The Ring of the Niblungs (Rackham)/The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie/The Valkyrie/Act 3

by Richard Wagner

‍

THE THIRD ACT

On the top of a rocky mountain

On the right the stage is bounded by a pine-wood. On the left is the entrance to a cave, above which the rock rises to its highest point. At the back the view is quite open. Rocks of varying heights form the edge of the precipice. Clouds fly at intervals past the mountain peak as if driven by storm. Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Waltraute, and Schwertleite have taken up their position on the rocky peak above the cave. They are in full armour.

Gerhilde On the highest point, calling towards the background, where a dense cloud is passing.	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Helmwige! Here! Guide hither thy horse!
Melmwige’s voice At the back.	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! [A flash of lightning comes from the cloud, showing a Valkyrie on horseback, on whose saddle hangs a slain warrior. The apparition, approaching the cliff, passes from left to right.
Gerhilde, Waltraute, and Schwertleite Calling to her as she draws near.	Heiaha! Heiaha! [The cloud with the apparition vanishes to the right behind the wood.
Ortlinde Calling into the wood.	Thy stallion make fast By Ortlinde’s mare; Gladly my grey Will graze by thy chestnut!
Waltraute Calling towards the wood.	Sintolt, the Hegeling!
Schwertleite	Fasten thy chestnut Far from the grey then; Ortlinde’s mare Carries Wittig, the Irming!
Gerhilde Descending a little towards the others.	And Sintolt and Wittig Always were foemen!
Ortlinde Springs up and runs to the wood.	Heiaha! Heiaha! The horse is kicking my mare!
Gerhilde Laughing aloud with Helmwige and Schwertleite.	The heroes’ feud Makes foes of the horses!
Helmwige Calling back into the wood.	Quiet, Brownie! Pick not a quarrel.
Waltraute On the highest point, where	Hoioho! Hoioho! Siegrune, come! What keeps thee so long?
listenng towards the right she has taken Gerhilde’s place as watcher, calling towards the right-hand side of the background.
Siegrune’s voice From the back in the right.	Work to do. Are the others all there?
The Valkyries In answer, their	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha!
gestures, as well as a bright light behind the wood, showing that Siegrune has just arrived there.
Grimgerde’s and Rossweisse’s voices From the back on the left.	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha!
Waltraute Towards the left.	Grimgerd’ and Rossweisse!
Gerhilde	Together they ride. [In a cloud which passes across the stage from the left, and from which lightning flashes, Rossweisse and Grimgerde appear, also on horseback, each carrying a slain warrior on her saddle.
Helmwige, Ortlinde, and Siegrune	We greet you, valiant ones! Rossweiss’ and Grimgerde!
Have come out of the wood and wave their hands from the edge of the precipice to Rossweisse and Grimgerde, who disappear behind the wood.
Grimgerde’s and Rossweisse’s voices	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha!
All the other Valkyries	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha!
Gerhilde Calling into the wood.	Your horses lead into The wood to rest!
Ortlinde Also calling into the wood.	Lead the mares far off One from the other, Until our heroes’ Anger is laid!
Helmwige The others laughing	The grey has paid For the heroes’ anger. 435
Rossweisse and Grimgerde Coming out of the wood.	Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
The Valkeries	Be welcomed! Be welcomed!
Schwertleite	Went ye twain on one quest?
Grimgerde	No, singly we rode, And met but to-day.
Rossweisse	If we all are assembled Why linger longer? To Walhall let us away, Bringing to Wotan the slain.
Welmwige	We are but eight; Wanting is one.
Gerhilde	By the brown-eyed Wälsung Brünnhilde tarries,
Waltraute	Until she joins us Here we must wait; Warfather’s greeting Grim were indeed If we returned without her!
Siegrune On the look-out, calling towards the back.	Hojotoho! Hojoteho ! This way! This way ! [To the others. In hottest haste riding, Hither she comes.
The Valkyries All hasten ta the look-out.	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Brünnhilde, hei! [They watch her with growing astonishment.
Waltraute	See, she leads woodward Her staggering horse.
Grimgerde	From swift riding How Grane pants!
Rossweisse	No Valkyrie’s flight Ever so fast was.
Ortlinde	What lies on her saddle?
Welmwige	That is no man!
Sieqrune	’Tis a woman, see!
Gerhilde	Where found she the maid?
Schwertleite	Has she no greeting For her sisters?
Waltraute Calling down very loudly.	Heiaha! Brünnhilde! Dost thou not hear?
Ortlinde	From her horse Let us help our sister. [Helmwige and Gerhilde run to the wood, followed by Siegrune and Rossweisse.
The Valkyries	Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha!
Waltraute Looking into the wood.	To earth has sunk Grane the strong one!
Grimgerde	From the saddle swift She snatches the maid.
The other Valkyries Running to the wood.	Sister! Sister! What has occurred? [The Valkyries all return to the stage; Brünnhilde accompanies them, leading and supporting Sieglinde.
Brünnhilde Breathless.	Shield me and help In dire distress !
The Valkyries	Whence rodest thou hither, Hasting so hard? Thus ride they only who flee.
Brünnhilde	I flee for the first time And am pursued: Warfather follows close.
The Valkyries Terribly alarmed.	Hast thou gone crazy? Speak to us! What? Pursued by Warfather ? Flying from him?
Brünnhilde Turns and looks out anxiously, then comes back.	O sisters, spy From the rocky peak! Look north and tell me If Warfather nears! [Ortlinde and Waltraute spring up the peak to the look-out. Quick! Is he in sight ?
Ortlinde	A storm from the north Is nearing.
Waltraute	Darkly the clouds Congregate there.
The Valkyries	Warfather, riding His sacred steed, comes!
Brünnhilde	The wrathful hunter, He rides from the north; He nears, he nears, in fury! Save this woman! Sisters your help!

Brünnhilde. “I flee for the first time
 And am pursued:
Warfather follows close.

He nears, he nears, in fury!
 Save this woman!
 Sisters, your help!”

See p. 138

The Valkyries	What threatens the woman?
Brünnhilde	Hark to me quickly! Sieglinde this is, Siegmund’s sister and bride. Wotan his fury Against the Wälsungs has turned. He told me That to-day I must fail The brother in strife; But with my shield I guarded him safe, Daring the God, Who slew him himself with his spear. Siegmund fell; But I fled, Bearing his bride. To protect her And from the stroke Of his wrath to hide, I hastened, O my sisters, to you!
The Valkyries Full of fear.	O foolish sister, How mad thy deed! Woe’s me! Woe’s me! Brünnhilde, lost one! Mocked, disobeyed By Brünnhilde Warfather’s holy command!
Waltraute On the look-out.	Darkness comes From the north like the night.
Ortlinde On the look-out.	Hither steering, Rages the storm.
Rossweisse, Grimgerde, and Schwertleite	Wildly neighs Warfather’s horse!
Welmwige, Gerhilde, and Siegrune	Panting, snorting it comes!
Brünnhilde	Woe to the woman If here she is found, For Wotan has vowed The Wälsungs shall perish! The horse that is swiftest Which of you lends, That forth the woman may fly?
Siegrune	Wouldst have us too Madly rebel?
Brünnhilde	Rossweisse, sister, Wilt lend me thy racer!
Rossweisse	The fleet one from Wotan Never yet fled.
Brünnhilde	Helmwige, hear me!
Helmwige	I flout not our father.
Brünnhilde	Waltraute! Gerhilde! Give me your horse! Schwertleite! Siegrune! See my distress! Stand by me now Because of our love: Rescue this woman in woe!
Sieglinde Who until now has been staring gloomily and coldly before her, starts up with a repellent gesture as Brünnhilde encircles her with a warm protective embrace.	Concern thyself not about me; Death is all that I crave. From off the field Who bade thee thus bear me? For there perchance By the selfsame weapon That struck down Siegmund I too had died, Made one with him In the hour of death. Far from Siegmund— Siegmund, from thee! O cover me, Death, From the sorrow! Wouldst thou not have me Curse thee for flying? Thou must hearken, maid, to my prayer: Pierce thou my heart with thy sword!
Brünnhilde Impressively.	Live for the sake Of thy love, O woman! Rescue the pledge Thou has gotten from him: The Wälsung’s child thou shalt bear!
Sieglinde Gives a violent sart, suddenly her face beams with sublime joy.	Save me, ye bold ones! Rescue my child! Shelter me, maidens, And strong be your shield! [An ever-darkening thunderstorm nears from the back.
Waltraute On the look-out.	The storm has drawn nigh.
Ortlinde	Fly, all who fear it!
The Valkyries	Hence with the woman; Here she is lost: The Valkyries dare not Shield her from doom!
Sieglinde On her knees before Brünnhilde.	Save me, O maid! Rescue the mother
Brünnhilde Raises Sieglinde with sudden resolve.	Away then, and swiftly! Alone thou shalt fly. I—stay in thy stead, Victim of Wotan’s anger. I will hold here The God in his wrath, Till I know thee past reach of his rage.
Sieglinde	Say, whither shall my flight be?
Brünnhilde	Which of you, sisters, Eastward has journeyed?
Siegrune	A forest stretches Far in the east; The Nibelung’s hoard By Fafner thither was borne.
Schwertleite	There as a dread Dragon he sojourns, And in a cave Keeps watch over Alberich’s ring.
Grimgerde	’Tis uncanny there For a woman’s home.
Brünnhilde	And yet from Wotan’s wrath Shelter sure were the wood; For he both fears And keeps far from the place.

 “There as a dread
 Dragon he sojourns,
 And in a cave
Keeps watch over Alberich’s ring”
See p. 142

Waltraute On the look-out.	Raging, Wotan Rides to the rock!
The Valkyries	Brünnhilde, hark! Like a storm-wind he comes!
Brünnhilde Urgently.	Flee then swiftly, Thy face to the east! Boldly enduring, Defy every ill— Hunger and thirst, Briar and stone; Laugh, whether gnawed By anguish or want! For one thing know And hold to always— The world’s most glorious hero Hideth, O woman, thy sheltering womb! [She takes the pieces of Siegmund’s sword from under her breastplate and gives them to Sieglinde. The splintered sword’s pieces Guard securely; From the field where slain was His father I brought them, And now I name Him who one day The sword new-welded shall swing— “Siegfried” rejoice and prevail!
Sieglinde Greatly moved.	Sublimest wonder! Glorious maid! From thee high solace I have received! For him whom we loved I save the beloved one. May my thanks one day
	Sweet reward bring! Fare thou well! Be blest by Sieglind’ in woe! [She hastens away to the right in front. The rocky peak is surrounded by black thunderclouds. A fearful sorm rages from the back. A fiery glows increases in strength to the right.
Wotan’s voice	Stay, Brünnhilde!
Ortlinde and Waltraute Coming down from the look-out.	The rock is reached By horse and rider! [Brünnhilde, after following Sieglinde with her eyes for a while, goes towards the background, looks into the wood, and comes forward again fearfully.
The Valkyries	Woe, Woe! Brünnhilde! Vengeance he brings!
Brünnhilde	Ah, sisters, help! My courage fails! His wrath will crush me Unless ye ward off its weight.
The Valkyries Fly towards the rocky point in fear, drawing Brünnhilde with them.	This way, then, lost one! Hide from his sight! Cling closely to us, And heed not his call! [They hide Brünnhilde in their midst and look anxiously towards the wood, which is now lit up by a bright fiery glow, while in the background it has grown quite dark. Woe! Woe! Raging, Wotan Swings from his horse! Hither hastes His foot for revenge !
Wotan Comes from the wood in a terrible state of wrath	Where is Brünnhilde? Where is the guilty one? Would ye defy me And hide the rebel?
and excitement and goes towards the Valkyries on the height, looking angrily for Brünnhilde.
The Valkyries	Fearful and loud thy rage is! By what misdeed have thy daughters Vexed and provoked thee To terrible wrath?
Wotan	Fools, would ye flout me? Have a care, rash ones! I know: Brünnhilde Fain ye would hide. Leave her, the lost one Cast off for ever, Even as she Cast off her worth!
The Valkyries	To us fled the pursued one, In her need praying for help, Dismayed and fearful, Dreading thy wrath. For our trembling sister Humbly we beg That thy first wild rage be calmed,
Wotan	Weak-hearted And womanish brood! Is this your valour, Given by me? For this have I reared you Bold for the fight, Made you relentless And hard of heart
	That ye wild ones might weep and whine When my wrath on a faithless one falls? Learn, wretched whimperers, What was the crime Of her for whom Ye are shedding those tears. No one but she Knew what most deeply I brooded; No one but she Pierced to the source of my being; Through her deeds All, I wished to be, came to birth. This sacred bond So completely she broke That she defied me, Opposing my will, Her master’s command Openly mocked, And against me pointed the spear That she held from me alone. Hearest, Brünnhilde? Thou who didst hold Thy helm and spear, Grace and delight, Life and name as my gift! Hearing my voice thus accusing, Dost hide from me in terror, A coward who shirks her doom?
Brünnhilde Steps out from the	Here I am, Father, Awaiting thy sentence!
band of Valkyries, and humbly but with a firm step descends from the rocky peak until within a short distance from Wotan.
Wotan	I—sentence thee not; Thou hast shaped thy doom for thyself. Through my will only
	Wert thou at all, Yet against my will thou hast worked; Thy part it was To fulfil my commands, Yet against me thou hast commanded; Wish-maid Thou wert to me, Yet thy wish has dared to cross mine; Shield-maid Thou wert to me, Yet against me raised was thy shield; Lot-chooser Thou wert to me: Against me the lot thou hast chosen; Hero-rouser Thou wert to me: Thou hast roused up heroes against me. What once thou wert Wotan has told thee: What thou art now, Demand of thyself! Wish-maid thou art no more; Valkyrie thou art no longer:— What now thou art For aye thou shalt be!
Brünnhilde Greatly terrified.	Thou dost cast me off? Ah, can it be so?
Wotan	No more shall I send thee from Walhall To seek upon fierce Fields for the slain; With heroes no more Shalt thou fill my hall: When the high Gods sit at banquet, No more shalt thou pour The wine in my horn;
	No more shall I kiss The mouth of my child. Among heaven’s hosts Numbered no longer, Outcast art thou From the kinship of Gods; Our bond is broken in twain, And from my sight henceforth thou now art banned.
The Valkyries Leave their places	Woe’s me! Woe! Sister! O sister!
in the excitement, and come a little farther down the rocks.
Brünnhilde	All that thou gavest Thou dost recall?
Wotan	Conquering thee, one shall take all! For here on the rock Bound thou shalt be, Defenceless in sleep, Charmed and enchained; The man who chances this way And awakes her, shall master the maid.
The Valkyries Come down from the height in great excitement, and in terrified groups surround Brünnhilde who lies half kneeling before Wotan.	O stay, Father! The sentence recall, Shall the maiden droop And be withered by man? O dread one, avert thou The crying disgrace: For as sisters share we her shame.
Wotan	Have ye not heard Wotan’s decree? From out your band Shall your traitorous sister be banished, No more to ride

The ride of the Valkyries
See p. 149

	Through the clouds her swift steed to the battle; Her maidenhood’s flower Will fade away; Her grace and her favour Her husband’s will be; Her husband will rule her And she will obey =; Beside the hearth she will spin, To all mockers a mark for scorn. [Brünnhilde sinks with a cry to the ground. The Valkyries, horror-stricken, recoil from her violently. Fear ye her fate? Then fly from the lost one! Swiftly forsake And flee from her far! Let one but venture Near her to linger, Seek to befriend her, Defying my will— The fool shall share the same doom: I warn you, ye bold ones, well! Up and away! Hence, and return not! Get ye gone at a gallop, Trouble is rife else for you here!
The Valkyries Separate with a wild cry and rush into the wood.	Woe! Woel [Black clouds settle thickly on the cliff; a rushing sound is heard in the wood. From the clouds breaks a vivid flash of lightning, by which the Valkyries are seen packed closely together, and riding wildly away with loose bridles. The storm soon subsides; the thunderclouds gradually disperse, In the following scene the weather becomes fine again and twilight falls, followed at the close by night.	Wotan and Brünnhilde, who lies stretched at his feet, remain behind alone. A long solemn silence.
Brünnhilde Begins to raise her head a little and, commencing timidly, gains confidence as she proceeds.	Was the offence So shameful and foul That to such shame the offender should be doomed? Was what I did So base and so vile That I must suffer abasement so low? Was the dishonour Truly so deep That it must rob me of honour for aye? [She raises herself gradually to a kneeling posture. O speak, Father! In my eye looking, Calming thy rage, Taming thy wrath, Explain why so dark This deed of mine That in thy implacable anger It costs thee thy favourite child!
Wotan His attitude	Ask of thy deed, And that will show thee thy guilt!
unchanged, gravely and gloomily.
Brünnhilde	I but fulfilled Wotan’s command.
Wotan	By my command Didst thou fight for the Wälsung?
Brünnhilde	Yea, lord of the lots, So ran thy decree.
Woton	But I took back The order, changed the decree!
Brünnhilde	When Fricka had weaned Thy will from its purpose; In yielding what she desired Thou wert a foe to thyself.
Woton Softly and bitterly.	I thought thou didst understand me, And punished thy conscious revolt; But coward and fool I seemed to thee! If I had not treason to punish Thou wouldst be unworthy my wrath.
Brünnhilde	I am not wise, But I knew well this one thing— That thy love was the Wälsung’s; I knew that, by discord Drawn two ways, This one thing thou hadst forgotten, The other only Couldst thou discern—. What so bitterly Wounded thy heart: That Siegmund might not be shielded.
Wotan	And yet thou didst dare To shield him, knowing ‘twas so?
Brünnhilde Beginning softly.	Because I the one thing Had kept in my eye, While by twofold desire Divided wert thou, Blindly thy back on him turning! She who wards thy back From the foe in the field,
	She saw alone What thou sawest not: Siegmund I beheld. Bringing him doom I approached; I looked in his eyes, Gave ear to his words. I perceived the hero’s Bitter distress; Loud the lament Of the brave one resounded; Uttermost love’s Most terrible pang, Saddest of hearts Defying all odds— With my ear I heard, My eye beheld That which stirred the heart in my breast With trouble holy and strange. Shamed, astonished, Shrinking I stood. Then all my thought Was how I could serve him; Triumph and death To share with Siegmund-— That seemed, that only, The lot I could choose! Faithful to him Who taught my heart this love, And set me By the Wälsung’s side as friend— Most faithful to him— Thy word I disobeyed.
Wotan	So thou hast done What I yearned so greatly to do—
	What a twofold fate Withheld from my desire! So easy seemed to thee Heart’s delight in the winning, When burning woe In my heart flamed fierce, When terrible anguish Wrung my soul, When, to save the world That I loved, love’s spring In my tortured heart I imprisoned? Against my own self When I turned, to my torment, From swooning pain Arose in a frenzy, When a wild longing Burning like fire The fearful design in me woke In the ruins of my own world My unending sorrow to bury, [Somewhat freely. Thy heart was lapped In blissful delight. Trembling with rapture, Drunken with joy, Thy lips drank laughing The draught of love, While I drank of divine woe Mixed with wormwood and gall. [Dryly and shortly. By thy lightsome heart Henceforth be guided: From me thou hast turned away! I must renounce thee; Together no more Shall we two whisper counsel;
	Apart our paths lie, Sundered for ever, And so long as life lasts I, the God, dare nevermore greet thee!
Brünnhilde Simply.	Unfit was the foolish Maid for thee, Who, dazed by thy counsel, Grasped not thy mind When, to her, one counsel Alone appeared plain— To love what was loved by thee. If I must forth Where I shall not find thee, If the fast-woven bond Must be loosed, And half thy being Far from thee banished— A half once thine and thine only, O God, forget not that!— Thy other self Thou wilt not dishonour, Dealing out shame That will shame thee too; Thine own honour were lowered, Were I a target for scorn!
Wotan	The lure of love Thou hast followed fain: Follow the man Who shall wield its might!
Brünnhilde	If I must go from Walhall, No more in thy work be a sharer, And if as my master A man I must serve, To braggart base
	Abandon me not! Not all unworthy Be he who wins!
Wotan	With Wotan no part hast thou— He cannot fashion thy fate.
Brünnhilde	By thee has been founded a race Too glorious to bring forth a coward; One day must a matchless hero From Wälsung lineage spring.
Wotan	Name not the Wälsungs to me! Renouncing thee, Them too I renounced; Through envy they came to naught.
Brünnhilde	She who turned from thee Rescued the race; [With an air of secrecy. Sieglinde bears Fruit holy and high; In pain and woe Beyond woe known to woman She will bring forth What in fear she hides!
Wotan	No shelter for her Seek at my hand, Nor for fruit that she may bear.
Brünnhilde	The sword she has kept That thou gavest Siegmund.
Wotan Violently.	And that I splintered with my spear. Strive not, O maid, My spirit to trouble! Await thou the lot Cast and decreed;
	I cannot choose it or change! But now I must forth, Fare from thee far; Too long I stay by thy side. I must turn from thee, As thou didst from me; I must not even Know thy desire; Thy doom alone I must see fulfilled!
Brünnhilde	And what is the doom That I must suffer?
Wotan	In slumber fast Thou shalt be locked; Wife thou shalt be to the man Who finds and wakes thee from sleep|
Brünnhilde Falls on her knees.	If fettering sleep Fast must bind me, An easy prey To the basest coward, This one thing that in deep anguish I plead for thou must accord! O shield thou the sleeper With soul-daunting terrors, [Firmly. That by a dauntless Hero alone Here on the rock I may be found!
Wotan	Too much thou askest— Too big a boon!
Brünnhilde Clasping his knees.	This one thing Grant me, O grant me!

Wotan. “Appear, flickering fire,
Encircle the rock with thy flame!
Loge! Loge! Appear!“
See p. 159

	The child that is clasping Thy knees crush dead; Tread down thy dear one And shatter the maid; Let her body perish, Pierced by thy spear, But, cruel one, expose her not To this crying shame! [With wild ecstasy. O cause a fire To burn at thy bidding, With flame fiercely flaring Girdle the rock, And may its tongue lick, And may its tooth eat The coward who, daring, rashly Approaches the terrible spot!
Wotan Overcome and deeply stirred, turns quickly towards Brünnhilde, raises her from her knees and looks into her eyes with emotion.	Farewell, thou valiant, Glorious child! Thou the most holy Pride of my heart, Farewell! Farewell! Farewell! Passionately. Must we be parted? Shall I never more Give thee love’s greeting? Must thou no longer Gallop beside me, Nor bring me mead at banquet? If I must lose thee, Whom I have loved so, The laughing delight of my eyes, For thee there shall burn A bridal fire brighter Than ever yet burned for a bride!
	Fiercely the flames Shall flare round thy bed, Flames dreadful, devouring, Daunting all cowards; Let cravens flee From Brünnhilde’s rock! One only shall set the bride free, One freer than I, the God! [Moved and enraptured, Brünnhilde sinks on the breast of Wotan, who holds her in a long embrace; then she throws back her head again, and, still embracing him, gazes into his eyes with emotion and awe. Those eyes so lovely and bright That oft with smiles I caressed, Thy valour With a kiss rewarding When, sweetly lisped By thy childlike mouth, The praise of heroes I heard: Those eyes so radiant and fair That oft in storm on me shone, When hopeless yearning My heart was wasting, And when the joy Of the world I longed for, While fears thronged thick around me— Once more to-day Gladdening me, Let them take this kiss Of fond farewell! On happier mortal May they yet shine; On me, hapless immortal, Must they close, and for ever! [He takes her head in both hands.

As he moves slowly away, Wotan turns and looks sorrowfully

back at Brünnhilde
See p. 160

‘Tis thus that the God From thee turns: He kisses thy Godhead away! [He kisses her long on the eyes, and with these closed she sinks back softly into his arms, unconscious, He carries her gently to a low mossy mound, and lays her there beneath the broad-spreading pine-tree which overshadows it. He gazes at her and closes her helmet; his eyes then rest on the form of the sleeper, which he completely covers with the great steel shield of the Valkyries. Having done so, he moves slowly away, turning to take one more sorrowful look. Then he strides with solemn resolve to the middle of the stage, and points his sword towards a large rock. Loge, hear! Hark to my word! I who found thee at first A fiery flame, And from whom thou didst vanish In wandering fire, I, who once bound, Bid thee break forth! Appear, flickering fire, Encircle the rock with thy flame! [He strikes the rock three times with his spear during the following. Loge! Loge! Appear! [A gleam of fire issues from the stone and gradually becomes a fiery glow; flickering flames break forth. Soon wild, shooting flames surround Wotan, who, with his spear, directs the sea of fire to encircle the rock. It spreads towards the background, so that the mountain is surrounded by flame.

Let none who fears The spear of Wotan Adventure across this fire! [He stretches out his spear as a ban, looks sorrowfully back at Brünnhilde, then moves slowly away, turning his head for a farewell gaze. Finally he disappears through the fire. The curtain falls.

 

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Printed in Great Britain by R. Clay and Sons, Ltd.
Brunswick Street, Stamford Street, & K. I., and Bungay, Suffolk.

The sleep of Brünnhilde
See p. 159