BRUNHILDA.

I'll touch no food till judgment is fulfilled.

HAGEN.

Forgive me that I spoke before my king!

I only strove to make the matter plain, Yet free decision is thy royal right-- So make thy choice between thy bride and him.

GISELHER.

Thou canst not mean it! For a trifling fault, Thou wouldst not slay the truest man on earth?

My King! My brother! Say it is not so!

HAGEN.

Will ye rear b.a.s.t.a.r.ds here within your court?

I doubt me if the proud Burgundians Will crown them! Yet thou art the master here!

GERENOT.

Brave Siegfried soon will quell all murmurings, If we ourselves cannot perform the task.

HAGEN (_to_ GUNTHER).

Thou speakest not. 'Tis well. The rest is mine!

GISELHER.

In b.l.o.o.d.y counsels I will take no part!

[_Exit_.]

SCENE XI

BRUNHILDA.

Frigga, I tell thee he or I must die!

FRIGGA.

'Tis he must die!

BRUNHILDA.

I was not merely scorned, But pa.s.sed from hand to hand. They bartered me!

FRIGGA.

They bartered thee!

BRUNHILDA.

Too mean to be his wife, I was the price for which he bought him one.

FRIGGA.

The price, my child!

BRUNHILDA.

O this is worse than murder!

And I will have revenge, revenge, revenge!

[_Exeunt omnes_.]

ACT IV

_Worms._

SCENE I

_Great hall._ GUNTHER _with his warriors._ HAGEN _carries a spear._

HAGEN.

A blind man e'en can hit a linden leaf; At fifty paces I will wager you With this good spear to split a hazelnut.

GISELHER.

Why dost thou choose this day to show thy skill?

We've always known thy arms would never rust.

HAGEN.

He comes! Now show me you can wear dark looks And altered bearing although none has lost His father.

SCENE II

_Enter SIEGFRIED._