The Ring of the Niblungs (Rackham)/The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie/The Rhinegold/Act 4

by Richard Wagner

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FOURTH SCENE

The scene has changed as before, only in reverse order. Open space on mountain heights. The prospest is veiled by pale mist as at the end of the second scene. Wotan and Loge climb up out of the cavern, bringing with them Alberich bound.

Loge	Here, kinsman, Thou canst sit down! Friend, look round thee; There lies the world That was thine for the winning, thou fool! What corner, say, Wilt give to me for my stall ? [He dances round Alberich, snapping his fingers. Infamous robber! Thou knave! Thou rogue! Loosen the rope, Set me at large, Or dear for this outrage shalt answer! My captive art thou, Caught and in fetters. As thou hadst fain Subdued the world And all that the world containeth, Thou liest bound at my feet, And, coward, canst not deny it. A ransom alone Shall loose thee from bondage.
Alberich	Ah, the dolt, The dreamer I was, To trust blindly The treacherous thief! Fearful revenge Shall follow this wrong!
Loge	Vain talk this of vengeance Before thy freedom is won. To a man in bonds No free man expiates outrage. If vengeance thou dreamest, Dream of the ransom First without further delay! [He shows him the kind of ransom by snap­ping his fingers.
Alberich	Declare then your demands.
Wotan	The hoard and thy gleaming gold.
Alberich	Pack of unscrupulous thieves! [Aside. If I only can keep the ring, The hoard I can lightly let go, For anew I could win it And add to its worth By the powerful spell of the ring. If as warning it serves To make me more wise, The warning will not have been lost, Even though lost may be the gold.
Wotan	Wilt yield up the hoard?
Alberich	Loosen my hand To summon it here. [Loge frees his right hand.
Alberich Touches the ring with his lips and secretly murmurs the command.	Behold the Nibelungs Hither are called; I can hear them coming, Bid by their lord, With the hoard from the depths to the day. Now loosen these burdensome bonds.
Woton	Nay, first in full thou must pay. [The Nibelungs come up out of the cleft laden with the objects of which the hoard is composed.
Alberich	O bitter disgrace That my shrinking bondsmen Should see me captive and bound! [To the Nibelungs. Lay it down there, As ye are bid! In a heap Pile up the hoard. Must I aid, idlers? No spying at me! Haste there! Haste! Then get ye gone quickly. Hence to your work. Home to your gorges! Let the sluggards beware, For I follow hard at your heels! [He kisses the ring and holds it out with an air of command. As if struck with a blow, the Nibelungs press terrified and cowering towards the cleft, down which they hastily disappear. The price is paid; Let me depart! And that helm of mine Which Loge still holds, That also pray give me again !
Loge	The Plunder must pay for the pardon.
Throwing the Tarnhelm on to the heap.
Alberich	Accursed thief! But patience! Cairn! He who moulded the one Makes me another; Still mine is the might That Mime obeys. Loath indeed Am I to leave My cunning defence to the foe! Nothing Alberich Owns at all now; Unbind, ye tyrants, his bonds!
Loge To Wotan.	Ought I to free him? Art thou content?
Wotan	A golden ring Girdles thy finger: Hearest, elf? That also belongs to the hoard.
Alberich Horrified.	The ring?
Wotan	The ring must also Go to the ransom.
Alberich Trembling.	My life—but the ring: not that!
Wotan With greater violence.	The ring I covet; For thy life I care not at all.
Alberich	But if my life I ransom The ring I must also rescue;
	Hand and head, Eye and ear Are not mine more truly Than mine is the ruddy ring!
Wotan	The ring thou claimest as thine? Impudent elf, thou art raving. Tell the truth; Whence was gotten the gold To fashion the glittering gaud? How could that be Thine which reft was, Thou rogue, from watery deeps? To the Rhine’s fair daughters Down and inquire If the gold Was as gift to thee given That thou didst thieve for the ring!
Alberich	Vile double-dealing! Shameless deceit! Wouldst thou, robber, Reproach in me The sin so sweet to thyself? How fain thou hadst Bereft the Rhine of its gold, If it had been As easy to forge as to steal! How well for thee, Thou unctuous knave, That the Nibelung, stung By shameful defeat, And by fury driven, Was fired into winning the spell That now alluringly smiles! Shall I, bliss debarred,
	Anguish-burdened Because of the Curse-laden deed, My ring as a toy Grant to princes for pleasure, My ban bringing blessing to thee? Have a care, Arrogant God! My sin was one Concerning myself alone: But against all that was, Is and shall be Thou wouldst wantonly sin, Eternal one, taking the ring.
Wotan	Yield the ring! Thy foolish talk Gives no title to that. [He seizes Alberich and draws the ring from his finger by force.
Alberich With a fright­ful cry.	Woe! Defeated! Undone! Of wretches the wretchedest slave!
Wotan Contemplating the ring.	I own what makes me supreme, The mightiest lord of all lords! [He puts on the ring.
Loge To Wotan.	Shall he go free?
Wotan	Loose his bonds.
Loge Sets Alberich quite free.	Slip away home, For no fetter binds thee! Fare forth, thou art free!
Alberich Raising himself with furious laughter.	Am I now free, Free in truth? My freedom’s first Greeting take, for it is thine! As a curse gave me the ring, My curse go with the ring! As its gold Gave measureless might, May now its magic Deal death evermore! No man shall gain Gladness therefrom; May ill-fortune befall him On whom it shines. Fretted by care Be he who shall hold it And he who doth not, By envy be gnawed! All shall covet And crave its wealth, Yet none shall it profit Or pay when won. Those who guard it nothing shall gain, Yet shall murder go where they go. The coward, death-doomed, By fetters of fear shall be bound; His whole life long He shall languish to death—— The ring’s proud lord And its poorest slave—— Till again I have In my hand the gold I was robbed of. So blesses The Nibelung The ring in bitter despair! Hold fast to it! [Laughing.
	Keep it with care; [Grimly. From my curse none shall escape! [He vanishes quickly through the cleft. The thick mist in the foreground gradually clears away.
Loge	Hadst thou ears For his fond farewell?
Wotan	Grudge him not vent to his spleen!
Lost in contemplation of the ring.[It keeps growing lighter.
Loge Looking to the right.	Fasolt and Fafner Come from afar Bringing Freia again. [Through the vanishing mist Donner, Froh, and Fricka appear, and hasten towards the foreground.
Froh	The giants return.
Donner	Be greeted, brother!
Fricka Anxiously to Wotan.	Dost bring joyful tidings?
Loge Pointing to the hoard.	By fraud and by force We have prevailed: There Freia’s ransom lies.
Donner	From the giant’s grasp Freed comes the fair one.
Froh	How sweetly the air Fans us again! Balmy delights Steal soft through each sense! Sad, forlorn had our lot been, For ever severed from her
	Who gives us youth everlasting, And bliss triumphant o’ er pain. [Fasolt and Fafner enter, leading Freia between them. Fricka hastens joyfully towards her sister. The foreground has become quite bright again, the light restoring to the aspect of the Gods its original freshness. The background, however, is still veiled by the mist so that the distant castle remains invisible.
Fricka	Sweetest of sisters! Lovely delight! Once more for mine have I won thee!
Fasolt Keeping her off.	Hold! Touch her not yet! Freia still is ours. On Riesenheim’s Rampart of rock Resting we stayed. The pledge we held In our hands we used Loyally. With deep regret, I bring her back now In case ye brothers Can ransom her.
Wotan	Prepared lies the ransom; Mete out the gold, Giving generous measure.
Fasolt	In truth it grieves me Greatly the woman to lose; And that my heart may forget her Ye must heap the hoard, Pile it so high That it shall hide The blossom-sweet maid from mine eyes!
Wotan	Be Freia’s form The gauge of the gold. [Freia is placed in the middle by the two giants, who then stick their staves into the ground in front of her so that her height and breadth is indicated.
Fafner	Our staves give the measure Of Freia’s form; Thus high now heap ye the hoard.
Wotan	On with the work: Irksome I find it!
Loge	Help me, Froh!
Froh	I will end Freia’s dishonour. [Loge and Froh heap up the treasure hastily between the staves.
Fafner	Let the pile Less loosely be built; Firm and close Pack ye the gauge! [He presses down the treasure with rude strength; he bends down to look for gaps. I still can see through; Come, fill up the crannies !
Loge	Hands off, rude fellow! Touch nothing here!
Fafner	Come here! This gap must be closed!
Wotan Turning away angrily.	Deep in my breast Burns the disgrace!
Fricka	See how in shame Beautiful Freia stands; For release she asks, Dumb, with sorrowful eyes. Heartless man! The lovely one owes this to thee!
Fafner	Still more! Pile on still more.
Donner	My patience fails; Mad is the wrath Roused by this insolent rogue! Come hither, hound! Measure must thou? Thy strength then measure with mine!
Fafner	Softly, Donner! Roar where it serves; Thy roar is impotent here.
Donner Lunging out at him.	It will crush thee to thy cost, rogue.
Wotan	Calm thyself! Methinks that Freia is hid.
Loge	The hoard is spent.
Fafner Measures the hoard carefully	Still shines to me Holda’s hair. Yonder thing, too, Throw on the hoard
with his eye, and looks to see if there are any crevices.
Loge	Even the helm?
Fafner	Make haste! Here with it!
Wotan	Let it go also!
Loge Throws the Tarnhelm on the heap.	At last we have finished. Have ye enough now?
Fasolt	Freia, the fair, Is hidden for aye! The price has been paid. Ah, have I lost her? [He goes up to the hoard and peers through it. Sadly shine Her eyes on me still, Like stars they beam Softly on me; Still through this chink I look on their light. [Beside himself. While her sweet eyes I behold thus, From the woman how can I part?
Fafner	Hey! Come hither, And stop me this cranny!
Loge	Greedy grumblers! Can ye not see The gold is all gone?
Fafner	Not the whole, friend! On Wotan’s finger Shines a golden ring still; Give that to close up the crevice!
Wotan	What! Give my ring?
Loge	Be ye counselled! The Rhine-Maidens Must have the gold; Wotan will give them what theirs is.

Falner

“Hey! Come hither, And stop me this cranny!” See p. 64

Wotan	What nonsense is this? The ring I won so hardly, Undismayed I hold and will keep.
Loge	Broken then Must be the promise I gave the maidens who grieved.
Wotan	By thy promise I am not bound; As booty mine is the ring.
Loge	Not so. The ring Must go with the ransom.
Wotan	Boldly ask what ye will: It shall be granted; But not for all The world would I give you the ring.
Fasolt Furious, pulls Freia from be­hind the hoard.	All is off! The bargain stands: Fair Freia ours is for ever!
Freia	Help me! Help me!
Fricka	Heartless God, Grant it! Give way!
Froh	Keep not the gold back!
Donner	Give them the ring too!
Wotan	Let me alone! I hold to the ring. Fafner stops Fasolt as he is hastening off. All stand dismayed; Wotan turns from them in anger. The stage has grown dark again. From a cleft in the rock on one side issues a bluish flame in which Erda suddenly becomes visible, rising so that her upper half is seen.
Erda Stretching out a warning hand towards Wotan.	Yield it, Wotan! Yield it! Flee the ring’s dread curse! Awful And utter disaster It will doom thee to.
Wotan	What woman woe thus foretells?
Erda	All things that were I know, And things that are; All things that shall be I foresee. The endless world’s Ur-Wala, Erda, bids thee beware. Ere the earth was, Of my womb born Were daughters three; And my knowledge Nightly the Norns tell to Wotan. Now summoned by Danger most dire, I myself come. Hearken! Hearken! Hearken! All things will end shortly; And for the Gods Dark days are dawning! Be counselled; keep not the ring! [Erda sinks slowly as far as the breast while the bluish light grows fainter.
Wotan	A mystic might Rang in thy words. Tarry, and tell me further.
Erda Disappearing.	Thou hast been warned; Enough dost know; Weigh my words with fear! [She vanishes completely.

“Erda bids thee beware”
See p. 66

Wotan	If thus doomed to foreboding—— I must detain thee Till all is answered! [Wotan is about to follow Erda in order to detain her. Froh and Fricka throw themselves in his way and prevent him.
Fricka	What meanest thou, madman?
Froh	Go not, Wotan! Fear thou the warner, Heed her words well! [Wotan gazes thoughtfully before him.
Donner Turning to the giants with a resolute air.	Hark, ye giants! Come back and wait still! The gold we give you also.
Fricka	Ah, dare I hope it? Deem ye Holda Worthy of such a price? [All look at Wotan in suspense; he, rousing himself from deep thought, grasps his spear and swings it in token of having come to a bold decision.
Wotan	To me, Freia, For thou art free! Bought back for aye, Youth everlasting, return! Here, giants, take ye the ring! [He throws the ring on the hoard. The giants release Freia; she hastens joyfully to the Gods, who caress her in turns for a space, with every manifestation of delight.
Fasolt To Fafner.	Hold there, greedy one! Grant me my portion! Honest division Best for both is.
Fafner	More on the maid than the gold Thou wert set, love-sick fool, And much against Thy will the exchange was. Sharing not, Freia Thou wouldst have wooed for thy bride; Sharing the gold, It is but just That the most of it should be mine.
Fasolt	Infamous thief! Taunts? And to me! [To the Gods. Come judge ye between us; Halve ye the hoard As seems to you just! [Wotan turns away in contempt.
Loge	Let him have the treasure; Hold to what matters: the ring!
Fasolt Falls upon Fafner, who has	Back, brazen rascal! Mine is the ring. I lost for it Freia’s smile.
meanwhile been steadily packing up the treasure. [He snatches hastily at the ring.
Fafner	Off with thy hands! The ring is mine. [There is a struggle. Fasolt tears the ring from Fafner.
Fasolt	I hold it. It is mine now!
Fafner	Hold fast, lest it should fall! [Lunging out with his stave, he fells Fasolt to the ground with one blow; from the dying man he then hastily tears the ring.

Fafner kills Fasolt
See p. 68

	Now feast upon Freia’s smile: No more shalt thou touch the ring! [He puts the ring into the sack and tranquilly continues to pack up the rest of the hoard. All the Gods stand horrified. A solemn silence.
Wotan	Dread indeed I find is the curse’s might.
Loge	Unmatched, Wotan, Surely thy luck is! Great thy gain was In getting the ring; But the gain of its loss Is gain greater still: There thy foemen, see, Slaughter thy foes For the gold thou hast let go.
Wotan	Dark forebodings oppress me! Care and fear Fetter my soul; Erda must teach me, Tell how to end them: To her I must descend.
Fricka Caressing and coaxing him.	Why linger, Wotan? Beckon they not, The stately walls, Waiting to offer Welcome kind to their lord?
Wotan Gloomily.	With wage accurst Paid was their cost.
Donner Pointing to the background, which is still enveloped in mist.	Heavily mists Hang in the air; Gloomy, wearisome Is their weight! The wan-visaged clouds
	Charged with their storms I will gather, And sweep the blue heavens clean. [Donner mounts a high rock on the edge of the precipice, and swings his hammer; during what follows the mists gather round him. Hey da! Hey da! Hey do! To me, O ye mists! Ye vapours, to me! Donner, your lord, Summons his hosts! [He swings his hammer. To my hammer’s swing Hitherward sweep Vapours and fogs! Hovering mists! Donner, your lord, summons his hosts! Hey da! Hey da! Hey do! [Donner disappears completely in a thundercloud which has been growing darker and denser. The stroke o f his hammer is heard falling heavily on the rock. A vivid flash o f lightning comes from the cloud, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Froh has also disappeared in the cloud.
Donner Invisible.	Brother, to me! Show them the way by the bridge! [Suddenly the clouds roll away. Donner and Froh become visible. A rainbow of dazzling radiance stretches from their feet across the valley to the castle, which is gleaming in the light of the setting sun.
Froh Who, with outstretched hand, indicates to the Gods that the bridge is the way across the valley.	Lo, light, yet securely, Leads the bridge to your halls. Undaunted tread =; Without danger the road! [Wotan and the other Gods stand speechlessly lost in contemplation of the glorious fight.

 “To my hammer’s swing
 Hitherward sweep
 Vapours and fogs!
 Hovering mists!
Donner, your lord, summons his hosts!”
See p. 70

Wotan	Smiling at eve The sun’s eye sparkles; The castle ablaze Gleams fair in its glow. In the light of morning Glittering proudly, It stood masterless, Stately, tempting its lord. From dawn until sundown No little toil And fear have gone to the winning! From envious night, That now draws nigh Shelter it offers us. [Very firmly, as if struck by a great thought. So greet I my home, Safe from dismay and dread. [He turns solemnly to Fricka. Follow me, wife! In Valhall sojourn with me.
Fricka	What means the name Valhall? I never seem to have heard it.
Wotan	That which, conquering fear, My fortitude brought Triumphant to birth—— Let that explain the word! [He takes Fricka's hand and walks slowly with her towards the bridge. Froh, Freia, and Donner follow.
Loge Remaining in the foreground and looking after the Gods.	They are hasting on to their end, They who dream they are strong and enduring. I almost blush To be of their number;
	A fancy allures me And wakes in me longing Flaming fire to become: To waste and burn them Who tamed me of old, Rather than perish, Blind with the blind—— Yes, even if godlike the Gods were—— More wise were it, perhaps! I must consider: The outcome who knows! [With a show of carelessness he goes to join the Gods.
The Three Rhine-Maidens From the valley. Invisible.	Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Rhinegold pure! How radiant and clear Once thou didst shine on us! For thy lost glory We are grieving. Give us the gold! Give us the gold! O give us the Rhinegold again!
Wotan	What wailing sound do I hear ?
About to set his foot on the bridge, pauses and turns round.
Loge Looks down into the valley.	The Rhine’s fair children, Bewailing their lost gold, weep.
Wotan	Accursèd nixies! Bid them tease us no more!
Loge Calling down towards the valley.	Ye in the water, Why wail ye to us? List to Wotan’s decree.

 “ The Rhine’s fair children,
Bewailing their lost gold, weep”
See p. 74

	Ye have seen The last of the gold; In the Gods’ increase of splendour Bask and sun yourselves now. [The Gods laugh and cross the bridge during what follows.
The Three Rhine-Maidens	Rhinegold! Rhinegold! Rhinegold pure! Oh, if in the waves There but shone still our treasure pure! Down in the deeps Can faith be found only: Mean and false Are all who revel above! [As the Gods cross the bridge to the castle the curtain falls.