COPYRIGHT

Translation

Copyright © 2011 Dan McGlaun

Editor

Robert Scott

New and Modified Images

Formatting and Compilation

Copyright © 2011 Robert Scott

All Rights Reserved

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Siegfried

1. A Cave in a Forest

2. Depths of the Forest

3. Wild Region at the Foot of a Rocky Mountain; Afterwards: Summit of the Valkyries Rock

2. The Twilight of the Gods

1. Prologue: On the Valkyrie's Rock

2. Act 1: The Hall of Gunther's Dwelling on the Rhine, and later, The Valkyrie's Rock

3. Act 2: In Front of Gunther's Hall

4. Act 3: A Wooded Region on the Rhine, and later, Gunther's Hall

Nothung! Nothung! Conquering sword!

Siegfried

CHARACTERS

GODS

Wanderer, the God Wotan in disguise (baritone)

GODDESSES

Erda, Goddess of the Earth (contralto)

NIEBELUNGS

Alberich (baritone)

Mime, Alberich's brother (tenor)

MORTALS

Siegfried, son of Siegmund and Sieglinde (tenor)

Brünnhilde (soprano)

FOREST CREATURES

Forest Bird (soprano)

Fafner, in the form of a Dragon (bass)

Scenes Of Action

1. A Cave in a Forest

2. Depths of the Forest

3. Wild Region at the Foot of a Rocky Mountain; Afterwards: Summit of the Valkyries Rock

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Nothung! Nothung! Conquering sword!

Mime at the anvil

Mime and the infant Siegfried

"And there I learned What love was like"

Siegfried sees himself in the stream

Mime finds the mother of Siegfried in the forest

Mime and the Wanderer

"In dragon's form Fafner now watches the hoard"

The forging of Nothung

Siegfried kills Fafner

"The hot blood burns like fire!"

The dwarfs quarrelling over the body of Fafner

"Magical rapture Pierces my heart; Fixed is my gaze, Burning with terror; I reel, my heart faints and fails!"

"Sun, I hail thee! Hail, O light! Hail, O glorious day!

Brünnhilde throws herself into Siegfried's arms

The three Norns

ACT 1

Scene 1

(Mime's cave, deep in the forest, Mime working over his anvil)

Mime: Forced into slavery! No thanks, no reward, no end to my work! This is the best sword I've ever made - worthy to be carried into battle by the giants themselves! But that...that kid I made it for - HA! - He'll shatter it, break it in two, as if I'd made him a plaything! Well, there's one sword that could stand up to even his abuse: Nothung's fragments wouldn't fail me, even in his hands. If I could only weld the mighty pieces of that sword together, if only I had the skill...! If I could give the fearless boy that sword, then all the crap I've had to put up with all these years would finally be worth it! Fafner, the evil dragon, lies waiting in the forest, guarding the Nibelung's treasure with his huge, terrifying bulk. Siegfried's brash, young strength could well do him in. Then, I'd have the Ring all for myself. But one thing stands in the way - only one sword will do for the job, only Siegfried can use it as it needs to be used, and as good as I am, I can't forge the damned thing! Nothung, that elusive sword!! Working for nothing! Slaving without end! This is the best sword I've ever made, but it'll never be good enough for the one thing I need most. The boy insists I keep hammering away though, wasting my time making things he just goes out and destroys. But if I stopped working for him, I shudder to think what he'd do to me!

(Siegfried enters, leading a bear)

Mime at the anvil

Siegfried: Hey Mime! I'm home! (To the bear) All right, go get him! Kill him and eat him for dinner, that ugly, rotten excuse for a blacksmith there!

Mime: What the...?? A BEAR?? What do you think you're doing, bringing a bear into our house?

Siegfried: I brought a friend home with me, to help inspire you to work harder. (to the bear) All right, buddy, go get my new sword from him...if he's finished with it!

Mime: No! Get him away from me! Your sword's over there; I just now finished it for you.

Siegfried: Well then, I guess I'll let you live another day. (to the bear) All right, you can go - I don't need your help any more. (the bear leaves)

Mime: It's one thing to kill bears in the forest. I mean, it's fine with me when you do things like that, but why would you want to bring one home with you?

Siegfried: I was just looking for a little companionship. I mean, better than what I have here at "home", that is. I was playing my horn in the forest, thinking about how nice it'd be to have some company I enjoyed for a change. That bear must have read my mind through the music I was playing, because he came out of the bushes growling at me. I know that one day I'll find better, but I figured he'd do for now. So, I bridled him and brought him here with me to ask you for my sword. By the way, where did you say it was?

Mime: Right here. You'll love how well this one cuts; I made it especially sharp just for you.

Siegfried: Well, I hope this one'll be good for something. The edges aren't that important if the metal isn't strong enough. (He breaks the sword.) Just like I thought! Another toy!! You call this knitting needle a sword?? (Throws it at Mime.) Here, take the damned thing back, and try again! Why didn't I just break it over your head this time? How much longer do I have to put up with this? You know, you're full of talk - talk about terrifying giants and glorious battles, of brave deeds and mighty weapons. You say you'll make those weapons for me with all your skill, as if you had any! But every time I touch anything you make, it breaks in my bare hands! I'd like to take you and melt you down in your own furnace, if I didn't think that would ruin it! But at least then I'd be rid of you, once and for all!!

Mime and the infant Siegfried

Mime: Siegfried, please listen to reason! Please don't treat me this way! Your ungratefulness hurts my feelings so much, I can't take it! I can't ever seem to do anything good enough for you; you only curse me for being human, and forget everything I've ever tried to do for you. Remember what I taught you about gratitude? You should at least give me a little respect, considering all I've done for you. Oh well, you don't want to hear all that again. You must be hungry - can I bring you some meat from the fire? Or maybe you'd like some nice hot soup? I knew how hungry you'd be, and made it especially for you.

Siegfried: I cook my own food. Eat that slop yourself!! (Throws it at Mime)

Mime: So that's the thanks I get? It's always the same: I slave all day long for you, and you have the nerve to treat me like this! You don't appreciate anything I do for you! I brought you up! I raised you all by myself! When you were a helpless little baby, I kept you warm. I gave you food and drink, and protected you like you were a part of my own body. I watched with joy as you grew up, and provided a safe place for you to call home. I made toys for you to play with, even that horn you love so much. Anything you wanted! No sacrifice was too great for me to make, as long as you were happy! But that wasn't all: I also taught you everything you know. I shared every bit of wisdom and knowledge I have with you. I sat at home working my fingers to the bone, while you were out doing... who knows what?? Whatever you wanted!! You got anything and everything you ever dreamed of, while I suffered in silence, living my life solely for your pleasure. All for you, with never a thought for myself. Look at me, a tired, haggard old dwarf! And for everything I gave you, now you give me this? Insults? Threats? Hateful, spiteful ingratitude? Siegfried, why do you hate me? Don't you appreciate anything I've ever done for you?

"And there I learned What love was like"

Siegfried: Yes, I guess you have taught me a lot, Mime. I've learned quite a bit from you, but you know something? There's one thing I wanted to you to teach me more than anything else, but I've never been able to learn it from you: How to stand the sight of you! Yes, you brought me food and drink, but the only thing that really fills me up is my hatred for you. Yes, I've got a nice bed here to sleep in, if I could ever really sleep well in this dungeon! You teach me things to try to make me smart, but I'd rather be ignorant than learn from you! All I have to do is look at you, and I see everything that's evil in the world. Every move you make disgusts me; I want to take you by the throat and wring your neck so I won't have to look at you any more! The thought of doing that is the only thing that lets me stand being around you. But since you claim to be so smart, help me understand something I've wondered about a lot: Maybe a thousand times I've gone off into the forest, thinking that this would finally be the time I wouldn't come back. Why is it, when I think I'm finally rid of you forever, that I always come back? The animals I see in the forest are more my friends than you are. The trees, the birds, the fish in the stream: I could be more at home with any of them than with you. So why do I come back to you every time? Figure that one out for me, will you?

Mime: Well, isn't it obvious? This must feel like home to you. Deep in your heart, you must really miss me.

Siegfried: But I can't stand you, remember?

Mime: You're just young, and haven't discovered your true feelings yet. All young ones need the care and attention they get from their parents at home. This need is called Love. You always come home to me; therefore, you must love me! Do you hear? You have to love me!! What the mother bird is to the fledgling, as it feeds in the nest, helpless, unable to fly on its own: that's what I am to you, my boy. That's what I am for you!

Siegfried: All right, Mime, explain something else to me, since you think you know so much. In the springtime, I've often seen birds singing to each other. They seemed so...happy together. I asked, and you told me it was because they were husband and wife. They were always together, never leaving each other. They built their home together and raised their little ones there. Even when the chicks were ready to leave and go off on their own, the parents seemed like they were so happy for them, because they had been a family. I've seen deer do the same thing, too, and foxes, and wolves - the father provided for the family, and the mother watched over the babies. By seeing that, I learned perfectly well what love should be like. I would never have taken those little ones from their parents, because I knew they were all happy together. Now tell me, Mime, where is your wife? She must be my mother, and I'd like to see her myself!

Siegfried sees himself in the stream

Mime: What's wrong with you? Where have I gone wrong? Do you really think you're a bird or a fox?

Siegfried: "You brought me up. You raised me all by yourself. When I was a helpless little baby, you kept me warm." But where did you get this helpless little baby? With all that skill you're supposed to have, did you manage to make me all by yourself?

Mime: You have to believe me: I'm both your father and mother in one!

Siegfried: You're lying!! Do you really expect me to believe that? I've seen how babies look like their parents. Once I came across a quiet brook, and saw how the trees, the animals, the sun and the clouds were all reflected in the water exactly the way they really look. I looked in, saw the reflection of my own face, and I'll tell you, it didn't look anything like you at all! We're as different as a slimy horned toad and a brilliant, shimmering goldfish. And I know that no fish ever had a toad for a father!!

Mime: That's nonsense!

Siegfried: Well, now I've figured it out for myself, why I always seem to come back to you. You must be the only one who can tell me who my father and mother really are!

Mime: What father? What mother? Stupid questions!

Mime finds the mother of Siegfried in the forest

Siegfried: It's obvious I can't get anything out of you by being nice. Everything I've ever learned from you, I had to force out! It's a miracle I even learned to talk from you before I strangled the life out of your throat! Well, I've about had enough of your sweet talk - OUT with it! Who are my father and mother?? (grabs Mime by the throat)

Mime: You're killing me! Let me go, and I'll tell you what you want to know, at least as much as I know about it myself. (Siegfried lets him go) All right, you spoiled, hateful, selfish brat! Shut up and listen to the reasons why you hate me so much! No, I'm not your father, nor any relation to you whatsoever, but you still owe me your life!! You were a total stranger, nothing to me at all; but still, I felt sorry for you and raised you as my own. And this is the thanks I get for my compassion! I was a complete fool to think I'd ever get any kind of love from you in return.

Once, I was out in the cold, cruel forest, and found a poor woman lying helpless, crying as if her heart would break. I helped her back to my cave to take care of her, and warmed her by my fire. She was in labor pretty bad, and the birth was incredibly hard. She suffered like you wouldn't believe! I almost couldn't bear it, but I helped as much as I could. She was beyond help, though, and I couldn't do anything for her. She died. Yes, Siegfried, she died, but her baby - you, Siegfried - you lived.

Siegfried: My mother...died because of me?

Mime: She gave you over to my care. As I said, I gladly took you in and raised you as my own. All the trouble I went through for you - all the good things I tried to do for you! "I brought you up. I raised you all by myself."

Siegfried: I think we've already established that! But tell me why my name is "Siegfried".

Mime: That was the name your mother told me to call you; with the name of "Siegfried" you'd grow up brave and strong. "When you were a helpless little baby, I kept you warm."

Siegfried: What was my mother's name?

Mime: I really don't remember. "I gave you food and drink."

Siegfried: Tell me her name...NOW!

Mime: How could I have forgotten it? Wait a minute - it was "Sieglinde", that was her name. She suffered more than you'll ever know, but "I protected you as if you were a part of my own body."

Siegfried: All right, what was my father's name?

Mime: I never saw him.

Siegfried: But surely my mother told you about him?

Mime: He'd been killed; that was all she said. She entrusted me with your life, helpless and fatherless though you were. "I watched with joy as you grew up, and provided a safe place for you to call home."

Siegfried: I've heard enough of that! If I'm going to believe what you've said to me, if you're going to convince me that it's not just more lies you've made up, then show me some proof.

Mime: What would it take to convince you?

Siegfried: I don't believe anything you say to me any more. You'll have to show me something that I can see and feel, something that will let me know you're not lying to me again.

Mime: (going to a hidden cupboard) Well, your mother did give me this in return for all the trouble I went to for her. It was hardly enough, considering all I did for you, but...see? An old broken sword! She said it had been broken when your father was carrying it in battle, when he was killed. Lot of good it did him.

Siegfried: My father's sword! This is what I've been waiting for! Quick, Mime! Get to work! You finally have the chance now to show me how great a smith you are. Forge this sword for me. Forget all the trash you've made me in the past - I know this sword will be the one for me. Oh, but if you screw this one up, if you do anything to ruin this sword, I'll take care of you good. Your life isn't hardly worth the effort it would take to kill you, but don't tempt me. Don't mess this one up! I WILL have this sword, and I WILL have it today!!

Mime: (trembling) What are you going to do with it?

Siegfried: I'll finally be able to leave this forest, and go out into the world on my own! Free at last! I'm finally free! I know everything I need to know, and now, with my father's sword, I'll have everything I need to have! I knew all along I wasn't related to you - I knew this wasn't my home, that I didn't really belong here. Now I'm as happy as a fish in the Flood, free as a bird to fly off wherever I want, like the wind blowing through the forest, out into the world at last!! Free, Mime, never to have to look at you again!!!

Mime: Hold on! Wait! Come back! Siegfried! Hey! Siegfried! Siegfried!! Oh, no! There he goes, and here I sit, with yet another problem to add to the ones I've already got. Oh, what am I going to do? How can my plans succeed now? How can I keep him here against his will? How can I get him to kill Fafner? And how can I forge this sword for him so he won't kill me?? There's no furnace in the world that can fix this sword; no master smith has the skill it takes to work this kind of steel. It'll take magic, or a miracle, and I can't do either one! No amount of cunning, scheming, bargaining, or outright cheating will get this sword back together again. All my plans, all that work, all for nothing! Oh, God, I'm in big trouble now!

Scene 2

(Mime's cave, deep in the forest, Mime working over his anvil)

Wanderer (Wotan): Good day, sir. I see you are a wise smith; will your generosity be as great to one who is tired of traveling?

Mime: Who are you, and why have you come here, this far into the forest?

Wanderer: I'm known only as "Wanderer". I've traveled the length and breadth of the earth; the land I walk on is the only home I have.

Mime: Well, if you're known for your wandering, then wander on away from here!

Wanderer: Many good men have offered me shelter; only those who fear misfortune have failed me.

Mime: Misfortune is already right here, at home with me. Are you planning to bring me some more?

Wanderer: I've traveled far, and I've learned a few things along the way. Many who have helped me have themselves been rewarded with information they needed. Perhaps you have a need, a problem I can help you with?

Mime: No, I don't need your help. You might know a lot of stuff, but I prefer to do things on my own. And I don't make deals with bums.

Wanderer: Many believe themselves wise, only to find that they don't know what they truly need. I offer my guidance and counsel to you freely.

Mime: I know all I need to! People are always learning things that are of no use to them, but my cleverness will get me by. Thanks for the offer; now please use your wisdom to find the door.

Wanderer: I offer you my life as the wager in a contest of wits between us. If I can't tell you what you most want to know, then you can have my head.

Mime: (aside) How can I get rid of this guy? I'll ask him the trickiest questions I can think of. (to the Wanderer) All right, I accept your life in exchange for my hospitality. I hope you're smart enough to win it back! I guess I'll ask you three questions - is that OK?

Wanderer: I'll give you three answers, then.

Mime: You say you've traveled far across the face of the earth, and have learned a lot from your travels. Then tell me: Which race of men lives underground, in the depths of the earth?

Wanderer: In the depths of the earth live the Nibelungs. Their home is called Nibelheim. They are the children of darkness, and Alberich was their Lord. He controlled them with the power of a magic Ring, and commanded them to collect a hoard of treasure for him. This treasure should have won him the world. What's your second question now, my friend?

Mime: You've answered the first question well, but tell me this: Which race lives on the broad surface of the earth?

Wanderer: The face of the earth is home to the race of the Giants. Their home is Riesenheim. Fasolt and Fafner were their masters; they envied the power of the Nibelungs, and won Alberich's gold and Ring for themselves. But Fafner killed Fasolt to get it all, and now he guards it in the form of a mighty dragon. Now, what is your third question?

Mime: You do know a lot about the world! But, can you tell me which race lives above the earth, up in the clouds?

Wanderer: In the clouds above live the Gods. Valhalla is their home. They are the lords of light, and Wotan is their ruler. His spear, with which he controls the workings of the world, was cut from the original ash tree, and will never wither or die. This spear is the source of Wotan's power. His treaties are carved in its shaft, as a symbol of Heavenly Trust. The Nibelungs bowed down to him; he commands the Giants as well. They must all obey him, for all eternity, the mighty Lord of the Spear! Tell me, wise dwarf: Have I answered the questions to your satisfaction? Is my life spared?

Mime: You have, very well indeed. Now, off with you!

Wanderer: You didn't greet me as a guest, yet I offered you my very life in exchange for answers to your questions. You should have used them for what you really needed to know. Since you yourself didn't know what it was you needed, I will now claim your life! You can save it by answering my three questions. I trust your wisdom is in good form today?

Mime: (aside) Long ago I came from my mother's womb. Long ago I left my native land. Wotan's eyes looked on me then, and now I feel all my wits leaving me as he looks at me again. But I must be strong. (aloud) All right, "Wanderer"! Let's see if luck is with me today; ask your questions!

Wanderer: First, my worthy friend, please tell me: Which race is it that is dearest to Wotan's heart, and yet was cruelly oppressed by him?

Mime: I don't know much about heroes and things like that, but fortunately I know the answer to this one: The Wälsungs are his beloved children, but they were put down by him. Siegmund and Sieglinde are the children of Wälse - twins, no less! - who had a child together. This child - Siegfried - is the strongest Wälsung of them all. Well, Wanderer, have I saved my life this time?

Wanderer: You've answered correctly. You do know a lot, and you also knew how to use it perfectly for my first question. My second question is this: A wise Nibelung has raised Siegfried, in the hope that the boy would slay Fafner and win him the Ring. This would make the dwarf master of the world. Tell me the name of the sword Siegfried must use to be successful in killing the dragon.

Mime: That's easy! Nothung is the sword, which was placed by Wotan in the trunk of an ash tree. Whoever could remove the sword would be the greatest of heroes. Many men tried, but the sword wouldn't budge. Only Siegmund, when he needed it the most, could get the sword out of the tree and take it into battle. But his sword was broken on Wotan's spear. The pieces are kept by a wily smith, who knows that a brave but foolish boy will use it to slay Fafner and win back the treasure! Have I saved my life yet again?

Wanderer: You have incredible knowledge, and have indeed used it to perfection a second time. With all the wit you used to manipulate Siegfried like you have, you shouldn't have any trouble at all telling me who will forge the mighty sword he will use to bring your masterful plot to fruition, and win the Rheingold and the Ring for yourself!

Mime: Oh, no! The sword! The pieces I can't forge! What can I say? I can't begin to guess! That damned sword! Why did I ever steal it? It's only brought misery and pain into my life! It's too hard to hammer, and no solder will hold it. If I can't do it, then who can? How could I ever begin to know who could perform this miracle?

Wanderer: You asked me three questions, and I gave you three answers. You asked about things far away, things unimportant. It must not have occurred to you to ask what you most needed to know, but now you seem surprised when I know what that was, what you should've asked me. Now, as your plans and your life lie in ruins, listen to this: "Only he who knows no fear can forge Nothung new again." I've won our wager, and I claim your life for my own. I'll leave it to the one who doesn't know fear to collect for me!

Scene 3

(Mime's cave, deep in the forest, Mime working over his anvil)

Mime: (hallucinating) The light! Oh, what's that light? The air's on fire!! Sparks are flashing all around me, making my head spin! It's over there now, just like the sun shining in my cave! Oh, my eyes! I can't stand it! It's rustling all around me, filling my ears with a terrible humming! What IS it? It's coming toward me now, all around me, coming through the forest to get me! What kind of monster is it, coming after me?! Oh no!! It's the dragon! He's after me! Fafner! Fafner!

Siegfried: (entering) Hey, lazy, I'm back! Are you finished with my sword? (to himself) Hey, where is he? Has he run away from me? Mime! Mime, you coward! Where are you? Where are you hiding?

Mime: Is it you, boy? Are you alone?

Siegfried: Under the anvil?? What are you doing there? Are you sharpening my sword on the ground?

Mime: (to himself) The sword? The sword? How can I ever forge it? "Only he who knows no fear can forge Nothung new again." I know too much about fear to be able to do it!

Siegfried: Are you going to talk to me, or do I have to force it out of you?

Mime: (to himself) Who can help me now? I've gambled away my life; "He who knows no fear" will take it from me now!

Siegfried: Are you ignoring me? What is all this nonsense? Are you trying to get out of your promises again?

Mime: (still to himself) If he only knew what fear was, I'd gladly run away from him. But I forgot to teach him what fear was! If only I'd taught him to really love me, but I couldn't! How can I ever teach him fear now?

Siegfried: Mime, what is your problem? What have you been doing while I've been gone?

Mime: (finally out loud) Oh, Siegfried - I was lost in thought, thinking how I could best help you. I've got something very important in store for you.

Siegfried: Really? Is it something you found while you were hiding under the anvil? Do you keep all your important things there?

Mime: I was learning what fear is, so I could teach it to you.

Siegfried: "Fear"? What's that?

Mime: You mean you don't know what fear is, and you want to go seek your fortune in the world beyond our forest? What use will your sword be to you if you haven't been tempered by fear?

Mime and the Wanderer

Siegfried: Are you making all this up to try and trick me again?

Mime: Your mother made me promise not to let you out of my care until I had taught you what fear was. She knew what was best for you, and now I'm only trying to keep my promise to her.

Siegfried: If it's a skill, why haven't I learned it before? Out with it! What is this "fear"?

Mime: Have you ever been in the deep, dark forest, in a lonely place, with the sun going down? You're all alone, and you hear noises all around you. You don't know what they are, or what they want - maybe they're coming to get you! You see flashes in front of your eyes, you're confused and bewildered by things you can't see and don't understand. Confusion sets in, you feel like you're in danger, and you want to run, but you don't know where. You feel horror, you start to shake, but you can't run - you can't move at all! Your heart is pounding in your chest like it's going to split open!! If you've never felt that, then you surely don't know what fear is!

Siegfried: That sounds like an incredible feeling! But my heart is always firm and strong in my chest. I can't imagine what all this shaking and shuddering, these lights flashing, this burning feeling in my body, could feel like. I'd love to find out, but how could someone like you teach me to feel anything that sounds so wonderful?

"In dragon's form Fafner now watches the hoard"

Mime: Follow me; I'll show you where you can feel like that! It just hit me today as I was thinking about it - I know of a mighty dragon who has defeated many men; killed them horribly, and eaten them! If you follow me to his den, he will show you what fear is!

Siegfried: Where is his den?

Mime: It's a place called Neidhöhle; it's at the Eastern end of the forest.

Siegfried: Then...It's not far from the World?

Mime: No. It's very close.

Siegfried: Well then, let's go right now! I can learn this thing called fear, then make my way out into the World! Come on! Get my sword! I'll need it when I'm finally on my own!

Mime: (aside) Oh no! The sword!

Siegfried: Come on, hurry up! Show me what you managed to do today!

Mime: That damned sword! The steel can't be mended. Master that I am, my skill isn't great enough; only "he who knows no fear" will be able to tame that stubborn blade!

Siegfried: What? You fool! Why do you lie to me, and tell me how great you are? Why don't you just admit you have no idea what you're doing? Just bring me the pieces, and get out of my sight! I'll have to do it myself; my father's sword doesn't deserve any less!

Mime: Now, this should be interesting! If you'd taken the time to learn what I tried to teach you about smithing, you might actually be able to do it. How do you think you're going to be able to forge that sword, as little as you studied what I tried to teach you?

Siegfried: Even if I'd listened to everything you said, how do you expect that I would've learned anything from someone who can't even do what he tries to teach others? Get away from me, and don't interfere; I might just decide to forge YOU as well! (goes to work on the sword)

Mime: What are you doing? Here, use the solder - I've worked my whole life to perfect it.

Siegfried: Get that crap away from me! I don't need it at all! Do you really expect me to use papier mâché to fix a sword?

Mime: But you're breaking the teeth off the file! You've ruined my rasp, hacking on the steel like that! Are you trying to destroy your sword?

Siegfried: I've got to break it down into splinters; then I can put it back together again.

Mime: He won't listen to reason. Nothing I can say will help him now. People who don't know what they're doing only listen to their own stupidity. He's working so hard, shredding the sword's blade - But still, he almost seems to be guided in what he's doing, like he's done it all his life. I'm as old as this cave and the forest itself, but I've never seen anything like it! I can see now that he's going to get that sword back together again, and he has no idea what he's really accomplishing there. The Wanderer knew! Once he has his sword, how will I protect myself from his anger? If Fafner doesn't teach him fear, then he will kill me. But if Fafner does kill him, how will I ever get the Ring for myself? What a dilemma I'm in! I've got to think, got to use all my wits to figure a way out of this one. I know my brains will get me through it!

The forging of Nothung

Siegfried: Hey, Mime! This sword I've broken down into shreds - does it have a name?

Mime: Your sword's name is "Nothung". Your mother told me that much about it, at least.

Siegfried: Nothung! Nothung! Wonderful sword! How was your blade ever shattered? I've broken your shining steel down into splinters, and now you'll melt on my fire. Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Hohei! Hoho! Bellows, blow on the glorious flame! There was a brown ash tree that grew wild in the forest; I cut it down and burned it into the charcoal that fuels the hearth now. Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Hohei! Hoho! Bellows, blow on the glorious flame! The coal from the ash tree burns so strongly; it showers the cave with sparks, and glows so magnificently! Hohei! Hoho! Hohei! The splinters from my sword melt so easily in it! Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Hohei! Hoho! Bellows, blow on the glorious flame!

Mime: (aside) He'll forge the sword, and kill Fafner with it - I see that now clear as day. He'll win the treasure and the Ring, and how will I ever get them from him? I'm going to have to use every bit of cunning and craftiness to steal them, and to save my head as well.

Siegfried: Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Hohei! Hoho!

Mime: (aside) He'll be tired after he's fought with the dragon, and he'll probably want something to drink. I've got some sweetly-spiced juices that I can make him a drink with; it won't take but a few drops of that, and he'll sink into a deep sleep. Then I can take that sword he's so crazy about, get him out of the way with no trouble at all, and take the Ring and all the gold for myself! What do you think of that plan, Wanderer? Do you still think I'm so stupid? I've found a way out of my situation; now what do you think of my cleverness?

Siegfried: Nothung! Nothung! Wonderful sword! I've melted the splinters of your steel, and you're swimming in your own sweat! Soon, I'll proudly raise you as my sword! A fiery river flowed in the water there; it hissed with fury, and seared everything in its path. It's not liquid any more, though; it's become strong and stiff, and turned into beautiful, hard steel. Soon, I'll draw hot blood with it! Now, Nothung, my trusty sword, sweat in the fire again, so I can shape you! (looking at Mime) What's that idiot doing with that pot over there? Mime! I'm cooking steel over here, and you're making soup?

Mime: You've put me to shame; the boy teaches the master his craft. I'm finished with smithing for good, and I'll reduce myself to cooking for you from now on. You make your broth from steel there, and I'll be content to use eggs. [A play on words between "steel" (Eisen) and "eggs" (Eiern)]

Siegfried: I can't believe it! Mime, the "master craftsman", learns how to cook. He's lost his taste for blacksmithing because I broke everything he made. Well, I won't eat anything he cooks, either! He can't even teach me what fear is by himself; he has to take me to see someone else! The best he can do doesn't do me any good at all; he can't help but screw everything up! Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Hammer out a strong, sturdy sword for me! Hoho! Hahei! Hoho! Hahei! Once, your blue steel ran blood-red, and red rivers trickled off your blade. You laughed at it, and licked the hot blood cool! Heiaho! Haha! Haheiaha! Now you've turned red from the heat of my fire; I've weakened you just enough for you to give in to my hammer. Ah, now you're mad at me, and showering me with sparks, just because I broke you down to nothing when no one else could! Heiaho! Heiaho! Heiahohoho! Hahei!

Mime: He's making a sword to slay my enemy Fafner; I'm setting a trap for him to fall into when he's finished. I can't help but win now! Heaven is smiling on me today!

Siegfried kills Fafner

Siegfried: Hoho! Hoho! Hahei! Hammer out a strong, sturdy sword for me! Hoho! Hahei! Hahei! Hoho! It makes me so happy to see those sparks fly! Work like this is what true heroes live for! Your sparks are like the heartiest laughter to me, but I'll take your joy and turn you into a heartless killer! Heiaho! Haha! Haheaha! I've done a great job! My hammer and fire have made you straight and strong. Now, into the water you go, to lose every trace of your red-faced shame! Become as cold and hard as you can!! Heiaho! Heiaho! Heiahohoho! Heiaho!

Mime: That wonderful Ring my brother made, the magic spell he put on it, the Gold whose power will make me master of everything - they're all mine! I've won them! Alberich was my master once; now it's payback time. I'll go down to Nibelheim as the master now, and they'll all be my slaves! Everyone hated me, but now I'll be their king! Gods and heroes alike will be drawn to my wealth and power; the world will bend to every nod of my head, and tremble at my wrath!! All the trouble I've gone through is over - It'll be their turn to slave for me now! Courageous Mime, Mime the King, Master of his People, Ruler of All! Oh, Mime - how lucky you are! Who could have ever imagined it?

Siegfried: Nothung! Nothung! Wonderful sword! I've got your handle on now. You were broken, but I put you back together. Nothing of this earth can ever destroy you again. Your steel broke for a dying father, but a living son made it new again. Now, your bright laughter shines for him - your keen sharpness cuts for him. Nothung! Nothung! Wonderful sword! You lay dead in pieces there. I've brought you back to life, to gleam in all your glory! Show the wretched how the noble can shine. Strike down injustice, destroy villainy! Look here, Mime, you "master" smith! This is how Siegfried's sword cuts!!

(Chops the anvil in two as Mime recoils in terror)

ACT 2

Scene 1

(In the background is the entrance to a cave. The ground rises towards a flat knoll in the middle of the stage, and slopes down again towards the back, so that only the upper part of the entrance to the cave is visible to the audience. To the left a fissured cliff is seen through the trees. It is night, the darkness being deepest at the back, where at first the eye can distinguish nothing at all.)

Alberich: All night I've kept watch here in Neidhöhle's forest. My eyes and ears have been alert to everything. What's that? Is day beginning to break? Is the night over so soon? Wait a minute, what light is that? It's so bright. And it's coming this way, running toward me like a brilliant horse riding through the forest. Could it be the sign I've been waiting for? Will this be the day Fafner dies? Oh, the light's fading away now; it's gone, and now it's nighttime again. But I still see someone coming through the shadows there. Who could it be?

Wanderer: I've traveled all night to get to Neidhöhle. Who is that there in the darkness?

Alberich: You dare allow yourself to be seen here? What do you want? Get out of my way, you rotten thief!

Wanderer: Why are you here, Alberich? Are you guarding Fafner's house for him?

Alberich: You must be looking for more trouble to get into. Don't look here; you and your deceit aren't welcome. You've soaked the very earth with your filthy lies and hatefulness, so just leave me alone!

Wanderer: I'm only here to watch, not to do anything. Who are you to think you could keep me from doing whatever I want to, anyway?

Alberich: You're a fine one to suggest that someone else may be planning treachery! It would be very easy for you to steal my treasure again, if I were stupid enough to trust you like I did before! Well, I know how you are now; I also know where you have weaknesses. You paid off your own debts with my gold; my magic ring became the giants' payment for building your castle. Your promise to them is still carved in the shaft of your spear. You don't dare take back what you rightfully owed them, because it would shatter your credibility along with the spear!

Wanderer: We didn't have any contract between us, you and me. You were beaten by my spear's true power, and by your own gullibility. My word and my spear remain strong for any purpose, in peace or in war!

Alberich: You talk so proudly, with such false strength in your idle threats; but I know the fear you have in your heart! My curse condemns to death anyone who tries to be the Gold's master: Who can withstand that kind of an inheritance? Will I ever get the treasure back again? That thought troubles you to no end, because you know that if I ever got it back, I wouldn't be as stupid as the giants were: I'd use the Ring's power! Then you'd be in trouble! Well, I will get it back! I'll invade your castle, and then I'll be master of the world once again!!

Wanderer: I know that's what you want to do, but you don't see me worrying about it. Whoever gets the ring will be its master.

Alberich: You're talking in circles! I know exactly what you're thinking! You don't dare try to get the ring yourself, so you have to have someone else do your work for you. You even have someone in particular in mind to do it, and they're coming this way to help you as we speak.

Wanderer: You need to talk to Mime, not me. He's the one who's bringing someone here to try to kill Fafner and get the ring for himself. This "helper" of mine doesn't even know I exist, anyway. So you need to just go on about your business, but be careful! The boy doesn't know about the Ring, either, but you can be sure Mime will tell him.

Alberich: So you're saying you'll leave the treasure alone?

Wanderer: I'll leave them to fight for themselves. I don't have anything to do with this mess any more; I only worry about people who are worth my effort.

Alberich: So it's just me against Mime and that boy?

Wanderer: You two are the only ones who still want the Gold.

Alberich: But you're saying I won't get it?

Wanderer: Listen: A strong boy is coming to get the Gold. Two Nibelungs want it. Fafner's going to die. Whoever gets it, gets it. What more do you need to know? There's Fafner right over there, sleeping. If you tell him he's going to die, maybe he'll reward you by giving you some of his treasure. I'll wake him up for you, OK? Fafner! Fafner! Mighty dragon! Wake up!

Alberich: (to himself) What is he, crazy? Is he really going to let me have it all, just like that?

Fafner: (irritated) Who woke me up?

Wanderer: There's someone here who wants to warn you about something. Your life is in danger, and if you reward him, he'll tell you everything.

Fafner: What does he want?

Alberich: Fafner, watch out! Be careful! A powerful hero is coming this way, and he's going to fight you for your Gold!

Fafner: Good. I'm hungry!

Wanderer: Don't underestimate him; he's strong, and his sword will be a good match for you.

Alberich: (to Fafner) Wait! He only wants the ring! If you give it to me instead, I'll protect it for you. I'll stop the fight, and you can have all the Gold for yourself.

Fafner: I'll keep what I have. Now, leave me alone. (goes back to sleep)

Wanderer: (laughing) Well, Alberich, I guess that didn't work! But you can't say I didn't try to help you out. At least listen to me about one thing: Everything is going to happen the way it's going to happen. You can't change it, so you might as well just stand your ground and wait. Try to talk to Mime if you can; he'll listen to you a little better than Fafner did. Beyond that, you'll just have to wait and see how things turn out! (exits)

Alberich: So, off he goes. He thinks I've got something to worry about, having to deal with Mime! Well, he can laugh at me all he wants, but I will see the Gods destroyed! I can wait as long as I have to. As long as the Gold glitters, he can bet that I'll be after it!

Scene 2

(a different place in the forest)

Mime: Well, here we are!

Siegfried: This is where you're going to teach me what fear is? We've been walking all night to get here! Well, I want you to leave me alone now, Mime. If I don't learn about fear here, then at least I don't have much farther to go to get on with my life. I'll leave you behind, and go on by myself!

Mime: Oh, believe me, you'll learn what fear is! If you don't, there's nowhere else I can think of that you'd do any better to try. You see that cave over there? There's a huge dragon that lives there. He's the meanest, hungriest, scariest thing I know of. He'd be able to eat you alive with one gulp!

Siegfried: Then I'll stop up his throat, and he won't be able to swallow me.

Mime: His saliva is poisonous! If one drop gets on you, it'll melt you, skin and bones!

Siegfried: I'll just have to stay off to one side of him, then.

Mime: Watch out for his tail! If he gets hold of you with it, he'll shatter your bones like glass!

Siegfried: OK, I'll watch out for that, too. But tell me, does he have a heart?

Mime: A terrible, cold, cruel heart.

Siegfried: Is it in the same place as every other animal's?

Mime: Well, yes, sure, right there on the left side if his chest. But, is all this frightening you yet?

Siegfried: I'll stick Nothung right up into that heart! I guess if you call that "fear"…. Really, Mime, is this the best you can do? There's nothing for me to learn here; you might as well go now.

Mime: Just a minute! You don't think I'm telling you the truth here. Just wait till you see this dragon. Then maybe you'll listen to me. When your eyes blur at the sight of him, when your legs won't even hold you up, when your heart explodes in your chest, then you'll thank me for caring about you enough to bring you here.

Siegfried: I've told you over and over, I don't want you to care about me! Get out of here! Leave me alone, or I'll just leave you here to face him alone! That face of yours, those eyes, they nauseate me! I can't wait till I don't ever have to look at them again!

Mime: OK. I'll leave you. I'll just go lie down by that spring over there. You stay here, and when the sun is high in the sky, watch for the dragon. He'll come out of his cave to go drink at the river.

Siegfried: Mime, if you're at the river, I'll be glad to follow the dragon there. I'll kill him after he's eaten you for lunch! You'd be better off to just go back home, get as far away from me as you can, and don't ever come back!

Mime: After you've killed your dragon, wouldn't you at least want me to bring you something to drink? Surely you'll be tired and thirsty by then. And remember, you can always call on me if you need any advice, anything at all. (to himself, as he leaves) Fafner and Siegfried, Siegfried and Fafner - wouldn't it be great if they'd both kill each other!

Siegfried: I'm so glad he's not my father! Well, at least it's daylight now, and I love being alone in the woods like this. I never have to look at that miserable little excuse for a man ever again! (reflecting) But I wonder what my real father looked like? Ha! He must've looked a lot like me! I mean, if Mime had a son, wouldn't the poor boy look like Mime? Ugly and haggard, slimy and grungy, stooped over, hunch-backed, malformed, with big ears, drooping eyes, and - oh, enough about him! I don't ever want to see him again! (reflecting again) But…what did my mother look like? I can't even imagine that at all. I'm sure she was beautiful, with eyes like a young doe, only prettier! Why did she have to die having me? Does every son kill his mother like that? That would be terrible! I wish I could see my mother, see what she looked like. She must've been a real woman! (A bird sings in the treetops.) What a pretty bird! I've never seen you before; do you live in this forest? If only I could understand what it's saying to me, maybe it could tell me something about my mother? That dwarf told me no one could understand the birds, that it would never be possible. But I can try! Maybe if I play its song on my pipe here, I'll be speaking its language, and maybe then I can understand a little bit of what it's trying to say. It stopped singing. Maybe it's waiting to hear what I have to say to it. Here goes! (Plays the bird's song on his pipe; it sounds terrible.) That doesn't sound quite right; I can't make this pipe sound as sweet as the bird. Oh, maybe I'm just too stupid. I can't learn anything from a bird! It looks confused, too. It can hear me, but I must not be saying anything back to it. Well, maybe I can't play the pipe very well, but I can play my horn! Listen, bird! There's a song I can play for you, that's always brought me good luck in the past. Wolves and bears always come when I play it. Let's see if it'll work today, to call something here to me. (Plays his own tune on the horn, very well. The dragon wakes up at the sound of it.) Ha ha! So, someone has come out to play with me! Come on, dragon, I'd like for you to be my friend!

Fafner: Who's there?

Siegfried: You can talk? Well, maybe I can learn something from you. See, I don't know what "fear" is. Can you teach it to me?

Fafner: What?? You dare ask me something like that!!

Siegfried: Daring, bravery, I don't know exactly what to call it. But you'll teach me, or I'll carve you up like a turkey.

Fafner: I just wanted to get a drink, but now I've found something to eat as well!

Siegfried: You have such a pretty mouth, with dainty little teeth all in a row inside it! You should close it now, though, at least if you don't want my sword stuck in it!

Fafner: My mouth isn't used to idle talk, but my throat is definitely used to swallowing fools like you!

Siegfried: Ho ho! You're the fool, to think I'd let you get me in there! I think it's time I killed you just for your bad attitude!

Fafner: Hah! Bring it on, little boy!

Siegfried: Look out! Here comes your "little boy"!

(they fight, and Fafner is stabbed through the heart)

"The hot blood burns like fire!"

Siegfried: That's it, just lie there. You can be friends with my sword now!

Fafner: Who are you? You killed me! You couldn't possibly have thought of doing this on your own. Who put you up to it?

Siegfried: There's a lot that I don't know yet. I really don't even know who I am exactly. But you're the one who egged me on to fight.

Fafner: You naïve little boy! I'll tell you exactly what you've done. The mightiest of all the giants - Fasolt and Fafner - both of the brothers!…are dead now. I killed Fasolt, because I was cursed by all that Gold. Now, even though I took the form of a dragon to protect myself, a young boy comes along and kills me. Be careful, my young friend. Whoever brought you here to do this to me is now waiting to kill you himself. Remember! Mark my words!

Siegfried: You sound like you know what you're talking about. Maybe you can tell me where I came from. If I tell you my name, you should know. It's "Siegfried".

Fafner: (moaning as he dies) Siegfried!!

Siegfried: He can't tell me anything now. Oh well, my sword will lead me to what I want to know! (he pulls the sword out of Fafner's chest, and some blood spills on him.) His blood burns like fire! (He sucks the blood off his hand.) That's weird - it sound like the birds are talking to me now. Oh my gosh, I can understand them! Was that blood magic or something? What's that bird there saying to me?

Forest Bird: The Nibelung's treasure belongs to Siegfried now. He'll find it in the cave. He should use the Tarnhelm for its wonderful magic, but if he finds the Ring as well, he'll be master of the whole world.

Siegfried: Thanks for the advice! I'll go look for them right now.

Scene 3

(The place in the forest where we last left Alberich)

Alberich: (seeing Mime) Where are you going so fast? What are you up to now?

Mime: (sarcastically) My dear brother! What are you doing here? I don't need you any more!

Alberich: Do you want my gold? Are you trying to get something that's mine?

Mime: Get out of here! This is my spot! What are you looking for?

Alberich: You're here to steal something, and I'm going to stop you!

Mime: I've worked hard for everything that's coming to me, and you're not going to stop me now!

The dwarfs quarrelling over the body of Fafner

Alberich: Did you get the Gold from the Rhine? Did you cast the spell on the Ring?

Mime: Did you make the Tarnhelm? You needed it to change your shape, but did you invent it?

Alberich: What do you know about anything? My power put all your skills to work for me!

Mime: Where's your ring now? The Giants took it from you! What you couldn't hold on to, I'll win with my cunning!

Alberich: You're going to try to get it all back from the boy? It's not yours, it's his, and there's nothing you can do about that now.

Mime: I raised him! He owes me! I've put a lot of work into what's finally going to happen today.

Alberich: You think that raising a boy entitles you to be king of the world? I'd rather the mangiest dog have that ring than you! You'll never get it, you fool!

Mime: Then you can have it back. Keep it! But at least remember that I'm your brother. Give me the Tarnhelm, and we'll both be happy.

Alberich: Share with you? Give you the Tarnhelm? You're crazy! I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!

Mime: You won't share any of it with me? So I should just leave empty-handed? All my work wasn't worth anything??

Alberich: You don't get a thing! I wouldn't let you have the rustiest nail at the bottom of the pile!!

Mime: Then you won't have anything either! I'll get it all, and I won't share it with you! I'll send Siegfried after you! He'll kill you for me, just like he killed Fafner!

Alberich: Turn around! He's coming out of the cave!

Mime: So what? I'm sure he didn't take anything valuable.

Alberich: He's got the Tarnhelm!

Mime: And the Ring!

Alberich: Damn it! The Ring!!

Mime: Go ahead and get it from him. It'll be easy for me to steal it from you later.

Alberich: But it can only belong to its true master. (leaves)

Siegfried: (entering, talking to the Ring) I don't really know what good you'll be to me, but I took you anyway. A bird gave me some good advice, and I listened to it. I didn't learn fear today, but I'll keep all this stuff anyway, as a reminder of the day I killed that dragon!

Forest Bird: Siegfried owns the Gold and the Ring now, but he should be careful of Mime! The dragon's blood allowed him to hear exactly what Mime is thinking in his heart. Siegfried should listen to the way Mime will lie to him.

Mime: He's taking way too long, thinking about the treasure he just got! I wonder if the Wanderer found him first, and told him everything! Well, now I really have to lay a good trap for him. That's OK, though; Siegfried always listens to what I tell him, so,…I'll just put on my best act, and lie right to his face! (to Siegfried, with extra sugar) Welcome, Siegfried! Tell me, have you learned what fear is yet?

Siegfried: I haven't found anyone who could teach me!

Mime: But, that dragon - you killed it, right? Didn't he scare you half to death?

Siegfried: He was pretty nasty, but at least he had some honor. I'm actually sorry he had to die, especially when there are far worse creatures who're still alive! I hate you a lot more than I ever hated that dragon!

Mime: (still very sweetly) Oh, come on, now! You won't have to look at me much longer, anyway. I'm about to make you go to sleep forever! You've done what I needed you to do, and now all I have to do is steal the gold from you! It won't be that hard, since you've always been easy so for me to fool!

Siegfried: So, you want to hurt me, do you?

Mime: (startled) I never said that! (sweetly) Siegfried, listen to me. I've always hated you and your kind. I didn't raise you out of love, you can be sure. I just wanted you to get Fafner's gold for me. If you don't give it to me, now, Siegfried, I'll make you pay me back for everything with your life!

Siegfried: I'm glad that you hate me as much as I hate you, but do you really want to try to kill me?

Mime: (angrily) That's not what I said! You're misunderstanding everything I'm saying! You must be really tired from your fight! I'm trying so hard to hide what I really mean; I'm lying to you as good as I can, and you're hearing me all wrong. Open your ears! Listen to what I really mean! Drink this! I always made you something to drink when you were thirsty; no matter how bad a mood you were in, you always drank whatever I brought you.

Siegfried: I'd like a drink right now. How did you make this one?

Mime: Just drink it! Trust me! You'll soon be weak, you won't be able to think clearly, and you'll want to go to sleep. You'll just lie down on the ground, and I'll take all your treasure away from you! Of course, if you ever woke up, I'd have to always be on my guard, because you'd come after me and kill me. So, while you're asleep, I'll just take your sword and cut your head off. Then, I'll have the Ring, and I'll be rid of you as well!

Siegfried: You want to put me to sleep, then kill me?

Mime: I want what? When did I say that? I just want to cut your head off! Even if I didn't hate you so much, even if I hadn't had to put up with your stupidity all these years, I'd still have to kill you to get your Gold before Alberich has a chance to get to it. Now, come on, my little Wälsung! Drink up, and choke yourself to death! I promise I'll never bother you again! Hee hee hee hee!

Siegfried: Take a drink of my sword, you liar! (Puts his sword right through Mime, who falls to the ground, dead.)

Alberich's Voice: (offstage) Haha! Haha! Haha!

Siegfried: I'm glad I have Nothung to take care of stuff like that for me. Here, Mime, you wanted all this Gold; now you can just lie here and watch over it! The dragon can lie here, too, and protect you from anybody who might want to steal it from you. I hope you both have a good sleep! Boy, I feel really hot now, from all that work. The sun's baking my skin! I need to find some shade, under one of those trees over there. I guess that bird got interrupted too many times, and decided to quit singing. I can see it up there in the branches, with all the other birds flying around it, keeping it company. I wish I had some company like that. But, I'm all alone. I never had any brothers or sisters, my mother died, my father was killed; I never even got a chance to know them! My only friend was that ugly old dwarf, and he certainly never liked me! All he ever wanted to do was trick me into doing his dirty work. I eventually had to kill him for all the stuff he did to me! Hey, little bird, you're the only one who's been at all nice to me lately; do you know anyone who'd be a good friend to me? Can you tell me what I should do now? I've always tried to look for someone myself, but I never found the right person; surely, you could do better than I did. You've already helped me lot, so could you just sing for me one more time? I'll listen to you.

Forest Bird: Siegfried's finally killed that terrible dwarf! I know where there's a women who could be his wife. She's in a deep sleep, on a mountaintop, with a dreadful fire surrounding her. Whoever can break through the fire and rescue Brünnhilde will have her for his wife!

Siegfried: Oh my gosh, that's it! That's what I have to do now! A woman? Why is my heart pounding so hard? What's this feeling that's come over me? Tell me, my friend, what is it?

Forest Bird: I'm singing about love. It's a long story, and it only has meaning to people who are in love!

Siegfried: But I'll go to her, I'll leave this place behind, and climb the mountain to get to her! Tell me, please, am I the one who can save her? Do I have a chance?

Forest Bird: No coward can wake Brünnhilde up. Only someone who doesn't fear anything can do it!

Siegfried: Well, that's me! I've tried everything I could to learn how to be afraid, but I couldn't do it. Maybe Brünnhilde can teach me! Which way is her mountain? Fly toward it, little bird, and I'll follow you! (exits, chasing after the bird)

ACT 3

Scene 1

(the forest, on the way to Brünnhilde's rock)

Wanderer (Wotan): Come to me, Wala! Wala, wake up! I'm calling to you to wake you up from your long sleep, to get you to come and see me! Wake up! Wake up! Come out from your hiding place! Come out of the darkness into the light! Erda! Erda! Eternal mother! Where are you? Please, wake up from your sleep, and come to me! You know all there is to know, and I need you here with me! Wake up, Wala! ["Wala" is another name Wagner uses for Erda.]

Erda: What is that noise? It woke me up, almost as if by some kind of magic. Who is it that was calling for me?

Wanderer: It was me! And you're right about the magic; you're pretty hard to wake up. I've traveled the entire length and breadth of the earth, looking for answers to my questions. There's no one in the world who knows more than you; the earth itself doesn't hold any secrets you don't already know about. You give life to everyone, you know more than anyone, and so, I've finally had to come to you to ask you what I need to know.

Erda: My sleep is a dream. To dream is to meditate, and to meditate is to know everything. But the Norns are awake all the time, even while I'm sleeping. They're responsible for making sure my plans are carried out on the earth. Why don't you talk to them?

Wanderer: They don't have any control over what they do! They can't cause anything to happen, or stop things from happening. I have a situation that's running out of control, and I need to find out how to stop it.

Erda: This is all very tiring. Once, I let my guard down, and Wotan took advantage of my momentary weakness. I had a child for him, but he commanded her to bring dead heroes from the battlefield to protect him. This child also knows the answers you want; why did you have to wake me up?

Wanderer: You mean Brünnhilde, the Valkyrie? She went against her father's will, and then rationalized it by thinking that she was only doing what he would've wanted to do himself! She was punished for it! Wotan put her to sleep on a huge rock, and he won't let her wake up until a man finds her and claims her for his wife. She's in no position to be able to help me.

Erda: You made me wake up to listen to this? What is going on? Brünnhilde was put to sleep while I was sleeping myself? So, even though Wotan defied everything he stood for, he thought it was OK to punish her for disobeying him? Wotan had everything planned perfectly, but then he got mad when all those plans actually happened? Wotan stood for truth and justice, but he punished the most truthful thing that had happened to him in a long time!? I'm going back to sleep now.

Wanderer: No! I won't let you go yet, and my magic is still working on you. You once impressed me with your knowledge of the future - no, you actually scared me with it, enough to make me give up the Ring. Now, I know you know everything, so tell me: I'm a God; how do I get myself out of the situation I'm in?

Erda: You're not a God! You should never have bothered me!

Wanderer: Maybe you don't know everything you think you do! Maybe your power is all used up, and I'm finally going to be your master! Do you know what my first commandment will be? I'll tell you, and then I'll let you go back to sleep. I've been fighting it all along. I used to think I had to work all these convoluted plans out in my head, to get the things I wanted to happen,… to happen. Not any more! I'll just go with what I already know is going to happen. I'm leaving the entire world to Siegfried. I've chosen him, even though he doesn't have a clue who I am. He's become the greatest of heroes without any help from me! He's got the Ring now, and I think his youthful passion, fearlessness, and downright naïveté is the only thing that can bring Alberich down! He'll get to Brünnhilde, and she'll be his wife. When she wakes up, she'll be the one who will eventually save the world. You can just go back to sleep now, and dream about my death! I don't care what happens to me now; Siegfried's in charge. Goodbye, Erda. You never gave me anything but fear and dread about my future. Just enjoy yourself, and go back to sleep!

Scene 2

(the forest, on the way to Brünnhilde's rock)

Wanderer: Siegfried's coming.

Siegfried: The bird flew away! It sang to me, and I followed it all this way, but I can't see it any more. I guess I'll have the find the way from here on my own. There's nowhere to go but the same way I've been going.

Wanderer: Where are you heading, young man?

Siegfried: Who are you? Can you show me the way? I'm looking for a huge rock with fire surrounding it. There's a woman sleeping there that I want to wake up.

Wanderer: Who told you about that? Who said anything about a woman asleep on some rock?!

Siegfried: A little bird told me when it was singing to me.

Wanderer: A little bird, huh? Well, birds make a lot of noise, but not many people can understand what they're saying. How come you can?

Siegfried: I killed a dragon at Neidhöhle, and it's blood got on me. I sucked it off my hand, and I could understand what the bird was saying.

Wanderer: How did you ever get the idea to kill this dragon?

Siegfried: I knew a lying, cheating dwarf named Mime; he took me there. He wanted to teach me how to be afraid of something, but the dragon just made me mad. He threatened to eat me alive, and I killed him.

Wanderer: Who made your sword? It would've taken an unbelievably strong blade to kill an animal like that.

Siegfried: I made it myself! If I'd waited for Mime to make me one good enough, I still wouldn't have a sword.

Wanderer: But the metal you used to make it - where did that come from?

Siegfried: How should I know? I only know that I had a broken sword, and I had to fix it if I was going to use it for anything.

Wanderer: (laughing) I guess that's true.

Siegfried: Are you mocking me? Listen, old man, I don't have to waste my time talking to you. If you can help me, then help me. Otherwise, shut your mouth and let me on my way.

Wanderer: Come on! Have a little patience with me! If you think I'm so old, then you could at least show me a little respect.

Siegfried: That's just great! All my life I've had an old man get in the way of everything I wanted to do. I finally get rid of him, and now I have to deal with you! I'm warning you: If you don't get out of my way, then you might just end up the same way Mime did. But I can't even see your face. Why do you have to hide it under your hat like that?

Wanderer: The hat keeps the wind out of my face.

Siegfried: And you're missing an eye! Did you get in somebody else's way, and they poked it out? Now get out of the way, or you might just lose the other one, too.

Wanderer: My boy, it's obvious you don't know much about life, but you do know how to get your own way. You see that I'm missing an eye, but you're the one who's blind to what he needs to be looking at.

Siegfried: Hahahaha! Don't make me laugh! I can't waste any more time with you. Show me where I need to go, then get out of the way; I don't need you any more after that. Tell me! Tell me which way to go!

Wanderer: You don't even know who I am, or you wouldn't be so rude to me. You don't know how much I care about you, and how much it hurts me for you to insult me like this. I've always been close to your real family, but they all knew when to quit when they dealt with me. You should try to figure that one out for yourself, little boy, because as much as I love you, I won't be so nice to you if you get me mad!

Siegfried: So, you won't talk, eh? Get away from me, then, and I'll find my own way to Brünnhilde. I'll just keep going the way the bird showed me.

Wanderer: That bird flew away because it knew better than to keep going! It ran away from the devil it knew was here; it didn't want to get caught! I'm warning you not to go any farther!

Siegfried: Hoho! So you're going to try and stop me? Who do you think you are?

Wanderer: I'm the guardian of Brünnhilde's rock! I put the magic spell on her that keeps her asleep! If anyone finds her and wakes her up, my power will be gone forever! There's a terrible, magic fire around her, and anyone who wants her is going to have to break through it. Look up there! Do you see it? Its light fills the whole sky, and it's spreading all around as I speak. The thick, hot smoke and flames are roaring down the mountainside, and they'll burn you alive if you try to go up there! Stay away from it, I'm warning you for the last time!

Siegfried: I have to go up there and save Brünnhilde. You stay away from it yourself, since you sound like you're so scared of it!

Wanderer: If the fire doesn't scare you off, then my spear will! This spear is the symbol of my almighty power over the entire world; it broke the sword you have in your hands, and it'll do the same thing again today!

Siegfried: So you're the one who killed my father! I can't believe I found you! What a great day this is turning out to be, that I can get my revenge on you along with everything else I've done! Bring it on, old man; I'll smash that spear of yours to bits!

(Wotan brandishes his spear at Siegfried, who splits it in two with a stroke of his sword.)

Wotan: (totally defeated) Go on, then. I can't stop you know. (exits in defeat)

Siegfried: Well, that wasn't hard at all! I finally got rid of him! Ah, look at that wonderful fire! I can finally get up there, and enjoy it close up. My wife's in that fire, and I'm going to go get her! Hoho! Hahei! Now I can finally have what I've been looking for my whole life! (exits up the mountain)

Scene 3

(Brünnhilde's rock)

"Magical rapture Pierces my heart; Fixed is my gaze, Burning with terror; I reel, my heart faints and fails!"

Siegfried: Gosh, it's nice up here! But what's that over there in the shadows? (takes a closer look) It's a horse?! Just lying there, asleep? And over there? There's something shining in my eyes. It looks like steel; is the fire still playing tricks on my eyes? No, it's a pile of armor! Should I pick it up? (completely forgetting the obvious) Ha, there's a man in the armor; that's cool! I wonder if he can breathe OK with that helmet on? I should help him get his armor off . (looks up) That's beautiful! The clouds are shining on him, and the sun's shining through them! He must be a great soldier! He's having a hard time breathing, though; I'll take the rest of his armor off. Come on, Nothung, help me cut through his armor. (cuts the armor, then jumps back, startled) That's not a man! It's …something like…. It's magic! My heart is pounding! What am I looking at? I've never seen anything like this before! It must be a…woman. And there's nobody around to help me figure out what to do! Mother! Mother!! Help me! How am I going to get this…woman to wake up, so I can get a look at her eyes? But, what if I don't know what to do when she looks at me? Can I handle it? Am I strong enough to face that? Gosh, I can hardly stand up, I feel so weak! My hands are shaking! There's something I want, but I don't quite know how to describe what it is, exactly. What's wrong with me? Is this what it's like to be afraid of something? Mother! Mother! Look what's happened to your "brave" son! After all I've been through, this is how I learn what fear is - from a woman, lying there asleep! I've got to do something. I've got to be strong, and wake her up. If I do, maybe then I won't be so afraid. Her mouth looks nice. It's trembling just like my heart! (coming closer to her) Her breath is nice and warm! Wake up! Wake up, woman! Ah, she can't hear me! Even if it kills me, I guess I'm going to have to kiss her awake. Here goes. (kisses her)

Brünnhilde: Ah, Sunshine! Light! This is a great day! I'm finally awake after having been asleep for so long. Who woke me up?

Siegfried: I came through the fire that was around your rock. I took off your helmet, and woke you up. My name is…Siegfried.

Brünnhilde: Thank you, Gods! Thank you, Heaven and Earth! I'm finally awake! And it's Siegfried who found me and woke me up!

"Sun, I hail thee! Hail, O light! Hail, O glorious day!

Siegfried: Thanks to the mother who had me, and to the Earth that raised me! I'm just glad I'm alive right now, to be able to look in your eyes!

Brünnhilde: Thanks to the mother who had you, and to the Earth that raised you! You were the only one who could ever have made it through the fire to see me, let alone wake me from my sleep. Oh, Siegfried, Siegfried! You're the greatest hero the world has ever seen! You've brought me back to life! I don't think you'll ever know just how much I always loved you! You were all I ever thought about, all I cared about. I protected you, I had all the hope in the world for you, even before you were born! I've loved you longer than you've been alive!

Siegfried: Then, my mother didn't die because of me after all? Is she just asleep somewhere, too?

Brünnhilde: You poor boy! I didn't mean that. No, your mother won't ever be able to see you again. But I'll be everything you want, if you'll just love me! I know all the things you always wanted to know, but didn't ever learn. My love for you is what lets me know everything you need! Siegfried! You've got me now! All I've ever wanted was for you to love me! I was the only one who knew what Wotan was up to - and I never told anyone; I kept it all to myself. I argued with him, I tried to get through to him, but in the end, I had to do what I knew was right, and I paid for it. But through everything, I kept my real reasons to myself, and now they've all come true! Siegfried, only you can make all this mean something; all you have to do is love me like I love you!

Siegfried: Your voice is beautiful, and yet I'm not quite sure what it is you're telling me. Your eyes are so pretty, I love to hear you talk to me, your breath feels nice on my skin, but I really have no idea exactly what you're talking about. It's probably something long ago and far away, and all I want to do right now is think about us, right here, right now. You were the only one who could teach me to be afraid of something. That's saying a lot! Don't mess with my mind like that, though; just let me enjoy the moment.

Brünnhilde: That's my horse over there. His name is Grane. He was asleep with me, but you must've woken him up, too!

Siegfried: (slightly befuddled) I want to look at your mouth; I want to kiss your eyes.

Brünnhilde: And there's my shield over there, the one I used to defend all those brave men. My helmet, too, just lying there. I guess I won't be needing them any more!

Siegfried: I came here without a shield or helmet, and I did OK. They couldn't have protected me from what I found here, anyway!

Brünnhilde: My breastplate's cut in two! Did you do that? Did you cut it open to make me weak and defenseless?

Siegfried: I didn't need a breastplate to come through that fire, either! The only fire that matters now is the one coming out of me! My blood feels so hot, the fire around your rock feels like it's moved inside me! Please, you're the only one who can put it out! Come to me!

Brünnhilde: No God ever talked to me like that, and I was the mightiest of all the Valkyries! This is terrible! I can tell that what I was worried about has actually happened. You cut off my armor and left me weak, open to anyone who might want to hurt me! I'm not a God - I'm not Brünnhilde any more!

Siegfried: To me you're still the beautiful woman who was asleep, and you haven't really woken up yet.

Brünnhilde: I feel dizzy. Everything else about me is gone now; do I have to lose my mind as well?

Siegfried: You told me that all you needed was my love; the firelight that brought me here gave you that.

Brünnhilde: Well, now all I see is darkness. The sun must've gone down. I'm scared, I'm hurt, I don't know what to feel, and I don't like it!

Siegfried: You only see darkness when you don't open your eyes. If you let yourself, you'll see and feel just how great this all is. Look! It's still daytime!

Brünnhilde: Great! So everyone can actually see me like this! Siegfried! Siegfried, look at how upset I am! It was always so easy. All I ever had to do was watch out for you, and that was all it took to make me happy. Siegfried! You're the greatest hero the world has ever seen! You should just leave me alone now. It's real easy for you to think you love me, because I'm the first woman you've ever seen. Don't do this to me! Don't take away all my strength, and destroy the only person who ever really cared for you! Have you seen your face's reflection in the water? Did you like what you saw? If you stick your hand in the water, you know, the ripples destroy that reflection, and you can't see yourself any more. Is that what you want? Don't touch me! Don't do this to me! If you leave, I'll always be able to see you for the hero you really are. Siegfried! Please, live for yourself, and leave me alone. Don't destroy yourself!

Siegfried: I love you. Why can't you love me, too? Now that I've seen you, I don't just belong to myself any more. Don't you feel the same way? This is a wonderful feeling I have, and I want to keep it! If the waves break up my reflection, then I can still use the water. I can jump into it, let myself sink into it, and put out my love's fire in it! Wake up, Brünnhilde! Don't worry yourself so much! I want to make you happy! I want you to be mine!

Brünnhilde: Siegfried, I've always been yours!

Siegfried: Then, you still are!

Brünnhilde: I'll always be yours!

Siegfried: Then, what's the problem? If I take you in my arms, if I hold you tight against me, and our hearts beat together, and we breathe the same air, and we stare into each other's eyes, and kiss, then you'll be what you already are, what you always were, what you always will be. You wouldn't be able to doubt the truth, then. You'd be mine!

"Brünnhilde throws herself into Siegfried's arms

Brünnhilde: That's not it! There's a kind of peace, a divine purity, about all this. It's like the sunlight is shining down on us from heaven. All the wisdom I had before, when I was a God - it's all gone, washed away by my love for you! Siegfried, Siegfried, don't you see? Can't you see it in my eyes, the way I'm looking at you? Don't you feel the way I'm holding on to you? Can't you feel my heart beating as hard as yours? Doesn't it scare you, to have a woman feel this way about you?

Siegfried: Oh, that! Well, our blood is hot, our eyes are burning each other up, our arms are squeezing each other - That's all got my courage coming back to me! That fear, that I couldn't ever learn - until I saw you, that is - I guess it's kind of dumb, but it looks like I've forgotten it already!

Brünnhilde: You're wonderful! Beautiful, crazy, mischievous, strong…. OK, I'll admit it - I love you! I'll love you, I'll be ashamed of myself with you, I'll die with you, laughing all the way! I'm not a God any more. Valhalla! I hope you crumble to the ground! I won't have any part of you, ever again! Enjoy your happiness while you can, because it's coming to an end! Norns! Cut their string of life! Bring an end to all the Gods! Siegfried's the ruler of the world now, and he's mine! All mine!! My love, my life, my savior! He's brought real love to me at last, and I'll go to my death with him gladly!

Siegfried: At last you're happy! I'll make sure you stay that way as long as you live! This is a great day, that's brought us together like this! At last, the sun is shining on us, now and forever! Finally, you're awake; finally, you can see how wonderful it all is! Brünnhilde's mine! All mine!! My love, my life, my savior! She's brought real love to me at last, and I'll go to my death with her gladly!

The three Norns

Brunnhilde with her horse

Twilight of the Gods

CHARACTERS

NORNS

(daughters of Erda)

First Norn (contralto)

Second Norn (mezzo-soprano)

Third Norn (soprano)

NIBELUNGS

Alberich (baritone)

Hagen, son of Alberich and Grimhilde,

half-brother of Gunther and Gutrune (tenor)

GIBICHUNGS

(children of Gibich and Grimhilde)

Gunther (baritone)

Gutrune (soprano)

RHINEMAIDENS

Woglinde (soprano)

Wellgunde (mezzo-soprano)

Floßhilde (contralto)

MORTALS

Siegfried, son of Siegmund and Sieglinde (tenor)

Brünnhilde (soprano)

VALKYRIE

Waltraute (mezzo-soprano)

Scenes Of Action

1. Prologue: On the Valkyrie's Rock

2. Act 1: The Hall of Gunther's Dwelling on the Rhine, and later, The Valkyrie's Rock

3. Act 2: In Front of Gunther's Hall

4. Act 3: A Wooded Region on the Rhine, and later, Gunther's Hall

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The wooing of Grimhilde, the mother of Hagen

The Norns vanish

Siegfried leaves Brünnhilde in search of adventure

Siegfried hands the drinking-horn back to Gutrune, and gazes at her with sudden passion

Brünnhilde kisses the ring that Siegfried has left with her

The ring upon thy hand

"Swear to me, Hagen, my son"

O wife betrayed

Though gaily ye may laugh

Siegfried! Siegfried!

Siegfried's death

The ravens of Wotan

Brünnhilde on Grane leaps on to the funeral pyre of Siegfried

The Rhine-maidens obtain possession of the ring and bear it off in triumph

The wooing of Grimhilde, the mother of Hagen

PROLOGUE

(On the Valkyrie's Rock)

First Norn: What's that light?

Second Norn: Is it daytime already?

Third Norn: It's just Loge's fire around the rock; it's still night-time. We need to get busy, and start spinning our rope.

Second Norn: (to the First Norn) We'll spin and sing for awhile; will you get the rope started?

First Norn: (Gets up, takes a golden rope from around her waist and ties one end to a branch of a fir tree.) No matter what happens, I'll wind the rope, and sing with you. Once, I sat at the world's great ash tree, spinning and weaving my rope, when all at once the tree gave birth to a great forest, full of wonderful, majestic trees. A beautiful stream ran by it - you could hear all the world's wisdom in the water there. As I was telling my story, a great God came by and listened. I took one of his eyes as payment for the knowledge I gave him. He took one of the ash tree's branches, and made a spear out of it. That's been a long time, though. The great tree lost its leaves, its branches fell off, and the tree rotted and died. The stream of wisdom dried up, too, and now I can't sit there and spin any more. This old fir tree'll have to do. Here, sister, catch! Do you know what happened then?

Second Norn: (wraps the rope around a rock) Wotan took the spear and carved his contracts and treaties in its shaft. He was honest, and ruled the world with it well. A young boy broke his spear on a whim, though, and when it shattered, all the God's honesty and justness went with it. Wotan tried to protect himself, though; he had the tree destroyed by all the heroes he had collected in Valhalla. They cut it to pieces, and its stream dried up for ever! Now, all that's left is this rock. Here you go, sister! This end's yours. Tell me what will happen next.

Third Norn: Valhalla's still standing. The giants built it for Wotan, and he's there with all his God friends. They cut up our great ash tree, and they've got all its wood piled up around their castle. All that wood will catch on fire soon, and burn up the Gods while they're "safe" at home! Their day is coming, and they don't even know it. Keep winding the rope, and it'll tell you more. Here you go, sister! (throws the rope to the First Norn, who unties it and reattaches it to another branch of the fir tree.)

First Norn: Is that still the fire, or is it daytime already? I can't trust my eyes any more; I can't see as clearly as I used to. Loge's fire was so bright and clear to me; what's happened to him now?

Second Norn: (winding the rope around her rock) Wotan's magic spear gave him power to control Loge. Wotan depended on him for advice, and Loge was reduced to gnawing and chewing on the spear with the flames of his magic fire. Then, Wotan made Loge burn a great fire around Brünnhilde's rock. I wonder what's going to happen to him. (throws the rope to the Third Norn.)

Third Norn: Wotan's spear is shattered now, and one day soon, he'll throw the pieces in Loge's magic fire. The flames will rise up and catch the ash tree's remains on fire. If you want to know when, then keep spinning the rope!

First Norn: (catching the rope and retying it) There's not enough night left; I can't tell any more. The rope's all tangled up, and I'm not sure what it's telling me. But Alberich - he stole the Gold from the Rhine; what's going to happen to him now?

Second Norn: (winding the rope around a rough part of her rock) The edge of the rock is cutting into the rope, and I can't keep it tight. I know that the Ring has a curse on it, put there by Alberich's greed. That curse is tearing at the rope! Do you know what's going to happen?

Third Norn: (catching the rope again) There's too much slack in the rope. I can't get it around me to throw it back. Stretch it tighter! (she pulls on the rope, and it breaks) It broke!

Second Norn: It broke!

First Norn: It broke!

(The Norns take the broken ends of the rope and tie themselves together with them.)

The Three Norns: Our knowledge and wisdom are gone! We can't tell what's going to happen any more!

Third Norn: Let's go!

Second Norn: To mother!

First Norn: Down!

(They vanish)

The Norns vanish

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE

(Sunrise - Siegfried in armor, Brünnhilde leading her horse)

Brünnhilde: I really must love you, if I'm letting you go on all your little "adventures" like this. There's only one thing bothering me - Am I good enough for someone like you? I've given you everything I have: all the wisdom I had when I was a God, all the knowledge of the world they let me know about. But you've taken all I could give, and more. The things I knew don't hold a candle to how I feel about you. I lose all my strength when I'm around you. Please tell me you love me, even though I know I'm not good enough for you!

Siegfried: You're more woman than I could ever hope to be a good enough husband to! It's not your fault if there are still things I don't know about! I know how much you love me, if I know anything! And you can be sure I love you just as much!

Brünnhilde: Then take care of yourself. Be careful, and come back to me. Remember when you rescued me from the fire?

Siegfried: I did it so I could have you!

Brünnhilde: Remember how you found me in my armor, and helped me out of it?

Siegfried: So I could see you!

Brünnhilde: Remember how much we love each other, how strong our trust is, and the vows we took. If you do, I know you'll never be able to forget about me! (hugs Siegfried)

Siegfried: I have to go now. (Takes the Ring off his finger and gives it to Brünnhilde.) You've given me so much, I'm going to give you my Ring. It means a lot to me, because of everything I had to go through to get it. It belonged to a dragon, and I killed him for it! You hold onto its power, and I'll be sure to come back to you!

Brünnhilde: (puts on the Ring) This is the greatest thing I have! Here, you take my horse. He was always good to me, but he lost his powers when I did. He can't take you up in the air, but no matter where you go, you can be sure he'll be as faithful to you as I am. Take care of him, talk to him about me, and he'll do whatever you ask him to!

Siegfried: You've had some great adventures yourself; why don't you give me some ideas as to what I should do? Is there some great cause I can go fight for? I've got your love and your horse - You're a part of me now, and I'll do whatever you ask me to!

Brünnhilde: I just want you to love me.

Siegfried: Always.

Brünnhilde: Take me with you in your heart?

Siegfried: Wherever I go, we'll both be there together.

Brünnhilde: Then will my house be empty, if I'm with you?

Siegfried: No, we'll both be there, too.

Brünnhilde: Almighty Gods! Look at us here! We're the strongest couple you've ever seen! When we're apart, no one can separate us! And in separating, we'll never be torn apart!

Siegfried: Brünnhilde, you're the brightest star in the sky to me! I'll love you forever!

Brünnhilde: On to victory, Siegfried! You're the light of my life!

Both: Good-bye! Good-bye! I love you!

(Siegfried leads the horse off, as Brünnhilde watches from the cliff.)

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE

ACT 1

Scene 1

(The hall of the Gibichungs on the Rhine. This is quite open at the back. A open shore stretching to the river occupies the background. Rocky heights enclose the shore. Gunther and Gutrune on a throne at one side, before which stands a table with drinking vessels on it. In front of this Hagen is seated.)

Gunther: Well, well, Hagen! Tell me how I've done for myself, will you? Our Gibich ancestors would be proud of me now!

Hagen: Yes, you're the master now. Our mother, Grimhilde, told me I'd have to respect your right, and I'm pretty envious of what you've got.

Gunther: Ha! Don't envy me! I'm the one who envies you! Yes, I'm the first-born, so I get all this, but you got all the brains in the family. You were wise to challenge me, and there's no hard feelings here.

Hagen: Well, I wasn't as smart as you think I am; there are still a couple of things I could mention, if you'd let me.

Gunther: Tell me! Tell me, I insist!

Hagen: Well, I see two powerful Gibichungs in the prime of their life, not living up to their destiny. You, Gunther - you don't have a wife! And you, Gutrune, you're not married yet, either!

Gunther: Who could we marry? Who could possibly bring more wealth to our family?

Hagen: I know of a very powerful woman - and she's beautiful, as well! She lives at the top of a mountain, with a magic fire surrounding it. You'd have to break through all that fire if you wanted to get Brünnhilde to marry you.

Siegfried leaves Brünnhilde in search of adventure

Gunther: You think I could do it?

Hagen: There's only one man who can, and he's not you.

Gunther: Well, who is it?

Hagen: Siegfried, the son of the Wälsungs. He's the greatest hero the world has ever seen. His parents were twins; Siegmund and Sieglinde were their names. Love got the better of them, and, well…. He was raised in the forest to be the bravest and strongest of men, and I think he'd make a fitting husband for Gutrune.

Gunther: Just what did this Siegfried do to make him as great as you say he is?

Hagen: There was a giant dragon guarding a huge pile of gold in a cave in the forest. Siegfried took care of him in nothing flat, and took his treasure. Is that good enough for you?

Gunther: Yes, I've heard of that - the Nibelung's treasure, isn't it? It was a real prize, wasn't it?

Hagen: Whoever has it rules the world!

Gunther: And it belongs to Siegfried now?

Hagen: The Nibelungs work for him now.

Gunther: And he's the only one who can get to Brünnhilde?

Hagen: The fire won't let anyone else through.

Gunther: Why do you do this to me? Why do you make me want something I can't have?

Hagen: But…If Siegfried brought Brünnhilde to you, you could get her that way!

Gunther: Oh, sure, like he'd do that for me!

Hagen: He would, if he were married to Gutrune. He'd be your brother!

Gutrune: That's crazy! How could I marry Siegfried? He's almost a God! He can have any woman he wants; why would he look at me?

Hagen: (quietly, to Gutrune) Remember that magic potion I have in my dresser? That's how we'll do it! If Siegfried takes a drink of that, he'll forget he ever saw another woman, and he'll fall in love with you! What do you think about that?

Gunther: To think my mother had such a clever son!

Gutrune: I want Siegfried!

Gunther: I wonder where he is now?

(Siegfried's horn is heard in the distance)

Hagen: He roams the world now, like he used to run around the forest looking for adventures. You never know - he might make his way to us one of these days!

Gunther: He's welcome here any time! (The horn sounds again) What's that sound, coming from the Rhine?

Hagen: (looking down at the river) It's a soldier and his horse, in a boat! That's who's blowing the horn. He's rowing the boat against the current, and it looks like he's not working hard at all! There's no one else it could be - it has to be Siegfried!

Gunther: Is he going past us?

Hagen: (calling to Siegfried) Hoiho! Where are you going, sir?

Siegfried: (from the river, offstage) To see the son of the Gibichungs!

Hagen: You've found him! This is his house! Come on up!

(Siegfried appears at the edge of the stage in his boat)

Scene 2

(The Gibichung's hall by the Rhine; Gunther, Gutrune, and Hagen)

Hagen: Welcome, Siegfried! We've heard a lot about you!

Siegfried: Which one of you is Gibich's son?

Gunther: I am. My name is Gunther.

Siegfried: I've heard people all over talk about you, and I wanted to meet you for myself. You can be my enemy…or my friend.

Gunther: I'm not much of a fighter! You're welcome here!

Siegfried: Where can I put my horse?

Hagen: I'll find a good place for him.

Siegfried: (to Hagen) Wait - you knew my name. Have we met before?

Hagen: I could tell who you were just by seeing how strong you are.

Siegfried: (gives his horse to Hagen) Take care of Grane for me. I guarantee you've never handled a finer horse!

(Hagen takes Grane away, and motions Gutrune away from them.)

Gunther: (to Siegfried) We're very happy to have you here in our house. Wherever you go here, whatever you see, it's yours. I offer everything I have to you - my money, my land, my people, my life.

Siegfried: I can't offer you anything in return. I don't have an inheritance, or land, or a house. All I was given was the body I live in, and that gets worth less and less every day. I have my sword, though. I made it myself, and I'll swear my allegiance to you on it.

Hagen: (returning) But we've heard that you won the Nibelung's treasure for yourself?

Siegfried: (to Hagen) That's right! I almost forgot about that! It doesn't mean much to me, though. I left it in that cave with the dead dragon.

Hagen: What? You didn't take any of it?

Siegfried: I took this helmet, but I don't know what good it is to me.

Hagen: That's the Tarnhelm, the most powerful thing the Nibelungs ever made! If you put it on your head, you can take any shape you want. If you want to go somewhere, it'll take you there instantly. Is that all you took?

Siegfried: A ring, but….

Hagen: Is it safe?

Siegfried: I gave it to a beautiful woman.

Hagen: (to himself) Brünnhilde!

Gunther: You don't need to offer me anything, Siegfried! That helmet of yours makes everything I have look like nothing! You're my friend, and that comes without conditions.

(Gutrune enters, with a drinking horn)

Gutrune: Welcome to our house! Can I offer you a drink?

Siegfried: (Bows to her in thanks, takes the drink, and stares at it.) I could forget everything I know, but I'll always remember you, Brünnhilde. I'll drink to you, with my promise to always be faithful to you.

(He drinks, and then hands the horn back to Gutrune. He stares at her, obviously changed. She lowers her eyes from his.)

You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Why won't you look at me? (She looks at him.) Close your eyes! I can't stand how bright they are! You've set my heart on fire! Gunther, is this your sister?

Siegfried hands the drinking-horn back to Gutrune, and gazes at her with sudden passion

Gunther: Yes. Her name's Gutrune. ["good counsel"]

Siegfried: I'll say. I see great things in her eyes! (to Gutrune) Your brother didn't allow me to offer him anything. Will you do the same to me?

(Gutrune looks at Hagen, then slowly leaves the room.)

Siegfried: (with Hagen and Gunther watching him closely) Gunther, are you married?

Gunther: No, and I'm not likely to be any time soon. I'm in love with someone I can't ever have.

Siegfried: (turning to face him) You can have anything you want, with me fighting for you!

Gunther: She lives on top of a mountain.

Siegfried: (to himself, quietly) "She lives on top of a mountain…."

Gunther: She's surrounded by fire.

Siegfried: (the same) "She's surrounded by fire…."

Gunther: Only a man who breaks through the fire…

Siegfried: (struggling to remember something) "Only a man who breaks through the fire…."

Gunther: …can have Brünnhilde for his wife. (Siegfried obviously doesn't remember anything, even at the mention of Brünnhilde's name.) I can't climb a mountain, and I know the fire won't let me through!

Siegfried: (coming out of his trance) But I can! I'm not scared of any fire! I'll get your woman for you, if I can have Gutrune as my wife!

Gunther: You do that for me, and she's as good as yours!

Siegfried: Then, Brünnhilde's as good as yours!

Gunther: How will you do it?

Siegfried: With the Tarnhelm! I'll make myself look like you!

Gunther: Let's swear to it!

Siegfried: Yes! We'll swear on our blood.

(Hagen gets a new drinking-horn, and pours wine in it. Siegfried and Gunther cut their arms with their swords, and hold them over the drink to drip blood into it.)

Siegfried: My life's blood is in the drink.

Gunther: Our blood will make our oath to each other strong.

Both: I pledge loyalty to my friend. We'll rejoice in our friendship, and our blood-brotherhood will make us strong!

Gunther: If one of us breaks his word…

Siegfried: If one of us is disloyal to the other…

Both: The drops of blood we drink today will become a flood, and will drown him in vengeance to the other!

Gunther: (drinks and gives the horn to Siegfried) I give you my word.

Siegfried: I swear on my honor. (Drinks and holds the empty horn out to Hagen, who cuts it in two with his sword. Siegfried and Gunther shake hands.)

Siegfried: (to Hagen) Why didn't you join us?

Hagen: You don't want my blood in there! It's not worthy to be a part of such a noble thing. My blood is so thick and cold, it barely keeps me alive. I'd just bring you both down with it.

Gunther: (to Siegfried) Let him be unhappy by himself!

Siegfried: (picks up his shield) Let's go! My boat's down there waiting; it'll get us there! I'll tell you, though, there'll be one night that you'll have to wait for me on the riverbank. I'll use that night to get Brünnhilde for you. (he turns to go)

Gunther: Don't you want to rest a little bit?

Siegfried: I can't come back to Gutrune until we go! (goes to untie the boat)

Gunther: Hagen, hold down the fort for me! (follows Siegfried, and helps get the boat ready as Gutrune enters)

Gutrune: Where are they going in such a hurry?

Hagen: They're going to get Brünnhilde.

Gutrune: Siegfried?!

Hagen: He wants to get back here to you as quick as he can!

Gutrune: (still not really believing everything) I'll have Siegfried! (goes back to her room, as Siegfried and Gunther leave in the boat)

Hagen: (to himself, looking after Siegfried and Gunther) Yes, I'll hold down your fort; I'll protect it really well! So, he's off with the wind to get his wife - or, like I promised, to have someone else get her for him! Siegfried'll bring his own wife back here to him, and he'll bring me the Ring! Go on, row your boat away! You might hate the Nibelungs, but I guarantee you: This Nibelung will be your master yet!

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE

Scene 3

(On Brünnhilde's mountain)

Brünnhilde kisses the ring that Siegfried has left with her

(Brünnhilde, sitting down, looking at and kissing Siegfried's Ring. Thunder and lightning in the distance.)

Brünnhilde: I've heard that sound before. (looking off in the distance) And what's that? A horse with wings, flying this way!? Who could that possibly be?

Waltraute: (offstage) Brünnhilde! Sister! Are you still asleep?

Brünnhilde: (standing up suddenly) That's Waltraute! Is it you, sister? Was that you riding that flying horse? You know where to put your horse, over there in the woods. Let him rest for now. Come over here! (She runs into the forest, and we hear thunder. They both return together, Brünnhilde excited, Waltraute afraid.) Well, why did you come here? You know you could get in big trouble for this?

Waltraute: I had to get here as fast as I could, for you.

Brünnhilde: You came to see me, when you knew you weren't supposed to? Or did Father let you come? He's not so mad at me any more?! I knew I was doing the right thing when I protected Siegmund! I knew he couldn't stay mad at me! He kept me locked up here on this mountain, and left me to whoever could find me. But, remember, he showed mercy on me by putting a magic fire around the base of the mountain, and not letting anyone but the greatest hero in the world find me! Now, I'm that hero's wife, and I love it! (she goes to hug Waltraute, who shrugs her off) So, are you here to tell me more good news, and be happy along with me?

Waltraute: You've gone mad, and I certainly don't want to share that with you! No, it was something else entirely.

Brünnhilde: (noticing how frightened she is) You're afraid of something! So, Wotan's still mad at me. He hasn't softened a bit, and I can see how scared you are of him.

Waltraute: If I were only afraid of him, it wouldn't be so bad.

Brünnhilde: What? What does that mean?

Waltraute: Hang on! Be patient with me! I don't want to have to go back to Valhalla, but I have to. It's kind of the same way I felt coming here to see you.

Brünnhilde: What could possibly be going on in Valhalla?

Waltraute: Listen, and I'll tell you! Wotan doesn't send us off to battle any more. Once he left you here, he wasn't himself at all. When we came back home, he wouldn't have anything to do with the heroes we brought him. He took his horse and left home. He called himself the "Wanderer", and who knows where he went or what he was doing. Eventually, he came back, but we saw his spear had been broken. He said the world's greatest hero had shattered it; he told his noblemen to go cut down the world ash-tree, and pile the wood around the castle. He sat on his throne, and had everyone in Valhalla sit around him, like they were guarding him from something. He just sits there, he doesn't say or do anything, he just holds his broken spear in his hand. He won't eat Freia's apples either! We don't know what to make of it; the change in him is just amazing. We talk to him, we cry in front of him, and he doesn't even see us. He set his two ravens free to fly out into the world; maybe if they found some good news for him, he'd snap out of it, but I don't know. Once, I knew he was thinking about you, because I overheard him whisper to himself, "If she'd just return the Ring to the Rhinemaidens, then all this would be over. The curse would go away, and I'd be free again." I knew he was talking about you, so I got out of there fast, without anyone seeing me. I got on my horse and rode here as fast as I could to see you and tell you about it. Please, sister! Please do what he said! You can do it, and if it'll help us all, then, please, go! Do it!! (throws herself at Brünnhilde's feet)

Brünnhilde: What is that all about? You sound like you're scared to death, but I don't know what you could possibly mean. He was probably just dreaming when he said that. Look, he sent me away from Valhalla forever! It's a good story, but I think you're just rambling from being so tired and scared. You look terrible, too! Tell me, what exactly do you think I should do?

Waltraute: It's the Ring! Listen to me: You have to get rid of it! For Wotan's sake!!

Brünnhilde: Give up my Ring?

Waltraute: Give it back to the Rhinemaidens!

Brünnhilde: The Rhinemaidens? Me? The Ring? Siegfried's wedding gift to me? Are you totally out of your mind?

Waltraute: Listen to me! Don't you see how upset I am? That Ring is evil! Get it away from you! Throw it back in the water! You've got to give it back, to save Valhalla!

Brünnhilde: Do you have any idea what it means to me? You've never been in love like I am; how could you possibly know? This Ring means more to me than Valhalla, than any of those "Gods" up there. Just look at it! One little glimmer of sunlight reflecting off of it is more important to me than anything having to do with them! You know why? That's Siegfried's love shining down on me. That's the only thing I have left, and I can't even describe to you what it's like!! That's what this Ring means to me. Now go back home and tell all your "God" friends that this is my Ring, that I'll never give it up, that I'll never throw away love, and that they'll never be able to take it away from me. I'll see Valhalla destroyed first!

Waltraute: This is how you treat your family? I'm your sister! Don't you care about me at all?

Brünnhilde: Get out of here! Get on your horse, and leave! I'm not giving up my Ring!

Waltraute: This is terrible! I hope you're happy, "sister". You'll destroy all of us! (exits)

Brünnhilde: (watching Waltraute leave) So, the stormclouds are leaving with her - Good! I hope they never come back here again! (calming down) But the sun's gone down now, and it's getting to be nighttime. My fire always seems so bright this time of the evening. (The fire grows in strength, and the flames start to come over the edge of the mountaintop.) But the fire never looked this bright! I wonder what's going on? (Siegfried's horn is heard in the distance. Brünnhilde jumps up.) Siegfried? Siegfried's coming back! That's his horn! I've got to go see him! My husband!!

(She runs to the edge of the rock, and Siegfried, wearing the Tarnhelm and appearing like Gunther, jumps through the flames to her. The flames die down.)

Brünnhilde: (shocked to see Gunther) What? How did you get up here? Who are you?

Siegfried: (in a deeper voice, obviously not his own) Brünnhilde! Your fire didn't scare me off, and I've come for you. You have to go with me now, because I'm claiming you for my wife!

Brünnhilde: (very shaken) Who are you? How did you get through the fire?

Siegfried: (still not moving) I can make you go with me, by force if necessary.

Brünnhilde: (horrified) You're a monster! You've come to kill me! You can't be a man - have you come from Hell to get me?

Siegfried: (as before) I am a Gibichung. My name is Gunther, and you know you have to go with me.

Brünnhilde: (in desperation) Wotan! You miserable, worthless excuse for a God! Now I know what you had in mind for me! You got my hopes up with Siegfried, and now you stick me with…with this!!

Siegfried: (finally coming closer to her) It's getting dark. We're going to be married, right here, right now.

Brünnhilde: (holding up the Ring at him) Keep away from me! This will protect me! You can't do anything to me as long as I'm wearing this Ring!

Siegfried: But you have to give it to me now; you're my wife!

Brünnhilde: Stay away, you thief! Don't even try to come any closer! This Ring makes me stronger than you ever thought about being, and you'll never get it away from me!!

Siegfried: Your choice. I'll have to take it from you now.

(He jumps at her, and they fight. She manages to break away from him a couple of times, but eventually, he grabs her hand and rips the Ring off her finger. She screams, and as she falls into his arms, she sees that it's Siegfried she's been talking to all along.)

Siegfried: Now you're mine. You belong to Gunther. Now, into your cave!

Brünnhilde: (totally exhausted) Why did I even try to defend myself from him? (starts toward the cave)

Siegfried: (in his own voice, as he draws his sword) Nothung will make sure I'm honoring my promise. I'll keep it between us all night. (follows her into the cave)

ACT 2

Prelude

(Night-time, in front of the Hall of the Gibichungs)

Scene 1

(Hagen is asleep sitting down; Alberich is kneeling before him)

Swear to me, Hagen, my son

Alberich: Hagen! Son! Are you asleep? I wish I could sleep that sound. Wake up!

Hagen: (Still half asleep) I hear you - what do you want?

Alberich: Remember the power you have. If you're anything like your mother, you'll know how to use it.

Hagen: My mother gave me strength, but thanks to you, I can't use it. I'm in your power now, and I can't do anything for myself. I'm miserable.

Alberich: Hagen, my son, you should hate those who are happy! It's because of me you have all your power. We're fighting a great battle here, and we'll win, I know! Just stay strong. We'll get that Wotan! He stole my Ring, and he'll pay for it! His own offspring beat him at his own game; now, he doesn't have any power left, and I'm going to enjoy watching him die! All the Gods will die!! Are you still asleep?

Hagen: (still asleep) Who'll take over when they're not in power any more?

Alberich: You and I will! We'll rule the world together, as long as you believe in me and fight along with me. Wotan's power was destroyed by the Wälsung who killed Fafner! He didn't even realize what he'd done - Valhalla and Nibelheim are his now! My curse won't even work on him. He has no idea what he's got; he wastes his time being in love. We have to destroy him! Are you still asleep?

Hagen: He's already fallen for my plan. It'll destroy him.

Alberich: We have to get the Ring. But Brünnhilde's pretty smart; if she ever convinced him to give it back to the Rhinemaidens, then there's no way in the world we'd ever get it back. I made you strong, to help protect me from people like him. You weren't strong enough for the dragon, of course - that was for Siegfried - but, I taught you to hate, to want revenge, to defy Siegfried and Wotan, and get my Ring back!! Do you swear you'll help me, Hagen…my son?

Hagen: Don't worry - I already swore that to myself.

Alberich: (disappearing from view) Then do it, Hagen! Be loyal to me! Remember your promise! Remember! Remember!

(Hagen stares, still half asleep, on the dawn breaking over the Rhine)

Scene 2

(The same; Siegfried comes out of the bushes next to the shore)

Siegfried: Hagen! Sleepyhead! Didn't you hear me coming?

Hagen: (waking up) Hello, Siegfried! How did you sneak up on me like that? Where did you come from?

Siegfried: From Brünnhilde's rock! That was where I breathed the air I used to call to you just then! That Tarnhelm is great! The other two are coming along in my boat.

Hagen: Did you get Brünnhilde?

Siegfried: Is Gutrune awake?

Hagen: (calling for her) Hey, Gutrune! Come here! Siegfried's here! What are you waiting for?

Siegfried: I'll tell you both how I got Brünnhilde. (Gutrune enters)

Siegfried: (to Gutrune) Hello! I've got great news!

Gutrune: Have you brought honor and love back with you?

Siegfried: Listen! I'm so happy! Today, you're going to be my wife!

Gutrune: Is Brünnhilde with my brother?

Siegfried: (proud of himself) It was easy!

Gutrune: The fire didn't bother him?

Siegfried: It would have, but I went through it for him. I wanted to have you!

Gutrune: Were you all right?

Siegfried: Piece of cake.

Gutrune: Did she think you were Gunther?

Siegfried: I looked just like him! Hagen told me the Tarnhelm would work, and it did.

Hagen: Just like I said.

Gutrune: So, you won her over for him?

Siegfried: She gave in - to Gunther's strength.

Gutrune: And she was married to you?

Siegfried: She was Gunther's all night long.

Gutrune: But I thought you were posing as Gunther!?

Siegfried: I was here with you.

Gutrune: So…Brünnhilde was with him?

Siegfried: Between East and West, there's North. (pointing to his sword) Brünnhilde was this close, but that far away.

Gutrune: So, how did Gunther finally get her from you?

Siegfried: In the morning, the fire was dying out. She followed me down to the valley, where Gunther and I switched places while she wasn't looking. I used the Tarnhelm to get here, and they're coming back in my boat. They'll be here pretty soon!

Gutrune: Siegfried, that's amazing! Is there anything you can't do?

Hagen: (looking downstream) I see a sail, off in the distance.

Siegfried: I told you.

Gutrune: Let's make her feel welcome so she'll want to stay! Hagen, you go call your men to the Hall for the wedding! I'll get all the women together to make a banquet for us. They'll be so excited! (starts toward the hall, then turns to Siegfried) You've had a busy day; do you want to rest a while?

Siegfried: All I care about is that you're happy. (takes her hand and goes with her to the hall)

Scene 3

(Hagen on top of a hill overlooking his land, blows his horn to call to his men)

Hagen: Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoho! Gibich men, arise! There's trouble in the land! To arms! To arms! Take up your weapons, and fight with me! To battle! Fight the invaders! Drive them of! Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoho! (blows his horn again. Horns answer him from the distance, while men pour in from all over. They gather on the shore in front of the hall.)

Vassals: What does this mean? Why have we been called? Hagen! Hagen! We've come with our weapons! Who is our enemy? What are we fighting for? Is Gunther in trouble? Hoiho! Ho! Hagen!

Hagen: Come quickly; bring your weapons! You have to go see Gunther. He's getting married!

Vassals: Is he in danger? Who wants to hurt him?

Hagen: He's found a pretty strong wife.

Vassals: Does her family want revenge?

Hagen: No, he's alone with her. There's no one following him.

Vassals: Did he already fight them off? Was he victorious? Tell us!

Hagen: The one who fought the dragon took care of everything for him. Siegfried protected him.

Vassals: Then why are we here? Why does he need an army?

Hagen: You have to go sacrifice your animals for him.

Vassals: What? What did you say? What are we supposed to do?

Hagen: Sacrifice a pig for Froh, and a goat for Donner. Fricka should have a sheep, though, so she'll give their marriage her blessing!

Vassals: What do we do once we've done that?

Hagen: Have your wives bring you something to drink, and party!

Vassals: Then what?

Hagen: Drink till you can't drink any more! Drink to the Gods, so they'll bless the marriage!

Vassals: It's a good sign, that Hagen's so happy! Even the rosebush's thorns won't be sharp any more, because they'll want to be on their best behavior for the wedding!

Hagen: (finally breaking the mood, coming down among his men) No more seriousness, men! Laugh with me, and say hello to Gunther's new wife! Here he comes now, with Brünnhilde. (the men look while he points down toward the riverbank) Serve her well; wait on her hand and foot! If anything bad ever happens to her, give her any help she needs!

Vassals: (as the boat carrying Gunther and Brünnhilde approaches) Hail! Hail! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome, Gunther! Hail! Hail! (some of the men jump into the river to pull the boat ashore)

Scene 4

(Gunther and Brünnhilde get out of the boat, with the men crowding around them)

Vassals: Hello, Gunther! You and your bride are welcome here!

Gunther: (with Brünnhilde following him, her eyes down, obviously distressed) I've brought home one of the most wonderful of women! Her name's Brünnhilde, and I tell you, no one ever had as good a wife! We Gibichungs have always had great luck, but nothing's ever surpassed this!

Vassals: Hail! Hail! Gunther, we're all happy for you!

(Gunther leads Brünnhilde into the hall. She never lifts her eyes from the ground. Siegfried and Gutrune come out of the hall.)

Gunther: Hello, Siegfried! And Gutrune, how are you? I'm so happy to finally see you with such a wonderful husband. Now there are two happy couples in the house - Brünnhilde and Gunther, Siegfried and Gutrune!

(Brünnhilde is startled at this, and is astonished to see Siegfried. Everyone is flabbergasted as to how she reacts.)

Vassals: What's wrong with her? Is she sick? (Brünnhilde is trembling violently)

Siegfried: (slowly walking toward Brünnhilde) Are you all right?

Brünnhilde: (not quite in control) Siegfried?…Here?…Gutrune?

Siegfried: (slightly patronizing) Yes, Gunther's sister is my wife, just like you're Gunther's wife.

Brünnhilde: (hatefully) I…to Gunther?! You're lying! (She comes close to fainting. Siegfried catches her.) My eyes…it's hard to see. (Looking up at Siegfried) Don't you know who I am?

Siegfried: Gunther, I don't think your wife's feeling very good. (Gunther comes to her) Get up, ma'am - your husband's here.

Brünnhilde: (sees the Ring on Siegfried's finger) Yes! The Ring…on his hand! Him…? Siegfried…?

The ring upon thy hand

Hagen: (coming to the foreground from the crowd) Listen to what she has to say!

Brünnhilde: (trying to stay coherent) You have a ring on your finger, but it's not yours. (points to Gunther) This man took it away from me! Why do you have it now?

Siegfried: (staring at the Ring) I didn't get it from him.

Brünnhilde: (to Gunther) You took it from me when we were "married", so it must be yours, right? Well, take it back from him!

Gunther: (very confused) The Ring? I didn't give it to him - But, how do you know so much about it?

Brünnhilde: Where's the ring you took from me last night? (Gunther doesn't say anything.)

Brünnhilde: (furious) Then it was Siegfried who stole it from me!!

(Everyone looks at Siegfried, who is completely bewildered.)

Siegfried: I didn't get it from any woman, and I don't have it because of a woman. I just know that I got it when I killed a dragon at Neidhöhle.

Hagen: Brünnhilde, is that really your ring? If it's the one you gave Gunther, then it's Gunther's, and Siegfried'll have some explaining to do!

Brünnhilde: (screaming in rage) I've been tricked! They've played some kind of terrible, disgusting joke on me, and I swear, I'll get them back for it!!

Gutrune: Who did?

Vassals: A trick?

Women: A trick? Who could've done it?

Brünnhilde: Gods in Heaven! Was this all planned for me? Was this part of my punishment, to suffer like no one else ever has? Is this what you had in mind for me? Then give me the strength to pay it back the way it needs to be! Help me get my revenge! I don't care what happens to me, but I want death and destruction for whoever's responsible for this!

Gunther: Brünnhilde, please!

Brünnhilde: Get away from me, you scum! You're only fooling yourself now! Listen, every one of you! I'm not married to Gunther, because I was already married…to him!! (points to Siegfried)

Women: Siegfried? Gutrune's husband?

Vassals: Gutrune's husband?

Brünnhilde: He's the one who had me for his wife!

Siegfried: Are you crazy? Do I even have to answer to that? I swore an oath of brotherhood to Gunther, and my sword made sure I kept that promise. I've never come near this…this crazy woman!

Brünnhilde: You're a liar! And you used your sword to swear to your lies? I know better! I know your sword, and I remember how you hung it on the wall the night we were married!

Vassals: What? Did he break his promise? Did he betray Gunther?

Women: Was he unfaithful to her?

Gunther: (to Siegfried) What do you have to say for yourself?

Gutrune: Siegfried, were you disloyal to me? Are you trying to lie about it now? Tell me she's wrong!

Vassals: If you're right, prove it to us! Swear on your honor, and shut her up!

Siegfried: I'll prove I'm right! I'll swear it on my honor, and I defy any of you to challenge me!

Hagen: I'll stand by you, Siegfried. I'll put my honor on the line with yours. (Hagen holds out his spear, and Siegfried lays his hands on it.)

Siegfried: May your sacred spear be the judge of my promise to you all. Hear me out! If I can be stabbed with this spear, then you can stab me. If I can be killed by it, you can kill me, if I've lied about keeping my promise to my brother.

Brünnhilde: (grabs Siegfried's hand off the spear and puts her own on it) May his sacred spear be the judge of my promise! You will be killed by this spear, Siegfried! It has my blessing to do it, too! You've lied all along, you're lying now, and you'll pay for it with your life!

Vassals: (confused) Help us, Donner! Bring your storm clouds in! Kill whichever one of them is lying!

Siegfried: Gunther, tell your wife to shut up! She's only making you look bad! Give her some time to think about what she's saying; maybe she'll calm down eventually, and whatever's bothering her will get better. Come on, men, forget about it! Ladies, there's nothing here for you to gossip about! It's easy for anybody to be a soldier when all they have to fight with is their tongue! (to Gunther) Believe me, I'm just as upset about all this as you are, because I couldn't fool her any better than I did. Maybe that Tarnhelm doesn't work as well as we thought it did. But anyway, women usually get over their problems pretty quick. I think eventually, she'll be glad to have you for a husband, and she'll forget all about…whatever it is. (to the men) Come on, everybody - let's go eat! (to the women) Come on, ladies, help us get the wedding ready! It's time to have fun! I'm ready to have a good time, and celebrate all the good stuff that's happened today! I hope all of you feel as happy as I am!

(Siegfried exits with Gutrune, while Hagen, Gunther, and Brünnhilde stay back. Gunther is obviously ashamed, and Brünnhile is obviously upset.)

Scene 5

(Gunther and Brünnhilde near the boat, with the men crowding around them)

Brünnhilde: What is going on here? What kind of spell is on him? How am I going to get out of this one? With everything I know how to do, this one's got me stumped! Oh, this is terrible! Terrible!! I gave him everything, and now I don't have anything left to fight him with! He told me he'd love me forever, and now he's dropped me like a rock, for…for that…that woman! Who could possibly help me now?

Hagen: I'll help you. I'll get your revenge, on whoever's betrayed you.

Brünnhilde: And just exactly who would that be?

Hagen: Well, Siegfried, of course. He's the one who dumped you, right?

Brünnhilde: Siegfried? You?? Ha!! All he'd have to do is look at you, and you'd melt like butter. You wouldn't have a chance against him! I know, because he looked at me like that once - back when he meant what he was saying.

Hagen: But if he lied, then he doesn't stand a chance against my spear. Remember?

Brünnhilde: Oh, you men think that those oaths you take actually mean something. They're just words! You're going to need something a lot sharper than that spear if you want to kill Siegfried!

Hagen: I know how tough Siegfried is in battle, but he's got to have some weakness somewhere. Don't you know of anything that could help me?

Brünnhilde: This is great! Now I have to help kill my own husband! I do know one thing: Once, while he was asleep, when we'd first gotten married, I used my power to protect him. It's a magic spell I learned when I was a God, and it keeps him from getting hurt.

Hagen: So there's nothing I can do?

Brünnhilde: Not if you're fighting him. But, I knew he'd never turn his back on an enemy, so… I didn't protect his back. If you hit him there, well, that's the only way you can kill him.

Hagen: That's what I'll do then! Get up, Gunther! You have a wonderful wife here; why aren't you happy about it?

Gunther: This is terrible! I've disgraced my friend, myself, this woman, everybody!

Hagen: Uh huh. So?

Brünnhilde: (to Gunther) You miserable excuse for a man! I see what's going on here! You wanted me, and you trusted him to help you. Now, you see what's come of it, and you can't deal with the responsibility of knowing what you've done! Some family you come from, if they all act like this!

Gunther: (half to himself) I tried to cheat, and I got cheated. I don't know what to say - my heart's just broken. Help me, Hagen, please! Think of what our mother would say!

Hagen: Nothing can help you now. Siegfried's as good as dead.

Gunther: (horrified) Dead!?

Hagen: That's the only thing that'll help you now.

Gunther: But he's my brother! I swore to it!

Hagen: His death can cure that, too.

Gunther: Why? Will that be his punishment for breaking his promise to me?

Hagen: Right. He betrayed you, didn't he?

Gunther: He did?

O wife betrayed

Brünnhilde: He betrayed you, and you betrayed me! If I had my way, there wouldn't be enough people in the world for you to kill to try to redeem yourself! But that doesn't matter - Siegfried's death will settle it up for both of us!

Hagen: (to Gunther) His death is only going to be good for you. You'll get his Ring; you can use its power to take over the whole world! But the only way you'll get it is over his dead body.

Gunther: You mean Brünnhilde's ring?

Hagen: I mean the Nibelung's Ring.

Gunther: (resigned) Then Siegfried's as good as dead.

Hagen: I know! Isn't it great?

Gunther: Wait a minute, though - Siegfried is Gutrune's husband. How can I let that happen to her?

Brünnhilde: (suddenly, to herself) That's it! That's what I couldn't figure out before! Now I know - Gutrune's the reason all this is happening to me! She took my husband away from me! I hope she rots in Hell!

Hagen: (to Gunther) You're right, it will hurt Gutrune when Siegfried dies. We'll just have to lie to her about it, then. Tomorrow, we'll go on a hunting trip with him, and when we come back, we'll tell her a wild boar killed him.

Gunther and Brünnhilde: All right, then! Siegfried's a dead man! He caused all this, and now he'll pay for it! He broke his promise to me, and now I'll get my revenge! Wotan! You're the God of promises and vengeance! Help us carry out your will! Help us make things right again!

Hagen: Our great hero will soon be dead! I'll have his Ring, and all his treasure! Alberich! Father! Aren't you proud of me now? I've got it all figured out; I'll get all our power back! It's time the world understood who its true masters are! The Nibelungs will rule the world again!

(The wedding procession comes through, and all are drawn into it as it makes its way up to the mountaintop.)

ACT 3

Prelude

(In a wooded valley of the Rhine)

Scene 1

(The Three Rhinemaidens swimming at the surface of the water)

The Three Rhinemaidens: The sun is shining, but the light doesn't get to us down here in the water. Once, everything was OK down here, and we were happy. Rheingold! Rheingold! You were the most wonderful thing in the world to us! Weiala leia, wallala leialala! (Siegfried's horn sounds in the distance) Wonderful sunshine! Bring us back our Gold! Send us a hero to get it back for us! If we only had it back, we could have fun again, and enjoy our life, swimming in the Rhine. Rheingold! Rheingold! You were the most wonderful thing in the world to us once! (Siegfried's horn sounds again)

Woglinde: I hear his horn.

Wellgunde: He's on his way.

Floßhilde: Let's surprise him!

(They dive under the water)

Siegfried: (entering) Those directions I got were terrible! I'm lost! (calling out, to no one) Hey! Where did you say that bear was?

The Three Rhinemaidens: (popping out on the water's surface) Siegfried!

Though gaily ye may laugh

Floßhilde: What are you talking about?

Wellgunde: Who are you talking to?

Woglinde: (teasing him) Did somebody trick you?

All Three: Tell us, Siegfried!

Siegfried: (smiling at them) Did you pull my bear into the river with you? Well, you seem to want him more than I do, so I guess you can just keep him! (they all laugh)

Woglinde: What will you give us, if we give him back to you?

Siegfried: I don't have anything, so, I guess, whatever you want.

Wellgunde: You have that ring on your finger.

The Three Rhinemaidens: We'll take that!

Siegfried: I killed a dragon to get that ring. You think I'd trade it for a lousy bear skin?

Woglinde: You're mean!

Wellgunde: Do you bargain this hard with everybody?

Floßhilde: You should be nicer to ladies.

Siegfried: If I gave it to you, my wife would kill me!

Floßhilde: Why? Is she mean, too?

Wellgunde: Does she beat you up?

Woglinde: You're scared of her? When she's this far away from you? (they laugh uncontrollably)

Siegfried: Go ahead, have your fun. But you can just keep wanting this ring; I'm not giving it to you!

Floßhilde: What a hunk!

Wellgunde: He's so strong!

Woglinde: So cute!

The Three: Too bad he's so stuck on himself! (they dive down, laughing)

Siegfried: (coming closer to the water) Why did I let them talk to me that way? Gosh, if they want the ring that bad, I guess I could give it to them. Hey! Girls! Come back! I'll give you the ring! (takes it off his finger and holds it out for them)

(The Rhinemaidens swim back to the surface)

Floßhilde: No, you keep it, and be careful. If you only knew…

Woglinde and Wellgunde: …the power it has.

All Three: Soon, you'd be happy to let us help you get away from its curse.

Siegfried: (putting the Ring back on his finger) Whatever you say.

All Three: Siegfried! Siegfried! Siegfried! Something terrible's going to happen to you.

Siegfried! Siegfried!

Wellgunde: If you keep that ring, you're in deep trouble.

All Three: It was made out of our Gold.

Wellgunde: The man who made it, and then foolishly lost it…

All Three: …put a curse on it. Whoever has it is sure to die.

Floßhilde: Just like the dragon you killed…

Wellgunde and Floßhilde: …soon, you'll be killed yourself…

All Three: …and it'll happen today, if you don't give it back to us now…

Wellgunde and Floßhilde: …so we can take it back into the river with us.

All Three: That's the only way to take the curse off of it!

Siegfried: So that's your little game, huh? I wondered what it was from the beginning! Well, don't think for a minute you're going to scare me into giving it to you now!

The Rhinemaidens: Siegfried! Siegfried! We're telling you the truth! You're in trouble! The Norns have seen it; it's your destiny! There's a curse on your Ring!

Siegfried: I don't care about the Norns! They can say whatever they want about my destiny, and weave that little rope of theirs until Hell freezes over. My sword is for killing dragons! It wouldn't have any trouble snapping that string of theirs at all! Fafner told me about that curse, but it doesn't scare me. This ring could get me all the wealth in the world, you know, but - I don't want that. All I want is real, honest love. If you could promise me that, then I'd give you the Ring. But don't threaten me, and expect that you can scare me into giving it to you! I'm not scared of anything, and, without love, my life means about as much to me…(picks up some dirt)…as this! (throws it over his shoulder)

The Rhinemaidens: Let's go, sisters. He's crazy! He thinks he's so strong and powerful that nothing can hurt him! Well, he can just go on believing that! He's so blind, he can't even see reality. He knows we're telling him the truth, but he doesn't even care! That about all we can expect from someone who doesn't keep the promises they make, though!

Floßhilde, then Woglinde: He had everything!

All Three: And he's given it all up!

Floßhilde: The only thing he wants…

Wellgunde: …the thing that'll be his downfall…

All Three: …is the Ring! Goodbye, Siegfried! You wouldn't listen to us, and so you're going to die. At least your wife'll know what to do with what you leave her! She'll listen to us. We're going to go see her now! To Brünnhilde! (singing as they swim off) Weialala leia, wallala leialala…

Siegfried: Women are all the same, whether they live in water or on land! If you don't fall for their flirting, they try to scare and threaten you. And if that doesn't work, they yell at you, like it's all your fault! But, these ones were pretty good-looking; if I didn't have Gutrune waiting for me at home, I'd probably have fallen for one of them! (He looks at them, swimming off in the distance, as we hear a horn call coming closer.)

Scene 2

(In a wooded valley of the Rhine)

Hagen's Voice: (from far away) Hoiho!

(Siegfried answers his horn call)

Vassals: (offstage) Hoiho! Hoiho!

Siegfried: (answering) Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoiho!

Hagen: (appears at the top of the cliff with Gunther) Siegfried! We found you at last!

Siegfried: Come on down! It's nice down here!

(The vassals appear on the cliff behind Hagen and Gunther; they all start down the hill)

Hagen: Looks like a great place to sit and eat! (they pile up the animals they've caught) Set all that down, and get out the wine! (Everyone lies down to rest and eat) Siegfried scared away anything else we might've found! What do you have to show for all your work today, Siegfried?

Siegfried: (laughing) You're going to have to give me some of yours, it looks like! I'll go hungry if I can only eat what I've killed today!

Hagen: You don't have anything?

Siegfried: Well, I looked for something in the forest, but the only animals I've seen were there in the river! If I'd been thinking, I'd have caught those three water-birds who told me I'd be killed today! (he lies down)

(Gunther looks at Hagen sadly)

Hagen: That wouldn't be a good thing at all, if the animals ended up killing the hunter!

Siegfried: I'm thirsty!

Hagen: (fills a drinking-horn for Siegfried and gives it to him) So, Siegfried, does that mean you can understand the birds when they talk to you?

Siegfried: It's been a long time since I listened to them. (he drinks from his horn, then offers it to Gunther) Here, Gunther, have a drink with me!

Gunther: (upset and dejected) No, it doesn't look right. It only has your blood in it now.

Siegfried: (laughs) Well, I'll just mix it with yours! (pours his drink into Gunther's, which overflows) That's it - pour it on the ground! Let the Earth drink it, too!

Gunther: (sighs) You're way too happy, Siegfried.

Siegfried: (aside, to Hagen) What's his problem? Is Brünnhilde still acting weird?

Hagen: (to Seigfried) You understand the birds better than he does his wife!

Siegfried: I forgot all about birds, once I started listening to women!

Hagen: But you used to be able to understand them, right?

Siegfried: (suddenly turning to Gunther) Hey, Gunther, you look sad! Let me tell you some stories about when I was a little boy!

Gunther: (half-heartedly) That sounds great.

(Siegfried remains sitting up, while everyone else lies down)

Hagen: Go ahead! Tell us!

Siegfried: Well, there was once this ugly dwarf named Mime. He raised me, and did a pretty good job, but he had ulterior motives. He wanted me to grow up and kill a dragon for him, so that he could get its treasure. He taught me how to forge and smelt steel, but when it came time for him to make a sword for me, he couldn't do it. I could break anything he made. Eventually, I had to take the pieces of my father's sword, and put them together again myself. Nothung's the best sword a warrior could ever hope for, too! It'll cut anything! Mime was impressed, and took me to the forest with it to kill Fafner - which I did. But that's not the half of it - the dragon's blood got on my hand, and when I went to suck it off, some magic spell came over me, and I could understand what the birds were singing to me! One of them said, "The Nibelung's treasure belongs to Siegfried now. He'll find it in the cave. He should use the Tarnhelm for its wonderful magic, but if he finds the Ring as well, he'll be master of the whole world."

Hagen: You took the Ring and the Tarnhelm?

Vassals: Did the bird tell you anything else?

Siegfried: Once I got my treasure, it told me more about what I should do. It said, "Siegfried owns the Gold and the Ring now, but he should be careful of Mime! Mime wants all the treasure Siegfried just won, and he'll kill Siegfried for it if he has to. Siegfried shouldn't trust Mime at all!"

Hagen: Was he right?

Vassals: Did you get Mime back?

Siegfried: He brought me something to drink, but I knew it would kill me. He tried to lie his way through the whole thing, but I took care of him with my sword!

Hagen: (laughing) He couldn't make swords, but he could die from them!

Vassals: Did the bird say anything else?

Hagen: (fills another drinking-horn) Before you tell us, have another drink! This one's got some spice in it, to help you relax and remember everything!

Siegfried: (takes a long drink) I was kind of sad at first, once I'd killed him, but then I heard the bird sing again. It said, "Siegfried's finally killed that terrible dwarf! I know where there's a women who could be his wife. She's in a deep sleep, on a mountaintop, with a dreadful fire surrounding her. Whoever can break through the fire and rescue Brünnhilde will have her for his wife!"

Hagen: So, did you do it?

Siegfried: I went right away! (Gunther listens in amazement) I got to her rock, broke through the fire, and found the most beautiful woman you've ever seen, lying there asleep. She had armor on; I helped her out of it, kissed her, and she woke up. She was just as happy to see me as I was to see her!

Gunther: (jumps up, horrified) What's that?

(Two ravens fly up out of a bush, circle around Siegfried, then fly away over the Rhine)

Siegfried's death

Hagen: (to Siegfried) Could you tell what those ravens were saying? (Siegfried stands up and looks after them, thoughtfully) It sounded like "revenge" to me!

(Hagen stabs Siegfried in the back with his spear, as Gunther tries unsuccessfully to pull his arm back. Siegfried raises his shield instinctually in defense, but drops it and falls on top of it.)

Vassals: (trying to hold Hagen back) What are you doing, Hagen? What have you done?

Gunther: Hagen, why did you do that?

Hagen: (pointing to Siegfried) I repaid him for all his lies!

(Hagen calmly turns and walks away over the hill. Gunther bends down to Siegfried, while two of the other men help him into a half-sitting position.)

Siegfried: (completely dazed) Brünnhilde, my wife! Wake up! Open your eyes! Why were you so sound asleep? I broke the spell, and woke you up with a kiss. You laughed at me! I'll see your eyes forever. I'll feel your breath on me forever. It's wonderful…lonely…terrifying. Brünnhilde's taking me home!

(Siegfried dies. The vassals stand around him in silence. Eventually, they pick up his body and carry him off over the hill, with Gunther following them.)

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE

(Siegfried's Funeral Music)

(The moon breaks through the clouds and lights the whole stage while mists from the river hide the set. When the mists break, the stage is set for the next scene: The Gibichungs' Hall.)

Scene 3

(The hall of the Gibichungs. Night-time, with the moon reflecting off the Rhine.)

(Gutrune enters.)

Gutrune: Was that his horn? (listening) No, he's not home yet. Boy, those were some bad dreams, with Brünnhilde laughing at me, Siegfried's horse coming after me, and that woman - walking on the riverbank like that - who was she? Brünnhilde's crazy! I hope she's not home. (listens at the door, then calls quietly) Brünnhilde! Brünnhilde! Are you awake? (opens the door and looks inside) She's not there! That strange woman must have been her, then! (she reacts to a sound in the distance) Was that him? No. There's nothing there. I wish I could have my Siegfried back! (starts back in to her room, but stops when she hears Hagen)

Hagen's Voice: (from outside) Hoiho! Hoiho! Wake up! Get us some light! We're back from our hunt! Hoiho! Hoiho! (lights from outside growing brighter)

Hagen: (entering) Gutrune, wake up! Say hello to your husband!

Gutrune: (terrified) What's happened, Hagen?! I didn't hear him blow his horn!

(Siegfried's procession enters, swelled with many more people than before. Gunther is among them.)

Hagen: You'll never hear it again. He can't blow it any more, he can't leave you to go off and fight, and he certainly can't ever leave you for another woman!

Gutrune: What? What are all these people bringing?

(The procession is at center stage; they lay the body on a table.)

Hagen: A wild boar got him. It's Siegfried, your dead husband.

(Gutrune screams and faints onto the body. Everyone who didn't already know about Siegfried's death is shocked and surprised.)

Gunther: (helping Gutrune) Gutrune…sister! Open your eyes! Speak to me!

Gutrune: (waking up) Siegfried…Siegfried, dead! (pushes Gunther away) Get away from me, you traitor! You killed him! Help! Help me! They've killed my husband!

Gunther: I didn't do it! It was him! (pointing at Hagen) He's the "wild boar" who killed Siegfried! I tried to stop him!

Hagen: Do you hate me for doing it?

Gunther: I hope you rot in Hell!

Hagen: (defiantly) Maybe I will, but I did the right thing! He made a promise with me, then broke it. I used my spear to kill him, but he still owes me for the trouble he put me through. I claim his Ring as my payment!

Gunther: That Ring is mine! Stay away from it!

Hagen: (calling to everyone) Men, am I in the right here?

Gunther: You killed Gutrune's husband, and you want to take her only inheritance away from her?

Hagen: (draws his sword) I'm claiming the Ring for my father! It should have been my inheritance from him!

(He rushes Gunther, and they fight. The men try to break them up, but Hagen stabs Gunther, who dies.)

Hagen: (to no one in particular) Give me the Ring!

(He grabs at Siegfried arm to get the Ring, but, to the general shock of everyone, Siegfried's hand raises off the table, his fist clenched in defiance. Brünnhilde comes forward from the crowd.)

Brünnhilde: Everyone, stop arguing over this. I'm the one who was betrayed here, and I want what's mine! You people are crying over spilled milk here, arguing about this Ring, but who's saying anything about Siegfried? In death, doesn't he deserve more than this?

Gutrune: (furious) Brünnhilde, you're just jealous! This is all your fault; you turned everyone against him with what you said! I wish you'd never come here!

Brünnhilde: Be quiet! You weren't ever his real wife; you were just a mistress he got conned into thinking he loved! He'd already made his wedding vows with me long before he ever saw you!

Gutrune: (completely out of control) Hagen, this is all your fault! You tricked her husband with those stupid ideas of yours! This is terrible! I see it all now! That drink made him forget about the only woman he ever really loved - Brünnhilde!!

(She turns away from Siegfried and kneels down over Gunther's body. Hagen stands defiantly, leaning on his spear, lost in thought.)

(Brünnhilde stands alone for a while looking at Siegfried, first with shock, then with grief. She finally turns toward the crowd excitedly.)

Brünnhilde: Stack me up a huge pile of logs over there! We're going to build a bonfire worthy of Siegfried's power, and do the appropriate thing with his body! Bring his horse here, too, so I can ride into the fire with him! I want to be with him, and share whatever it is that he has now. Do it! Do what I asked you to do!

(She goes back to staring at him, thinking. She gradually begins looking more and more peaceful.)

Brünnhilde: He's so wonderful. Even dead, his face shines brighter than anyone's I've ever seen! Even when he was being tricked, he always kept his word. Even if it meant pushing me away, he always did what he thought was right. No one was ever more honest than him! No one ever made a promise they intended to keep more than him! No one ever loved anyone more than he did me! And, even with all that, no one ever betrayed everything in their life more than he did. Do you want to know why? I'll tell you why! (looking up) Wotan, look at me! Look at what you've done! I hope you feel everything I've gone through; I hope you're ashamed about your part in it for all time! You took the curse that was put on you, and made Siegfried take the punishment for it! When he did what he did to me, I saw everything clear as day. And now, I know what's going to happen to you. I hope those ravens of yours are telling you, because I won't. Good night, Wotan. I hope you sleep well!

(She signals to the men to put Siegfried's body on top of the log pile. She takes the Ring off Siegfried's finger and stares at it.)

Brünnhilde: This is my inheritance - this terrible, cursed Ring! I'm taking it only so I can give it back to who it really belongs to. Rhinemaidens! You were right! Everything you told me - it's all exactly the way you said. You can have your Ring back! The fire will take the curse away from all of us, and you can take back what was stolen from you!

(She puts on the Ring and turns to the pile of logs. She grabs a torch from one of the men, swings it around and points it to-ward the back of the stage.)

Brünnhilde: Go home, ravens! Go tell Wotan what you saw here! On the way, make sure you stop by my rock and see Loge. Tell him to go to Valhalla - tell him that the end of the Gods is near. This will be the thing that finally brings them down!

(She throws the torch on the logs, which immediately burst into flame. Two ravens fly up from behind a rock, and fly away quickly. Two men have brought Brünnhilde's horse in; she runs to it and unbridles it excitedly.)

The ravens of Wotan

Brünnhilde: Grane, my wonderful horse! Do you have any idea where I'm taking you today? Look there, in the fire. Siegfried's in there. Your master, my husband, our best and most trusted friend! You want to go see him, too, don't you? You have no idea how happy I am, that we'll all finally be able to be together at last, in peace, the way it should've always been! I want to see Siegfried again; I want to be with him, to hold him close to me forever, to feel love the way everyone in the world wishes they could feel it! Heiajoho! Grane! Come with me! (mounts him) Siegfried! Look! Your wife is coming home to you!

Brünnhilde on Grane leaps on to the funeral pyre of Siegfried

(With one leap, they go into the fire. The flames immediately swell up and fill the entire stage. The people - except for Hagen, who watches intently, but keeps his distance from the fire - rush away in all directions, terrified, as the fire consumes everything, then slowly dies down. Eventually, only smoke and fog is left to fill the scene, as the waters of the Rhine overflow and fill the stage. The Rhinemaidens swim past, and circle the pyre as Hagen watches in horror. He throws his spear and shield away, and runs like a madman into the water.)

Hagen: Get away from my Ring!

(Woglinde and Wellgunde grab him by the neck and drag him down. Floßhilde swims to the front and holds the Ring up in the air triumphantly. A huge red glow in the background breaks through the fog, and as the Rhinemaidens swim around in delight, the glow gets brighter and brighter. The men and women return and watch this, and as the glow's brightness reaches its peak, we see that Valhalla, with all its Gods and heroes inside, is burning in the distance. A huge fire consumes the castle and everyone in it as the curtain falls.)

The Rhine-maidens obtain possession of the ring and bear it off in triumph

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Siegfried

Characters

Illustrations

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Twilight of the Gods

Characters

List of Illustrations

Prologue

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3