

## Richard Wagner's

DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN

## Vernacularized into American

## By Arthur W. Ritchie

## Smashwords Edition

## Copyright 2019 Arthur W. Ritchie

ISBN: 9780463765821

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

This e-book is licensed for your enjoyment and may be used for any purpose whatsoever save that of making money. That right I reserve to myself.

### Why a vernacularization?

### Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

### (Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon)

The motto of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft & Wizardry which gave Wagner an

honorary doctorate in lotions, potions, and note-tions.

While a giant of composition, as a librettist, Wagner stunk. The wordiest of wordy birdies, he might use a paragraph to say yes or half a page to say maybe. Then he grossly over spiced his libretti with adjectives, repetitious phrases, arcane words and meaningless blather to fill in the music, making his 'little books' less for poring over, than for snoring over. And that's just the beginning.

Composers set words to music. Wagner set music to his words. And once he began doing that, his working libretto went out the window as he endlessly fiddled with the words to fit his music. Result? The mess described above gets worse.

So, to make these libretti more readable I've: removed countless gratuitous adjectives, and repetitious words and phrases, ditched the 'thee' s and 'thou' s, and repositioned verbs in sentences to conform to our modern common usage. Then there are the gratuitous sentences and even an occasional paragraph inserted for no purpose other than to fill the musical line that often make no sense at all which I've removed for clarity while remembering that they are _absolutely necessary_ in the sung work to maintain the work's continuity.

So now, instead of fighting your way through a text constantly looking up words or asking, "what the hell does that mean?" you have a completely, totally, and deadly accurate text of these operas! Well, sort of ...

### Table of Contents:

Preface:

Wagner's Sources

Das Rheingold, Precis

Libretto

Die Walküre, Precis

Libretto

Siegfried, Precis

Libretto

Götterdämmerung Precis

Libretto

### Preface

Der Ring des Nibelungen is an Allegory:

### A befuddlement:

### A tale so convoluted that the more you study it,

### the more confused you get.

While Wagner was writing the Ring, a diplomat with nearly 50 years' experience in India returned home to find a note from Queen Victoria requesting an audience.

"Tell me about India," she asked.

"Majesty" he replied, "when I'd been in India but a short time, I could have told you everything there was to know about that country. But after nearly half a century in your service there, I must confess, I know absolutely nothing about the place." And so it is with me and Wagner's ring.

I was introduced to "The Ring" in 1953 and in short order, could have given you a precis of the work sounding so reasonable you might have actually believed it. But after decades of hearing it, playing some of it in the pit, attending performances of it, and reading much about it, all I can say of it with certainly is that, the making of magic objects or the cursing thereof, without a license can prove problematic; and, that regardless of the number of gods in your family tree, less than a flea farts weight of hormones at puberty can turn even the best bred male on earth into a complete horse's ass.

A NOTE ON WAGNER'S SOURCES:

Wagner's Ring libretti are based on the 12th and 13th century Eddas of Iceland, where the first tales of the Norse gods are found. Here, the dwarf Andvari (Wagner's Alberich) has a magic ring and hoard of gold stolen by the gods Odin (Wotan, king of the gods) and Loki (Loge the guy who plays with fire) to pay a debt owed two brothers one of whom, Fafnir, kills the other over the possession of the ring, then turns himself into a dragon to guard his stolen hoard.

Other Eddas' gods include Thor (Donner, god of thunder who enjoys swinging a big hammer around); Frey (Froh the happy god who is just filler in this story); the goddesses Frigg (Fricka, the wife of Wotan and goddess and preserver of marriage); Freyja (Freia, the sister of Fricka who grows magic apples that keep the gods young); and Jord, meaning Earth in Icelandic (Erda, the earth-mother goddess, and mother of Thor and Brünnhilde. _)_

Ring characters not found in the Eddas include Mimi, the Nibelung smith, who Wagner probably found in the Thidriks saga, as a human smith; and the Rhinemaiden, Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde who have several possible sources: The Nibelungenlied where three water sprites tease Hagan and Gunther; the German legend of Lorelei, then there's the Greek Hesperides myth where three maidens guard a golden treasure. But because Wagner alone names them, some believe he invented them. He didn't.

Then, the libretti were written in the reverse order in which the operas were both written and are performed. They were written in the order: Götterdämmerung, Siegfried, Die Walküre and Das Rheingold, while the operas were written and are performed as Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung.

### From the glorious New York City Metropolitan Opera Production.

Scene 1: Deep in the Rhine River, three Rhinemaiden Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde] play as Alberich, a Nibelung [dwarf), tries to woo them, but they mock him and he gets angry. Suddenly sunlight penetrating the depths falls on the Rhine gold causing it to shine and when Alberich asks what it is, he's told that it's the treasure their father has ordered them to protect because—were anyone who renounced love to forge a ring from that gold—that ring would give them the power to rule the world. Cursing love, Alberich seizes the gold and flees, as the Rhinemaiden scream in anger.

Scene 2: Sleeping before his magnificent spanking-new castle on a mountain top, Wotan, king of the gods, is awakened by his wife, Fricka. It seems the castle's builders, the giants Fasolt and Fafner, are there expecting to be paid. This poses a problem as the deceitful Wotan had promised them Fricka's sister, Freia, the goddess of youth and beauty, as payment for their work, but he never had any intention of ever giving her to them. You see, he pawned the job of coming up with an alternate payment to the giants on Loge, the demigod of fire.

The panic-stricken Freia rushes in with Fasolt and Fafner in hot pursuit demanding that she be turned over to them. And, as Wotan's god-like authority is only sustained by the treaties carved in his spear—including his contract with the giants—Wotan can't violate his agreement without losing all of his power.

Donner, god of thunder, and Froh god of sunshine, arrive to defend Freia, but Wotan cannot allow force to be used to break the agreement. So, hoping Loge will quickly arrive with a solution to the problem, he stalls for time.

Loge arrives, but believing the deal was based on the giant's love of Freia, he sees no way around it. As a matter of fact, in his study of the problem, he'd only found one instance of anyone trading love for something else: Alberich who'd cursed love, stolen the Rhinegold and had an all-powerful ring forged from it. But the mentioning of the ring's power fascinates the giants and Fafner makes a counter-offer: They'll swap Freia for the Nibelung's treasure. But having neither the gold nor any claim to it, Wotan objects. The giants shrug their shoulders; give Wotan until the end of the day to change his mind, and leave with Freia. But then the unexpected kicks in: It seems that Freia alone raises the golden apples that keep the gods young, and even in the few hours of her absence, they've noticeably begun to age. Now, believing Freia must be freed, Wotan plans a trip with Loge to Alberich's subterranean kingdom, to get the gold one way or another.

Scene 3: Using his ring's power, Alberich has enslaved the Nibelung dwarfs and forced his metal-smith brother Mimi, to make the Tarnhelm, a magic helmet, that can turn its wearer into any form they wish. and Alberich demonstrates its power by making himself invisible.

Wotan and Loge arrive and Mimi tells them of the Nibelung's misery under Alberich's rule. Alberich returns, driving his slaves to pile up a huge mound of gold and boasts of how he and his ring will conquer the world!

Loge asks how he can protect himself against theft while he sleeps, and Alberich replies that the Tarnhelm will hide him, by either making him invisible or changing his form. Feigning doubt, Loge asks for a demonstration and Alberich instantly becomes an enormous snake! And, after acting sufficiently terrified, Loge asks if Alberich can reduce his size—something that would be particularly useful for hiding. And Alberich transforms himself into a tiny toad. But now separated from his helmet, he reverts to his natural form and Wotan and Loge easily seize him and drag him to the earth's surface.

Scene 4: Now on the earth's surface, Alberich's given a choice: Your gold, or your life. Furious, he orders the Nibelungen to bring the hoard to Wotan's new mountain top retreat while hoping to keep the ring, but Wotan demands it. And when Alberich refuses to surrender it, Wotan simply takes it off his hand and puts it on his own [same problem as above]—at which time Alberich curses the ring: Until this ring is returned to me—Alberich—its possessor's life will be in constant danger until they are killed for possessing it.

The giants return with Freia to see how their offer's going, but Fasolt's still in love with Freia and is reluctant to release her insisting that she'll only be freed if the gold can be piled high enough to completely hide her. But when the gold's piled in front of her, they still see her head and Wotan's forced to add the Tarnhelm to the pile to hide it. Then Fasolt spots a tiny crack in the pile exposing one of Freia's eyes and he wants it sealed. Loge complains that the gold is gone, but Fafner, knowing of Wotan's ring, demands that it fill that last crack. Loge mentions that the ring isn't Wotan's to give as it really belongs to the Rhinemaiden; Wotan angrily says he's keeping the ring; the giants seize Freia and start to leave again; but Erda, the all-knowing goddess of the earth, arrives right on cue to warn Wotan of his doom from the ring's curse if he keeps it. Accepting his defeat, Wotan recalls the giants and gives them the ring, and they release Freia. But in dividing the gold, they argue over who will get the ring and Fafner clubs Fasolt to death!

As Wotan stands in awe of the curse's power, Donner commands a thunderstorm to clear the air as Froh creates a rainbow bridge stretching to the castle's gate. But as Wotan leads the gods across that bridge to their new home which he has named Valhalla Loge, the half god, remains behind to tell us the gods are nothing but a bunch of treacherous impostors who he's tempted to destroy with his fire. He'll think it over. Far below, the Rhinemaiden condemn the gods as worthless cowards as they mourn the loss of their treasure—and the curtain falls.

Am opera in four scenes

### The Cast in Order of Appearance

Prelude and Scene 1: _(Das Rheingold is unique in the world's music literature it that it and it alone contains a drone of 4½ minutes on a single pitch, in this case, E flat. That is after 136 measures in 6/8 time on that single note, the curtain opens to voices now heard in the key of A flat. We are at the bottom of the Rhine River where the Rhinemaiden Woglinde is swimming about a central rock)_

**Woglinde:** Weia! Waga! Wandering waters, swing you our cradle! Wagala, wagala, etc.

**Wellgunde:** _(from above)_ Woglinde, are you watching alone?

**Woglinde:** Yes, but if you'll came down there's be two of us.

**Wellgunde:** _(diving down)_ How safe's the watch?

**Woglinde:** _(eludes her by swimming away)_ Safe! _(They playfully chase one another)_

**Flosshilde:** _(from above)_ Heiaha weia! Heedless watchers!

**Wellgunde:** Flosshilde swim! Woglinde flies! Help me to slow her down! _(Flosshilde dives between them)_

**Flosshilde:** You aren't guarding the gold very well! _(As they dart about, Alberich climbs out of a chasm to sit on a rock watching them)_

**Alberich:** He! He! Hey you nixies! _(they freeze at the sound of his voice,)_

**Woglinde:** Who's there?

**Wellgunde:** A voice in the dark.

**Flosshilde:** Look who's below! _(They dive to see the Nibelung)_

**Woglinde, Wellgunde:** Fi grisly one!

**Flosshilde:** _(swimming up)_ Check the gold! Father warned us about this sort of thing! _(They follow her, and all gather around the middle rock)_

**Alberich:** You, above there!

**Rhinemaiden:** What are you doing down there?

**Alberich:** Will you be upset if I just stand and watch? But you could dive down and play with a Nibelung!

**Woglinde:** _(to the others)_ Want to play with him?

**Wellgunde:** Is he mocking us?

**Alberich:** You shine so brightly in the light! I could hold one of you were you to come to me!

**Flosshilde:** What a laugh! He's in love!

**Wellgunde:** He's just an imp!

**Woglinde:** What the hell, let's tease him! _(Sinking to Alberich's rock)_

**Alberich:** A ha! One approaches!

**Woglinde:** Come closer! _(Alberich climbs higher on the rock)_

**Alberich:** _(hurriedly)_ I hate these slimy rocks where you can't stand up! My hands and feet slip on them! And I get water in my nose ... damned sneezing! _(He sneezes as he nears Woglinde)_

**Woglinde:** _(laughing)_ His sneezing tells of my love's approach!

**Alberich:** My sweetheart! _(Reaching her and trying to grab her)_

**Woglinde:** _(avoiding him)_ You would woo me? Then do it up here!

**Alberich:** Why did you slip away? Come closer! You swim where I can barely creep.

**Woglinde:** You could hug me on the ground.

**Alberich:** _(climbing down)_ It's better down here!

**Woglinde:** Now let's go up! _(Darting up)_

**Wellgunde, Flosshilde:** _(laughing)_ Ha ha! Etc.

**Alberich:** (aside) How does one catch this fish? _(trying to climb after Wellgunde)_

**Wellgunde:** Hey fair one! Don't you hear me?

**Alberich:** _(turning around)_ You calling me?

**Wellgunde:** Huh? You listen and Woglinde doesn't! _(rushing to Wellgunde)_

**Alberich:** You seem fairer than the shy one, come down and be with me!

**Wellgunde:** _(Sinking a bit)_ Near enough?

**Alberich:** No! Lower so I can play with your hair!

**Wellgunde:** Longing for some lusty joys you hideous imp?!

**Alberich:** _(grabbing her)_ I may be homely, but I've got you now!

**Wellgunde:** _(darting away)_ Really!

**Alberich:** Faithless bitch! You're just a bony, chilly-skinned fish! If I'm not pretty enough for you, go play with the eels!

**Flosshilde:** Why so cranky elf? Okay! So you've been shot down by two of us. There's still the third! Surely her love would make you happy!

**Alberich:** A hear your soothing song, but none of you are choosing me!

**Flosshilde:** _(diving to him)_ How foolish my sisters are for not finding you good looking!

**Alberich:** _(approaching her)_ You know, the others seem hideous compared to you!

**Flosshilde:** Oh sing your sweet enrapturing song!

**Alberich:** _(caressing her)_ My heart flutters when I'm laughed at by such sweet praise.

**Flosshilde:** _(with gentle resistance)_ But your winsomeness makes me happy, and your smile cheers me up! _(She draws him tenderly to her)_ Dearest man!

**Alberich:** Sweetest maid!

**Flosshilde:** Were you but mine!

**Alberich:** Might I hold you forever!

**Flosshilde:** _(ardently)_ Ah, forever to see the sting of your glance, feel the tickle of your beard! Might your shaggy hair, toadish shape and croaking voice, be mine forever! _(Woglinde and Wellgunde have come close)_

**Woglinde, Wellgunde:** _(laughing)_ Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

**Alberich:** _(upset)_ Why are you two laughing at me?

**Flosshilde:** _(darting from him)_ Because it's the song's perfect ending! _(Swimming to her sisters)_

**Woglinde, Wellgunde:** _(laughing)_ Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

**Alberich:** Woe's me! Even the third one betrays me.

**Rhinemaiden:** Wallala! Wallala! lalaleia! leialalei! heia! heia! ha ha! Shame on you, imp! Hear our song! Didn't you hold the maid you love? We are true to him who holds us fast! _(They swim apart trying to have him chase them)._

**Alberich:** I'm burning with desire and you laugh, but I'm going to have one of you! _(Leaping from rock to rock trying to catch one of them, but they always elude him with mocking laughter)_

**Alberich:** If I could just capture one! _(a glow appears on the gold becoming blindingly bright!)_

**Rhinemaiden:** _(Swimming around the rock)_ Heia jaheia! heia jaheia! Rhinegold, Rhinegold! You glorious light! Waken friend! Awake in joy! We'll gladly play games with you with dancing and singing in the glorious light! Rhinegold! Rhinegold! _(They swim around the rock shimmering with a golden light)_

**Alberich:** _(with his eyes fixed on the gold)_ What is it that stuff that gleams and glows?

**Rhinemaiden:** What? You've never heard of the Rhinegold? Where have you been all your life?

**Wellgunde:** He doesn't know the gold's brightness waxes and wanes with the sun?

**Woglinde:** Of the star whose glory lightens our watery depths?

**Rhinemaiden:** See how we glide in its radiance! Would you, now bathed in brightness, come frolic with us? Wallala la la leia lalai! Wallala la la leia jahei!

**Alberich:** So gold is only good for games?

**Woglinde:** You wouldn't flout its charms if you knew its potential.

**Wellgunde:** If its owner knows how to forge an all-powerful ring from it, he could rule the world!

**Flosshilde:** Our father told us the story when he ordered us to guard the hoard from theft.

**Wellgunde:** Why are you giving him a hard time? You know only one craving gold and power more than love can make and empower the ring.

**Woglinde:** Yup! Only he foreswearing love forever!

**Wellgunde:** So we don't worry because all that lives loves!

**Woglinde:** Except, perhaps, for the horney dwarf with the thwarted desires!

**Flosshilde:** I don't fear him! Hell, I was almost burnt when his passion's blazed!

**Rhinemaiden:** Wallala! Wallaleia! Loveliest Nibelung, why aren't you laughing too?! Oh come, on, laugh with us! Heia jaheia! heia jaheia! _(They swim, joyously, while ignoring Alberich who's been listening carefully to their chatter)_

**Alberich:** _(aside)_ All that wealth could be mine if I just foreswear love! _(aloud)_ Keep mocking me as I near your toy! _(springing to the middle rock, he climes to its top)_

**Rhinemaiden:** _(Moving at full speed to the rock!)_ Heia! heia! heia jahei! Save yourselves! The elf's gone nuts! Look at the water swirling around him! Love has cost him his wits! _(Alberich reaches the gold)_

**Alberich:** Not afraid of the dark? Watch in darkness as my hand shields your light! And now, I yank the gold from the rock to make my ring of revenge! Hear me you floods! I hereby accurse and renounce love forever! _(Tearing the gold from the rock, he and the gold plunge out of sight into a chasm as the maiden rush after him in the dark)_

**Flosshilde:** Grab the thief!

**Wellgunde:** Get the gold!

**Rhinemaiden:** Help us! Help us! Woe! Woe! _(From the depths, Alberich's mocking cackle is heard as the curtain closes)_

Scene 2: _(_ _dawn's first rays light a castle on a distant hilltop. Between that and the foreground lies the Rhine River valley. Wotan and his wife Fricka are asleep. And as she awakes, she looks toward the castle on the hilltop)_

**Fricka:** _(alarmed)_ Wotan! Wake up!

**Wotan:** _(dreaming)_ The sacred dwelling of joy is guarded by gate and door: Manhood's honor, might without bound, rise now to endless renown!

**Fricka:** _(shakings him)_ Forget the dream! Wake up!

**Wotan:** _(He raises himself and looks at the castle)_ It's finished! Look at those glittering walls! Just as I saw them it in my dreams!

**Fricka:** Okay! You've got your castle! But what about Freia! You _do_ remember promising her to the giants in payment for building it don't you? Well, it's done! Are the giants getting her? Or are you going to renege on your word?

**Wotan:** I remember the bargain, but don't you worry your cute little head about it.

**Fricka:** Had I learned about this earlier I might have stopped it, but you men are always keeping us women in the dark. You not only dealt with the giants behind my back, you shamelessly abandoned Freia! Do you think my sister's happy with this mess you've gotten her into?!

**Wotan:** _(quietly)_ What did you think I was going to pay them with when you begged me to have the castle built?

**Fricka:** It wouldn't be so bad if you'd seen this in terms of peace, but you always dream of war and glory for yourself. They've built a never-ending battle into those damned towering walls.

**Wotan:** _(smiling)_ Would you have me imprisoned in a castle when there's a whole world out there to conquer? Not my style!

**Fricka:** You have a cold, unloving heart! For your vain and meaningless delights of power, you scorn love and a woman's worth?

**Wotan:** I worship women even more than you, and Freia will not be given to the giants for I never intended her to be.

**Fricka:** _(looking anxiously off stage)_ Well, get ready to help her because she's running to you right now for just that!

**Freia:** _(Rushing in)_ Help me! Fasolt is right behind me and he's ready to take me!

**Wotan:** Let him threaten! Have you seen Loge?

**Fricka:** The trickster that almost always fails?! You still trust him?

**Wotan:** When I'm right I need no help, but now I need a guile and cunning to use against them that only Loge has. I made the agreement giving Freia to them as payment because I believed Loge would find a way to get me out of it.

**Fricka:** Well, the giants are almost here, and your crafty Loge isn't!

**Freia:** What now Wotan? Have you abandoned the weak! Oh help me, Donner! Rescue Freia, my Froh!

**Fricka:** Your betrayers are all in hiding!

**Fasolt:** _(the giants enter carrying clubs)_ We built your castle while you slept and it now stands shining in the sun! Its finished, now pay us!

**Wotan:** What do you consider a reasonable payment?

**Fasolt:** What crap is this? The price was fixed! Just give us Freia and we'll be on our way!

**Wotan:** Ask for something else, as I have no intention of letting you take her!

**Fasolt:** _(Speechless with rage)_ What! Was your agreement a lie? Then why did you engrave it on your spear? For laughs? What about all the other bargains carved on that spear of yours? Are they jokes too? Doesn't all your power come from your guaranteeing those bargains! Don't throw it all away by your bad faith in this one little matter. A foolish giant gives you this advice! Learn from it!

**Wotan:** How sly you block-heads are to take in earnest what we've spoken in jest! Whatever made you think you could do anything worthy of that lovely goddesses?

**Fasolt:** You mock us unjustly. You who will reign in those beautiful hallowed towers of stone believe us unworthy of a woman's beauty for building it! We worked hard to win a woman, and you call the agreement between us a joke?

**Fafner:** Cut the chatter, we won't win here. But the gods _really_ need her. _(softly)_ She's the only one who knows how to grow the golden apples that keep them young. Without those apples they'll quickly become old and weak. _(roughly)_ They need her so let's get her out of here!

**Wotan:** _(aside)_ Where the hell's Loge?!

**Fasolt:** So where are we?!

**Wotan:** Ask for any other wage!

**Fasolt:** No! It's Freia period!

**Fafner:** _(turning to Freia)_ You there! Follow us! _(Fafner and Fasolt move toward Freia as Froh and Donner rush in)_

**Freia:** Help!

**Froh:** _(grabbing Freia)_ To me, Freia! _(to Fafner)_ Back off! I'll shield the fair one!

**Donner:** _(swinging his hammer before the giants threateningly)_ Know how much this thing weighs?

**Fafner:** Why the threat?

**Fasolt:** We just came here to get paid.

**Donner:** I'll pay your wage! _(continuously swinging his hammer)_ Come on over and I'll pay you with a heavy hand!

**Wotan:** _(placing his spear between the them)_ Relax! There's no need of force! All the bonds on my spear are safe!

**Freia:** Woe's me! Wotan has forsaken me!

**Fricka:** That's your answer, you miserable bastard? _(Wotan: turns to see Loge coming)_

**Wotan:** Here's Loge! _(entering)_ You're hurrying to help me fix a bargain I made based on your lousy advice?

**Loge:** My advice? How? I never spoke with you about a bargain? Are you talking about the deal you made with the giants? If so, consider this: Your castle is finished and I tested it myself. It's perfect. Not one stone stirred in its bed.

**Wotan:** Beware crafty one! I'm your only friend! I took you, a mere half god, into the troop of gods who never trusted you. And when the builders insisted that Freia be the payment, you know I only gave my word because you promised to find a way around my deceitful pledge.

**Loge:** Yes, I made that promise.

**Fricka:** _(to Wotan)_ See what a knave you trusted

**Froh:** You're nothing but a damned liar Loge!

**Donner:** _(to Loge)_ I'll quench your glow!

**Loge:** You revile me to cover your own disgrace! _(Donner threatens to strike him)_

**Wotan:** _(stepping between them)_ Please leave quietly friends! You don't know what Loge can do.

**Fafner:** Let's get on with it! Pay up!

**Fasolt:** We've waited long enough! _(Wotan: turns to Loge)_

**Wotan:** _(to Loge)_ Well!

**Loge:** Thankless as ever I see! I've looked everywhere to find a ransom for Freia, but nothing is more valuable to a man than a woman's love. In all of history I've only found one exception: The Rhinemaiden told me of the Nibelung Alberich who, failing to win one of them, forsook love and stole the Rhine gold. The maidens' wailing prayers were to you, Wotan. They asked that your vengeance fall on the Nibelung, and that, through you, they would get their treasure back to once again shine in the water forever. I promised the maidens I'd tell you this and I have kept faith.

**Wotan:** Idiot! I have a problem now! What do I care about some water girl's needs?

**Fasolt:** _(who has listened, to Fafner)_ The damned Nibelung has caused us a lot of trouble, but he's always managed to slip out of our hands with the gold.

**Fafner:** He can cause us even more trouble if the gold grants him power. _(Turning to Loga)_ For once Loge, tell us the truth, what can the Nibelung gold do?

**Loge:** If it's in the water sleeping, nothing. But if it's turned into a ring by someone who's foresworn love, they could use it to do anything, even win the world.

**Wotan:** _(thoughtfully)_ So it can give unmeasurable power and wealth?

**Fricka:** _(softly to Loge)_ Or serve as a woman's golden trinket?

**Loge:** If it were her husband's desire that she possess a ring a busy dwarf is forging.

**Fricka:** _(caressingly to Wotan)_ Might my husband win the gold?

**Wotan:** _(under the influence of a spell)_ Loge, how is the trinket shaped?

**Loge:** A magical rune says the form is a ring, but no one knows for sure. Anyway, it seems the power only goes to him who possesses it and has forsworn love.

**Wotan:** _(turning away angrily)_ That will never do! That Alberich has won the ring's might!

**Donner:** _(to Wotan)_ We'll all be the dwarf's slaves if we can't get it back!

**Wotan:** Okay, I must get the ring. But how?

**Loge:** Easy, steal it! He stole the gold, you steal the ring. Anyway, remember that the Rhinemaiden pray that you'll return their gold.

**Wotan:** The Rhinemaiden! The Rhinemaiden! Why the hell are you always reminding me of them?

**Fricka:** Let's not talk about the Rhinemaiden. Anyway, I'm distress at how many men they've luree to their watery lair. _(meanwhile Fafner's been quietly chatting with Fasolt)_

**Fafner:** _(to Fasolt)_ Trust me, more than Fricka wants that gold. It could grant her eternal youth! _(Fasolt begins feeling himself convinced against his will. The giants approach Wotan)_

**Fafner:** Wotan! We'll trade Freia for the Nibelheim gold.

**Wotan:** Are you crazy? How can I give you what isn't mine?

**Fafner:** Our hard work built those walls!

**Wotan:** I should deal with the Nibelung for you insolent dolts!

**Fasolt:** _(Grabbing Freia)_ We're leaving and she'll stay with us until your ransom's paid!

**Freia:** _(screaming)_ Woe's me! Woe's me!

**Fafner:** We'll be back this evening, and when we do, we'll expect to see that gold!

**Fasolt:** Because if it isn't here, Freia is ours!

**Freia:** _(screaming)_ Sister, Brothers! Save me! Help! _(she's quickly borne away)_

**Froh:** Help her!

**Donner:** Perish all things! _(They look at Wotan)_

**Freia:** _(in the distance)_ Save me! Help!

**Loge:** _(Watching the giants leave)_ They're carrying Freia to Riesenheim. _(turning to the gods)_ Wotan sits brooding and the rest of them aren't looking all that well either. _(A pale mist appears, and in it, the gods begin aging. All look at Wotan, sitting in thought)_ Mist, do you trick me? Their cheeks pale, their eyes grow dim, Donner's hammer slips from his grasp, and Fricka too seems to have grown old.

**Fricka:** What's happening to us?

**Loge:** You haven't had one of Freia's apples today. It doesn't irk me for, being but a half god, I only get a little of Freia's fruit anyway. But without those apples you great ones will soon grow old and die!

**Fricka:** _(anxiously)_ Wotan you ass! See where your arrogance has brought us!

**Wotan:** _(starting up)_ Let's move it Loge! You're coming with me to Nibelheim to get the gold.

**Loge:** The Rhinemaiden called upon you, um, ah, may they hope for a hearing?

**Wotan:** _(violently)_ Knock it off! My problem is with Freia! Not some damned fish ladies!

**Loge:** As you command! Shall we go by way of the Rhine?

**Wotan:** No!

**Loge:** Then we'll swing through the sulfur-cleft! _(He disappears into a cleft, which immediately emits, a sulfurous vapor)_

**Wotan:** _(to the gods)_ You, wait here! _(He follows Loge into the cleft as the sulfurous fumes hide all of those on stage. This clears revealing a chasm with a red glow in the distance. An ever-increasing sound of hammering on anvils is heard. And as that din dies away, a subterranean chasm appears, with narrow clefts on all sides)_

Scene 3: _(in_ _Nibelheim_ _where Alberich is dragging the shrieking Mimi from hiding)_

**Alberich:** Laugh at me will you? You mischievous imp?! You'll be punished if you don't forge the work I've ordered!

**Mimi:** _(howling)_ Leave me alone! I've already forged it! It's done! Now take your filthy hand off my ear!

**Alberich:** Then where is it? Why can't I see it?

**Mimi:** I only hesitated in showing it to you because some small ....

**Alberich:** So it isn't done is it?

**Mimi:** _(embarrassed)_ Well, here ... and there ...

**Alberich:** Here and there what! Hand it over! _(metal falls from Mimi's hand and Alberich picks it up and examines it)_ What are you talking about? It's exactly what I asked for. Are you trying to trick me to keep this for yourself? _(putting the Tarnhelm on)_ It fits! Now let's see if it can work a spell using it! _(very softly)_ "Night and darkness, nowhere seen!" _(he vanishes into an instantly created mist)_ Can you see me, Mimi?

**Mimi:** _(looks about astonished)_ No! Where'd you go?

**Alberich:** _(invisible)_ Then feel me instead, you lazy rogue! _(Mimi writhes about under invisible blows)_ Take that for your thievish thought!

**Mimi:** Oh! Oh!

**Alberich:** _(invisible and laughing)_ Ha ha! Thanks blockhead! Your work is perfect! Now you Nibelungen, bow to Alberich your master! I'll be watching your every move! You'll get no peace or rest as you serve your unseen master! _(The vapor disappears and the sounds of Alberich's scolding gets fainter, and as Mimi cowers in pain, Wotan and Loge approach)_

**Loge:** Nibelheim! Where the bright sparks of the forges can be seen through the mist.

**Mimi:** Au! Au! Au!

**Wotan:** Who's that groaning

**Loge:** _(bending over Mimi)_ Why all the noise?

**Mimi:** Leave me alone! There's no help for me! I must obey my brother, who treats me like his slave.

**Loge:** What gave him the power to do that?

**Mimi:** Alberich had a ring made from the Rhinegold. A ring of such stunning power, he uses it to enslave us. We used to forge trinkets for our women or toys for our kids and laughed at our work. Now, his ring allows him to find new veins of ore in the mountain which he forces us to dig out and smelt into ingots for him. And all so he can add to his hoard.

**Loge:** How did you get him so angry?

**Mimi:** He gave me the exact directions to forge a helmet. But realizing the power it would give him, I made it for myself thinking I could use it to free me from him. And possibly to even overcome him and steal his all-powerful ring!

**Loge:** So? What went wrong?

**Mimi:** I failed to guess the power of the helmet's magic. And, when it was done, Alberich grabbed it, put it on, and vanished! Now, he lurks about unseen to whip me! _(crying)_ Such was my pay for all that work. _(Wotan and Loge laugh)_

**Loge:** _(to Wotan:)_ This isn't going to be easy.

**Wotan:** No, but we'll win if you help!

**Mimi:** _(Observing the gods more attentively)_ Why all the questions? Who are you guys anyway?

**Loge:** We're friends here to free the Nibelungen! _(hearing Alberich's approach, Mimi shrinks back in terror)_

**Mimi:** _(running about)_ Look out for yourselves! Can't you hear Alberich coming?

**Wotan:** _(nonchalantly sitting on a stone)_ We'll wait for him here.

**Alberich:** _(With the Tarnhelm under his belt, Alberich drives Nibelung carrying gold and silver from the caverns with a whip)_ Pile the horde in a heap over there you lazy bastards! _(suddenly noticing Wotan: and Loge)_ Hey! Who the hell are you guys? _(turning to Mimi)_ Why are you chatting with these vagabonds? Off, you sluggard! Back to your smithing! _(Mimi returns to the crowd of Nibelungs)_ And the rest of you get back to work! Still goofing off?! _(kissing his ring and showing it about menacingly)_ Tremble in terror, you miserable bastards! _(the shrieking Nibelung, leave in all directions and Alberich looks suspiciously at Wotan and Loge)_ Who the hell are you and what do you want?

**Wotan:** I've heard of the wonders worked in Nibelheim by Alberich, and in our greed, we've come to find out how he did it.

**Alberich:** So envy brings you here? Such gallant guests! I believe I well know you well!

**Loge:** You know me well ignorant imp? Then who am I? In chilly caves when you lay shivering, where was your light and comforting fire then? What boots your forges? Are they not lit by me?

**Alberich:** So Loga now laughs on elves? You crafty rogue! You're a false one! You were once our friend Loga. Once!

**Loge:** I suspect you still trust me.

**Alberich:** With your lying? Never! Now I defy you.

**Loge:** High courage strengthens your power!

**Alberich:** _(glancing at the hoard)_ See the hoard my people have heaped up for me?

**Loge:** The biggest I've ever seen.

**Alberich:** Today it's scant! Hereafter it'll be huge!

**Wotan:** But what good is it to you? Nibelheim's boring. You can't buy anything here!

**Alberich:** But with that hoard, I'll rule the world!

**Wotan:** But how does one begin such a task, my friend?

**Alberich:** You godly ones! Your greed for gold will enslave you! Beware! First your men will bow to my might, then _(savagely)_ your women, though love be my enemy!

**Wotan:** _(violently)_ Away, you impious wretch!

**Alberich:** What did you say?

**Loge:** _(Stepping between them)_ Calm down! _(to Alberich)_ Who isn't dazzled by your work? Even the mightiest must call on you, for not even the sun, moon and stars can withstand your power! But if, in your sleep, a thief should steal the ring—what would happen then?

**Alberich:** My Tarnhelm allows me to change into any shape I chose. Or, I could vanish completely. So, I'm not afraid of your devious threats my friend!

**Loge:** I've seen many wonders, but your work is unique. None will believe you could do it, or that your power is limitless!

**Alberich:** You think I'm a lying boaster like Loge?

**Loge:** Sorry. But I don't trust anything until I've seen it proven.

**Alberich:** You're so puffed up with prudence you're ready to burst! Okay, give me a shape you'd like me to assume?

**Loge:** Amaze me!

**Alberich:** _(donning the Tarnhelm)_ "Dreaded dragon, wind and coil thee!" _(and he's instantly turned into a huge serpent)_

**Loge:** _(Pretending terror!)_ Wow! Oh terrible dragon! Don't kill me! Spare my life!

**Wotan:** _(laughing)_ Neat trick Alberich! How quickly you became an enormous dragon! _(The dragon is immediately replaced by Alberich)_

**Alberich:** Heh heh! Trust me now?

**Loge:** _(trembling)_ I think my shaking proves it! But, as you grew enormous, can you also become something small? To me, that's the surest way to escape danger.

**Alberich:** How small shall I be?

**Loge:** Something the smallest cranny could hold, like a frightened toad.

**Alberich:** Pah! Simpler yet! Watch this! _(donning the Tarnhelm)_ "Crooked toad, creep you hither!" _(He instantly becomes a toad crawling toward them)_

**Loge:** _(to Wotan)_ Grab him! _(as Wotan places his foot on the toad, Loge grabs the Tarnhelm from its head. Alberich instantly appears in his own form, writhing under Wotan's foot)_

**Alberich:** Damn it! Now I'm _their_ prisoner! (Once again forgetting that he has the ring and can use its power to free himself)

**Loge:** Hold him fast while I tie him up. _(tying his hands and feet)_ Now he's ours and up we go! _(the prisoner struggles violently as Wotan and Loge, bringing him to the earth's surface)_

Scene 4: _(_ _On a mountain shrouded in a pale mist)_

**Loge:** _(dancing around Alberich)_ Okay, buddy! Look at the world you long to rule and tell me: What corner would you give me for a home?

**Alberich:** Robber! Rogue! Knave! You'll pay for this!

**Wotan:** Look dumbass! You're my prisoner and being treated just as you treated your countrymen. You want to be free? Turn over your ransom.

**Alberich:** _(to Wotan)_ You idiot! You trust this treacherous lying thief Loga! You'll feel my revenge for this!

**Loge:** Only the free can threaten vengeance Alberich, and you ain't free. Want to think about vengeance? Think about paying your ransom!

**Alberich:** What do you want?

**Wotan:** All your gold.

**Alberich:** Thieving bastards! _(aside)_ But if I can keep the ring, they can have the rest.

**Wotan:** Well?! Do we get the gold?

**Alberich:** Loosen my hand and I'll summon it. _(His ring hand is untied, Alberich touches his lips to the ring and murmurs a command causing_ _the Nibelungs to begin bring up the gold from the depts)_ Now take these damned bonds off!

**Wotan:** Not until all the treasure's here. _(The Nibelungs keep piling up the gold)_

**Alberich:** What a disgrace that these nobodies should see me sitting here bound like this! _(to the Nibelungs)_ Pile it in a heap! Morons! Must I help you? Don't look at me! Move it! Move it! And when you're done go home! _(kissing the ring and stretching his hand out the Nibelung quickly disperse)_ There's your damned ransom, now let me go! Oh, and the Tarnhelm that Loge's fondling, can I keep that out of kindness?

**Loge:** _(throwing the Tarnhelm on the pile)_ The plunderer must pay for his pardon.

**Wotan:** _(violently)_ Now the ring! Then you can do as you wish with your life.

**Alberich:** If all you're going to leave me is my life, you must let me keep the ring! For if I keep my hand, head, eye and ear, what's more truly than mine than this ring?

**Wotan:** It's not yours you impudent pest! How did you got the ring's gold? You stole it from the Rhinemaiden!

**Alberich:** Tricksters! You castigate me for the crime you wish you could've pulled off! You'd have stolen the damned gold yourself if you'd known how to forge the ring! Now shall my misdeed give you this glorious toy? Watch out god! For if I've sinned, I sinned against myself. But if you steal my ring, a sin will be on your head against all that was, is and ever shall be!

**Wotan:** None of your blather can save it! Give me the ring! _(violently pulling the ring off Alberich's finger)_ [Impossible if Wagner followed his own rules.]

**Alberich:** _(wailing)_ Defeated! Destroyed! Now the wretchedest of slaves!

**Wotan:** _(putting on the ring)_ Now I'm the mightiest lord of all!

**Loge:** _(to Wotan)_ Let him go?

**Wotan:** Why not?! _(releases Alberich)_

**Loge:** _(to Alberich)_ Now beat it! Go home!

**Alberich:** I'm free! _(enraged laughter)_ And here's my freedom's first words! I received this ring cursed, now let me curse it further! _As this gold gives measureless might, so now let its magic deal death and destruction to all possessing it until I get it back!_ You can hold it, _(laughing ominously)_ but you can't get away from my curse! _(he exits)_

**Loge:** Did you hear his lovely farewell speech?

**Wotan:** _(contemplating the ring)_ He's just letting off steam!

**Loge:** This gets rid of the giants' problem. _(through the dispersing mist Donner, Froh and Frick appear)_

**Froh:** They've returned!

**Donner:** Welcome!

**Fricka:** _(anxiously to Wotan)_ Well? Did you get the gold?

**Loge:** _(pointing to the hoard)_ There's your sister's ransom.

**Donner:** Good! The giants are over there with Freia.

**Froh:** Let's face it, our future looked pretty bleak without her and her golden apples. _(all becomes bright, and the gods regain their former younger appearance.) (Fasolt and Fafner enter leading Freia who rushes to her sister)_

**Fricka:** You're back!

**Fasolt:** _(restraining her)_ Hold on there! Don't touch her yet! For, although loth to do so, until we accept the hoard, we still claim her.

**Wotan:** _(pointing to the pile of gold)_ There it is.

**Fasolt:** While I hate to lose the woman I love, you can only tear her from my heart if you can pile that gold so high I can't see her anymore.

**Wotan:** So we're measuring the gold by Freia's outline now? _(The giants set their staves in the ground in front of Freia, framing her height and breadth)_

**Fafner:** Our poles are set, now match their height with the gold!

**Wotan:** _(to those moving the gold)_ Let's get a move on! _(aside)_ Although this really irks me!

**Fafner:** _(pounding the treasure together)_ Don't pack it so loosely! _(looking for crevices)_ Here, fill these crannies! Look here! This hole must be filled!

**Wotan:** _(turning away moodily)_ What a disgrace!

**Fricka:** See how shamed Freia is! And all because of you, you heartless bastard!

**Fafner:** More gold!

**Donner:** _(getting a touch feisty)_ There isn't any more! Get your ass over here and see for yourself!

**Fafner:** Patience, Donner! Your thunder isn't helpful here!

**Donner:** _(aiming a blow)_ It will serve to crush you, you scoundrel!

**Wotan:** Peace, my friends! I believe Freia's now hidden. _(but looking for cracks in the pile, Fafner signals he's found another one)_

**Loge:** But the hoards gone!

**Fafner:** I can see her hair! You! Over there! Throw that toy you've got on!

**Loge:** What? Even the Tarnhelm?

**Fafner:** Now! Let's go!

**Wotan:** _(to Loge with disgust)_ Let the damned thing go.

**Loge:** _(tossing the Tarnhelm on the pile)_ Happy now?

**Fasolt:** Well, I can't see her anymore, so I guess we'll have to let her go? _(looking through the hoard)_ But must I? _..._ Ah! ... Wait! There's a crack here and I can see her eye gleam like a star! _(beside himself)_ And while that sweet eye shines, she's still mine!

**Fafner:** Fill this hole!

**Loge:** How? The hoard's gone!

**Fafner:** Not so fast! Wotan still has the ring. Use it to fill the hole!

**Wotan:** My ring?

**Loge:** The Rhinemaiden own the gold, not Wotan! He must give the ring to them.

**Wotan:** You babbling about those damned fish again? I've won the damned ring and I'm keeping it!

**Loge:** So much for the promise I made the sorrowing maids!

**Wotan:** Just remember, your promise does _not_ bind me!

**Fafner:** No ring, no Freia.

**Wotan:** Ask for anything else! I'll give you the world rather than the ring!

**Fasolt:** _(grabbing Freia from behind the gold and starting to leave)_ That's it! We're out of here.

**Freia:** Help! Help!

**Fricka:** Give them the damned ring!

**Froh:** Give it to them!

**Donner:** Grant them the ring! _(Fafner holds Fasolt back as he's pressing to go)_

**Wotan:** I'm keeping the ring! _(_ _the stage goes dark and a bluish light appears from which Erda rises from the earth to her waist)_

**Erda:** _(waving her hand toward Wotan menacingly)_ Surrender the ring Wotan! Flee its curse! Only disaster lies in that curse's might!

**Wotan:** And who the hell are you to warn me?

**Erda:** It is I, Erda, goddess of the earth who warns you! I who know all that was ever known. And before the world was created, my three daughters, the Norns were born. And what they see nightly, they tell me. Only the direst danger to you calls me here from my sleep. Hear me! All that ever was is about to end, even your godhood unless you give up the ring! _(She sinks as far as her breasts as the bluish light fades)_

**Wotan:** I'm impressed! Stay and tell me more!

**Erda:** _(disappearing)_ You have been warned!

**Wotan:** This is terrible, you must stay until you've told me everything! _(He tries following Erda, but Froh and Fricka hold him back)_

**Fricka:** What would you do if you caught her, raging one?

**Froh:** No Wotan! Don't try to touch the Wala! Remember her words!

**Donner:** _(Turning to the giants)_ Yo! Giants! Come on back! The ring is yours!

**Freia:** Then I'm truly worth such a ransom? _(all watch Wotan brandish his spear in token of his decision—and defeat)_

**Wotan:** _(throwing the ring on the hoard)_ You're free, Freia! Now how about getting some of your golden apples that we might get our youth back?! _(now free, Freia runs to Wotan while Fafner opens a sack to pack up the gold)_

**Fasolt:** _(to Fafner)_ Hold on greedy one! I get some too!

**Fafner:** Pooh! You were more interested in the girl than the gold! You and your silly lovesick look! I could scarcely get you to bargain! And, had we gotten Freia, you wouldn't have shared her! So I believe I should get most of the gold!

**Fasolt:** You thief! _(turning toward the gods)_ A question! How should we divide the hoard! _(Wotan turns away contemptuously)_

**Loge:** Let him have the hoard as long as you keep the ring! _(Fasolt throws himself on Fafner, who's been packing)_

**Fasolt:** Get away from here! The ring is mine! _(He snatches at the ring and they struggle)_

**Fafner:** Don't touch the ring! It's mine! _(Fasolt wrests the ring from Fafner)_

**Fasolt:** I have it, and I'm keeping it!

**Fafner:** _(he strikes Fasolt a fatal blow and takes the ring)_ Now gloat on Freia's glance! _(dropping the ring in the sack, he continues packing the hoard as the gods stand stunned!)_

**Wotan:** _(deeply moved)_ Wow! That's some curse!

**Loge:** You gained a lot with the ring, but you might be even luckier still now that it's gone. It seems our foe murders their friends for the ring.

**Wotan:** Now what dark thoughts hold me? Erda, teach me how to end the fear upsetting my soul. I must descend into the earth to have a chat with Erda!

**Fricka:** _(Cajolingly)_ Where are you staying Wotan? You don't seem interested in seeing your new castle.

**Wotan:** _(gloomily)_ I paid for it with stolen goods!

**Donner:** _(pointing to the background mist)_ Come lightning and thunder and sweep the heavens clear! _(swinging his hammer, the mists collect around him)_ Heda! Heda! Hedo! _(swinging his hammer)_ To me, all you vapor and mists collect! Donner, your lord, calls his hosts! _(_ _He and Froh disappear into the clouds)_ Brothers! Create the bridge and show them the way over it! _(The clouds disperse; Donner and Froh become visible again, and from their feet a rainbow bridge stretches across the valley to the castle door now glowing in the light of the setting sun._ _Ignoring his brother's body, Fafner puts the sack containing the hoard on his back and, leaves the stage as Froh points to the bridge as their way across the valley)_

**Froh:** _(to the gods)_ The bridge will take you home, and while it's only light, don't be afraid, it'll hold you! _(Wotan and his court look in awe at the sight)_

**Wotan:** It gleams in the evening sunlight just as it did at the rising sun. It's almost night, so let's go greet my new home! _(to Fricka)_ Follow me, wife! For now, we live in Valhalla!

**Fricka:** The name seems strange, what does it mean?

**Wotan:** That my spirit has mastered my dread, that I have triumphed! _(Taking Fricka by the hand, he walks slowly toward the bridge with Froh, Freia and Donner in tow)_

**Loge:** _(Upstage looking after the gods)_ They think their strong while rushing to their doom! I'm ashamed to have even been involved in this mess with them. I think I'd like to fry all of them, rather than sink with them! I'll mull it over. Who knows what may happen? _(joining the other gods)_

**Rhinemaiden:** _(From the unseen valley)_ Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Guileless gold! How brightly you used to shine on us! _(about to set his foot on the bridge, Wotan stops and turns)_

**Wotan:** What do I hear?

**Rhinemaiden:** We cry for your pure luster!

**Loge:** _(Looking into the valley)_ The river children are crying over their stolen gold.

**Rhinemaiden:** Give us the gold! Return the gold!

**Wotan:** Damned pests!

**Rhinemaiden:** Return its glory to us!

**Wotan:** Knock off your noisy taunts!

**Loge:** _(Calling toward the valley)_ Hey! You in the water! Wotan says, hereafter, bask in the god's newfound bliss! _(The gods laugh as they cross the bridge)_

**Rhinemaiden:** Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Oh, would that treasure glitter again in the deep! Only in water is life true, for all above, is false! _(and the curtain falls)_

From the Absolutely Fabulous New York City Metropolitan Opera Production.

(Decades have passed since the gods entered Walhalla. And, using the Tarnhelm, the giant Fafner, has transform himself into a dragon to guard his gold in a forest cave. And Wotan seems to have made it down to visit Erda for she has since borne him Brünnhilde, who has joined his eight other daughters in the Valkyrie, an elite force created to carry the bodies of battle-fallen heros to protect Walhalla from Alberich should the dwarf recover the ring.

And, while meandering the earth as, The Wanderer, the horny Wotan has also managed to father the twins Siegmund and Sieglinde, by an unnamed Völsung woman. Separated at an early age, they are now unaware of each other's whereabouts. But from these twins, Wotan hopes to produce a hero who, unencumbered by the gods' treaties, will steal Fafner's ring and return it to him)

Act 1: As a storm rages, Siegmund finds shelter from his enemies in a house built into and around a massive ash-tree. Unarmed and wounded, he collapses exhausted. Sieglinde enters and tells Siegmund that she's the wife of Hunding, and that he may rest here until her husband returns. But as they talk, they look at each other with growing interest. Siegmund gets ready to leave, telling Sieglinde that misfortune follows him everywhere and he doesn't want to bring it to her, but she replies that misfortune is her middle name, so stick around.

The returning Hunding asks Siegmund what he's doing there, and calling himself Wehwalt (woeful), Siegmund begins the story of his life. Of how he grew up in the forest with his parents and twin sister. One day, as a child, he found their home burned down, his mother killed and his sister missing. As for recently, he just fought with the relatives of a girl being forced into a marriage. There, his weapons were destroyed, the bride was killed, and he fled winding up where he is now.

Hunding reveals that he is one of Siegmund's pursuers and tells him that, while he may stay the night, they must fight the next morning. Rising to leave the room, Sieglinde gives Siegmund a meaningful glance to a tree. A tree reflecting firelight from the hilt of a sword buried in the tree.

She and her husband Hunding leave; she drugs Hunding's drink and returns to tell Sigmund she was forced into her loveless marriage and that during their wedding feast, an old man appeared with a sword which he plunged into the ash tree out there which no one's ever been able to pull out, and she's longing for a hero to pull that sword from the tree to save her.

They speak together for a time, but the instant Siegmund speaks his fathers' name, Wälse, she realizes that he's her long-lost brother and that the sword in the tree was meant for him! Siegmund draws the sword from the tree; she reveals herself as Sieglinde, his twin sister. Siegmund names the sword Nothung (German for child of need) and declares it will be her protector. And they duet of their love for each other leading to some off-stage hanky-panky as the act ends.

Act 2: In Valhalla, Wotan orders Brünnhilde, to protect Siegmund in his upcoming battle with Hunding. But Fricka, the goddess of family values, shows up demanding that the twins be punished for their incestuous dalliance and laughs at Wotan's argument that he needs Siegmund as a man free of contracts to steal Fafner's ring for him. She mockingly points out that Siegmund is nothing but Wotan's pawn. Defeated by Fricka's logic, Wotan agrees to reverse his order to Brünnhilde who is then to give Hunding the victory, and deeply saddened, he departs.

Consumed with guilt and exhaustion, Siegmund and Sieglinde enter and she faints. Brünnhilde tells Siegmund of his impending death, and that Sieglinde cannot go to Valhalla with him. He replies that she's wrong, that his father's sword will let him kill Hunding. Now Brünnhilde has to tell him his blade has lost its power. And rather than die alone, he threatens to kill both Sieglinde and himself! This so moves Brünnhilde such that she decides to defy her father and give him the victory.

Hunding's horn call [a French horn] is heard; Hunding arrives and instantly begins his attack, but Brünnhilde's power aids Siegmund—until the enraged Wotan shows up and shatters Siegmund's sword with his spear at which, Hunding kills Siegmund. Brünnhilde gathers up Siegmund's sword's pieces and flees with Sieglinde on her horse, as Wotan kills Hunding, and swearing that Brünnhilde will pay for her defiance, he sets out in hot pursuit after her.

Act 3: On a mountain top **,** the Valkyrie are chattering with their dead heros when Brünnhilde shows up with Sieglinde begging her sisters for help, but they're not about to defy their father, Wotan.

While Sieglinde says there's no point to living without Siegmund, Brünnhilde's telling her that she's pregnant with Siegmund's child changes her mind as she says she must now remain alive for the child's sake—a child to be named Siegfried. Brünnhilde gives her Siegmund's sword's fragments and Sieglinde resolves to save the child. As she departs, the furious Wotan is heard approaching.

The Valkyries try hiding Brünnhilde, but finding her, Wotan strips her of her semi-divine status making her a mere mortal.

And as such, he sentences her to be held in a defenseless sleep on a mountain, prey to any man who finds her. The other Valkyrie protest, but flee when Wotan threatens them with the same fate if they keep yammering.

In her own defense, Brünnhilde says she protected Siegmund because she knew it was Wotan's real wish and asks for no abatement in her punishment, only that her resting place be surrounded with a fire protecting her from all but the bravest of men. Feeling deeply remorseful of the mess he's caused, Wotan agrees, bids her a loving farewell, lays her sleeping on a rock, and summons Loge, the demigod of fire who encircles her rock with raging flames! Then decreeing that only a hero without fear shall pass through those flames, a depressed Wotan departs to a falling curtain.

The Cast

Act 1: Prelude & Scene 1: The curtain rises in a house built into an ash tree. A storm is just subsiding as Siegmund enters the house through its rear entry door. It's obvious that he's in flight from a fight. Seeing no one around, he closes the door and, exhausted, throws himself on a rug before the hearth.

Siegmund: I don't care who owns this place, this is where I'm resting. (he's stretched out motionless as Sieglinde enters thinking her husband has returned, and is surprised to find a stranger lying before her hearth.

Sieglinde: (aside) Why's there a stranger here? (approaching him) Who are you? (coming nearer) He sure looks weary. I wonder whether he's tired or sick? (She bends over him and listens) He's sleeping.

Siegmund: (raising his head) A drink! A drink!

Sieglinde: I'll get you some water (she gets some and offers it to him) Drink! (He drinks, nods in thank, and stares at her with great interest)

Siegmund: That water lightened my load and refreshed my eyes. Who is it that gladdens them so?

Sieglinde: This is Hunding's house and I'm his wife. Now, get some rest until my husband returns!

Siegmund: I'm weaponless and wounded. Will your husband make me welcome?

Sieglinde: (anxiously) Let me see your wounds. (he gets in a sitting position)

Siegmund: My wounds may be slight, but I've abandoned my shield and spear in splinters. I fought until I was spent and forced to flee. (she goes to a storeroom and fills a horn with mead, and offers it to him)

Sieglinde: Will you accept some mead?

Siegmund: Will you try it first? (Sieglinde sips from the horn and gives it to Siegmund who drinks while watching her. Then, with trembling voice) You've helped an ill-fated man and I've rested enough. (moving toward the door) It's time for me to be on my way!

Sieglinde: Who's chasing you?

Siegmund: (stopping) Ill-fate pursues me everywhere. I suspect I'll never get married. (Going to the door and lifting the latch)

Sieglinde: Stay a bit! You can't bring Ill-fate where it's already made its home! (He looks at her as she looks sadly down)

Siegmund: I call myself Wehwalt, and Hunding shall find me here. (Leaning against the hearth, he stares sympathetically on Sieglinde. Raising her eyes, she stares back as the curtain closes)

Act 1 - Scene 2: (Hearing Hunding leading his horse to the stable, Sieglinde opens the door and the fully armed Hunding enters pausing as he sees Siegmund)

Sieglinde: Need drove this fainting man lying on our hearth.

Hunding: Have you cared for him?

Sieglinde: I gave him a drink and welcomed him as our guest.

Siegmund: (quietly watching Hunding) She offered me a drink and place to rest. For this you should chide the woman?

Hunding: This is my house and hearth and they are sacred to me. (removing his armor, and giving it to Sieglinde.) Prepare our meal. (after hangs his arms on the ash tree's branches, she prepares dinner.)

Hunding: (aside) How alike they look! (turning to Siegmund) It seems you've come a long way without a horse, what path did you take?

Siegmund: I have no idea where I am or how I got here, can you tell me?

Hunding: (offering Siegmund a seat at his table) I am Hunding, now, who are you? At the table, Siegmund stares at Sieglinde who sits opposite him next to Hunding. Watching them both, Hunding goes on) Do you fear giving me your trust? For to my wife's looks tell me you've told her your secret!

Sieglinde: (Unembarrassed) I know who our guest is.

Siegmund: (Looking into her eyes) I'm called Wehwalt, and my father was Wolfe, and I was born with a twin sister. My father, had many enemies, and one day after hunting, we returned home and found it burnt to the ground, my mother dead, and my sister gone. It was the Neidings that did it. After that, my father and I, the Wolf-pair, lived in the woods and were often beset by foes.

Hunding: You tell a great story, Wehwalt the Wolfing! I've heard rumors of the warrior pair, but never knew them.

Sieglinde: So where's your father now?

Siegmund: The Neidings attacked and we were separated and I've been looking for him ever since. In my heart I've longed for human contact. But wherever I went, if I sought a friend or wife, I was always distrusted. When I did something good, it was looked upon as bad by others. Yet; what seemed evil to me, was often thought to be good by others. In feuds I strove for good but always ended in woe thus my name be Wehwalt forever; for woe still follows my steps. (He notices Sieglinde's sympathetic look)

Hunding: The Norn who wove your forlorn fate didn't love you, thus no one you ask for help can be kind to you.

Sieglinde: Only cowardly hearts fear a weaponless man! How were your weapons destroyed?

Siegmund: Kinsmen were pushing a child into an unloved marriage, and she cried for help. I love fighting wrong and gave her clan a battle they won't soon forget! But after killing quite a few, a host of her kinsmen rushed me shattering my shield and spear. I was forced to watch them murder the maid before I fled both wounded, and weaponless,!

Hunding: (risings) I was summoned to that very fight, but arrived too late! Now I come home, to find an outcast of that fight in my house! Well, you'll be safe here tonight, but tomorrow you'll defend yourself! (in a storeroom, Sieglinde tops off a drinking horn with some spices. As she turns to enter her bedroom, with her eyes and uplifted chin she signals that Siegmund should look at the ash tree. Picking up his weapons Hunding continues) Men should be armed! (Leaving, he turns to Siegmund) You, Wölfing! Meet me tomorrow! (he enters his bedroom to a closing curtain)

Act 1 - Scene 3: (lit only by a small fire in the hearth, Siegmund sits brooding)

Siegmund: My father told me a sword would serve me when I needed it most. Well, now I really need one only to find myself helpless in an enemy's house. Then there are these tremors that seized me when I saw his wife! So she who holds my heart is owned by one who mocks his weaponless foe. Wälse! Wälse! Where's the sword you promised? (he notices that the hearth fire is being reflected off the spot on the ash tree where Sieglinde had signaled) What gleams where she glanced as she left the room! (the fire dies, the bedroom door opens, and Sieglinde enters)

Sieglinde: Are you asleep?

Siegmund: Who is it?

Sieglinde: It's me, now listen! Hunding's in a deep drugged sleep, so go! Save yourself!

Siegmund: (passionately) Your coming is my life!

Sieglinde: Listen to what I have to say. Hunding's kinsmen force me to marry a man I despised. And as they cheerfully drank, an old man with a hat pulled down over one eye entered. While glancing at me and glaring on them, he swung a sword in the ash tree burying it up to its hilt. All those trying to retrieve it have failed. But from the moment I met you, I knew you'd draw that sword from the tree. And today, the world's saddest wife has found the friend who—regardless of my shame and suffering—will atone for it all!

Siegmund: (embracing her) Hold the man you have armed and who'll be my wife! (The outside door opens by itself!)

Sieglinde: Whose there? (they walk outside, but no one is there)

Siegmund: (they sit) Defenseless he came to claim his sister! And now, both bride and sister are freed by the brother who is about to kill the man who held them apart!

Sieglinde: I was friendless until you came and looked at me. Now, it's all clear! And all those things I had hidden in my heart spilled out into my conscious mind when I first saw you. (lovingly, she watches him)

Siegmund: Oh sweetest woman!

Sieglinde: (Really close) Let me look at you closer that I might see your smile that rattles my senses!

Siegmund: Your hair shines beautifully in the moonlight!

Sieglinde: (pushing his hair back) Your forehead shines brightly! I tremble with delight as I remember how you looked as today I see you as of old!

Sieglinde: (gazing into his eyes) When we first met, the glow of your eyes soothed my grief and almost called you by name! You really are Wehwalt?

Siegmund: Don't call me that now that we're together!

Sieglinde: May I call you Friedmund?

Siegmund: Whatever you call me, that will be my name.

Sieglinde: Yet you call your father Wolfe?

Siegmund: He was a wolf to foxes, but his name was Wälse.

Sieglinde: (beside herself) If your father was Wälse, you truly are a Wälsung and the sword in the tree was meant for you and your name is Siegmund!

Siegmund: (springing up) I'm Siegmund! And I name the sword I now grasp Nothung! [German for Child of Need.] Conquering steel! Come out of your wooden scabbard! (he pulls the sword from the tree thrilling Sieglinde)

Sieglinde: (Excitedly) You're Siegmund, and I'm Sieglinde, the sister who's sought you so very long! (Throwing herself on him) The sword has won you your twin sister!

Siegmund: If you're both my bride and sister, then the Wälsungs will surely flourish! (He draws her to him passionately to a fast curtain)

Act 2: Prelude & Scene 1: (a rocky place which slopes away into the background)

Wotan: (fully armed, and standing before the equally armed Brünnhilde) Bridle your horse, kid, you're going to a fight to shield the Wälsung! Let Hunding die, and leave his carcass there. I don't want him stinking up Valhalla!

Brünnhilde: (Shouting from rock to rock on the height) Hojotoho! hojotoho! (she calls to Wotan) Heads up dad, Fricka's coming! Wow! How she swings that golden scourge of hers! (She slips out of sight as Fricka enters striding imperiously toward Wotan)

Wotan: (aside) Now what?

Fricka: (right in front of Wotan) Where the hell have you been? I need your help!

Wotan: Now what?

Fricka: Hunding's been crying to me for vengeance! And as wedlock's guardian I swore I'd punish the pair that did him a wrong.

Wotan: What could they have done wrong when spring itself united them in love? It was love that brought them together and I don't rule where love reigns.

Fricka: You play the fool knowing full well that they shredded wedlock's holy oath!

Wotan: Holy oaths do not bind unloving hearts!

Fricka: Are you calling this outrageous breach of marriage praiseworthy? Then prattle on because I shudder when I think of a brother screwing his own sister!

Wotan: Well, it's happened! Past tense! Done! Love enslaves them! So, with loving laughter, bless Siegmund and Sieglinde's marriage.

Fricka: (horrified) That's it! Did the glory of the gods end when you sired the Wälsung bastards? The race of the gods is as nothing since you cast away all honor and even broken your own laws! Oh why do I cry over marriage's sacred vows when you yourself profane them? You've betrayed me! The truest of wives! I've never been unfaithful to you! And now, I must watch you get involved in a fight over that bastard bitch of yours?

Wotan: (quietly) You haven't learned what I've taught you: That you can never tell the outcome of a deed until its day has dawned. You ponder finished deeds, while I ponder things yet to be. In this case, what's needed, is help free from my control. So my son fights alone even though he desperately needs my help.

Fricka: You're trying to trick me again. Why can't your horney son fight on his own?

Wotan: Their spirit's personal freedom means nothing to you?

Fricka: Don't try lying to me! You can't help this Wälsung win! You know what I see in him? YOU!

Wotan: (Emotionally) He will fight for himself! My shield won't shelter him.

Fricka: Not even when he's using the sword you gave him!

Wotan: The sword?

Fricka: Yes, dumbass, the sword! Remember? The magical, glittering sword, you shoved up an ash tree for him!

Wotan: (Violently!) But Siegmund's won it for himself when he needed it most just as I promised!

Fricka: (vehemently) Cut the crap! You're responsible to him for both the need, and the sword. Why are you always trying to deceive me? You stuck the sword in the tree for him! You promised him it would save his butt! Now you want to deny it was you and you alone that lured him to where it was hidden? (more confident now that she sees she's making an impression) Siegmund must die! (Wotan begins to feel powerless)

Wotan: (gloomy) Okay, so what do you want?

Fricka: That you don't protect the Wälsung!

Wotan: You want me to let him go?

Fricka: No. Just that you not defend him when his avenger calls!

Wotan: I won't shelter him.

Fricka: (angering) And don't try tricking me by using the Valkyrie to fight for him!

Wotan: The Valkyrie shall be free to choose as they will.

Fricka: No! Brünnhilde serves at your command! Order her that Siegmund falls!

Wotan: (crushed) I can't defeat him, he found my sword.

Fricka: Destroy its magic! Shatter its steel!

Brünnhilde: (from the heights) Heiaha! heiaha! Hojotoho!

Fricka: Here comes your valiant bastard maid now! Tell her! [Brünnhilde is the daughter of Wotan and Erda remember.]

Brünnhilde: Heiaha! heiaha! Heiohotojo hotojoha!

Wotan: I called her to ride for Siegmund. (She appears on her horse on the rocky path, but seeing Fricka, she hides in a cave)

Fricka: We gods will fall today if my rights are not avenged by your maid! The Wälsung dies for my honor, right?! Swear it Wotan!

Wotan: (dejectedly) I swear it. (Fricka exits and meets Brünnhilde on the way out)

Fricka: Wotan's waiting for you to tell you how the fight ends. (She leaves as Brünnhilde approaches the brooding Wotan)

Act 2 - Scene 2:

Brünnhilde: Why's Fricka laughing while you're sitting there looking so gloomy?!

Wotan: (defeatedly) I've destroyed myself!

Brünnhilde: How?

Wotan: I'm the unhappiest living thing on earth!

Brünnhilde: (at Wotan's feet!) Why? (with her head on his lap, he strokes her hair with parental tenderness)

Wotan: (softly) If I tell you my problems, I'll lose my will's control of them.

Brünnhilde: (softly) But I'm your will. Tell me what to do and I become your will in action.

Wotan: This is for you alone Brünnhilde. When I become old and my wife lost her sexual appeal, I longed for other delights and, using force, won the world by writing bargains hiding serious problems on my spear's shaft. Yet above it all, I lusted for passion. Then Alberich foreswore love and, in doing so, won the Rhine's gold, and the knowledge to give that gold unmeasurable might. I stole that ring and used it to pay the giants for building my palace. But then the all-knowing Erda told me sad stories of the ring—including the downfall of the gods if I kept it. Her speech saddened me, but she mothered you for me, Brünnhilde. And you with your eight sisters form the Valkyries who fend off the doom Erda predicted—of the shameful defeat of the greats. And in that ruthless war, you shall bring that valiant host of heros to defend Valhalla's height!

Brünnhilde: We've never failed you! Your halls will be filled with heros! So, what are you afraid of?

Wotan: If the Nibelung get the ring, Valhalla and its gods will fall forever. You see, a ring owner forswearing love has the power to do anything with it, and that includes destroying the gods! I gave the ring to Fafner in payment for his work on Valhalla. Now, as a dragon, he guards it and his gold, and if I want the ring, I've got to steal it from him. But my contracts forbid me from striking him myself, but I've found a way around it. If I can find a man free from any obligation with me—they can steal the ring for me and I still win. So my problem is, how do I find a man under no obligation to me? And if I find one, how do I get him to steal the ring for me without imposing my will on him?

Brünnhilde: Doesn't Siegmund, the Wälsung, work for himself?

Wotan: Not really. I screwed that one up when I giving him a sword. (slowly and bitterly) I tricked myself with my own cunning—and Fricka figured it out so easily!

Brünnhilde: Then you want me to take your protection away from Siegmund?

Wotan: When my hand touched Alberich's ring, I was greedy for the gold. But the ring's curse has stuck to me. And now, you must kill whom I most cherish. (In despair) Fade away, splendor and pomp! Let all I've raised fall into ruins!

Brünnhilde: I'm confused, what do you want me to do?

Wotan: (bitterly) Fight for Fricka! Enforce her wedlock's oath! Let Hunding win!

Brünnhilde: Come on! That's not what you want. Retract your order and let me save Siegmund! He's the son you love!

Wotan: Siegmund loses and Hunding wins! That is my order!

Brünnhilde: Kill the one you taught me to love! I defy you!

Wotan: How dare you! You're but the slave of my will? You know my wrath! I warn you, DO NOT PISS ME OFF! Your job is to kill Siegmund! Now do it!!!! (he storms off)

Brünnhilde: Wow! I've never seen him this mad before! (Picking up her weapons) Why are they so heavy when they were light when I laid them down? Woe Wälsung! I'm so sorry that you, the honest one, must be forsaken! (the curtain closes)

Act 2 - Scene 3: (looking into the gorge, Brünnhilde sees Siegmund and Sieglinde before she disappears into a canyon as Siegmund and Sieglinde enter)

Siegmund: Let's rest a bit.

Sieglinde: Farther!

Siegmund: (embracing her) Not now, rest a bit! See, how your brother holds his bride!

Sieglinde: (she suddenly starts up in terror) Away! Away! Fly away profaned one! I'm dishonored and must abandon you lest shame fall on both of us!

Siegmund: Our shame will be paid for when Nothung's point enters his heart!

Sieglinde: (starts up listening) Listen! Hear that horn? Hunding's awake and he, his kinsmen and their dogs are looking for us! (madly looking about) Siegmund? Where are you? (Finding him she throws herself at him. Then in terror) He's set his dogs on us and no sword can help you against them! Lets get out of here! (but he just sits there and she sinks into his arms)

Siegmund: My sister! My beloved! \

Act 2 - Scene 4: (after watching the lovers for a while, Brünnhilde approaches them)

Brünnhilde: Siegmund! I call you!

Siegmund: (looking up) Who stands there so beautiful and stern?

Brünnhilde: To see me, is to die, for I take the battlefield's fallen heros to Valhalla!

Siegmund: Where do you take him?

Brünnhilde: To Wotan, in Valhalla.

Siegmund: Wotan lives on Valhalla's height?

Brünnhilde: Yes, and a band of fallen heros will be proud to greet you there with love and joy!

Siegmund: Does Wälse, the Wälsung's father, live in Valhalla?

Brünnhilde: Yes!

Siegmund: (tenderly) Will woman be there?

Brünnhilde: There are Wish-maiden there and Wotan's daughters will fill your cup!

Siegmund: Will my sister be in Valhalla? Shall Siegmund and Sieglinde live there together?

Brünnhilde: Not yet. She must live a bit longer. (kissing Sieglinde gently before turning back to Brünnhilde)

Siegmund: Then greet Valhalla, and Wotan for me! Greet Wälse and all the heros there, because I'm not going with you!

Brünnhilde: But having seen a Valkyrie, you must go with her!

Siegmund: Where Sieglinde lives there Siegmund lives also.

Brünnhilde: Your power is useless against me! You must die! That's why I'm here.

Siegmund: Well, if I must die, who will kill me?

Brünnhilde: Hunding!

Siegmund: Hunding! You've got to be kidding! I can take him!

Brünnhilde: Your death is decreed Wälsung!

Siegmund: (brandishing his sword) Have you seen this sword?

Brünnhilde: He who gave you your sword is the one now ordering your death. He's removed your sword's spell.

Siegmund: (Bending tenderly over Sieglinde) Woe dear wife! I alone am your friend, yet I cannot defend you. Shame on him who tricked me with this now unreliable blade!

Brünnhilde: (deeply moved) You care more for this hapless wife who limply hangs in your arms than you do for eternal bliss?

Siegmund: (Bitterly) You look young and fair, but how cold and hard you are! Don't speak to me of Valhalla's loveless raptures!

Brünnhilde: I see your distress and feel your grief. Let me at least protect your wife with my shield!

Siegmund: While she lives, I shall protect her. If I must die, I'll take her with me!

Brünnhilde: No Wälsung! Entrust your wife to me!

Siegmund: (violently drawing his sword) This sword will fail me as I face my foe, but it will serve me well against a friend! (pointing the sword at Sieglinde) Now two lives laugh at you! Take them, Nothung! Take them with one great stroke!

Brünnhilde: (with great sympathy) Stop! You'll both live! I'm recalling the death sentence! You, shall triumph! Do you hear Hunding's call? Trust your sword and strike fearlessly for my shield is sure! Farewell! (disappearing on her horse, Siegmund looks after her as storm clouds veil the stage as the curtain closes)

Act 2 - Scene 5:

Siegmund: (Leaning over a prone Sieglinde) Did the Valkyrie put her to sleep? Shouldn't the thought of the fight have kept her awake? (he kisses her farewell and, at the sound of Hunding's horn, draws his sword) Nothung pay the debt! (rushing into a cloud)

Sieglinde: (dreaming) Father's not home! He's in the woods with the boy! Mother! Mother! I'm shaking with fear! I see strangers! It's dark ... they're burning the house! Help Siegmund! Siegmund! (a thunder clap awakens her) Siegmund! (the stage is covered with storm clouds, Hunding's horn sounds near, and she looks about terrified)

Hunding: (offstage) Wehwalt! Wehwalt! Stand and fight or I'll set the dogs on you!

Siegmund: (from farther off) Where are you? Stand where I can see you!

Sieglinde: (terrified) Hunding! Siegmund! I can't see them!

Hunding: Don't run you traitorous bastard! Fricka will strike you here!

Siegmund: Don't threaten me with Fricka! She's already failed you! But take a look at this! I've drawn the sword from your ash tree, and you're about to taste it! (a lightning strike illuminates the combatants)

Sieglinde: (Rushing toward them) Stop! Murder me first! (a lightning flash staggers her)

Brünnhilde: Trust your sword Siegmund! Strike him! (But just as Siegmund aims a strike, Wotan appears, standing over Hunding, holding his spear before Siegmund)

Wotan: Spear! Splinter the sword! (terrified, Brünnhilde falls back as Siegmund's sword falls to pieces, Hunding fatally stabs him, and hearing Siegmund's cry, Sieglinde collapses! And through the clouds, Brünnhilde arrives)

Brünnhilde: I may save you yet! (putting Sieglinde on her horse, she rides off as the thinning clouds reveal Hunding withdrawing his spear from Siegmund as Wotan, leaning on his spear, sadly gazes on Siegmund's body)

Wotan: (To Hunding) Beat it slave! Tell Fricka Wotan's spear has avenged her perceived wrong. Go! (With a contemptuous wave if his hand, Hunding falls dead. Then in a fury!) But Brünnhilde, you bastard! You're going to pay for this! (he rides off amidst thunder and lightning to a fast curtain)

Act 3 Scene 1: (On a rocky mountain top, are four fully armored Valkyrie)

Gerhilde: (Calling from a high point) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Helmwige! Get over here with your horse!

Helmwige: (Offstage) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! (Lightning flashes reveal a Valkyrie arriving with a slain warrior)

Ortlinde: (toward the wood) Tie your horse near my filly!

Waltraute: (toward the wood) Whose body have you brought us?

Helmwige: (from the wood) Sintolt, the Hegeling!

Schwertleite: Ortlinde's filly bears Witting, the Irming!

Gerhilde Sintolt and Wittig have always been enemies!

Waltraute: (on the topmost point, where she has the watch) Hoioho! Hoioho! (calling toward the background) Siegrune here! What's kept you? (She listens)

Siegrune: (offstage) I've had work to do! Are the others here?

Waltraute, Schwertleite: Heiaha! (Their gestures, show that Siegrune has just arrived)

Waltraute: And Grimgerde and Rossweisse!

Gerhilde: They ride together. (they appear with each carrying a slain warrior.)

Helmwige, Ortlinde, Siegrune: We greet you Rossweisse and Grimgerde!

Gerhilde: (into the wood) Leave your horses in the forest to graze!

Ortlinde: (into the wood) Lead the mares apart until all our heros' anger is calmed!

Schwertleite: Did you bring any valiant ones together?

Grimgerde: No.

Rossweisse: Well? Are we all here? Then let's get a move on to Valhalla as Wotan is waiting for the slain.

Helmwige: But where's Brünnhilde?

Gerhilde: She's by the brown-eyed Wälsung.

Waltraute: Well, we can't leave without her, Wotan would be upset if we did.

Siegrune: (From the lookout) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hallo! Hallo! It's Brünnhilde and she's really moving! (all rush to the lookout)

The eight Valkyries: Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Brünnhilde, hi! (They watch with growing astonishment)

Waltraute: She's taking her horse to the woods.

Grimgerde: Grane's really panting!

Rossweisse: No Valkyrie's ever flown that fast before!

Ortlinde: What's on her saddle?

Helmwige: That's no man!

Siegrune: She's carrying a woman!

Gerhilde: Where the hell'd she find a woman to bring here?

Schwertleite: And she isn't greeting us!

Ortlinde: Lets help her off her horse!

Helmwige, Gerhilde, Siegrune, Rossweisse: (running toward the wood) Hojotoho! Hojotoho!

Waltraute: (looking into the wood) Poor Grane's exhausted!

Grimgerde: Well, she dismounted fast enough. (they return with Brünnhilde supporting Sieglinde)

Brünnhilde: (breathless) I need help! Shield me!

Grim., Siegr., Ger., Helm. Why were you in such a rush?

Ortl., Wal., Ross., Schw. Only those fleeing danger ride that fast!

Siegrune: Whose chasing you?

Brünnhilde: Wotan! He's right behind me and furious! (All alarmed!)

Helm., Ger., Siegr., Grim. What did you do to him!

Ort., Wal., Ross., Schw. So why's he after you!

Brünnhilde: (anxiously) Oh sisters! Look northward and tell me if he's in sight! (Ortlinde and Waltraute spring up to look)

Brünnhilde: Well!

Ortlinde: A thunderstorm's approaching!

Waltraute: Storm clouds are gathering here!

Six Valkyries: Wotan is racing on his sacred steed!

Brünnhilde: He nears! Shield me, sisters! And shelter this wife!

Six Valkyries: What's her problem?

Brünnhilde: It's Sieglinde, Siegmund's sister and wife, and Wotan's raging against all the Wälsung. I was ordered to have her brother / husband killed, but instead, I shielded Siegmund until Wotan destroyed his sword. Siegmund fell and I fled with his wife hoping you might hide us from Wotan's wrath!

Six Valkyries: Why did you do it?

Helm., Siegr., Grim. Brünnhilde rebelling against Wotan's order? Oy!

Ortlinde: (From the lookout) A raging storm's on the way!

Ross., Grim., Schw. It's Wotan!

Brünnhilde: Woe to Sieglinde if he finds her here, for it seems he wants all the Wälsung dead! Who will lend me their best horse to save this wife from his wrath?

Siegrune: You'd have us defy Wotan's rage!

Brünnhilde: Rossweisse! Sister! Lend me your horse!

Rossweisse: But he's never fled from Wotan in a rage!

Brünnhilde: Helwige?!

Helmwige: I'm not crossing dad!

Brünnhilde: Grimgerde! Gerhilde! Please lend me a horse! Schwertleite! Siegrune! See my distress! Please save this sorrowing wife! (Sieglinde starts as Brünnhilde embraces her)

Sieglinde: Don't worry about me, for death's my due. And if I hadn't been taken from the battle, I might have been killed by the same weapon to be with my love forever. Who bade you bear me from the battle? Now, with Siegmund dead, don't shelter me from death lest I dump my curse on you! Now listen up! Kill me! Run your sword through my heart!

Brünnhilde: But you must live woman, for you are pregnant with his child! (urgently) You bear a Wälsung's life!

Sieglinde: (startled at the news, she begins glowing with joy) Rescue me! Rescue my child! Guard me with your mighty shield!

Waltraute: (From the lookout) The storm is near!

Ortlinde: (From the lookout) Fly all of you fearing it!

Other six Valkyries: The woman's dangerous! We can't shelter her!

Sieglinde: (On her knees before Brünnhilde) Rescue me, maid! Rescue the mother!

Brünnhilde: (to Sieglinde as she helps her to her feet) Fly swiftly and alone! I'll stay and draw Wotan's anger! That'll probably keep you safe from his vengeance! [How? Grana's exhausted and none of the others will give her a horse.]

Sieglinde: Where shall I go?

Brünnhilde: (To her sisters,) Which of you has journeyed to the east?

Siegrune: I have. There's a forest there where Fafner's taken the Nibelung's hoard.

Schwertleite: Yes, a dragon lives in a cave there guarding Alberich's ring!

Grimgerde: That's no place for a helpless woman.

Brünnhilde: Yet where could be safer as Wotan's afraid of the place and shuns it.

Waltraute: (From the lookout) He's riding like hell toward us!

Six Valkyries: Beware Brünnhilde! He's coming like a storm!

Brünnhilde: (Urgently to Sieglinde) Fly swiftly to the east! For your womb holds the world's most glorious hero! (from under her breast plate, she takes the broken pieces of Sigmund's sword and hands them to Sieglinde) Guard these mighty splinters for him! I took them at his father's death, and he who swings the rewrought blade—his name shall be Siegfried! And he shall live in triumph!

Sieglinde: (deeply moved) Oh glorious maid! You've truly saved the child of him who we loved! Fare well! (She rushes off as thunderclouds surround the height)

Wotan: (offstage) Freeze Brünnhilde!

Ortlinde, Waltraute (coming from the lookout) He's here! (After watching Sieglinde ride away, Brünnhilde comes forward fearfully)

All eight Valkyries Oh! Brünnhilde! He's here and in a rage!

Brünnhilde: Help me sisters, for my heart is faint! His wrath will crush me if you don't protect me! (Scared stiff, the Valkyries run off dragging Brünnhilde with them)

The Valkyries: Then hide amidst us and ignore his call! (she hides among them as they look toward the wood) Woe! Wotan's on the warpath!

Act 3 - Scene 2:

Wotan: (entering in in a rage) Where's Brünnhilde? Where's that rebellious bitch? You wouldn't be hiding her from me would you?

Eight Valkyries: You're enraged! What got you so angry?

Wotan: Stop mocking me! I know you're hiding her! Stop it! For from this moment she's an outcast!

Rossweisse: She fled to us.

Siegr., Rossweisse, Grim., Schw. She begged for our help.

Ortlinde: Father, hear our prayer!

Rossweisse, Waltraute: We pray you'll calm your rage against our sister.

Wotan: You miserable weaklings! I made you bold and hard to relentlessly face a battlefield and now I find you here weeping and whining for a traitor! She defied me! The bitch lifted the spear I gave her against me! Hear me Brünnhilde? Get our butt out here and face your doom! (she comes forward)

Brünnhilde: Here I am, pronounce my sentence.

Wotan: You've defined your own sentence! You were made to fulfill my commands and you've turned against me! You were a Valkyrie, and now you are not!

Brünnhilde: (terrified) You're casting me off?

Wotan: You've been to Valhalla for the last time! Never again will you bring heros to my halls! From this moment on, you are banned from my sight!

Valkyries: Woe oh sister!

Brünnhilde: You're taking away all that you've given me?

Wotan: I hereby bind you to this rock in a defenseless sleep where you shall remain until a man finds and rouses you!

Waltraute: You mean she could be taken by any man? Please! Not this shame for it would fall on all of us!

Wotan: Haven't you idiots been listening? This traitorous bitch is banished! And her virginity will fall to he who finds her! (Brünnhilde cries as terrified Valkyries, recoil from her) This frights you? Then remember her punishment as you get back to work! (rushing to their horses)

The Valkyrie: Woe! Woe! (Black clouds settle in as they ride off. The storm subsides until fine weather follows leaving just Wotan and Brünnhilde on the stage)

Act 3 - Scene 3: (Wotan and Brünnhilde)

Brünnhilde: (timidly) Was my offense so shameful that it can't be forgiven? In your rage, tell me why what I did was so serious that you'd castoff your favorite child.

Wotan: You don't see your guilt?!

Brünnhilde: But it was at your command that I fought!

Wotan: But you fought for the Wälsung against my direct order?

Brünnhilde: But that's not what you wanted!

Wotan: Did you hear my direct order? Yes or no!

Brünnhilde: Fricka forced you to fight against your own son, and in doing so, you fought against yourself!

Wotan: (softly and bitterly) You're right! But in challenging my order you under cut my authority and made me look foolish, and for that, you must be punished!

Brünnhilde: I may not be smart, but I know you loved the Wälsung and I know the problems that drove that love from your memory.

Wotan: And knowing that, you gave him your shield?

Brünnhilde: (Softly) My sole desire was to save him, whereas you were had a twofold desire—and choosing the wrong one, you blindly turned your back on him! I—who always protect your back in the field—saw what you did not! When Siegmund was told of his imminent death, his eyes told me his lament—and I stood shrinking in shame. You breathed this love for him in my heart, you whose will had placed the Wälsung at my side, did I really defy your word?

Wotan: You did what I wanted to do, but am not allowed to do! Then you forced me to finish the job I hated and pawned off on you! You defied me parting our ways forever!

Brünnhilde: I was never fit to be your servant, but must I leave Valhalla?

Wotan: You've determined your own fate!

Brünnhilde: You sired a race of the bravest heros! I know it, and bless the Wälsungs' line!

Wotan: Don't mention the damned Wälsungs to me! I cast them off with you! Envy wrecked that race!

Brünnhilde: You may have turned on me, but I've saved that race! Sieglinde is pregnant! Unfortunately, she'll be forced to give birth in pain and suffering!

Wotan: Never ask me to shelter her, or the child she bares!

Brünnhilde: But she has the sword you gave Siegmund!

Wotan: (vehemently) The sword's been reduced to splinters, don't think of having it used to beat me! And I can't change your fate!

Brünnhilde: And that is?

Wotan: I'm going to put you to sleep on that rock where you'll remain until a man awakens you to be his wife.

Brünnhilde: (falling to her knees) Asleep? Sleeping for the basest and most craven man as easy prey! Please father! Please grant me this one thing: Shelter my sleep with some horror such that only the most fearless of heros will find me!

Wotan: You ask too much.

Brünnhilde: (embracing his knees) Please! Just this one thing! Crush me! Destroy me! Kill me! But do you really hate me so much that you'd leave me to such shame? Command a fire to encircle the rock! A fire to lick those who would rashly dare to draw near me! (with great emotion, Wotan raises her from her knees and gazes into her eyes)

Wotan: Farewell you who were once the pride of my heart! Farewell! Never again will I greet you. Never again will you ride by my side. But such a fire shall be kindled to protect you as has never burned for a bride! Cowards will fly from your rock! For one alone will win the bride! One even freer than I, a god! (embracing her, she falls into a deep sleep) I've often caressed your eyes, when your valor won a kiss as it's reward. Once more, my lips give your eyes love's farewell! (carrying her to a mound under a tree, he lays her down, closes her helmet's visor, lays her shield over her, and aims his spear skyward) Loge! Appear! Encircle this rock with Fire! (Striking the rock three times with his spear) Loge! appear! (Flames spew from the rock swelling into a fiery glow. Then, aiming his spear, Wotan directs the fire to encircle the rock) He who fears my spear shall never cross this fire! (Aiming his spear about as a spell, he sadly looks back on Brünnhilde. He then very slowly disappears through the fire to a falling curtain.

Act 1 Scene 1: The dwarf Mimi is plotting to steal the all-powerful ring he'd made for his brother, Albrecht, which is now owned by the giant Fafner. But Fafner has used his magic Tarnhelm to transformed himself, into a dragon to protect his hoard.

To kill Fafner as a dragon, Mimi has raised the boy, Siegfried, but for the boy to do this, Mimi must make him a sword, but the kid breaks every sword Mimi makes. The curtain opens on a forest cave where Mimi is forging another sword.

Returning from his wanderings in the forest with a wild bear, Siegfried grabs Mimi's latest blade and breaks it. Mimi gives whining speech #43 about Siegfried's ingratitude, and how Mimi brought him up from a tiny infant, and all that while Siegfried tries to figure out why he keeps coming back to Mimi who he hates. Then it dawns on him, only Mimi can tell him about his parents.

Mimi explains how he found the pregnant Sieglinde in the woods and took her in and how shortly thereafter giving birth to Siegfried, she died. He shows Siegfried the broken pieces of the sword Sieglinde had given to him and Siegfried orders him to re-forge it, but Mimi has already tried innumerable times and knows he can't do it. And Siegfried leaves to a falling curtain.

Act 1 Scene 2: Disguised as The Wanderer, Wotan arrives at Mimi's door and, in return for the hospitality due a guest, he wagers his head on answering any three questions Mimi might put to him.

The dwarf asks him to name the races that live beneath the ground, on the earth, and in the skies. The Wanderer replies that the Nibelung live beneath the earth's surface, the Giants live on the earth's face, and the gods live in the sky. These answers being correct, he asks Mimi to wager his own head on three riddles: The race most beloved of Wotan, but most harshly treated by him, the name of the sword that can destroy Fafner, and lastly, the person who can repair the sword. Mimi answers the first two questions easily enough. Wotan's most beloved are the Wälsungs (Siegmund and Sieglinde whose story was told in Die Walküre); and the sword name is Nothung, but he has no clue as to who can repair it. Wotan spares Mimi, telling him that only "he who does not know fear" can re-forge Nothung, and he leaves Mimi's head forfeit to that person.

Act 1 Scene 3: Imagining the ferocity of Fafner as a dragon, Mimi sits in despair as Siegfried returns. But watching Siegfried, Mimi realizes that Siegfried's "the one who knows not fear" and unless he instills fear in him, the Wanderer's prediction will come true and Siegfried will kill him. He tells Siegfried that knowing fear is essential to survival, and Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mimi promises to teach him by taking him to Fafner. Since Mimi was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself and succeeds demonstrating its strength by using it to split Mimi's anvil! Meanwhile, Mimi has brewed a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after he's killed the dragon.

Act 2 Scene 1: In the forest, The Wanderer arrives at Fafner's cave, where Alberich is watching. They recognize each other and Alberich boasts that he's going to regain the ring and rule the world! Wotan says he's just there to watch. He's not going to get involved. He even offers to wake up the dragon so Alberich can have a chat with him. The dragon is awakened; Alberich warns it that a hero is coming to kill it, and offers to prevent the fight in exchange for the ring; Fafner declines the offer, and goes back to sleep. Wotan exits as does Alberich muttering threats.

Act 2 Scene 2: At daybreak, Siegfried and Mimi arrive. After assuring Siegfried that the dragon will teach him all about fear, Mimi leaves and, while Siegfried waits for the dragon to appear, he hears a wood-bird singing and makes a reed pipe, but is unsuccessful in trying to mimic the bird's song. That not working, he plays the wood-birds tune on his horn, which brings Fafner out of his cave. They chat. They fight. Siegfried stabs Fafner in the heart and, learning Siegfried's name, the dying dragon warns him that treachery is afoot. But pulling his sword from Fafner's body causes the dragon's blood to splatter about and Siegfried's hands are burned by it and he puts his fingers in his mouth. And, instantly upon tasting the dragon's blood, he finds he can understand the wood-bird's song. Then, following the wood-bird's instructions, he takes the ring and Tarnhelm from Fafner's hoard.

Act 2 Scene 3: Outside the cave, Alberich and Mimi quarrel over the treasure. Alberich hides as he sees Siegfried leaving the cave while Siegfried complains to Mimi that he still hasn't learned about this fear thing. Mimi offers him the poisoned drink, but having tasted the dragon's blood, Siegfried can now read Mimi's mind, and he runs him through with his sword and throws his body into the cave which he then blocks with Fafner's carcass. Now the wood-bird sings of a woman sleeping on a rock surrounded by fire, and Siegfried, wondering if he can learn fear from her, follows the wood-bird toward that rock.

Act 3 Scene 1: At the foot of Brünnhilde's rock, Wotan summonses the earth goddess, Erda who appears but is too confused to offer any advice. Wotan tells her he no longer fears the end of the gods. Indeed, he longs for it as he's leaving everything to Siegfried and Brünnhilde (Erda and Wotan's child), who will "work the deed of redeeming the World." Dismissed, Erda sinks back into the earth.

Act 3 Scene 2: Siegfried meets Wotan as the Wanderer who questions the youth. Not recognizing his grandfather, Siegfried answers insolently before starting down the path to Brünnhilde's rock. The Wanderer tries blocking his path, but Siegfried mocks him, his floppy hat and missing eye, and with one stroke of his sword breaks Wotan's spear! Now, with the very essence of his power and authority shattered, Wotan calmly picks up the pieces of his spear and vanishes.

Act 3 Scene 3: Siegfried passes through the fire surrounding Brünnhilde's rock, and at first, thinks the sleeping armored figure is a man. However, his removing the armor reveals a woman, and at the sight of her, he experiences fear. In desperation, he kisses her, waking her from her sleep. Hesitant at first, Brünnhilde is won over by Siegfried's love, and renounces the world of the gods. Together, they hail "light-bringing love, and laughing death."

Act I Scene 1: _(a forest with a cave having two natural entrances, one opening forward, and the other toward the background. And, with the exception of a leather bellows, an entirely natural-rock smith's forge with other smith's tools)_

**Mimi:** _(at the anvil hammering a sword)_ I work till I drop, and no matter how strong I make a sword, that insolent kid laughs as he breaks it! _(Annoyed, he tosses the sword on the anvil in thought)_ I know a sword that can't be broken! Nothing could never break _Notung_ —if I could ever reforge it! _(his head lowered in thought)_ Fafner's in these woods guarding his treasure and all I have to do to get the ring and gold is to have Siegfried kill Fafner. But the only sword that can do the job is too hard a steel for me to forge! _(resuming his forging)_ The strongest sword I ever made couldn't kill Fafner. I only hammer away because Siegfried yells at me if I don't!

**Siegfried:** _(entering with a roped bear which he baits to go after Mimi)_ Hi ho! Hi ho! Come in bear! Come in! Bite him! Bite him, the lazy smith!

**Mimi:** _(from hiding)_ Ditch the bear!

**Siegfried:** He came to teach you to hurry!

**Mimi:** _(Coming from hiding)_ I don't mind your killing them, they're delicious, but why bring a live one in the cave?

**Siegfried:** _(seated)_ I wanted a better friend than you at home, so I called with my horn, and he came growling through the bushes. And, as I liked him better than you, I bridled him and brought him home to see how you're doing with the sword. _(moving to the anvil)_

**Mimi:** _(handing Siegfried the sword)_ I made it keen and sharp, and with a shine to gladden your heart! Here's your weapon forged and finished today.

**Siegfried:** Well, then you're free! _(releasing the bear)_ Off, bear! I don't need you anymore. _(bear runs into the forest)_

**Siegfried:** _(testing the sword with his hand)_ It's worthless! It's neither hard nor true! _(one blow on the anvil and its splinters fly all over as Mimi shrinks in terror)_ Blundering idiot! I should have smashed it on your head! You prattle on about deeds of glory, yet your weapons are trash! _(flinging himself into a seat)_

**Mimi:** You rage like a fool! Okay, so maybe I failed today! What about all the good things I've done for you! Must I again remind you to be more grateful? And that you should learn to obey me, who loves you. _(Siegfried turns his back on Mimi)_ You aren't listening! _(Mimi goes to the fireplace and its cooking pots)_ You need food. Try this meat I've roasted, or would you prefer this soup? _(he brings both to Siegfried who, without even looking, knocks both out of his hands)_

**Siegfried:** I'll cook my own meat! And that crappy soup you can drink yourself.

**Mimi:** A fine reward for all my loving care! I found you a helpless babe in the woods! I was kind to you, fed you, kept you warm, and as you grew, was your nurse. It was I who sharpened your wits and tried to make you crafty and bright. It was I who slaved and sweated at home while you wandered around. _(sobbing)_ I'm just a poor old dwarf, and you repay me for all I've done for you with hatred!

**Siegfried:** You've taught me a lot, Mimi, but you forgot to teach me one thing: How not to loathe the sight of you. When you bring me food or drink, my hunger turns to disgust. When you try to make me clever and wise, I turn deaf and dull. I'm repelled by the very sight of you! You are evil in all you do and I loathe you for it. But why do I keep coming back? Everything is dearer to me than you! Birds in the air, fish in the brook, they're all dear to me. What is it that keeps me coming back? Mimi, if you're so smart, tell me that.

**Mimi:** My child, it shows how dear to your heart I must be.

**Siegfried:** _(laughing)_ Have you forgotten that I can't stand the sight of you!?

**Mimi:** _(shrinking back)_ That's a wildness in your heart you must tame. What mother-birds are to nestlings, so Mimi must be to you!

**Siegfried:** Mimi, when I asked why the birds sing so sweetly in the spring, you said it was because they were parents. And they chattered fondly as they cared for their young. I learned from them what love must be and I never disturb them. So tell me, Mimi, where is your wife? Where is my mother?

**Mimi:** _(crossly)_ Why ask that? You're not a bird!

**Siegfried:** A whimpering babe was born in these woods, and Mimi was kind to that baby. But who created that child? For making a babe requires a mother!

**Mimi:** _(embarrassed)_ Try to believe me, I'm your father and mother in one.

**Siegfried:** You're lying! Children are like their parents! I know because I've seen my face in the shining stream and I look nothing like you! Not in the least! No more than a toad resembles a fish and no fish had a toad for a father!

**Mimi:** What a dumb idea!

**Siegfried:** Now I see it! I know why I keep coming back! Because you're the only one who can tell me who my mother and father were!

**Mimi:** What father? What mother? Meaningless questions!

**Siegfried:** _(seizing Mimi)_ Tell me or I'll force you to! Out with it or I'll thrash you! Who were my father and mother?

**Mimi:** _(Nodding that he'll talk, he's released)_ You nearly choked me to death! Okay, I'll tell you, what I know. No, I'm not your father. In fact, I'm not related to you in any way. Yet you owe me everything! My pity alone gave you this home, and a fine reward I've received for it! _(annoyed with Mimi's whining, Siegfried brings him back on topic)_ One day, I found a woman in the woods crying. I helped her here to my cave. She was pregnant and had a cruel and hard birth. I did all I could for her, but she died as you were born Siegfried.

**Siegfried:** _(lost in thought)_ I think I have heard this before. But wait! Why am I called Siegfried?

**Mimi:** Your mother said, as 'Siegfried' you would grow strong and fair.

**Siegfried:** What was my mothers' name?

**Mimi:** I don't know.

**Siegfried:** My mother died through me?

**Mimi:** Yes, and she entrusted you to me and I gladly cared for you. What love I lavished on you! What kindness and care I've given you! 'A whimpering babe, born in these woods...'

**Siegfried:** I told you to tell me her name!

**Mimi:** I forget her name. No, wait! Now I remember! Sieglinde! I'm sure that's it. 'And sheltering you safe as my very self...'

**Siegfried:** And my father? Who was my father?

**Mimi:** I never knew his name.

**Siegfried:** My mother never said who he was?

**Mimi:** Only that he'd fallen in battle. That's all. The tiny waif was left in my care, and as you grew older I was your nurse. When you grew sleepy I smoothed ...'

**Siegfried:** Stop that eternal whining! If I'm to trust your story, I need some proof!

**Mimi:** But what proof is there to show you?

**Siegfried:** I'll only believe my eyes! What visible evidence do you have?

**Mimi:** _(thinking for a moment, then gets the pieces of a broken sword)_ Your mother gave me these for her food, and care. She said your father had borne it in the battle in which he was killed.

**Siegfried:** My father's sword! Let's go Mimi! Back to work! Reforge my father's sword! For today, that weapon shall be mine!

**Mimi:** Why do you need it today?

**Siegfried:** I'm going to wonder the world freely! Never to return! Nothing binds me here! I'll never return. _(He rushes into the forest)_

**Mimi:** _(terrified)_ Siegfried! Stop! Come back! _(screaming)_ Hey! Siegfried! _(After watching Siegfried rush off, he returns to sit behind his anvil)_ He storms away and I sit here caught in my own trap! Now what do I do? I can't get a hot enough fire to forge these damned pieces of steel! I can't reforge Notung! _(He sits in despair)_

Act 1 - Scene 2: _(using his spear as a staff, Wotan as_ The Wanderer _, enters the cave. And, as always, he wears a broad brimmed hat that hangs low over his missing eye)_

**Wanderer:** Hail worthy smith! This weary guest asks to rest a bit by your fire!

**Mimi:** _(startled)_ Who the hell are you?

**Wanderer:** _(advancing slowly)_ I am called 'Wanderer,' as I've widely roamed the earth.

**Mimi:** Then live up to your name and beat it!

**Wanderer:** Good men welcome me because ill fate tends to fall on those that don't.

**Mimi:** Ill fate already haunts this place, so why do you want to increase it?

**Wanderer:** I've often taught wisdom, lightened sorrows, or eased afflicted hearts.

**Mimi:** You may have learned and found much, but not in my house. I live alone and have no need of wondering bums.

**Wanderer:** Many believing they're wise have no idea what they need. But if they ask, I answer freely and wisdom flows from my words.

**Mimi:** _(uneasily)_ All I need to know, I know, so, Mr. Know-it-all, be on your way!

**Wanderer:** _(at the hearth)_ I'll wager my head on being able to answer any questions you might ask. It's yours if I prove unwise and fail to redeem it.

**Mimi:** _(aside)_ How can I get rid of this guy? I'll ask him three tricky questions and he'll be out of here. _(aloud)_ I'll have your head if you fail, so use your cunning to answer the three the questions I'll ask!

**Wanderer:** Yup, shoot.

**Mimi:** _(Racking his brain)_ Having wandered the earth, you should know who dwells in the earth's deep caverns.

**Wanderer:** The Nibelung live in the earth's caverns, and call their land, Nibelheim. They're Black elves, and Alberich was once their master. He had a magic ring made whose power enabled him to enslave their people. He made them find gold for him so he could buy the world. What else would you like to know?

**Mimi:** _(thinking hard)_ Okay Wanderer, you definitely know the earth's caves, but can you tell me what mighty race dwells on the earth's surface?

**Wanderer:** The giants live on the earth, and their land is called Riesenheim. Their chieftains, Fasolt and Fafner, envied the rich Nibelung, and to gain the Nibelung's treasure, the brothers fought, and Fafner killed Fasolt. Among their spoils was a magic helmet which Fafner uses to transform himself into a dragon with which he now guards his captured gold. You have one question left.

**Mimi:** _(rapt in thought)_ Okay, you know a lot about the earth and its dwellers, now tell me what lordly race dwells on cloud-hidden heights above the earth?

**Wanderer:** That's where the gods live in a palace called Valhalla. Wotan, rules over them by the power given to him by his spear which was formed from a branch of the world-ash tree. That tree is now dead, but his spear is still mighty as the bargains, contracts, and treaties of the world are engraved on that shaft. And he who holds that spear with its runes rules the earth. With that spear in Wotan's hand the giants' bow to his will as their all-powerful lord. _(gently tapping the ground with his spear causes thunder terrifying Mimi)_ Now tell me, crafty dwarf, were my answers right? Have I saved my head?

**Mimi:** _(he looks about for tools while averting the Wander's glance)_ Yes, your head's safe, now on your way!

**Wanderer:** While you had my head was in your hands, you should have asked questions that would have helped you solve your problems. Instead, you asked questions you already knew the answers to. But having refused me the greeting due a guest until I had risked my head to sit by your hearth, so now the law demands your head, if you fail to answer my questions. So sharpen your wits Nibelung!

**Mimi:** _(composing himself)_ Ask what you will Wanderer! Perhaps I'll get lucky and save my head!

**Wanderer:** Now, worthy dwarf, what's the name of the race Wotan treated harshly, yet holds dear in his heart?

Mimi: (gaining courage) I'm no expert on heros' families but my guess is that the Wälsungs are Wotan's beloved race, although he was cruel to them. The Wälse twins, Siegmund and Sieglinde. were a wild pair! Siegfried was their bravest son. So, Wanderer! Have I saved my head?

**Wanderer:** Yes, so far so good. It's not easy catching you! But though you guessed the answer to my first question, my second one may prove harder. A Nibelung that's cared for Siegfried, planned that Siegfried should kill Fafner for him thereby gaining that Nibelung the ring which would make him lord of the world. Name the sword Siegfried must use if he's to kill the dragon.

**Mimi:** _(rubbing his hands with glee)_ That's Notung! The sword Wotan thrust into an ash tree such that only one man could pull it from that tree. It was Siegmund who drew that sword from the tree, and he used it until Wotan splintered it with his spear. Now a smith has those pieces knowing that it is only with Wotan's sword that Siegfried can kill the dragon. _(Utterly delighted)_ Twice the dwarf has rescued his head?

**Wanderer:** _(laughing)_ You're the wittiest Nibelung I've ever known! But here's my final question: Who can reforge those fragments into Notung?

**Mimi:** _(terrified)_ You've got me! What can I say? That damned steel has only brought me trouble! I can't weld it! _(tossing tools about in despair)_ The wisest smith fails! Who can forge that sword if I can't? How can I answer you?

**Wanderer:** _(Rising calmly)_ You asked questions which I answered, but what you asked was meaningless in that they gave you nothing useful. Now I can claim your wily head as my prize dwarf! So listen up, for this is what you need to know! Fafner can only be destroyed by someone who has never learned to fear. And it is that person who will reforge Notung. Now, I leave your head forfeit to he who has never learned fear. _(smiling, he disappears into the forest with Mimi watching him go)_

### Act 1 - Scene 3:

**Mimi:** _(Staring into the forest, he shudders at an approaching sound)_ What comes crashing through the forest making all this noise! Where can I hide? _(collapses behind the anvil)_

**Siegfried:** _(heard approaching as the snapping of undergrowth)_ Hey! Idler! Finished yet? _(entering)_ Mimi! I've come for my sword! Mimi, you coward! Get your butt out here!

**Mimi:** _(feebly)_ It's you then, child? Are you alone?

**Siegfried:** _(Laughing)_ Under the anvil? What the hell are you doing down there?

**Mimi:** _(coming out confused)_ The sword? I can't forge it! _(aside)_ 'Only one who's never known fear reforges Notung,' so how could I do it?

**Siegfried:** Need my help?

**Mimi:** _(aside)_ No man can help me! My head is forfeit to him 'who's never learned to fear.'

**Siegfried:** Still no reply?

**Mimi:** _(aside)_ I fear this youth who knows no fear! But it was I that forgot to teach him fear, and how can I teach him that now?

**Siegfried:** _(seizing Mimi)_ What's been done on the damned sword?

**Mimi:** I was thinking of your good. Of all the weighty things I have left to teach you.

**Siegfried:** _(laughing)_ Okay, you were hiding under the anvil. What fabulous advice did you find for me there?

**Mimi:** _(regaining his composure)_ What fear is! That's what I forgot to teach you.

**Siegfried:** _(curiously)_ Oh? And what might this 'fear' thing be?

**Mimi:** As you've never learned to fear anything, you'll have to go into the woods to learn it. Of what use is the mightiest sword until you've felt fear?

**Siegfried:** _(impatiently)_ This is gibberish! What are you talking about?!

**Mimi:** _(approaching confidingly)_ These are your mother's words! I heard them from her lips myself! That I shall not let you venture into this wicked world until you can know fear.

**Siegfried:** _(brusquely)_ Is it a skill? A craft?

**Mimi:** Haven't you ever been in the woods at night and heard a whisper, or growling that upset you? Nothing has ever gotten you shivering, shaking, quivering and quaking, while your heart wildly hammers? Until you've felt these things, you don't know fear.

**Siegfried:** Sounds wonderful and now you've got me longing to feel them! When can I experience these joys? But then, how can a coward like you instruct me in them?

**Mimi:** Oh they're easily learned! I know where a man-eating dragon lives. His name is Fafner and he'll teach you fear! Just follow me to his den.

**Siegfried:** And where is that?

**Mimi:** At a place called Neidhöhle at the edge of the wood.

**Siegfried:** Isn't that near the world?

**Mimi:** Yup.

**Siegfried:** So lead me to this Fafner! If he can teach me fear, it's off to the world! Now forge me the sword! I'll need it in the world!

**Mimi:** The sword? No!

**Siegfried:** Get hammering on your forging! I want to see some of that skill of yours!

**Mimi:** I can't forge it. No dwarf can. But one who is fearless just might be able to do it!

**Siegfried:** Lazy bastard! Not up to the task are you?! Well give me the damned pieces and I'll forge it myself! _(striding to the hearth, he begins working)_

**Mimi:** Had you learned forging, you'd have your sword! But you were lazy and now you'll wish you'd obeyed me.

**Siegfried:** _(Mimi approaching with molten solder)_ Get away from me with your crap! There aren't going to be any solder patches on my sword! Now get out of my way or I'll forge you! _(He pumps up the fire with a bellows while filing the sword's fragments to shreds)_

**Mimi:** The solder's all melted and ......

**Siegfried:** _BEAT IT!_ None of your crappy solder's going to patch my sword!

**Mimi:** You're filing it to splinters?

**Siegfried:** That's the way I mend things! _(Filing vigorously)_

**Mimi:** _(aside)_ Look at him work! He'll forge it! The Wanderer was right! But my head falls to him unless I can teach him to fear things! But if I do that, the dragon will be safe. It seems I'm caught in my own trap, for if I can't bend Siegfried to my will, both the ring and I are lost!

**Siegfried:** _(pouring his filings into the forge's melting-pot)_ Mimi! What's the name of the sword I just filed into pieces?

**Mimi:** Your mother told me it's called _Notung_.

**Siegfried:** _(Pumping up the fire with a bellows)_ _Notung! Notung!_ Sword of my need! What mighty blow broke you? I've filed you to fragments and the fire now melts and fuses them. Ho ho! Ho ho! Ho hi! Ho hi! Ho ho! Bellows, blow! Brighten the glow! The hot charcoal fire fuses the splintered steel!

**Mimi:** _(aside)_ He's doing it! I can see it being done! Now he'll be able to kill Fafner and get the gold and ring. But how can I get them away from him while keeping my head?

**Siegfried:** _(at the bellows)_ Ho ho! Ho ho! Ho hi! Ho hi! Ho hi!

**Mimi:** _(_ _aside)_ His fight with the dragon will tire him and I'll cool him down with a drugged drink. Just a drop of my potion will put him to sleep. Then I'll seize his sword and cut off his head! Then the ring and gold will be mine! _(still aside)_ Hey, old Wanderer! Am I so dull now? What do you think of my plan? Have I found a way to power?

**Siegfried:** _Notung! Notung!_ My sword of need! _(Pouring the molten metal into the mold)_ You are now my sword! _(Mimi adds spices and herbs to a pot of water before putting it on the hearth)_ What are you doing with that pot? I'm working with steel here and you want to make soup?

**Mimi:** _(Meekly)_ The smith is put to shame as the student teaches the teacher his craft. When the master's lost his skill, he cooks for the student. You made a broth of the steel, and I make one of soup for you.

**Siegfried:** _(Breaking open the mold and laying the glowing steel on the anvil)_ I sure hope I learn what fear is. Mimi's no help, he fails at everything! _(hammering away)_ Ho ho! Ho ho! Ho hi! Hammer, forge a strong sword!

**Mimi:** _(aside)_ His sword will kill Fafner, and my drink will kill him _(Pouring his deadly concoction into a flask)_ and the ring and gold will be mine!

**Siegfried:** Ho ho! Ho ho! Ha hi! May my hammer forge a really strong sword as I beat you straight! _(Plunging the red-hot blade into the water, he laughs at the sizzling sound. And while fastening his new blade to its hilt, Mimi fusses about in the foreground with his flask)_

**Mimi:** My brother once worked a powerful spell into a ring he forged, and it will soon belong to me! I'm the master now! _(While Siegfried taps away with the hammer, Mimi skips about gleefully)_ Even that bastard brother of mine, Alberich, who made me his slave, will beg for my grace! As a Nibelung prince, they'll all obey me! Their despised dwarf will be their king! King Mimi I! King of the Nibelungs! Lord of the world! Who'd believe you'd gain such luck!

**Siegfried:** _(taking up the finished sword)_ _Notung!_ You're whole again! _(brandishing it about)_ Let traitors quail at your gleam! See Mimi, _(raising the sword as if to strike)_ what do you think of my sword now! _(striking the anvil, it splits into pieces which fall with a crash. As he triumphantly holds the sword aloft, the curtain closes)_

Act 2 - Scene 1: _(in the forest with a cave in the rear.)_

**Alberich:** _(Brooding)_ It's a gloomy night to be watching Fafner's cave. _(a bluish light appears)_ A light seems to be getting nearer. _(it fades away)_ Now it's gone. _(the Wanderer enters and pauses opposite Alberich)_ Who are you?

**Wanderer:** I've come to Neidhöhle by night. Who's hidden in the darkness? _(moonlight breaks through the clouds lighting the Wanderer's face)_

**Alberich:** _(recognizing Wotan, he flies into a rage)_ How dare you show your face here? Get out of my sight you damned thief!

**Wanderer:** _(calmly)_ Is that Black-Alberich lurking here? Watching over Fafner's hoard are we?

**Alberich:** Get out of here! We've suffered enough from your tricks! Beat it! Leave me alone!

**Wanderer:** You dare bar the Wanderer's way?

**Alberich:** _(laughing maliciously)_ You lousy schemer! You and Loge tricked me once, but it won't happen again! I'm wise to your schemes. You used my ring to pay the giants for building Valhalla and I suspect the terms of that deal are still engraved on your spear. You can't claw back the gold you paid the giants, for that would break your bond with them, and that damned spear of yours would snap like a straw!

**Wanderer:** No bargain has ever bound you to me. I bent your will to mine by force!

**Alberich:** How grandly you put it! Yet your heart trembles! My curse will kill the dragon. But then the question is, who gets the ring? Will it return to the Nibelung? That thought really annoys you doesn't it?! I'm no stupid giant! And you know that when I slip that ring on my finger, I'll use its power until you and your and your damned heros quake in your boots before me! I'll capture Valhalla and the damned world too!

**Wanderer:** _(calmly)_ I know your plan and could not possibly care less.

**Alberich:** How darkly you speak the obvious! Your plan is to have your son kill the dragon and walk off with the treasure accomplishing for you what your own laws prevent you from doing yourself.

**Wanderer:** Wrong! It's Mimi that threatens your hope. Your brother's leading a boy here to kill Fafner. Mark my words, you may act as you please, but be on your guard! The boy knows nothing of the ring.

**Alberich:** And you're staying out of this?

**Wanderer:** Although I love him, I can't help him. He must stand or fall on his own.

**Alberich:** So only Mimi and I are striving for the ring?

**Wanderer:** Yup.

**Alberich:** Well, you know I can't do it my own, so ...

**Wanderer:** _(conspiratorially)_ Look, a hero is coming to take get gold—two Nibelung are out to get the gold—and the guardian of the gold—Fafner, dies. What else is there to know? _(Pointing toward the cave)_ Fafner's in there. Why not warn him of your brother's plot? Maybe he'll give you the ring as a reward. Let me wake him up for you! _(Calling into the cave)_ Fafner! Fafner! Let's go dragon! Up and at 'em!

**Alberich:** _(aside)_ Has he lost his mind? Can it really be mine now?

**Fafner:** _(From the depths)_ Who woke me up?

**Wanderer:** _(facing the cave)_ A friend wants to warn you of an approaching danger! He hopes that, in saving you, you might reward him with a bit of your treasure!

**Fafner:** And that danger is?

**Alberich & Wanderer:** A hero is coming to test your strength!

**Fafner:** Good! I'm getting hungry!

**Wanderer:** He's bold and carries a sharp sword!

**Alberich:** All he wants is the gold ring. Give me that ring and there'll be no fight. You can keep the rest and live in peace!

**Fafner:** I'm keeping it all _(yawns)_ now go away!

**Wanderer:** _(laughing aloud)_ Well that flopped! I'll leave you on your own, but be on guard! Beware of Mimi. _(He disappears into the forest)_

**Alberich:** _(gazing after him)_ Laugh you self-worshipping clan of immortals! I'll live to see you all die! _(He slips away and the stage remains empty as day breaks)_

Act 2 - Scene 2: ( _daybreak, Mimi and Siegfried, wearing his sword, enter)_

**Mimi:** This is it!

**Siegfried:** _(sitting and gazing about)_ So this is where I'll learn of fear? Mimi, I've followed you through this wood all night. If this is the right place, I don't need you anymore!

**Mimi:** _(keeping an eye on the cave)_ Believe me kid, if you don't learn fear today, you never will. See that cave? A dragon lives in there. A terribly big, fierce dragon. And when he sees you, he'll try to eat you in a single gulp!

**Siegfried:** Well, I guess I'll just have to close his mouth with my sword!

**Mimi:** His mouth spits a poison that would shrivel your body and bones!

**Siegfried:** But it can't harm me if I jump aside!

**Mimi:** He can lash his tail, and if it catches you it'll coil itself around you until your bones break like glass!

**Siegfried:** Then I'll avoid its tail. But does the beast have a heart?

**Mimi:** Of course it has a heart! A mercilessly cruel one, but a heart!

**Siegfried:** And is it in the usual place on the left side of his breast?

**Mimi:** Yes, his heart is just like ours. Now do you begin to feel fear?

**Siegfried:** So I'll stab him in his heart! That's it! I'm to learn fear that way? My god you're stupid! You've brought me all this way to teach me that? Mimi, go home! I'll never learn about fear here!

**Mimi:** You think my tale trifling? Wait until you see him! He'll teach you fear! Your eyes will grow dim, your body will go limp, and your heart will shudder! _(lovingly)_ Then you'll thank the dwarf who brought you here and be glad of Mimi's love.

**Siegfried:** _DO NOT LOVE ME!_ Didn't you hear me? Don't you listen to me when I tell you I hate the sight of you! That shuffling and slinking, those eyelids blinking how long must I endure the horror of seeing you?

**Mimi:** I'll leave now to cool myself at the stream. Wait by the cave. When the sun's up, he'll come out and make his way past you, to the stream.

**Siegfried:** _(laughing)_ Wait by the stream and let the dragon catch you there Mimi! I can't wait till Fafner dines on you! Then we can fight. Or take my advice and run as fast as you can, and don't come back! _(shooing Mimi off)_

**Mimi:** _(leaving)_ Call for my help if you need me. Let me know when you've learned fear. _(aside)_ Fafner and Siegfried, Siegfried and Fafner! If only they'd kill each other! _(he disappears in the forest)_

**Siegfried:** _(watching Mimi go)_ He's not my father! And now I'm free of that loathsome dwarf! _(laying down and looking up through the tree's branches, the silence is interrupted by the magnificent_ Forest murmurs _)_ I wonder what my mother was like! And why did she die having me? Must all human mothers die when their children are born? Ah, how this son longs for his mother! _(he hears the song of birds and listens to a wood-bird above him)_

You lovely bird, how sweet's your song. I wish I could understand you! But how can I learn your tongue? _(seeing a clump of reeds)_ Hey! Let me try piping your notes on a reed, perhaps then I'll learn what you say! _(He whittles a pipe from a reed but can't get it to sound)_ Well, I must be dull if I can't learn from a bird. _(The wood-bird sings again, and he looks up at it)_ Hey then! I'll play a tune on my horn that will ring through the woodlands! A song that, I hoped, will find me a friend. Now let's see who'll answer? _(He blows his horn and at each sustained note, looks up expectantly at the bird. But Fafner has risen from his lair and, utters a loud yawn.)_ Ah ha! At last my call has attracted something! What a lovely playmate I've found!

**Fafner:** _(Spotting Siegfried he pauses)_ Who are you?

**Siegfried:** Hi! So you're a beast that can speak! Perhaps you have some news for me? Like, can you tell me what fear is?

**Fafner:** You're a bold ass!

**Siegfried:** Bold? Perhaps too bold, I'm not sure. But I do know that I'll be fighting you if you can't teach me to fear.

**Fafner:** _(laughing in snorts)_ I wanted a drink, but I think I'll have lunch instead! _(opening his jaws displaying his teeth)_

**Siegfried:** Wow! Those are great teeth! But your jaw is open far too wide.

**Fafner:** Perhaps too wide for chatter, but it's just right for lunch. _(he begins thrashing his tail about threateningly)_

**Siegfried:** But I've no wish to be your breakfast! As a matter of fact, I'm going to kill you right here and now!

**Fafner:** _(roaring)_ Pruh! Bring it on kid!

**Siegfried:** Take care, growler! The boy draws near! _(sword in hand, he springs toward Fafner who spits venom which Siegfried avoids. Then Fafner lashes his tail about, and as it flies by, Siegfried drives his sword into it! Roaring with rage, Fafner rears up, but doing so exposes his breast, and Siegfried plunges his sword into the dragon's heart)_ _Notung_ has killed you!

**Fafner:** _(dying)_ Who are you who's killed me, and who put you up to it?

**Siegfried:** I'm not sure who I am, but it was your own taunt that caused me to kill you!

**Fafner:** So young and fearless! Let me tell you who you've killed: Once, the giant brothers, Fasolt and Fafner, ruled the earth. Anyway, I killed my brother, Fasolt, for the gold we gained from the gods. In that treasure was a magic helmet that I used to turn myself into the dragon you see dying before you. And it was as that dragon that I, the last of the giants, protected the treasure until today when I was felled by you, a mere boy. Guard yourself well my fearless hero! For he who urged you to kill me, has planned your death. _(dying gasps)_ Recall my fate!

**Siegfried:** Who was my father? Do you know? Maybe my name will tell you, I'm Siegfried.

**Fafner:** _(raising himself with a sigh,)_ Siegfried! _(he falls back dead)_

**Siegfried:** _(looking at the carcass)_ Well, the dead tell no tales. _(Fafner has rolled over such that Siegfried can easily draw his sword from the beast's breast. But in doing so, his hand becomes smeared with the dragon's blood and he draws it back violently)_ His blood burns like fire! _(Involuntarily putting his fingers to his mouth, he suddenly gazes thoughtfully as he hears the song of the birds)_ It's almost as if the birds are talking to me!

**Wood-Bird:** _(from a tree above)_ Hi Siegfried! You've won the Nibelung hoard in the cave! There's the Tarnhelm, whose magic will serve you for glorious deeds, and if you discover the ring, it can make you lord of the world!

**Siegfried:** _(Listening intently)_ Thanks, for the tip wood-bird! I'll do as you say! _(he disappears into the cave)_

Act 2 - Scene 3: _(_ _to assure himself that Fafner is really dead, Mimi slinks back on stage. Meanwhile, Alberich emerges to observe Mimi. Seeing that Siegfried has left, Mimi moves towards the cave, but Alberich rushes forward to bar his way)_

**Alberich:** He! He! Sly and slippery knave, where do you think you're going?

**Mimi:** Accursed brother, who needs you here?!

**Alberich:** Annoying imp! You'd steal my gold?

**Mimi:** Get out of here! This place is mine and you have no business here!

**Alberich:** Do I disturb a thief caught in the act?

**Mimi:** I've earned this through years of work and it won't escape me.

**Alberich:** Did you steal the Rhine gold? Did you put the spell on the ring?

**Mimi:** But who made the Tarnhelm allowing anyone to change their shape at will? You desired it and showed me how to make it, but I made it!

**Alberich:** Bungler! My skill inspired you! My magic ring showed you how to make the helmet!

**Mimi:** And what happened to that damned ring? First Wotan took it, then the giants got it, and now... Well ... what you've lost, I can take for myself!

**Alberich:** So the miser wants to steal what his boy's won does he? When the boy finds out what's going on he'll find it and keep it all!

**Mimi:** I brought him up, and now he can pay me back for all the years I slaved for him.

**Alberich:** So you brought him up! Does that make you think you're worth such a reward? For that you'd be a king? A flea-bitten dog has more right to the gold than you!

**Mimi:** Well, okay, let's try this: You keep the ring and gold and I'll take the Tarnhelm. Then we'll both have received our share in the prize. _(gleefully rubbing his hands together)_

**Alberich:** _(laughing scornfully)_ Share it? With you? And you getting the Tarnhelm? How dumb do you think I am? I'd never see a moment's peace from your scheming!

**Mimi:** _(beside himself)_ You won't share! You won't bargain! I get nothing!

**Alberich:** Not a trinket! Not a nail-head!

**Mimi:** _(in a rage)_ Then nothing shall be yours as well! I'll set Siegfried against you and that fearless boy will pay you, brother of mine! _(Siegfried appears)_

**Alberich:** Turn 'round and see who' coming from the cavern.

**Mimi:** _(looking about)_ He's found the treasure.

**Alberich:** He's found the Tarnhelm!

**Mimi:** And the ring!

**Alberich:** That damned ring!

**Mimi:** _(malicious laughter)_ Have him give you the ring! Yet I'll win it in the end! _(Slipping back into the forest)_

**Alberich:** Just wait! The ring will ultimately return to its master. _(disappearing)_

**Siegfried:** _(exiting the cave with the Tarnhelm and ring while meditating on his prizes)_ I chose the Tarnhelm and ring because the wood-bird said I should. But I don't know what they're good for, but I guess they'll remind me that I conquered Fafner. But fear is still a mystery to me! _(He slips the Tarnhelm under his belt and puts the ring on his finger. The forest murmurs increase as again he hears the wood-bird and listens to it intently)_

**Wood-Bird:** Hi Siegfried! You've discovered the Tarnhelm and ring! Now beware of the treacherous dwarf! Having tasted the dragon's blood, you can now listen to Mimi's words and know what he _really_ mean! _(Seeing Mimi approach, he stands leaning on his sword)_

**Mimi:** _(Slinking on while watching Siegfried)_ He broods while wondering what he's found. Might the Wanderer have him? Just to be sure, I'll use my friendliest, flattery to capture his attention. _(approaching Siegfried with wheedlingly)_ Siegfried my brave one! Tell me, have you learned what fear is?

**Siegfried:** No. No one was here to teach me.

**Mimi:** But you've slain the dragon! Didn't he conjure up a touch of fear in you?

**Siegfried:** Not really. He was fierce, but his death means nothing to me for far wickeder things still live unpunished. Anyway, you brought me here to fight the dragon, and I find I hate you even more than I ever hated the dragon so ..... !

**Mimi:** _(aside not realizing that Siegfried can read his mind)_ You won't see me much longer! Soon death will close your eyes! Now, you're the only thing between me and that treasure and killing you should be easy as you are stupid and so easy deceived!

**Siegfried:** _(Having read Mimi's mind)_ Deceived and then destroyed?

**Mimi:** _(astonished)_ Is that what I said? _(continuing tenderly)_ Siegfried! My dear son! I've always hated you and all of your kind! Love played no part in my bringing you up. All I ever wanted was the gold in Fafner's cave. _(then as if promising something pleasant)_ Give me that treasure, or else my son. You see, _(with affectionate jocularity)_ you're just going to have to let me kill you.

**Siegfried:** I love the fact that you hate me! But why should I let you kill me?

**Mimi:** _(Furious!)_ I never said that! You've heard me all wrong! _(producing a flask, and taking pains to be convincing)_ After your fight, I know you'd be tired, so I prepared a cooling drink for you. Just drink a drop, and I'll seize your sword, lop off your head, and the gold will be mine!

**Siegfried:** So you'd seize my sword, kill me, and take all I've won?

**Mimi:** _(furious!)_ Why can't you hear me! I'm choosing my words very careful to hide my intentions and this idiot insists on misinterpreting what I say! Open your ears and listen to my plan you idiot! _(very affectionately, with an evident effort to make himself understood)_ Take this drink, it will cool you!

**Siegfried:** _(without changing expression)_ I'd like a drink, but how was this one brewed?

**Mimi:** _(Jokingly)_ Just drink it! Trust my skill! And you'll be seized by a sleep you can't resist! You'll sink unconscious and helpless. Then I'll steal the ring and Tarnhelm! But I'd never be safe as long as you're alive! So with your own sword I'll chop your head off! Then I'll have it all and be safe!

**Siegfried:** So your plan is to kill me while I'm asleep?

**Mimi:** _(Raging!)_ Kill you? Why do you say that? _(in his most charming voice)_ I merely plan to chop your head off because I must destroy you! Else how could I be sure of keeping my treasure? _(He pours the brew into the drinking-horn and offers it to Siegfried)_ Now, my Wälsung! Drink and you'll never drink again!

**Siegfried:** Taste my sword, babbler! _(he runs Mimi through and he falls dead as Alberich's laughter is heard from afar, Siegfried carries Mimi's body to the cave, and throws it inside)_ Here! Lie with the gold! And let me place this guardian by your side to keep you safe from thieves. _(he blocks the cave with the dragons' carcass)_ You lie there too, dragon. _(gazes at the cave a moment)_ I'm worn out and the sun is hot. I think I'll rest under these branches. _(lying under a tree and gazing up into the branches)_ You're back then little wood-bird? Still here after the fight? Let me hear you sing again as you swinging and chirp up there surrounded by the kin you love! You, little bird, have kin, but I'm alone. No brothers or sisters—my mother died—my father fell in battle! _(looking up into the branches)_ Dear little wood-bird, can you be my guide? Can you tell me where to find a friend? You must know some way to help me. I've called so often, yet no one ever comes. You, little wood-bird, might do better, for you've advised me so well in the past. Sing! I'm listening for your song.

**Wood-Bird:** Now that you're free of the dwarf, you must awaken your bride who sleeps on a mountain surrounded by fire! He who goes through those flames will awaken Brünnhilde, who shall be his bride!

**Siegfried:** _(leaping up)_ Wow! Tell me more!

**Wood-Bird:** My song is of love, and lovers know what that means.

**Siegfried:** Well, I'm headed for that rock! But tell me dearest wood-bird: Can I pass through the fire? Can I awaken the bride?

**Wood-Bird:** Only one not knowing fear can pass through the fire and awaken the maid!

**Siegfried:** _(laughing)_ A foolish boy unacquainted with fear?! Dear wood-bird, that's me! Now, where's this rock? _(wood-bird takes wing)_ Fluttering overhead, you guide me, and where you flutter, there shall I follow! _(The wood-bird flies, he follows, and the curtain falls on Act 2)_

Act 3 – Scene 1: _(At the foot of a mountain on a thunder and lightning filled night)_

**Wanderer:** _(leaning on his spear at in an opening in a rock, he calls into a cave)_ Wala! Awake! Arise and appear at my call. Erda! Erda! You all-wise woman awake! _(A light appears in the cavern from which Erda arises from the depths)_

**Erda:** Okay, who the hell's waking me up again?

**Wanderer:** The Wanderer wakes you for your wisdom.

**Erda:** My sleep is dreaming—my dreaming, brooding—my brooding brings me wisdom—but while I sleep the Norns weave all that I know into their rope. If you want to know what's going on, talk to them.

**Wanderer:** But they weave for the world and only spin what you tell them to! Their weaving can't change that world! Only you can advise me if fate's cruel wheel can be stopped!

**Erda:** I bore you a daughter who, at your command, choses the heros for Valhalla. She too is valiant and wise, so why wake me up for your questions? Ask Brünnhilde.

**Wanderer:** My Valkyrie daughter? I've got a problem with that. When my son got into trouble and needed help, I renounced him and doomed him to death. She knew my will, but in her pride, defied me and as a punishment, I put her to sleep on a rock surrounded by fire where she can only be awakened by a fearless warrior who will make her his bride. What can I learn from her?

**Erda:** _(Lost in dreams)_ Your awakening me finds me confused as the world seems strange and wild. You put a Valkyrie to sleep, while her all-knowing mother slept? How can pride's teacher punish pride? How can he who urges the doing, punish the deed that is done? How can he who rules by right and to whom truth is sacred, scorn what is right and rule by lies? I'm going back to sleep!

**Wanderer:** You may not leave! You've driven a thorn of woes into my heart! But you're the world's wisest women, so tell me: How can a god master his craft?

**Erda:** You can't. You're a phony trying to deny reality! So why are you bothering me?

**Wanderer:** Do you know what I want? _(long silence)_ If I learn that, you may sleep in peace! I'm not sorry the gods will die. I willed it, and shall soon bring it to pass! In my loathing, I once declared the Nibelung should own the world. Today, I give my realm to the Wälsung, a youth of endless daring who has, on his own, gained the Nibelung's ring. And not knowing fear, he's left unharmed by Alberich's curse. And our daughter, Brünnhilde, will awake to his kiss. Then our child will free our world. Go back to your dreams Erda. Dream of the gods' destruction knowing that, whatever happens, I will gladly yield my role to the young! Go Erda! Return to your endless sleep! _(Her eyes close as she slowly descends into the earth as the moon lights the stage as the curtain closes)_

### Act 3 - Scene 2:

**Wanderer:** _(Walking to a cavern where he leans against the rock)_ I see Siegfried's nears.

**Siegfried:** _(entering, his guide-bird flutters hither and thither_ _before flying off._ _)_ My wood-bird showed me the path with sweet songs before fluttering away, so, I guess from here on, I'm on my own to find the rock.

**Wanderer:** Where are you going young man?

**Siegfried:** _(Walking toward the voice)_ Do you know the way to a mountain surrounded by fire where a maid sleeps!?

**Wanderer:** Who told you to seek such a mountain?

**Siegfried:** A wood-bird.

**Wanderer:** Birds chirps? Men can't understand birds. Do how did you know what they were singing?

**Siegfried:** I've understood birds since I tasted a drop of the dragon I killed's blood.

**Wanderer:** Who urged you to fight such a foe?

**Siegfried:** Mimi, an evil dwarf, who wanted to teach me fear. Then the dragon dared me to use my sword.

**Wanderer:** Who forged so sharp and true a sword that it slew so fierce a foe?

**Siegfried:** I forged it myself.

**Wanderer:** _(laughing)_ That's certainly true!

**Wanderer:** Be patient with me young man! If I seem old, you should honor my age.

**Siegfried:** Honor age! All my life an old man's stood in my path until I killed him! And if you keep blocking my path you might wind up like him! _(Moving closer)_ Why do you wear that big hat pulled over your face?

**Wanderer:** That's how the Wanderer wears it traveling against the wind!

**Siegfried:** _(Examining him more closely)_ And you're lacking an eye. A stranger struck it out when you barred his way? Get out of my way, or you may lose the other one.

**Wanderer:** I see you know how to get your way.

**Siegfried:** _(laughing)_ Okay, you're good for a laugh! But I'm getting impatient! Now show me the way, or I'll push you aside!

**Wanderer:** _(softly)_ Child, if you knew who I am, you'd spare me your scorn! I love your race though I was harsh with them and they shrank from my rage. Do not waken that rage, for it could ruin us both!

**Siegfried:** Still nothing Then out of my way, for that path leads to a slumbering maid as the wood-bird that's just fluttered bye said.

**Wanderer:** _(angrily)_ It flew off to save its life! It knew its ruler was here and ill fate follows those that offend me! And you shall not follow the path it showed you!

**Siegfried:** _(_ _stepping back defiantly)_ Who'll stop me? You?

**Wanderer:** I'm the rock's defender, for it's my spell that encircles the slumbering maid with fire. And he seeking that bride must brave that barrier to win her—and making me powerless forever in the process! _(Aiming his spear toward the rocky heights)_ Look, at the heights! See that light? How its splendor grows! How the flames leap high! _(The summit's fire becomes more visible)_ Soon that fire will destroy you! Stand back foolhardy boy!

**Siegfried:** Stand back yourself! _(trying to advance, the Wanderer bars his way)_ I'm going to free Brünnhilde!

**Wanderer:** If you've no fear of the fire, then fear my spear that bars your way! This shaft once broke your sword, and it can do it again! _(menacingly stretching out the spear)_

**Siegfried:** _(drawing his sword)_ So you were my father's foe? Stretch out your spear and watch me break it! _(one blow from_ **Notung** _shatters Wotan's spear whose fragments fall at his feet. And as he picks them up, lightning flashes at the hill top where the flames become ever brighter)_

**Wanderer:** _(Stepping aside)_ I can't stop you! Pass on! _(He disappears into the darkness)_

**Siegfried:** Wotan's escaped with his splintered spear! _(then noticing the fire-clouds rolling down the mountain)_ Ha! Flame of delight! I'll find her in that fire! _(Then, playing his motif on his horn, he plunges into the fire moving towards the heights as the curtain closes)_

Act 3 - Scene 3: _(as at the close of_ Die Valkyrie _, Brünnhilde lies asleep under a tree in full armor with her shield covering her body)_

**Siegfried:** _(looking about before noticing Brünnhilde)_ What sleeps so peacefully in the shade of those pine? What flashes in the sunlight? _(coming closer)_ Armor? _(removing the shield from the sleeping knight, he sees Brünnhilde although her face is hidden by the helmet)_ Ha! A man in armor wearing his helmet. _(removing her helmet, her long hair falls down startling him!)_ Ah! How fair! The armor bears heavily on his breast! Shall I unfasten his breastplate? _(his sword cuts the rings of mail on her armor's sides allowing him to remove her breastplate so she now lies before him in woman's attire alarming him)_ Whoa! This is no man! My heart grows feeble and faint! _(He sinks down on her)_ How do I awaken her? My heart beats wildly! Is this fear? A sleeping woman has taught me fear! Now, how do I conquer this fear? _(bending over her)_ Wake up holy maid! Nothing? I'll try kissing her. _(Pressing his lips to hers, Brünnhilde opens her eyes. He stands as she rises to a sitting position raising her arms in greeting to the heavens for the return of her sight)_

**Brünnhilde:** Hail the sunlight, for I slept a long time, but now I'm awake! And who woke me up?

**Siegfried:** I am, Siegfried, who braved the dangers to kiss you awake.

**Brünnhilde:** Glorious nature hear me! My sleep has ended and I gaze on Siegfried who's returned me to life!

**Siegfried:** _(ecstatically)_ I bless my mother's giving me birth! I bless the earth that gave me strength! And now I look upon those bright eyes that laugh on my joy!

**Brünnhilde:** _(Impassionedly)_ Siegfried! My conqueror! I've always loved you! Since I sheltered your life before you were born, I was your shield. So long I have loved you, Siegfried!

**Siegfried:** _(softly)_ My mother is alive? Is she sleeping here too?

**Brünnhilde:** _(touching him affectionately)_ Oh child, your mother died long ago, but now we are one—if you'll love me. Oh Siegfried! I've always loved you!

**Siegfried:** While your song is beautiful, its meaning escapes me. It's of the past, while I have you beside me now. You have taught me fear and bound me in its chains. _(He looks upon her longingly, pleadingly)_

**Brünnhilde:** _(Turnings towards the woods)_ And there's my horse, Grane! I see you've awakened him to graze again too.

**Siegfried:** My eyes and lips long to graze where my glance does!

**Brünnhilde:** _(Looking at her weapons)_ There's my shield that sheltered heros and the helmet that hid my head. They're worthless to me now.

**Siegfried:** I came without shield or helmet!

**Brünnhilde:** _(Sadly)_ There's my breast plate! Cut in two when I was stripped of my defenses leaving me a sorrowing maid!

**Siegfried:** I made it through that fire without a breastplate, or armor, while those flames set my blood ablaze! Oh maid, you caused the fire, and only you can quench it! _(He embraces her with obvious intentions but she moves away!)_

**Brünnhilde:** No god ever dared touch me sexually before! The heros bowed and knelt before the maid from Valhalla, but now I'm no longer Brünnhilde!

**Siegfried:** To me you're still that slumbering maid who is now my bride!

**Brünnhilde:** _(perplexed)_ I'm confused! Must all my wisdom fail me?

**Siegfried:** But you said your wisdom came from your love for me.

**Brünnhilde:** It's getting dark and wild fears are seizing me! _(covering her eyes)_

**Siegfried:** _(gently removing her hands from her eyes)_ You shield your eyes and see darkness, but I free them driving your fears away to see how bright the sun shines!

**Brünnhilde:** _(Agitated)_ But my shame! _(Turning tenderly to Siegfried)_ I'll always cared for you, but please leave me in peace. Please make this a platonic relationship, for a passionate frenzy would only destroy our love!

**Siegfried:** Wake up Brünnhilde! Live in laughter! Be mine!

**Brünnhilde:** _(Intensely)_ Oh Siegfried! I've always been yours!

**Siegfried:** _(ardently)_ If you were once mine, be mine again!

**Brünnhilde:** I'll always be yours!

**Siegfried:** If you'll be mine, be mine now! Show me that Brünnhilde's mine! _(He embraces her)_

**Brünnhilde:** That I'm yours? Can't you see it's only your love that makes my heart beat! When my embrace sets you on fire! Don't you fear this wildly passionate maid? _(Now embracing him)_

**Siegfried:** _(Happy but terrified)_ Ha! The fire heating our blood has led to ardent desires! My boldness has returned and I've lost my fear! _(releasing Brünnhilde)_

**Brünnhilde:** _(Laughing)_ Ah my fearless boy! Laughingly let us live, and laughingly let us die! Farewell Valhalla, whose glittering halls are about to crumble to dust! Farewell proud, godly race! And Norns, you can shred that damned rope you keep weaving as the gods sink into an eternal night! I live for Siegfried! And he's mine forever!

**Siegfried:** Brünnhilde lives! She laughs! She's mine forever! _(Throwing herself into his arms signals a fast curtain)_

Prelude & Act 1: The three Norns, daughters of Erda, the goddess of the earth, are gathered beside Brünnhilde's rock, weaving the Rope of Destiny. They sing of the past, the present, and that time when Wotan will set fire to Valhalla destroying it and the gods within it. Then, without warning, their rope breaks and, accepting that their wisdom itself has come to an end, they tie themselves together with the rope's fragments; declare that they'll never be heard from again; and descend back into the earth to their mother Erda.

At day break, Siegfried and Brünnhilde emerge from the cave on their fire surrounded rock, and she sends him off to new adventures while urging him to keep their love fresh in his mind. As a pledge of his fidelity, Siegfried gives her the ring he took from Fafner's hoard. [But it has no power as she has never renounced love] Then, bearing Brünnhilde's shield and mounting her horse, he rides off as an orchestral interlude (Siegfried's Rhine Journey) begins.

Gunther, lord of the Gibichungs, sits in their palace by the Rhine. His half-brother and chief minister, Hagan, advises him to find a wife for himself and a husband for their sister Gutrune to keep their line going. He suggests Brünnhilde for Gunther's wife, and Siegfried for Gutrune's husband. And, he reminds Gutrune that he has given her a potion she can use to make Siegfried forget all about Brünnhilde and fall madly in love with her. Under its influence, Siegfried will win Brünnhilde for Gunther. And Gunther and Gutrune like his plan.

Siegfried appears at the Gibichungs Hall, asking to meet Gunther who warmly greets him, and Gutrune offers him the love potion. Unaware of the deception, Siegfried offers a toast to Brünnhilde and their love. But the potion works and he soon loses any memory of Brünnhilde and falls madly in love with Gutrune.

In this drugged state, Siegfried offers to win Gunther a wife. Gunther suggests Brünnhilde and tells Siegfried about her and the magic fire about the rock on which she sleeps which only a fearless person can cross. They swear a blood oath before leaving for Brünnhilde's rock and leave Hagen to guard the place and he brags that his masters are unwittingly bringing him the ring.

Meanwhile, Brünnhilde is visited by her Valkyrie sister Waltraute, who tells her that a totally depressed Wotan has returned from his wanderings with his spear shattered. As that spear's shaft had contained all the treaties that had given him his power, he was now powerless and had ordered that the now dead World Ash tree be reduced to kindling and be piled around Valhalla. Then he sent his magic ravens to keep him informed of the events that will trigger Valhalla's end. Now the reason for her coming: The ring's curse is affecting their father, Wotan, and Waltraute begs Brünnhilde to return it to the Rhinemaiden, But Brünnhilde refuses to surrender this token of Siegfried's love, and Waltraute leaves in despair.

Using the Tarnhelm, Siegfried arrives at Brünnhilde's rock disguised as Gunther, and claims her as his wife. Though Brünnhilde resists violently, Siegfried overpowers her, snatching the ring from her hand and placing it on his own. [As Brünnhilde never forsook love, her ring was powerless.]

Act 2: While waiting at his familial palace, the dozing Hagen is visited by his father, Alberich, who urges him to swear to kill Siegfried and steal the ring. At dawn, Alberich leaves and Siegfried arrives via Tarnhelm-magic, having resumed his natural form and left Brünnhilde on the boat with Gunther. Then, sounding the war alarm, Hagen summonses the Gibichung vassals to welcome Gunther and his bride. The arriving vassals are surprised to learn the occasion is not a battle, but to celebrate their master's wedding and party.

Led in by Gunther, the downcast Brünnhilde is astonished to see Siegfried there and wearing her ring. Realizing she's been betrayed, and that the man who conquered her was Siegfried in disguise and not Gunther, she denounces Siegfried in front of Gunther's vassals and accuses him of having seduced her himself and for himself. And, not remembering ever having been Brünnhilde's lover, Siegfried swears on Hagen's spear that her accusations are false. But, Brünnhilde swears on that same spear point that they are true! Now, as oaths sworn on a weapon, the understanding is that if either of these oaths is proven false, the spear's owner should avenge that perjury by killing the perjurer.

Siegfried, Gutrune and the bystanders set off to the wedding feast, while Brünnhilde, Hagen, and Gunther are left alone by the shore. Shamed by Brünnhilde's outburst, Gunther agrees that Siegfried must be killed to regain face. Brünnhilde, too seeks revenge and joins the plot telling Hagen that Siegfried would only be vulnerable to a stab in the back. Hagen and Gunther decide to murder Siegfried on a hunting-trip as Hagen repeats his pledge to Alberich: That he will get the ring and rule the world through its power.

Act 3: In a wooded area by the bank of the Rhine, the Rhinemaiden are mourning the loss of their gold when Siegfried, who's become separated from the hunting party, happens by. Seeing him, they urge him to put an end to the ring's curse by returning it to them. He laughs and says he'd prefer dying rather than bargain for his life. But predicting that Siegfried will soon die leaving the ring to a lady who will treat them more fairly, they swim away happily.

Rejoining the hunters, Siegfried, while resting, tells them of his youth. And Hagen slips him another magic potion restoring his memory, and he relates the tale of his discovering the sleeping Brünnhilde, of awakening her with a kiss, and of their mad love for each other. With this proof from his own lips that his oath had been a lie, Hagen stabs Siegfried in the back saying, "I have avenged his perjury!" Hagen then calmly walks away.

Siegfried's body is carried off in a solemn procession (Siegfried's funeral music) that forms an interlude as the scene is changed and recapitulates many of the themes associated with Siegfried and the Wälsungs.

In Gibichung Hall, Gutrune is devastated when Siegfried's corpse is brought in. Gunther rails on Hagan for killing Siegfried, but Hagan says he had it coming for his lying. And by the way, Hagan claims Siegfried's ring is now his by right of conquest. Gunther objects to this and Hagan kills him. But as Hagan tries removing the ring from the corpse's finger, Siegfried's hand rises threateningly and Hagen jumps back in fear!

The entering Brünnhilde orders a huge funeral pyre to be assembled (beginning the Immolation Scene), then, taking the ring from Siegfried's corpse's finger, she tells the Rhinemaiden to claim it from her ashes after fire has cleansed it of its curse. Then, lighting the pyre, she sends Wotan's ravens home with the "anxiously longed-for tidings," after they've flown to Brunhild's rock to tell Loge to make haste back to Valhalla for the big ending of the show.

Then, after extolling the virtues of the dead hero, Brünnhilde mounts Grane, and rides to her death into the flames!

A sequence of leitmotifs—the magic fire music—portray the Gibichungs' hall burning and collapsing. The Rhine overflows its banks, quenching the fire, and the Rhinemaiden swim in claim the ring. Hagen tries stopping them, but they drag him into the depths drowning him. And as the Rhinemaiden celebrate the ring's return, the sky's red glow tells us that Valhalla with its gods and heros is being consumed in flames. The curtain falls to the sound of the Erlösungsmotif—the utterly magnificent motif of redemption.

  The Twilight of the Gods.

### Characters

Act 1 - Prelude: _(The Valkyries' rock set closing_ Die Walküre _. It is night and the three gloomy Norns are on stage)_

**1** st **Norn:** What's that light?

**2** nd **Norn:** Not dawn already?

**3** rd **Norn:** No, that's just Loge fooling around. Why don't we sing and spin a while?

**2** nd **Norn:** Let's stretch the rope. _(1_ st _Norn unwinds the golden rope wrapped around her tying one end to a pine tree)_

**1** st **Norn:** And whether our song is good or bad, I'll wind the rope as we sing. I once wove a spring to flow beneath the world-ash-tree's cooling shadow and Wotan came and drank from it. One day, he tore a branch from that tree to make his spear, but the wound caused by his tearing that limb off killed the tree and the spring dried up.

**2** nd **Norn:** Wotan carves the world's treaties on his spear, and by the runes on that spear he controlled the world. At least he did until a hero reduced his spear to splinters. Then he had his followers cut down the dead world-ash tree and reduce it to kindling. Now, with the ash tree and spring gone, I bind the rope around this sharp-edged rock. Sing sister. Wind the rope not knowing what will happen.

**3** rd **Norn:** _(catching the rope and tossing the end behind her)_ As Wotan and his heros sit in his castle, the wood from the world-ash tree stands like a wall around Valhalla. And when set aflame, it will destroy Valhalla and all within it ending their godhood. Want to know more? Then rewind the rope, I'll cast it to you. _(they throw the rope which is then attached to whatever the stage director decides)_ Spin, oh sister, and sing!

**1** st **Norn:** _(looking eastward)_ Is it dawn, or just a fire flickering out there? Sorrow and time have dimmed my sight since Loge blazed forth. Anyone know what happed to him?

**2** nd **Norn:** Wotan ordered him to encircle Brünnhilde's rock with fire. Then, hoping to win his freedom, Loge gnawed the runes off Wotan's spear's shaft, and for that little trick, Wotan confined him within the flames surrounding Brünnhilde.

**3** rd **Norn:** When a splinter from Wotan's spear wounded Loge, a flame flared from the wound setting fire to Wotan's spear's fragments and he threw them on the piled wood of the ash tree surrounding Walhalla.

**2** nd **Norn:** Then what happened?

**1** st **Norn:** _(Fiddling with the rope)_ It's dark and I can't feel the rope anymore and fear it may now be reduced to loose threads. Does anyone know what happened to the gold Alberich stole?

**2** nd **Norn:** _(winding the rope around a rock)_ Rock cuts are fraying the rope. It won't hold anymore. The ring's curse is gnawing at our rope! Anyone know what comes next?

**3** rd **Norn:** _(Catching the rope thrown to her)_ The rope won't reach you and must be stretched! _(She pulls hard and the rope snaps)_ It breaks!

**2** nd **Norn:** It breaks!

**1** st **Norn:** It breaks! _(Taking pieces of the broken rope, they tie themselves together)_

**3** rd **Norns:** The world has heard the last of us. Descend!

**2** nd **Norn:** To Erda!

**1** st **Norn:** Descend! _(They vanish)_

(dawn. The sun rises as Siegfried and Brünnhilde leave their cave. He is in full armor and she's leading her horse by its bridle).

**Brünnhilde:** Your leaving has me doubting that your winning me has won you much, but I'm rich in love, if poor in power, so please don't distain my scant worth, for I've given you all I have.

**Siegfried:** Don't be silly! You've already given me more than I deserve. And don't be upset that I'm still unsure about this fear thing, but there's one thing I've learned well: Brünnhilde is mine!

**Brünnhilde:** Will you always love me? Remember your passing through the fire that burned around the rock!

**Siegfried:** So Brünnhilde could win me.

**Brünnhilde:** Never forget the sleeping maid whose helmet you unfastened.

**Siegfried:** To awaken you!

**Brünnhilde:** Remember the oaths of love we pledged? _(Embracing him)_

**Siegfried:** My love, I leave you here guarded by fire; _(Taking Alberich's ring from his finger, he hands it to her)_ and reward you with this. I slew a dragon for it. A dragon who, for a long time, watched and hated this ring. Now guard the gold as a witness of my love! [But as neither of them has renounced love, to them it's just a ring.]

**Brünnhilde:** _(extatically putting on the ring)_ It'll never leave my hand! And for it, please—take my horse! And even though he's lost his power to fly through the heavens, he'll follow you even through fire,! And speak to him often of me, he knows my name!

**Siegfried:** It's through your virtue that my deeds will shine! It is you who'll choose my battles and achieve my victories! For it will be with your shield that I will protect myself, and on your steed that I'll fight!

**Brünnhilde:** Oh gods! Turn your eyes on this hallowed pair!

**Siegfried:** Hail the joy of loving! Hail, Brünnhilde!

**Brünnhilde:** Hail the rapture of living! _(Siegfried rides off with Brünnhilde watching after them to a falling curtain)_

Act 1 - Scene 1: _(Gunther and Gutrune are sitting in the Gibichungs' Rhine palace)_

**Gunther:** Tell me Hagen is my fame on the Rhine worthy of my Gribiche name?

**Hagen:** Even our mother makes me jealous when she speaks of your greatness.

**Gunther:** I envy you. Although the firstborn, I never inherited the familial wisdom—you did.

**Hagen:** Just remember, today the Gribiche race falters because neither you, nor Gutrune, have married. _(They sit lost in thought)_

**Gunther:** Whom would you have me marry?

**Hagen:** The world's noblest wife awaits you on a mountain top surrounded by fire, but only the man going through that fire will marry Brünnhilde.

**Gunther:** And you don't think I'm up to it?

**Hagen:** It is said that the task falls to one stronger than you.

**Gunther:** If not me, who is that boldest of men?

**Hagen:** Siegfried, the Wälsung. He's the son of the twins Siegmund and Sieglinde who begat him in an incestuous relationship and fate found him growing up in the woods. I'd like to see him wed Gutrune.

**Gutrune:** And what makes him first among the heros?

**Hagen:** He killed a dragon to win the Nibelung's treasure.

**Gunther:** It's said its worth a fortune.

**Hagen:** The man who has it can rule the world.

**Gunther:** And Siegfried won it in a fight?

**Hagen:** Yup.

**Gunther:** And only he can win Brünnhilde?

**Hagen:** So they say. _(Gunther rises angrily from his seat)_

**Gunther:** Why bring this up if you know I can't have her?

**Hagen:** But, should Siegfried arrive here, wouldn't Brünnhilde be yours?

**Gunther:** Why? How could I get him to win her for me?

**Hagen:** Your request alone could have him surrender her if he were married to Gutrune

**Gutrune:** Don't mock me Hagen! What spell could I place on him to pull that one off? If he's the earth's first hero, he's already loved by the earth's fairest women.

**Hagen:** _(confidentially)_ Remember the potion I concocted? How about this: Siegfried comes here, we slip him a drop of that potion and he'll instantly forget every woman he's ever seen except the one in front of him! Now what do you think of my plan?

**Gunther:** All praise be to Grimilda, for making this brother of mine!

**Gutrune:** Okay, but how do we get him to come here?

**Hagen:** _(Siegfried's distant horn is heard)_ He's storming the world seeking glory and, he'll be here any minute now! Don't you hear his horn?

**Gunther:** I'll welcome him. _(horn gets louder)_

**Hagen:** _(Looking down the river)_ I see a man on a boat blowing his horn! And he's driving the boat so hard it just must be the dragon slayer!

**Gunther:** But is he coming here?

**Hagen:** _(Calling toward the river)_ Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Who are you looking for?

**Siegfried:** The loyal son of Gribiche.

**Hagen:** This is it and you're welcome!

Act 1 - Scene 2: _(Siegfried lands his boat)_

**Hagen:** _(Makes fast the boat as Siegfried comes ashore with his horse)_ Hail Siegfried! _(Gunther joins them as Gutrune looks on from the castle)_

**Siegfried:** Which of you is Gribiche's son?

**Gunther:** I am.

**Siegfried:** You're famous all over the valley, so now, we must either fight, or become friends!

**Gunther:** You come in peace and are welcome!

**Siegfried:** Where can I rest my horse?

**Hagen:** I'll take care of him for you.

**Siegfried:** _(turning to Hagen)_ You called me Siegfried, have we met before?

**Hagen:** I knew who you must be by your strength.

**Siegfried:** _(giving Hagen his horse's reigns)_ Be gentle with him, you've never handled a nobler steed. _(Hagen leads the horse away, Gutrune leaves for her room, and Gunther invites Siegfried to accompany him)_

**Gunther:** Greet the halls of my ancestors, for here, where ever you stand, whatever you see, I give you, for henceforth, I am yours alone.

**Siegfried:** I have nothing to give save a sword I have forged. Let my weapon be my pledge.

**Hagen:** _(Returning and standing behind Siegfried)_ Rumor has it that you own the Nibelungs fortune.

**Siegfried:** _(turning to Hagen)_ Yes, and I worry about it so much I left it in the cave where a dragon once watched over it.

**Hagen:** And you took nothing from it?

**Siegfried:** _(pointing to the steel netting hanging from his girdle)_ Nothing but this, but I don't know what it's for!

**Hagen:** It's the Tarnhelm, the Nibelung's cunningest work. When on your head, it can change you into anything you wish. If you want to visit a far-off land, your simple desire it and it would be immediately fulfilled. But that's all you took from the hoard?

**Siegfried:** I also took a ring.

**Hagen:** Which you keep safe?

**Siegfried:** _(tenderly)_ Well, it's held by a woman.

**Hagen:** _(aside)_ Brünnhilde!

**Gunther:** Siegfried, even if you won all my wealth, I'd continue to serve you without pay. _(Gutrune enters with a drinking horn and approaches Siegfried)_

**Gutrune:** Welcome to Gribiche's house! And might his daughter offer you this drink? _(Siegfried takes the horn containing Hagan's elixir of love)_

**Siegfried:** Brünnhilde, I drink to thee! _(drinking it dry, he returns the horn to Gutrune who's looking down in shame. Looking at her, he's stricken with a sudden passion)_ Oh you who blind my sight, why look down instead of up at me? _(Blushing, she looks up)_ Oh, veil your looks fairest maid, for you make my heart burn hot enough to scorch my blood! _(Trembling)_ Gunther, what is your sister's name?

**Gunther:** Gutrune.

**Siegfried:** _(softly)_ Do your eyes speak kindly to me? _(she looks to Hagen, bows her head, then exits as the love-sick Siegfried, watches her go)_ Hast Gunther, a wife?

**Gunther:** No, for the one I long for I can't win.

**Siegfried:** _(Spinning toward him)_ What can't you win when I'm your friend?

**Gunther:** She lives on a mountain rock ...

**Siegfried:** _(astonished)_ A mountain rock's her home?

**Gunther:** ... And a fire surrounds her it and ...

**Siegfried:** And a fire surrounds her mountain rock?

**Gunther:** And he who breaks through the fire ....

**Siegfried:** _(striving to remember something)_ Who breaks through the fire ...?

**Gunther:** ... may woo Brünnhilde.

**Siegfried:** _(remembering nothing)_ I don't fear fire! I'll win Brünnhilde for you if you'll give me Gutrune!

**Gunther:** You want Gutrune? You get Gutrune!

**Siegfried:** Then it's a deal, and Brünnhilde's yours!

**Gunther:** But how will you talk her into it?

**Siegfried:** I'll use the Tarnhelm's power to change into you.

**Gunther:** Then let's swear an oath on it!

**Siegfried:** A blood-brotherhood bound be by an oath! _(A horn of wine is produced and they go through the ritual of adding their blood to it)_

**Gunther:** Our blood is mixed in brotherly love in this draught!

**Both:** Thus, I drink to a friend!

**Gunther:** But if this bond is ever broken ....

**Siegfried:** If friend be false to friend ...

**Both:** Then the blood we have drunk shall flow freely for thus shall traitors atone!

**Gunther:** And so I swear! _(He drinks and gives the horn to Siegfried)_

**Siegfried:** And so, I pledge my faith! _(Emptying the horn, he returns it to Hagen who breaks it with his sword. Then, as Gunther and Siegfried join hands, Siegfried asks Hagen)_ You took no part in our bond?

**Hagen:** No. My blood isn't up to involving itself in fiery bonds!

**Gunther:** _(to Siegfried)_ Ignore his cowardice! _(Siegfried puts on his shield)_

**Siegfried:** Let's get going! My boat's by the shore, and after a one night trip, Brünnhilde will be yours!

**Gunther:** You're not going to rest?

**Siegfried:** Nah! Work is my rest. _(Going to the shore, he casts off the boat)_

**Gunther:** Yo! Hagen! Guard the homestead! _(As they make ready to sail. Gutrune appears at her apartment door. Siegfried pushes off the boat, which immediately floats into the stream)_

**Gutrune:** Where are they going so fast?

**Hagen:** They're flying to Brünnhilde's wedding.

**Gutrune:** Siegfried?

**Hagen:** See how fast he goes? He's rushing so he can get back to marry you!

**Gutrune:** _(ecstatically)_ Siegfried's mine!

**Hagen:** _(aside while guarding the house)_ The wind blows Gribiche's son to his future bride, and as he brings her home, she'll be bringing the ring to me!

Act 1 - Scene 3: _(Brünnhilde is sitting at the cave's entrance kissing her ring as distant thunder is heard. She looks up at see a fast approaching thunderhead)_

**Brünnhilde:** It sounds so familiar! Could it be?! It's a Valkyrie steed winging his flight on the cloud! I wonder who's coming?

**Waltraute:** _(from afar)_ Brünnhilde! Sister! Wake up!

**Brünnhilde:** You're riding to see me? Rest your horse in the woods. _(without observing Waltraute's fear)_ It's bold of you to come. Has our father changed his mind, or have you broken his ban? _(She joyously embraces Waltraute who pushes her away)_

**Waltraute:** I've broken Wotan's order and I-am-scared!

**Brünnhilde:** So he hasn't pardoned me?

**Waltraute:** Just listen! Valhalla's terror drove me here.

**Brünnhilde:** What's happened to the eternals?

**Waltraute:** They aren't so eternal anymore! After meandered the earth for a time as _the Wanderer,_ Wotan returned with his spear in splinters. His power gone, he had Valhalla's heros cut down the dead world-ash-tree and pile its wood around the hall. Then he called the godly host together to sit before him as he sat on his throne mute holding his shattered spear. The gods sit in silence and the Valkyries sit at his knees cowering in fear. Then he remembered you Brünnhilde! With a deep sigh he mumbled: "Giving the Rhinemaiden her ring would release both the gods and world from its curse." Then I left to ride to you praying you'll do what you can to end the grief of the gods!

**Brünnhilde:** _(quietly)_ What are you talking about? I don't understand!

**Waltraute:** _(vehemently)_ Your ring! For Wotan's sake get rid of it!

**Brünnhilde:** My ring?

**Waltraute:** Give it back to the Rhinemaiden!

**Brünnhilde:** Give them my ring? The pledge of Siegfried's love? Have you lost your mind?

**Waltraute:** The world's fate hangs on what you do with it. Throw the damned thing in the Rhine and end Valhalla's troubles!

**Brünnhilde:** Ha! You have no idea what this ring means to me! How can you, loveless maid, get it! This ring means more to me than Valhalla's happiness, or the fame of the gods! One glance at its gold, one flash of its fire means more to me than all of heaven's delights! For it shines of Siegfried's love. Go tell the gods: They'll never get this symbol of my love even if means the end of Valhalla and the gods themselves!

**Waltraute:** That's it? You'll leave your sister in her sorrow?

**Brünnhilde:** Beat it! You're not getting my ring!

**Waltraute:** Woe to you, sister! Woe to Valhalla's gods! _(fleeing as a thunder storm rises)_

**Brünnhilde:** _(it's evening, and suddenly, the ever-protective fire around the rock flares up)_ Why are the flames leaping so high? It's Siegfried! He's back! That's his call! _(She runs to the parapet! But the Tarnhelm has changed him to appear as Gunther and Brünnhilde becomes terrified seeing this unknown person)_

**Brünnhilde:** Who the hell are you?!

**Siegfried:** _(with a false voice)_ A wooer unafraid of your fire seeks a wife. Will you follow me Brünnhilde?

**Brünnhilde:** _(trembling)_ Who attempts that which only the boldest dares?

**Siegfried:** A hero who shall tame you by force if necessary.

**Brünnhilde:** Are you a mortal? Or from Hell?

**Siegfried:** I'm Gunther, a Gibichung, now will you follow me?

**Brünnhilde:** _(in despair)_ Wotan, you merciless bastard! Now I understand! You've sentenced me to a lifetime of shame and sorrow! _(Siegfried as Gunther approaches her)_

**Siegfried:** The night nears, let's go into your cave where we will be wed!

**Brünnhilde:** _(stretching out her ring finger)_ Back off! You shan't shame me so long as this ring is my guard. [but the ring only works for those who've foresworn love you'll remember.]

**Siegfried:** It's a husband's right, so let it be Gunther's! Let the ring make you his wife!

**Brünnhilde:** Back off! Don't defy my hand's might! This ring makes me stronger than steel and will never be yours!

**Siegfried:** Then I'll take it from you! _(after a tussle, he takes the ring and she falls and he lets her fainting body slide down at the entrance to the cave)_ Now you're mine Brünnhilde! Gunther's bride!

**Brünnhilde:** _(awaking)_ How can you help this ill-fated wife? _(Entering the cave)_

**Siegfried:** _(Drawing his sword and in his own voice)_ Now, _Nothung,_ witness that I have wooed to keep my vow. Now let your blade safeguard his bride! _(they enter the cave to a falling curtain)_

Act 2: Prelude and Scene 1: _(The Rhine's shore in front of the Gibichungs' castle. It's night, and Hagen, sits asleep with Alberich crouched before him)_

**Alberich:** _(softly)_ You sleep Hagen, my son? You sleep and don't hear me. Me, who rest and sleep have betrayed?

**Hagen:** _(without moving)_ I hear you, what do you want now?

**Alberich:** Don't forget the might you possess if you're as valiant as your mother who gave you to me!

**Hagen:** Though her might was mine, I owe her no thanks that she fell prey to you!

**Alberich:** Hagen, my son, we've dismayed our enemies by our hate. And Wotan, who stole my ring, was defeated by one of his own heros! Siegfried, the Wälsung stripped him of all his power and now he sits with his gods and heros in dread awaiting his end. I don't fear him anymore! They'll all perish soon! Sleep, my son.

**Hagen:** Okay, so who'll take control when the gods fall?

**Alberich:** You and I Hagen! Siegfried shattered Wotan's spear leaving him powerless. And as Siegfried has the ring, my curse falls on him. But as he has no intention of ever foreswearing love, the ring is worthless to him! But his throwing his life away on love can help us. Still sleeping Hagen?

**Hagen:** What do you want me to do?

**Alberich:** Steal the ring! He's given it to his bride, Brünnhilde. But if she tosses it back to the Rhinemaiden, it's lost forever. So steal the ring! Swear it to me my son!

**Hagen:** Okay, I'll get you the ring, now get some sleep yourself!

**Alberich:** Swear it!

**Hagen** : Okay! Okay! I swear it! Trust me now!

**Alberich:** _(slowly disappearing)_ Be true, Hagen. Be true.

Act 2 - Scene 2: _(Hagen starts as Siegfried approaches)_

**Siegfried:** _(With the Tarnhelm hanging from his belt)_ Hagen! Wake up!

**Hagen:** _(rising leisurely)_ Hi Siegfried, you speedy hero! Where are you from this time?

**Siegfried:** Brünnhilde's rock!

**Hagen:** Then Brünnhilde's been won?

**Siegfried:** Yup! Wake up Gutrune.

**Hagen:** _(calling toward the hall)_ Gutrune! Siegfried's here!

**Siegfried:** _(turning to the hall)_ You'll both hear of Brünnhilde's fate. _(Gutrune enters)_ Greet me, Gribiche! I bring good news!

**Gutrune:** Freia greets you in the name of woman's honor!

**Siegfried:** Grant grace to your wooer, for today, I've won you for my wife!

**Gutrune:** Is Brünnhilde coming with my brother?

**Siegfried:** I believe so.

**Gutrune:** Did he make it through the fire unharmed?

**Siegfried:** Safe as though I'd dared it for him, for so I sought to win you.

**Gutrune:** It hasn't harmed you?

**Siegfried:** I laugh at flames!

**Gutrune:** Did Brünnhilde take you to be Gunther?

**Siegfried:** The Tarnhelm served me just as Hagen said it would.

**Gutrune:** Your force tamed the maid?

**Siegfried:** It was Gunther's force she felt.

**Gutrune:** And she gave herself to you?

**Siegfried:** She gave her rightful husband the night.

**Gutrune:** But, in truth, that right was yours!

**Siegfried:** Siegfried was with Gutrune.

**Gutrune:** Yet Brünnhilde laid beside him?

**Siegfried:** Between the east and west _(pointing to his sword hilt)_ was the distance between them.

**Gutrune:** So how did she make it from you to Gunther's arms?

**Siegfried** : As the day dawned, she followed me to the shore and, using the Tarnhelm, I swapped places with Gunther. Then the Tarnhelm's magic brought me here as a strong wind now brings the lovers to Gribiche's home.

**Gutrune:** Mighty Siegfried! I shrink with fear from you!

**Hagen:** _(calling from the shore)_ A sail's in sight!

**Siegfried:** Let's thank our herald!

**Gutrune:** We'll give her a worthy greeting! Hagen, call the men for the wedding and I'll call the maids to the feast! _(turning as she heads toward the hall)_ Are you going to just sit there?

**Siegfried:** Helping Gutrune' is my rest! _(Taking her hand, they enter the hall)_

Act 2 - Scene 3: _(Seated on a rock, Hagen blows a signal on a cowhorn)_

**Hagen:** Hi ho Hi Ho! You Gribiche! Grab your weapons and get over here! _(armed vassals rush in from all sides)_

**The Vassals:** Why the alarm!? Who's attacking us?

**Hagen:** _(from the rock)_ Arm yourselves to welcome your lord, Gunther, who's about to marry a Valkyrie!

**Vassals:** Any of her angry kin or vassals in sight?

**Hagen:** No! Just Brünnhilde.

**Vassals:** Then there's no danger? What's up?!

**Hagen:** Siegfried, the dragon-slayer, gained him the bride and kept him safe!

**A Vassal:** Then why call us?

**Hagen:** To celebrate dummy! We're slaughtering beef for the feast as we speak!

**Vassals:** Anything else we can do?

**Hagen:** Some hunting. We need a boar for Froh, a goat for Donner, and a sheep for Fricka that she might grant grace to the marriage!

**Vassals:** _(with hilarity)_ Then what Hagen?

**Hagen:** Well, um, ah, offer fair women mead and wine and uh ...

**Vassals:** With a drink-horn in hand, right!?

**Hagen:** You know! Carouse freely that the gods may grant honor to the marriage! _(all laugh)_ Knock off the laughing! He and Brünnhilde are arriving. _(pointing toward the Rhine)_ Love your lady well, and if she is wronged, be swift with your vengeance!

**Vassals:** _(as Gunther and Brünnhilde's boat approaches the shore)_ Hail! Hail! Hail Be welcome!

Act 2 - Scene 4: _(leaving the boat)_

**Vassals:** Welcome, Gunther! Good health to you and your bride! _(they noisily strike their weapons together)_

**Gunther:** _(presenting the depressed Brünnhilde to the vassals)_ Here, to our Rhine castle, I bring my noble bride, Brünnhilde! And pray the gods will lead our glorious race to the highest fame!

**Vassals:** Hail you happiest Gibichung! _(Gunther leads Brünnhilde to the hall, as Siegfried and Gutrune are leaving it._

**Gunther:** _(Stopping before the hall)_ I greet you my hero, and your, lovely sister! We'll join two couples in wedlock today! _(Drawing Brünnhilde forward)_ Brünnhilde and Gunther, and Gutrune and Siegfried! _(raising her eyes, Brünnhilde is startled when she sees Siegfried, and Gunther is amazement at her behavior)_

**Vassals:** What ails her?

**Women:** She's distraught? _(Brünnhilde begins trembling)_

**Siegfried:** _(Takings a few steps toward Brünnhilde)_ What's upsetting you?

**Brünnhilde:** ( _Scarcely able to command herself)_ Siegfried! Here!?

**Siegfried:** I won Gunther's sister, as he has won you.

**Brünnhilde:** _(Violently!)_ I won Gunther? _YOU_ _LIE!_ _(Appearing about to fall. Siegfried grabs her and she looks up at his face)_ You don't recognize me do you Siegfried?

**Siegfried:** Gunther, help Brünnhilde!

**Gunther:** _(Coming to them)_ It's okay wife! Your husband's right here!

**Brünnhilde:** _(startled as she sees the ring on Siegfried's finger)_ Ha! My ring is on his finger! He! Siegfried!

**Vassals:** What is it? What's going on?

**Hagen:** _(coming from the among the Vassals)_ Listen up!

**Brünnhilde:** The ring you're wearing was stolen from me! But not by Siegfried! _(pointing to Gunther)_ But by him! _(Turning to Siegfried)_ How'd you get it? _(Siegfried looks confused at the ring on his finger)_

**Siegfried:** _(Pointing to Gunther)_ Well, it certainly didn't come from him!

**Brünnhilde:** _(to Gunther)_ But it was you who stole the ring, I married you with!

**Gunther:** _(perplexed)_ The ring? I didn't give it to him.

**Brünnhilde:** Then where the hell's the ring you stole from my hand?! _(confused, Gunther is silent. The violently)_ Ha! He stole the ring from me! Siegfried's a traitor and thief!

**Siegfried:** _(All look at Siegfried, who's still mulling over the ring)_ No woman gave it to me nor did I take it from any woman. As I remember, it was part of the booty I won, when I killed the dragon.

**Hagen:** _(coming between them)_ Brünnhilde, you know the ring. Did Gunther steal it from you? Because if that's true, how could Siegfried get it except by theft? And if that's true, he must pay for that theft!

**Brünnhilde:** _(shrieking in anguish)_ Betrayed! Shamefully betrayed! A deceit beyond revenge!

**Gutrune, Vassals, Women:** Deceit? Deceit to whom?

**Brünnhilde:** Oh you gods who've doomed me to such anguish! You who've sunk me into such deep disgrace! Teach me vengeance as it's never been seen before! Stir a wrath in me that can't be stilled! Let my broken heart bring my betrayer to his death!

**Gunther:** What are you saying! Calm down!

**Brünnhilde:** Get away from me you who are both betrayer, betrayed! Let me tell you whose wife I am!

**Women:** Siegfried is married to her?

**Brünnhilde:** He forced himself on me.

**Siegfried:** Why hold your name so lightly? Tell me if I broke my faith! I've sworn a blood oath to Gunther and my sword, guards that holy vow.

**Brünnhilde:** You're a crafty bastard! You see your lie and call on your sword as a witness. I know your blade well, and its scabbard too. _Nothung!_ His trusty sword!

**Vassals:** _(Vassals and Women in indignation)_ What? Siegfried's a traitor? And he's tainted Gunther's honor?

**Women:** Siegfried a traitor?

**Gunther:** _(to Siegfried)_ I'm disgraced, if her slander isn't cast in her teeth!

**Gutrune:** Has Siegfried lied? Tell us if you think you've been wrongly charged!

**Vassals:** If she lied, silence her slander!

**Siegfried:** Still slander? Of this oath, whose spear can be my witness?

**Hagen:** Here is mine! Swear on your oath upon it! _(The Vassals form a ring around Siegfried and Hagen as Siegfried lays his fingers on Hagen's spear's point)_

**Siegfried:** Hallowed weapon! On this spear-point, I swear my oath: If a weapon ever pierces me, it will be this one. And if what she says proves true, let it be so!

**Brünnhilde:** _(striding into the ring, she jerks Siegfried away from the spear, and places her own fingers on its point)_ Shining steel, I pray that by this point he perish! For he has lied and broken all the vows he has sworn to me!

**Siegfried:** Gunther! Look at the woman whose lies slander your name! Make her rest until she's calmed down. Vassals! Let your women do the scolding! We always yield when it's a battle of tongues. _(Coming close to Gunther)_ The Tarnhelm's spell, may not have completely hid me, but I've won her for you and she'll eventually be thankful. _(Turning to the Vassals)_ Go to the feast! _(to the women)_ Help at the wedding! _(throwing his arm around Gutrune he leads her into the hall. And as the curtain closes, Gunther is sitting dejectedly, Brünnhilde is sadly looking off stage toward Siegfried, and Gutrune sits facing the floor)_

### Act 2 - Scene 5:

**Brünnhilde:** _(aside)_ Why can't I unravel this mess?

**Hagen:** _(Moving close to Brünnhilde)_ Trust me, and I'll avenge your wrong on him.

**Brünnhilde:** _(looking around)_ On whom?

**Hagen:** On Siegfried, your traitor of course.

**Brünnhilde:** On Siegfried? You? One flash of his eye even through his lying disguise would destroy you!

**Hagen:** But what he swore on my spear-point sworn was a lie!

**Brünnhilde:** Truth and lying, are words! Strike when you have a stronger weapon!

**Hagen:** I know his strength and how hard it would be to kill him so, if you've got some ideas on the subject ....

**Brünnhilde:** Nothing can pierce the spell granting his safety in battle.

**Hagen:** So no weapon can kill him?

**Brünnhilde:** Not in battle. But were you to stab him in the back!

**Hagen:** Okay! I like it! That's where I'll get him! _(turning to Gunther)_ Up noble Gibichung! Here stands your valiant wife, why are you grieving?

**Gunther:** I think I'm the saddest man alive.

**Brünnhilde:** _(to Gunther)_ Oh falsest of friends! You hid behind a hero to gain his prize! My god how low your race has sunk when it has bred such cowards as you!

**Gunther:** _(losing it)_ I was both deceiver and deceived! Betrayer and betrayed! Now, my bones are crushed and my heart is broken! Help, Hagen! Help for my honor! Help for your mother, and for you, too!

**Hagen** : Only Siegfried's death can help any of us.

**Gunther:** _(horrified)_ His death!

**Hagen:** What else could purge your shame!

**Gunther:** _(staring blankly)_ We swore a blood-oath!

**Hagen:** And only blood can atone for a broken blood oath!

**Gunther:** Did he break the oath?

**Hagen:** He did by betraying you!

**Gunther:** Am I betrayed?

**Brünnhilde:** You are all betrayers and all the blood in the world can't atone for your guilt! But only his death will satisfy me!

**Hagen:** _(to Gunther)_ You'll have power over all the world if you can get his ring.

**Gunther:** _(softly)_ Brünnhilde's ring?

**Hagen:** The Nibelung's golden charm!

**Gunther:** _(sighing)_ Must Siegfried die?

**Hagen:** His death will serve us all.

**Gunther:** But how can we stand before Gutrune, his bride, with his blood on our hands?

**Brünnhilde:** Now I see it! Gutrune beguiled my hero and Ill-fate must be her reward!

**Hagen:** _(to Gunther)_ If she must lose her husband, it must be done surreptitiously. Tomorrow we'll go hunting and, just maybe, he'll be killed by a boar.

**Gunther:** Sounds good to me! Die Siegfried!

**Hagen:** As soon as I've wrested the ring from his hand I'll own the hoard! Hearken father! Harken you fallen Nibelung king! Call the Nibelung Alberich, and once again order them to obey you, the lord of the ring!

**Gunther:** He broke the blood oath!

**Brünnhilde:** He broke the holiest of vows!

**Both:** Let him atone with his blood! All-seeing god of revenge! Wotan! Turn to me! Call on your awful heavenly host and bid them give ear to my vow of revenge!

(As Gunther and Brünnhilde enter the hall, they bump into the bridal procession leaving it. Siegfried and the vassals sound the wedding call on their horns. As the procession moves toward the height, the curtain falls)

Act 3 - Prelude & Scene 1: _(The curtain rises on the Rhinemaiden swimming near the surface)_

**Rhinemaiden:** _(pausing)_ The sunlight's rays once gleamed on the Rhinegold. Weialala, weialala heia leia! _(hearing a distant horn call)_ Fair sunlight, send us the hero, who'll return our gold! _(Siegfried's horn is heard on the heights)_

**Woglinde:** I hear his horn.

**Wellgunde:** The hero comes!

**Flosshilde:** Let's talk this over! _(they dive as Siegfried appears on a cliff)_

**Siegfried:** Some elf has led me astray, and I've lost my game. Which cave has it hidden in?

**Rhinemaiden:** _(rising to the surface)_ Siegfried!

**Flosshilde:** Why shout at the rocks?

**Wellgunde:** Has a fairy aroused your ire?

**Woglinde:** Or has an elf played you false?

**All Three:** Tell us, Siegfried!

**Siegfried:** _(smilingly)_ Was it you that lured my game away? Is he your sweetheart you frolicsome maids? Then I leave him to you. _(the maidens laugh)_

**Woglinde:** Siegfried, what will you give us, if we give you what you seek

**Siegfried:** Ask what you will!

**Wellgunde:** The golden ring on your finger!

**Siegfried:** I won it from a dragon in a fight and think it's worth more than a bearskin!

**Woglinde:** You're so mean!

**Wellgunde:** And miserly, too!

**Flosshilde:** You should be more free-handed with maids!

**Siegfried:** Were I to waste my goods on you my wife would scold me!

**Flosshilde:** Is she a shrew?

**Wellgunde:** She's a shrew to you perhaps?

**Woglinde:** She'd hit the hero? _(They laugh)_

**Siegfried:** Laugh on, but you're not getting the ring!

**Flosshilde:** He's so fair!

**Wellgunde:** And strong!

**Woglinde:** So worthy of love!

**All Three:** How sad it is that he's such a miser!

**Siegfried:** _(Aside)_ Why am I standing here taking their crap? Let them come to the shore and I'll give them the damned ring. _(Then calling aloud)_ Hey! You water-maidens! Get over here and I'll give you the ring! _(Holding it up high. The Rhinemaiden quickly rise to the surface)_

**Flosshilde:** Keep wearing it until ...

**Woglinde, Wellgunde:** that which is hidden in the ring,

**All Three:** is released by us freeing you from the curse!

**Siegfried:** _(putting the ring back on)_ Then tell me what you know.

**Rhinemaiden:** We see an evil fate besetting you.

**Wellgunde:** And all because you have the ring.

**Wellgunde, Flosshilde:** From the Rhine's gold ...

**All Three:** that ring was wrought ...

**Wellgunde:** and he who shaped it ...

**Woglinde:** lost it in shame,

**Woglinde, Wellgunde.** And he laid a curse on it ...

**All Three:** that dooms its holder to death.

**Flosshilde:** As you slew the dragon ...

**Wellgunde, Flosshilde:** So you shall be slain ...

**All Three:** and that will happen today! All this will happen if you won't give up the ring ...

**Wellgunde, Flosshilde:** to rest in the water ...

**All Three:** for this stream alone can end its curse!

**Siegfried:** Hold your peace wily women! You expect to frighten me out of my ring with your threats?

**Rhinemaiden:** It's the truth! Either we get the ring, or you'll suffer the curse the Norns have woven into the rope of fate!

**Siegfried:** My sword has shattered an all-powerful spear, and if a curse has been spun into the Norn's endless rope of fate, _Nothung_ can cut it out! I might have given it to you, but now that you've threaten my life, I won't. _(lifting a clod of dirt over his head, he tosses it behind him)_ so freely would I throw it away!

**Rhinemaiden:** Let's flee this madman! He thinks himself valiant and wise, but he's really bound and blind! He's ignored sworn oaths, heard the prophesies, and doesn't believe them.

**Flosshilde:** He once had a glorious gift!

**All Three:** And doesn't know he's lost it!

**Flosshilde:** But the ring!

**Wellgunde:** It will kill him!

**All Three:** Farewell Siegfried! Today a proud woman will inherit your wealth, and she'll hear our prayer! _(They swim away as Siegfried looks after them smiling)_

**Rhinemaiden:** Weialala weialala leia leia wallala etc.

**Siegfried:** Women try to frighten us with threats for defying their desires. Yet, if we scorn their threats, they sting us with scolding tongues! We can't win. And yet, but for my plighted oath ...

**Rhinemaiden:** _(Heard from afar)_ La Hi Ho! la Hi Ho!

**Siegfried:** Ah, these winsome maids! I'm sure in time I could have had at least one of them! _(He looks calmly after them as hunting horns are heard)_

**Hagen:** _(far offstage)_ Hi ho Hi ho! _(Siegfried starts from a dreamy reverie and answers with his horn)_

### Act 3 – Scene 2:

**Vassals** _(offstage)_ Hi ho! Hi ho! Hi ho!

**Siegfried** _(answering)_ Hi ho! Hi ho! Hi ho! _(Hagen appears on the height followed by Gunther)_

**Hagen:** _(seeing Siegfried)_ So! I've found your hiding place!

**Siegfried:** Come on down, it's nice and cool down here! _(they all come to the water's edge)_

**Hagen:** Lets rest a bit, lay down our catch, and break out the wine!

**Siegfried:** Having caught nothing, I must beg to share with someone else.

**Hagen** : Nothing? You caught nothing?

**Siegfried:** I only saw water birds and am not equipped to catch them. But I could have brought you a whole flock of birds singing that I'd die today! _(Gunther looks darkly at Hagen as Siegfried lies down between them)_

**Hagen:** It sure would be unlucky if a beast changed and kill one of us today.

**Siegfried:** Now I'm thirsty!

**Hagen:** _(Offering him a horn)_ I've heard that you can understands what birds sing as though it were speech. It that true?

**Siegfried:** Yes, but I don't listen to them anymore. _(He drinks from the horn then offers it to Gunther)_ Drink, Gunther! Drink what your brother brings me!

**Gunther:** _(moodily)_ The drink looks poor and pale. _(gloomily)_ It's your blood alone that's in there.

**Siegfried:** _(laughing)_ Then let our blood be mingled! _(He pours from Gunther's horn into his own)_

**Gunther:** _(sighing)_ You overjoyed man!

**Siegfried:** _(low, to Hagen)_ Brünnhilde mars his mirth!

**Hagen:** _(low, to Siegfried)_ Her voice isn't as clear as the song of the birds?

**Siegfried:** Since I've begun listening to women sing, I've forgotten the birds

**Hagen:** Yet once you heard and understood them?

**Siegfried:** _(turning to Gunther)_ Gunther, you gloomy man! Thank me and I'll tell you tales of my boyhood.

**Gunther:** My thanks to you.

**Hagen:** Now talk to us.

**Siegfried:** The dwarf, Mimi brought me up believing that, when I'd grown, I'd kill a dragon making him fabulously rich and powerful. He taught me how to forge sword blades—an art he never mastered. I splintered every blade he made. So when I received my father's blade's fragments, I had to reforge them myself. No steel is stronger than _Nothung's,_ and with it, I slew the dragon, Fafner. My fingers were splattered with the dragon's blood that burned, and I put them to my mouth, and when that blood touched my tongue, I found I could understand what the birds were singing as were it speech. One sat on a branch singing: "Hi Ho! Siegfried now owns the Nibelung's hoard if he can find it in the cavern! Hi Ho! His finding the Tarnhelm will have him doing all sorts of deeds of renown! But his discovering the ring would make him lord of the world!

**Hagen:** Did you find the ring and Tarnhelm?

**A Vassal:** Did you hear the wood-bird again?

**Siegfried:** Yes, I found the ring and helmet, and after that I listened to the wood-bird who then sang, "Siegfried owns the helm and ring. Oh, let him not trust the false friend for Mimi covets the hoard and now lurks to kill Siegfried! You must not trust Mimi!"

**Hagen:** Was the warning good?

**Four Vassals:** Did Mimi get the hoard?

**Siegfried:** He tried to poison me, but the birds' warned me and I had _Nothung_ pay him!

**Hagen:** _(laughing harshly)_ So he felt the sword he couldn't forge. _(dropping some herb juice into a drink-horn)_ That's a good one!

**A Vassal:** What else did the wood-bird tell you?

**Hagen:** First, drink from my horn whose wondrous draft may awaken your memories. _(taking the horn, Siegfried drinks slowly)_

**Siegfried:** I sadly looked at the branches where the wood-bird sat singing, "Siegfried's killed the evil dwarf! Now I know of his glorious bride who sleeps on a rock guarded by fire! He who passes through the flames and wakens her wins Brünnhilde for his own!"

**Hagen:** Did you follow wood-bird's advice?

**Siegfried:** I followed him until I reached the flames which I passed through to find a sleeping woman clad in armor. Removing her helmet, my kiss awakened her from her sleep. Then, like flames of fire, Brünnhilde's arms enfolded me!

**Gunther:** _(springing up in alarm)_ What did he say?

**Hagen:** _(Two cackling raven fly out of a bush, circle Siegfried, then fly away)_ Can you make out those raven's speech? _(Siegfried stands with his back to Hagen looking after the birds)_ They decree vengeance! _(and Hagen fatally stabs Siegfried in the back.)_

**Four Vassals:** _(Having failed to hold Hagen back)_ Why Hagen?

**Hagen:** It is just payment for his lie! _(he leaves and Gunther bends over Siegfried. The Vassals stand around the dying man)_

**Siegfried:** _(Held in a sitting position)_ Brünnhilde! Holiest bride! Awake! Lift up your eyes! Your awakener came; he kissed you awake! Brünnhilde greet me there! _(he falls dead and Vassals carry his body off in a solemn procession. As they reach the height, a Rhine mist makes them invisible during the playing of_ Siegfried's Funeral Music. _The mists slowly divide until the hall of the Gibichungs appears, as in Act One)_

Act 3 - Scene 3: _(it's night as Gutrune comes out from her room into the hall)_

**Gutrune:** _(Listening)_ Was that his horn? No, not yet. Nightmares have kept me awake. I heard the neighs of his horse and Brünnhilde laughing just before a woke up. I shrink from her. Is she within? _(She listens at_ _Brünnhilde's_ _door and calls:)_ Brünnhilde! Brünnhilde! Are you awake? _(hesitatingly she opens the door and looks around)_ Empty. So it was she who went to the river! _(a distant horn)_ Was that his horn? All silent now! _(She looks anxiously out)_ If Siegfried would just return! _(Men and women lighting their way with firebrands are returning with Siegfried's body)_

**Gutrune:** _(_ _terrified)_ What's happened Hagen! I didn't hear his horn!

**Hagen:** He'll never fight or hunt again!

**Gutrune:** _(watching the approaching procession horrified)_ What do they have with them? _(reaching the middle of the hall, the Vassals set Siegfried's body down)_

**Hagen:** Your husband is dead ma'am, a boar killed him. _(Gutrune shrieks and falls upon the corpse as Gunther tends Gutrune)_

**Gunther:** Gutrune, gentle sister, look at me, speak to me!

**Gutrune:** _(regaining her composure)_ Siegfried was murdered! _(violently pushing Gunther aside)_ And it's you, you faithless brother that murdered him! Oh help me! Help me! Siegfried, is murdered!

**Gunther:** Don't blame me! Blame Hagen! He's the one who killed him!

**Hagen:** Why are you angry with me?

**Gunther:** May my grief and bad luck be with you forever!

**Hagen:** _(defiantly)_ Sure I killed him! And I did it because it was on my spear that he swore his lying oath! And I, therefore, claim his ring!

**Gunther:** Never! You'll never get what I won!

**Hagen:** Vassals! Back me up here!

**Gunther:** You'd grab Gutrune's dowry? You shameless bastard!

**Hagen:** _(drawing his sword)_ I'm taking the Nibelung's dowry! _(rushing upon Gunther, he quickly kills him)_ The ring is mine! _(but as he tries to take it from Siegfried's finger, Siegfried's arm raises threateningly! All remain frozen as Brünnhilde moves to take the ring)_

**Brünnhilde:** Silence! All of you betrayed him! Yet not one of you had lamented our greatest heros death!

**Gutrune:** Brünnhilde, your envy curses you! You brought this problem on us! It was _you_ that roused the men against him!

**Brünnhilde:** Idiot! You were his _whore,_ never his wife! _I_ was his bride! And all his vows were sworn to _me_ —until he saw you!

**Gutrune:** _(In despair)_ Hagan you bastard! I now see it! Brünnhilde was his true love until your drink made him forgot her!

**Brünnhilde:** _(to the Vassals)_ Create a funeral pyre by the river and bring me his horse, for I long to burn with him. _(a funeral pyre is created as Brünnhilde studies Siegfried's face)_ Oh heavenly guardian of vows! Look on my distress! Look at your eternal disgrace! That he—the truest of men—was forced to betray me! Now, I see it all. _(she signals the Vassals to lift Siegfried's body onto the pyre as she takes the ring from his finger and stares at it)_ Accursed ring! As my hand holds it, so my hand gives it away. _(calling to the Rhine)_ Listen up you sisters of the water! From my ashes you'll receive your Rhinegold fire cleansed of its curse! _(putting the ring on, and waving a firebrand at the birds in a tree)_ Fly home ravens! Tell your lord the news from the Rhine! But first go to my rock and tell Loge to head for Valhalla fast, for the end of the godhood is at hand! I cast this fire brand on Valhalla's glittering walls. _(flinging it on the funeral pyre which quickly envelopes in flames. The raven fly off as Brünnhilde's horse is led to her)_ Grane, my steed, I greet you old friend! _(She unbridles him and bends affectionately toward him)_ Now you know where I lead you! For in that fire lies Siegfried, my loving hero. Do you know you will follow your master? He lures us by the flame's light with its laughter! Feel, how my heart burns to hold him, be embraced by his arms and again by our love made one! Grane! Give him your greeting! _(mounting Grane!)_ Siegfried! Brünnhilde greets you in eternity! _(they leap into the flames which blaze up! But as the stage fills with fire, the glow suddenly subsides leaving only smoke, which is drawn away as the Rhine overflows in a wave putting out the fire. And on this wave, the Rhinemaiden swim to find the ring. Hagen, who's been watching is alarmed at the prospect of their getting to the ring first, and ditching his armor, he rushes into the flood)_

**Hagen:** Give me the ring! _(but the Rhinemaiden drown him in the depths as Flosshilde holds the ring up! On the horizon, the gods and heros sit assembled in Walhalla while it burns to the ground. The gods become hidden as the Rhinemaiden, swim merrily about playing with the ring on the now calm waters of the Rhine. And as Valhalla collapses in fire in the background, the final curtain falls)_

