disappears in the

wood

on the right.

SIEGFRIED He Stretches himself at his ease under

the

!

!

Neyer before

hme.tr ee and

looks after

no father of mine merry of heart I feel

is

How

$^m& the

Mime

forest fair

;

Never da 7

as he depa rts.

Wore

as lovely a smile,

For the loathed one has gone at last, To be looked on by me no more. [He

My

what was he

father

meditates in filence.

like ?-

Ha like me, without doubt. Had Mime by chance had a son, He would have been !

Mime's image

:

Quite as disgusting, Filthy and grey, Small and bent,

Hunchbacked and halting, With ears long and hanging,

Rheumy To

eyes running

Off with the fright ! see him makes me sick ! [He leans further back and the

branches of the

looks

tree.

IVoodland murmurs.

What

could my mother, wonder, be like ; That is not I

So easy to picture. \Very tenderly.

Her

clear shining eyes

Must have been

And

soft,

gentle like the roe-deer's,

Only far

fairer. \_Very softly.

In fear and woe she bore me, 52

up through

Deep

filence.

SIEGFRIED But why did she die through me Must then all human mothers Thus die on giving Birth to a son ? That would truly be sad

?

!

if I

only Ah, Could see my mother See my mother, A woman once

!

!

[He fighs

softly,

and

leans Jiill further back.

murmur ing ofthe wood. Deepfilence. Louder His attention is at laji caught by the song of with growing inter eft the birds. lijiens to one tinging in the branches above him.

He

lovely warbler,

know not thy note Hast thou thy home in this wood 1

;

?

could but understand him, His sweet song might say much-

If I

Perhaps of

A

my

mother

tell

me.

surly old dwarf Said to me once That men might learn To follow the sense

Of birds when they were singing Could it indeed be done ?

;

Ha

On

I will sing ! After him, the reed follow him sweetly. Though wanting the words,

Repeating his measure Singing what is his language Perhaps I shall know what he says. cuts

a

runs to the neighbouring spring, reed off with his sword, and quickly makes He liftens again. out of it. himself a pipe

[He

53

SIEGFRIED He So

stops to hear,

now

for

my

song

!

blow$ into the pipe, breaks

[He it

to

again

off,

He

it.

improve

and

cuts

resumes his

blowing, /hakes his head, and cuts the pipe once more. After another attempt he gets

angry,

and

preffes

tries

with

the pipe

again.

He

ceases

his hand, playing and

smiles.

That rings not right For the lovely tune

The reed I

I

not suited at fear, sweet bird, am too dull ; is

Thy song cannot

;

all.

I learn.

hears the bird again

[He

and

looks

up

him.

He

listens so roguishly

There that he shames

me

;

\_Very tenderly.

He

and nothing rewards him. Come hearken Heida Now to my horn

waits,

!

;

\H.e flings the pipe away.

All I do

On

sounds wrong

the stupid reed ; of the woods

To a song That

A

I

know,

merry song, listen now rather. I hoped it would bring Some comrade to me, But wolves and bears

Were

Now

the best that came. I

will see 54

to

SIEGFRIED Who

answers

What comrade [He on

its

will

note

come

:

to its call.

takes the filver hunting-horn and blows it. During the long-sujtained notes he

A

keeps his eyes expectantly on the bird. in the background. Fafner, in

movement

the form of a monjlrous lizard-like dragon, He has risen from his lair in the cave. breaks through the underwood and drags himself up to the higher ground, so that the front part of his body rejh on it, while

he utters a loud sound, as if yawning.

My Looks round and

gazes at Fafner in ajlonijhment.

A He

horn with

its

note

Has allured something lovely jolly companion wert thou.

;

laughs.

What

jFafner

At the fight of Siegfried and remains there.

that

is

?

has paused on the high ground,

thou art a beast can use its tongue, Perchance thou couldst teach something. Here stands one If

Who

me

Who

would learn to fear ; thou be his teacher ? wilt Say, jf afnrr Sicgfrirti

Is this insolence ?

Courage or insolence, matter ? With my sword I will slay thee, Wilt thou not teach me to fear.

What

Jpafnrr

Makes a

Drink

Now

came

I

food

laughing sound.

I

for

;

find too

!

hh QWS Qnd 55

^^ hh

SIEGFRIED What

Strgfrirtr

a fine set of teeth

Thou showest me

there

!

Sweetly they smile In thy dainty mouth 'Twere well if I closed up thy gullet Thy jaws are gaping too wide !

;

!

They were not made

jpafnrr

For idle talk, But they will serve To swallow thee.

Hoho ! Ferocious, Merciless churl

Stfflftirt

!

I

have no fancy

To be Better

it

eaten.

seems to

me

That without delay thou shouldst

Pruh

jFafnrr

Boy, with thy boasts

Draws

The boaster comes

Beware, growler [He

!

Come,

!

Roaring.

his

die

!

!

!

springs towards Fafner

and remains

ae-

fiantly confronting him. Fafner drags himself further up the knoll and spits at Siegfriedfrom his nojlrih. avoids the poison, springs

Siegfried nearer, and Jlands on one fide. Fafner tries to reach him with his tail. Siegfried, who is

nearly caught, springs over Fafner with one

and wounds him

bound,

in the tail.

roars, pulls his tail angrily away,

Fafner

and raises

the

front part of his body so that he may throw its full weight on Siegfried, thus offering his breaft to the Jlroke.

where

Siegfried quickly looks

his heart

up to the

hilt.

is,

Fafner

in his pain, and,

see

raises himselfJiill higher Siegfried has let go his

when

sword and sprung ajide, he Jinks on 56

to

and thru/is his sword into it

the

wound.

Siegfried kills Fafner See p. 56

SIEGFRIED Lie there, envious brute Nothung's point home has speeded !

Siegfrteti

jFafrur In a weaker

!

Who voice.

art thou, boy bold-hearted, That hast pierced my breast ? Who stirred up thy childish soul To the murderous deed ? Thy brain schemed not the harm

Wrought by thy hand. .Sifflfttfti

Not much have Not even who I

I

learned,

am

;

Thou

thyself with thy taunting Stirred me to fight and to slay. JPafnrr

O

boy bright-eyed, knowest not yet who thou Whom thou hast murdered Hear from me. Two mighty giants there were, Fasolt and Fafner

Who

art,

;

The brothers now are both

fallen.

For the cursed gold We got from the Gods I

did Fasolt to death.

He who now guards The hoard as dragon, Fafner, the last remaining, Falls, by a rosy boy slain.

Boy in thy bloom, Watch and be wary

He who

:

stirred thee blind to this deed

Takes thought how to compass thy death. [Dying.

Mark

the ending

Think on 57

me

!

!

SIEGFRIED Who

was

my

father ?

thou canst. Dying, thou showest, Wild one, much wisdom. haply Siegfried my name is That may help thee to guess. Tell, if

;

Siegfried

dfafner

!

The dead can

no

tell

himself and

raises

[He

tidings.

living sword, lead

My

Lead onward, \_Fafner

has

Siegfried

rolled

to

now draws

with the blood

;

mouth

to

!

the fide in dying. the sword from his

hand gets sprinkled draws it back quickly.

so his

he

The hot blood burns [Involuntari/y he

!

sword

my

In doing

breajt.

dies.

like fire

!

his fingers to blood frsm them.

raises

suck the

his

As

he looks mufingly before him his attention becomes more and more attracted by the

Jinging of the birds.

almost seem the birds speaking to me. hear To Is there a spell, Perhaps, in the blood ? I

The curious bird up there he sings to me. Hark !

>Jotcc of

From

tfje

the branches

of the lime-tree above Siegfried.

! Siegfried now owns All the Nibelung hoard !

Hei

Oh could he the hoard In the cave but find Tarnhelm, if he could but win !

!

it,

Would help him to deeds of renown And could he discover the ring, It would make him the lord of the world ;

58

!

"

The hot blood burns

like fire

See p 58

!

SIEGFRIED Thanks, bonnie bird, For the counsel good

Has

liftened holding his breath

j f o ll

[He

,if with deheht. ,

ow

,

L

the call

:

!

and

turns towards the back

,

,

the cave,

,

descends to

,.

where he at

once disappears.

Mime Jleals At

He

to ajjure himself of Fafners death. up, looking about him timidly the same time Alberich comes out of the cleft on the oppofite fide.

observes

Mime,

rujhes on him and bars his turns tozuards the cave.

way, as

the latter

On what

errand Furtive and sly, Knave, dost thou slink

?

Accursed brother, That thou shouldst come

What

Rogue, has my gold Provoked thy greed ? Dost covet my goods Jfttme

!

brings thee here ?

?

Get thee gone quickly This corner is mine What huntest thou here !

;

Hlfcrad)

?

Have I disturbed thee, Thief, at thy work, Secret and sly ?

What I have slaved And toiled to win Shall not escape me.

Who was it robbed The Rhine of gold for the ring ? And whose cunning wrought The spell of magical might ? 59

SIEGFRIED Who made

Jfttmc

Changing

its

the Tarnhelm, wearer's form ?

Though thou

Was

didst

want

designed by thee

it

And what

it,

?

of thyself

Couldst aright have fashioned, thou bungler ? The magic ring Forced thee to master thy craft.

And where

Mime

'Twas

reft

What thou I will

is

the ring

?

from thy clutch by the hast lost

gain and keep by

my

guile.

What

the boy has won the niggard deny him ? 'Tis not thine ; the hero

SUfettid)

Would

Who won

Mim

it is

now

its lord.

brought him up my pains now he shall pay For its reward trouble has waited too long. I

For

My

;

Just for rearing him, old niggardly, Beggarly knave, Bold as brass,

The

A

king

now would become

?

The

ring would befit Better a dog Than bumpkin like thee. Never to thee

The magical 60

ring shall

fall

!

;

giants.

SIEGFRIED Well, keep

then, care

it,

Scratches his

And guard with

head.

The gleaming gold Be thou lord, But

treat

Give

me me

as a brother

;

it

against

Tarnhelm

for toy,

Fairly exchanged r

;

;

Divided thus, There will be booty for both. rubs his hands confidingly.

[He

it with thee ? the Tarnhelm too

Share With a mocking

And

laugh.

How

jfl f me Befide himself.

!

thou art ! I could never Sleep for a moment safely. sly

What

not even

!

Strike a bargain I must go bare,

!

of gain

Beggared

Thou wouldst

leave

!

me

with nothing

!

[Shrieking,

Nothing, not so Much as a nail, Shall fall to thy portion.

JHtme In a fury.

Neither ring nor Tarnhelm Shall thy hand touch, then 'Tis I will not share

;

!

I will call

Summon

on

Siegfried,

the aid

Of his keen-edged sword

The lad

will

;

make

Short work, dear brother, of thee 61

!

SIEGFRIED Turn and look there Siegfried having

From

!

the cavern hither he comes.

appeared in the background.

He

have chosen

will

Trivial toys.

He

bears the Tarnhelm

Also the ring Curst luck Jfttwe

Laughing

!

The ring

!

!

!

Get him to give thee the ring now who shall win it Tis j not th

!

,

maltcioujly.

And Must

it

yet to

its

lord

at last be surrendered

[He

!

disappears in the

cleft.

[During the foregoing Siegfried, with Tarnhelm and ring, has come Jlcwly and medithe cave ; he regards his tatively from and Jl ops on the knoll in booty thoughtfully, the middle of the Jl age.

do not know Of what use

I

Ye

From

I chose you are out the heaped-up hoard ;

Because of friendly advice. Meanwhile, of this day

How And

Be ye worn

as witness,

Recalling to

mind

with fallen Fafner I fought, yet could not learn how to fear. his girdle and hangs the Tarnhelm on His Silence. puts the ring on his finger. notice is involuntarily drawn to the bird to him with breathlefe again, and he lijlens

[He

attention.

62

The dwarfs

quarrelling over the

of Fafner See p. 59

body

SIEGFRIED Hei Siegfried now owns Both the helm and the ring Oh let him not listen

S2Uool>=

!

s botce

!

!

To Mime,

the false

!

He were

wise to be wary of Mime's treacherous tongue. He will understand

Mime's

secret intent,

Because he has tasted the blood. [Siegfried's

mien and gejlures /how that he

has under/food the bird's song.

He

sees

Mime

approaching, and remains without moving, leaning on his sword, observant in his place on the knoll and till

He weighs in his mind The booty's worth

Steals forward

and

self-contained, the close of the following scene.

;

Qan there by chance

observes

Rave come this way ^ Wanderer wise

Siegfried from th< foreground.

Who

talked to the child, crafty runes ?

And taught him

Doubly sly Be then the dwarf My snares must be cunning, ;

Cleverly

set,

That with cajoling

And The

wily falsehoods

insolent boy

[He

I

may

goes nearer

to

fool.

and welcomes

Siegfried

him with flattering geftures,

Ha

!

Welcome,

Siegfried

Say, bold fighter, Hast thou been taught

A

teacher

still is

63

how

to find.

!

to fear ?

SIEGFRIED But the dragon grim

Mime

A

Has fallen before thee ? and fierce monster was

he.

fell

Though grim and

spiteful the brute, over his grieve death, While there live still, unpunished, Blacker scoundrels than he was I

!

The one who bade me slay I hate far more than the slain.

Have patience Thou Look on me long.

ffiimt

!

Very friendly.

wilt not

[Sweetly.

In endless sleep Soon thine eyelids will be sealed. Thy uses are over, [As ifpraiftng him.

Done is the deed The only task left For me is to win the booty. ;

Methinks that task

will

not tax

Thou wert always easy

to fool.

To me thou

art plotting

What makes

Mime

me

harm, then

thee think that

Ajlonifhed.

;

?

?

[Continuing tenderly.

my own

one have always loathed Thee and all that are like thee. It was not from love That I reared thee with care Siegfried, listen,

!

I

:

The gold hid in Fafner's cave I worked for as my reward. [As if he were promifing him something

64

nice.

SIEGFRIED thou wilt not yield up to me,

If It

[As if he were ready

to

lay

down

his

life for

him.

Siegfried,

Thou

my

plainly

son,

must

see [As if in friendly jejl

I

have no choice but

That

I

Pleases

But must I

I

am me

hated

lose

my

See,

for thy pleasure ?

life

;

made a

hast

mistake.

thou art weary

From

stress of strife,

Burning with fever and thirst Mime, the kind one,

To

!

;

never said that

Thou

Angrily.

to slay thee

;

cool thy thirst

Brought a quickening draught. While thy blade thou didst melt I brewed thee the drink Touch it, and straight Thy sword shall be mine, And mine the hoard and Tarnhelm too. ;

[

So thou of

5-itegfttrtf

And

all it

my

has won me wouldst rob

Ring and booty

Mim Violently.

Why

wilt mistake so

DO

drivel or dote ?

I

my

me

words

use the utmost Pains with my speech, That what in my heart I mean may be hidden I

65

Tittering.

sword

;

!

?

SIEGFRIED And the stupid boy Misunderstands what I say Open thy ears, boy, And

attend to

me

!

!

Hear, now, what Mime means. Take this the drink will refresh thee As my drinks oft have done. :

Many

a time

When

fretful

and bad, loth enough,

Though The draughts

I brought thou hast swallowed.

Of a cooling drink I were glad Say, how has this one been brewed ;

Mime him a pleasant ftate of intoxication

Hei Just drink it Trust to my skill. In mist and darkness Soon shall thy senses be sunk !

!

yefting merrily, as if describing to

7

;

which

the liquor is to bring about.

None

?

to

;

watch or ward them,

Stark-stretched shall thy limbs be. Thou lying thus, 'Twere not hard To take the booty and hide it ;

But wert thou to awake, Nevermore would

Mime

be safe,

Even owning the

ring.

So with the sword He has made so sharp \JVith a gejiure of extravagant joy.

First

I

will

hack

The child's head off Then I shall have both rest and !

the ring

!

[Tittering.

66

SIEGFRIED Thou

Do

me when

wouldst, then, slay sleeping ?

what, child

only

pains

say that

I

?

ajfume the utmojl tender-

to

Carefully

nefs.

I

Did

?

\J^ e takes

Furiou/Iy.

and

dijlinttly.

mean

To chop

off

thy head

!

[li^ith the appearance of heartfelt solicitude for Siegfried's health.

c

For even

if I

Had loathed thee less, And had not thy scoffs And my drudgery shameful So loudly urged to vengeance, [Gently.

should never dare to pause Till from my path I thrust thee I

:

\^feftingly again.

How

Which

come by

the booty, Alberich covets as well ?

else could I

[He pours and

the liquid into the drinking-horn,

offers

Siegfried with prejjing

to

it

gejlures.

Now,

my

Walsung,

Wolf-begot, Drink the draught and be choked, And never drink again !

[

Taste thou

itegftirtJ

Threatens him

with

his

word.

my

sword,

Loathsome babbler

^Mime y

Tittering.

sgized by

!

v ; 0/enf

/oat /} ; ngy

a /harp jlroke with his

fa

gi ves

sword.

Inftantly Mime falls dead to the ground. Alberich's voice in mocking laughter from the cleft.

67

SIEGFRIED Looking at Mime on the ground, quietly hangs his

Envy's wage Pays Nothung 'Twas for this that

[&

sword again on

knoll,

I

forged him.

Mtmes

up

picks

;

and throws

it to the body, carries

it into the cave.

In the cavern, there, Lie on the hoard ;

With steadfast guile The gold thou hast gained

Now

belong to its master

let it

:

!

And a watchman good I

Never

give thee, that thieves may enter and steal.

[With a great dragon

which

There

lie

effort

in front it

of

he pujhes the body of the the entrance to the cave,

completely Jlops up.

thou too,

Dragon grim

;

Along with thy foe Greedy of gain Thou shalt guard the glittering gold So both at last shall rest in peace. [He

looks

down

thoughtfully

:

into the cave for

a time, and then turns Jlowly to the front He pajfes his of the Jlage as if tired. hand over his brow.

Hot

I feel

From

the heavy toil Fast and furious

Flows

my

;

blood,

My hand burns on my head. High stands the sun in heaven

;

From

azure heights Falls his gaze Through a cloudless sky on 68

my

crown.

SIEGFRIED Pleasant shadows will cool

me

under the

linden.

\He fir etches and again If only,

I

himself out under the lime-tree, looks

up through the boughs.

pretty warbler,

So long and so Rudely disturbed, could once more hear thee singing On a branch I see thee

!

Merrily swaying Chirping and chattering, Brothers and sisters Are happily hovering round. ;

But I I am alone, Without brother or sister My mother died,

My

father

;

fell,

Unseen by their son The one soul I knew !

Was

a loathsome old dwarf

;

\Warmly.

Love he festered not

By kindness

Many

;

a cunning

Snare did he set

At

last I

was forced

me

;

to slay him.

[He locks sorrowfully up Bird sweet and friendly, I ask thee a boon

at the branches

:

Wilt thou find for

A

comrade true

me

?

Wilt thou choose for me the right one So oft I have called, And yet no one has come !

69

?

SIEGFRIED Thou, my friend, Wilt manage it better, So wise thy counsel has been. [Softly.

Now

sing

Hei botre

The I

!

I

!

Siegfried has slain deceitful dwarf !

know

A

hearken to thy song.

for

him now

glorious bride.

She sleeps where rugged rocks soar Ringed is her chamber by fire.

Who

battles the flames,

Wakens

the bride, Briinnhilde wins as reward. lovely song, Starts up impetuoujly from

h " seat-

Flower-sweet breath Thy yearn i n g music

Burns

in

my

breast

!

!

Like leaping flame kindles my heart. races so swift Through soul and senses ? It

What

Sweetest of friends, Saoofc botre

O

say [He !

Grieving yet glad, Love I am singing

lijlens.

;

from woe Weaving my song They only who yearn understand. Blissful,

:

Forth, forth then, Swift and rejoicing Forth from the wood to the !

fell

Just one thing more 1 would learn, sweet singer 70

!

:

;

SIEGFRIED Say, shall

Can

I

break through the

I

awaken the

bride

fire ?

?

\_He

lijlens

again,

No coward wins Briinnhild' for bride,

itrtj'0 boire

Or wakes the maid

:

Only a heart without fear.

The

Who

Shouting

with joy.

foolish

boy has never learned

Dear bird> that dullard am To-day I took endless

I

fear, !

Trouble in vain,

To

what fear was from Fafner. With longing I burn

find out

Now What

from Briinnhild' to learn

path soonest leads to the [The bird flutters up, and flies hefitatingly

The

bird to

my

over Siegfried,

before him.

goal will guide me.

Fly where thou I

circles

it.

fell ?

wilt,

follow thy flight ! \H.e rum after the bird, who for a time flies uncertainly hither and thither to tease him; at

follows him, when, taking a lajl definite direction towards the back, the bird flies

he

away.

THE THIRD ACT A

wild

of a rocky mountain which rises precipitoujly at the back Night,Jlorm, lightning and violent thunder. The latter

spot at the foot

on the

left.

ceases fhortly, but the lightning continues to fla/h

The Wanderer

enters

and walks

from

the clouds for

towards a cavernous opening in a rock in the foreground, and takes up his on his spear, while he calls the pofjtion there, leaning following towards the entrance to the cave. some time.

Waken, Wala Awake Wala

resolutely

!

!

!

From

thy long sleep,

wake

Slumberer,

at

my

call

!

summon

thee forth : Arise ! Arise From cloud-covered caves I

!

In earth's dim abysses, arise Erda Erda, Old as the world From depths dark and hidden Rise to the day !

!

!

!

With song I sing to wake

I call

thee,

thee, of dreams deep

From

Bid thee

arise.

All-knowing one Fount of knowledge !

Erda

Erda,

!

72

!

wisdom

SIEGFRIED Old as the world Awaken, thou Vala !

Waken

!

\_A

dim

blui/h

Loud

the call the spell that Strong is

summons

;

have been roused From dark and wise dreams Who wakes me from my sleep ? I

'Tis I

Was

who awake

thee

of magic,

in slumber folded fast may rise. The wide earth ranging,

Far I have roamed, Seeking for knowledge, Wisdom at fountains primeval. No one that lives Is wiser than thou ;

Thou knowest

all

In the hidden depths,

What moves on Dale, in water

Where

life

and is

hill,

air.

found,

There thou art breathing And where brains ponder, There is thy thought.

Men

say that

;

all

thine.

Knowledge That I might ask of thee counsel, I have called thee from sleep. is

73

the

and garments,

;

With song That what

in

light

on her hair

glitters

dawn

I

Erda, during the very gradually from below. be covered with hoar-froji^

this

following, rises She appears to

which

begins to

light

In

cavern.

Awaken

!

:

SIEGFRIED My My

sleep

is

dreaming,

dreaming brooding, My brooding wisdom's calm working. But while I sleep The Norns are wakeful They twine the rope, And deftly weave what I know. The Norns thou shouldst have questioned. :

In

world Norns weaving They cannot alter

SHanfceter

thrall to the

Sit the

What

ordained

;

is.

But I would fain Be taught of thy wisdom How a wheel on the roll can be stayed. tfgfrtrti

;

[// suddenly becomes

In fear of Breaking out anger and

In

affummga commanding attitude.

it

its life it fled.

knew

Was

^^ ^

that here the raven s' lord

defiant attitude.

j.

^ ^^^ .*

J

.

!

Interferer

!

;

he caught

The W& y that lt Thou shalt not go

Hoho Amazed, falls back and a //times a

dark a?arn.

!

Who

then aft thou M_ MJ. i That Wllt nOt let me P aSS *.

j.

*

?

Fear thou the rock's defender ! My might it is Holds the maiden fettered by sleep*

He who would wake her, He who would win her, Impotent makes

A

burning

me

for ever.

t>ea

Encircles the maid, Fires fiercely glowing Surround the rock ;

SIEGFRIED He who

craves the bride

The flames must boldly [He points with

his spear

Look up above That

The The

defy.

towards the rocky heights.

!

light dost thou see surging heat, splendour, grows

?

;

Clouds of

fire rolling,

Tongues of flame writhing, Roaring and raging, Come ravening down. Thy head now Is flooded

with light

;

[A

flickering glow^ increafmg in brightnefs, appears on the summit of the rock.

The

fire will

seize thee, thee.

and devour

Seize

Back, back, there, foolhardy boy

Stand back, old babb'er, thyself For where the fire is burning,

To Briinnhilde yonder [He

advances

;

the

I

go

!

!

!

Wanderer

bars his way.

Hast thou no fear of the fire, Then barred by my spear be thy path

!

hold the haft

I still

That conquers all The sword thou dost wield shivered long ago ;

It

:

Upon my

spear eternal

Break

it

once more. [He Jiretches

__[ Drawing his word-

Tis

my

father's foe, at last for then, vengeance

Found here Now,

83

!

!

out his spear.

SIEGFRIED am

In luck

I

!

Brandish thy spear

My

sword

will

hew

it

:

twain

in

!

\JVith one Jlroke he hews the Wanderer's spear in two pieces. Lightning flafhes from the spear up towards the rocks, where the light, until

brighter clap,

and

now dim,

which quickly

begins to

flame

A violent thunder-

brighter. dies

away, accompanies

the Jlroke.

Fare on

cannot prevent thee

I

!

!

[He suddenly disappears in utter darknefs. Quietly picking up the pieces of the spear which have fallen at his feet.

With

his spear in splinters

Vanished the coward

!

[The growing brightnefs of the clouds offire, which keep finking down lower and lower, attracts Siegfried's eye.

Ha

Rapturous

!

fire

!

Glorious light Shining my pathway Opens before me. In fiery flames plunging, Through fire I will win to the bride !

Hoho

To summon [He

Hahei a comrade

!

!

!

sets

his

horn

I call to

his

!

lips

and

plunges

into the fiery billows,which, flowing down the heights, now spread over the

from

who

is

soon

to

lojl Siegfried, foreground. view, seems, from the sound of his horn, to The flames be ascending the mountain.

begin

a

to

fade,

dij/olving

dawn. 84

and change gradually cloud

lit

by

the

into

glow of

SIEGFRIED The

thin cloud has resolved itself into a fine rose-coloured veil of mijl, which divides that the upper part rises and disappears, disclofing the bright blue sky of day ; whilji on the edge of the rocky height, now becoming

so

" The (exaftly the same scene as in the third Afi of reddened the veil dawn a remains by of mijt Valkyrie "), hanging, which suggejls the magic fire jlill flaming below. The arrangement vifible

" The of the scene is exaflly the same as at the end of Valkyrie" In the foreground, under a wide-spreading fir-tree, lies Brunnhilde her helmet on her head, and her in full Jhining armour, long Jhield covering her, in deep Jleep.

r

Coming from

Solitude blissful sun- caressed height

On

the

back, reaches the rocky edge of the

summit, and at

He gazes at the scene in ajioni/hment. looh into the wood at the fide and comes forward a little.

firft /hows only the upper part

of his body. He looks round him for a long time in amaze. Softly.

!

climbs to the summit, and,Jlanding on a rock at the edge of the precipice at the back,

\He

What

lies in

shadow,

Asleep in the wood ? A charger Resting in slumber deep. [Approaching Jlowly heJJops in surprise when, Jlill at some little dijlance from her, he sees

Brunnhilde.

What The

radiant thing

steel,

how

it

lies

gleams and

the glare That dazzles me Is

yonder

?

glints

!

it

still ?

Shining armour ? Shall it be mine ? up the Jhield and sees Briinnhilde 's her face, however, is for the mofi part hidden by her helmet.

[He

lifts

form

Ha

!

It

;

covers a

man

!

The sight stirs thoughts sweet and strange The helm must lie 85

!

SIEGFRIED Hard on

head

his

;

Lighter lay he Were it unloosed. helmet carefully

loosens the

[He it

head of the

the

from

curling hair breaks forth.

Ah

how

!

fair

and removes Long

Jleeper.

Tenderly.

!

[Hejtands

lojl

in contemplation.

Clouds gleaming softly Fringe with their fleeces This lake of heaven bright Laughing, the glorious Face of the sun Shines through the billowy clouds ;

[He

His bosom

is

!

bends lower over the Jleeper.

heaving,

Stirred by his breath Ought I to loosen the breastplate ;

tries to loosen the

[He sword, Cleave thou the iron

? breajlplate.

my

Come,

[He draws

his

!

sword and gently and

carefully

through the rings on both fides of the breaftplate ; he then lifts this off along

cuts

with the greaves^ so that Briinnhilde now in a soft woman's robe. lies before him He draws backjtartled and amazed.

That

no

is

man

!

\He Jlares at the Jleeper, greatly excited,

Magical rapture Pierces

Fixed

is

my heart my gaze,

;

Burning with terror my heart faints and ;

I reel,

[He

On whom 86

shall

is

seized

I call,

fails

!

with sudden

terror.

"

Magical rapture Pierces

my heart

;

Fixed is my gaze, Burning with terror I reel,

my heart

faints

;

and

See

p.

fails

86

!

SIEGFRIED For aid imploring ? Mother Mother !

!

Remember me [He

!

finks as if fainting on to Brunnhilde\ then hejtarts ; up fighing.

bosom

How waken the maid, Causing her eyelids to open [

Her

What

if

?

Tenderly.

eyelids to open ? her gaze strike me blind shall I dare

!

How

To look on

their light ?

and sways And swirls and revolves All rocks

;

Uttermost longing

Burns and consumes me on my heart, It trembles and shakes What ails thee, coward ? Is this what fear means ? O mother Mother

;

My hand

!

!

Thy

!

dauntless child

!

\_Very tenderly.

A woman

lying asleep

Has taught him what

How How I

my my heart

conquer brace

fear is at last fear

!

?

?

That, myself, I waken, must waken the sleeper !

\_As he approaches the JJeeping figure again he is overcome by tenderer emotions at the fight.

He

bends

down lower

Softly quivers

Her flower-sweet mouth Its lovely 87

trembling

!

;

sweetly.

SIEGFRIED Has charmed

Ah

my

despair

!

And the fragrant, warmth of her breath

!

Blissful

!

[As if in despair.

Awaken

Awaken, Maiden divine !

!

gazes at her.

[He

She hears me not. New life from the sweetest Of lips I will suck, then, Even though kissing I die !

[He finks, as if dying, on to the Jleeping figure, on Brunnand, clofing his eyes, fajl ens his lips hildes. Brunnhilde opens her eyes. Siegfried Jlarts up,

ha ;i the e H ai " oligh

Sun .

H

, Raifing her arms, Hail, fhe greets earth

and

sky

and remains Jlanding

O I

I

solemn gejJures on her return to

V

1 day glorious

!

, !

have slept awake. What hero broke

Long

with

j

before her.

;

am

Briinnhilde's sleep

?

consciousnefs.

Through the

tfgfttrti

Awed and

fierce fires flaming rock I burst unloosened thy helmet strong

Round

entranced by her j lo k a " d her vo ' ce >

r

;

:

I

awoke thee

Gods, Hail,

Sitting upright.

I

;

hail

you World

!

!

O

Earth, in thy glory sleep is over now,

Hail,

My

this

My

eyes open.

It is Siegfried

Who

bids 88

me wake

!

!

"

Sun,

I

hail thee

!

O

Hail, light ! Hail, glorious day

O

See

p.

" !

88

SIEGFRIED I

Breaking forth

in

rapturous exaltation.

mother

hail thee,

who

gave

Hail>

Q

,*,_

me

birth

!

Earth> .

,

.

That nourished

my

.,

life

So that I see those eyes Beam on me, blest among I

hail the

To

!

mother

Who

gave thee birth

Hail,

O

!

Earth,

That nourished thy

No

men

life

I

eye dared see me but thine thee alone might I wake ! [Both remain full of beaming

;

ecfta^y^ loft in

mutual contemplation.

O

Siegfried

Siegfried

!

!

Hero most blest Of life the awaker, !

Conquering

light

!

O

joy of the world, couldst know How thou wert always loved !

Thou wert my

gladness,

My

care wert thou life I sheltered Before it was thine

!

Thy

My

shield

was thy

;

shelter

Ere thou wert born So long loved wert thou, Siegfried :

mother did not die, then Did the dear one but sleep ?

My Softly

and

timidly.

Adorable child

Nevermore thy mother

towards him.

Tr T If I

will greet thee

Thyself I, .,, be blest with thy love. ,

,

,

'

,

,

89

?

!

Smiles andjlretches her handout kindly

am

!

SIEGFRIED know

All things I

Known

not to thee

;

Yet only of my love Born is my wisdom. Siegfried

!

Conquering

Siegfried

light

!

!

loved thee always, For I alone Divined the thought hid by 1

Wotan

:

Hidden thought I dared not So much as utter Thought that I thought not, ;

Feeling

only

it

;

For which I worked, Battled and strove, Defying even

Him who

conceived

it

;

For which in penance Prisoned

I

lay,

Because thought it was not, But felt alone For what the thought was Say, canst thou guess it?Was love of thee, nothing but that !

How

wondrous sounds

Thy rapturous song! But dark the meaning to me. [

Tenderly.

Of thine eyes the splendour I

see plain,

can feel thee breathing and warm, Sweet can hear The singing of thy voice,

I

Soft

90

!

SIEGFRIED But what thou sayest

strive

I

Vainly to understand.

cannot grasp clearly Things so far distant Needed is every sense To feel and behold thee I

;

!

By

laming fear

Fettered

am

I,

For how to fear

Thou hast taught me at last Thou who hast bound me Give

;

In bonds of such power, me my courage again !

[He

remains in great excitement with his

yearning gaze fixed on her. I

33runn!)tttre

Turns her head gently afide

see there Grane,

My

and

i

sacred horse

Wh He

Slept

With

!

gaze on a mouth

Most lovely

My

his pofttion.

me

too has by Siegfried been waked.

My Without changing

;

n gladness he grazes

Hps are

is

feasting

;

afire

With passionate yearning For the pasture sweet that I

iSriinnf) litre Points to her

now

It

With

fire.

see there the shield

That sheltered heroes And there is the helmet That hid my head shields, it hides me no more .

perceives.

SMejjfrtrtj

look on

;

armour, which /he

I

glorious maid heart has been hurt

By a

My

91

!

!

SIEGFRIED Wounds

my head has struck came without shield or helm in

A woman

I

I

ISrimnfjtUJC

With

increased

:

!

see there the breastplate's

Glittering Steel

;

A

keen-edged sword Sundered the rings,

sadnefs.

From

the form of the maiden Loosened the mail Nor shelter nor shield is left To the weak and sorrowful maid :

!

Through billows

of fire battled to thee, No buckler or breastplate Sheltered or screened ;

StfQfnrti

With

heat.

\

The flames have won Their way to my heart My blood hot-surging

Rushes and leaps

;

;

A

ravening fire Is kindled within me : The flames that shone Round Briinnhilde's rock

Are burning now

my breast fire the maid, extinguish Calm the commotion and rage in

O

[He

refijls

him with

the utmoft Jlrength or terror , and fiies

j

to

,, rj other hde the

ofthejlage.

Hol

Greeted the maiden came she f rom alhall. ,,,

Woe Woe The

:

W

,

s

me

,

Trr

Woe

,

the affront, bitter disgrace 92

!

has embraced her pajjionately.

No God's touch have I known With awe the heroes

Springs up)

!

!

s

!

me

.

!

!

SIEGFRIED He wounds me

Who waked me

sore

from

sleep

!

He has broken

Now

I

am

breastplate and helm Briinnhild' no more.

Thou art to me The dreaming maid

r

'tfriinnfj iltre

Bewildered.

.Siegfried

still

Briinnhilde lies Lapped still in sleep. Awake, be a woman to me

;

,

!

Confused are my senses, My mind is blank Wisdom, dost thou forsake me :

?

Said not thy song

Thy wisdom drew Its light ISriinnfftHre

Staring before " er -

from thy love

me

of

?

Shadows drear-falling Darken my gaze Mine eyes see dimly, The light dies out, Deep is the dark. ;

From dread-haunted

mists

Fear in a frenzy Comes writhing forth Terror stalks me And grows with each stride ;

[She hides her

eyes

terror.

Dread Gently removing her hands from

On

lies

dark

bound With the f et ters vanish The fear and gloom Rise from the dark and behold eyelids

;

;

Bright as the sun 93

is

!

with her hands

the day.

:

in violent

SIEGFRIED Much

agitated.

Flaunting my shame, Bright as the sun shines the day Siegfried Pity my woe

Siegfried

!

!

!

!

have always Lived and shall 1

live

in sweet,

Always Rapturous yearning,

And always

O

make

to

Siegfried

thee blest

!

Glorious

!

Wealth of the world Laughing hero

1

!

Life of the earth

Ah, forbear

me

Leave

!

!

in peace

!

Touch me

Mad

not, with delirious frenzy

Break Bring

Undo not

me me

!

not,

not under thy yoke, the loved one so dear !

Hast thou rejoiced Thyself to see Reflected clear in the stream If into wavelets

?

The water were

stirred, ruffled the limpid Calm of the brook,

And

face would not be there, Only water's rippling unrest.

Thy

So untouched let me stay, Trouble me not, And thy face Mirrored bright in me Will smile to thee always,

Gay and merry and glad 94

!

SIEGFRIED Siegfried,

Radiant

Love

And

child,

thyself

me

leave

in peace ; to naught

own

bring not thine

1 !ove thee Didst thou but love

!

;

me

have lost would thou wert won Ah, I

Myself

A

!

fair-flowing flood

me rolls my senses

Before

With

;

all

Nothing

see

I

But buoyant, beautiful

billows.

refuse

If it

To mirror Just as

I

my

Myself

I

face,

am,

To assuage

my

fever,

will

plunge in the stream Straight If only the billows

Would

My

!

;

:

blissfully drown me, lost in the flood !

yearning

Awaken, Briinnhilde Waken, O maid

!

!

Laughing and

living,

Sweetest delight,

Be mine $5riinni)tRre

With

deep feel- ng.

!

Be mine

Thine, Siegfried I

was from

What thou With fire.

Qf

!

old

,

hast been

That be thou 95

Be mine

!

still

I

!

SIEGFRIED Thine I will Always be !

What thou

wilt be

Be thou to-day Clasped in my arms !

And closely embraced, Heart upon heart Beating in rapture, Glances aglow, And breath mingled hungrily, Eye in eye and Mouth on mouth

!

All that thou wert

wilt be, be thou it now fear and the fever would vanish Were Briinnhild' now mine !

And

!

The

13timni)tttJe

Were

I

now

thine

?

Heavenly calm Is tossing and raging Light that was pure Flames into passion ;

Wisdom Forsakes

;

divine

me and

flies

;

Jubilant love

Has scared If I

away

it

be thine

!

?

Siegfried ! Siegfried Canst thou not see ? By the blaze of my eyes Thou art not struck blind !

my arms' embrace Thou surely must burn In

96

I

?

SIEGFRIED As

my

blood like a torrent

Surges and

The

fire

leaps,

fierce-flaming

Dost thou not

The

Ha With a jhotk ofjoy.

feel ?

Fearest thou, Siegfried ? Fearest thou not wild, love-frenzied maid

?

!

As the blood swift-surging is kindled, As our eyes devour one another, As our arms

cling close in their rapture,

Dauntless again My courage swells, And the fear I failed For so long to learn,

The

fear that

I

scarcely

Learned from thee The stupid boy fears

That fear

is

completely forgot

\With let

!

words he has involuntarily

the lajl

Briinnhilde go.

Oh, valorous boy O h, glorious hero Unwitting source Of wonderful deeds !

Laughing wildly wtth Jy-

!

Laughing, laughing

!

love thee ; my blindness I

Laughing welcome Laughing let us go doomwards, Laughing go down to death !

Farewell Walhall's Radiant world, Its stately halls

In the dust laid low 97

!

j

SIEGFRIED Farewell, glittering divine End in bliss, O immortal race !

Pomp

!

Norns, rend in sunder Your rope of runes Dusk steal darkly Over the Gods Night of their downfall Dimly descend !

!

!

Now

Siegfried's star Is rising for me ; He is for ever

And

My My

for aye,

my

wealth,

all in all

world,

:

Love ever radiant, Laughing death !

Stogfrtrtr

Laughing thou wakest,

While Brunnhilde

Thou my

repeats the

Brunnhilde lives, Brunnhilde laughs Hail, O day In glory arisen

foregoing, beginning at ''Fare-

well Walhall's

Radiant world"

delight

!

!

!

Hail,

O Sun

That shines from on high Hail,

From

O

!

light

the darkness sprung

!

O

world Hail, Where Brunnhilde dwells She lives She wakes She greets me with laughter Splendour streams From Brunnhilde 's star !

!

!

1

98

!

Brunnhilde throws herself into Siegfried's arms Seep. 99

SIEGFRIED She

My My

for ever for aye

is

And

wealth, all

in

my

world,

all,

Love ever radiant, Laughing death !

\Brunnhdde throws herself The curtain falls. arms.

99

into

Siegfried^

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

CHARACTERS SIEGFRIED

GUNTHER

HAGEN ALBERICH BRUNNHILDE

GUTRUNE WALTRAUTE THE THREE NORNS

THE RHINE-MAIDENS VASSALS

WOMEN

SCENES OF ACTION PRELUDE ON THE VALKYRIES' ROCK ACT I. THE HALL OF GUNTHER'S DWELLING ON THE RHINE. :

THE VALKYRIES' ROCK ACT II. IN FRONT OF GUNTHER'S HALL ACT III. A WOODED REGION ON THE RHINE. GUNTHER'S HALL

PRELUDE The scene is the same as at the close of the second curtain rises JloU)ly. In the background^ from day, on the Valkyrie? rock ; night. The three Norns, tall women in long, below, firelight jhines.

The

The firft (eldeff) lies in the foreground, veil-like drapery. the right, under the spreading pine-tree ; the second (younger) is ftr etched on a /helving rock in front of the cave ; the third (younge/f) d(f-rk,

to

a rock near the peak.

the centre at the back on fits in

Motionlefsy

gloomy Jilence. jFtrst

Norn Norn

What

light

glimmers there

dawn

Is it already

Norn

?

?

Loge's host in flame around the rock.

Glows

It is night.

Why jfcramfo

To

we

not, singing the while

Norn Where for our spinning and singing wilt thou fasten the rope ?

thefirji.

Norn Jf^hile fhe loosens

a golden

rope

herself and ties one end of it

from to

spin

a branch of the

pine-tree.

and wind the rope or Badly well, as may be. At the world-ash-tree I

sing

Once

I

wove,

When from

the stem There bourgeoned strong The boughs of a sacred wood. In the shadows cool

A

fountain flowed

;

Wisdom whispered Low from its wave Of holy things 103

I

sang.

;

?

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS A

dauntless God to drink at the well ; For the draught he drank paid with the loss of an eye. From the world-ash-tree

Came

He

Wotan broke a holy bough From the bough he cut And shaped the shaft of a spear. ;

As time rolled on the wood Wasted and died of the wound Sere, leafless and barren,

Wan

withered the tree Sadly the flow Of the fountain failed Troubled grew My sorrowful song.

;

;

;

And now no more At the world -ash-tree I weave ; I needs must fasten Here on the pine-tree my rope. Sing,

O

sister

-

Catch as I throwCanst thou tell us why

Norn Winds

the rope

thrown to her round a projecting rock at the

entrance of the cave.

Runes

?

of treaties

Well weighed and pondered Cut were by Wotan In the shaft,

Which

wielding, he swayed the world. hero bold In fight then splintered the spear, The hallowed haft

A

With its treaties cleaving Then bade Wotan Walhall's heroes 104

in twain.

The

three Noras See p. 103

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Hew down

the world-ash-tree

Forthwith, Both the stem and boughs sere and barren. The ash -tree sank Sealed was the fountain that flowed. Round the sharp edge Of the rock I wind the rope ;

:

O

Sing,

sister,

Catch as I throw Further canst thou tell

;

CfjtrtJ

Norn

Catching the rope and throwing the end behind her.

?

The castle stands By giants upreared. with the Gods and the holy Qf

Wotan sits in his hall And round the walls ;

Hewn

logs are heaped,

High up-piled, Ready for burning

:

The world- ash-tree these were once.

When the wood Flares up brightly and burns, In its fire Shall the fair hall be consumed. And then shall the high Gods' downfall Dawn in darkness for aye. Know ye yet more, Begin anew winding the rope Again I throw it

;

Back from the north. Spin and sing, O my sister. [She throws the rope to the second the second throws it to the firJl^ the rope another.

from

the bough

and

Norn y and who loosens

ties

it

on to

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Norn Looking towards the back.

Is it

the dawn,

Qr the

firelight that flickers ?

Grief-darkened

is

my

gaze.

The holy past can scarce remember, Loge burst Of old into burning fire. Dost thou know how he fared I

When

Norn Winding the rope which has been thrown

to

her

round the rock n

?

Overcome by Wotan 's Spear and its magic, Loge worke d f or t h e God

^ _

^ ^m .

.

,

Gnawed with

^ freedom ;

,.

,

his tooth

The solemn runes on the

shaft.

So with the potent Spell of the spear-point

Wotan

him

confined

Flaming where Briinnhilde slumbered. Canst thou tell us the end ? Norn

With the broken

spear's

Sharp -piercing splinters

Wotan wounded The blazing one deep

in the breast

;

fire

Ravening Springs from the wound, And this is thrown 'Mid the world-ash-tree's

Hewn

logs heaped ready for burning.

Would ye know

When that will Wind, O sisters, the

be,

rope

!

[She throws the rope back ; the second Norn winds it up and throws it again to the firjl.

106

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS jFtrst Norn Faftening the rope

The night wanes, Dark grows my vision

again.

I

;

cannot find

The threads of the rope The strands are twisted and

A

horrible sight

Wildly vexes mine eyes The Rhinegold

:

That black Alberich stole. Knowest thou more thereof

laborious

Is cutting the

winds the rope round the

hajle

jagged rock at the mouth of the cave.

?

The rock's sharp edge

Norn With

;

loose.

rope

;

The threads loosen Their hold and grow slack They droop tangled and frayed. From woe and wrath

;

Rises the Nibelung's ring ; A curse of revenge Ruthlessly gnaws at the strands Canst thou the end foretell ? f)irtf

The rope is too short, Too loose it hangs It must be stretched,

Norn

Hajiily catching the rope

which

thrown

to her.

:

;

is

Pulled straighter, before Its

end can reach to the north

!

[She pulls hard at the rope, which breaks.

Norn Norn

It

breaks

It

breaks

It

breaks

!

!

!

[They take the

pieces

of broken rope and bind

their bodies together

107

with them.

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Notns So ends wisdom eternal ! The wise ones Will utter no more. Descend Descend to Erda The dawn grows [They vanifli. !

!

brighter;

the firelight from the valley graduallyfades.

Sunrise

Siegfried

and Erunnhilde

enter

the

from

then broad daylight.

;

cave.

He

is

fully

armed;

leads her horse by the bridle.

Beloved hero, Poor my love were Wert thou thereby Kept from new deeds.

One

single

Yet makes

doubt

me

linger

:

The fear my service Has been too small. The things the Gods taught could give : All the rich hoard Of holy runes But by the hero Who holds my heart I have been robbed I

;

Of

my

maiden valour.

In wisdom weak, Although strong in will In love so rich, In power so poorMust thou not scorn Her lack of riches

Who, though

so eager,

Can give nothing more? 108

;

me

jhe

The Norns vanish See

p.

108

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS Wonderful woman, more Thy gifts than I can guard

O

chide not

Has

left

!

if

thy teaching still untaught.

me

\lVith

That Briinnhilde

fire.

me

lives for

To that lore I hold fast And one lesson I have learned Briinnhilde to remember ;

!

If

thou wouldst truly love me,

Think

of thyself alone, of thy deeds of daring

And

The raging That

fire

!

remember

When

thou didst fare through around the rock it burned

That

might conquer Briinnhild'

fearless

I

!

Think too of the shield-hidden maid

Thou didst find there lapped in slumber. And whose helmet hard thou didst break Briinnhilde to

awaken

!

Those oaths remember That unite us The faith and truth That are between us, And evermore ;

The love we live for Briinnhilde in thy breast Will deeply burn then for aye ;

!

\She embraces Siegfried. 5>tegfrt>ti

Must

I

leave thee,

O

love,

In thy holy fortress of \_He has taken

and

fire,

A [bench's ring from his finger^

holds it out to Brunnhilde.

109

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS This ring of mine I give thee Let it pay for thy runes. Of whatever deeds I did

;

The virtue lies therein. By my hand was the dragon grim, Who long had guarded it, slain Keep thou the gold and its might As token true of my love ;

!

covet it more than all else For the ring take Grane, my horse. Through the air with me Re gallope d once boldly, I

Putting on the ring in rapturous delight.

!

But

lost

Was

his

Upon

with mine

magic

art

;

clouds and storm,

Through thunder and lightning No more

now will he sweep But if thou lead the way, Even through fire Fearlessly Grane will follow. For henceforth, hero,

Gallantly

!

Thou

art his master Entreat him well ; He knows thy voice

!

;

O, greet him often In Briinnhilde's name !

Then every deed

that I dare achieved Will be through thy virtue wilt choose, thou battles All my And my victories will be thine. Upon thy good horse riding,

And sheltered by thy shield, No longer Siegfried am I, But only Briinnhilde's arm

!

I

10

Siegfried leaves Briinnhilde in search of adventure See p. in

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS O were

but Briinnhilde thy soul too

my

Through her

Then weit thou

Where .uiuiyuov

With

courage burns high. Siegfried

Then a waste

hall

is

animation.

Made

and

am, there thy abode

I

!

f

Briinnhild'. is.

rock

?

one, both there abide.

Ye Gods, O ye holy Race of immortals,

Greatly moved.

Feast ye your eyes On this love-hallowed pair Apart who shall divide us ? Divided still we are one

!

!

Hail,

O

Briinnhilde,

Beautiful star ! Hail, love and its glory Hail,

O

1

Siegfried,

Conquering light Hail, life and its glory Hail, conquering light !

Hail

!

Hail

!

Hail

!

!

!

Hail

!

{Siegfried leads the horse quickly to the edge ofthe

floping

rock, Briinnhilde

following him. Siegfried disappears with the horse down behind the projecting rock, so that he is no longer vijible to the audience. Briinnhilde is

thus suddenly

left

Jlanding alone on the edge of the

and gazes down into the valley after Siegfried. Jlope, Her geftures /how that Siegfried has vanifhed from her fight. Siegfried's horn is heard from below. Briinnhilde lijlens, and fteps further out on the /lope. She catches fight of Siegfried in the valley again, and waves to him joyfully. Her happy smiles seem to rejiett

the air of the merrily departing hero.

in

THE FIRST ACT This is quite open at the back. Gibichungs on the Rhine. to the river occupies the background. Rocky open fhore Jlretching Gunther and Gutrune on a throne at one enclose the fhore.

The hall of

An

the

heights

fide, before

which Jlands a front of

Give

untfjer

with drinking-vejfels on

table this

Hagen

ear,

is

it.

In

seated.

Hagen

;

me

the truth Is my fame on the Rhine Worthy of Gibich's son ? Tell

:

envy thee Thy fame and thy glory I

;

Thy great renown was foretold To me by Grimhild' our mother. I envy thee, So envy not me. I,

as first-born, rule,

But the wisdom

is thine.

Half-brother's feud Could scarce be laid better

Asking thus 'Tis

of

my

thy wisdom that

My

words

I

I

praise.

withdraw,

Thy fame might be more I

know

;

renown,

:

of precious treasures

That the Gibichung has not yet won. Hide these, and

Withdraw 112

my

I

praise.

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS In summer's full-ripened glory Blooms the Gibich stock,

Thou, Gunther, Thou, Gutrun',

Whom

still

unwived,

still

unwed.

wouldst thou have

To win more wide renown One I know None nobler

me

woo,

?

of,

in the world.

She dwells on soaring rocks, Her chamber is circled by fire And he who would Briinnhild' woo Must break through the daunting flame. ;

Suffices

my

strength for the task

For one stronger

Who

is

that hero

Siegfried, the

He

is

still it is

?

decreed.

unmatched

Walsung's son

?

;

the hero bold.

A

twin-born pair, fate turned to lovers,

Whom

Siegmund and

Had

Sieglinde, as their offspring this child.

In the woods he grew and waxed strong. 'Tis he that Gutrun' must wed.