“Götterdämmerung” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)

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

Act Two

Prelude and Scene One

(The curtain rises.)
(An open space on the shore in front of the Gibich-
ungs' hall: on the right the open entrance to the hall;
on the left the bank of the Rhine, from which,
slanting across the stage to the back, rises a rocky
height cut by several mountain paths. There Fricka's
altar stone is visible: higher up is a larger one for
Wotan, and on the side is another for Donner.)
(It is night. Hagen, with his arm around his spear
and his shield by his side, sits asleep, leaning against
one of the wooden pillars of the hall.)
(Here the moon suddenly shines out and throws a
vivid light on Hagen and the objects immediately sur-
rounding him; Alberich is seen crouching before him,
leaning his arms on Hagen's knees.)

Alberich
(softly) Sleep'st thou, Hagen, my son?
Thou sleep'st and hear'st me not,
whom rest and sleep betrayed?

Hagen
(softly, without moving, so that he appears to
sleep on, although his eyes are open)
Thy voice I hear, evil Niblung:
what hast thou now to tell my slumber?

Alberich
Forget not the might that thou possessest
if thou art valiant as they mother bore thee to me!

Hagen
(still as before)
Though might through her was mine,
no debt of thanks I owe her,
that prey she fell to thy craft:
old in youth, weak and wan, hating the happy,
ne'er am I glad!

Alberich
(as before)
Hagen, my son! Hate thou the happy!
This joyless and sorrow-laden one lov'st thou so
as thou shouldst.
Be thou crafty, strong and bold!
Those whom with weapons of darkness we fight,
e'en now are dismayed by our hate.
And he who ravished my ring,
Wotan, the ravenous robber,
by one of his heroes himself was vanquished:
through the Wälsung he lost dominion and
might;
with his clan of gods and heroes
in dread he waiteth his downfall.
I fear him no more:
sink will they all and perish!
Sleep'st thou, Hagen, my son?
(Hagen remains motionless as before.)

Hagen
The might of the gods,
who then shall win?

Alberich
I and thou! The world will be ours,
for in thy truth my faith is firm;
thou sharest my wrath and hate.
Wotan's spear was shattered by Siegfried,
and Fafner in fight before him hath fall'n
and left him as booty the ring;
power and might wieldeth the Wälsung:
Walhall and Nibelheim
(still mysteriously) bow before him.
On the boldest of heroes
in vain lies my curse;
for to him hath the ring no worth,
he knows nought of its wonderful might.
Laughing in ardor of love
burns his life aye away.
'Tis his undoing only can help us!
Sleep'st thou, Hagen, my son?

Hagen
(as before)
To work his undoing me doth he serve.

Alberich
The golden ring
must thou rob from the Wälsung!
A woman wise holdeth him in her love:
if by her rede to the Rhine's fair daughters,
who in wat'ry deeps my wisdom bewitched,
his hand should give back the ring, forever
lost were the gold,
and no wiles could win it again.
Then without stint strive thou for the ring!
I fostered thee fearless for this,
that against heroes safe thou shouldst hold me.
Though weak is my strength
to fight with the foe,
who as prey to Siegfried was doomed,
yet deadly hatred I bred in Hagen;
'tis his to avenge me, the ring to win me,
in Wälsung's and Wotan's despite!
Swear to me, Hagen, my son!
(From this point a gradually darkening shadow
again covers Alberich. At the same time morning
twilight begins.)

Hagen
(still as before)
The ring will I gain me; rest thou in peace!

Alberich
Swear to me, Hagen, my son!

Hagen
To myself swear I; trust thou and fear not!
(As, during the following bars, Alberich's form
gradually disappears, his voice becomes more and
more inaudible.)

Alberich
Be true, Hagen, my son!
Trusty hero! Be true! Be true! True!
(Alberich has quite disappeared. Hagen, who has
remained in the same position, looks, with fixed eyes
and without moving, toward the Rhine, over which
the light of dawn spreads itself.)

Scene Two

(From this point the Rhine becomes more and
more deeply colored by the glowing red of dawn.)
(Hagen makes a convulsive movement.)
(Siegfried comes suddenly from behind a bush
close to the shore.)

Siegfried
Hoiho, Hagen!
Weary man! Wake thou and greet me!
(Siegfried appears in his own shape, but has the
Tarnhelm on his head; he now takes this off and
hangs it on his girdle as he comes forward.)

Hagen
(rising leisurely)
Hei! Siegfried! Thou speedy hero!
Whence stormest thou now?

Siegfried
From Brünnhilde's rock!
'Twas there that the breath was drawn
that called thee but now,
so fast hither I flew.
Toiling more slowly a pair
by boat behind me to come!

Hagen
Then won is Brünnhild'?

Siegfried
Wakes Gutrune?

Hagen
(calling toward the hall) Hoiho! Gutrune!
Hither come! Siegfried is here:
why linger'st thou?

Siegfried
(turning to the hall)
Ye both shall hear the tale of Brünnhild's fate.
(Gutrune comes from the hall to meet him.)
Now give me welcome, Gibich maid!
for tidings good to thee I bear.

Gutrune
Freia greeteth thee
in name of woman's honor!

Siegfried
Freely grant thou grace to thy wooer!
for wife I have won thee today.

Gutrune
Then comes Brünnhild' with my brother?

Siegfried
Light was his wooing, I ween.

Gutrune
Came he unharmed through the fire?

Siegfried
Safe in its blaze had he been,
had I not dared it for him,
for so I sought to win thee.

Gutrune
But thee hath it not harmed?

Siegfried
I laughed in the tumult of flames.

Gutrune
Held Brünnhild' thee for Gunther?

Siegfried
Like were we to a hair:
the Tarnhelm served me well,
as Hagen truly foretold.

Hagen
I gave thee goodly redes.

Gutrune
Thy force tamed the valiant maid?

Siegfried
She felt Gunther's force.

Gutrune
And she gave herself to thee?

Siegfried
Through the night
the dauntless Brünnhild'
to her rightful husband belonged.

Gutrune
But the right in sooth was thine!

Siegfried
With Gutrune sojourned Siegfried.

Gutrune
But yet Brünnhild' lay beside him?

Siegfried
'Twixt the east and west
(pointing to his sword) the north:
so far was Brünnhild' from him.

Gutrune
How from thee came she to Gunther's arms?

Siegfried
Through the fast fading glow of the fire,
as day dawned, in the mist she followed me
down the vale;
when near the shore, soon the bridegroom's
place to Gunther I gave:
then by the Tarnhelm's magic wished myself
hither straight.
A driving wind now brings the lovers to Gibich's home.
Then welcome give to the pair.

Gutrune
Siegfried! Mightiest man!
I shrink with fear of thee!

Hagen
(calling from the shore)
From afar a sail draweth hither!

Siegfried
Then grant the herald thanks!

Gutrune
Let us give her worthy greeting,
that blithe and fain she here may tarry!
Thou, Hagen, call the men for the wedding
in Gibich's hall together!
Mirthful maids to the feast I call:
our merriment fain they would share!
(as she goes toward the hall, turning around again)
Wilt thou rest, faithless man?

Siegfried
Helping Gutrun' is my rest.
(He gives her his hand and goes into the hall with her.)

Scene Three

(Hagen has ascended a rock at the back; he seats
himself there and puts the cowhorn to his lips.)

Hagen
Hoiho! Hoiho hoho!
Ye Gibich vassals, gather ye here.
Arm ye! Arm ye! Weapons! Weapons!
Arm through the land!
Goodly weapons! Mighty weapons!
Sharp for strife! Need is here!
Need! Arm ye! Arm ye! Hoiho! Hoiho hoho!
(Hagen remains in the same position on the rock.
By different paths armed Vassals rush on hastily; first
singly, and then in continually increasing numbers
together.)

The Vassals
Why brays the horn?
Who calls us to arms?
We come with our arms.
We come with our weapons.
Hagen! Hagen! Hoiho! Hoiho!
Tell what need is here! Tell what foe is near!
Who brings us strife?
Hagen! Is Gunther in need?
Who is in need?
We come with our weapons,
with weapons sharp, with weapons of might.
Where is strife? Hoiho! Ho! Hagen!

Hagen
(still from the rock)
Arm yourselves well and loiter not!
Welcome give to your lord:
a wife Gunther has won.

Vassals
What is his need? Who is his foe?

Hagen
A Valkyrie wife bringeth he home.

Vassals
Her kinsmen and vassals follow in anger?

Hagen
Brünnhild' follows him; none beside.

Vassals
Then his peril is past?
Then the fight has been fought? Tell the tale!

Hagen
The dragon-slayer brought him the bride.
Siegfried, the hero, held Gunther safe!

A Vassal
Why call'st thou the host then together?

Ten Others
Why call'st thou then the host?

Hagen
Sturdy steers now shall ye slaughter;
on Wotan's altar pour forth their blood!

Vassals
What, Hagen, what more dost bid us do?
What more dost bid us do?
What do we then? What more dost bid us do?

Hagen
Then a boar I bid you strike down for Froh;
and a goat in his prime kill ye for Donner,
sheep I bid you slaughter for Fricka,
that grace she may grant to the marriage!

Vassals
(with increasing hilarity)
Say to us, Hagen, what then must we do?

Hagen
The drink-horn take that fairest women
with mead and wine gaily have filled!

Vassals
The drink-horn in hand,
what have we then to do?

Hagen
Freely carouse until tamed by drink.
So to the gods give all honor,
that grace they may grant to the marriage!
(The Vassals break out in ringing laughter.)

Vassals
Good hap and health greets now the Rhine,
if Hagen, the grim one, so merry may be!
The hedge's thorn pricks now no more;
as wedding herald plays he now his part.
(Hagen, who has remained very grave, has come
down to the Vassals and now stands among them.)

Hagen
Now cease your laughing, valiant vassals!
Receive Gunther's bride!
Brünnhilde nears there with him.
(He points toward the Rhine. Some of the Vassals
hasten to the height, while others arrange them-
selves on the shore to see the arrival.)
(coming nearer to some of the Vassals)
Love well your lady, faithfully help:
if she be wronged, swift be your vengeance!
(He turns slowly aside toward the back.)
(During the following, the boat with Gunther and
Brünnhilde approaches the shore of the Rhine.)

Vassals
Hail! Hail! Hail!
(Those who have been looking out from the height
come down to the shore.)
Hail! Be welcome! Be welcome!
(Some Vassals spring into the water and draw the
boat to land. All press closer to the bank.)

Hail! Be welcome, Gunther!
Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail!

Scene Four

(Gunther steps out of the boat with Brünnhilde:
the Vassals range themselves respectfully to receive
them. During the following Gunther ceremoniously
leads Brünnhilde forward by the hand.)

Vassals
Welcome, Gunther!
Health to thee and to thy bride!
Welcome, bridegroom, home and welcome bride!
Be welcome!
(They strike their weapons noisily together.)

Gunther
(presenting Brünnhilde, who follows him
with pale face and downcast eyes, to the Vassals)
Brünnhild', the fairest wife,
here to the Rhine I bring.
By man ne'er was won a nobler woman.
On Gibich's glorious race
shone ever grace from the gods;
to highest fame now shall we rise!

Vassals
(clashing their weapons)
Hail thou, happiest Gibichung!
(Gunther leads Brünnhilde, who has never raised
her eyes, to the hall, from which Siegfried and
Gutrune now come forth, attended by women.
Gunther stops before the hall.)

Gunther
I greet thee, hero mine,
and thee, lovely sister!
Gladly I see thee beside him
who now hath won thee for wife.
Two pairs in wedlock here shall find blessing:
(He draws Brünnhilde forward.)
Brünnhild' and Gunther, Gutrun' and Siegfried!
(Brünnhilde, startled, raises her eyes and sees
Siegfried; her look remains fixed on him as in aston-
ishment. Gunther, who has released Brünnhilde's
violently trembling hand, shows, as do all, blank
astonishment at Brünnhilde's behavior.)

Vassals
What ails her? What ails her?

Women
Is she distraught?
(Brünnhilde begins to tremble.)

Siegfried
(goes a few steps toward Brünnhilde)
What clouds Brünnhilde's brow?

Brünnhilde
(scarcely able to command herself)
Siegfried . here? Gutrune?

Siegfried
Gunther's gentle sister,
won by me as thou by him.

Brünnhilde
(with fearful vehemence)
I? Gunther? Thou liest!
(She appears about to fall. Siegfried supports her.)
Light fades from mine eyes.
(In Siegfried's arms, she looks faintly up at his
face.)
Siegfried knows me not?

Siegfried
Gunther, give thine aid to Brünnhild'!
(Gunther comes to them.)
Awaken, wife! Here stands thy husband.
(Brünnhilde perceives the ring on Siegfried's out-
stretched finger and starts with terrible vehemence.)

Brünnhilde
Ha! The ring upon his hand!
He? Siegfried?

Vassals
What is't? What is't?

Hagen
(coming from the back among the Vassals)
Now give good heed to the woman's tale!
(Brünnhilde tries to recover herself while she
forcibly restrains the most terrible excitement.)

Brünnhilde
On thy hand there I beheld a ring;
from me 'twas wrested, not by Siegfried
(pointing to Gunther) but by him!
How came then from him the ring to thy hand?
(Siegfried attentively observes the ring on his
finger.)

Siegfried
The ring came not to me from him.

Brünnhilde
(to Gunther)
Thou who didst rob the ring,
with which I wedded thee,
now let him know thy right;
take back again the pledge!

Gunther
(in great perplexity)
The ring? I gave him nothing:
yet dost thou know it well?

Brünnhilde
Where hidest thou the ring
that from my hand thou stolest?
(Gunther, greatly confused, is silent.)
(breaking out in violent passion)
Ha! He it was who from me did rob the ring.
Siegfried! the traitor and thief!

(All look expectantly at Siegfried, who is absorbed
in distant thoughts while contemplating the ring.)

Siegfried
No woman's hand gave me the ring,
nor woman was't from whom I wrested it:
I mind me well of the booty won,
when at Neidhöhl' fought was the fight,
and the mighty dragon I slew.

Hagen
(coming between them)
Brünnhild', dauntless wife!
know'st thou right well the ring?
Is't that Gunther took from thee? Then it is his,
and Siegfried hath won it by guile,
(rather broadly) that the traitor must now atone!

Brünnhilde
(shrieking out in most terrible anguish)
Betrayed! Betrayed! Shamefully betrayed!
Deceit! Deceit! Guile beyond all revenge.

Gutrune, Vassals, Women
Deceit? To whom?

Brünnhilde
Holy gods, ye heavenly rulers!
Have ye ordained this dark decree?
Ye who have doomed me to anguish so dire!
ye who have sunk me so deep in disgrace!
teach me such vengeance as ne'er was revealed!
stir in me wrath, that may never be stilled!
Let but Brünnhilde's heart now be broken;
bring her betrayer so to his death!

Gunther
Brünnhild', what say'st thou?
Calm thyself!

Brünnhilde
Away, betrayer,
self-betrayed one!
Hearken then, all men: know ye,
there standeth he whose wife am I.

Women
Siegfried? Wedded to her?

Vassals
Wedded to her?

Brünnhilde
He forced delight and love from me.

Siegfried
Thine own fair name dost hold so lightly?
The tongue, then, that reviles it
must I convict of its falsehood?
Say if I broke my faith!
Blood-brotherhood have I plighted to Gunther:
Nothung, my goodly sword,
guarded the holy vow:
its blade in honor parted
this ill-starred bride from me.

Brünnhilde
Thou crafty hero, see thy lie!
Vainly thou call'st as witness thy sword!
Its biting blade well know I,
the sheath too that wards it,
wherein as friend reposed on the wall
Nothung, the trusty sword,
when his true love was won by its lord.

(The Vassals and Women crowd together in indignation.)

Vassals
What? Siegfried a traitor?
Tainted is Gunther's honor?

Women
Siegfried a traitor?

Gunther
(to Siegfried)
My fame were sullied, stained with disgrace,
were not her slander cast in her teeth!

Gutrune
Faithless Siegfried, false to thine oath?
Bear witness that wrongly thou art charged!

Vassals
Right thyself now, if thou art wronged!
Silence her slander! Sworn be the oath!

Siegfried
Stilled be her slander!
Sworn be the oath!
Whose spear shall serve me as witness and ward?

Hagen
Here I hold my spear-point!
swear ye thereon:
your oath my weapon shall ward!
(The Vassals form a ring around Siegfried and
Hagen. Hagen holds out his spear; Siegfried lays two
fingers of his right hand upon the spear-point.)

Siegfried
Shining steel, hallowed weapon!
hold thou my oath in remembrance!
On this piercing spear-point sworn be my oath:
spear-point, witness my word!
If weapon e'er shall pierce me,
thine be the point;
whene'er death comes to strike me,
thine be the stroke.
if this her tale be true,
if to my friend I am false!
(Brünnhilde strides wrathfully into the ring, tears
Siegfried's hand away from the spear, and seizes the
point with her own.)

Brünnhilde
Shining steel! Hallowed weapon!
hold thou my oath in remembrance!
On this piercing spear-point sworn be my oath:
spear-point! witness my word!
Devoted be thy might to his undoing!
I pray that by thy point he may perish!
for broken are all his vows,
and falsehood now hath he sworn.

Vassals
Help, Donner! Send us thy thunder!
Help, Donner! Send us thy thunder,
to silence this crying disgrace!

Siegfried
Gunther! Look to the woman
who lying slanders thy name.
Grant her rest a while,
the tameless mountain maid,
till her unbridled rage be bated,
that by some demon's evil craft
here against all hath been roused!
Ye vassals, turn ye away!
leave the women to scold!
Like cravens gladly we yield
when 'tis a battle of tongues.
(He comes close to Gunther.)
Sooth, more vexed am I than thou
that ill was she beguiled;
the Tarnhelm, by its spell,
methinks but hid me half.
But women's spite swiftly is sped:
that for thee I have won her,
surely will she yet give thanks.
(He turns again to the Vassals.)
Follow, ye vassals, blithe to the feast!
(to the women)
Gaily, women, help at the wedding!
Let your delight laugh now aloud!
In house and field freest of light-hearts
shall ye find me today.
Ye whom love hath blest,
gaily share my gladness,
be ye as blithesome as I!
(Siegfried, in exuberant merriment, throws his arm
around Gutrune and draws her with him away into
the hall. The Vassals and Women, carried away by his
example, follow him.)
(The stage is cleared. Only Brünnhilde, Gunther
and Hagen remain behind. Gunther, with covered
face, has seated himself on one side in fearful
dejection. Brünn hilde, standing in the foreground,
looks for some time sadly after Siegfried and Gutrune,
then droops her head.)

Scene Five

Brünnhilde
(absorbed in meditation)
What demon's evil craft here lieth hidden?
What wizard's hateful spell stirred up this storm?
This knot to unravel where is my wisdom?
Where shall I discover runes for this riddle?
Oh sorrow! Sorrow! Woe's me! Woe's me!
All my wisdom gave I to him!
(with increasing emotion)

He holds the maid fast by his might;
he holds the booty fettered in bondage,
whom, wailing for her disgrace,
gaily he giveth away!
Who lendeth me now the sword
wherewith I may sever the bonds?

Hagen
(coming close to Brünnhilde)
Give me thy trust, betrayed wife!
I will avenge thy wrong on him.

Brünnhilde
(looking around wearily) On whom?

Hagen
On Siegfried, traitor to thee.

Brünnhilde
On Siegfried? thou? (smiling bitterly)
One single flash from his eye on thee glancing,
such as e'en through his lying disguise
looming glittered on me,
straight would cast dismay over thy daring!

Hagen
But on my spear-point
sworn was his falsehood?

Brünnhilde
Truth and falsehood, useless are words!
With stronger spells seek to arm thy weapon,
when at the strongest thou strik'st!

Hagen
Well know I Siegfried's conquering might,
how hard to slay him in battle;
then whisper me now some goodly rede
that he before me may fall.

Brünnhilde
O thankless, shameful return!
No single art to me was known
but his life is safe through its spell.
Unwitting he walks, by my charms enwound,
and now they hold him safe from harm.

Hagen
Then no weapon's point can pierce him?

Brünnhilde
In battle, none;
yet if at his back thou strike!
Never that knew I will he give way,
nor turn his back upon a foe-man:
and there I gave him no blessing.

Hagen
And there striketh my spear!
(He turns quickly from Brünnhilde to Gunther.)
Up Gunther, noble Gibichung!
Here stands thy valiant wife:
why giv st thou way to grief?

Gunther
(starting up passionately)
O shame! O sorrow!
Woe is me, of all men living the saddest!

Hagen
In shame thou liest; truth to tell.

Brünnhilde
(to Gunther)
O craven man! falsest of friends!
Hidden behind the hero wert thou,
that victory's guerdon he might win thee!
Deep had sunk the glorious race
that bore such faint-hearts as thou!

Gunther
(beyond himself)
Deceived am I, and deceiver!
Betrayed am I, and betrayer!
Now crushed be my bones,
and broken my heart!
Help, Hagen! Help for my honor!
Help for thy mother, for thee, too, did she bear!

Hagen
Here helps no brain, here helps not a hand,
nought helps but Siegfried's death!

Gunther
(seized with horror) Siegfried's death!

Hagen
Nought else purges thy shame!

Gunther
(staring before him)
Blood-brotherhood truly we swore!

Hagen
The broken bond blood shall atone!

Gunther
Broke he the bond?

Hagen
In betraying thee!

Gunther
Am I betrayed?

Brünnhilde
He betrayed thee;
and me ye all are betraying!
Were I but just, all the blood of the world
could not atone for your guilt!
But the death of one now shall content me.
Siegfried falleth atonement for guilt of all!

Hagen
(to Gunther)
His downfall (secretly) brings thee gain!
Might o'er all the world were thine,
if thou from him win the ring
that but death will wrest from his hand.

Gunther
(softly) Brünnhilde's ring?

Hagen
The Niblung's golden charm.

Gunther
(sighing deeply)
Must this be Siegfried's downfall?

Hagen
His death will serve us all.

Gunther
Yet Gutrune, ah! whom he has wedded!
How should we stand before her,
with his blood upon our hands?

Brünnhilde
(starting up in a rage)
What redes have told me,
what runes have shewn me,

through heartbreaking anguish shineth now clear:
Gutrune is the (passionately) spell
whereby my hero was beguiled.
Ill-fate be hers!

Hagen
(to Gunther)
If this dole must be dealt her,
then hidden be the deed.
We hie tomorrow merrily hunting;
the hero, struck by a boar,
may haply come by his death.

Gunther
So shall it be! perish Siegfried!

Brünnhilde
So shall it be: perish Siegfried!

Gunther
Purged be the shame cast by his crime!

Hagen
So shall he fall, the hero so famed!

Brünnhilde
Purged be the shame
cast by his crime!

Hagen
Mine is the hoard,
my hand aye shall hold it.
My hand aye shall hold it:
from him the ring shall be wrested!
Hearken, father, thou fallen prince!
Night-warder! Nibelung lord!
Alberich! Look thou on me!
Call now anew on the Nibelung host,
bid them obey thee, the lord of the ring!

Gunther
The oath of brotherhood hath he broken:

Brünnhilde
Holiest vows hath he broken:

Both
And with his blood let him atone
All-seeing god of revenge!
Oath-witness and lord of vows!
Wotan! Turn thee to me!
Call on thine awful heavenly host,
bid them give ear to the vow of revenge!
(As Gunther turns impetuously with Brünnhilde to
the hall, the bridal procession issuing therefrom
meets them. Boys and girls, waving branches of
flowers, leap joyously in front. Siegfried on a shield
and Gutrune on a seat are borne by the men. On the
rising ground at the back men- and women-servants
take implements and animals for sacrifice by various
mountain paths to the altars, which they adorn with
flowers. Siegfried and the Vassals sound the wedding
call on their horns.)
(The Women invite Brünnhilde to accompany
them to Gutrune's side. Brünnhilde stares blankly at
Gutrune, who beckons her with a friendly smile. As
Brünnhilde is about to step back impetuously, Hagen
steps in and forces her toward Gunther, who seizes
her again, whereupon he allows himself to be raised
on a shield by the Vassals.)
(As the procession, scarcely interrupted, quickly
puts itself again in motion toward the height, the
curtain falls.)

libretto by Frederick Jameson

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