ACT I. THE INTERIOR OF HUNDING'S DWELLING_The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie The Ring of the Niblung, part 1

THE RING OF THE NIBLUNG

THE RHINEGOLD: PRELUDE

THE VALKYRIE: FIRST DAY OF THE TRILOGY

SIEGFRIED: SECOND DAY OF THE TRILOGY

THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS: THIRD

DAY OF THE TRILOGY

THE RHINEGOLD & THE VALKYRIE

BY RICHARD WAGNER

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

BY ARTHUR RACKHAM

TRANSLATED BY MARGARET ARMOUR

LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN

NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY PACE & Co

1910

[Illustration: "Raging, Wotan

Rides to the rock!

. . . . . . .

Like a storm-wind he comes!"]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"Raging, Wotan

Rides to the rock!

. . . . . . . .

Like a storm-wind he comes" plate 01

The frolic of the Rhine-Maidens plate 02

The Rhine-Maidens teasing Alberich plate 03

"Mock away! Mock!

The Niblung makes for your toy!" plate 04

"Seize the despoiler!

Rescue the gold!

Help us! Help us!

Woe! Woe!" plate 05

Freia, the fair one plate 06

"The Rhine's pure-gleaming children

Told me of their sorrow" plate 07

Fasolt suddenly seizes Freia and drags her to one side

with Fafner plate 08

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

MIME, howling. "Ohé! Ohé!

Oh! Oh!" plate 10

MIME writhes under the lashes he receives plate 11

Alberich drives in a band of Niblungs laden with gold

and silver treasure plate 12

"Ohé! Ohé!

Horrible dragon,

O swallow me not!

Spare the life of poor Loge! plate 13

"Hey! Come hither,

And stop me this cranny!" plate 14

"Erda bids thee beware" plate 15

Fafner kills Fasolt plate 16

"To my hammer's swing

Hitherward sweep

Vapours and fogs!

Hovering mists!

Donner, your lord, summons his hosts!" plate 17

"The Rhine's fair children,

Bewailing their lost gold, weep" plate 18

"This healing and honeyed

Draught of mead

Deign to accept from me."

"Set it first to thy lips" plate 19

Hunding discovers the likeness between Siegmund and

Sieglinde plate 20

Sieglinde prepares Hunding's draught for the night plate 21

"Siegmund the Walsung

Thou dost see!

As bride-gift

He brings thee this sword" plate 22

Brünnhilde plate 23

Fricka approaches in anger plate 24

Brünnhilde slowly and silently leads her horse down the

path to the cave plate 25

"Father! Father!

Tell me what ails thee?

With dismay thou art filling thy child!" plate 26

Brünnhilde stands for a long time dazed and alarmed plate 27

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

"I flee for the first time

And am pursued:

Warfather follows close

. . . . . . .

He nears, he nears, in fury!

Save this woman!

Sisters, your help!" plate 29

"There as a dread

Dragon he sojourns,

And in a cave

Keeps watch over Alberich's ring" plate 30

The ride of the Valkyries plate 31

"Appear, flickering fire,

Encircle the rock with thy flame!

Loge! Loge! Appear!" plate 32

As he moves slowly away, Wotan turns and looks

sorrowfully back at Brünnhilde plate 33

The sleep of Brünnhilde plate 34

THE RHINEGOLD

CHARACTERS

GODS: WOTAN, DONNER, FROH, LOGE

NIBELUNGS: ALBERICH, MIME

GIANTS: FASOLT, FAFNER

GODDESSES: FRICKA, FREIA, ERDA

RHINE-MAIDENS: WOGLINDE, WELLGUNDE, FLOSSHILDE

SCENES OF ACTION

I. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RHINE

II. OPEN SPACE ON A MOUNTAIN HEIGHT NEAR THE RHINE

III. THE SUBTERRANEAN CAVERNS OF NIBELHEIM

IV. OPEN SPACE AS IN SCENE II.

FIRST SCENE

_At the bottom of the Rhine_

_A greenish twilight, lighter above than below. The upper part is filled

with undulating water, which streams respectively from right to left.

Towards the bottom the waves resolve themselves into a mist which

grows finer as it descends, so that a space, as high as a mans body

from the ground, appears to be quite free from the water, which

floats like a train of clouds over the gloomy stretch below. Steep

rocky peaks jut up everywhere from the depths, and enclose the entire

stage. The ground is a wild confusion of jagged rocks, no part of

it being quite level, and on every side deeper fisures are indicated

by a still denser gloom. Woglinde circles with graceful swimming

movements round the central rock._

WOGLINDE

Weia! Waga!

Roll, O ye billows,

Rock ye our cradle!

Wagala weia!

Wallala, weiala, weia!

WELLGUNDE [_From above._

Woglinde, watchest alone?

WOGLINDE

If Wellgunde came we were two.

WELLGUNDE [_Dives down to the rock_.

How keepest thou watch?

WOGLINDE [_Swimming off, eludes her_.

Wary of thee.

[_They playfully tease and chase one another_.

FLOSSHILDE [_From above_.

Heiaha weia!

Ho! ye wild sisters!

WELLGUNDE

Flosshilde, swim!

Woglinde flies:

Help me to hinder her flying.

FLOSSHILDE [_Dives down between the two at play._

The sleeping gold

Badly ye guard;

Watch with more zeal

The slumberer's bed,

Or dear you'll pay for your sport!

[_They swim asunder with merry cries. Flosshilde

tries to catch first the one, then the other.

They elude her, and then combine to chase her,

darting like fish from rock to rock with jests and

laughter. Meanwhile Alberich climbs out of a dark

ravine on to a rock. He pauses, still surrounded

by darkness, and watches the frolic of the

Rhine-Maidens with increasing pleasure._

ALBERICH

Hey, hey! ye nixies!

Ye are a lovely,

Lovable folk!

From Nibelheim's night

Fain would I come,

Would ye be kind to me.

[_The maidens, as soon as they hear Alberich's

voice, stop playing._

WOGLINDE

Hei! Who is there?

WELLGUNDE

A voice! It grows dark!

FLOSSHILDE

Who listens below?

[_They dive down and see the Nibelung._

WOGLINDE and WELLGUNDE

Fie! the loathsome one!

[Illustration: Plate 02, The frolic of the Rhine-Maidens.]

FLOSSHILDE [_Swimming up quickly._

Look to the gold!

Father warned us

Of such a foe.

[Both the others follow her, and all three gather

quickly round the central rock.

ALBERICH

You above there!

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

What wouldst thou below there?

ALBERICH

Do I spoil sport

By standing and gazing here?

Dived ye but deeper,

Fain the Niblung

Would join in your frolic and play.

WELLGUNDE

He wishes to join us?

WOGLINDE

Is he in jest?

ALBERICH

Ye gleam above me

So glad and fair!

If one would only

Glide down, how close in my arms

Fondly clasped she would be!

FLOSSHILDE

I laugh at my fears:

The foe is in love.

WELLGUNDE

The amorous imp!

WOGLINDE

Let us approach him.

[She sinks down to the top of the rock, whose base

Alberich has reached.

ALBERICH

Lo! one of them comes!

WOGLINDE

Climb up to me here!

ALBERICH

[_Climbs with gnome-like agility, though with

repeated checks, to the summit of the rock.

Irritably._

Horrid rock,

So slippery, slimy!

I slide and slip!

My hands and feet vainly

Attempt to hold on

To the slithery surface!

Vapour damp

Fills up my nostrils--

Accursed sneezing!

[_He has got near Woglinde,_

WOGLINDE [_Laughing._

Sneezing tells

That my suitor comes!

ALBERICH

Be thou my love!

Adorable child!

[_He tries to embrace her._

WOGLINDE [_Escaping from him._

Here thou must woo,

If woo me thou wilt!

[_She swims up to another rock._

ALBERICH [_Scratching his head._

Alas! not yet caught?

Come but closer!

Hard I found

What so lightly thou didst.

WOGLINDE [_Swims to a third rock lower down._

Deeper descend:

Thou'lt certainly seize me!

ALBERICH [_Clambers down quickly._

Down there it is better!

WOGLINDE [_Darts upwards to a higher rock at the side._

But better still higher!

WELLGUNDE AND FLOSSHILDE [_Laughing_

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH

How capture this coy,

Elusive fish?

Wait for me, false one!

[_He tries to climb after her in haste._

WELLGUNDE

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

Heia! my friend there!

Dost thou not hear?

ALBERICH [_Turning round._

What? Didst thou call?

WELLGUNDE

Be counselled by me:

Forsake Woglinde,

Climb up to me now!

ALBERICH

[_Climbs hastily over the river-bottom towards

Wellgunde._

Thou art more comely

Far than that coy one;

Her sheen is duller,

Her skin too smooth.

But thou must deeper

Dive to delight me!

WELLGUNDE

[_Sinking down till she is a little nearer him._

Well, now am I near?

ALBERICH

Not near enough.

Thine arms around me

Tenderly throw,

That I may fondle

Thy neck with my fingers,

And closely may cling

To thy bosom with love and with longing.

WELLGUNDE

Art thou in love?

For love art thou pining?

Approach and show me

Thy face and thy form.

Fie! thou horrible

Hunchback, for shame!

Swarthy, horny-skinned

Rogue of a dwarf!

Find thou a sweetheart

Fonder than I?

ALBERICH

[_Tries to detain her by force_

I may not be fair,

But fast I can hold!

WELLGUNDE

[_Swimming up quickly to the middle rock._

Hold firm, or I will escape!

WOGLINDE AND FLOSSHILDE [_Laughing._

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH [_Angrily calling after Wellgunde._

Fickle maid!

Bony, cold-blooded fish!

Fair if I seem not,

Pretty and playful

Smooth and sleek--

Hei! if I am so loathsome

Give thy love to the eels!

FLOSSHILDE

What ails thee, dwarf?

Daunted so soon?

Though two have been wooed,

Still a third waits thee,

Solace sweet

Fain at a word to grant!

ALBERICH

Soothing song

Sounds in my ear!

'Twas well I found

Three and not one!

The chance is I charm one of many,

Whilst, single, no one would choose me!

Hither come gliding,

And I will believe!

FLOSSHILDE [_Dives down to Alberich._

How senseless are ye,

Silly sisters,

Not to see he is fair!

ALBERICH [_Hastening towards her._

I well may deem them

Dull and ill-favoured,

Seeing how lovely thou art!

FLOSSHILDE

Sing on! Thy song,

So soft and sweet,

Entrancing sounds in my ear!

ALBERICH [_Caressing her with confidence._

My heart burns

And flutters and fails,

Flattered by praises so sweet!

FLOSSHILDE [_Gently resisting him._

Thy grace and beauty

Make glad my eye;

And thy smile refreshes

My soul like balm

[_She draws him tenderly towards her._

Dearest of men!

ALBERICH

Sweetest of maids!

FLOSSHILDE

Wert thou but mine!

ALBERICH

Wert mine for ever!

FLOSSHILDE [_Ardently._

To be pierced by thy glance,

To be pricked by thy beard,

To see and to feel them for aye!

Might thy hair hard as bristles

Flow ever more

Enraptured Flosshilde wreathing!

And thy form like a frog's,

And the croak of thy voice--

O could I, dumb with amaze,

Marvel forever on these!

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE

[_Dive down close to them and laugh._

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH [_Starting in alarm._

Wretches, dare ye thus scoff?

FLOSSHILDE [_Suddenly darting away from him._

A suitable end to the song.

[_She swims up quickly with her sisters._

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE [_Laughing._

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH [_In a wailing voice._

Woe's me! Ah, woe's me!

Alas! Alas!

The third one, so dear,

Does she too betray?

O sly and shameful

Worthless and dissolute wantons!

Live ye on lies

Alone, O ye false nixie brood?

THE THREE RHINE MAIDENS

Wallala! Wallala!

Lalalelai leialalei!

Heia! Heia! ha! ha!

Shame on thee goblin,

Scolding down yonder!

Cease, and do as we bid thee!

Faint-hearted wooer,

Why couldst not hold

The maid, when won, more fast?

True are we,

And troth we keep

With lovers when once caught.

Grasp then and hold;

Away with all fear!

In the waves we scarce can escape.

Wallala!

Lalaleia! Leialalei!

Heia! Heia! Ha hei!

[_They swim apart hither and thither, now lower,

now higher, to provoke Alberich to give chase._

[Illustration: Plate 03, The Rhine-Maidens teasing Alberich.]

ALBERICH

Fiercely within me

Passionate fires

Consume and flame!

Love and fury,

Wild, resistless,

Lash me to frenzy!

So laugh and lie your fill--

One of you I desire,

And one must yield to my yearning!

[_He starts chasing them with desperate energy.

He climbs with terrible agility, and, springing

from rock to rock, tries to catch one maiden

after another. They keep eluding him with mocking

laughter. He stumbles and falls into the abyss, and

clambers up quickly again and resumes the chase.

They sink down a little towards him; he almost

reaches them, but falls, back again, and once

more tries to catch them. At last he pauses out

of breath, and, foaming with rage, stretches his

clenched fist up towards the maidens._

ALBERICH

If but this fist had one!

[_He remains speechless with rage, gazing upwards,

when he is suddenly attracted and arrested by the

following spectacle. Through the water a light

of continually increasing brilliance breaks from

above, and, at a point near the top of the middle

rock, kindles to a radiant and dazzling golden

gleam. A magical light streams from this through

the waves._

WOGLINDE

Look, sisters!

The wakener laughs to the deep.

WELLGUNDE

Through the billows green

The blissful slumberer greets.

FLOSSHILDE

He kisses the eyelid,

Making it open;

Bathed in splendour,

Behold it smiles,

Sending, like a star,

Gleaming light through the waves.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

[_Swimming gracefully round the cliff together._

Heia jaheia!

Wallala la la la leia jahei!

Rhinegold!

Radiant delight,

How glorious and glad thy smile,

Over the water

Shooting effulgence afar!

Heia jahei!

Heia jaheia!

Waken, friend!

Wake in joy!

That we may please thee,

Merry we'll play,

Waters afire,

Billows aflame,

As, blissfully bathing,

Dancing and singing,

We dive and encircle thy bed!

Rhinegold!

Heia jaheia!

Wallala la la la heia jahei!

[_With increasing mirthful abandonment the maidens

swim round the rock. The water is filled with a

glimmering golden light._

ALBERICH

[_Whose eyes, strongly attracted by the radiance,

stare fixedly at the gold._

What is it, sleek ones,

That yonder gleams and shines?

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

Where dost thou hail from, O churl,

Of the Rhinegold not to have heard?

WELLGUNDE

Knows not the elf

Of the famed eye golden

That wakes and sleeps in turn?

WOGLINDE

Of the star resplendent

Down in the depths

Whose light illumines the waves?

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [_Together_

See how gaily

We glide in the glory!

Wouldst thou also

Be bathed in brightness,

Come, float and frolic with us!

Wallala la la leia lalei!

Wallala la la leia jahei!

ALBERICH

Has the gold no value

Apart from your games?

It were not worth getting!

WOGLINDE

He would not scoff,

Scorning the gold,

Did he but know all its wonders!

WELLGUNDE

That man surely

The earth would inherit

Who from the Rhinegold

Fashioned the ring

Which measureless power imparts.

FLOSSHILDE

Our father told us,

And strictly bade us

Guard with prudence

The precious hoard

That no thief from the water might steal it.

Be still, then, chattering fools.

WELLGUNDE

O prudent sister,

Why chide and reproach?

Hast thou not heard

That one alone

Can hope to fashion the gold?

WOGLINDE

Only the man

Who love defies,

Only the man

From love who flies

Can learn and master the magic

That makes a ring of the gold.

WELLGUNDE

Secure then are we

And free from care:

For love is part of living;

No one would live without loving.

WOGLINDE

And least of all he,

The languishing elf,

With pangs of love

Pining away.

FLOSSHILDE

I fear him not

Who should surely know,

By his savage lust

Almost inflamed.

[Illustration: Plate 04

"Mock away! Mock away!

The Niblung makes for your toy!"]

WELLGUNDE

A brimstone brand

In the surging waves,

In lovesick frenzy

Hissing loud.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [_Together._

Wallala! Wallaleia la la!

Join in our laughter,

Lovable elf!

In the golden glory

How gallant thy sheen!

O come, lovely one, laugh as we laugh!

Heia jaheia!

Wallala la la la leia jahei!

[_They swim, laughing, backwards and forwards in

the light._

ALBERICH

[_His eyes fixed on the gold, has listened

attentively to the sisters rapid chatter._

Could I truly

The whole earth inherit through thee?

If love be beyond me

My cunning could compass delight?

[_In a terribly loud voice._

Mock away! Mock!

The Niblung makes for your toy!

[_Raging he springs on to the middle rock,

and clambers to the top. The maidens scatter,

screaming, and swim upwards on different sides._

THE THREE RHINE MAIDENS

Heia! Heia!heia jahei!

Save yourselves!

The elf is distraught!

Swirling waters splash

At every leap:

The creature's crazy with love!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH

[_Reaching the topwith a last spring._

Still undismayed?

Go, wanton in darkness.

Water-born brood!

[_He stretches his hand out towards the gold._

My hand quenches your light;

I tear the gold from the rock;

Forged be the ring for revenge!

Bear witness, ye floods--

I forswear love and curse it!

[_He tears the gold from the rock with terrific

force, and immediately plunges with it into the

depths, where he quickly disappears. Sudden

darkness envelops the scene. The maidens dive down

after the robber._

THE THREE RHINE MAIDENS

Seize the despoiler!

Rescue the gold!

Help us! Help us!

Woe! Woe!

[_The water sinks with them. From the lowest depth

Alberich's shrill, mocking laughter rings up. The

rocks are hidden by impenetrable darkness. The

whole stage from top to bottom is filled with black

waves, which for some time appear to sink even

lower._

[Illustration: plate 05

"Seize the despoiler!

Rescue the gold!

Help us! Help us!

Woe! Woe!"]

SECOND SCENE

_The waves have gradually changed into clouds which, becoming lighter

and lighter by degrees, finally disperse in a fine mist. As the mist

vanishes upwards in light little clouds an open space on a mountain

height becomes visible in the dim light which precedes dawn. At one

side Wotan with Fricka beside him both asleep, lie on a flowery bank.

The dawning day illumines with increasing brightness a castle with

glittering pinnacles which stands on the summit of a cliff in the

background. Between this and the foreground a deep valley is visible

through which the Rhine flows._

FRICKA

[_Awakes; her gaze falls on the castle, which has

become plainly visible; alarmed._

WOTAN [_Continuing to dream._

The happy hall of delight

Is guarded by gate and door:

Manhood's honour,

Power for aye,

Rise to my lasting renown!

FRICKA [_Shakes him._

Up from deceitful

Bliss of a dream!

My husband, wake and consider!

WOTAN

[_Awakes and raises himself slightly. His glance is

immediately arrested by the view of the castle._

The walls everlasting are built!

On yonder summit

The Gods' abode

Proudly rears

Its radiant strength!

As I nursed it in dream

And desired it to be,

Strong it stands,

Fair to behold,

Brave and beautiful pile!

FRICKA

While thou rejoicest,

Joyless am I.

Thou hast thy hall;

My heart fears for Freia.

Heedless one, hast thou forgotten

The price that was to be paid?

The work is finished,

And forfeit the pledge:

Hast thou then no care for the cost?

WOTAN

My bargain well I remember

With them who built the abode.

'Twas a pact tamed them,

The obstinate race,

So that this hallowed

Hall they have built me.

It stands--the strong ones' doing:--

Fret not thou, counting the cost.

FRICKA

O laughing, insolent lightness!

Mirth how cruel and callous!

Had I but known of thy pact,

The trick had never been played;

But far from your counsels

Ye men kept the women,

That, deaf to us and in peace,

Alone ye might deal with the giants.

So without shame

Ye promised them Freia,

Freia, my beautiful sister,

Proud of playing the thief.

What remains holy

Or precious to men

Once grown greedy of might?

WOTAN [_Calmly._

From such greed

Was Fricka then free

Herself when the castle she craved?

FRICKA

I was forced to ponder some means

To keep my husband faithful,

True to me when his fancy

Tempted him far from his home.

Halls high and stately,

Decked to delight thee,

Were to constrain thee

To peaceful repose.

But thou hadst the work designed

Intent on war alone;

It was to add

More to thy might still,

To stir up to tumult still fiercer

That built were the towering walls

WOTAN

Wouldst thou, O Wife!

In the castle confine me,

To me, the god, must be granted,

Faithful at home,

The right to wage war

And conquer the world from without.

Ranging and changing

All men love:

That sport at least thou must leave me.

FRICKA

Cold, hard-hearted,

Merciless man!

For the idle baubles,

Empire and sway,

Thou stakest in insolent scorn

Love and a woman's worth!

WOTAN

When I went wooing, to win thee

I staked ungrudging,

Gladly one of my eyes:

What folly now then to scold!

Women I honour

Beyond thy desire!

I will not abandon

Frei, the fair:

Such never was my intent.

FRICKA

[_ Anxiously looking towards a point not on the

stage._

Then succour her now:

Defenceless, in fear,

Hither she hastens for help!

FREIA

[_Enters as if flying from someone._

Help me, sister!

Shield me, o brother!

From yonder mountain

Menaces Fasolt:

He comes to bear me off captive.

WOTAN

Let him come!

Sawest thou Loge?

FRICKA

To this tricky deceiver

O why wilt thou trust?

He always snares thee anew,

Though from his snares thou hast suffered.

WOTAN

I ask for no aid

Where simple truth suffices;

But to turn the spite

Of foes to profit,

Craft and cunning alone

Can teach, as by Loge employed.

He whose advice I obeyed

Has promised ransom for Freia:

On him my faith I have fixed.

FRICKA

And art left in the lurch.

The giants come.

Lo! hither they stride:

Where lingers now thine ally?

FREIA

Where tarry ye, my brothers,

When help ye should bring me,

Weak and bartered away by my kin?

O help me, Donner!

Hither! Hither!

Rescue Freia, my Froh!

FRICKA

Now the knaves who plotted and tricked thee

Abandon thee in thy need.

[_Fasolt and Fafner, both of gigantic stature,

enter, armed with stout clubs._

FASOLT

Soft sleep

Sealed thine eyes

While we, both sleepless,

Built the castle walls:

Working hard

Wearied not,

Heaping, heaving

Heavy stones.

Tower steep,

Door and gate

Keep and guard

Thy goodly castle halls.

[_Pointing to the castle._

There stands

What we builded,

Shining fair

Beneath the sun.

Enter in

And pay the price!

WOTAN

Name, Workers, your wage.

What payment will appease you?

FASOLT

We made the terms

That seemed to us meet.

Hast thou forgot so soon?

Freia, the fair one,

Holda, the free one--

The bargain is

We bear her away.

WOTAN (Quickly.)

Ye must be mad

To moot such a thing!

Ask some other wage;

Freia I will not grant.

FASOLT

_Stands for a space speechless with angry surprise._

What is this? Ha!

Wouldest deceive?--

Go back on thy bond?

What thy spear wards

Are they but sport,

All the runes of solemn bargain?

FAFNER

O trusty brother!

Fool, dost now see the trick?

FASOLT

Son of light,

Light, unstable,

Hearken! Have a care!

In treaties keep thou troth!

What thou art

Thou art only by treaties,

For, built on bonds,

There are bounds to thy might.

Though cunning thou,

More clever than we:

Though we once freemen,

Are pledged to peace,

Cursed be all thy wisdom;--

Peaceful promises perish!--

Wilt thou not open,

Honest and frank

Stand fast by a bargain once fixed.

A stupid giant

Tells thee this:

O wise one, take it from him!

[Illustration: plate 06, Freia, the fair one]

WOTAN

How sly to judge us serious

When plainly we were but jesting!

The beautiful Goddess

Light and bright--

For churls what charm could she have?

FASOLT

Jeerest thou?

Ha! how unjust!

Ye who by beauty rule,

Proud and radiant race!

How foolish, striving

For towers of stone,

Woman's love to pledge--

Price of walls and of halls!

We dolts, despising ease,

Sweating with toil-hardened hands,

Have worked, that a woman

With gentle delight

In our midst might sojourn

And ye call the pact a jest?

FAFNER

Cease thy childish chatter;

No gain look we to get.

Freia's charms

Mean little;

But it means much,

If from the Gods we remove her.

Golden apples

Ripen within her garden;

She alone

Grows the apples and tends them.

The goodly fruit

Gives to her kinsfolk,

Who eat thereof,

Youth everlasting.

Sick and pale,

Their beauty would perish,

Old and weak,

Wasting away,

Were not Freia among them.

[_Roughly._

From their midst, therefore, Freia must forth!

WOTAN [_Aside._

Loge lingers long!

FASOLT

We wait for thy word!

WOTAN

Ask some other wage!

FASOLT

No other: Freia alone!

FAFNER

Thou there, follow us!

[_Fafner and Fasolt press towards Freia. Froh and

Donner enter in haste._

FREIA

Help! Help from the harsh ones!

FROH

To me, Freia!

[_Clasping Freia in his arms._ [_To Fafner._

Back, overbold one!

Froh shields the fair one!

DONNER [_Confronting the giants._

Fasolt and Fafner,

Have ye not felt

With what weight my hammer falls?

FAFNER

What means thy threat?

FASOLT

What wouldst thou here?

No strife we desire;

We want but our due reward.

DONNER

Oft I've doled out

Giants their due:

Come, your reward is here

Waiting, full measure and more!

[_He swings his hammer._

WOTAN

[_Stretching out his spear between the combatants._

Hold, thou fierce one!

Nothing by force!

All bonds and treaties

My spear protects;

Spare then thy hammer's haft!

FREIA

Woe's me! Woe's me!

Wotan forsakes me!

FRICKA

Can such be thy thought,

Merciless man?

WOTAN

[_Turns away and sees Loge coming._

There comes Loge!

Hot is thy haste

Smoothly to settle

Thy sorry, badly-made bargain!

LOGE

[_Has come up out of the valley in the background._

What is this bargain

That I am blamed for?--

The one with the giants

That thou thyself didst decide?

O'er hill and o'er hollow

Drives me my whim;

House and hearth

I do not crave.

Donner and Froh,

They dream but of roof and room:

Wedding, must have

A home in which to dwell,

A stately hall,

A fortress fast.

It was such Wotan wished.

Hall and house,

Castle, court,

The blissful abode

Now stands complete and strong.

I proved the lordly

Pile myself;

In fear of flaws,

Scanning it close.

Fasolt and Fafner

Faithful I found;

Firm-bedded is each stone.

I was not slothful

Like many here:

Who calls me sluggard, he lies!

WOTAN

Cunningly

Thou wouldst escape!

Warned be, and wisely

Turn from attempts to deceive.

Of all the Gods

I alone stood by thee

As thy friend,

In the gang that trusted thee not.

Now speak, and to the point!

For when the builders at first

As wage Freia demanded,

I gave way only,

Trusting thy word

When thou didst solemnly promise

To ransom the noble pledge.

LOGE

Perplexed to puzzle,

Plans to ponder

For its redeeming--

That promise I gave;

But to discover

What cannot be,

What none can do,

No man can possibly promise.

FRICKA

See the treacherous

Rogue thou didst trust!

FROH

Named art Loge,

But liar I call thee!

DONNER

Accursèd flame,

I will quench thy fire!

LOGE

From their shame to shelter,

Foolish folk flout me.

[_Donner threatens to strike Loge._

WOTAN

[_Stepping between them._

Forbear and let him alone!

Ye wot not Loge's wiles.

His advice,

Given slowly, gains

Both in weight and in worth.

FAFNER

Do not dally;

Promptly pay!

FASOLT

Long waits our reward.

WOTAN

_Turns sternly to Loge._

Speak up surly one!

Fail me not!

How far hast thou ranged and roamed?

LOGE

Still with reproach

Is Loge paid!

Concerned but for thee,

Thorough and swift,

I searched and ransacked

To the ends of the earth

To find a ransom for Freia

Fair to the giants and just.

In vain the search,

Convincing at last

That the world contains

Nothing so sweet

That a man will take it instead

Of woman's love and delight.

[_All seem surprised and taken aback._

Where life moves and has being,

In water, earth and air

I questioned,

Asking of all things,

Where weak still is strength,

And germs only stirring,

What men thought dear--

And stronger deemed--

Than woman's love and delight.

But where life moves and has being

My questions met

But with laughter and scorn.

In water, earth and air

Woman and love

Will none forego.

[_Varied gestures of amazement._

One man, one only,

I met who, renouncing love,

Prized ruddy gold

Above any woman's grace.

The Rhine's pure-gleaming children

Told me of their sorrow.

The Nibelung,

Night-Alberich,

Wooed for the favour

Of the swimmers in vain,

And vengeance took,

Stealing the Rhinegold they guard.

He thinks it now

A thing beyond price,

Greater than woman's grace.

For their glittering toy

Thus torn from the deep

The sorrowful maids lamented.

They pray, Wotan,

Pleading to thee,

That thy wrath may fall on the robber

The gold too

They would have thee grant them

To guard in the water for ever.

Loge promised

The maidens to tell thee,

And, keeping faith, he has told.

[Illustration: plate 07

"The Rhine's pure-gleaming children

Told me of their sorrow"]

WOTAN

Dull thou must be

Or downright knavish!

In parlous plight myself,

What help have I for others?

FASOLT

[_Who has been listening attentively, to Fafner._

The Niblung has much annoyed us;

I greatly grudge him this Rhinegold;

But such his craft and cunning,

He has never been caught.

FAFNER

Other malice

Ponders the Niblung;

Gains he might from gold

Listen, Loge!

Tell us the truth.

What wondrous gift has the gold,

That the dwarf desires it so?

LOGE

A plaything,

In the waves providing

Children with laughter and sport,

It gives, when to golden

Ring it is rounded,

Power and might unmatched;

It wins its owner the world.

WOTAN [_Thoughtfully._

Rumours I have heard

Of the Rhinegold;

Runes of riches

Hide in its ruddy glow;

Pelf and power

Are by the ring bestowed.

FRICKA [_Softly to Loge._

Could this gaud,

This gleaming trinket

Forged from the gold,

Be worn by a woman too?

LOGE

The wife who wore

That glittering charm

Never would lose

Her husband's love--

That charm which dwarfs are welding,

Working in thrall to the ring.

FRICKA [_Coaxingly to Wotan._

O could but my husband

Come by the ring!

WOTAN

_As if falling more and more under the influence of

a spell._

Methinks it were wisdom,

Won I the ring to my service.

But say, Loge,

How shall I learn

To forge and fashion it true?

LOGE

A magic rune

Can round the golden ring.

No one knows it,

Yet plain the spell to him

Who happy love forswears.

[_Wotan turns away in annoyance._

That suits thee not;

Thou art too late too.

Alberich did not delay;

Fearless he mastered

The potent spell,

[_Harshly._

And wrought aright was the ring.

DONNER _To Wotan._

We should all be

Under the dwarf,

Were not the ring from him wrested.

WOTAN

The ring I must capture!

FROH

Lightly now,

Without cursing love it were won.

LOGE

Just so:

Without guile, as in children's games!

WOTAN

Then tell us how.

LOGE

By theft!

What a thief stole

Steal thou from the thief;

How better could object be won?

But with baleful arms

Battles Alberich.

Wary, wise

Must be thy scheming,

If the thief thou wouldst confound,

_With warmth._

And restore the ruddy

And golden toy,

The Rhinegold, to the maidens.

For this they pray and implore.

WOTAN

The river-maidens?

What profit were mine?

FRICKA

Of that billow-born brood

Bring me no tidings,

For they have wooed

To my woe

Full many a man to their caves.

_Wotan stands silent, struggling with himself. The

other Gods gaze at him in mute suspense. Fafner,

meanwhile, has been consulting aside with Fasolt._

FAFNER

Worth far more than Freia

Were the glittering gold.

Eternal youth, too, were his

Who could use the charm in its quest.

[_Fasolt's gestures indicate that he is being

convinced against his will. Fafner and Fasolt

approach Wotan again._

FAFNER

Hear, Wotan,

Our word while we wait;

Freia we will restore you,

And will take

Paltrier payment:

The Niblung's red-gleaming gold

Will guerdon us giants rude.

WOTAN

Ye must be mad!

With what I possess not

How can I, shameless ones, pay you?

FAFNER

Hard labour

Went to those walls;

How easy

With fraud-aided force

(What our malice never achieved)

The Niblung to break and bind!

[Illustration: Plate 08, Fasolt suddenly seizes Freia and drags her to

one side with Fafner]

WOTAN [_More quickly._

Why should I make

War on the Niblung?--

Fight, your foe to confound?

Insolent

And greedily grasping

Dolts you grow through my debt!

FASOLT

[_Suddenly seizes Freia and drags her to one side

with Fafner._

Maiden, come!

We claim thee ours!

As pledge thou shalt be held

Till the ransom is paid.

FREIA [_Screaming_.

Woe's me! Woe's me! Woe!

FAFNER

From your midst

We bear her forth!

Till evening--mark it well I--

As a pledge she is ours.

We will return then.

But when we come,

If the Rhinegold be not ready,

The Rhinegold bright and red--

FASOLT

The respite is ended,

Freia is forfeit

And bides among us for aye!

FREIA

Sister! Brothers!

Save me! Help!

[_The giants hasten off, dragging Freia with them._

FROH

Up! Follow fast!

DONNER

Fall now the heavens!

[_They look inquiringly at Wotan._

FREIA [_In the distance._

Save me! Help!

LOGE [_Looking after the giants._

Downward over stock and stone

Striding they go;

Through the ford across the Rhine

Wade now the robbers.

Sad at heart

Hangs Freia,

Thrown rudely over rough shoulders!

Heia! hei!

The louts, how they lumber along!

Through the Rhine valley they reel.

Not till Riesenheim's march

Is reached will they rest!

[_He turns to the Gods._

How darkly Wotan doth dream!

What ails the high, happy Gods?

[_A pale mist, gradually increasing in density,

fills the stage. Seen through it the Gods look more

and more wan and aged. All stand in dismay and

apprehension regarding Wotan, whose eyes are fixed

broodingly on the ground._

LOGE

Does a mist mock me?

Tricks me a dream?

Dismayed and wan,

How swiftly ye fade!

Lo! the bloom forsakes your cheeks,

And quenched is the light of your eyes!

Courage, Froh!

Day's but begun!

From thy hand, Donner,

The hammer is falling!

And why frets Fricka?

Sees she with sorrow

That Wotan's hair, growing grey,

Has made him gloomy and old?

FRICKA

Woe's me! Woe's me!

What does it mean?

[Illustration: Plate 09, The Gods grow wan and aged at the loss of Freia.]

DONNER

My hand sinks down.

FROH

My heart stands still.

LOGE

I have it: hear what ye lack!

Of Freia's fruit

Ye have not partaken to-day.

The golden apples

Within her garden

Restored you your strength and your youth,

Ate ye thereof each day.

The garden's guardian

In pledge has been given.

On the branches dries

And droops the fruit,

To drop soon and decay.

My loss is lighter,

For still did Freia,

Stingy to me,

Stint the delectable fruit.

Not half as godlike

Am I, ye high ones, as you!

[_Freely, but quickly and harshly._

But ye trusted solely

To the fruit that makes young,

As well both the giants wist.

Your life they played for,

Plotted to take;

Contrive so that they fail.

Lacking the apples,

Old and worn,

Grey and weary,

Wasting, the scoff of the world,

The Gods must pine and pass.

FRICKA [_Anxiously_

Wotan, alas!

Unhappy man!

See what thy laughing

Lightness has brought us--

Scoff and scorn for all!

WOTAN [_Coming to a sudden resolve, starts up._

Up, Loge,

And follow me!

To Nibelheim hastening downward,

I go in search of the gold.

LOGE

The Rhine-daughters

Thy aid invoked:

Not vainly they hoped for thy help then?

WOTAN [_Angrily._

Fool, be silent!

Freia, the fair one--

Freia's ransom we go for.

LOGE

Where thou wouldst go

Gladly I lead.

Shall we dive

Sheer through the depths of the Rhine?

WOTAN

Not through the Rhine.

LOGE

Then swift let us swing

Through this smoky chasm.

Together, come, creep we in!

[_He goes in front and vanijhes at the side through

a cleft, from which, immediately afterwards,

sulphurous vapour streams forth._

WOTAN

Ye others wait

Till evening here;

The golden ransom

When got will again make us young.

[_He descends after Loge into the chasm. The

sulphurous vapour which rises from it spreads over

the whole stage and quickly fills it with thick

clouds. Those who remain behind are soon hidden._

DONNER

Fare thee well, Wotan!

FROH

Good luck! Good luck!

FRICKA

O come back soon

To thy sorrowing wife!

[_The sulphurous vapour darkens till it becomes a

black cloud, which rises upwards from below. This

then changes to a dark, rocky cavern which keeps

rising, so that the stage seems to sink deeper and

deeper into the earth._

THIRD SCENE

_From various points in the distance ruddy lights gleam out. An

increasing clamour, as of smiths at work, is heard on all sides. The

clang of the anvils dies away. A vast subterranean chasm becomes

visible which seems to open into narrow gorges on all sides. Alberich

drags the screaming Mime out of a side cleft._

ALBERICH

Héhé! Héhé!

Come here! Come here!

Mischievous dwarf!

Prettily pinched

Promptly thou'lt be

Hast thou not ready,

Wrought to my wish,

The dainty thing I desire!

MIME [_Howling._

Ohé! Ohé!

Oh! Oh!

Let me alone!

It is forged;

Heeding thy hest

I laboured hard

Till it was done!

Take but thy nails from my ear!

ALBERICH

Then why this delay

To show thy work?

MIME

I feared that something

Might still be wanting.

[Illustration: Plate 10

MIME, howling.

"Ohé! Ohé!

Oh! Oh!"]

ALBERICH

What is there to finish?

MIME [_Embarrassed._

Here--and there----

ALBERICH

How here and there?

Hand me the thing!

[_He tries to catch hold of his ear again. In his

terror Mime drops a piece of metal-work which he

has been clutching convulsively. Alberich picks it

up hastily and examines it with care._

Rogue, observe!

See how all wrought is

Well finished and feat,

Done as desired!

The simpleton wants

Slyly to trick me

And keep by cunning

The wonderful work,

Though all his skill

Came alone from my craft.

Thou art discovered, thief.

[_He puts the Tarnhelm on his head._

The helmet fits the head;

But will the spell prosper too?

[_Very softly._

"Night and darkness,

Seen of none!"

[_He vanishes, and a pillar of cloud takes his

place._

Brother, canst see me?

MIME [_Looks round in amaze._

Where art thou? I see no one.

ALBERICH [_Invisible._

Then feel me instead,

Thou lazy scamp!

Take that for thy thievish thoughts!

MIME

[_Writhes under the lathes he receives, the sound

of which is heard without the whip being seen._

Ohé! Ohé!

Oh! Oh! Oh!

ALBERICH [_Invisible and laughing._

Ha! ha! ha!

I thank thee, blockhead;

Thy work has stood the test.

Hoho! Hoho!

Nibelungs all

Bow now to Alberich!

For he is everywhere,

Waiting and watching;

Peace and rest

Are past for ever;

Ye must all serve him,

Though see him can none;

Where he cannot be spied

Look out for his coming;

None shall escape from his thraldom!

[_Harshly._

Hoho! hoho!

Hearken, he nears:

The Nibelung's lord!

[_The pillar of cloud disappears in the background.

Alberich's scolding voice is heard more and more

faintly. Mime lies huddled up in pain. Wotan and

Loge come down through a cleft in the rock._

LOGE

Nibelheim here.

Through pale mists gleaming,

How bright yonder fiery sparks glimmer!

MIME

Oh! Oh! Oh!

WOTAN

I hear loud groans.

Who lies on the ground?

[Illustration: Plate 11, Mime writhes under the lashes he receives.]

LOGE [_Bends over Mime._

Why all this whimpering noise?

MIME

Ohé! Ohé!

Oh! Oh!

LOGE

Hei, Mime! Merry dwarf!

Who beats and bullies thee so?

MIME

Leave me in peace, pray.

LOGE

So much is certain,

And more still. Hark!

Help I promise thee, Mime!

[_He raises him with difficulty._

MIME

What help for me?

To do his bidding

My brother can force me,

For I am bound as his slave.

LOGE

But, Mime, how has he

Thus made thee his thrall?

MIME

By evil arts

Fashioned Alberich

A yellow ring,

From the Rhinegold forged,

At whose mighty magic

Trembling we marvel;

This spell puts in his power

The Nibelung hosts of night.

Happy we smiths

Moulded and hammered,

Making our women

Trinkets to wear--

Exquisite Nibelung toys--

And lightly laughed at our toil.

The rogue now compels us

To creep into caverns,

For him alone

To labour unthanked.

Through the golden ring

His greed can divine

Where untouched treasure

In hidden gorge gleams.

We still must keep spying,

Peering and delving:

Must melt the booty,

Which, molten, we forge

Without pause or peace,

To heap up higher his hoard.

LOGE

Just now, then, an idler

Roused him to wrath?

MIME

Poor Mime, ah!

My lot was the hardest.

I had to work,

Forging a helmet,

With strict instructions

How to contrive it;

And well I marked

The wondrous might

Bestowed by the helm

That from steel I wrought.

Hence I had gladly

Held it as mine,

And, by its virtue

Risen at last in revolt:

Perchance, yes, perchance

The master himself I had mastered,

And, he in my power, had wrested

The ring from him and used it

That he might serve me, the free man,

[_Harshly_

As now I must serve him, a slave!

LOGE

And wherefore, wise one,

Sped not the plan?

MIME

Ah! though the helm I fashioned,

The magic that lurks therein

I foolishly failed to divine.

He who set the task

And seized the fruits--

From him I have learnt,

Alas I but too late!

All the helmet's cunning craft.

From my sight he vanished,

But, viciously lashing,

Swung his arm through unseen.

[_Howling and sobbing._

This, fool that I am,

Was all my thanks!

[_He rubs his back. Wotan and Loge laugh._

LOGE [_To Wotan._

Confess, our task

Will call for skill.

WOTAN

Yet the foe will yield,

Use thou but fraud.

MIME [_Observes the Gods more attentively._

Who are you, ye strangers

That ask all these questions?

LOGE

Friends to thee,

Who from their straits

Will free all the Nibelung folk.

MIME [_Shrinking back in fear when he hears Alberich returning._

Hark! Have a care!

Alberich comes!

[He runs to and fro in terror.

WOTAN

We'll wait for him here.

[_He sits down calmly on a stone. Alberich, who

has taken the Tarnhelm from his head and hung it

on his girdle, is brandishing his scourge and

driving before him a band of Nibelungs from the

gorges below. These are laden with gold and silver

treasure, which, urged on by Alberich, they pile up

so as to form a large heap._

ALBERICH

Hither! Thither!

Héhé! Hoho!

Lazy herd!

Haste and heap

Higher the hoard.

Up with thee there!

On with thee here!

Indolent dolts,

Down with the treasure!

Need ye my urging?

Here with it all!

[_He suddenly perceives Wotan and Loge._

Hey! Who are they

That thus intrude?

Mime! Come here!

Rascally rogue!

Gossiping art

With the pilgriming pair?

Off, thou idler!

Back to thy bellows and beating!

[_Lashing Mime, he chases him into the crowd of

Nibelungs._

Hey! to your labour!

Get ye all hence now!

Swing ye down swift!

From the virgin gorges

Get me the gold!

This whip will follow,

Delve ye not fast!

That labour ye shirk not

Mime be surety,

Or surely the lash

Of my whip will find him;

That where no one would guess

I watch and I wander,

None knows it better than he.

Loitering still?

Lingering there?

[Illustration: Plate 12, Alberich drives in a band of Nibelungs laden with gold

and silver treasure.]

[_He pulls the ring from his finger, kisses it and

stretches it out in menace._

Fear ye and tremble,

O fallen host,

And obey

The ring's dread lord!

[_Howling and shrieking, the Nibelungs, among them

Mime, scatter, and creep down into the clefts in

all directions._

ALBERICH

What seek ye here?

[_Looks long and distrustfully at Wotan and Loge._

WOTAN

From Nibelheim's gloomy realm

Strange tidings have travelled up,

Tales of wonders

Worked here by Alberich;

And, greedy of marvels,

Hither came we as guests.

ALBERICH

By envy urged,

Hither ye hie.

Such doughty guests

I do not mistake.

LOGE

Since I am known,

Ignorant elf,

Say then, with growling

Whom dost thou greet?

In caverns cold

Where once thou didst crouch,

Who gave thee light

And fire for thy comfort,

Had Loge not smiled on thee?

Or what hadst thou fashioned

Had not I heated thy forge?

I am thy kinsman

And once was kind:

Lukewarm, methinks, are thy thanks!

ALBERICH

On light-born elves

Laughs now Loge,

The crafty rogue:

Art thou, false one, their friend

As my friend thou wert once,

Haha! I laugh!

No harm from such need I fear.

LOGE

No cause then for thy distrust.

ALBERICH

I can trust thy falsehood,

Not thy good faith!

[_Taking up a defiant attitude._

Yet I dare you all unflinching.

LOGE

'Tis thy might

That makes thee so bold;

Grimly great

Groweth thy power.

ALBERICH

Seest thou the hoard

Yonder heaped

High by my host?

LOGE

A richer one never was seen.

ALBERICH

A wretched pile

Is this to-day, though.

Boldly mounting,

'Twill be bigger henceforward.

WOTAN

But what is gained by the hoard

In joyless Nibelheim,

Where wealth finds nothing to buy?

ALBERICH

Treasure to gather

And treasure to garner--

Thereto Nibelheim serves.

But with the hoard

In the caverns upheaped

Wonders all wonder surpassing

Will I perform

And win the whole world and its fairness.

WOTAN

But, my friend, how compass that goal?

ALBERICH

Ye who live above and breathe

The balmy, sweet airs,

Love and laugh:

A hand of gold

Ere long, O ye Gods, will have gripped you!

As I forswore love, even so

No one alive

But shall forswear it;

By golden songs wooed,

For gold alone will his greed be.

On hills of delight

Your home is, where gladness

Softly lulls;

The dark elves

Ye despise, O deathless carousers!

Beware!

For first your men

Shall bow to my might;

Then your women fair

Who my wooing spurned

The dwarf will force to his will,

Though frowned on by love.

[_Laughing savagely._

Ha! ha! ha! ha!

Mark ye my word?

Beware!

Beware of the hosts of the night,

When rise shall the Nibelung hoard

From silent depths to the day!

WOTAN [_Furiously._

Avaunt, impious fool!

ALBERICH

What says he?

LOGE [_Stepping between them._

Cease from thy folly!

[_To Alberich._

Who would gaze not in wonder,

Beholding Alberich's work?

If only thy skill can achieve

Everything hope has promised,

Almighty I needs must acclaim thee!

For moon and stars

And the sun in his glory,

Forced to do thee obeisance,

Even they must bow down.

But what would seem of most moment

Is that they who serve thee,

The Nibelung hosts,

Bow and bear no hate.

When thy hand held forth a ring

Thy folk were stricken with fear.

But in thy sleep

A thief might slip up

And steal slyly the ring.

Say, how wouldst thou save thyself then?

ALBERICH

Most shrewd to himself seems Loge;

Others always

Figure as fools.

If I had to ask for

Advice or aid

On bitter terms,

How happy the thief would be!

This helmet that hides

I schemed for myself,

And chose for its smith

Mime, finest of forgers.

I am now able

Swift to assume

Any form that I fancy,

Through the helm.

No one sees me,

Search as he will;

Though everywhere hidden,

I always am there.

So, fearing nothing,

Even from thee I am safe,

Most kind, careful of friends!

LOGE

I have met

Full many a marvel,

But one so wondrous

Have never known.

Achievement so matchless

Scarce can I credit.

Were this possible, truly

Thy might indeed were eternal.

ALBERICH

Dost thou believe

I lie, as would Loge?

LOGE

Till it is proved

I must suspect thy word.

ALBERICH

Puffed up with wisdom,

The fool will explode soon:

Of envy then die!

Decide to what I shall change;

In that form I shall stand.

LOGE

Nay, choose for thyself,

But strike me dumb with amaze.

ALBERICH [_Puts the Tarnhelm on his head._

"Dragon dread,

Wreathe thou and wriggle!"

[_He immediately disappears. An enormous serpent

writhes on the floor in his place. It rears and

threatens Wotan and Loge with its open jaws._

LOGE [_Pretends to be terrified._

Ohé!

ALBERICH [_Laughing._

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

LOGE

Ohé! Ohé!

Horrible dragon,

O swallow me not!

Spare the life of poor Loge!

WOTAN

Good, Alberich!

Well done, rascal!

How swiftly grew

The dwarf to the dragon immense!

[_The dragon disappears and, in its stead, Alberich

is again seen in his own shape._

ALBERICH

He he! Ye scoffers,

Are ye convinced?

[Illustration: Plate 13

"Ohé! Ohé!

Horrible dragon,

O swallow me not!

Spare the life of poor Loge!"]

LOGE [_In a trembling voice._

My trembling tells thee how truly.

A giant snake

Thou wert in a trice.

Having beheld,

I just credit the wonder.

Couldest thou turn

To something quite tiny

As well as bigger?

Methinks that way were best

For slyly slipping from foes;

That, though, I fear were too hard!

ALBERICH

For thee, yes;

Thou art so dull!

How small shall I be?

LOGE

The most cramped of crannies must hold thee

That hides the timorous toad.

ALBERICH

Nothing simpler!

Look at me now!

[_He puts the Tarnhelm on his head again._

"Crooked toad,

Creep and crawl there!"

[_He vanishes. The Gods see a toad on the rocks

creeping towards them._

LOGE [_To Wotan._

Quick and catch it!

Capture the toad!

[_Wotan sets his foot on the toad. Loge makes a

dash at its head and holds the Tarnhelm in his

hand._

ALBERICH

[_Is suddenly seen in his own shape writhing under

Wotan's foot._

Ohé! I'm caught!

My curse upon them!

LOGE

Hold him fast

Till he is bound.

[_Loge binds his hands and feet with a rope._

Now swiftly up!

Then he is ours.

[_Both seize hold of the prisoner, who struggles

violently, and drag him towards the shaft by which

they descended. They disappear mounting upwards._

FOURTH SCENE

_The scene has changed as before, only in reverse

order. Open space on mountain heights. The prospect

is veiled by pale mist as at the end of the second

scene. Wotan and Loge climb up out of the cavern,

bringing with them Alberich bound._

LOGE

Here, kinsman,

Thou canst sit down!

Friend, look round thee;

There lies the world

That was thine for the winning, thou fool!

What corner, say,

Wilt give to me for my stall?

[_He dances round Alberich, snapping his fingers._

ALBERICH

Infamous robber!

Thou knave! Thou rogue!

Loosen the rope,

Set me at large,

Or dear for this outrage shalt answer!

WOTAN

My captive art thou,

Caught and in fetters.

As thou hadst fain

Subdued the world

And all that the world containeth,

Thou liest bound at my feet,

And, coward, canst not deny it.

A ransom alone

Shall loose thee from bondage.

ALBERICH

Ah, the dolt,

The dreamer I was,

To trust blindly

The treacherous thief!

Fearful revenge

Shall follow this wrong!

LOGE

Vain talk this of vengeance

Before thy freedom is won.

To a man in bonds

No free man expiates outrage.

If vengeance thou dreamest,

Dream of the ransom

First without further delay!

[_He shows him the kind of ransom by snapping his

fingers._

ALBERICH

Declare then your demands.

WOTAN

The hoard and thy gleaming gold.

ALBERICH

Pack of unscrupulous thieves!

[_Aside._

If I only can keep the ring,

The hoard I can lightly let go,

For anew I could win it

And add to its worth

By the powerful spell of the ring.

If as warning it serves

To make me more wise,

The warning will not have been lost,

Even though lost may be the gold.

WOTAN

Wilt yield up the hoard?

ALBERICH

Loosen my hand

To summon it here.

[_Loge frees his right hand._

ALBERICH

[_Touches the ring with his lips and secretly

murmurs the command._

Behold the Nibelungs

Hither are called;

I can hear them coming,

Bid by their lord,

With the hoard from the depths to the day.

Now loosen these burdensome bonds.

WOTAN

Nay, first in full thou must pay.

[_The Nibelungs come up out of the cleft laden with

the objects of which the hoard is composed._

ALBERICH

O bitter disgrace

That my shrinking bondsmen

Should see me captive and bound!

[_To the Nibelungs._

Lay it down there,

As ye are bid!

In a heap

Pile up the hoard.

Must I aid, idlers?

No spying at me!

Haste there! Haste!

Then get ye gone quickly.

Hence to your work.

Home to your gorges!

Let the sluggards beware,

For I follow hard at your heels!

[_He kisses the ring and holds it out with an air

of command. As struck with a blow, the Nibelungs

press terrified and cowering towards the cleft,

down which they hastily disappear._

ALBERICH

The price is paid;

Let me depart!

And that helm of mine

Which Loge still holds,

That also pray give me again!

LOGE

_Throwing the Tarnhelm on to the heap._

The plunder must pay for the pardon.

ALBERICH

Accursed thief!

But patience! Calm!

He who moulded the one

Makes me another;

Still mine is the might

That Mime obeys.

Loath indeed

Am I to leave

My cunning defence to the foe!

Nothing Alberich

Owns at all now;

Unbind, ye tyrants, his bonds!

LOGE [_To Wotan._

Ought I to free him?

Art thou content?

WOTAN

A golden ring

Girdles thy finger:

Hearest, elf?

That also belongs to the hoard.

ALBERICH [_Horrified._

The ring?

WOTAN

The ring must also

Go to the ransom.

ALBERICH [_Trembling._

My life--but the ring: not that!

WOTAN [_With greater violence._

The ring I covet;

For thy life I care not at all.

ALBERICH

But if my life I ransom

The ring I must also rescue

Hand and head,

Eye and ear

Are not mine more truly

Than mine is the ruddy ring!

WOTAN

The ring thou claimest as thine?

Impudent elf, thou art raving.

Tell the truth;

Whence was gotten the gold

To fashion the glittering gaud?

How could that be

Thine which reft was,

Thou rogue, from watery deeps?

To the Rhine's fair daughters

Down and inquire

If the gold

Was as gift to thee given

That thou didst thieve for the ring!

ALBERICH

Vile double-dealing!

Shameless deceit!

Wouldst thou, robber,

Reproach in me

The sin so sweet to thyself?

How fain thou hadst

Bereft the Rhine of its gold,

If it had been

As easy to forge as to steal!

How well for thee,

Thou unctuous knave,

That the Nibelung, stung

By shameful defeat,

And by fury driven,

Was fired into winning the spell

That now alluringly smiles!

Shall I, bliss debarred,

Anguish-burdened

Because of the

Curse-laden deed,

My ring as a toy

Grant to princes for pleasure,

My ban bringing blessing to thee?

Have a care,

Arrogant God!

My sin was one

Concerning myself alone:

But against all that was,

Is and shall be

Thou wouldst wantonly sin,

Eternal one, taking the ring.

WOTAN

Yield the ring!

Thy foolish talk

Gives no title to that.

[_He seizes Alberich and draws the ring from his

finger by force._

ALBERICH [_With a frightful cry._

Woe! Defeated! Undone!

Of wretches the wretchedest slave!

WOTAN [_Contemplating the ring._

I own what makes me supreme,

The mightiest lord of all lords!

[_He puts on the ring._

LOGE [_To Wotan._

Shall he go free?

WOTAN

Loose his bonds.

LOGE [_Sets Alberich quite free._

Slip away home,

For no fetter binds thee!

Fare forth, thou art free!

ALBERICH [_Raising himself with furious laughter._

Am I now free,

Free in truth?

My freedom's first

Greeting take, for it is thine!

As a curse gave me the ring,

My curse go with the ring!

As its gold

Gave measureless might,

May now its magic

Deal death evermore!

No man shall gain

Gladness therefrom;

May ill-fortune befall him

On whom it shines.

Fretted by care

Be he who shall hold it,

And he who doth not,

By envy be gnawed!

All shall covet

And crave its wealth,

Yet none shall it profit

Or pay when won.

Those who guard it nothing shall gain,

Yet shall murder go where they go.

The coward, death-doomed,

By fetters of fear shall be bound;

His whole life long

He shall languish to death--

The ring's proud lord

And its poorest slave--

Till again I have

In my hand the gold I was robbed of.

So blesses

The Nibelung

The ring in bitter despair!

Hold fast to it!

[Laughing.

Keep it with care;

[Grimly.

From my curse none shall escape!

[_He vanishes quickly through the cleft. The thick

mist in the foreground gradually clears away._

LOGE

Hadst thou ears

For his fond farewell?

WOTAN [_Left in contemplation of the ring._

Grudge him not vent to his spleen!

[_It keeps growing lighter._

LOGE [_Looking to the right._

Fasolt and Fafner

Come from afar

Bringing Freia again.

[_Through the vanishing mist Donner, Froh, and

Fricka appear, and hasten towards the foreground._

FROH

The giants return.

DONNER

Be greeted, brother!

FRICKA [_Anxiously to Wotan._

Dost bring joyful tidings?

LOGE [_Pointing to the hoard._

By fraud and by force

We have prevailed:

There Freia's ransom lies.

DONNER

From the giant's grasp

Freed comes the fair one.

FROH

How sweetly the air

Fans us again!

Balmy delights

Steal soft through each sense!

Sad, forlorn had our lot been,

For ever severed from her

Who gives us youth everlasting,

And bliss triumphant o'er pain.

[_Fasolt and Fafner enter, leading Freia between

them. Fricka hastens joyfully towards her sister.

The foreground has become quite bright again, the

light restoring to the aspect of the Gods its

original freshnesh. The background, however, is

still veiled by the mist so that the distant castle

remains invisible._

FRICKA

Sweetest of sisters!

Lovely delight!

Once more for mine have I won thee!

FASOLT [_Keeping her off_

Hold! Touch her not yet!

Freia still is ours.

On Riesenheim's

Rampart of rock

Resting we stayed.

The pledge we held

In our hands we used

Loyally.

With deep regret,

I bring her back now

In case ye brothers

Can ransom her.

WOTAN

Prepared lies the ransom;

Mete out the gold,

Giving generous measure.

FASOLT

In truth it grieves me

Greatly the woman to lose;

And that my heart may forget her

Ye must heap the hoard,

Pile it so high

That it shall hide

The blossom-sweet maid from mine eyes!

WOTAN

Be Freia's form

The gauge of the gold.

[_Freia is placed in the middle by the two giants,

who then stick their staves into the ground in

front of her so that her height and breadth is

indicated._

FAFNER

Our staves give the measure

Of Freia's form;

Thus high now heap ye the hoard.

WOTAN

On with the work:

Irksome I find it!

LOGE

Help me, Froh!

FROH

I will end

Freia's dishonour.

[_Loge and Froh heap up the treasure hastily

between the staves._

FAFNER

Let the pile

Less loosely be built;

Firm and close

Pack ye the gauge!

[_He presses down the treasure with rude strength;

he bends down to look for gaps._

I still can see through;

Come, fill up the crannies!

LOGE

Hands off, rude fellow!

Touch nothing here!

FAFNER

Come here! This gap must be closed!

WOTAN [_Turning away angrily._

Deep in my breast

Burns the disgrace!

FRICKA

See how in shame

Beautiful Freia stands;

For release she asks,

Dumb, with sorrowful eyes.

Heartless man!

The lovely one owes this to thee!

FAFNER

Still more! Pile on still more.

DONNER

My patience fails;

Mad is the wrath

Roused by this insolent rogue!

Come hither, hound!

Measure must thou?

Thy strength then measure with mine!

FAFNER

Softly, Donner!

Roar where it serves;

Thy roar is impotent here.

DONNER [_Lunging out at him._

It will crush thee to thy cost, rogue.

WOTAN

Calm thyself!

Methinks that Freia is hid.

LOGE

The hoard is spent.

FAFNER

[_Measures the hoard carefully with his eye, and

looks to see if there are any crevices._

Still shines to me Holda's hair.

Yonder thing, too,

Throw on the hoard!

LOGE

Even the helm?

FAFNER

Make haste! Here with it!

WOTAN

Let it go also!

LOGE [_Throws the Tarnhelm on the heap._

At last we have finished.

Have ye enough now?

FASOLT

Freia, the fair,

Is hidden for aye!

The price has been paid.

Ah, have I lost her?

[_He goes up to the hoard and peers through it._

Sadly shine

Her eyes on me still,

Like stars they beam

Softly on me;

Still through this chink

I look on their light.

[_Beside himself._

While her sweet eyes I behold thus,

From the woman how can I part?

FAFNER

Hey! Come hither,

And stop me this cranny!

LOGE

Greedy grumblers!

Can ye not see

The gold is all gone?

FAFNER

Not the whole, friend!

On Wotan's finger

Shines a golden ring still;

Give that to close up the crevice!

WOTAN

What! Give my ring?

LOGE

Be ye counselled!

The Rhine-Maidens

Must have the gold;

Wotan will give them what theirs is.

[Illustration: Plate 14

FAFNER.

"Hey! Come hither,

And stop me this cranny!"]

WOTAN

What nonsense is this?

The ring I won so hardly,

Undismayed I hold and will keep.

LOGE

Broken then

Must be the promise

I gave the maidens who grieved.

WOTAN

By thy promise I am not bound;

As booty mine is the ring.

FAFNER

Not so. The ring

Must go with the ransom.

WOTAN

Boldly ask what ye will:

It shall be granted;

But not for all

The world would I give you the ring.

FASOLT [_Furious, pulls Freia from behind the hoard._

All is off!

The bargain stands:

Fair Freia ours is for ever!

FREIA

Help me! Help me!

FRICKA

Heartless God,

Grant it! Give way!

FROH

Keep not the gold back!

DONNER

Give them the ring too!

WOTAN

Let me alone!

I hold to the ring.

[_Fafner stops Fasolt as he is hastening off. All

stand dismayed; Wotan turns from them in anger. The

stage has grown dark again. From a cleft in the

rock on one side issues a bluish flame in which

Erda suddenly becomes visible, rising so that her

upper half is seen._

ERDA [_Stretching out a warning hand towards Wotan._

Yield it, Wotan! Yield it!

Flee the ring's dread curse!

Awful

And utter disaster

It will doom thee to.

WOTAN

What woman woe thus foretells?

ERDA

All things that were I know,

And things that are;

All things that shall be

I foresee.

The endless world's

Ur-Wala,

Erda, bids thee beware.

Ere the earth was,

Of my womb born

Were daughters three;

And my knowledge

Nightly the Norns tell to Wotan.

Now summoned by

Danger most dire,

I myself come.

Hearken! Hearken! Hearken!

All things will end shortly;

And for the Gods

Dark days are dawning!

Be counselled; keep not the ring!

[_Erda sinks slowly as far as the breast, while the

bluish light grows fainter._

WOTAN

A mystic might

Rang in thy words.

Tarry, and tell me further.

ERDA [_Disappearing._

Thou hast been warned;

Enough dost know;

Weigh my words with fear!

[_She vanishes completely._

[Illustration: Plate 15, "Erda bids thee beware"]

WOTAN

If thus doomed to foreboding--

I must detain thee

Till all is answered!

[_Wotan is about to follow Erda in order to detain

her. Froh and Fricka throw themselves in his way

and prevent him._

FRICKA

What meanest thou, madman?

FROH

Go not, Wotan!

Fear thou the warner,

Heed her words well!

[_Wotan gazes thoughtfully before him._

DONNER [_Turning to the giants with a resolute air._

Hark, ye giants!

Come back and wait still!

The gold we give you also.

FRICKA

Ah, dare I hope it?

Deem ye Holda

Worthy of such a price?

[_All look at Wotan in suspense; he, rousing

himself from deep thought, grasps his spear and

swings it in token of having come to a bold

decision._

WOTAN

To me, Freia,

For thou art free!

Bought back for aye,

Youth everlasting, return!

Here, giants, take ye the ring!

[He throws the ring on the hoard. The giants

release Freia; she hastens joyfully to the Gods,

who caress her in turns for a space, with every

manifestation of delight.

FASOLT [_To Fafner._

Hold there, greedy one!

Grant me my portion!

Honest division

Best for both is.

FAFNER