“Die Walküre” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Glossary

Glossary

aught. anything
aye. always, forever
birny. a type of armor
bondsman. slave, servant
boot. to profit, benefit
brake. overgrown marsh or scrubland
craven. coward
courser. a swift warhorse
eke. also
entrammeled. trapped, confined
erewhile. until now
fain. gladly, willingly
fell. a barren hill or highland
fly. to flee
forfend. to prevent
forswear. to renounce, give up
Friedmund. a name Siegmund rejects, literally “peaceful”
Frohwalt. a name Siegmund rejects, literally “cheerful”
Grane. the name of Brünnhilde’s horse
guerdon. payment, reward
hap. fortune
hapless. unfortunate, unlucky
Hella. goddess of the underworld
list. to listen
meet. fit, suited
nathless. nevertheless
Neidings. a certain family clan (Hunding is a Neiding)
Norn. a goddess of fate
Nothung. name of Siegmund’s sword, literally “needful”
prate. to talk idly

prithee. please
purblind. blind
rede. advice; story
rent. torn apart
rune. secret
scath. injury
shew. to show
sooth. truth
trow. to believe
wala. an earth spirit (in the Ring operas, “the wala” is Erda)
Walhall. Valhalla
Wälse. name used by Wotan as father of Siegmund and Sieglinde
Wälsung. child of Wälse (Siegmund and Sieglinde are Wälsungs)
weal. prosperity, advantage
ween. to imagine, believe
Wehwalt. a name for Siegmund, literally “woeful”
wend. to travel, go
wight. creature, person
Wolfe. Wälse
Wölfing. Wälsung
wonted. accustomed

libretto by Frederick Jameson

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Glossary