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“Die Walküre” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)
Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Glossary |
Scene One (The curtain rises. On the summit of a rocky mountain. On the right a pinewood encloses the stage. On the left is the entrance to a cave; above this the rock rises to its highest point. At the back the view is entirely open; rocks of various heights form a parapet to the precipice.) (Occasionally clouds fly past the mountain peak, as if driven by storm. Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Waltraute and Schwert leite have ensconced themselves on the rocky peak above the cave: they are in full armor.) Gerhilde (on the highest point, calling toward the background, where a thick cloud passes) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Helmwige! Here! Guide hither thy horse! Helmwige (at the back, offstage) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! (A flash of lightning breaks through a passing cloud: in the light a Valkyrie on horseback becomes visible: on her saddle hangs a slain warrior. The apparition, approach ing the rocky cliff, passes from left to right.) |
Gerhilde, Waltraute, Schwertleite (all three calling to her as she approaches) Heiaha! Heiaha! (The cloud with the apparition disappears to the right behind the wood.) Ortlinde (calling toward the wood) By Ortlinde's filly fasten thy horse: gladly my grey will graze near thy chestnut! Waltraute (calling toward the wood) Who hangs at thy saddle? Helmwige (coming from the wood) Sintolt, the Hegeling! Schwertleite Far from the grey, then, fasten thy chestnut: Ortlinde's filly bears Witting, the Irming! Gerhilde (coming down lower) For foes have been ever Sintolt and Wittig! Ortlinde (starts up) Heiaha! Heiaha! The horse attacketh my mare! (She runs to the wood.) |
Helm., Ger., Schw. (laughing) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Gerhilde The heroes' strife makes foes of the horses! Helwige (call back into the wood) Quiet, Brownie! break not the peace, now. Waltraute (on the topmost point, where she has taken Gerhilde's post as watcher) Hoioho! Hoioho! (calling toward the right-hand side of the background) Siegrune here! Where sta/ st thou so long? (She listens toward the right.) Siegrune (offstage, from the back on the right) Work to do! Are the others all here? Schwertleite (calling toward the right-hand side of the background) Hojotoho! Waltraute (the same) Hojotoho! Gerhilde (the same) Heiaha! |
Waltraute, Schwertleite Heiaha! (Their gestures, as well as a bright light behind the wood, show that Siegrune has just arrived there.) Grimgerde (from the back on the left, offstage) Hojotoho! Rossweisse (from the same place, offstage) Hojotoho! Grimgerde, Rossweisse Heiaha! Waltraute (toward the left) Grimgerd' and Rossweisse! Gerhilde (the same) Together they ride. (In a bank of clouds, passing from the left, Ross- weisse and Grimgerde appear, illumined by a flash of lightning. Both are on horseback, and each carries a slain warrior on her saddle. Helmwige, Ortlinde and Siegrune have come out of the wood and wave to the approaching Rossweisse and Grimgerde from the edge of the precipice.) Helm., Ort., Siegr. We greet you travelers! Rossweiss' and Grimgerde! Rossweisse, Grimgerde (offstage) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! (The apparition disappears behind the wood.) |
The other six Valkyries Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Heiaha! Gerhilde (calling into the wood) Leave there in the forest your steeds to graze! Ortlinde (likewise calling into the wood) Lead off the mares afar from each other, till all our heroes' anger is calmed! Waltraute, Schwertleite (laughing) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Gerhilde, Siegrune (laughing) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Helmwige The grey has paid for the heroes' anger! Wal., Schw., Helm., Ger. (laughing) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ortlinde, Siegrune (laughing) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Rossweisse, Grimgerde (coming out of the wood) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! |
The other six Valkyries Be welcome! Be welcome! The eight Valkyries Be welcome! Schwertleite Rode ye valiant ones paired? Grimgerde Apart journeyed we, and met but today. Rossweisse Are we all then assembled? then stay no longer: to Walhall wend we our way; Wotan awaiteth the slain. Helmwige Are we but eight? wanting is one. Gerhilde By the brown-eyed Wälsung lingers yet Brünnhild'. Waltraute Till she comes hither still must we stay: greeting full grim would Warfather give, if without her we should come. Siegrune (on the lookout) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! (calling toward the back) Hallo! Hallo! (to the others) In furious haste there Brünnhilde flies. (All hasten to the lookout.) |
The eight Valkyries Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Brünnhilde, hei! (They watch with growing astonishment.) Waltraute To the wood guides she her staggering horse. Grimgerde From fierce riding how Grane pants! Rossweisse So fast none e'er saw Valkyrie flying! Ortlinde What lies on her saddle? Helmwige That is no man! Siegrune See, a maid bears she. Gerhilde Where found she the maid? Schwertleite With ne'er a sign greets she the sisters! Waltraute (calling down, very loudly) Heiaha! Brünnhilde! hearest thou not? Ortlinde Hasten ye from her horse to help her! |
Helmwige, Gerhilde (both running toward the wood) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Siegrune, Rossweisse (running after them) Hojotoho! Hojotoho! The other four Valkyries Heiaha! Heiaha! Waltraute (looking into the wood) To earth sinks down Grane the strong one! Grimgerde From the saddle swiftly swings she the maid! (All run toward the wood.) Ort., Wal., Grim., Schw. Sister! sister! What has befall'n? (All the Valkyries come back to the stage: with them comes Brünnhilde, supporting and leading Sieglinde.) Brünnhilde (out of breath) Shield me and help in direst need! Grim., Siegr., Ger., Helm. Whence rodest thou hither? why in such haste? Ortl., Wal., Ross., Schw. So ride those only who flee! Siegrune Art thou pursued? Brünnhilde I flee for the first time, and am pursued: Warfather follows close! (All the Valkyries violently alarmed.) |
Helm., Ger., Siegr., Grim. Lost are thy senses? Speak to us! What? Fleest thou from him? Ort., Wal., Roß., Schw. Ha! Speak! Pursues thee Warfather? O say! Brünnhilde (turns anxiously to look out and then comes back) O sisters, look from the rocky summit! Look to northward if Warfather nears? (Ortlinde and Waltraute spring up to watch from the rocky peak.) Brünnhilde Speak! Tell what ye see! Ortlinde A thunderstorm nears from northward. Waltraute Gathering clouds range themselves here! The other six Valkyries Warfather rideth his sacred steed! Brünnhilde The wild pursuer who hunts me in wrath, he nears, he nears from northward! Shield me, sisters! Shelter this wife! Six Valkyries What aileth the woman? |
Brünnhilde Hear me then quickly: Sieglinde is she, Siegmund's sister and bride: 'gainst all the Wälsungs doth Wotan angrily rage; to strike the brother dead in the fight was Brünnhilde's task; but Siegmund held I safe with my shield: Wotan in wrath then struck him himself with his spear: Siegmund fell; but I fled forth with the wife; and to save her flew I to you that in danger (in fear) ye might hide me from the threatening blow! Six Valkyries (in great consternation) What madness urged thee this deed to do? Lost one! Brünnhilde, lost one! Helm., Siegr., Grim. Brok'st thou, rebellious Brünnhilde, Warfather's holy behest? Ger., Ross., Schw. Brok'st thou Warfather's holy behest? Waltraute (on the lookout) Darkness comes from the north like the night. Ortlinde (on the lookout) Raging steereth hither the storm. |
Ross., Grim., Schw. Loud neigheth Warfather's steed! Helm., Ger., Schw. Panting hither it flies. Brünnhilde Woe to the wife if the god find her here: for all of the Wälsungs dooms he to downfall! O say, who will lend the trustiest horse, to save the wife from his wrath? Siegrune Wouldst lead us his rage to defy? Brünnhilde Rossweisse, sister, lend me but thy courser! Rossweisse From Warfather ne'er yet fled he in fear. Brünnhilde Helwige, hear me! Helmwige I brave not our father. Brünnhilde Grimgerde! Gerhilde! Grant me a horse! Schwertleite! Siegrune! See my dismay! True be to me, as I have been true: save now this sorrowing wife! (Sieglinde, who has hitherto stared gloomily and coldly before her, starts up with a repellent gesture as Brünnhilde embraces her warmly, as if to protect her.) |
Sieglinde Let sorrow not vex thee for me: only death is my due. Who bade thee bear me, maid, from the battle? Perchance my death-stroke I there had won from the very weapon that dealt his death; in life's last moment made one with him! Far from Siegmund. Siegmund, from thee! O shelter me, death, from remembrance! Lest for thy help my curse should requite thee, now hearken, maid, to my prayer: thrust thou thy sword into my heart! Brünnhilde Live still, o woman, for love doth call thee! Rescue the pledge that from him thou hast won: (forcibly and urgently) a Wälsung's life thou dost bear! (Sieglinde starts violently: suddenly her face glows with sublime joy.) Sieglinde Rescue me, brave one! Rescue my child! Guard me, ye maidens, with mighty defence! (An ever-darkening thunderstorm approaches from the back.) |
Waltraute (on the lookout) The storm cometh near! Ortlinde (on the lookout) Fly, all who fear it! The other six Valkyries Hence with the woman! danger is here: the Valkyries' shelter dare we not give! Sieglinde (on her knees before Brünnhilde) Rescue me, maid! rescue the mother! Brünnhilde (raises Sieglinde with sudden determination) Away, then, fly swiftly, and fly thou alone! I stay in thy stead, draw on me Wotan's anger, by me holding the wrathful one here, whilst thou from his vengeance escap'st. Sieglinde Say, whither shall I turn me? Brünnhilde Which of you, sisters, journeyed to eastward? Siegrune A forest wild spreads far to the east: the Nibelung's hoard by Fafner thither was borne. Schwertleite There as a dread dragon he dwelleth, and in a cave there guardeth he Alberich's ring! |
Grimgerde For a helpless woman no home were there. Brünnhilde And yet from Wotan's wrath shelter safe were the wood: our father feareth and shunneth the place. Waltraute (on the lookout) Raging rides the god to the rock! Six Valkyries Brünnhilde, hear how he nears like a storm! Brünnhilde (urgently) Fly then swiftly and turn to the east! Bold in defiance endure ev ry ill, hunger and thirst, thorns and rough ways; laugh whether want or suffering wound! For one thing know and hold it ever: the world's most glorious hero bears, o woman, thy sheltering womb! (She takes the pieces of Sigmund's sword from under her breastplate and gives them to Sieglinde.) For him ward thou well the mighty splinters; from his father's death-field by good hap I saved them: who once shall swing the sword new wrought, his name from me let him take— Siegfried in triumph shall live! |
Sieglinde (deeply moved) O radiant wonder! Glorious maid! Thou bring'st me, true one, holiest balm! For him whom we loved I save the beloved one: may my thanks yet bring laughing reward! Fare thou well! be blest in Sieglinde's woe! (She hastens away on the right in front.) (Black thunderclouds surround the height; a fearful storm approaches from the back: a growing fiery light on the right.) Wotan (offstage) Stay, Brünnhild'! Ortlinde, Waltraute (coming down from the lookout) The rock is reached by horse and rider! (Brünnhilde, after watching Sieglinde for a while, turns toward the background, looks into the wood, and comes forward again in fear.) All eight Valkyries Woe, Brünnhild'! raging he comes! Brünnhilde Ah, sisters, help! my heart is faint! His wrath will crush me, if ye no shelter can give. (The Valkyries retreat up the rocky point in fear; Brünnhilde lets herself be drawn with them.) The Valkyries Then hide, thou lost one! Be thou not seen, hide thee in our midst, and heed not his call! Be hid by us! (They hide Brünnhilde among them and look anxiously toward the wood, which is now lit up by brilliant firelight, while the background has become quite dark.) Woe! Wotan swings him raging to earth! Hither haste his steps for revenge. |
Scene Two (Wotan strides in terrible wrathful excitement from the wood and approaches the group of Valkyries on the height, looking angrily around for Brünnhilde.) Wotan Where is Brünnhild', where the rebellious one? Would ye then dare to shield her from vengeance? The eight Valkyries Fearful thy fury soundeth! O father, what did thy children, that they have wakened thy terrible wrath? Wotan Would ye then mock me? Heed yourselves, rash ones! I know, Brünnhilde hide ye from me. Turn ye from her! cast off is she henceforth, e'en as her worth from her she cast! Rossweisse To us fled the pursued one, Siegr., Ross., Grim., Schw. For our help prayed she to us; Waltraute Thy rage awoke her fear and dismay: Siegrune Fear and trembling seize the pursued one! Schwertleite, Grimgerde Thy rage awakened her fear and shrinking, for our sister pray we to thee! |
Ortlinde Father, hear our prayer! Rossweisse, Waltraute For our trembling sister pray we to thee that thy passion's rage may be calmed! Ger., Helm., Ort. Soften thine anger! Siegrune Calm now thy passion's rage! Helmwige For her, calm thy passion's rage! Wotan Weak-hearted and womanish brood! Such sorry valor won ye from me? I fostered you bold to fare to the field, hard and relentless your hearts I wrought, and ye wild ones now weep and whine, when my wrath on a traitor doth fall? Then know, ye trembling ones, what was her crime for whom your tears now in pity are shed: No one but she knew what lay hid in my bosom; no one but she saw to the spring of my spirit! In her deeds my desires were born to the day: our holy bond she hath now so disdained that, faithless, she my own will hath defied, my sacred command openly scorned, against me she lifted the spear that by Wotan's will she bore! Hear'st thou, Brünnhilde? Thou on whom birny, helm and spear, name and renown, life and delight I bestowed? |
Hear'st thou my voice upraised, and shrinking hid'st thee from me, that thou may'st escape thy doom? (Brünnhilde comes forward out of the band of the Valkyries and moves with humble but firm steps down the rock, to within a short distance from Wotan.) Brünnhilde Here am I, father: pronounce now my sentence! Wotan I sentence thee not: thou thyself thy sentence hast shaped. My will alone awoke thee to life: yet against my will hast thou worked; thine 'twas alone to fulfill my commands: yet against me hast thou commanded; wish-maid thou wert to me: against me thy wish has been turned; shield-maid thou wert to me: against me thy shield was upraised; lot-chooser thou wert to me: against me the lot hast thou chosen; hero-stirrer thou wert to me: against me thou stirredst up heroes. What once thou wert, Wotan hath spoken: what now thou art, say thou to thyself! Wish-maid art thou no more; Valkyrie once wert thou called: what now thou art, henceforth shalt thou be! Brünnhilde (violently terrified) Thou dost cast me off? What meaneth thy word? |
Wotan No more shall I send thee from Walhall; to war-field no more far'st thou on quest; no more bring'st thou heroes to fill my halls: at the godhead's festal banquet the drink-horn for me thou fillest no more; thy childlike mouth no more shall I kiss; the heavenly host no more shall know thee; outcast art thou from the clan of the gods: for broken now is our bond, henceforth from sight of my face art thou banned. (The Valkyries, in great excitement, come a little further down the rocks.) The Valkyries Horror! Woe! Sister, oh sister! Brünnhilde All thou once gavest thou tak'st away? |
Wotan He who wins robs thee of all! For here on the rock bound shalt thou be; defenceless in sleep liest thou locked: the man shall master the maid who shall find her and wake her from sleep. (In the greatest emotion the Valkyries quite de- scend from the rock and in anxious groups surround Brünn hilde, who lies half kneeling before Wotan.) Waltraute Repent! repent! O Father! shall the maiden pale and be withered by man? Ah, deal not this shame! Ah, deal not this crying disgrace! deal not this shame, ah, deal not, Father, this disgrace, ah, deal not, deal not this shame, for our sister's shame on us would fall; Ortlinde O Father! repent! Repent! hear now our prayer! O bring not on her this crying disgrace! God, in thy wrath, deal not this shame, deal it not! Ah, bring not, bring not disgrace on her, on us her disgrace would fall; Grimgerde O Father! Shall the maiden pale and be withered by man? Bring not on her this crying disgrace! Give ear to us! Dread-Father, o bring not, o bring not, ah, bring not on her this crying disgrace, deal not this shame! For our sister's shame on us too would fall, should the holiest maiden pale and be withered by man; |
Schwertleite O Father! Shall the maiden pale and be withered by man? Shall the maiden pale and be withered? Ah, deal not this disgrace! Ah, bring thou not, Father, ah, bring not, ah, bring not on her this crying disgrace, ah, deal not this shame! Ah, deal not, deal not this shame! On us her shame would fall; Helmwige Recall the curse! Repent! hear now our prayer! Bring not on her this crying disgrace! God, in thy wrath, bring not on her this crying disgrace! For our sister's shame on us would fall; |
Gerhilde Recall the curse! O Father! Shall the maiden pale and be withered by man? O deal thou not, God, in thy wrath, deal not this shame, deal thou not, ah, deal not this shame! For our sister's shame falleth on us, should the holiest maiden pale and be withered by man; Siegrune Recall the curse! Shall the maiden pale and be withered by man? Bring not on her this crying disgrace! Dread-Father, bring not on her this crying disgrace, ah, deal not this shame! For our sister's shame on us too would fall, should the holiest maiden pale and be withered by man; Rossweisse Recall the curse! Shall the maiden pale and be withered by man? Hard-hearted father! deal not this shame! Dread-Father, bring not, ah, bring not this crying disgrace on her, ah, deal not, deal not this shame! Our sister's shame on us would fall; |
All the Valkyries For our sister's shame on us too would fall! Wotan Have ye not heard Wotan's decree? From out your troop must your traitorous sister be banished; as once she rode through the clouds with you rides she no longer; her maidenhood's flower will fade away; a husband will gain all her womanly grace: the will of her master she now shall obey, by the hearth at home shall she spin, to all mockers a mark for scorn! (Brünnhilde sinks with a cry on the ground; the Valkyries, horror-struck, recoil violently from her.) Frights you her lot? Then fly from the lost one! Wend ye from her and bide ye afar! If one should venture near her to linger, in my despite befriending her fate; that rash one shareth her lot: then heed ye right well my word! Hence now away; hither return not! Swiftly ride from the mountain, lest ill-fate light on you here! (The Valkyries separate with a wild cry and rush in hasty flight to the wood.) |
The Valkyries Woe! Woe! (Black clouds settle thickly on the cliffs: a rushing sound is heard in the wood. A vivid flash of lightning breaks from the clouds; in it the Valkyries, in a closely packed group, are seen with their bridles loose, wildly riding away.) (The storm soon subsides; the thunderclouds grad- ually disappear. During the following scene twilight falls with returning fine weather, followed at the close by the night.) |
Scene Three (Wotan and Brünnhilde, who lies at his feet, remain alone. A long, solemn silence: positions unchanged.) (She begins slowly to raise her head a little.) Brünnhilde (beginning timidly and becoming firmer) Was my offense so laden with shame that the offender so shamefully is scourged? Was there such deep disgrace in my deed that I so deeply must sink in disgrace? Was then my crime so dark with dishonor, that it robs me of honor for aye? (She raises herself gradually to a kneeling position.) O say: Father! look in my eyes: silence thy wrath, soften thy rage, and shew to me clear the hidden guilt, that in cruel anger doth force thee to cast off the child of thy heart. Wotan (in unchanged attitude, gravely and gloomily) Ask of thy deed, and that will shew thee thy guilt! Brünnhilde By thy command only I fought. Wotan By my command didst thou fight for the Wälsung? Brünnhilde So didst thou decree as lord of the lots! |
Wotan But my decree thou knew' st again I recalled! Brünnhilde As Fricka ensnared thy will to her service; when thou wert forced to befriend her, foe wert thou to thyself. Wotan (softly and bitterly) That thou understood'st me, weened I, and chided thy insolent thought: but coward and fool deemedst thou me! So had I not treason to punish, all too mean wert thou for my wrath. Brünnhilde No wisdom have I, yet knew I this one thing, that the Wälsung thou lovedst. I knew all the strife, forcing thy will, that drove that love from remembrance. The other only couldst thou discern, which, so sad to sight, prayed on thy heart that Siegmund might not be shielded. Wotan Then knewest thou that, and nathless gave him thy shield? |
Brünnhilde (beginning softly) As for thee I held but the one in my eyes, when entrammeled wert thou by twofold desire, blindly thy back on him turning! She who in the field wards thy back from the foe, she saw now only what thou saw'st not: Siegmund I beheld. Death-doom I brought to him there; I looked in his eyes, heard his lament; I discerned the hero's bitter distress; loudly resounded the plaint of the bold one: unbounded love's most hopeless despair, saddest heart's most dauntless disdain! My ears have heard, my eyes have seen what, deep in my bosom, with awe and trembling filled all my heart. Dazed and shrinking stood I in shame. How I might serve him must I bethink me: (with animation) triumph or death to share with Siegmund: that seemed only the lot I could choose! He who this love into my heart had breathed, whose will had placed the Wälsung at my side, true only to him, thy word did I defy. Wotan So thou hast done what so dearly I had desired, yet by twofold fateto my will was denied! So light deemedst thou winning of hearts' deepest rapture, when burning woe in my heart outbroke, when anguish awoke the grim intent, for the world I loved so, the spring of love in my tortured heart to imprison? When 'gainst my own self in my torment I turned me, from weakness' pangs I rose up in frenzy, furious yearning's fiercest desire the fearful design in me wrought, in the wreck of my ruined world my unending sorrow to bury: then thou wert lapped in blissful delights; filled with emotion's rapturous joy, thou drankest laughing the draught of love; with mine, gall of the god's bitterest bondage was mixed. |
(dryly and shortly) Now thy lightsome heart henceforth shall lead thee: from me hast thou turned away. Aye must I shun thee; together no more may we e'er whisper counsel; henceforth our paths are parted forever, for while life shall endure, may the god ne'er give thee his greeting! Brünnhilde (simply) Unfit was for thee this foolish maid, who, stunned by thy counsel, nought understood, when but one command her own counsel made clear: to love all that thou hadst loved. Must I then leave thee and, fearing, shun thee, must thou loosen our fast-woven bond, and half thy being far from thee banish, who once belonged to thee only, thou god, forget not that! Thy other self thou wilt not dishonor, deal not disgrace that will shame thee too! Thy own fame would be darkened, were I the plaything of scorn! Wotan The might of love thou hast followed fain: follow now him who shall force thy love. Brünnhilde Must I then go from Walhall, no more to have part in thy working, a man as my master henceforth must I serve: to boastful craven make me not thrall, not all unworthy be he who wins! |
Wotan From Warfather turnedst thou; he may not fashion thy fate. Brünnhilde (softly and confidentially) From thee rose a glorious race; that race ne'er shall bring forth a craven: the bravest of heroes, I know it, shall bless the Wälsungs' line. Wotan Name not the Wälsungs to me! When thee I cast off, cast off were they; by envy wrecked was the race! Brünnhilde She who turned from thee rescued the race. (secretly) Sieglinde bears the holiest fruit; (with animation) in pain and grief such as woman ne'er suffered will she bring forth what in fear she hides! Wotan Ne'er seek at my hand shelter for her, or for fruit her womb shall bear. Brünnhilde (secretly) She guardeth the sword that thou gavest Siegmund. Wotan (vehemently) The sword that I in splinters struck! Seek not, o maid, to vanquish my spirit, await now thy fate, as it must fall; I cannot change it for thee. But hence must I now, far from thee fare; too long I stay with thee here: as from me turnedst thou, turn I from thee; what wish is thine I may not e'en know: the sentence now must I see fulfilled! |
Brünnhilde What hast thou decreed that I shall suffer? Wotan In slumber fast shalt thou be locked: who so the helpless one finds; and wakes, shall win thee for wife! Brünnhilde (falls on her knees) If fetters of sleep fast shall bind me, for basest craven an easy booty; this one thing must thou grant me, in deepest anguish I pray: o shelter me sleeping with scaring horrors, (firmly) that but the first, most fearless of heroes e'er may find me here on the fell! Wotan Too much thou cravest, too great a grace! Brünnhilde (embracing his knees) This one thing must thou grant me! O crush thou thy child who clasps thy knee; tread down thy dear one, destroy the maid, let thy spear put out the light of her life: but cast not, in thy wrath, on her this most hateful shame! (with wild ecstasy) By thy command enkindle a fire; with flaming guardians girdle the fell; to lick with tongue, to bite with tooth the craven, who rashly dareth to draw near the threatening rock! (Wotan, overcome and deeply moved, turns eagerly toward Brünnhilde, raises her from her knees and gazes with emotion into her eyes.) |
Wotan Farewell, thou valiant, glorious child! Thou once the holiest pride of my heart! Farewell! farewell! farewell! (very passionately) Must I forsake thee, and may my welcome of love no more greet thee; may'st thou now ne'er more ride as my comrade, nor bear me mead at banquet; must I abandon thee, whom I loved so, thou laughing delight of my eyes? Such a bridal fire for thee shall be kindled as ne'er yet has burned for a bride! Threatening flames shall flare round the fell: let withering terrors daunt the craven! let cowards fly from Brünnhilde's rock! For one alone winneth the bride; one freer than I, the god! (Brünnhilde, deeply moved, sinks in ecstasy on Wotan's breast: he holds her in a long embrace.) (She throws her head back again and, still embracing Wotan, gazes with deep enthusiasm in his eyes.) Thy brightly glittering eyes, that, smiling, oft I caressed, when valor won a kiss as guerdon, when childish lispings of heroes' praise from sweetest lips has flowed forth: those gleaming radiant eyes that oft in storms on me shone, when hopeless yearning my heart had wasted, when world's delights all my wishes wakened, thro' wild wildering sadness: |
once more today, lured by their light, my lips shall give them love's farewell! On mortal more blessed once may they beam: on me, hapless immortal, must they close now forever. (He clasps her head in his hands.) For so turns the god now from thee, so kisses thy godhood away! (He kisses her long on the eyes. She sinks back with closed eyes, unconscious, in his arms. He gently bears her to a low mossy mound, which is overshadowed by a wide-spreading fir tree, and lays her upon it.) (He looks upon her and closes her helmet: his eyes then rest on the form of the sleeper, which he now completely covers with the great steel shield of the Valkyrie. He turns slowly away, then again turns around with a sorrowful look.) (He strides with solemn decision to the middle of the stage and directs the point of his spear toward a large rock.) Loge, hear! List to my word! As I found thee of old, a glimmering flame, as from me thou didst vanish, in wandering fire; as once I stayed thee, stir I thee now! Appear! come, waving fire, and wind thee in flames round the fell! (During the following he strikes the rock thrice with his spear.) Loge! Loge! appear! (A flash of flame issues from the rock, which swells to an ever-brightening fiery glow.) (Flickering flames break forth.) (Bright shooting flames surround Wotan. With his spear he directs the sea of fire to encircle the rocks; it presently spreads toward the background, where it encloses the mountain in flames.) He who my spearpoint's sharpness feareth shall cross not the flaming fire! (He stretches out the spear as a spell. He gazes sorrowfully back on Brünnhilde. Slowly he turns to depart. He turns his head again and looks back. He diasappears through the fire.) (The curtain falls.) |
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libretto by Frederick Jameson |
Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Glossary |