"Father! Father!Tell me what ails thee?With dismay thou art filling thy child!"
"Father! Father!Tell me what ails thee?With dismay thou art filling thy child!"
WOTAN[His voice muffled again.Another ill—Mark what I say—Was by the Wala foretold!Through Alberich's hostsDoom may befall us;A furious grudgeAlberich bears me;But now that my heroesMake victory certainI defy the hosts of the night.Only if he wonThe ring again from me,Walhall were forfeit for ever.Used by him aloneWho love forsworeCould the runes of the ringBring doomTo the mighty gods,And shame without end.My heroes' valourHe would pervert,Would stir to strifeThe bold ones themselves,And with their strengthWage war upon me.So, alarmed, I resolvedTo wrest the ring from the foeman.
[In a low voice.
[In a low voice.
I once paid Fafner,One of the giants,With gold accurstFor work achieved.Fafner guards now the hoardFor which his own brother he slew.The ring I must needs recoverWith which his work I rewarded.But I cannot strike oneBy treaties protected;Vanquished by himMy valour would fail.These are the bondsThat bind my power;I, who by treaties am lord,To my treaties also am slave.But what I dare notOne man may dare—A hero neverHelped by my favour,To me unknownAnd granted no grace,Unaware,Bidden by none,Constrained theretoBy his own distress—He could achieveWhat I must not do:The deed I never urged,Though it was all my desire.But, alas! how to findOne to fight me, the god,For my good—Most friendly of foes!How fashion the free oneBy me unshielded,In his proud defianceMost precious to me?How get me the otherWho, not through me,But of himselfWill perform my will?O woe of the gods!Horrible shame!Soul-sick am IOf seeing myselfIn all I ever created.The other whom I so long for,That other I never find.The free by themselves must be fashioned,All that I fashion are slaves!BRÜNNHILDEBut the Wälsung, Siegmund,Works for himself.WOTANWild I roamedIn the woodland with him,Ever against the godsGoading him to rebel.
[Slowly and bitterly.
[Slowly and bitterly.
Now, when the gods seek vengeance,Shield he has none but the swordGiven to himBy the grace of a god.Why did I tryTo trick myself vainly?How easily FrickaFound out the fraud!She read my inmostHeart to my shame.I must bend my will to her wishes.BRÃœNNHILDEOf victory wouldst Siegmund deprive?WOTANI have handled Alberich's ring,Loth to let the gold go.The curse that I fledIs following me:I must always lose what I love most,Slay what my heart holds dearest,Basely betrayAll those who trust.
[His gestures, at first those of terrible grief end by expressing despair.
[His gestures, at first those of terrible grief end by expressing despair.
Pale then and passGlory and pomp,Godhead's resplendent,Glittering shame!In ruins fallThe fabric I built!Ended is my work;I wait but one thing more:The downfall—The downfall!
[He pauses thoughtfully.
[He pauses thoughtfully.
And for the downfallSchemes Alberich!Now I seeThe sense hiddenIn the strange, wild words of the Wala:"When the gloomy foe of loveGets a son in his wrath,The high gods' doomShall be at hand!"Not long agoA rumour I heardThat the dwarf had won a woman,By gold gaining her grace.A woman bearsHate's bitter fruit;The child of spiteGrows in her womb;This marvel befellThe man who loved not;But I, the loving wooer,Have never begotten the free.
[Rising in bitter wrath.
[Rising in bitter wrath.
Accept thou my blessing,Nibelung son!I leave to theeWhat I loathe with deep loathing:The hollow pomp of the gods.Consume it with envious greed!BRÜNNHILDE[Alarmed.O say! tell meWhat task is thy child's?WOTAN[Bitterly.Fight, faithful to Fricka;Wedlock and vows defend!What she desiresIs also my choice,For what does my own will profit,Since it cannot fashion a free one?For Fricka's slavesDo battle henceforth!BRÜNNHILDEAh repent,And take back thy word!Thou lovest,And fain, I know,Wouldst have me shelter the Wälsung.WOTANSiegmund thou shalt vanquish,And fight so that Hunding prevails.Ward thyself wellAnd doughtily do,Bring all thy boldnessTo bear on the field;A strong swordSwings Siegmund;Undismayed he will fight!BRÜNNHILDEHe whom thou stillHast taught me to love,He whose courage highTo thy heart was so precious—I will shield him in spite ofThy wavering word!WOTANHa, daring one!Floutest thou me?Who art thou—who but the choiceless,Blind slave of my will?I have sunk so lowBy showing my mind,That the creature made by meHolds me in scorn.Dost thou, child, know my wrath?If ever its awfulLightning struck theeThen quail wouldst thou indeed!Within my bosomBurns enough rageTo lay wasteIn dread ruin a worldThat once wore nothing but smiles.Woe to him whom it strikes!Dear the price he would pay!So be advised,Call it not forthBut carry out my commands.Cut down Siegmund!That is the Valkyrie's task.
[He storms away and disappears among the rocks to the left.
[He storms away and disappears among the rocks to the left.
Brünnhilde stands for a long time dazed and alarmed
Brünnhilde stands for a long time dazed and alarmed
BRÃœNNHILDE[Stands for a long time dazed and alarmed.WarfatherOft have I seenEnraged, but never once like this!
[She stoops down sadly, takes up her armour and puts it on again.
[She stoops down sadly, takes up her armour and puts it on again.
How heavyMy armour feels!And it felt so lightWhen gladly I fought!I fight afraid.Evil is my cause!
[She gazes thoughtfully before her.
[She gazes thoughtfully before her.
Woe! My Wälsung!With sorrow soreMust the faithful one falsely forsake thee!
[She turns slowly towards the back.
[She turns slowly towards the back.
[On reaching the rocky pass, Brünnhilde, looking down into the gorge, perceives Siegmund and Sieglinde. She watches them for a moment, then turns into the cave where her horse is, so that she is completely hidden from the audience. Siegmund and Sieglinde appear on the pass, Sieglinde hurrying in front. Siegmund tries to stop her.
[On reaching the rocky pass, Brünnhilde, looking down into the gorge, perceives Siegmund and Sieglinde. She watches them for a moment, then turns into the cave where her horse is, so that she is completely hidden from the audience. Siegmund and Sieglinde appear on the pass, Sieglinde hurrying in front. Siegmund tries to stop her.
SIEGMUNDWait here and rest;Tarry a while!SIEGLINDEFarther! Farther!SIEGMUND[Embraces her with tender force, strainingher to him.No farther now!O linger, woman most sweet!From bliss when most blissfulBreaking away,In headlong hasteFar thou hast fled,So fleet that I lagged behind:Through wood and field,Over cliff and scaur,Voiceless, silent,Speeding along,Thy foot stopped for no call.
[Sieglinde stares wildly before her.
[Sieglinde stares wildly before her.
Tarry a while!Say but a word,Ending this speechless dread!See, thy brotherHolds thee, his bride:Siegmund's comrade art thou!SIEGLINDE
[Gazes into his eyes with growing rapture, throws her arms passionately round his neck and remains so for some time. She then starts up in wild terror.
[Gazes into his eyes with growing rapture, throws her arms passionately round his neck and remains so for some time. She then starts up in wild terror.
Away! Away!Fly the profaned one!UnholyThe clasp of her arm;In shame, dishonoured,This body died.Fling it from thee,Flee from the corpse!The winds scatter her dust—The foul one who loved one so fair!When in his loving embraceShe rested in rapture pure,And all the love of the manWas hers who loved him alone—When on holiest height,When bliss was at sweetest,And sense and soulWere steeped in delight,Hatred and loathingOf hideous dishonourShook the disgraced one,Filled her with fear—The thought she once had obeyed.Bridegroom unloving, unloved.Leave the accurst one,Far let her fly!An outcast she is,Bereft of grace!Ah, I must leaveThe purest of heroes;I cannot be thine,To sully thy glory:Scorn to bring on the brother,Shame to the rescuing friend!SIEGMUNDFor the shame and dishonour,Pay the transgressor's blood!No farther, then, flying,Here let us wait him;Here—here I shall slay him:When Nothung's pointShall pierce his heart,All thy wrongs will be avenged!SIEGLINDE[Starts up and listens.Hark! The bugles!Dost thou not hear?All around,Angry and shrill,From wood and valeClamour their calls.Hunding has wakenedFrom slumber deep;Kinsmen and houndsHe summons together;How the dogs howl,Urged on hotly,Loud-baying to heavenOf the vows and the wedlock profaned!
[Gazes before her as if gone crazed.
[Gazes before her as if gone crazed.
Where art thou, Siegmund?Art thou still here,Fervently loved one,Beautiful brother?Let thine eyes like starsShine again on me softly;Turn not awayFrom the outcast woman's kiss!
[She throws herself sobbing on his breast, and presently starts up in terror again.
[She throws herself sobbing on his breast, and presently starts up in terror again.
Hark! O hark!That is Hunding's horn!With his hounds full force,In haste he comes.No sword helpsWhen the dogs attack:—Throw it down, Siegmund!Siegmund, where art thou?Ha, there! I see thee now!Horrible sight!Eager-fangedAre the bloodhounds for flesh;Ah, what to themIs thy noble air!By the feet they seize theeWith terrible teeth;Alas!Thou fallest with splintered sword:—The ash-tree sinks—The trunk is rent!Brother! My brother!Siegmund—ha!
[She falls fainting into his arms.
[She falls fainting into his arms.
Brünnhilde with her horse, at the mouth of the cave
Brünnhilde with her horse, at the mouth of the cave
SIEGMUNDSister! Belovèd!
[He listens to her breathing, and, when convinced that she still lives, lets her slide down so that, as he himself sinks into a sitting posture, her head rests upon his knees. In this position both remain till the end of the following scene. A long silence, during which Siegmund bends over Sieglinde with tender concern, and presses a long kiss on her brow.
[He listens to her breathing, and, when convinced that she still lives, lets her slide down so that, as he himself sinks into a sitting posture, her head rests upon his knees. In this position both remain till the end of the following scene. A long silence, during which Siegmund bends over Sieglinde with tender concern, and presses a long kiss on her brow.
[Brünnhilde, leading her horse, comes out of the cave and walks slowly and solemnly towards the front. She pauses and watches Siegmund from a distance, then advances slowly again and stops when she gets nearer. In one hand she carries her shield and spear, the other rest on her horse's neck, and thus she gravely stands looking at Siegmund.
[Brünnhilde, leading her horse, comes out of the cave and walks slowly and solemnly towards the front. She pauses and watches Siegmund from a distance, then advances slowly again and stops when she gets nearer. In one hand she carries her shield and spear, the other rest on her horse's neck, and thus she gravely stands looking at Siegmund.
BRÃœNNHILDESiegmund!Look on meWhom thouMust follow soon!SIEGMUND[Looking up at her.Who art thou, say,That dost stand so fair and so stern?BRÃœNNHILDEDeath-doomed are theyWho look upon me;Who sees meBids farewell to the light of life.On the battle-field onlyHeroes view me;He whom I greetIs chosen and must go.SIEGMUND
[Looks into her eyes with a long steadfast and searching gaze, then bows his head in thought and finally turns resolutely to her again.
[Looks into her eyes with a long steadfast and searching gaze, then bows his head in thought and finally turns resolutely to her again.
When thou dost lead,Whither follows the hero?BRÜNNHILDEI lead theeTo Wotan;The lot he has cast:To Walhall must thou come.SIEGMUNDIn Walhall's hallWotan alone shall I find?BRÜNNHILDEA glorious hostOf heroes slainWill greet thee thereWith love holy and high.SIEGMUNDSay if in WalhallSojourns my father, Wälse.BRÜNNHILDEHis father thereWill the Wälsung find.SIEGMUND[Tenderly.Will any womanWelcome me there?BRÜNNHILDEWishmaidensServe there serene:Wotan's daughterWine will bring for thy cup.SIEGMUNDHigh art thouAnd holy of aspect,O Wotan's child:But one thing tell me, divine one!The sister and bride,Shall she follow the brother?Will Siegmund find Sieglinde there?BRÜNNHILDEAir of earthStill she must breathe here;Siegmund will find no Sieglinde there!SIEGMUND
[Bends tenderly over Sieglinde, kisses her softly on the brow, and turns again quietly to Brünnhilde.
[Bends tenderly over Sieglinde, kisses her softly on the brow, and turns again quietly to Brünnhilde.
Then greet for me Walhall,Greet for me Wotan,Greet for me WälseAnd all the heroes,Wishmaidens lovelyGreet thou also,And tell them I will not come!BRÜNNHILDENay, having lookedOn the Valkyrie's face,Thou must follow her forth!SIEGMUNDWhere Sieglinde dwellsIn weal or woe,There will Siegmund dwell also;My face grew not paleWhen I beheld thee:Thou canst not force me to go!BRÜNNHILDEForce thee can noneWhile thou dost live;Fool, what will force thee is deathWarning of deathIs what I bring.SIEGMUNDWhat hero to-dayShall hew me down?BRÜNNHILDEHunding's hand in the fight.SIEGMUNDUse threats more balefulThan blows from Hunding!Lurkest thou hereLonging for strife,Fix on him for thy prey.I think it is he who will fall!BRÜNNHILDENay, Wälsung,Doubt not my word;Thine is the death decreed.SIEGMUNDKnowest this sword?Who gave the swordGave triumph sure:With this sword I laugh at thy threats.BRÜNNHILDE[In a loud voice.He whose it wasNow dooms thee to death,For the magic spell he withdraws!SIEGMUND[Vehemently.Hush! Alarm notThe slumberer here!
[In an outburst of grief he bends tenderly over Sieglinde.
[In an outburst of grief he bends tenderly over Sieglinde.
Woe! Woe!Woman most sweet!Most sad and ill-starred of all true ones!Against thee ragesThe whole world in arms,And I who was all thy defence,For whom thou the world hast defied—To think I cannotShield thee, but, beatenIn battle, thy trust must betray!O shame on himWho bestowed the sword,And triumph now turns to scorn!If I must fall thus,I fare to no Walhall—Hella hold me for aye!
[He bends low over Sieglinde.
[He bends low over Sieglinde.
BRÃœNNHILDE[Moved.So little prizest thouLife everlasting?
[Slowly and with hesitation.
[Slowly and with hesitation.
All thy careIs thy helpless wifeWho, sad and weary,Heavily hangs in thy arms?Precious only is she?SIEGMUND[Looking up at her bitterly.Though young and fairThou shinest to me,In my heart I know theeCruel and cold!Canst thou do nothingBut mock me, begone,Malicious, merciless maid!Or if thou must gloatUpon my distress,Then gloat and feast thyself full!With my woeSolace thy envious soul:—But of Walhall's loveless rapturesNothing more let me hear!BRÜNNHILDEI see the distressThat is tearing thy heart;The doomed hero's holySorrow I feel.Siegmund, thy wife be my charge,Protected safely by me.SIEGMUNDNo other than IWhile my wife is living shall guard her.If death be my lotI will slay the slumberer first!BRÜNNHILDE[With increasing emotion.Wälsung! Madman!Listen to me!Entrust her to meFor the pledge's sakeThat she carries of thee and thy love!SIEGMUND[Drawing his sword.This swordThat a true man received from a false—This swordThat fails me when facing the foe;Worthless when turned on the foe,Will serve me when turned on the friend.
[He points the sword at Sieglinde.
[He points the sword at Sieglinde.
Two lives nowLaugh to thee here:Take them, Nothung,Envious steel!Take them with one fell stroke!BRÜNNHILDE[With a passionate outburst of sympathy.Forbear, Wälsung!Listen to me!Sieglinde spare thou,And Siegmund too shall be spared!'Tis thus decreed,Recast the lot is!Thou, Siegmund,Shalt be blest and prevail!
[Horns are heard in the distance.
[Horns are heard in the distance.
Hark to the horn!Prepare for the fray;Trust to the swordAnd strike without fear:Thy sword shall prove strongThee the Valkyrie faithfully shields!Farewell, Siegmund,Hero most blest!On the field again I shall find thee.
[She rushes away and disappears with her horse down a gorge on the right. Siegmund gazes after her joyful and exultant. The stage has gradually grown dark. Heavy storm-clouds have gathered in the background, and hide the cliffs, gorge, and rocky pass completely from view.
[She rushes away and disappears with her horse down a gorge on the right. Siegmund gazes after her joyful and exultant. The stage has gradually grown dark. Heavy storm-clouds have gathered in the background, and hide the cliffs, gorge, and rocky pass completely from view.
SIEGMUND[Bending over Sieglinde, listens to her breathing.Charmèd slumberSoftly soothesThe dear one's pain and grief.When the Valkyrie came, perchanceShe brought her this blissful repose;Else would the grimly fought fightHave terrified one in such woe.Lifeless seems she,And yet she lives;The sad one by smilingDreams is caressed.In slumber lie softTill the fight is wonAnd peace shall end thy pain!
[He lays her gently on the rocky seat and kisses her brow in farewell. Then, hearing Hunding's horn sound, he starts up with resolution.
[He lays her gently on the rocky seat and kisses her brow in farewell. Then, hearing Hunding's horn sound, he starts up with resolution.
Thou who dost call,Arm for the fray;Thy dues in fullThou shalt have:
[He draws his sword.
[He draws his sword.
Nothung pays him his debt.
[He hastens to the back and, on reaching the pass, immediately disappears in a dark thunder-cloud, from which, the next instant, a flash of lightning breaks.
[He hastens to the back and, on reaching the pass, immediately disappears in a dark thunder-cloud, from which, the next instant, a flash of lightning breaks.
SIEGLINDE[Begins to move uneasily in her dreams.Would but my father come back!With the boy he still roams in the wood.Mother! Mother!I am afraid—The strangers seemSo harsh and unfriendly!Fumes that stifle—Dense and black smoke—Fierce are the flames,And closer they flare—On fire the house!O help us, brother!Siegmund! Siegmund!
[She starts up. Violent thunder and lightning.
[She starts up. Violent thunder and lightning.
Siegmund! Ha!
[She stares about her in growing terror. Almost the whole of the stage is veiled by black thunder-clouds. Hunding's horn is heard close at hand.
[She stares about her in growing terror. Almost the whole of the stage is veiled by black thunder-clouds. Hunding's horn is heard close at hand.
HUNDING'S VOICE[From the mountain pass in the background.Wehwalt! Wehwalt!Stand there and fight,Or with the hounds I will hold thee!SIEGMUND'S VOICE[From farther back in the gorge.Where hidest thou,That I have missed thee thus?Halt, that I may find thee!SIEGLINDE[Listening in terrible fear.Hunding—Siegmund—Could I but see them!HUNDINGCome hither, impious wooer!Here by Fricka be slain!SIEGMUND[Also from the pass now.Thou thinkest me weaponless,Coward, still.Threat not with women!Thyself now fight me,Lest Fricka fail thee at need!For see, from the treeThat grows by thy hearthI drew undaunted the sword;Come and try the taste of its steel!SIEGLINDE[With all her strength.Hold your hands, ye men there!Strike me dead first!
[She rushes towards the pass, but is suddenly dazzled by a light which flashes forth from above the combatants to the right, and staggers aside as if blinded.
[She rushes towards the pass, but is suddenly dazzled by a light which flashes forth from above the combatants to the right, and staggers aside as if blinded.
BRÃœNNHILDE'S VOICEStrike him, Siegmund!Trust to the sword!
[Brünnhilde appears in the glare of light, floating above Siegmund, and protecting him with her shield. Just as Siegmund is aiming a deadly blow at Hunding a glowing red light breaks through the clouds from the left, in which Wotan appears, standing over Hunding and holding his spear across in front of Siegmund.
[Brünnhilde appears in the glare of light, floating above Siegmund, and protecting him with her shield. Just as Siegmund is aiming a deadly blow at Hunding a glowing red light breaks through the clouds from the left, in which Wotan appears, standing over Hunding and holding his spear across in front of Siegmund.
WOTAN'S VOICEBack! Back from the spear!In splinters the sword!
[Brünnhilde with her shield recoils in terror before Wotan; Siegmund's sword breaks in splinters on the outstretched spear. Hunding plunges his sword into the disarmed man's breast. Siegmund falls down dead, and Sieglinde, who has heard his death-sigh, sinks to the ground as if lifeless. With Siegmund's fall the lights on both sides disappear. Dense clouds shroud all but the foreground in darkness. Through these Brünnhilde is dimly seen turning in wild haste to Sieglinde.
[Brünnhilde with her shield recoils in terror before Wotan; Siegmund's sword breaks in splinters on the outstretched spear. Hunding plunges his sword into the disarmed man's breast. Siegmund falls down dead, and Sieglinde, who has heard his death-sigh, sinks to the ground as if lifeless. With Siegmund's fall the lights on both sides disappear. Dense clouds shroud all but the foreground in darkness. Through these Brünnhilde is dimly seen turning in wild haste to Sieglinde.
BRÃœNNHILDETo horse, that I may save thee!
[She lifts Sieglinde up quickly on to her horse, which is standing near the side ravine, and immediately disappears. Thereupon the clouds divide in the middle, so that Hunding, who has just drawn his sword out of Siegmund's breast, is distinctly seen. Wotan, surrounded by clouds, stands on a rock behind, leaning on his spear and gazing sorrowfully on Siegmund's body.
[She lifts Sieglinde up quickly on to her horse, which is standing near the side ravine, and immediately disappears. Thereupon the clouds divide in the middle, so that Hunding, who has just drawn his sword out of Siegmund's breast, is distinctly seen. Wotan, surrounded by clouds, stands on a rock behind, leaning on his spear and gazing sorrowfully on Siegmund's body.
WOTAN[To Hunding.Begone, slave!Kneel before Fricka;Tell her that Wotan's spearHas slain what mocked her might.Go! Go!
[Before the contemptuous wave of his hand Hunding falls dead to the ground. Suddenly breaking out in terrible anger.
[Before the contemptuous wave of his hand Hunding falls dead to the ground. Suddenly breaking out in terrible anger.
But Brünnhilde!Woe to the guilty one!Woe to herAs soon as my horseShall overtake her in flight!
[He vanishes with thunder and lightning. The curtain falls quickly.
[He vanishes with thunder and lightning. The curtain falls quickly.
On the right the stage is bounded by a pine-wood. On the left is the entrance to a cave, above which the rock rises to its highest point. At the back the view is quite open. Rocks of varying heights form the edge of the precipice. Clouds fly at intervals past the mountain peak as if driven by storm. Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Waltraute, and Schwertleite have taken up their position on the rocky peak above the cave. They are in full armour.
GERHILDE
[On the highest point, calling towards the background, where a dense cloud is passing.
[On the highest point, calling towards the background, where a dense cloud is passing.
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha! Heiaha!Helmwige! Here!Guide hither thy horse!HELMWIGE'S VOICE[At the back.Hojotoho! Hojotoho!Hojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha!
[A flash of lightning comes from the cloud, showing a Valkyrie on horseback, on whose saddle hangs a slain warrior. The apparition, approaching the cliff, passes from left to right.
[A flash of lightning comes from the cloud, showing a Valkyrie on horseback, on whose saddle hangs a slain warrior. The apparition, approaching the cliff, passes from left to right.
GERHILDE,WALTRAUTE AND SCHWERTLEITE[Calling to her as she draws near.Heiaha! Heiaha!
[The cloud with the apparition vanishes to the right behind the wood.
[The cloud with the apparition vanishes to the right behind the wood.
ORTLINDE[Calling into the wood.Thy stallion make fastBy Ortlinde's mare;Gladly my greyWill graze by thy chestnut!WALTRAUTE[Calling towards the wood.Who hangs at thy saddle?HELMWIGE[Coming out of the wood.Sintolt the Hegeling!SCHWERTLEITEFasten thy chestnutFar from the grey then;Ortlinde's mareCarries Wittig, the Irming!GERHILDE[Descending a little towards the others.And Sintolt and WittigAlways were foemen!ORTLINDE[Springs up and runs to the wood.Heiaha! Heiaha!The horse is kicking my mare!GERHILDE[Laughing aloud withHELMWIGE AND SCHWERTLEITE.The heroes' feudMakes foes of the horses!HELMWIGE[Calling back into the wood.Quiet, Brownie!Pick not a quarrel.WALTRAUTE
[On the highest point, where listening towards the right she has taken Gerhilde's place as watcher, calling towards the right-hand side of the background.
[On the highest point, where listening towards the right she has taken Gerhilde's place as watcher, calling towards the right-hand side of the background.
Hoioho! Hoioho!Siegrune, come!What keeps thee so long?SIEGRUNE'S VOICE[From the back on the right.Work to do.Are the others all there?THE VALKYRIES
[In answer, their gestures, as well as a bright light behind the wood, showing that Siegrune has just arrived there.
[In answer, their gestures, as well as a bright light behind the wood, showing that Siegrune has just arrived there.
Hojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha! Heiaha!GRIMGERDE'S AND ROSSWEISSE'S VOICES[From the back on the left.Hojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha!WALTRAUTE[Towards the left.Grimgerd' and Rossweisse!GERHILDETogether they ride.
[In a cloud which passes across the stage from the left, and from which lightning flashes, Rossweisse and Grimgerde appear, also on horseback, each carrying a slain warrior on her saddle.
[In a cloud which passes across the stage from the left, and from which lightning flashes, Rossweisse and Grimgerde appear, also on horseback, each carrying a slain warrior on her saddle.
HELMWIGE,GERLINDE AND SIEGRUNE
[Have come out of the wood and wave their hands from the edge of the precipice to Rossweisse and Grimgerde, who disappear behind the wood.
[Have come out of the wood and wave their hands from the edge of the precipice to Rossweisse and Grimgerde, who disappear behind the wood.
We greet you, valiant ones!Rossweiss' and Grimgerde!ROSSWEISSE'S AND GRIMGERDE'S VOICESHojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha!ALL THE OTHER VALKYRIESHojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha! Heiaha!GERHILDE[Calling into the wood.Your horses lead intoThe wood to rest!ORTLINDE[Also calling into the wood.Lead the mares far offOne from the other,Until our heroes'Anger is laid!HELMWIGE[The others laughing.The grey has paidFor the heroes' anger.ROSSWEISSE AND GRIMGERDE[Coming out of the wood.Hojotoho! Hojotoho!THE VALKYRIESBe welcomed! Be welcomed!SCHWERTLEITEWent ye twain on one quest?GRIMGERDENo, singly we rode,And met but to-day.ROSSWEISSEIf we all are assembledWhy linger longer?To Walhall let us away,Bringing to Wotan the slain.HELMWIGEWe are but eight;Wanting is one.GERHILDEBy the brown-eyed WälsungBrünnhilde tarries.WALTRAUTEUntil she joins usHere we must wait;Warfather's greetingGrim were indeedIf we returned without her!SIEGRUNE[On the look-out, calling towards the back.Hojotoho! Hojotoho!This way! This way!
[To the others.
[To the others.
In hottest haste riding,Hither she comes.THE VALKYRIES[All hasten to the look-out.*Hojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha!Brünnhilde, hei!
[They watch her with growing astonishment.
[They watch her with growing astonishment.
WALTRAUTESee, she leads woodwardHer staggering horse.GRIMGERDEFrom swift ridingHow Grane pants!ROSSWEISSENo Valkyrie's flightEver so fast was.ORTLINDEWhat lies on her saddle?HELMWIGEThat is no man!SIEGRUNE'Tis a woman, see!GERHILDEWhere found she the maid?SCHWERTLEITEHas she no greetingFor her sisters?WALTRAUTE[Calling down very loudly.Heiaha! Brünnhilde!Dost thou not hear?ORTLINDEFrom her horseLet us help our sister.
[Helmwige and Gerhilde run to the wood, followed by Siegrune and Rossweisse.
[Helmwige and Gerhilde run to the wood, followed by Siegrune and Rossweisse.
THE VALKYRIESHojotoho! Hojotoho!Heiaha!WALTRAUTE[Looking into the wood.To earth has sunkGrane the strong one!GRIMGERDEFrom the saddle swiftShe snatches the maid.THE OTHER VALKYRIES[Running into the wood.Sister! Sister!What has occurred?
[The Valkyries all return to the stage; Brünnhilde accompanies them, leading and supporting Sieglinde.
[The Valkyries all return to the stage; Brünnhilde accompanies them, leading and supporting Sieglinde.
Turns and looksout anxiously,then comes back.BRÃœNNHILDE[Breathless.Shield me and helpIn dire distress!THE VALKYRIESWhence rodest thou hither,Hasting so hard?Thus ride they only who flee.BRÃœNNHILDEI flee for the first timeAnd am pursued:Warfather follows close.THE VALKYRIES[Terribly alarmed.Hast thou gone crazy?Speak to us! What?Pursued by Warfather?Flying from him?BRÃœNNHILDE[Turns and looks out anxiously, then comes back.O sisters, spyFrom the rocky peak!Look north and tell meIf Warfather nears!
[Ortlinde and Waltraute spring up the peak to the look-out.
[Ortlinde and Waltraute spring up the peak to the look-out.
Quick! Is he in sight?ORTLINDEA storm from the northIs nearing.WALTRAUTEDarkly the cloudsCongregate there.THE VALKYRIESWarfather, ridingHis sacred steed, comes!BRÃœNNHILDEThe wrathful hunter,He rides from the north;He nears, he nears, in fury!Save this woman!Sisters your help!