Richard Wagner

Name: Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods
Author: Richard Wagner

Summary

“Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods”, is a work by Richard Wagner. It explores elements such as Siegfried, Brünnhilde and Gunther.

Quotes from Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods (Richard Wagner)

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Pointing to his sword.
Far as north from east and west,
So far was Brünnhild' removed.
GUTRUNE
But how got Gunther his wife from thee?
SIEGFRIED
Through the flames of the fire as they faded,
When day dawned, through the mist
She followed me down the hill;
When near the shore,
None observing,
I gave Gunther my place,
And by the Tarnhelm's magic
Wished myself straight to thee.
A strong wind drives the lovers
Merrily down the Rhine;
Prepare to greet them with joy.
GUTRUNE
Siegfried! Such is thy might,
I am afraid of thee! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ That Mime is dear to thy heart.
SIEGFRIED
I said I could not bear thee;
Forget not that so soon.
MIME
[Recoils, and sits down again apart, opposite Siegfried.]
The wildness that thou shouldst tame
Is the cause, bad boy, of that.
Young ones are always longing
After their parents' nest;
What we love we all long for,
And so thou dost yearn for me;
'Tis plain thou lovest thy Mime,
And always must love him.
What the old bird is to the young one,
Feeding it in its nest
Ere the fledgling can flutter,
That is what careful, clever Mime
To thy young life is,
And always must be. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Through the bank of cloud on the horizon a red glow of increasing brightness breaks forth, and, illumined by this light, the Rhine-Maidens are seen merrily circling about and playing with the ring on the calmer waters of the Rhine, which has gradually retired to its natural bed. From the ruins of the fallen hall the men and women watch in great agitation the growing gleam of fire in the heavens. When this is at its brightest the hall of Walhall is seen, in which the Gods and heroes fit assembled, as described by Waltraute in the first Act. Bright flames seem to seize on the hall of the Gods. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ BRÜNNHILDE
Think too of the shield-hidden maid
Thou didst find there lapped in slumber.
And whose helmet hard thou didst break—
SIEGFRIED
Brünnhilde to awaken!
BRÜNNHILDE
Those oaths remember
That unite us;
The faith and truth
That are between us,
And evermore
The love we live for;
Brünnhilde in thy breast
Will deeply burn then for aye!
[She embraces Siegfried.
SIEGFRIED
Must I leave thee, O love,
In thy holy fortress of fire,
[He has taken Alberich's ring from his finger, and holds it out to Brünnhilde.
[Pg 110]
This ring of mine I give thee;
Let it pay for thy runes. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ MIME
Following me,
The way thou shalt find;
I have thought it all out.
I know of a dragon grim
That slays and swallows men:
Fear thou wilt learn from Fafner,
When I lead to where he lies.
SIEGFRIED
Where has he his lair?
MIME
Neidhöhl'
Named, it lies east
Towards the end of the wood.
SIEGFRIED
It lies not far from the world?
MIME
The world is quite close to the cave.
[Pg 31]
SIEGFRIED
That I may learn what this fear is,
Lead me there straightway;
Then forth to the world!
Make haste! Forge me the sword.
In the world fain I would swing it.
MIME
The sword? Woe's me! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Gunther bends over Siegfried in great grief. The vassals stand round the dying man full of sympathy.
SIEGFRIED
[Supported by two vassals in a sitting posture, opens radiant eyes.
Brünnhilde,
Heaven-born bride,
Awake! Open thine eyelids!
Who again
Has locked thee in sleep
And bound thee in slumber so fast?
Lo! he that came
And kissed thee awake
Siegfried's death—See p. 172.
[Pg 173]
Again breaks the bonds
Holding thee fettered
And looks on Brünnhild's delight.
Ah! those dear eyes
Now open for ever!
Ah! the soft fragrance
Borne on her breathing! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ A curtain which frames the front of the hall is drawn, and cuts the stage off from the audience.
The curtain is raised again. The rocky height as in the Prelude. Brünnhilde sits at the entrance to the cave in silent contemplation of Siegfried's ring. Moved by blissful memories, she covers the ring with kisses. Distant thunder is heard; she looks up and listens. She turns to the ring again. A flash of lightning. Again she listens, and looks into the distance, whence a dark thunder-cloud is approaching the rock. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ HAGEN
[Without leaving his seat causes Gunther to pull up as he approaches him, by a gesture of mysterious import.
Would not Brünnhilde
Be thy bride,
Were she by Siegfried brought home?
GUNTHER
[Turns away doubtful and angry.
But how could I force this man
To woo the bride for me?
HAGEN [As before.
Thy simple prayer would force him,
Gutrun' winning him first.
GUTRUNE
[Pg 115]
Thou mockest, cruel Hagen!
What arts have I to bind him?
The greatest hero
In all the world
Has long ere this by the fairest
Women on earth been loved. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Stretching out with a threatening gesture the finger on which she wears Siegfried's ring.
Stand back! Fear thou this token!
While I am shielded by this,
Thou canst not force me to shame.
SIEGFRIED
Wife it shall make thee to Gunther;
With this ring thou shalt be wed.
BRÜNNHILDE
Stand back, base robber!
Impious thief!
Nor dare, overbold, to draw near!
Stronger than steel
Made by the ring,
I never will yield! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ He sets his horn to his lips and plunges into the fiery billows, which, flowing down from the heights, now spread over the foreground. Siegfried, who is soon lost to view, seems, from the sound of his horn, to be ascending the mountain. The flames begin to fade, and change gradually into a dissolving cloud lit by the glow of dawn. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ HAGEN
The man who could use its spell
Were lord of the world evermore.
GUNTHER
And Siegfried won it in fight?
HAGEN
He has the Niblungs in thrall.
GUNTHER
And Brünnhild' no other can win?
HAGEN
To no other will the flames yield. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ As Gunther turns impetuously towards the hall with Brünnhilde they are met by the bridal procession coming out. Boys and girls, waving flower-wreathed staves, leap merrily in front. The vassals are carrying Siegfried on a shield and Gutrune on a seat. On the rising ground at the back men-servants and maids are taking implements and beasts for sacrifice, by the various mountain-paths, to the altars, which they deck with flowers. Siegfried and the vassals blow wedding-calls on their horns. The women invite Brünnhilde to accompany them to Gutrune's side. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Hail!
[Gunther steps out of the boat with Brünnhilde.
THE VASSALS
[Range themselves respectfully to receive them.
Welcome, Gunther!
Health to thee and to thy bride!
[They strike their weapons loudly together.
GUNTHER
[Presenting Brünnhilde, who follows him with pale face and lowered eyes, to the men.
Brünnhild', a peerless bride,
Here to the Rhine I bring.
No man ever won
A nobler woman!
The Gods have shown from of old
Grace to the Gibichung stock.
To fame unmatched
Now may it mount!
THE VASSALS [Solemnly clash their weapons.
Hail! O hail, happy Gibichung!
[Pg 146]
GUNTHER ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ She turns from Siegfried in shame and fear, and, dying, bends over Gunther's body; remaining motionless in this position until the end. Hagen stands defiantly leaning on his spear and shield, sunk in gloomy thought, on the opposite side. Brünnhilde stands alone in the middle. After long and absorbed contemplation of Siegfried she turns with solemn exaltation to the men and women. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Whom there is no way to win.
SIEGFRIED
[Turns with animation to Gunther.
In what canst thou fail
With me for friend?
GUNTHER
On rocky heights her home;
Surrounded by fire her hall;
SIEGFRIED
[Interrupting in wondering haste.
"On rocky heights her home;
Surrounded by fire her hall"...?
GUNTHER
He only who braves the fire...
SIEGFRIED
[As if making an intense effort to remember something.
"He only who braves the fire"...?
Siegfried hands the drinking-horn back to Gutrune, and gazes at her with sudden passion. See p. 119.
[Pg 121]
GUNTHER
May Brünnhilde's wooer be. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Flames leap up, out of which Siegfried springs forward on to a high rock, whereupon the flames immediately withdraw and again only shine up from below. Brünnhilde recoils in terror, flies to the foreground, and from there, in speechless astonishment, stares at Siegfried, who, wearing the Tarnhelm, which covers the upper half of his face, leaving only his eyes free, appears in Gunther's form. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ SIEGFRIED
Helping thee is rest enough.
[He gives her his hand and accompanies her into the hall.
HAGEN
[Has mounted a rock at the back, and starts blowing his cow-horn.
Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoho!
Ye Gibich vassals,
Up and prepare!
Woeful tidings!
Weapons! Weapons!
Arm through the land!
Goodly weapons,
Mighty weapons
Sharp for strife!
Dire the strait!
Woe! Danger! Danger!
Hoiho! Hoiho! Hoho!
[Hagen remains where he is on the rock. Armed men arrive in haste by different paths; first singly, and then in larger and larger groups.
THE VASSALS
[Pg 143]
Why sounds the horn? ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ HAGEN
But to my spear
His perjury gives him.
BRÜNNHILDE
Truth and falsehood—
What matter words!
To arm thy spear
Seek for something stronger,
Strength such as his to withstand!
HAGEN
Well know I Siegfried's
Conquering strength:
How hard in battle to slay him ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ He sinks back and dies. The rest stand round him motionless and sorrowing. Night has fallen. At a silent command from Gunther the vassals raise Siegfried's body and bear it away slowly in a solemn procession over the height. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ And may I see thee no more!
[Twilight has fallen. The light of the fire gradually shines more brightly from below. She gazes quietly out on the landscape.
Eventide shadows
Dim the heavens,
And more brightly
The flames that encircle me glow.
[The firelight approaches from below. Ever-brightening tongues of flame shoot up over the edge of the rock.
Why leap so wildly
The billows that blaze round the rock?
Up here to the peak
Surges the fiery flood!
[Siegfried's horn is heard from the valley. Brünnhilde starts up in delight.
[Pg 132]
Siegfried?
Siegfried returned? ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ To the doom
That else upon thee had fallen.
He, truest of all,
Must betray me,
That wise a woman might grow!
Know I all thou wouldst learn?
All things! All things!
All I know now:
All stands plainly revealed.
Round me I hear
Thy ravens flapping.
By them I send thee back
The tidings awaited in fear.
Rest in peace now, O God!
[She signs to the vassals to bear Siegfried's body on to the pyre; at the same time she draws the ring off Siegfried's singer, and regards it musingly.
[Pg 180]
I claim as mine
What he has left me.
O gold accurst!
Terrible ring! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ While Siegfried continues to file the piece of the sword impetuously, Mime seats himself a little further off.
He will forge the sword—
I see it plain—
Boldly weld it anew.
The Wanderer was right.
Where shall I hide
My luckless head?
If nothing teaches him fear,
Forfeit it falls to the boy. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ She runs into the wood, from which a loud sound like a thunder-clap is heard. She returns in great agitation with Waltraute, and remains joyfully excited without noticing the latter's anxious fear.
Art thou so bold
That thou art come
Brünnhild' to greet,
Thy love unconquered by dread?
WALTRAUTE
Thou alone
Art cause of my haste! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ With one stroke he hews the Wanderer's spear in two pieces. Lightning flashes from the spear up towards the rocks, where the light, until now dim, begins to flame brighter and brighter. A violent thunder-clap, which quickly dies away, accompanies the stroke. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Well, keep it, then,
And guard with care
The gleaming gold;
Be thou lord,
But treat me as a brother;
Give me against it
Tarnhelm for toy,
Fairly exchanged;
Divided thus,
There will be booty for both. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Now it lies heaped high on the hearth.
Hoho! Hoho!
Hohei! Hohei! Hoho!
Bellows blow!
Brighten the flame!
How bravely, brightly
The charcoal burns!
How clear and fair its fire!
With showering sparks
It leaps and glows,—
Hohei! Hoho! Hohei!—
Dissolving the splintered steel!
Hoho! Hoho!
Hohei! Hohei! Hoho!
Bellows, blow!
Brighten the flame!
Hoho! Hoho!
Hoho, hohei! Hohei!
Nothung! Nothung!
Conquering sword!
[Pg 35] Thy steel chopped to chaff is fused;
In thine own sweat
Thou swimmest now,
The forging of Nothung. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ And what I claim is this ring.
GUNTHER
Away! Thou shalt not have
What forfeit falls to me.
HAGEN
Ye vassals, judge of my right!
GUNTHER
Thou wouldst seize Gutrune's dower,
Insolent Niblung son?
HAGEN
[Draws his sword.
'Tis thus
The Niblung son demands his own.
[He rushes on Gunther, who defends himself: they fight. The vassals throw themselves between. Gunther falls slain by a stroke from Hagen.
HAGEN
Mine the ring!
[He makes a grasp at Siegfried's hand, which raises itself in menace. All stand transfixed with horror.
[Pg 177]
BRÜNNHILDE ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ I know for him now
A glorious bride.
She sleeps where rugged rocks soar;
Ringed is her chamber by fire.
Who battles the flames
Wakens the bride,
Brünnhilde wins as reward!"
HAGEN
The wood-bird's counsel
Didst thou follow?
SIEGFRIED
Straight without pause
I rose and I ran
[Gunther listens with increasing astonishment.
Till I came to the fire-ringed rock.
I passed through the flames,
And for prize I found,
[More and more ecstatic.
[Pg 172]
Sleeping, and clad in bright mail,
A woman lovely and dear.
The hard helmet
I loosened with care,
And waked the maid with my kiss. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ During the foregoing Siegfried, with Tarnhelm and ring, has come slowly and meditatively from the cave; he regards his booty thoughtfully, and stops on the knoll in the middle of the stage.
SIEGFRIED
I do not know
Of what use
Ye are ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Gunther and the vassals rush towards Hagen. Siegfried swings his shield on high with both hands in order to throw it on Hagen; his strength fails him; the shield drops from his grasp backwards, and he falls down upon it. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ They vanish. The dawn grows brighter; the firelight from the valley gradually fades. Sunrise; then broad daylight.
Siegfried and Brünnhilde enter from the cave. He is fully armed; she leads her horse by the bridle. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ He throws his arm in the highest spirits round Gutrune and draws her into the hall. The vassals and women follow, carried away by his example. All go off, except Brünnhilde, Gunther, and Hagen. Gunther, in deep shame and dejection, with his face covered, has seated himself on one side. Brünnhilde, standing in the foreground, gazes for some time sorrowfully after Siegfried and Gutrune, then droops her head. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ Laugh on the Rhine,
If Hagen, the grim one,
So merrily jests!
To wedding-feasts
Hagen invites;
His prick the hedge-thorn,
Hagen, has lost!
HAGEN
[Who has remained very grave, has come down to the men, and now stands among them.
Now cease from laughing,
Doughty vassals!
Receive Gunther's bride;
Yonder come Brünnhild' and he.
[He points towards the Rhine. Some of the men hurry to the height; others range themselves on the shore to watch the arrival. Hagen goes up to some of the men.
[Pg 145]
Be to your lady
Loyal and true ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ With laborious haste winds the rope round the jagged rock at the mouth of the cave.
The rock's sharp edge
Is cutting the rope;
The threads loosen
Their hold and grow slack;
They droop tangled and frayed.
From woe and wrath
Rises the Nibelung's ring;
A curse of revenge
Ruthlessly gnaws at the strands:—
Canst thou the end foretell?
THE THIRD NORN ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Richard Wagner, Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“ I bid thee welcome to Gunther's hall.
[Siegfried in a boat appears at the shore.
This way! Stop here and land!
Siegfried brings his boat to the shore. Hagen makes it fast with the chain. Siegfried springs ashore with his horse. Gunther has come down and joined Hagen.
HAGEN
Hail, Siegfried, hero bold!
[Gutrune gazes at Siegfried from the throne in astonishment. Gunther prepares to offer him friendly greetings. All stand fixed in silent mutual contemplation.
SIEGFRIED
[Leaning on his horse, remains quietly standing by the boat.
Who is Gibich's son?
[Pg 117]
GUNTHER
I am he thou dost seek. ”

Richard Wagner

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Quotes from Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods (Richard Wagner)

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