"I am going to the top of this mountain. There a maiden lies sleeping. I
will awaken her, and she shall be my bride."
"Go back to your forest!" commanded Wotan. "This mountain is encircled
by fire."
And stretching forth his arm, he barred the path with his mighty spear.
Siegfried quickly drew his sword from its sheath.
"This is the magic spear that rules the world!" said Wotan. "Put away
that sword, or the spear that once shattered it will shatter it again!"
"Ha!" cried Siegfried, "then you were my father's foe!"
There was a flash of Siegfried's blade, then a crash that echoed over
mountains and valleys, and Siegfried had shattered Wotan's spear. It lay
in splinters on the ground.
Wotan stepped aside and sadly bowed his head upon his breast.
He knew this meant the downfall of the giants. No longer would the earth
be ruled from fair Valhalla's heights.