Oh, name him not to me!

GUNTHER.

There is no reason thou shouldst hate him so.

BRUNHILDA.

And if I have none? When a king descends To fill the humble office of a guide And carry messages, it is indeed As strange as if a man should take the place Of his own horse, the saddle on his back, Or bay and hunt in service of his hound.

But if it pleases him, what's that to me!

GUNTHER.

It was not so.

BRUNHILDA.

Still stranger 't is to see His n.o.ble stature tow'ring high above All other men, so that it even seems That he has gathered all the royal crowns Of all the world to forge them into one, And thus to show the world for the first time A perfect picture of true majesty.

For it is true, while still upon the earth More crowns than one are gleaming, none is round, And for the sun's full circle even thou Wearest a crescent pale upon thy head.

GUNTHER.

But see. Thou hast already viewed the man With other eyes.

BRUNHILDA.

I greeted him ere thee.

Then slay him--challenge him--win my revenge!

GUNTHER.

Brunhilda! He's the husband of my sister, And so his blood is mine.

BRUNHILDA.

Do battle then With him and lay him low upon the ground, And let me see thy rightful majesty When he is as a footstool for thy feet!

GUNTHER.

Our custom is not so.

BRUNHILDA. I will not yield; His downfall I must see. Thou hast the heart Of life, and he the glitter and the show.

But blow away this magic which e'er holds The gaze of fools upon him. If Kriemhild Casts down those eyes in shame, that now she lifts Almost too proudly when she's by his side, 'Twill do no damage, and I promise thee Far richer love if thou wilt do the deed.

GUNTHER.

He too is strong.

BRUNHILDA.

That he the dragon slew And conquered Alberich, does not compare With thy great prowess. For in thee and me Have man and woman for eternity Fought the last battle for supremacy.

Thou art the victor, and I ask no more Than still to see those honors deck thy brow Of which I was so jealous. For thou art The strongest man of all; so cast him down From golden clouds to earth for my delight, And leave him naked, dest.i.tute, and bare-- Then let him live a hundred years or more.

[_Exeunt._]

SCENE V

_Enter_ FRIGGA _and_ UTE.

UTE.

Brunhilda looks already happier Than yesterday.

FRIGGA.

My Queen, she truly is.

UTE.

I thought it would be so.

FRIGGA.

But I did not!

Her mind is strangely altered, 'twould astound Me not a whit now if her nature too Should alter and her hair should change to blonde Instead of raven tresses that of old So richly waved beneath my golden comb.

UTE.

Thou dost not grieve, I trust?

FRIGGA.

I'm more amazed.

If this heroic woman thou hadst reared As I have done, and knew all that I know, Then would thy wonder be no less than mine.

UTE (_turning to go back into the castle_).

Do what thou canst!

FRIGGA.

I surely have done more Than ever thou couldst dream of. How this came I cannot tell, but if she's happy now I am content, and of the olden time She hath forgotten never will I tell.

SCENE VI

_Enter_ KRIEMHILD _and_ BRUNHILDA, _hand in hand. A large number of warriors and people gather._