Richard Wagner

“ There she pauses again, lost in thought, her face half averted. With quiet resolution she opens the cupboard, fills a drinking-horn, and shakes spices into it out of a box. She then turns her eyes on Siegmund, in order to meet his gaze, which he never removes from her. She perceives that Hunding is watching, and proceeds immediately to the bed-chamber. On the steps she turns once more, looks yearningly at Siegmund, and indicates with her eyes, persistently and with speaking plainness, a particular spot in the stem of the ash-tree. Hunding starts, and drives her off with a violent gesture. ”

“ She hangs enraptured on his neck, and looks him close in the face. Siegmund
Transported. O rapture most blissful! Woman most blest! Sieglinde
Close to his eyes. O let me, closer And closer clinging, Discern more clearly The sacred light That from thine eyes And face shines forth, And so sweetly sways every sense!
Siegmund The May-moon’s light Falls on thy face Framed by masses Of waving hair. What snared my heart ’Tis easy to guess : My gaze on loveliness feasts. ”

“ He draws the sword with a violent effort from the stem of the tree and shows it to the amazed and enraptured Sieglinde. Siegmund the Wälsung Thou dost see! As bride-gift He brings thee this sword; With this he frees The woman most blest; He bears thee From the house of his foe. ”

“ Outside a storm is just subsiding. Siegmund opens the entrance door from without, and enters. With his hand on the latch he surveys the room. He seems overwhelmed with fatigue; his dress and appearance indicate that he is in flight. He shuts the door behind him when he sees nobody, walks to the hearth with the final effort of an utterly exhausted man, and throws himself down on a bearskin rug.
Siegmund I rest on this hearth, Heedless who owns it. ”

“ Siegmund drinks, and hands her back the horn. As he signifies his thanks with a movement of the head, he gazes at her with growing interest. Siegmund Welcome the water! Quenched is my thirst. My weary load Lighter it makes; New courage it gives; Mine eyes that slept Re-open glad on the world.
Who soothes and comforts me so?
Sieglinde This house and this wife Belong to Hunding. Stay thou here as his guest ”

“ He draws Sieglinde with tender force on to the couch, so that she fits beside him. The moon shines more and more brightly. Winter storms have yielded To May’s sweet moon, And mild and radiant Sparkles the spring. On balmy breezes Light and lovely, Weaving wonders, Soft she sways. Through field and forest She is breathing; Wide and open Laughs her eye ”

“ Then the dead men’s kinsmen Came like a storm, Vowing vengeance, Frantic to fall on me; Foemen on all sides Rose and assailed me. But from the spot Moved not the maid; My shield and spear Sheltered her long, Till spear and shield Were hewn from my hand. Standing weaponless, wounded,
I beheld the maid die:
I fled from the furious host——
She lay lifeless on the dead. ”

“ He sinks back and remains stretched out motionless. Sieglinde enters from the inner chamber; she thinks her husband has re­turned. Her grave look changes to one of surprise when she sees the stranger stretched out on the hearth. ”

“ The fire collapses. From the flame which leaps up a bright light falls on the spot in the ash-tree’s stem indicated by Sieglinde’s look, and on which the hilt of a sword is now plainly visible.
Sieglinde prepares Hunding’s draught for the night
See p. 87
What can that be That shines so bright? ”

“ With a last look at Siegmund, she disappears into the bed-chamber, and shuts the door behind her. Hunding
Taking his weapons from the tree-stem . With weapons man should be armed.
W e meet to-morrow then, Wölfing. ”