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

BRÜNNHILDE [Quietly.

What dreadful dream-born fancies,Sad one, are those thou dost tell?The high Gods' holyAnd cloud-paved heavenIs no longer my home.I grasp not what thou art saying;Dark its sense,Wild and confused.Within thine eyes,So over-weary,Gleams wavering fire;With thy wan visage,O pale-faced sister,What wouldst thou, wild one, of me?

WALTRAUTE [Vehemently.

The ring upon thy hand—'Tis that: ah, be implored!For Wotan fling it away!

BRÜNNHILDE

The ring—away?

WALTRAUTE

To the Rhine-daughters give it again.

BRÜNNHILDE

The Rhine-daughters—I—the ring?Siegfried's love-pledge?Hast thou gone crazy?

WALTRAUTE

Hear me! Hear my despair!On this hangsThe world's undoing and woe.Throw it from theeInto the water;End the anguish of Walhall;The accurst thing cast in the waves!

BRÜNNHILDE

Ha! dost thou know what 'twould meanHow shouldst thou,Maid unloving and cold!Much is Walhall's rapture,Much is the fame of the Gods;More is my ring.One glance at its shining gold,One flash of its sacred fireIs more preciousThan bliss of all the GodsEnduring for aye!For Siegfried's dear loveShines from it bright and blessèd.Love of Siegfried!Ah, could I but utter the raptureBound up in the ring!Go back to the holyCouncil of Gods;Repeat what I have told theeOf my ring:That love I will not forswear,Of love they never shall rob me;Sooner shall Walhall's gloryPerish and pass!

WALTRAUTE

This is thy faith, then?To her sorrowThus coldly thou leavest thy sister?

BRÜNNHILDE

Up and away!Swiftly to horse!I will not part with the ring.

WALTRAUTE

Woe's me! Woe's me!Woe to thee, sister!Woe to Walhall's Gods!

[She rushes away. A storm-cloud immediately rises from the wood, accompanied by thunder.

BRÜNNHILDE

[As she looks after the brightly lit, retreating thunder-cloud, which soon vanishes in the distance.

Borne by the windIn storm and lightning,Haste away, cloud,And may I see thee no more!

[Twilight has fallen. The light of the fire gradually shines more brightly from below. She gazes quietly out on the landscape.

Eventide shadowsDim the heavens,And more brightlyThe flames that encircle me glow.

[The firelight approaches from below. Ever-brightening tongues of flame shoot up over the edge of the rock.

Why leap so wildlyThe billows that blaze round the rock?Up here to the peakSurges the fiery flood!

[Siegfried's horn is heard from the valley. Brünnhilde starts up in delight.

Siegfried?Siegfried returned?With his horn greeting he sends!Up! Out to the welcome!Swift to my God's embrace!

[She hastens joyfully to the edge of the crag. Flames leap up, out of which Siegfried springs forward on to a high rock, whereupon the flames immediately withdraw and again only shine up from below. Brünnhilde recoils in terror, flies to the foreground, and from there, in speechless astonishment, stares at Siegfried, who, wearing the Tarnhelm, which covers the upper half of his face, leaving only his eyes free, appears in Gunther's form.

BRÜNNHILDE

Betrayed! Who seeks me here?

SIEGFRIED

[Remaining on the rock at the back, motionless and leaning on his shield, regards Brünnhilde. In a feigned (harsher) voice.

Brünnhild'! A wooer comesWhom thy fire did not dismay.I want thee for my wife;Consent to follow me!

BRÜNNHILDE [Trembling violently.

What man has doneThis deed undauntedThat the boldest only dares?

SIEGFRIED [As before.

A hero who will tameThy pride by force at need.

BRÜNNHILDE

A monster standsUpon yonder stone;An eagle has comeTo rend me in pieces!Who art thou, frightful one?Art thou a mortal,Or dost thou hieFrom Hella's dark host?

SIEGFRIED

[As before, beginning with a slightly tremulous voice, but continuing with more confidence.

A Gibichung am I,And Gunther is his nameWhom thou must follow hence.

BRÜNNHILDE

[Breaking out in despair.

Wotan! Thou cruel,Merciless God!Woe! Now I seeHow thine anger works!To scorn and sorrowI am condemned.

SIEGFRIED

[Springs down from the stone and approaches.

Night falls apace;Within thy caveThou must receive thy husband.

BRÜNNHILDE

[Stretching out with a threatening gesture the finger on which she wears Siegfried's ring.

Stand back! Fear thou this token!While I am shielded by this,Thou canst not force me to shame.

SIEGFRIED

Wife it shall make thee to Gunther;With this ring thou shalt be wed.

BRÜNNHILDE

Stand back, base robber!Impious thief!Nor dare, overbold, to draw near!Stronger than steelMade by the ring,I never will yield!

SIEGFRIED

That it must be mineI learn from thy lips.

[He presses towards her. There is a struggle. Brünnhilde wrenches herself free, flies and turns round as if to defend herself. Siegfried seizes her again. She flies; he reaches her. They wrestle violently together. Siegfried catches her hand and draws the ring from her finger. She gives a loud scream. As she sinks helpless into his arms her unconscious look meets Siegfried's eyes. Siegfried lays her fainting on the stone bench at the entrance to the cave.

SIEGFRIED

Now thou art mine!Brünnhilde, Gunther's bride,Lead me the way to thy cave!

BRÜNNHILDE

[Stares, as if fainting, before her; exhausted.

O woman undone,Where now thy defence?

SIEGFRIED

[Drives her on with a gesture of command. Trembling and with tottering steps she goes into the cave.

Now, Nothung, witness thouThat chastely I have wooed,And loyal been to my brother;Lie betwixt me and his bride!

[He follows Brünnhilde. The curtain falls. In his natural voice.

THE SECOND ACT

An open space on the shore in front of the Gibichungs' hall; to the right the open entrance to the hall, to the left the bank of the Rhine. From the latter, crossing the stage and mounting towards the back, rises a rocky height, cut by several mountain-paths. There an altar-stone to Fricka is visible, as well as one, higher up, to Wotan, and one at the side to Donner. It is night. Hagen, his arm round his spear and his shield by his side, fits against one of the pillars of the hall asleep. The moon shines out suddenly and throws a vivid light on Hagen and his immediate surroundings. Alberich is seen crouching in front of him, leaning his arms on Hagen's knees.

ALBERICH [Softly.

Hagen, son, art asleep?Betrayed by drowsinessAnd rest thou dost not hear?

HAGEN

[Softly, without moving, so that he seems to sleep on although his eyes are open.

I hear thee, O baleful Niblung;What wouldst thou tell me while I slumber?

ALBERICH

Remember the mightThou art endowed with,If thou art valiantAs thy mother bore thee to me.

HAGEN [Still as before:

Though courage she bestowed,I have no cause to thank herFor falling under thy spell;Soon old, wan and pale,Hating the happy,Where is my joy?

ALBERICH [As before.

Hagen, my son,Hate thou the happy;This joyless andSorrow-laden one,Him alone thou shalt love.Be thou strongAnd bold and wise!Those whom with weaponsOf darkness we fightAlready our hate has dismayed.And he who captured my ring,Wotan, the ravening robber,By one of his sonsIn fight has been vanquished;He has lostThrough the Wälsung power and might.With the whole immortal raceHe awaits in anguish his downfall.Him I fear no more:He and all his must perish!Hagen, son, art asleep?

HAGEN

[Remains motionless as before.

The might of the GodsWho then shall wield?

ALBERICH

I—and thou!The world we shall own,If in thy truthI rightly trust,Sharest thou my hate and wrath.Wotan's spearWas splintered by Siegfried,The hero who wonAs booty the ringWhen Fafner, the dragon, he slew.Power supremeHe has attained to;

[Still mysteriously.

Walhall and Nibelheim bow to his will.On this hero undauntedMy curse falls in vain,For he knows notThe ring's true worth,Nor makes useOf its wonderful spell;Laughing he burns life away,Caring only for love.Nothing can serve usBut his undoing!Sleepest, Hagen, my son?

HAGEN [As before.

Already he speedsThrough me to his doom.

ALBERICH

The golden ring—'Tis that that we must capture!The WälsungBy a wise woman is loved.If, urged by her,To the Rhine's fair daughters—Who bewitched me onceBelow in the waves—The stolen ring he restored,Forever lost were the gold,And no guile could win it again.Wherefore with ardourAim for the ring.I gat theeA stranger to fear,That against heroesThou mightst uphold me.I had not the strength,Indeed, to despatch,Like the Wälsung, Fafner in fight;But I reared HagenTo deadly hatred,And he shall avenge me—Shall win the ring,Putting Wälsung and Wotan to scorn!Swear to me, Hagen, my son!

[From this point Alberich is covered by an ever-deepening shadow. At the same time day begins to dawn.

HAGEN [Still as before.

The ring shall be mine yet;Quietly wait!

ALBERICH

Swear to me, Hagen, my son!

HAGEN

To myself swear I;Make thy mind easy!

ALBERICH

[Still gradually disappearing, and his voice, as he does so, becoming more and more inaudible.

Be true, Hagen, my son!Trusty hero, be true!Be true!—True!

[Alberich has quite disappeared. Hagen, who has never changed position, looks with fixed eyes and without moving towards the Rhine, over which the light of dawn is spreading.

The gradually brightening red of dawn is reflected in the Rhine. Siegfried steps out suddenly from behind a bush close to the shore. He appears in his own shape, but has the Tarnhelm on his head still; he takes this off and, as he comes forward, hangs it on his girdle.

SIEGFRIED

Hoioh! Hagen!Weary man!Where is thy welcome?

HAGEN [Rising in a leisurely fashion.

Hei! Siegfried?Swift-footed hero,Whence stormest thou now?

SIEGFRIED

From Brünnhilde's rock.'Twas there that I drew the breathI called to thee with;A quick passage I made!Slower behind me a pairOn board a vessel come.

HAGEN

Hast thou won Brünnhild'?

SIEGFRIED

Wakes Gutrune?

HAGEN [Calling towards the hall.

Hoiho! Gutrune!Haste and come!Siegfried is here.Why dost delay?

SIEGFRIED Turning to the hall.

How Brünnhild' yieldedYe shall both be told.

[Gutrune comes from the hall to meet him.

SIEGFRIED

Give me fair greeting,Gibich's child!I come to thee with joyful news.

GUTRUNE

Freia greet theeTo the honour of all women!

SIEGFRIED

To thy lover gladBe gracious;For wife I have won thee to-day.

GUTRUNE

Comes then Brünnhild' with my brother?

SIEGFRIED

None ever wooed with more ease.

GUTRUNE

Was he not scorched by the fire?

SIEGFRIED

It had not burnt him, I trow;But I broke through it instead,That I for wife might win thee.

GUTRUNE

And no harm didst thou take?

SIEGFRIED

I laughed 'mid the surge of the flames.

GUTRUNE

Did Brünnhild' think thee Gunther?

SIEGFRIED

Like were we to a hair;The Tarnhelm saw to that,As Hagen truly foretold.

HAGEN

I gave thee counsel good.

GUTRUNE

And so the bold maid was tamed?

SIEGFRIED

Her pride—Gunther broke.

GUTRUNE

Did she give herself to thee?

SIEGFRIED

Through the night the vanquishedBrünnhild'To her rightful husband belonged.

GUTRUNE

For her husband thou didst pass?

SIEGFRIED

By Gutrune sojourned Siegfried.

GUTRUNE

But 'twas Brünnhild' lay beside thee.

SIEGFRIED [Pointing to his sword.

Far as north from east and west,So far was Brünnhild' removed.

GUTRUNE

But how got Gunther his wife from thee?

SIEGFRIED

Through the flames of the fire as they faded,When day dawned, through the mistShe followed me down the hill;When near the shore,None observing,I gave Gunther my place,And by the Tarnhelm's magicWished myself straight to thee.A strong wind drives the loversMerrily down the Rhine;Prepare to greet them with joy.

GUTRUNE

Siegfried! Such is thy might,I am afraid of thee!

HAGEN [Calling from the shore.

I can see a sail in the distance.

SIEGFRIED

Now be the envoy thanked!

GUTRUNE

Let us give her gracious greeting,That glad and gay she here may tarry!Thou, Hagen, pritheeSummon the menTo the hall here for the wedding,While blithe maidsTo the feast I bid;Our joy they will merrily share.

[As she goes towards the hall she turns round again.

Wilt thou rest, wicked man?

SIEGFRIED

Helping thee is rest enough.

[He gives her his hand and accompanies her into the hall.

HAGEN

[Has mounted a rock at the back, and starts blowing his cow-horn.

Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoho!Ye Gibich vassals,Up and prepare!Woeful tidings!Weapons! Weapons!Arm through the land!Goodly weapons,Mighty weaponsSharp for strife!Dire the strait!Woe! Danger! Danger!Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoho!

[Hagen remains where he is on the rock. Armed men arrive in haste by different paths; first singly, and then in larger and larger groups.

THE VASSALS

Why sounds the horn?Who calls us to arms?We come with our arms?We come with our weapons.Hagen! Hagen!Hoiho! Hoiho!Who hath suffered scathe?Say, what foe is nigh?Who forces war?Is Gunther sore pressed?We come with our weapons,With weapons keen!Hoiho! Ho! Hagen!

HAGEN [Still from the rock.

Come fully armedWithout delay!Welcome Gunther, your lord:A wife Gunther has wooed.

THE VASSALS

Is he in straits,Pressed by the foe?

HAGEN

A woman hard wonWith him he brings.

THE VASSALS

Her kinsmen and vassalsFollow for vengeance?

HAGEN

No one followsBut his bride.

THE VASSALS

Then the peril is past,And the foe put to flight?

HAGEN

The dragon-slayerHelped him at need;Siegfried, the hero,Kept him from harm.

THE VASSALS

How then can his vassals avail him?And why hast callèd us here?

HAGEN

Sturdy oxenYe shall slaughter;On Wotan's altarTheir blood be shed!

THE VASSALS

And after that, Hagen? Say, what next?

HAGEN

After that for FrohA boar ye shall fell,And a full-grown and strongHe-goat for Donner;But for FrickaSheep ye shall slaughter,That she may smile on the marriage!

THE VASSALS

[With increasing cheerfulness.

What shall we doWhen the beasts we have slain?

HAGEN

The drink-horn takeThat women sweetWith wine and meadBlithely have filled.

THE VASSALS

The drink-horn in hand,What task awaits us still?

HAGEN

Gaily carouseUntil tamed by wine:Drink, that the Gods, duly honoured,Grace may accord to this marriage.

THE VASSALS

[Burst into ringing laughter.

Good luck and joyLaugh on the Rhine,If Hagen, the grim one,So merrily jests!To wedding-feastsHagen invites;His prick the hedge-thorn,Hagen, has lost!

HAGEN

[Who has remained very grave, has come down to the men, and now stands among them.

Now cease from laughing,Doughty vassals!Receive Gunther's bride;Yonder come Brünnhild' and he.

[He points towards the Rhine. Some of the men hurry to the height; others range themselves on the shore to watch the arrival. Hagen goes up to some of the men.

Be to your ladyLoyal and true;Suffers she wrong,Swiftly avenge her!

[He turns slowly aside and moves towards the back. The boat arrives with Gunther and Brünnhilde. Those who have been looking out from the height come down to the shore. Some vassals spring into the water and pull the boat to land. All press closer to the bank.

THE VASSALS

Hail! Hail! Hail!Be greeted! Be greeted!Welcome, O Gunther!Hail! Hail! Hail!

[Gunther steps out of the boat with Brünnhilde.

THE VASSALS

[Range themselves respectfully to receive them.

Welcome, Gunther!Health to thee and to thy bride!

[They strike their weapons loudly together.

GUNTHER

[Presenting Brünnhilde, who follows him with pale face and lowered eyes, to the men.

Brünnhild', a peerless bride,Here to the Rhine I bring.No man ever wonA nobler woman!The Gods have shown from of oldGrace to the Gibichung stock.To fame unmatchedNow may it mount!

THE VASSALS [Solemnly clash their weapons.

Hail! O hail, happy Gibichung!

GUNTHER

[Leads Brünnhilde, who never raises her eyes, to the hall, from which Siegfried and Gutrune, attended by women, now come forth. Gunther stops before the hall.

Dear hero, greetings glad!I greet thee, fair sister!By him who won thee for wifeI joyfully see thee stand.Two happy pairsHere radiant are shining:

[He draws Brünnhilde forward.

Brünnhild'—and Gunther,Gutrun'—and Siegfried.

[Brünnhilde, startled, looks up and sees Siegfried. Her eyes remain fixed on him in amazement. Gunther, who has released her violently trembling hand, shows, as do all present, blank astonishment at her behaviour.

THE VASSALS and WOMEN

What ails her?Has she gone mad?

SIEGFRIED

[Goes a few steps towards Brünnhilde, who has begun to tremble.

Why looks Brünnhild' amazed?

BRÜNNHILDE [Scarcely able to control herself.

Siegfried … here? Gutrune....

SIEGFRIED

Gunther's gentle sister,Wed to meAs thou to him.

BRÜNNHILDE [With fearful vehemence.

I? Gunther? 'Tis false.

[She sways and seems about to fall. Siegfried supports her.

Light fades from mine eyes. ..

[In Siegfried's arms, looking faintly up at him.

Siegfried … knows me not?

SIEGFRIED

Gunther, see, thy wife is swooning!

[Gunther comes to them.

Wake, Brünnhild', wake!Here stands thy husband.

BRÜNNHILDE

[Perceives the ring on Siegfried's outstretched finger, and starts up with terrible vehemence.

Ha! The ringUpon his hand!He … Siegfried?

THE VASSALS

What's wrong?

HAGEN

[Coming among the vassals from behind.

Now pay good heedTo the woman's tale.

BRÜNNHILDE

[Mastering her terrible excitement, tries to control herself.

On thy hand thereI beheld a ring.'Twas wrested from meBy this man here;

[Pointing to Gunther.

'Tis not thine.How earnest thou byThe ring thou hast on?

SIEGFRIED

[Attentively regarding the ring on his finger.

'Twas not from himI got the ring.

BRÜNNHILDE [To Gunther.

Thou who didst seize the ringWith which I wedded thee,Declare to him thy right,Make him yield up the pledge!

GUNTHER [In great perplexity.

The ring? No ring I gave him,Though thou dost know it well.

BRÜNNHILDE

Where hast thou hid the ringThat thou didst capture from me?

[Gunther, greatly confused, does not answer.

BRÜNNHILDE [Breaking out furiously.

Ha! He it wasWho despoiled me of the ring—Siegfried, the treacherous thief!

[All look expectantly at Siegfried, who seems to be lost in far-off thoughts as he contemplates the ring.

SIEGFRIED

No woman gaveThe ring to me,Nor did I wrest itFrom a woman's grasp.This ring, I know,Was the booty wonWhen at Neidhöhl' boldly I fought,And the mighty dragon was slain.

HAGEN

[Stepping between them.

Brünnhild', dauntless queen,Knowest thou this ring well?If it was by Gunther won,Then it is his,And Siegfried has got it by guile.For his guilt must the traitor pay.

BRÜNNHILDE [Shrieking in terrible anguish.

Betrayed! Betrayed!Shamefully betrayed!Deceived! Deceived!Wrong too deep for revenge!

GUTRUNE

A wrong? To whom?

VASSALS and WOMEN

Deceit? To whom?

BRÜNNHILDE

Holy Gods!Ye heavenly rulers!Whispered ye thisIn councils dark?If I must bearMore than ever was borne,Bowed by a shameNone ever endured,Teach me such vengeanceAs never was raved!Kindle such wrathAs can never be calmed!Order Brünnhild'sPoor heart to be broken,Bring ye but doomOn him who betrayed!

GUNTHER

Brünnhild', dear wife,Control thyself!

BRÜNNHILDE

Away, betrayer!Self-betrayed one!All of you, hearken!Not he,But that man there,Won me to wife.

VASSALS and WOMEN

Siegfried? Gutrune's lord?

BRÜNNHILDE

He forced delightAnd love from me.

SIEGFRIED

Dost thou so lightlyHold thine honour,The tongue that thus defames itI must convict of its falsehood.Hear whether faith I broke!Blood-brotherhoodI have sworn unto Gunther;Nothung, my trusty sword,Guarded the sacred vow;'Twixt me and this sad woman distraughtIts blade lay sharp.

BRÜNNHILDE

Behold how thou liest,Crafty man,Vainly as witnessCiting thy sword!Full well I know its keenness,And also the scabbardWherein so snuglyHung on the wallNothung, the faithful friend,When its lord won the woman he loved.

VASSALS and WOMEN

[Crowd together in violent indignation.

What! Siegfried a traitor?Has he stained Gunther's honour?

GUNTHER [To Siegfried.

Disgraced were IAnd sullied my name,Were not the slanderCast in her teeth!

GRUTUNE

Siegfried faithless?False to his vow?Ah, prove thou that worthlessIs her word!

THE VASSALS

Clear thyself straight;If thou art wrongedSilence the slander;Sworn be the oath!

SIEGFRIED

If I must swear,The slander to still,Which of you offersHis sword for the oath?

HAGEN

Swear the oath uponThe point of my spear;Bad faith 'twill surely avenge.

[The vassals form a ring round Siegfried and Hagen. Hagen holds out the spear; Siegfried lays two fingers of his right hand upon the point.

SIEGFRIED

Shining steel!Weapon most holy,Witness my oath sworn for ever!On this spear's sharp pointI solemnly swear;Spear-point, mark thou my words!If weapon must pierce me,Thine be the point!When by death I am strickenStrike thou the blow,If what she tells is true,And I broke faith with my friend!

BRÜNNHILDE

[Strides furiously into the ring, tears Siegfried's hand from the spear, and grasps the point with her own.

Shining steel!Weapon most holy,Witness my oath sworn for ever!On this spear's sharp pointI solemnly swear!Spear-point, mark thou my words!Devoted be thy mightTo his undoing!Be thy sharpness blessed by me,That it may slay him!For broken his oaths have been all,And false is what he has sworn.

THE VASSALS

Help, Donner!Roar with thy thunderTo silence this terrible shame!

SIEGFRIED

Gunther, look to this womanWho falsely slanders thy name.Let her rest awhile,The untamed mountain maid,That the unbridled rage some demonIn malice hasAgainst us rousedMay have the chance to subside.Ye vassals, go ye your ways;Let the womenfolk scold.Like cravens gladly we yield,Comes it to fighting with tongues.

[He goes up to Gunther.

Thou art not so vexed as IThat I beguiled her ill;The Tarnhelm must, I fear,But half have hid my face.Still, women's wrathSoon is appeased:That I won her for theeThankful thy wife will be yet.

[He turns again to the vassals.

Follow me, men,With mirth to the feast!

[To the women.

Gaily, women,Help at the wedding!Joyfully laughLove and delight!In hall and groveThere shall be noneThis day more merry than I!Ye whom love has blessed,Like myself light-hearted,Follow and share in my mirth!

[He throws his arm in the highest spirits round Gutrune and draws her into the hall. The vassals and women follow, carried away by his example. All go off, except Brünnhilde, Gunther, and Hagen. Gunther, in deep shame and dejection, with his face covered, has seated himself on one side. Brünnhilde, standing in the foreground, gazes for some time sorrowfully after Siegfried and Gutrune, then droops her head.