“Götterdämmerung” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)

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

Act One

Scene One

(The hall of the Gibichungs on the Rhine. This is
quite open at the back. The background itself pre-
sents an open shore as far as the river; rocky heights
enclose the shore.)
(Gunther and Gutrune on a throne on one side,
before which stands a table with drinking vessels on
it; Hagen is seated in front of the table.)

Gunther
Give ear, Hagen; tell me now true:
is my fame on the Rhine
worthy of Gibich's name?

Hagen
Thy glory's luster wakens my envy;
for she who gave us life,
Dame Grimhild, told of thy greatness.

Gunther
I envy thee; then envy not me.
Mine thought he firstborn's right,
wisdom was thine alone.
Half-brothers' strife was ne'er so well ended;
'tis thy wisdom wins my praise
when I ask of my renown.

Hagen
Then blame I my word,
since flawed is thy fame
for treasures rare I wot of
that the Gibichungs not yet have won.

Gunther
If these thou hide, I blame thee too.

Hagen
In ripeness and strength of summer
standeth Gibich's race,
thou, Gunther, yet unwived,
thou, Gutrun', yet unwed.
(Gunther and Gutrune are lost in silent medi-
tation.)

Gunther
Whom wouldst thou I should wed
that we new fame may win?

Hagen
A wife waits thee, the noblest in the world:
'mid mountain rocks her home,
a fire surroundeth her hall:
who breaks thro' the flaming fire
may Brünnhilde's wooer be.

Gunther
And serves not my strength for the task?

Hagen
For a stronger one it is decreed.

Gunther
Who is that boldest of men?

Hagen
Siegfried, the Wälsung son,
he is the chosen man.
A twin-born pair, in love's enthrallment,
Siegmund and Sieglind' begat them the hero renowned.

Strong and bold he grew in the woods;
him would I Gutrun' should wed.

Gutrune
(beginning shyly)
What deed brought him such fame
that of heroes the first he is named?

Hagen
At Neidhöhle the Niblung's hoard
long since by a dragon was held:
Siegfried closed his threatening jaws
and slew with conquering sword.
That great and wondrous deed
first won him a hero's fame.

Gunther
(in meditation)
The hoard of the Niblungs holdeth,
men say, a jewel of worth.

Hagen
The man who its might doth know
would bend all the world to his will.

Gunther
And Siegfried won it in fight?

Hagen
Thrall are the Niblungs to him.

Gunther
And Brünnhild' he only can win?

Hagen
To none other waneth the fire.
(Gunther rises angrily from his seat.)

Gunther
Why wak'st thou discord and doubt?
Why stir my heart's desire
by dreams of delights I may not win?
(He walks to and fro in agitation. Hagen, without
leaving his seat, by a gesture full of hidden meaning
holds Gunther fixed as he approaches him.)

Hagen
Yet should Siegfried bring home the bride,
then were not Brünnhilde thine?
(Gunther turns away again in doubt and anger.)
Gunther

Yet how could I force this man
for me to win the bride?

Hagen
(as before)
Thy prayer alone would force him
were but Gutrun' his wife.

Gutrune
Thou mocker, evil Hagen!
What spell have I to bind him?
If he of heroes be first on earth,
the fairest women in the world
long since would have won his love.

Hagen
(bending confidentially to Gutrune)
Dost mind the drink in the chest;
(more secretly)
put trust in me who brought it home;

'Twill bind him whom thou dost choose
fast in love's fetters to thee.
(Gunther has again come to the table and,
leaning upon it, listens attentively.)
Let now but Siegfried come
and taste of the magical draught,
that he e'er a woman has seen,
that one anear him e'er came,
then straightway must he forget.
Now answer: how like ye Hagen's rede?

Gunther
(starting up with animation)
All praise be to Grimhild,
that now this brother is ours!

Gutrune
Might but Siegfried hither come!

Gunther
What spell may find him out?
(A horn on the stage, from the background on the
left, very loud but distant. Hagen listens. He turns to
Gunther.)

Hagen
Merrily hunts he, seeking renown,
as through a wood he sweeps the world:
while restless he storms on his way,
to the Gibich's home will he come.

Gunther
Welcome to him would I give.
(Horn on the stage, nearer, but still distant.
Gunther and Hagen listen.)
A horn from the Rhine I hear.
(Hagen looks down the river, and calls toward the back.)

Hagen
On board a vessel man and horse!
He blows so gaily the horn!
(Horn on the stage, nearer. Gunther stops halfway,
listening.)
With an easy stroke,
as from indolent hand,
he drives the boat fast thro' the waves:
so mighty an arm only one can own;
his it must be who the dragon slew.
Siegfried is it, surely none other!

Gunther

Come he to us?
(Hagen calls toward the river through his
hollowed hands.)

Hagen
Hoiho! Whom seek'st thou, hero blithe?

Siegfried
(from the distance)
The stalwart son of Gibich.

Hagen
His hall awaits thee with welcome here.
(Siegfried appears at the shore in a boat.)
Hither! Here come to land!

Scene Two

(Siegfried brings his boat to the shore.)

Hagen
Hail!
(Hagen makes the boat fast to the shore with the
chain. Siegfried springs on shore with his horse.)
Hail! Siegfried, hero, hail!
(Gunther has come to Hagen on the riverbank.
Gutrune looks from the throne in astonishment at
Sieg fried. Gunther prepares to offer friendly greet ings.
All are fixed in mute contemplation of each other.)

Siegfried
(leaning on his horse, remains standing by
the boat)
Who is Gibich's son?

Gunther
Gunther, I, whom thou seek'st.

Siegfried
Far on the Rhine thy fame hath spread:
now fight with me, or be my friend!

Gunther
Come in peace! Be thou welcome!

Siegfried
Where resteth my horse?

Hagen
Mine be his charge.

Siegfried
(turning to Hagen)
Thou call'st me Siegfried: met we ere now?

Hagen
I knew by thy might who thou must be.

Siegfried
(as he gives the horse to Hagen)
Tend Grane right gently:
of nobler strain thy hand never held
by bridle a steed.
(Hagen leads the horse away. While Siegfried
looks thoughtfully after him, Gutrune, guided by a
gesture of Hagen's which is unseen by Siegfried, goes
out through a door on the left leading to her room.
Gunther comes to the front with Siegfried, whom he
invites to accom pany him.)

Gunther
O hero, gladly greet
the halls where dwelt my fathers.
Where'er thou standest, whate'er thou seest,
my goods I freely grant thee;
thine is my birthright, folk and land:
pledge of troth be my lifeblood!
Henceforth am I thine own.

Siegfried
Nor land nor folk have I to grant
nor father's house and hall:
all my birthright my bod/ s life
living wasteth away.
Yet a sword blade have I forged me:
pledge of troth be my weapon!
That with my life give I thee.

Hagen
(who has returned and now stands behind
Siegfried)
Of the hoard of the Niblungs
rumor nameth thee lord.

Siegfried
(turning around to Hagen)
The treasure had I forgot;
so lightly its wealth I prize!
I in a cavern left it lying,
where a dragon once held watch.

Hagen
And nought didst take therefrom?

Siegfried
(pointing to the piece of steel netting
which hangs from his girdle)
Nought but this, not knowing its use!

Hagen
The Tarnhelm it is,
the Niblung's cunningest work:
it serves, when set on thy head,
to transform thee e'en as thou wilt;
wouldst fain go to far-off lands,
thy desire straight were fulfilled.
Nought else took'st thou from the hoard?

Siegfried
A ring.

Hagen
That holdest thou safe?

Siegfried
(tenderly) 'Tis held by a woman fair.

Hagen
(aside) Brünnhild'!

Gunther
Nought, Siegfried, now shalt thou give me;
dross would pay thee in return,
though all my wealth thou shouldst win:
without guerdon thee will I serve.
(Hagen has gone to Gutrune's door and now
opens it. Gutrune enters and approaches Siegfried,
carrying a filled drinking horn.)

Gutrune
Welcome, o guest, to Gibich's house!
From his daughter take thou this drink.
(Siegfried bows friendly to her and takes the horn.
He holds the horn meditatively before him.)

Siegfried
If lost were all thou gavest to me,
one lesson still I ne'er will forget;
this draught, the first my lips have tasted,
Brünnhild', I drink to thee!
(He puts the drink-horn to his lips and drinks a
long draught. He returns the drink-horn to Gutrune
who casts down her eyes before him in shame and
confusion. Siegfried fixes his eyes on her with sudden-
ly inflamed passion.)
O thou who dost blind my sight by thy look,
why sink'st thou before me thine eyes?
(Gutrune, blushing, raises her eyes to his face.)

(vehemently) Ha, fairest maid! Veil thy look;
the heart in my breast burns in its beams,
to fiery scorching streams
I feel it kindle my blood!
(with trembling voice)
Gunther, what name is thy sister's?

Gunther
Gutrune.

Siegfried
(softly) Are good the runes that there in
her eyes I am reading?
(He seizes Gutrune's hand ardently.)
With thy brother service I have sought:
his pride refused my bond;
wilt thou like him deny my prayer,
if for thy grace I crave!
(Gutrune involuntarily meets Hagen's look. She
humbly bows her head and, with a gesture express-
ing her feeling of unworthiness, she leaves the hall
with faltering steps.)
(Siegfried, observantly watched by Hagen and
Gunther, follows Gutrune with his eyes as if
entranced.)
Hast thou, Gunther, a wife?

Gunther
Not wed am I yet,
and for a wife seemeth it vain to seek:
on one my heart have I set,
whom no deed of mine can win.

Siegfried
(turns with animation to Gunther)
What canst thou not win, with me for friend?

Gunther
On mountain rocks her home;...

Siegfried
(breaking in hastily in astonishment)
On mountain rocks her home?

Gunther
... a fire surrounds her hall.

Siegfried
A fire surrounds her hall?

Gunther
Who breaks through the flaming fire .

Siegfried
(as if striving with intense effort to
remember something)
Who breaks thro' the flaming fire?

Gunther
... may Brünnhilde's wooer be.
(Siegfried shows by a gesture that at the mention
of Brünnhilde's name his remembrance has quite
faded.)
I may not set foot on the mountain;
the fire wanes not for me!
(Siegfried comes to himself from his dreamy state
and turns to Gunther with excessive gaiety.)

Siegfried
I fear no fire,
for thee I will win the bride;
for thy man am I,
and my arm is thine,
if Gutrun' thou giv'st me to wife.

Gunther
Gutrune gladly I grant thee.

Siegfried
Brünnhilde then shall be thine.

Gunther
How wilt thou beguile her?

Siegfried
By the Tarnhelm's craft
changed shall my shape be for thine.

Gunther
Then let the oath now be sworn!

Siegfried
Blood-brotherhood bound be by oath!
(Hagen fills a drinking horn with wine; he holds it
out to Siegfried and Gunther, who cut their arms with
their swords and hold them for a few moments over
the top of the horn. Both lay two fingers on the horn,
which Hagen continues to hold between them.)

Blossoming life's renewing blood
into the draught I shed.

Gunther
Boldly mixed in brotherly love
bloom our blood in the draught

Both
Troth I drink to the friend!
Blithe and free let flow from our bond,
blood-brotherhood aye!

Gunther
Broke if e'er be the bond:...

Siegfried
False if friend be to friend,...

Both
What in drops of love here we have drunken
in streams shall freely flow:
traitor thus shall atone!
(Gunther drinks and gives the horn to Siegfried.)

Gunther
So swear I the oath!

Siegfried
So...
(He drinks and holds the empty drinking horn out to Hagen.)
...plight I my faith.
(Hagen strikes the horn into two pieces with his
sword. Gunther and Siegfried join hands.)
(Siegfried observes Hagen, who has stood behind
him during the oath.)
Thou took'st in our troth-plight no part?

Hagen
My blood were bane to your drink;
not pure and free like yours doth it flow:
stubborn and cold scarce it stirs,
my cheek it never doth redden:
so far I keep from fiery bonds.

Gunther
(to Siegfried) Give no heed to his spleen!
(Siegfried puts on his shield again.)

Siegfried
Forth let us fare!
There lies my boat:
swiftly sail to the mountain!
(He steps nearer to Gunther and points.)
By the shore but one night
on board shalt thou tarry;
the bride then shall be thine.
(He turns to go, and beckons Gunther to follow
him.)

Gunther
Takest thou first no rest?

Siegfried
Let my labor win my rest.
(He goes to the shore to cast the boat loose.)

Gunther
Thou, Hagen! be guard of the homestead!
(He follows Siegfried to the shore. After Siegfried
and Gunther have laid their arms in the boat, while
they put up the sail and make all ready for departure,
Hagen takes up his spear and shield.)
(Gutrune appears at the door of her apartment
just as Siegfried pushes off the boat, which immedi-
ately floats into the middle of the stream.)

Gutrune
So fast! say, whither fly they?

Hagen
(while he slowly takes his seat in front of the
hall with shield and spear)
They fly Brünnhild' to wed.

Gutrune
Siegfried?

Hagen
See how he hastes!
For wife so would he win thee!

Gutrune
Siegfried mine!
(She returns to her apartment in lively agitation.)
(Siegfried has seized an oar and with its strokes
drives the boat down the stream so that it is quickly
lost to view.)
(Hagen sits motionless, leaning his back against
the post of the hall entrance.)

Hagen
Here sit I on guard, watching the house,
warding the hall from the foe.
Winds are wafting Gibich's son,
afar to his wooing he fares.
His helm is held by a hero bold,
for Gunther peril he braves:
His rightful bride he brings to the Rhine;
with her he brings me the ring!
Ye sons of freedom, blithesome companions
sail ye now merrily on:
base though ye deem him, ye all shall serve
the Nibelung's son.

(A curtain which closes in the hall is drawn and
cuts the stage off from the audience.)

Scene Three

(The curtain is raised again. The rocky height as in
the prelude.)
(Brünnhilde sits at the entrance to the cave in
mute contemplation of Siegfried's ring. Touched by
joyful memories, she covers the ring with kisses.)
(Distant thunder is heard; she looks up and listens.
She turns again to the ring.)
(A flash of lightning. Brünnhilde listens again and
looks into the distance, where a dark thundercloud is
seen approaching.)

Brünnhilde
Sounds familiar of old
send to my ear a greeting.
A steed 'tis, hither winging his flight;
on the cloud it fares in storm to the fell.
Who seeks this lonely one here?

Waltraute
(from the distance) Brünnhilde!
Sister! Wake from thy slumber!

Brünnhilde
(starts from her seat)
Waltraute's call, how joyful the sound!
(calling to the wing) Com'st thou, sister?
Boldly ridest thou to me?
(She hastens to the edge of the rocks.)
There in the wood still dear to thee
light from thy horse,
and leave him there to take rest.
(She runs into the wood, from which a loud sound
like a thunderclap is heard. Brünnhilde comes back,
in violent agitation, with Waltraute; she remains in
joyful excitement, without observing Waltraute's
anxious fear.)
Com'st thou to me?
So bold art thou? Dar'st thou undaunted
bring thy greeting to me?

Waltraute
Thou alone art cause of my haste!

Brünnhilde
So rashly thou, dauntless in love,
Warfather's ban hast broken?
Or perchance! O say!
may I then hope Wotan's thought is changed?
When against the godhead Siegmund I guarded,
failing, I know it,
my deed fulfilled his desire.
That his anger is ended know I too.
For albeit he left me here,
fettered in sleep on the fell,
destined as thrall to the man

who should wake the maid in his path,
to my piteous prayer he granted grace:
with ravening fire he surrounded the fell,
to bar to all cravens the way.
So my blessing was born of my sentence:
the hero most famed hath won me for wife!
Blest by his love, in light and laughter I live.
(She embraces Waltraute with wild signs of joy,
which Waltraute attempts with impatience to
suppress.)
Lured wert thou, sister, by my lot?
Upon my joy wouldst thou also feed thee,
share all that I have won?

Waltraute
(vehemently) Share all the frenzy
that hath maddened thy brain?
In anguish of dread have I come
and broken Wotan's behest.
(Brünnhilde here first observes with surprise the
wildly excited condition of Waltraute.)

Brünnhilde
Pain and fear fetter thy spirit!
Then the god hath pardoned me not?
Thou fearest the punisher's wrath?

Waltraute
(gloomily) If still I feared it,
then at end were all my pain!

Brünnhilde
Wonder bewilders my sense.

Waltraute
Calm thou thy frenzy,
give good heed to my words!
To Walhall terror drives me again,
that from Walhall drove me to thee.

Brünnhilde
(frightened)
What is't that doth ail the eternals?

Waltraute
Hearken with heed to what I tell thee!
Since from thee Wotan turned him,
to battle no more hath he sent us:
dazed with fear, bewildered we rode to the field;
Walhall's heroes no more may meet Warfather.
Lonely to horse, without pause or rest,
as Wand'rer he swept thro' the world.
Home came he at last;
in his hand holding the spear-shaft's splinters:
a hero had struck it asunder.
With silent sign
Walhall's heroes sent he to hew
the world-ash-tree in pieces.
The sacred stem at his command was riven
and raised in a heap round about the hall of the
blest.
The holy host called he together;
the god on his throne took his place.

In dismay and fear at his word they assembled;
around him ranged, the hall was filled by his heroes.
So sits he, speaks no word,
on high enthroned grave and mute;
the shattered spear-shaft fast in his grasp;
Holda's apples tastes he no more.
Awestruck and shrinking sit the gods in silence.
Forth on quest from Walhall sent he his ravens;
if with good tidings back the messengers come,
then forever shall smiles of joy
gladden the face of the god.
Round his knees entwining cower we Valkyires;
nought recks he nor knows of our anguish:
we all are consumed
by terror and ne'er-ending fear.
Upon his breast weeping I pressed me;
(hesitating) then soft grew his look;
he remembered, Brünnhilde, thee!
He closed his eyes, deeply sighing,
and as in slumber spoke he the words:
if e'er the river maidens
win from her hand again the ring,
from the curse's load
released were god and world!
Then I took thought: and from his presence
through ranks all silent stealing away,
with secret haste I mounted my horse,
and rode in tumult to thee.
Now, o sister, to thee I pray:
what thou canst do, that dare to fulfill;
end all the grief of the gods!
(She has thrown herself down before Brünnhilde.)

Brünnhilde
(quietly)
What tales of evil fancies tellest thou, sad one, to me?
The cloudy heaven of gods on high
have I, poor fool, now escaped;
I grasp not what thou dost tell me.
Dark and wild seemeth thy speech:
and in thine eyes, so overweary,
gleams wavering fire.
With cheeks so pallid, thou white-faced sister,
what wouldst thou, wild one, from me?

Waltraute
(vehemently) Upon thy hand, the ring,
'tis that: hear but my rede:
for Wotan cast it from thee!

Brünnhilde
The ring? from me?

Waltraute
To the Rhine daughters give it again!

Brünnhilde
The Rhine daughters ... I ...
the ring? Siegfried's love pledge?
Lost are thy senses?

Waltraute
Hear me, hear my despair!
The world's ill-fate surely hangeth thereon.
Cast it from thee, away in the waters;
so shalt thou end Walhall's anguish:
the accurst thing fling in the flood!

Brünnhilde
Ha! know'st thou what 'tis to me?
How canst thou grasp it, loveless maid!
More than Walhall's rapture,
more than the fame of gods is this my ring:
one glance at its lustrous gold,
one flash of its holy fire
more is to me e'en than all the heaven's ayeenduring delight.
For blissfuly there shineth the love of Siegfried.
Love of Siegfried!
O might but its rapture be told thee!
that lives in the ring.
Go hence to the holy council of gods!
And of my ring tell o'er to them my words:
(rather more slowly) from love I never will turn,
of love they never shall rob me,
though into ruins
Walhall's splendor should fall!

Waltraute
This is thy truth then? So thou leavest
unloved in her sorrow thy sister?

Brünnhilde
Swiftly to horse! speed thee away!
The ring thou winn'st not from me!

Waltraute
Woe's me! Woe's me!
Woe to thee, sister!
Woe to Walhall's gods!
(She rushes away. A storm cloud soon rises from
the wood with thunder.)

Brünnhilde
(as she looks after the brightly illumined
thundercloud, which is soon quite lost in the
distance)
Borne on the wind
yon flashing storm cloud flyeth afar:
to me ne'ermore may it come!
(Evening has fallen. From below, the light of the
fire shines gradually brighter. Brünnhilde looks quiet-
ly out on the landscape.)
Twilight of evening hides the heaven;
brightly flameth the rampart of fire round the fell.
(The firelight approaches from below. Tongues of
flame, growing continually brighter, shoot up over
the rocky wall.)

Why leap so wildly
the blazing billows on high?
The mountaintop is girt by the fiery sea.
(She starts up in delight.)
Siegfried! Siegfried returned!
'Tis his call sounds in mine ears!
Up! Up! now to meet him!
clasped in the arm of my god!
(She hastens to the rocky parapet in the highest
delight. Flames shoot: from them springs Siegfried
forward on to a high rock: the flames immediately
draw back and shed their light only from below.)
(Siegfried, with the Tarnhem on his head, which
hides the upper half of his face, leaving only his eyes
free, appears in Gunther's form. Brünnhilde shrinks
back in terror, flies to the foreground, and from there
fixes here eyes in speechless astonishment on
Siegfried.)

Brünnhilde
Betrayed! Who cometh here?
(Siegfried, remaining on the stone at back and
leaning upon his shield, motionless, observes Brünn-
hilde.)

Siegfried
(with a feigned, rougher, voice)
Brünnhild'! A wooer comes,
whom thy fire doth not fright.
Thee seek I now for wife:
wilt freely follow me?

Brünnhilde
(trembling violently)
Who is the man who tempts undaunted
what the boldest only dares?

Siegfried
(as before)
A hero who shall tame thee
if force alone may serve.

Brünnhilde
A monster
standeth on yonder stone!
To rend me in pieces cometh an eagle!
Who art thou, awful one?
Art thou a mortal?
Com'st thou from Hella's darksome host?

Siegfried
(as before, beginning with a slightly
trembling voice, but presently continuing with
more certainty)
A Gibichung am I,
and Gunther is his name
whom thou shalt follow now.

Brünnhilde
(breaking out in despair)
Wotan! Thou ruthless, merciless god!
Woe! Now my sentence shines clear to me!
to shame and sorrow giv'st thou me o'er!
(Siegfried springs down from the stone and comes nearer.)

Siegfried
The night draws on: within thy cave
must thou to me be wedded!

Brünnhilde
(stretching out threateningly the finger
on which she carries Siegfried's ring)
Go back! Fear thou this token!
Thou shalt not force me to shame
so long as this ring is my guard.

Siegfried
Husband's right so shall be Gunther's:
let the ring make thee his wife!

Brünnhilde
Go back, thou robber! foolhardy thief!
defy not the might of my hand!
Stronger than steel makes me the ring:
ne'er shall it be thine!

Siegfried
From thee now to take it
teach me thy words!
(He presses toward her. They wrestle together.
Brünnhilde wrenches herself free, flies, and turns
around as if to defend herself. Siegfried seizes her
again. She flees; he reaches her. Both wrestle violently
together. He seizes her by the hand and draws the
ring from her finger. Brünnhilde shrieks violently.)

(As she sinks down into his arms, as if broken, her
unconscious look meets Siegfried's eyes. He lets her
fainting body slide down onto the stone bench at the
entrance to the cave.)
Now art thou mine.
Brünnhilde, Gunther's bride,
shew me the way to thy cave!
(Brünnhilde stares fainting before her.)

Brünnhilde
(exhausted)
How now canst thou help thee, ill-fated wife?
(Siegfried drives her on with a gesture of com-
mand. Trembling and with wavering steps she goes
into the cave.)
(Siegfried draws his sword.)

Siegfried
(in his natural voice)
Now, Nothung, witness thou
that I in bonds have wooed.
Keep thou my troth to my brother,
let thy blade safeguard his bride!
(He follows Brünnhilde.)
(The curtain falls.)

libretto by Frederick Jameson

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