A SONG OF THE PRESENT

As the second Norn took the thread in her worn hands, she crooned a sorrowful song about the present.

She sang of Alberich and the stolen gold. Of the love that he had given up in order to make the ring.

She sang of Wotan and how he grasped the ring and carried it into the world, bringing with it Alberich's curse.

Then she told of Fafner.

Mournfully she sang:--

"It has robbed all who have had it of their freedom and happiness.

"It has brought envy and discontent to those who have struggled to gain it.

"Now Wotan's magic spear is splintered.

"Oh! How this gold has tangled all my threads!" she wailed.

Her long, gaunt fingers pulled and worked at the knots, but all in vain.

She could not straighten out the snarls.

"Sing, oh, my Sister, sing!" she cried. "You know what the end will be."

And she tossed the snarled threads to the third Norn.

A SONG OF THE FUTURE

The third Norn took up the thread.

Twisting and untying, she sang of the future.

She sang of the downfall of the giants.

She sang of the time when Wotan and his family would be no more, and bright Valhalla's halls would be only a ruin.

"But, Sisters, look!" she cried. "The day is dawning. We must make haste!"

She tugged at the thread. The knots grew tighter.

"Oh, see!" she cried. "I cannot make it reach."

Another pull, the thread snapped.

The three Norns wailed.

Then, s.n.a.t.c.hing up the broken ends of their thread of fate, they vanished in the gloom.

A PLEDGE OF LOVE

The days went by. Siegfried and Brunhilde were perfectly happy upon the mountain.

One day they decided that Siegfried should go forth to do brave deeds in the world.

He would come back when he had won honor and fame.

He told Brunhilde how anxious he would be to get back to her, and that he would come just as soon as he could.

Brunhilde told Siegfried how lonely she would be without him, and how she would listen both day and night for the glad call of his silver horn.

Siegfried took Brunhilde's hand and put the ring upon her finger, saying:--

"This, Brunhilde, shall stay with you. It shall be a pledge of my love until I come again."

Brunhilde gave Siegfried her swift horse. On it he should ride to great victories.

Siegfried led the horse down the mountain.

Every little way he looked lovingly back at Brunhilde.

They called and waved to each other until he pa.s.sed from sight.

And after that Brunhilde listened to the clear notes of his silver horn, until at length its last faint echo died away.

THE DOOM OF VALHALLA

Siegfried had been away several days.

Brunhilde sat looking far out over the valley.

She was thinking of Siegfried and of how he was proving his courage to the world.

She lifted her hand to her lips and kissed the ring, Siegfried's pledge of love.

"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!" came from the valley below.

Brunhilde sprang to her feet with the answer:--

"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!"

Could it be that one of her sisters was coming to see her?

Was it possible that one of the Walkuere would so far dare Wotan's wrath as to venture to the mountain's crest?