Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods by Richard Wagner- Illustrations by Rachman-1924

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LIST

OF

ILLUSTRATIONS

Toface page " Nothung ! Nothung! Conquering SWOrd! " Frontispiece

Mimeatthe anvil 4

Mimeand the infant Siegfried 8

"

_And

_{there Ilearned}

What love waslike" 10

Siegfried sees himself inthestream 12

Mimefinds the motherof Siegfried inthe forest 14

"

In dragon'sform

Fafnernowwatches thehoard" 22

Mime andtheWanderer 24

Theforging ofNothung 34

Siegfried killsFafner 56

" _{Thehot blood burns}likefire !

"

58

Thedwarfs quarrellingoverthe bodyof Fafner 62

"

Magical rapture Pierces

_my

heart;

Fixedis

_my

_gaze, Burningwithterror ;

Ireel,

my

heart faintsandfails!

"

86

"

Sun, Ihail thee!

Hail,

O

light!

Hail,

O

gloriousday!

" ₈₈

vr

LIST

OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Toface

page

Briinnhildethrowsherself into Siegfried's arms 98

Thethree Norns 104

The Nornsvanish 108

Siegfriedleaves Briinnhilde insearch of adventure 110

Siegfried handsthedrinking-horn back to Gutrune,and

gazesat herwithsudden _passion 120 Briinnhilde kisses the _{ring that Siegfried}hasleftwith

her 124

Theravensof Wotan 128

"_The

ringupon thyhand

. . . _ah,be implored!

ForWotan flingit_away !

"

130

The_wooing of Grimhilde, the motherof _Hagen 136

"_Swearto

me, Hagen,

my

son!

"

138

"

_O

wife betrayed, Iwill_avenge

Thytrust deceived" 154

i

(

"

Though gaily ye

may

laugh,

In _griefyeshall be lef.t,

For, mocking maids; this ring

Ye

askshall never HO.'_yours'. 162

"

Siegfried! _Siegfried !

Our_warning is true:

Flee, oh,fleefrom the curse !

"

164

LIST

OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Siegfried'sdeath

Coface

page

172

Briinnhilde on Grane leaps on to the funeral _pyre of

Siegfried 180

The Rhine-Maidens obtain _possession of the _ring and

SIEGFRIED

CHARACTERS

SIEGFRIED

MIME

THE WANDERER

ALBERICH

FAFNER

ERDA

BRUNNHILDE

SCENES

OF

ACTION

ACT

I.

A

CAVE

IN A

WOOD

ACT

II. DEPTHS OF THE

WOOD

ACT

III.

WILD

REGION AT THE

FOOT

OF A

ROCKY

MOUNTAIN ;

AFTERWARDS

: SUMMIT OF

PROPERTY

THE

FIRST

ACT

A

rockycavernIna wood,inwhichJlands anaturallyformedsmith's

forge,with bigbellows. MimeJits injrontofthe anvil, bujilyhammeringat a sword.

JHime

Who

hasbeen

hammering witha

small_hammer,

stops working.

Slavery ! worry !

Labour all lost !

The

_strongest

sword

That ever I _forged,

That the hands of _giants Fitly might wield,

This insolent urchin

For

whom

it is fashioned

Can

_snap in

two

at one stroke,

As

if _{the thing} were a _toy !

\_Mtrne throws the sword on the anvil

ill-humouredly, and "with his arms akimbo gazes thoughtfully on theground.

There is one sword

That he could not shatter :

Nothung's splinters

Would

baffle his _strength,

Could I but _forge

Those doughty fragments

That all

my

skill

Cannot weld anew.

Could I but forge the weapon,

Shame

and

toil

would win

their reward !

SIEGFRIED

Fafner, the dragon grim,

Dwells in the

_gloomy

wood

;

With

his

_{gruesome and}

_grisly bulk

The

_{Nibelung hoard}

Yonder

he _guards.

Siegfried, lusty

and

young,

Would

_slay

him

without ado ;

The

_Nibelung's _ring

Would

then

become

mine.

The

_only sword for the deed

Were

_Nothung, if it were

_swung

By

Siegfried's conquering

arm

;

And

I cannot fashion

Nothung, the sword !

[He laystheswordinpofitionagain,andgoes on _hammering in _{deep dejetlion.}

Slavery !

worry

!

Labour

all lost !

The

_strongest

sword

That ever I _forged

Will never serve

For that difficult deed.

I beat

and

I

hammer

Only to

humour

the _boy ;

He

snaps in

two what

I

_make,

And

scolds if I cease

from

work.

[Hedrops his hammer.

Hoiho

!

Hoiho

!

In roughforejier's [Entering.

drefs with afilver

_Come

_Qn

,

Come

Qn

,

horn _hungby a

^

i_- i T> t.- i

chain, burfls in

Tear

him

! Tear

him

!

boi/leroujlyfrom

Tne

Slll7 Smith !

thewood.

He

is _[Mimedrops the sword in terror, and takes

leadinga bigbear refugebehind theforge; while Siegfried, bya rope ofbajl, Jhouting with laughter, keeps driving the andurges him bearafterhim.

Mimeat the anvil See_p.2

SIEGFRIED

Mime

Mime

Comes _trembling

from behindthe

Sitsdown to

recover_from his

laughter.

Hence

with the beast I

I

want

not the bear !

I

come

thus paired

The

better to _pinch thee;

Bruin, ask for the sword !

Hey

! Let

him

_go !

There lies the

_weapon

;

It

was

_{finished to-day.}

Then

thou art safe for _to-day !

\_He lets the bear looseand_Jirikes him on the

back with the _rope.

Off, Bruin !

I need thee

no

more.

[The bear runs back intothewood.

Slay all the bears

Thou

_canst,

and welcome

;

But

_why

_{thus bring the} beasts

Home

alive ?

For better

_companions

_seeking

Than

the one

who

sits at

_home,

I blew

my

horn in the _wood,

Till the forest _glades resounded.

What

I asked with the note

Was

if

some

_good friend

My

glad

companion would

be.

From

the covert

came

a bear

Who

listened to

me

with _growls,

And

I liked

him

better than _thee,

Though

better friends I shall find.

With

a _{trusty rope}

I bridled the _beast,

To

ask thee, rogue, for the weapon.

SIEGFRIED

JHtme I

made

the sword keen-edged;

Takes upthe i

n

its _sharpness thou wilt _rejoice.

swordto hand r

Rg

M(hfhg swgrd anxiou_jjy ~ in it to Siegfried.

Siegfriedsnatches itfrom him.

What

matters

an

edge keen sharpened, Unless hard

and

true the steel ?

[T

eftingthesword.

Hei !

What

an

_idle,

Foolish toy !

Wouldst

have this _pin

Pass for a sword ?

[HeJlrikes it on the anvil, so that the

splinters flyabout.

Mime

jhrinks back in

terror.

There, take back the pieces, Pitiful _bungler !

Tis

on

thy skull

It should have been broken !

Shall such _{a braggart}

Still _{go on boasting,} Telling of _giants

And

_prowess in battle,

Of deeds of _valour,

And

dauntless defence ?

A

sword true

and

_trusty

Try to forge me,

Praising the skill

He

does not possess ?

When

I take hold

Of

what

he has

hammered,

The

rubbish crumbles At a

mere

touch !

Were

not the wretch

Too

mean

for

_my

_wrath,

I

would

break

him

in bits

SIEGFRIED

S)tfflfrtetJ

In a _wailing

voice, as ifhurt.

The

doting fool of a

gnome

!-And

end the _annoyance at once !

[Siegfried throws himselfon to aJlone seat

ina _rage. Mime all the time has been

cautioujly keepingoutofhis way.

Again thou ravest like

_mad,

Ungrateful and perverse.

If

what

for

him

I _forge Is not _perfect on the spot,

Too

soon the _{boy forgets}

The

_good things I have

made

!

Wilt never learn the lesson

Of _gratitude, I

wonder

?

Thou

shouldst _{be glad} to _obey

him

Who

always treated thee well.

[Siegfried turns his back on Mimeina bad temper, and fits with his face to the wall.

Thou

dost not like to be told that ! [Hejiands perplexed, thengoes to the hearth

in the kitchen.

But thou wouldst fain be fed.

Wilt eat the

meat

I have _roasted,

Or

wouldst thou _prefer the broth ?

'Twas boiled solely for thee.

[He brings food to Siegfried, who, without

turning round, knocks both bowland meat out_ofhis hand.

Meat

I roast for _myself ;

Sup

thy filthy broth alone !

This is the reward of all

my

love !

An

_my

care

SIEGFRIED

When

thou wert a babe

I

was

_{thy nurse,}

Made

the mite _clothing

To

_keep

him

_warm,

Brought thee thy food,

Gave

thee to _drink,

Kept thee as safe

As

I _keep

my

skin ;

And

when

thou wert

_grown

I waited on thee,

And

made

a bed

For _thy slumber soft.

I fashioned thee _toys

And

a sounding horn,

Grudging

no

pains,

Wert

thou but _pleased.

With

counsel wise

I _{guided thee well,}

With mellow wisdom

Training thy mind.

Sitting at

home,

I toil

and

moil ;

To

heart's desire

Wander

_thy feet.

Through

thee alone _worried,

And

_working for thee,

I

wear

_{myself out,}

A

_poor old dwarf !

[Sobbing.

And

for

_my

trouble

The

sole reward is

By

a _{hot-tempered boy}

[Sobbing.

To

be hated

and

_plagued I

Mime andthe_{infant Siegfried}

Hasturned round again andhas

quietly watched

Mimes_face,

while the _latter,

meetingthelook,

tries

timidly to hidehisown.

SIEGFRIED

Thou

_{hast taught}

me

_{much, Mime,}

And many

things I have learned ;

But

what

thou

most

_{gladly hadst taught}

me

A

lesson too _{hard has proved}

How

to _{endure thy sight.}

When

with

_my

food

Or

drink thou dost _come, I _sup off _{loathing alone}

;

When

thou dost _softly

Make

me

a _bed,

My

sleep is broken

and

bad ;

When

thou wouldst teach

me

How

to be _wise,

Fain were I deaf

and dumb.

If

_my

_{eyes happen}

To

fall

on

thee,

I find all thou doest

Amiss and

ill-done

;

When

thou _{dost stand,}

Waddle and

_walk,

Shamble and

shuffle,

With

_{thine eyelids blinking,}

By

the neck I

want

To

_{take the nodder,}

And

choke the life

From

the hateful twitcher.

So

_much,

O

_Mime,

I love thee !

Hast thou such wisdom,

Explain, I _{pray thee,}

A

_thing I have

wondered

at :

Though

I _{go roaming}

Just to avoid thee,

Why

do I _always return ?

Though

I love the beasts

SIEGFRIED

Tree

and

bird

And

the fish in _{the brook,}

One

and

all

They

are dearer than thou

How

is it I _always return ?

Of _thy

wisdom

tell

me

that.

M

Trl

to _approach

Mv

child> that ght to

show

thee

him _{affectionately.} That

Mime

is dear to thy heart. Sjiegfcirt I said I could not bear thee ;

Forget not that so soon.

Jfttme

The

wildness that thou shouldst

tame

Recoils,andfits Is the cause, bad boy, of that. down_againapart,

Young

ones are _{always longing}

oppofete Siegfried. _{After their}

parents

>

nest .

What we

love

we

all _{long for,}

And

so thou dost _yearn for

me

; 'Tis _plain thou lovest _thy

_Mime,

And

_always

must

love him.

What

the old bird is to the

_young

_one,

Feeding it in its nest

Ere the _fledgling can _flutter, That is

what

_careful, clever

Mime

To

_thy

_young

life _is,

And

_always

must

be.

Well,

Mime,

being so clever,

This one _thing

more

also tell

me

:

[Simply.

The

birds sang together

So _{gaily in spring,}

[Tenderly.

The

one _alluring the other _;

And

thou _{didst say,}

When

I asked thee _why,

That_they were wives with their husbands.

"_Andthere

I learned

What lovewaslike" Seep. ii

SIEGFRIED

They

chattered so sweetly,

Were

_{never apart} ;

They

builded a nest

In which _{they might} brood;

The

_fluttering

_young

ones

Came

_{flying out,}

And

both took care of the _young.

The

roes in the _{woods, too,}

Rested _{in pairs,}

The

wild wolves even,

and

foxes.

Food

was

found

them

_{and brought}

By

the _father,

The

mother suckled the

_young

ones.

And

there I learned

What

love

was

like ;

A

whelp

from

its

mother

I never took.

But

where

hast _thou,

_Mime,

A

wife dear and _loving,

That I

may

call her

mother

?

What

dost thou

mean

? Angrily. _Fool, thou art

mad

!

Art thou then a bird or a fox ?

When

I

was

a babe

Thou

wert

_my

_nurse,

Made

the mite _clothing

To

_keep

him

warm

;

But tell _me,

whence

Did the _tiny mite

come

?

Could babe without mother

Be

born to thee ?

Thou

must

_always

Greatly Trust

what

I tell thee.

tmbarraffed. j

am

_thy father

SIEGFRIED

Very angrily.

With _increaftng

animation.

Springs upon

Mime, andseizes him _by the throat.

Thou

liest, filthy old fright !

The

resemblance 'twixt child

and

_parent I often have seen for _myself.

I

came

to the limpid brook,

And

the beasts

and

the trees I

saw

reflected

;

Sun and

clouds _too,

Just as _they are,

Were

mirrored _{quite plain in} the stream.

I also _{could spy}

This face of _mine,

And

_quite unlike thine

Seemed

it to

me

;

As

little alike

As

a fish to a toad :

And

when

had

fish toad for its father?

How

canst thou talk

Such

terrible stuff ?

Listen !

At

last

I understand

What

in vain I _pondered so _long :

Why

I

roam

the

woods

And

run to _{escape thee,}

Yet return

home

in the end.

[Hesprings up. I cannot go till thou tell

me

What

father

and mother

were mine.

What

father ?

What

mother

?

Meaningless questions !

To

answer a question

Thou

must

be caught first ;

Willingly

Thou

never wilt _speak

;

Siegfried seeshimself inthe stream See p.12

SIEGFRIED

Thou

_{givest nothing}

Unless forced to.

How

to talk

I _hardly

had

learned

Had

it not _by force

Been

_wrung

from

the wretch.

Come,

out with it,

Mangy

old

_scamp

!

r

Who

are

my

father and

mother

?

Dost

want

to kill

me

_outright !

AftermakingJigns

Ha

nds _off, and the facts thou shalt _hear,

with hts headand

^

faf

^

kn()wn Jf

hands, is released -. . t

J

by Siegfried. ungrateful

And

_{graceless child,}

Now

learn the cause of _{thy hatred} !

Neither thy father

Nor

kinsman

_I,

And

yet thou dost

owe

me

thy life !

To

_{me, thy} one _friend,

A

_stranger wert thou ;

It

was

_pity alone

Sheltered thee here ;

And

this is all

_my

reward.

And

I _hoped for thanks like a fool !

A

woman

once I found

Who

_wept in the forest wild ;

I _{helped her here} to _{the cave,}

That by the fire I _might

warm

her.

The

woman

bore a child here ;

Sadly she gave it birth.

She writhed about in _pain

;

I _{helped her} as I could.

Bitter her _plight ; she died.

SIEGFRIED

Slowly.

Jfttmc

My

poor mother died, then, through

me

?

To

_my

care she

commended

thee ;

'Twas willingly bestowed.

The

trouble

Mime

would

take !

The

_worry kind

Mime

endured !

"

_When

_{thou wert a babe}

I

was

_{thy nurse}

"...

That _story I often have heard.

Now

say,

whence

came

the

name

Siegfried ?

'Twas thus that _thy

mother

Told

me

to

name

thee,

That thou mightst

grow

To

be strong and fair.

"

I

made

the mite _clothing

To

_keep it

warm

"...

Now

tellme,

what

name

was

my

mother's?

In truth I _hardly know.

"

Brought thee _{thy food,}

Gave

thee to drink

"...

My

mother's

name

thou

must

tell me.

Her

name

I _forget. Yet wait ! Sieglinde, that

was

the

name

borne

By

her

who

gave thee to me.

"_I

kept thee as safe

As

I _keep

my

skin

"...

Next tell _me,

who

was

my

father?

With _{increasing urgency.}

J^Nro*

_Him

_{I have never seen.}

Roughly.

H

JHtme

Mime findsthemother of _Siegfried intheforest

SIEGFRIED

But

_my

mother told it _{thee, surely.}

He

fell in

combat

Was

all that she said.

She left the fatherless

Babe

to

_my

care.

"

_{And when}

_{thou wert}

grown

I waited on _thee,

And made

a bed

For thy slumber soft

"...

Still, with thy tiresome Starling song !

That I

_may

trust _{thy story,}

Convinced thou art not lying,

Thou

must

_produce

some

_proof.

JHtme But

what

_proof will convince thee ?

i trust thee not with

_my

I trust thee but with

mine

_eyes :

What

_{witness speaks} for thee ? I _got this from _thy mother :

After some thought

p

Or _{trouble, food,} and service

takes_from the

Thfs

wag

sole reward>

place where they _fi

fc tf

,

tf _splintered sword ,

areconcealed . '

the two_piecesof She said twas borne by thy father

a broken sword. In the fatal fight

when

he fell.

And

thou shalt forge Enthuftajhcally. These f_{ragrnents together,}

And

furnish

_my

_rightful sword !

Up

! Tarry _not,

Mime

;

Quick to _{thy task} !

If thou hast _skill,

Thy

cunning display.

SIEGFRIED

Cheat

me

no more

With

worthless trash ;

These fragments alone

Henceforth I trust.

Lounge

o'er thy work,

Weld

it not true,

Trickily patching

The

_goodly steel,

And

thou shalt learn on thy limbs

How

metal best should be beat !

I swear that this _day

The

sword shall be

mine

;

My

weapon

to-day I shall

win

!

Mime

What

wouldst thou to-day with the

Alarmed. SWOrd ?

Leave the forest

For the wide world,

Never

more

to return.

Ah,

how

fair

A

thing is freedom !

Nothing holds

me

or binds !

No

father have I _here,

And

afar shall be

_my

home

;

Thy

hearth is not

my

house,

Nor

_my

covering thy roof.

Like the fish

Glad in the water,

Like the finch

Free in the heavens,

Off I will float,

Forth I will fly,

Like the

wind

o'er the

wood

Wafted

away,

Thee,

Mime,

beholding

no

more

!

\He rum intothe_foreji.

SIEGFRIED

Mimt

_{Stop, boy} ! _{Stop, boy} !

Greatly alarmed.

Whither

_away

?

Hey

! _Siegfried ! ,

Siegfried !

Hey

!

[He looks _afterthe

retreating figurefor some

timein _{ajlonijhment;} then he_{goes back} to

the _smithy and_fits down behindthe anvil.

He

storms

_away

!

And

I sit here :

To crown

_my

cares

Comes

still this

new

one ;

My

plight is _piteous indeed !

How

help myself

now

?

How

hold the _boy here ?

How

lead the

_young

_madcap

To

Fafner's lair ?

And

how

weld the _splinters

Of obstinate steel ?

In

no

furnace fire

Can

_{they be melted,}

Nor

can

Mime's

hammer

Cope with their hardness.

[Shrilly.

The

_{Nibelung's hate,}

Need and sweat

Cannot

make

_Nothung

_whole, Never will weld it anew.

[Sobbing, hefinks in despair on to a_Jlool behind the anvil.

All _{hail, cunning smith} !

A

seat by thy hearth

Enters_from the _{Kindly grant}

wood_by the door

The

_wayworn

_guest.

atthe back_ofthe cave.

He

wearsa _longdark blue _{cloak,and, for fta} ff, carries a _spear. On his head isa _round, broad-brimmed

Jlouchedhat.

SIEGFRIED

Mime

Startingup in alarm. Approaching very Jlowly ftep byjlep. JHttne Sffllairtror Slowly coming nearerandnearer.

ffttmc

Who

seeks for

me

here In desolate woods,

Finds

_my

home

in the forest wild ?

Wanderer

names

me

the world, smith.

From

far I have

come

;

On

the earth's back ranging,

Much

I have roamed.

If

Wanderer named,

Pray

wander from

here

Without

halting for rest.

Good

men

_grudge

me

not

welcome

;

Many

gifts I have received.

By

bad hearts _only

Is evil feared.

Ill fate _always

Dwelt by

my

side ;

Thou

wouldst not add to it, surely !

Always

searching,

Much

have I seen

;

Things of _weight

Have

told to

_many

;

Oft have rid

men

Of _{their troubles,}

Gnawing and

carking cares.

Though

thou hast _searched,

And

_though

much

thou _{hast found,}

I need neither seeker nor finder.

Lonely

am

I,

And

lone

would

be ;

Idlers I harbour not here.

SIEGFRIED

Again coming a

little nearer.

Mimt

More ahdmore anxious ashe sees the Wanderer approach. Sittingdown at the hearth.

Mimt

Who

has been

flaring at the

Wanderer

open-mouthed, now

/brinks back;

dejectedly.

There were

_many

Thought

they were wise,

Yet

what

_they needed

Knew

not at all

;

Useful lore

was

Theirs for _{the asking,}

Wisdom

was

their reward.

Idle _knowledge

Some

_may

covet

;

I

know

_enough

for

_my

needs.

[The Wanderer reaches the hearth.

My

own

wits suffice,

I

want no

_more,

So, wise one, keep

on

thy way.

Nay, here at _{thy hearth} I

vow

_by

my

head

To

answer all thou shalt ask.

My

head is _thine,

'Tis forfeit _{to thee,}

Unless I can _give

Answers

_good,

Deftly redeeming the _pledge.

Now

how

to get rid of _{the spy} ?

The

_questions asked

must

be artful. \H.e summons up couragefor an affumption

ofjiernnefs ; aloud.

Thy

head for _thy

Lodging pays :

'Tis

_pawned

;

now

seek to redeem it.

Three the _questions

Thou

shalt be asked.

iHttnr

Pulh_himse/f

together and

reftefls.

Sinks into_deeper anddeeper meditation.

SIEGFRIED

Since, far on the back

Of the wide _{earth roving,}

Thy

feet _{have ranged} o'er _{the world,}

Come,

answer

me

this :

Tell

me

what

race

Dwells in the earth's _{deep gorges.}

In the depths of earth

The

_Nibelungs have their

home

_;

Nibelheim is their land.

Black elves _they all are ;

Black Alberich

Once

was

their ruler

and

lord.

He

subdued the _busy

Folk by a ring

Gifted with _{magical might} ;

And

_{they piled}

_up

Shimmering

gold,

Precious, fine-wrought,

To

win

him

the world

and

its _glory.

Proceed _{with thy questions,} dwarf,

Thou

_{knowest much,}

Wanderer,

Of the hidden _depths of earth.

Now,

answer

me

this :

Tell

me

what

race

Breathes on earth's back

and moves

there.

On

the earth's broad back

The

race of the _giants arose ;

Riesenheim is their land. Fasolt

and

Fafner,

The

rude folk's rulers,

Envied _{the Nibelung's might.}

SIEGFRIED

So his wonderful hoard

They

won

for _themselves,

And

with it _{gained the ring} too.

The

_{brothers quarrelled}

About the _ring,

And

slain

was

Fasolt.

In dragon's form

Fafner

now

watches the hoard.

One

question threatens

me

still.

Much,

Wanderer,

Quite loft

m

Jhou

dost

know

thought. _of the earth's back rude

and

_rugged.

Now

answer _aright : Tell

me

what

race

Dwells above in the clouds.

Above

in the clouds

Dwell the Immortals ;

Walhall is their

home.

They

are _{light-spirits ;} Light- Alberich,

Wotan,

rules as their lord.

From

the world-ash-tree's

Holiest

_bough

once

Wotan

made him

a shaft.

Though

the stem rot,

The

_spear shall _endure,

And

with _{that spear-point}

Wotan

rules the world.

Trustworthy runes Of _holy treaties

Deep

in the shaft he cut.

Who

wields _{the spear}

Carried _by

Wotan

SIEGFRIED

The

haft of the world Holds in his hand.

Before

him

kneels

The

_Nibelung host _;

The

_{giants, tamed,}

Bow

to his will.

All

must

_obey,

and

_{for ever,}

The

_{spear's eternal} lord.

[HeJtrikes the ground with the spear a>

if

by accident, anda low growl of thunder is

heard,bywhich

Mime

is

violentlyalarmed.

Confess

_now,

_{cunning dwarf,}

Are not

_my

answers _right,

And

is not

my

head

redeemed

?

Both thou hast

_won,

Afterattentively

Wager

and

head ;

watchingthe

Thy

way

now, Wanderer, go. Wandererwith the _spear,becomes

veryfrightened, seeks ina confused

manner_for his tools, andlooks timidlyafide.

Knowledge

useful to thee

Thou

wert to ask for ;

Forfeit

_my

head if I failed.

Forfeit be thine,

Knowest

thou not

The

_thing it

would

serve thee to

know.

Greeting thou

Gavest

me

not ;

My

head into _thy

hand

I _gave

That I _might rest _{by thy} hearth.

By

wager

fair

Forfeit _{thy head,}

Canst thou not answer Three _things

when

asked ;

So sharpen well,

Mime,

thy wits J

11

In dragon's form

Fafner

now

watchesthehoard

SIEGFRIED

Very much frightened,and after much hefitation, at laji composes himself with timid submij/ion. Comfortably fittingdown again. Jttttne With more cheerfulnefs.

Long

it is

Since I left

_my

land ;

Long

it seems to

me

Since I

was

born.

I

saw

here the eye of

Wotan

Shine, peering into

my

cave ;

His glance dazes

My

mother-wit.

But

well were it

now

to be wise.

Come

_{then, Wanderer,} ask.

Perhaps fortune will favour

The

_dwarf,

and

redeem his head.

Then

_first, honest _dwarf,

Answer

this _question :

Tell the

name

of the race

That

Wotan

treats

most

_harshly,

\Verysoftly, but audibly.

And

_{yet loves beyond} all the rest.

Though

unlearned

In heroes' _kinship,

This question I answer with ease.

The Walsungs

are

Wotan

's

Chosen stock,

By him

begotten

And

loved with _passion,

Though

they are

shown no

grace.

Siegmund

and Sieglinde

Born

were to _Walse,

A

wild and _desperate Twin-born _pair ;

Siegfried

had

they as son,

The

_strongest shoot from the tree.

My

head, say, is it

Still, Wanderer,

mine

?

SIEGFRIED

Pleasantly.

Forgettinghis presentfitnation

more andmore^

rubshis hands

joyfully.

How

well thou knowest

And

namest

the race !

Rogue, I see thou art clever.

The

_{foremost question}

Thou

hast solved ;

The

second answer me, dwarf.

A

crafty Niblung

Shelters Siegfried,

Hoping

he will _slay Fafner,

That the dwarf

_may

be lord of _{the hoard,}

The

_{ring being} his.

Say,

what

sword,

If Fafner to fall _is,

Must

be by Siegfried

swung

?

Nothung

is

The

name

of the sword ;

Into

an

ash-tree's stem

Wotan

struck it _;

One

_only might bear it :

He who

could

draw

it forth.

The

strongest heroes

Tried it

and

failed ;

Only by

Siegmund

Was

it done _;

Well he fought with the sword

Till

on

Wotan

's _spear it

was

_split.

By

a crafty smith

Are the _{fragments kept,}

For he

knows

that alone

With

the

Wotan

sword

A

brave

and

foolish _boy, Siegfried, can slay the foe.

\_Muchpleased.

A

second time

My

head have I saved ?

Mimeand the Wanderer

SIEGFRIED

The

wisest of wise ones

Laughing.

Thou

must

be, surely ;

Who

else could so clever be !

But wouldst _{thou by} craft

Employ

the _boy-hero

As

instrument of _{thy purpose,}

With

one _question

more

I threaten thee. Tell _{me, thou} artful

Armourer,

Whose

skill

from

the _{doughty splinters}

Nothung

the sword shall fashion.

Mime

The

_splinters !

The

sword !

Starts _upin_{great Alas}

!

my

head reels !

tfrrer-

What

shall I do ?

What

can I _say ?

Accursed sword !

I

was

mad

to steal it !

A

_perilous pass

It has _brought

me

to.

Always too hard

To

yield to

my

hammer

!

Rivet, solder Useless are both.

[Hethrows his took aboutas

ifhe hadgone

crazy^ and breaks outinutterdespair.

The

cleverest smith Living has failed;

And, that being so,

Who

shall succeed ?

How

rede _aright such a riddle ?

SUSEantomt Three things thou wert to ask

me

;

Has risen

quietly Thrice

was

I to reply. from the hearth.

_Thy

questions were

Of _{far-off things,}

SIEGFRIED

But what

stood here at _thy

hand

Needed

much

that

was

forgot

Now

that I _guess it,

Thou

goest crazed,

And won

by

me

Is the _cunning one's head.

Now,

Fafner's dauntless subduer, Hear, thou death-doomed dwarf.

By him

who

knows

not

How

to fear

Nothung

shall be _forged.

\Mimeftaresat him; he turns togo.

So

ward

_thy head Well

from

to-day. I leave it forfeit to

him

Who

has never learned to fear.

[He turns _away smiling, and disappears

quickly in the wood.

Mime

has sunk on

to the bench overwhelmed.

Jfttme Accursed light !

Stares_before him

The

air is on fire !

into the sunlit

_What

_flickers

_and

_{flashes ?}

wood, andbegins

What

_buzzes

_and

whirs ?

to tremble more

_^^^

& thefe

and

swi

andmore . J , . _^

violently.

And

circles about ?

What

glitters

and

gleams

In the sun's hot _glow ?

What

rustles

and

hums

And

rings so loud ?

With

roll

and

roar

It crashes this

_way

!

It bursts _through the _wood,

Making

for

me

!

[He rises_up in terror.

Its _jaws are wide _open,

SIEGFRIED

Eager for _prey ;

The

dragon will catch

me

I Fafner ! Fafner !

[Hefinks fhriekingbehind the anvil.

Ho

there !

Thou

idler !

Behind the _scene;, Is the

work

finished ?

is heard_breaking

[tfe enten tfjecave. from the thicket. ~. , t_ ., ,

Quick,

come show

me

the sword.

[Hepausesinsurprise.

Where

hides the smith ?

Has

he

made

off ?

Hey, there !

Mime,

thou coward !

Where

art thou ?

Where

hidest thou ?

'Tis thou _{then, child} ?

In a small_voice, Art thou alone ?

from behindthe anvil.

Under

the anvil ?

Laughing.

_Why,

what

doest thou there ?

Wert

thou _grinding the sword ?

Mime

The

sword?

The

sword ?

Comes forward,

How

Could I weld it? greatly upsetand

[Halfafide. contused.

_

, .

By him

who

knows

not

How

to fear

Nothung

shall be _forged.

Too

wise

am

I

To

_attempt such work.

Wilt _{thou speak plainly}

Violently.

Or

must

I _{help thee} ?

SIEGFRIED

ffiimt As _before. Vehemently. Jftimr Gradually recovering himself. Seizes him.

Mimt

Laughing.

Mmt

Recovering

himself moreandmore.

Where

shall I turn in

_my

need ?

My

wily head

Wagered

and

lost _is,

[Staringbeforehtm.

And

forfeit to

him

it will fall

Who

has never learned to fear.

Dost thou by shuffling

Seek to _escape ?

Small need to fly

Him

who

knows

fear !

But

that lesson

was

one_{never taught}thee.

A

fool, I forgot

The

one _{great thing};

What

thou wert _taught

Was

to love _me,

And

alas ! the task proved hard.

Now

how

shall I teach thee to fear ?

Hey

!

Must

I help thee ?

What

work

hast thou done ?

Concerned for _{thy good,}

In _thought I

was

_sitting :

Something of _weight I

would

teach thee.

'Twas under the seat

That thou wert sitting ;

What

weighty thing foundest thou there?

Down

there I learned

how

to _fear,

That I _might teach _{thee, dullard.}

With _quiet wonder.

This fear then,

what

is it ?

Thou

knowest not that,

Yet wouldst

from

the forest

Forth to the world ?

SIEGFRIED

What

help in the trustiest _sword,

Hadst thou not learned to fear ?

What

absurd

Impatiently. Invention is this ?

Jfttme 'Tis _{thy mother's} wish

Approaching _{Speaking through me.}

Siegfriedwith j

must

fulfil

moreand

^nore

_ThQ

_promise I _gave her :

confidence. _, , , , ,j , . M

That the world

and

its wiles

Thou

shouldst not encounter

Until thou hadst learned

how

to fear.

Is it

an

art ?

Vehemently

Why

was

I not taught ?

Explain: this fearing,

what

is it ?

In the dark

wood

Hast thou not felt,

When

shades of dusk

Fall

dim and

_drear,

When

mournful _whispers

Sigh afar,

And

fierce _growling

Sounds at _hand,

When

strange flashes

Dart

and

flicker,

And

the _buzzing

And

clamour

_grow

[Trembling.

Hast thou not felt _grim horror

Hold _{every sense} in its clutches ?

[Quaking.

When

the limbs shiver,

Shaken

with terror,

\With a quiveringvoice. 29

SIEGFRIED

Mufing.

Mime

Mime

And

the heart, filled _{with dismay,}

Hammers,

bursting the breast

Hast thou not _yet felt _that,

A

stranger art thou to fear.

Wonderful

_truly

That

must

be. Steadfast, strong

Beats

_my

heart in

_my

breast.

The

shiver

and

_shudder,

The

fever and horror,

Burning and fainting,

Beating

and

trembling

Ah,

how

glad I

would

feel _them,

[Tenderly.

Could I but learn this _delight !

But how,

Mime,

Can

it be

mine

?

How,

coward, could it be taught

me

?

Following me,

The

_way

thou shalt find ;

I _{have thought} it all out.

I

know

of a _{dragon grim}

That slays

and

swallows

men

:

Fear thou wilt learn

from

_Fafner,

When

I lead to

where

he lies.

Where

has he his lair ?

Neidhohl'

Named^

it lies east

Towards

the end of the wood.

It lies not far

from

the world ?

The

world is _{quite close to} the cave.

SIEGFRIED

That I

_may

learn

what

this fear _is,

Lead

me

there _straightway

;

Then

forth to the world !

Make

haste ! Forge

me

the sword.

In the world fain I

would

_swing it.

Mime

The

sword ?

Woe's

me

!

Quick to the _smithy !

r

Show

me

_thy

work

!

JHtme Accursed steel !

Unequal

my

skill to the task ;

The

_{potent magic}

Surpasses the poor dwarf's strength.

'Twere

more

easily done

By

one

who

never felt fear.

Artful tricks

The

idler

would

_play

me

;

He

is _{a bungler}

;

He

should _confess,

And

not seek to lie his

_way

out.

Here with the _splinters !

Off _{with the bungler} !

[Coming to the hearth.

His father's sword

Siegfried will weld :

By him

shall it be _forged.

[Flinging Mime's tools _about,he sets

himself impetuoujly to work.

ffiim If thou hadst _practised

Thy

craft with _care,

Thou

wouldst have profited

now

;

But thou wert far

Too

_{lazy to learn,}

And

now

at need canst do _nothing,

SIEGFRIED

Where

the master has failed

What

hope for the _scholar,

Had

he obeyed

him

in all ?

\H.emakes a contemptuousgrimaceathim.

Be

off with thee !

Meddle

no

more,

In case with the steel I melt thee.

\H.e has heapeda large quantity ofcharcoal

on the hearth, and _keeps blowing the_fire,

while hescrews _up the_pieces

ofthe sword

ina vice and_files them to_/havings.

Why

file it to bits ?

Who

has satdown There is the solder

a little_wayoff, All _fused, ready to hand.

watches _Siegfriedat work.

Sjtegftiefc Off with the pap, I need it not ;

With

_paste I fashion

no

sword ! J&ttm;

Now

the file is _ruined,

The

_rasp is useless ;

Why

grind thus the steel to _splinters ?

5fcgfttrt> It

must

be shivered

And

_ground into shreds

;

Only so can _{splinters be patched.}

\Hegoes onfiling ivithgreatenergy.

JEime I see a craftsman

Is useless here ;

By

his

own

_folly the fool is best served.

Look

how

he toils

With

_{lusty strokes} ;

The

steel _disappears,

And

still he _keeps cool.

[Siegfriedhasblown thefire toa brightflame. 32

SIEGFRIED

Though

I

am

as old

As

cave

and

_wood,

The

like I never _yet

saw

!

[WhileSiegfried continues to

file thepiece of

the sword

impetuoujly,Mime seats

himself a little_further

off.

He

will _forge the sword

I see it _plain

Boldly weld it anew.

The Wanderer

was

right.

Where

shall I hide

My

luckless head ?

If _{nothing teaches}

him

_fear,

Forfeit it falls to the _boy.

[Springingup andbendingdown in_growing

agitation.

But

woe

to

Mime

!

If _{Siegfried learn fear,}

The

_dragon will never be slain ;

And, if _so,

how

_{gain the} ring ?

Accurst

dilemma

!

Would

I _escape,

I

must

find out

some

way

Of subduing the _boy for _myself.

Hey,

Mime

!

The

name

!

Has now_filed Quick,

name

the sword

down the_pieces, That I have

_pounded

_{to pieces.}

and_{puts thefilings}in a_crucible, which he_placeson the_fire.

Mime

_Nothung, that is

Startsandturns

The

name

of the sword .

towards_Siegfried. t

^^

^^

Md

me

the

SIEGFRIED

Nothung

!

Nothung

!

Duringthe

Conquering

sword

!

followingsong

_yfa^

Wow

l

won

_der, broke theC.

^SSfZ

Thy

keen-edged glory "bellows. l chopped to chaff ;

The

_splinters

now

I

am

_melting.

Hoho

!

Hoho

!

Hohei ! Hohei !

Hoho

!

Bellows blow !

Brighten the flame !

In the

woods

A

tree

_grew

wild ;

It fell,

by

my

hand

hewn

down.

The brown -stemmed

ash

To

charcoal I burned

;

Now

it lies _{heaped high}

on

the hearth.

Hoho

!

Hoho

!

Hohei ! Hohei !

Hoho

!

Bellows blow !

Brighten the flame !

How

bravely, brightly

The

charcoal burns !

How

clear

and

fair its fire !

With

_{showering sparks} It _leaps

and

_glows,

Hohei !

Hoho

! Hohei !

Dissolving the splintered steel !

Hoho

!

Hoho

!

Hohei ! Hohei !

Hoho

!

Bellows, blow !

Brighten the flame !

Hoho

!

Hoho

!

Hoho, hohei ! Hohei !

Nothung

!

Nothung

!

Conquering

sword

!

The_{forging ofNothung}

SIEGFRIED

Thy

steel _chopped to chaff is fused ; In thine

own

sweat

Thou

swimmest

now,

[Hepours the_glowingcontents_ofthe crucible into a _mould, which he holds _up.

But

soon

_my

sword thou shalt be !

The sword

he will _forge

Duringthe pauses

And

vanquish Fafner, in_Siegfried^

song, So

much

I can _{clearly foresee}

;

/Jillafide,fitting

_Hoard

_{and rf}

'

at a dt fiance. T*I_ . ,, -,

The

victor will have

;

How

to

win

them

both for _myself !

By

wit

and

wiles

They

shall be _captured,

And

safe shall be

_my

head.

[In the foreground,Jiill afide. After the _fight,

when

_athirst,

For a _{cooling draught he} will crave ;

Of _{fragrant juices} Gathered

from

herbs

The

_draught I will

brew

for him.

Let

him

drink but a _drop,

And

in slumber

Softly lapped he shall lie :

With

_{the very} sword

That he fashioned to serve

him

He

shall be cleared

from

_my

_way,

And

treasure

and

_ring

made

mine.

[He rubs hishands with

satisfaction.

Ha

! dull didst hold _me,

Wanderer

wise !

Does

_my

subtle _scheming

Please thee

now

?

SIEGFRIED

Have

I found

A

path to _peace ?

[Hesprings upjoyfully,fetchesseveralvejfeh,

Jhakesspicesandherbsfromthemintoa_pot^

andtriesto_put iton the hearth.

In the water flowed

Hasplungedthe

A

flood of fire

;

mouldinto _{a pail Furious with} hate,

ofwater Steam _Grimly it hissad ;

and_loudhtfmg

Though

scorching it _ran,

ensue as it cools. , . & _,. _&

In the cooling flood

No

more

it flows _;

Stiff, stark it became,

Hard

is the stubborn steel ;

Yet

warm

blood

Shall flow thereby !

Now

sweat once _again, That swift I

may

weld _thee,

Nothung, conquering

sword

!

[Hethru/Is theJieelinto thefire,and blows

the bellows _violently. While _doing so he

watches_{Mime,who,from} the_{other fide of} the hearth,carefullyputshispot on thefire.

What

does the _booby

Make

in his _pot ?

While

I melt _steel,

What

art thou brewing ?

.fHitn?

A

smith is put to shame,

And

learns

from

the lad he _taught ;

All the master's lore is useless

now

;

He

serves the _boy as cook.

Steel thou dost

brew

into broth

;

Old

Mime

boils thee

Eggs for _{thy meal.}

[Hegoeson with his cooking. 36

SIEGFRIED

Mime,

the craftsman,

Learns to _{cook now,}

And

cares

no

longer to forge ;

I have broken

All the swords that

he

made

me

;

What

he cooks

_my

_lips shall not touch.

[During the

following he takes the mould

from the fire, breaks it, and lays the glowingJleelon the anvil.

To

find out

what

fear is

Forth he will _guide

me

;

A

far-off teacher shall teach

me

;

Even what

he does best

He

cannot do well ;

In everything

Mime

must

_bungle !

[Duringtheforging.

Hoho

!

Hoho

! Hohei !

Forge me,

my

hammer,

A

trusty sword.

Hoho

! Hahei !

Hoho

! Hahei !

Blood-stained

was

once

Thy

steely blue,

The

crimson trickle

Reddened

_thy blade.

How

cold

was

_{thy laugh} !

The

warm

blood cooled at _{thy touch} !

Heiaho !

Haha

!

Haheiaha

!

Now

red thou comest

From

the _fire,

And

thy softened steel

To

the

hammer

yields.

Angry

sparks thou dost shower

On

me

who

humbled

_thy pride.

SIEGFRIED

tnu

While _Siegfried

is

fixing the

blade in the _hilt,

moves aboutin

the

foreground

with the bottle into which he

has_pouredthe

contents _ofthe

pot.

A

fide.

Heiaho ! Heiaho !

Heiahohohohoho

!

Hahei ! Hahei ! Hahei !

Hoho

!

Hoho

! Hohei !

Forge me,

my

hammer,

A

_trusty sword !

Hoho

! Hahei !

Hoho

! Hahei !

How

I _rejoice

In the

_merry

_sparks !

The

bold look best

When

by anger stirred !

Gay

thou _laughest to _me,

Grimly though thou dost _pretend! Heiaho, haha, haheiaha !

Both heat

and

hammer

Served

me

well ;

With

_sturdy strokes I stretched thee _straight ;

Now

banish thy modest blush,

Be

as cold

and

hard as thou canst.

Heiho ! Heiaho !

Heiahohohohoho

! Heiah !

\_He swings the _{blade,plunges} it intothe_pail

ofwater, and laughs aloudat thehijjing.

He

forges a sharp-edged sword :

Fafner, the foe

Of _{the dwarf,} is

doomed

_; I brewed a _{deadly draught} :

Siegfried

must

perish

When

Fafner falls.

By

guile the goal

must

be reached ;

Soon

shall smile

_my

reward !

For the _{shining ring}

My

brother _{once made,}

SIEGFRIED

And

which with _{a potent}

Spell he endowed,

The

_{gleaming gold}

That _gives boundless _might

That ring I have

won

_now,

I

am

its lord.

[He trots _briskly about with _increafing

satis-faftion.

Alberich _even,

Whom

I _served, Shall be the slave

Of

Mime

the dwarf.

As

_{Nibelheim's prince}

I shall descend there,

And

all the host

Shall do

_my

will ;

None

so honoured as _he,

The

dwarf once _despised !

To

the hoard will

come

_thronging

Gods and

men

;

[With increafingliuelineis.

The

world shall _cower,

Cowed

by

my

nod,

And

at

_my

frown

Shall tremble and fall !

No

more

shall

Mime

Labour

and

toil,

When

others

win

him

Unending

wealth.

Mime,

the valiant,

Mime

is _monarch,

Prince and ruler,

Lord of the world !

Hei,

Mime

! Great luck has been thine I

Had

_any

one

dreamed

of this !

SIEGFRIED

During the pauses in Mimes

songhas been

filingand

Jharpeningthe

swordand hammeringit

with thesmall

hammer, tie

flattens therivets

ofthe hilt with

the_{laft ftrokes,} and now_grasps the sword.

Nothung

!

Nothung

!

Conquering sword !

Once more

art thou firm in _thy hilt.

Severed wert thou ;

I _shaped thee _anew,

No

second blow _{thy blade} shall shatter.

The

_strong steel

was

_splintered,

My

father fell _;

The

son

who

now

lives

Shaped it anew.

Bright-gleaming to

him

it _laughs,

And

for

him

its _edge shall be keen.

[Swingingthesword_beforehtm.

Nothung

!

Nothung

!

Conquering sword !

Once

more

to life I have

waked

thee.

Dead

wert _thou,

In _{fragments hewn,}

Now

shining defiant

and

fair.

Woe

to all robbers !

Show them

_thy sheen !

Strike at the _traitor,

Cut

down

_{the rogue} !

See,

Mime,

thou smith ;

Thus

sunders _Siegfried's sword !

\HeJlrikestheanvilandsplitsitintwo from topto

bot-tom,sothatit

falls asunderwitha greatnoise. Mime, whohasmounteda_Jloolin_{greatdelight, falls}interror

toa_{fittingpojition} on the_{ground. Siegfried}holdsthe

sword_exultantly on _high. Thecurtain_falls,