THE SECOND ACT
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p. 135
A 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, sits 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 drowsiness
And 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 might
Thou art endowed with,
If thou art valiant
As thy mother bore thee to me.
Hagen
[Still as before.]
Though courage she bestowed,
I have no cause to thank her
For falling under thy spell;
p. 136
Soon old, wan and pale,
Hating the happy,
Where is my joy?
Alberich
[As before.]
Hagen, my son,
Hate thou the happy;
This joyless and
Sorrow-laden one,
Him alone thou shalt love.
Be thou strong
And bold and wise!
Those whom with weapons
Of darkness we fight
Already our hate has dismayed.
And he who captured my ring,
Wotan, the ravening robber,
By one of his sons
In fight has been vanquished;
He has lost
Through the Wälsung power and might.
With the whole immortal race
He 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 Gods
Who then shall wield?
Alberich
I--and thou!
The world we shall own,
If in thy truth
I rightly trust,
Sharest thou my hate and wrath.
Wotan's spear
Was splintered by Siegfried,
The ravens of Wotan
See p. 128
p. 137
The hero who won
As booty the ring
When Fafner, the dragon, he slew.
Power supreme
He has attained to;
[Still mysteriously.]
Walhall and Nibelheim bow to his will.
On this hero undaunted
My curse falls in vain,
For he knows not
The ring's true worth,
Nor makes use
Of its wonderful spell;
Laughing he burns life away,
Caring only for love.
Nothing can serve us
But his undoing!
Sleepest, Hagen, my son?
Hagen
[As before.]
Already he speeds
Through me to his doom.
Alberich
The golden ring--
'Tis that that we must capture!
The Wälsung
By a wise woman is loved.
If, urged by her,
To the Rhine's fair daughters
--Who bewitched me once
Below in the waves--
The stolen ring he restored,
Forever lost were the gold,
And no guile could win it again.
Wherefore with ardour
Aim for the ring.
p. 138
I gat thee
A stranger to fear,
That against heroes
Thou mightst uphold me.
I had not the strength,
Indeed, to despatch,
Like the Walsung, Fafner in fight;
But I reared Hagen
To 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 ring upon my hand--
. . . ah, be implored!
For Wotan fling it away!"
See p. 129
p. 139
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 breath
I called to thee with;
A quick passage I made!
Slower behind me a pair
On 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' yielded
Ye 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 thee
To the honour of all women!
p. 140
Siegfried
To thy lover glad
Be 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 vanquished Brünnhild'
To her rightful husband belonged.
Gutrune
For her husband thou didst pass?
Siegfried
By Gutrune sojourned Siegfried.
Gutrune
But 'twas Brünnhild' lay beside thee.
The wooing of Grimhilde, the mother of Hagen
See p. 135
p. 141
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 mist
She followed me down the hill;
When near the shore,
None observing,
I gave Gunther my place,
And by the Tarnhelm's magic
Wished myself straight to thee.
A strong wind drives the lovers
Merrily 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, prithee
Summon the men
To the hall here for the wedding,
While blithe maids
To 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?
p. 142
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 weapons
Sharp 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!
"Swear to me Hagen, my son!"
See p. 138
p. 143
Hagen
[Still from the rock.]
Come fully armed
Without delay!
Welcome Gunther, your lord:
A wife Gunther has wooed.
The Vassals
Is he in straits,
Pressed by the foe?
Hagen
A woman hard won
With him he brings.
The Vassals
Her kinsmen and vassals
Follow for vengeance?
Hagen
No one follows
But his bride.
The Vassals
Then the peril is past,
And the foe put to flight?
Hagen
The dragon-slayer
Helped 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 oxen
Ye shall slaughter;
On Wotan's altar
Their blood be shed!
The Vassals
And after that, Hagen? Say, what next?
Hagen
After that for Froh
A boar ye shall fell,
And a full-grown and strong
He-goat for Donner;
p. 144
But for Fricka
Sheep ye shall slaughter,
That she may smile on the marriage!
The Vassals
[With increasing cheerfulness.]
What shall we do
When the beasts we have slain?
Hagen
The drink-horn take
That women sweet
With wine and mead
Blithely have filled.
The Vassals
The drink-horn in hand,
What task awaits us still?
Hagen
Gaily carouse
Until tamed by wine:
Drink, that the Gods, duly honoured,
Grace may accord to this marriage.
The Vassals
[Burst into ringing laughter.]
Good luck and joy
Laugh on the Rhine,
If Hagen, the grim one,
So merrily jests!
To wedding-feasts
Hagen 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.]
p. 145
Be to your lady
Loyal 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 won
A nobler woman!
The Gods have shown from of old
Grace to the Gibichung stock.
To fame unmatched
Now may it mount!
The Vassals
[Solemnly clash their weapons.]
Hail! O hail, happy Gibichung!
p. 146
Gunther
[Leads Brünnhilde who never raises her eyes, to the hall, from which Siegfried and Gutrune, attended by women, now come forth.]
Dear hero, greetings glad!
I greet thee, fair sister!
By him who won thee for wife
I joyfully see thee stand.
Two happy pairs
Here 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
Why looks Brünnhild' amazed?
[Goes a few steps towards Brünnhilde, who has begun to tremble.]
Brünnhilde
Siegfried . . . here? Gutrune . . . ?
[Scarcely able to control herself.]
Siegfried
Gunther's gentle sister,
Wed to me
As 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.]
p. 147
Wake, Brünnhild', wake!
Here stands thy husband.
Brünnhilde
[Perceives the ring on Siegfried's outstretched finger, and starts up with terrible vehemence.]
Ha! The ring
Upon his hand!
He . . . Siegfried?
The Vassals
What's wrong?
Hagen
[Coming among the vassals from behind.]
Now pay good heed
To the woman's tale.
Brünnhilde
[Mastering her terrible excitement, tries to control herself.]
On thy hand there
I beheld a ring.
'Twas wrested from me
By this man here;
[Pointing to Gunther.]
'Tis not thine.
How camest thou by
The ring thou hast on?
Siegfried
[Attentively regarding the ring on his finger.]
'Twas not from him
I got the ring.
Brünnhilde
[To Gunther.]
Thou who didst seize the ring
With 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 ring
That thou didst capture from me?
[Gunther, greatly confused, does not answer.]
p. 148
Brünnhilde
[Breaking out furiously.]
Ha! He it was
Who 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 gave
The ring to me,
Nor did I wrest it
From a woman's grasp.
This ring, I know,
Was the booty won
When 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 this
In councils dark?
If I must bear
More than ever was borne,
p. 149
Bowed by a shame
None ever endured,
Teach me such vengeance
As never was raved!
Kindle such wrath
As can never be calmed!
Order Brünnhild's
Poor heart to be broken,
Bring ye but doom
On 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 delight
And love from me.
Siegfried
Dost thou so lightly
Hold thine honour,
The tongue that thus defames it
I must convict of its falsehood.
Hear whether faith I broke!
Blood-brotherhood
I have sworn unto Gunther;
Nothung, my trusty sword,
Guarded the sacred vow;
'Twixt me and this sad woman distraught
Its blade lay sharp.
p. 150
Brünnhilde
Behold how thou liest,
Crafty man,
Vainly as witness
Citing thy sword!
Full well I know its keenness,
And also the scabbard
Wherein so snugly
Hung on the wall
Nothung, the faithful friend,
When its lord won the woman he loved.
The Vassals and Women
[Crowd together in violent indignation.]
What! Siegfried a traitor?
Has he stained Gunther's honour?
Gunther
[To Siegfried.]
Disgraced were I
And sullied my name,
Were not the slander
Cast in her teeth!
Gutrune
Siegfried faithless?
False to his vow?
Ah, prove thou that worthless
Is her word!
The Vassals
Clear thyself straight;
If thou art wronged
Silence the slander;
Sworn be the oath!
Siegfried
If I must swear,
The slander to still,
Which of you offers
His sword for the oath?
Hagen
Swear the oath upon
p. 151
The 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 point
I solemnly swear;
Spear-point, mark thou my words!
If weapon must pierce me,
Thine be the point!
When by death I am stricken
Strike 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 point
I solemnly swear!
Spear-point, mark thou my words!
Devoted be thy might
To 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 thunder
To silence this terrible shame!
p. 152
Siegfried
Gunther, look to this woman
Who falsely slanders thy name.
Let her rest awhile,
The untamed mountain maid,
That the unbridled rage some demon
In malice has
Against us roused
May 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 I
That I beguiled her ill;
The Tarnhelm must, I fear,
But half have hid my face.
Still, women's wrath
Soon is appeased:
That I won her for thee
Thankful 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 laugh
Love and delight!
In hall and grove
There shall be none
This day more merry than I!
Ye whom love has blessed,
p. 153
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.]
Brünnhilde
[Lost in thought.]
What dread demon's might
Moves here in darkness?
By what wizard's spell
Worked was the woe?
How weak is my wisdom
Faced by this puzzle!
And where shall I find
The runes for this riddle?
Oh, sorrow! Sorrow!
Woe's me! Woe's me!
I gave all my wisdom to him;
[With increasing emotion.]
The maid in his power
He holds.
Fast in his fetters
Bound is the booty
That, weeping her grievous shame,
Gaily to others he gives!
Will none of you lend a sword
With which I may sever my bonds?
p. 154
Hagen
[Going close to Brünnhilde.]
Leave that to me,
O wife betrayed;
I will avenge
Thy trust deceived.
Brünnhilde
[Looking round dully.]
On whom?
Hagen
On Siegfried, traitor to thee.
Brünnhilde
On Siegfried? Thou?
[Smiling bitterly.]
One single flash
Of his eye and its lightning--
Which streamed in its glory on me
Even through his disguise--
And thy heart would fail,
Shorn of its courage.
Hagen
But to my spear
His perjury gives him.
Brünnhilde
Truth and falsehood--
What matter words!
To arm thy spear
Seek for something stronger,
Strength such as his to withstand!
Hagen
Well know I Siegfried's
Conquering strength:
How hard in battle to slay him;
But whisper to me
Some sure device
For speeding him to his doom.
Brünnhilde
Ungrateful, shameful return!
I taught him all
The arts I know,
To preserve his body from harm.
p. 155
He bears unwitting
A charmed life
And safely walks by spells enwound.
Hagen
Then no weapon forged could wound him?
Brünnhilde
In battle none;--yet--
Did the blow strike his back!
Never--I knew that--
Would he give way,
Or turn and fly, the foe pursuing,
So there I gave him no blessing.
Hagen
And there shall my spear strike!
[He turns quickly from Brünnhilde to Gunther.]
Up, Gunther,
Noble Gibichung!
Here stands thy valiant wife.
Why hang thy head in grief?
Gunther
[Starting up passionately.]
O shame!
Dishonour!
Woe is me!
No man has known such sorrow!
Hagen
In shame thou liest--
That is true.
Brünnhilde
[To Gunther.]
O craven man!
Falsest of friends!
Hidden behind
The hero wert thou
While won were for thee
The prize and the glory.
Low indeed
The race must have sunk
That breeds such cowards as thou!
p. 156
Gunther
[Beside himself.]
Deceived am I--and deceiver!
Betrayed am I--and betrayer!
My strength be consumed,
And broken my heart!
Help, Hagen!
Help for my honour!
Help, for my mother was thine--
Thee too she bore!
Hagen
No help from head
Or hand will suffice:
'Tis Siegfried's death we need.
Gunther
[Seized with horror.]
Siegfried's death?
Hagen
Unpurged else were thy shame.
Gunther
[Staring before him.]
Blood-brotherhood
He and I swore.
Hagen
Who broke the bond
Pays with his blood.
Gunther
Broke he the bond?
Hagen
In betraying thee.
Gunther
Was I betrayed?
Brünnhilde
He betrayed thee,
And me ye all are betraying!
If I were just,
All the blood of the world
Would not atone for your guilt!
p. 157
But the death of one
Is all I ask for.
Dying, Siegfried
Atones for himself and you!
Hagen
[Turning to Gunther and appealing to him secretly.]
His death would profit thee;
Boundless were indeed thy might
If thou couldst capture the ring,
Which, alive, he never will yield.
Gunther
[Softly.]
Brünnhilde's ring?
Hagen
The ring the Niblung wrought.
Gunther
[Sighing deeply.]
'Twould be the end of Siegfried.
Hagen
His death would serve us all.
Gunther
But Gutrun', to whom
He has been given!
How could we look in her face
If her husband we had slain?
Brünnhilde
[Starting up furiously.]
What wisdom forewarned of,
And runes hinted darkly,
In helpless despair
Is plain to me now.
[Passionately.]
Gutrune is the spell
That stole my husband's heart away!
Woe be her lot!
Hagen
[To Gunther.]
If this grief we must give her,
Conceal how Siegfried died.
p. 158
We go to-morrow
Merrily hunting;
The hero gallops ahead;
We find him slain by a boar.
Brünnhilde and Gunther
So shall it be!
Perish Siegfried!
Purged be the shame
He brought on me!
Faith sworn by oath
He has broken;
Now with his blood
Let him atone!
Avenging,
All-hearing God!
Oath-witness,
And lord of vows!
Wotan, come at my call!
Send thou thine awful
Heavenly host
Hither to hear
While I vow revenge!
Hagen
Doomed let him die,
The hero renowned!
Mine is the hoard,
And mine I shall hold it!
From him the ring
Shall be wrested!
Niblung father!
O fallen prince!
Night warder
Nibelung lord
Alberich! Hear thou thy son!
p. 159
Ruling again
O'er the Nibelung host,
Bid them obey thee,
The ring's dread lord!
[As Gunther turns impetuously towards the hall with Brünnhilde they are met by the bridal procession coming out. Boys and girls, waving flower-wreathed staves, leap merrily in front. The vassals are carrying Siegfried on a shield and Gutrune on a seat. On the rising ground at the back men-servants and maids are taking implements and beasts for sacrifice, by the various mountain-paths, to the altars, which they deck with flowers. Siegfried and the vassals blow wedding-calls on their horns. The women invite Brünnhilde to accompany them to Gutrune's side. Brünnhilde stares blankly at Gutrune, who beckons her with a friendly smile. Is Brünnhilde is about to step back angrily Hagen comes quickly between them and presses her to wards Gunther, who takes her hand again, whereupon he allows himself to be raised on a shield by the men. Is the procession, scarcely interrupted, moves on quickly again towards the height, the curtain falls.]
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