Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods. The Ring of the Niblung, part 2

Overcome by Wotan'sSpear and its magic,Loge worked for the God;Then, to win his freedom,Gnawed with his toothThe solemn runes on the shaft.So with the potentSpell of the spear-pointWotan confined himFlaming where Brünnhilde slumbered.Canst thou tell us the end?

THE THIRD NORN

With the broken spear'sSharp-piercing splintersWotan woundedThe blazing one deep in the breast;Ravening fireSprings from the wound,And this is thrown'Mid the world-ash-tree'sHewn logs heaped ready for burning.Would ye knowWhen that will be,Wind, O sisters, the rope!

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

THE FIRST NORN

[Fastening the rope again.

The night wanes,Dark grows my vision;I cannot findThe threads of the rope;The strands are twisted and loose.A horrible sightWildly vexes mine eyes:RhinegoldThat black Alberich stole.Knowest thou more thereof?

THE SECOND NORN

[With laborious haste winds the rope round the jagged rock at the mouth of the cave.

The rock's sharp edgeIs cutting the rope;The threads loosenTheir hold and grow slack;They droop tangled and frayed.From woe and wrathRises the Nibelung's ring;A curse of revengeRuthlessly gnaws at the strands:—Canst thou the end foretell?

THE THIRD NORN

[Hastily catching the rope which is thrown to her.

The rope is too short,Too loose it hangs;It must be stretched,Pulled straighter, beforeIts end can reach to the north!

[She pulls hard at the rope, which breaks.

It breaks!

THE SECOND NORN

It breaks!

THE FIRST NORN

It breaks!

[They take the pieces of broken rope and bind their bodies together with them.

THE THREE NORNS

So ends wisdom eternal!The wise onesWill utter no more.Descend to Erda! Descend!

[They vanish. The dawn grows brighter; the firelight from the valley gradually fades. Sunrise; then broad daylight.

Siegfried and Brünnhilde enter from the cave. He is fully armed; she leads her horse by the bridle.

BRÜNNHILDE

Belovèd hero,Poor my love wereWert thou therebyKept from new deeds.One single doubtYet makes me linger:The fear my serviceHas been too small.The things the Gods taught meI could give:All the rich hoardOf holy runes;But by the heroWho holds my heartI have been robbedOf my maiden valour.In wisdom weak,Although strong in will;In love so rich,In power so poor—Must thou not scornHer lack of richesWho, though so eager,Can give nothing more?

SIEGFRIED

Wonderful woman, moreThy gifts than I can guard!O chide not if thy teachingHas left me still untaught.

[With fire.

That Brünnhilde lives for me—To that lore I hold fast;And one lesson I have learned—Brünnhilde to remember!

BRÜNNHILDE

If thou wouldst truly love me,Think of thyself alone,And of thy deeds of daring!The raging fire rememberThat fearless thou didst fare throughWhen around the rock it burned—

SIEGFRIED

That I might conquer Brünnhild'!

BRÜNNHILDE

Think too of the shield-hidden maidThou didst find there lapped in slumber.And whose helmet hard thou didst break—

SIEGFRIED

Brünnhilde to awaken!

BRÜNNHILDE

Those oaths rememberThat unite us;The faith and truthThat are between us,And evermoreThe love we live for;Brünnhilde in thy breastWill deeply burn then for aye!

[She embraces Siegfried.

SIEGFRIED

Must I leave thee, O love,In thy holy fortress of fire,

[He has taken Alberich's ring from his finger, and holds it out to Brünnhilde.

This ring of mine I give thee;Let it pay for thy runes.Of whatever deeds I didThe virtue lies therein.By my hand was the dragon grim,Who long had guarded it, slain;Keep thou the gold and its mightAs token true of my love!

BRÜNNHILDE

[Putting on the ring in rapturous delight.

I covet it more than all else!For the ring take Grane, my horse.Through the air with meHe galloped once boldly,But lost with mineWas his magic art;Upon clouds and storm,Through thunder and lightningNo moreGallantly now will he sweep!But if thou lead the way,Even through fireFearlessly Grane will follow.For henceforth, hero,Thou art his master!Entreat him well;He knows thy voice;O, greet him oftenIn Brünnhilde's name!

SIEGFRIED

Then every deed that I dareWill be achieved through thy virtueAll my battles thou wilt choose,And my victories will be thine.Upon thy good horse riding,And sheltered by thy shield,No longer Siegfried am I,But only Brünnhilde's arm!

BRÜNNHILDE

O were but Brünnhilde thy soul too!

SIEGFRIED

Through her my courage burns high.

BRÜNNHILDE

Then wert thou Siegfried and Brünnhild'.

SIEGFRIED

Where I am, there thy abode is.

BRÜNNHILDE [With animation.

Then a waste is my hall of rock?

SIEGFRIED

Made one, both there abide.

BRÜNNHILDE [Greatly moved.

Ye Gods, O ye holyRace of immortals,Feast ye your eyesOn this love-hallowed pair!Apart—who shall divide us?Divided—still we are one!

SIEGFRIED

Hail, O Brünnhilde,Beautiful star!Hail, love and its glory!

BRÜNNHILDE

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

BOTH

Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail!

[Siegfried leads the horse quickly to the edge of the sloping rock, Brünnhilde following him. Siegfried disappears with the horse down behind the projecting rock, so that he is no longer visible to the audience. Brünnhilde is thus suddenly left standing alone on the edge of the slope, and gazes down into the valley after Siegfried. Her gestures show that Siegfried has vanished from her sight. Siegfried's horn is heard from below. Brünnhilde listens, and steps further out on the slope. She catches sight of Siegfried in the valley again, and waves to him joyfully. Her happy smiles seem to reflect the air of the merrily departing hero.

THE FIRST ACT

The hall of the Gibichungs on the Rhine. This is quite open at the back. An open shore stretching to the river occupies the background. Rocky heights enclose the shore. Gunther and Gutrune on a throne at one side, before which stands a table with drinking-vessels on it. In front of this Hagen is seated.

GUNTHER

Give ear, Hagen;Tell me the truth:Is my fame on the RhineWorthy of Gibich's son?

HAGEN

I envy theeThy fame and thy glory;Thy great renown was foretoldTo me by Grimhild' our mother.

GUNTHER

I envy thee,So envy not me.I, as first-born, rule,But the wisdom is thine.Half-brother's feudCould scarce be laid better;Asking thus of my renown,'Tis thy wisdom that I praise.

HAGEN

My words I withdraw,Thy fame might be more:I know of precious treasuresThat the Gibichung has not yet won.

GUNTHER

Hide these, and IWithdraw my praise.

HAGEN

In summer's full-ripened gloryBlooms the Gibich stock,Thou, Gunther, still unwived,Thou, Gutrun', still unwed.

GUNTHER

Whom wouldst thou have me woo,To win more wide renown?

HAGEN

One I know of,None nobler in the world.She dwells on soaring rocks,Her chamber is circled by fire;And he who would Brünnhild' wooMust break through the daunting flame.

GUNTHER

Suffices my strength for the task?

HAGEN

For one stronger still it is decreed.

GUNTHER

Who is that hero unmatched?

HAGEN

Siegfried, the Wälsung's son;He is the hero bold.A twin-born pair,Whom fate turned to lovers,Siegmund and Sieglinde,Had as their offspring this child.In the woods he grew and waxed strong.'Tis he that Gutrun' must wed.

GUTRUNE [Shyly.

Tell me what deed of high valourMade this hero the first in renown.

HAGEN

At NeidhöhleA huge dragon lay,Who guarded the Nibelung's gold.He was slain,And his horrid jaws closedBy Siegfried's invincible sword.From this colossal deedThe fame of the hero dawned.

GUNTHER [Thoughtfully.

They say that a priceless treasureThe Niblungs had in their hoard.

HAGEN

The man who could use its spellWere lord of the world evermore.

GUNTHER

And Siegfried won it in fight?

HAGEN

He has the Niblungs in thrall.

GUNTHER

And Brünnhild' no other can win?

HAGEN

To no other will the flames yield.

GUNTHER [Rises angrily from his seat.

Why wake dissension and doubt?Why stir up my desireAnd yearning for joysThat cannot be won?

[He walks to and fro much agitated.

HAGEN

[Without leaving his seat causes Gunther to pull up as he approaches him, by a gesture of mysterious import.

Would not BrünnhildeBe thy bride,Were she by Siegfried brought home?

GUNTHER

[Turns away doubtful and angry.

But how could I force this manTo woo the bride for me?

HAGEN [As before.

Thy simple prayer would force him,Gutrun' winning him first.

GUTRUNE

Thou mockest, cruel Hagen!What arts have I to bind him?The greatest heroIn all the worldHas long ere this by the fairestWomen on earth been loved.

HAGEN

[Bending confidentially towards Gutrune.

What of the drink in the chest?

[More secretly.

In me who won it have more faith.To thee in love it will bindHim whom thy heart most desires.

[Gunther has come to the table again, and, leaning against it, pays close attention.

Hither did Siegfried come,And taste of this potion of herbs,He would straight forget he had lookedOn any woman before,Or been by woman approached.Now answer:Think ye my counsel good?

GUNTHER [Starting up suddenly.

Now Grimhild' be praised,Who for brother gave us thee.

GUTRUNE

Siegfried fain I would behold!

GUNTHER

But how can he be found?

[A horn on the stage, from the background on the left, very loud but distant.

HAGEN

[Listens and turns to Gunther.

Merrily huntingAfter renownAcross the worldAs through a wood,Belike in his chase he will come,To the Gibich's realm on the Rhine.

GUNTHER

Heartily welcome were he.

[A horn on the stage, nearer, but still distant. Both listen.

A horn from the Rhine I hear.

HAGEN

[Looks down the river and calls towards the back.

A man and horse on board a boat!His horn how gaily he winds!

[A horn on the stage sounds nearer. Gunther stops half-way listening.

See the leisurely stroke,And the indolent armAgainst the streamUrging the boat!So skilful a handOn the swinging oarCan be but hisWho the dragon slew:—It is Siegfried—surely no other!

GUNTHER

Will he go by?

HAGEN

[Making a trumpet of his hands, calls towards the river.

Hoiho! Blithe hero,Whither bound?

SIEGFRIED [From the distance.

I seek the son of Gibich.

HAGEN

I bid thee welcome to Gunther's hall.

[Siegfried in a boat appears at the shore.

This way! Stop here and land!

Siegfried brings his boat to the shore. Hagen makes it fast with the chain. Siegfried springs ashore with his horse. Gunther has come down and joined Hagen.

HAGEN

Hail, Siegfried, hero bold!

[Gutrune gazes at Siegfried from the throne in astonishment. Gunther prepares to offer him friendly greetings. All stand fixed in silent mutual contemplation.

SIEGFRIED

[Leaning on his horse, remains quietly standing by the boat.

Who is Gibich's son?

GUNTHER

I am he thou dost seek.

SIEGFRIED

Thy fame has reached meFrom the Rhine;Now fight with me,Or be my friend.

GUNTHER

Be thou mine;Thou art welcome!

SIEGFRIED

Where stable my horse?

HAGEN

Leave him to me.

SIEGFRIED [Turning to Hagen.

My name thou knowest;Where have we met?

HAGEN

I guessed from thy strengthWho thou must be.

SIEGFRIED

[As he hands over the horse to Hagen.

Be careful of Grane,For thou hast neverLed by the reinSo noble a steed.

[Hagen leads the horse away. While Siegfried looks thoughtfully after him, Gutrune, obeying a sign of Hagen's which Siegfried does not notice, goes to her room through a door on the left. Gunther comes into the hall with Siegfried, whom he has invited to accompany him.

GUNTHER

My father's ancient hall,O hero, greet in gladness!All thou beholdest,Where'er thou art,Treat as thine own henceforward:Thine is my kingdom—Land and folk;By my body I swear it!Yea, myself I am thine.

SIEGFRIED

Nor land nor folk have I to give,Nor father's house nor hall;In my bodyIs all my wealth;As I live it grows less.But a sword have IWhich I welded;Let my sword be my witness!—That and myself I bestow.

HAGEN

[Who has come back and now stands behind Siegfried.

Of the Nibelungs' treasureRumour names thee the lord.

SIEGFRIED

[Turning round to Hagen.

I almost forgot the hoard,So lightly I prize its worth.I left it lying in a cavern,Where a dragon once held watch.

HAGEN

And nothing took at all?

SIEGFRIED

Only this, not knowing its use.

HAGEN

It is the Tarnhelm,The gem of the Nibelung's art;Its use, when worn on thy head,Is to change thy shape as thou wilt;If fain to be borne afar,In a flash lo! thou art there!Didst thou take nothing besides?

SIEGFRIED

Yes, a ring.

HAGEN

Which safe thou dost hold?

SIEGFRIED [Tenderly.

'Tis held by a woman fair.

HAGEN [Aside.

Brünnhild'!

GUNTHER

Nay, Siegfried, let us not barter;All I have a bauble poor,Matched with thy treasure, would be.I will serve thee without reward.

[Hagen has gone to Gutrune's door, and now opens it.

GUTRUNE

[Enters carrying a full drinking-horn, with which she approaches Siegfried.

Welcome, O guest,To Gibich's house!'Tis his daughter gives thee to drink.

SIEGFRIED

[Bows in a friendly manner and takes the horn, which he holds thoughtfully before him.

Were all forgotThou gavest to me,One lessonI will never forget;So this first draughtWith love undying,Brünnhild', I drink to thee!

[He puts the drinking-horn to his lips and takes a long draught; then he hands it back to Gutrune, who, ashamed and confused, casts down her eyes. Siegfried gazes at her with sudden passion.

SIEGFRIED

O thou who dost scorchAnd blind with thine eyes,Why sink them abashed by my gaze?

[Gutrune, blushing, looks up at him.

O lovely maid,Lower thine eyes;My heart is aflame,Burnt by their light;They kindle my blood; it flowsIn devouring torrents of fire.

[With a trembling voice.

Gunther, what name is thy sister's?

GUNTHER

Gutrune.

SIEGFRIED [Softly.

Can those be good runesThat in her eyes I am reading?

[He ardently seizes Gutrune's hand.

With thy brother I was fain to serve;His pride my prayer scorned.Were I to pray the same of thee,Wouldst thou like him be proud?

[Gutrune involuntarily meets Hagen's eye. She bows her head humbly, and, expressing her feeling of unworthiness with a gesture, leaves the hall with faltering steps.

SIEGFRIED

[Attentively watched by Hagen and Gunther, gazes after Gutrune as if entranced.

Gunther, hast thou a wife?

GUNTHER

I am not wed,Nor, it would seem,Likely to find a wife!My heart on one I have setWhom there is no way to win.

SIEGFRIED

[Turns with animation to Gunther.

In what canst thou failWith me for friend?

GUNTHER

On rocky heights her home;Surrounded by fire her hall;

SIEGFRIED

[Interrupting in wondering haste.

"On rocky heights her home;Surrounded by fire her hall"…?

GUNTHER

He only who braves the fire…

SIEGFRIED

[As if making an intense effort to remember something.

"He only who braves the fire"…?

GUNTHER

May Brünnhilde's wooer be.

[Siegfried shows by a gesture that at the mention of Brünnhilde's name all remembrance of her has faded.

I dare not essay the dread mountain;The flames would not fall for me.

SIEGFRIED

[Awakes from his dreamy state, and turns to Gunther high-spirited and gay.

For thee I will win her,Of fire I have no fear;For thy man am I,And my strength is thine,If Gutrun' I win as my wife.

GUNTHER

Gutrune gladly I grant thee

SIEGFRIED

Thou shalt have Brünnhilde then.

GUNTHER

But how wilt deceive her?

SIEGFRIED

I will wear the TarnhelmAnd appear in thy form.

GUNTHER

Then let the oath now be sworn!

SIEGFRIED

Blood-brotherhoodSworn be by oath!

[Hagen fills a drinking-horn with fresh wine; he holds it out to Siegfried and Gunther, who cut their arms with their swords and hold them for a short pace over the horn; then they each lay two fingers on the horn, which Hagen continues to hold between them.

SIEGFRIED and GUNTHER

Quickening bloodOf blossoming lifeLo! I drop in the horn!Bravely mixedIn brotherly love,Bloom our blood in the draught!Troth I drink to the friendGlad and freeTo-day from the bondBlood-brotherhood spring!But if broken the bond,Or if faithless the friend,What in drops to-dayWe drink kindlyIn torrents wildly shall flow,Paying treachery's wage.So—sealed be the bond!So—pledged be my faith!

[Gunther drinks and hands the horn to Siegfried, who finishes the draught, and holds out the empty horn to Hagen. Hagen breaks the horn in two with his sword. Gunther and Siegfried join hands.

SIEGFRIED

[Observes Hagen, who, while the oat was being sworn, has stood behind him.

Why hast not thou plighted thy troth?

HAGEN

My blood had soured the good draught.It flows not pureAnd noble like yours;Stubborn and cold,Slow it runs,My cheek refusing to redden.I hold aloofFrom hot-blooded bonds.

GUNTHER [To Siegfried.

Heed not him and his spleen.

SIEGFRIED

[Puts on his shield again.

Up, then, and off!Back to the boat!Sail swift to the mountain!

[He steps nearer to Gunther and points at him.

By the bank one nightOn board thou shalt tarry,And then bring home the bride.

[He turns to go, and beckons Gunther to follow him.

GUNTHER

Wilt thou not rest awhile?

SIEGFRIED

I am eager to be back.

[He goes to the shore to unmoor the boat.

GUNTHER

Thou, Hagen, keep guard o'er the homestead.

[He follows Siegfried to the shore. Whilst Siegfried and Gunther, after laying their arms in the boat, are hoisting the sail and making ready for departure, Hagen takes up his spear and shield. Gutrune appears at the door of her chamber just as Siegfried is pushing off the boat, which immediately glides into the middle of the stream.

GUTRUNE

So swiftly whither haste they?

HAGEN

[While he seats himself comfortably with shield and spear in front of the hall.

To woo Brünnhild' for bride.

GUTRUNE

Siegfried?HagenSee how he hastes,For wife seeking to win thee!

GUTRUNE

Siegfried—mine?

[She returns to her room greatly excited. Siegfried has seized an oar and rows the boat down-stream, so that it is soon lost to view.

HAGEN

[Sits motionless, his back against the door-post of the hall.

On guard here I sitWatching the house,Warding the hall from the foe:Gibich's sonIs sped by the wind,And sails away for a wife;A hero boldOf the helm has charge,And danger braves for his sake;His bride once lovedHe brings to the Rhine;With her he brings me—the ring.O merry comrades,Freeborn and honoured,Gaily speed on in your pride!Base though ye deem him,The Niblung's sonShall yet be your lord.

[A curtain which frames the front of the hall is drawn, and cuts the stage off from the audience.

The curtain is raised again. The rocky height as in the Prelude. Brünnhilde sits at the entrance to the cave in silent contemplation of Siegfried's ring. Moved by blissful memories, she covers the ring with kisses. Distant thunder is heard; she looks up and listens. She turns to the ring again. A flash of lightning. Again she listens, and looks into the distance, whence a dark thunder-cloud is approaching the rock.

BRÜNNHILDE

On my ear from afarFalls an old sound familiar.A horse comes flyingSwift through the air;On the clouds it sweepsIn storm to the rock.Who seeks the lonely one here?

WALTRAUTE'S voice [From the distance.

Brünnhilde, sister,Wake if thou sleepest!

BRÜNNHILDE [Starts from her seat.

Waltraute's call!How welcome the sound!

[Calling to the wing, and then hastening to the edge of the rock.

Dost thou, sister,Boldly swinging come this way?In the wood—Still dear to thee—Halt and dismount,And leave thy courser to rest.

[She runs into the wood, from which a loud sound like a thunder-clap is heard. She returns in great agitation with Waltraute, and remains joyfully excited without noticing the latter's anxious fear.

Art thou so boldThat thou art comeBrünnhild' to greet,Thy love unconquered by dread?

WALTRAUTE

Thou aloneArt cause of my haste!

WALTRAUTE

For Brünnhild's sake War-father's banHast thou thus bravely broken?Or perchance—O say!—

[With some hesitation.

Has he at lastSoftened to his child?When against the GodI sought to shield Siegmund,Vainly—I know it—My deed fulfilled his desire.And I know that his angerWas assuaged,For albeit in slumber deepHere to the rock I was bound,Doomed to be thrall to the manWho should wake the maid as he passed,To my anguished prayerHe granted grace;With ravening fireHe surrounded the rock,To bar to all cowards the road.Bane and chastisementTurned so to blessing;A hero unmatchedHas won me as wife;Blest by his love,In light and laughter I live.

[She embraces Waltraute with wild manifestations of joy, which the latter tries with anxious impatience to repress.

Hast thou been lured by my lot,And wouldst thou, sister,Feast on my gladness,Sharing in my delight?

WALTRAUTE [Vehemently.

Sharing the frenzyThat has maddened thee, fool!Far other the cause why I come,Defying Wotan in fear.

BRÜNNHILDE

[Here, for the first time, notices with surprise Waltraute's wildly excited state.

Art afraid?Anguished with terror?So the stern one does not forgive?Thou fearest his punishing wrath?

WALTRAUTE [Gloomily.

Might I but fear it,At an end were my distress.

BRÜNNHILDE

I am perplexed and amazed.

WALTRAUTE

Calm thou thy frenzy;Mark with care what I say!The fear that drove meHither to theeDrives me back to Walhall again.

BRÜNNHILDE [Alarmed.

What ails, then, the Gods everlasting?

WALTRAUTE

Give earnest heed to what I tell thee!Since from thee Wotan parted,No more has he sentUs to battle;Anxious and bewilderedWe rode to the field.Shunned are Walhall's bold heroesBy Warfather;Riding alone,Without pause or restHe wandered and roamed through the world.At last he returnedWith his spear splintered;In his hand the pieces;A hero had cleft it asunder.With silent signWalhall's heroesThen he sent forthTo hew down the world-ash-tree.He bade them pileThe logs as they hewed them,Until they were heapedHigh round the hall of the blest.The Gods he nextCalled to a council;The high seatHe solemnly took,Bidding themWho gathered in fear sit beside him.The heroes filledThe hall, ranged round in their order.So sits he,Speaks no word,Upon his high seatGrave and mute,The splintered spearHeld fast in his hand,Holda's applesTouching no more.Fear and amazementHold the Gods fast fettered.He has sent his ravensForth to seek tidings;If they returnAnd bring him comforting news,Then the God willWith soul sereneSmile evermore and be glad.Round his knees in sorrowTwined lie the Valkyries;He heeds notOur glances beseeching;By terror and wild anguishWe all are consumed.Against his breastWeeping I nestled,Then soft grew his gaze:He remembered, Brünnhilde, thee.He closed his eyesAs if dreaming,Heavily sighedAnd whispered these words:"If to the deep Rhine's daughtersShe would restore the ring that was theirs.From the grievous curseBoth God and world were freed!'Then I took thought,And from his sideThrough the silent ranksStole noiselessly forth.In haste, unseen,I mounted my horse,And stormed in tumult to thee.Grant, O sister,The boon I beg;What thou canst do,Undaunted perform!End thou the grief of the Gods!

[She has thrown herself down before Brünnhilde.