SCENE XVI

KRIEMHILD.

Oh, had I only told it him!

Oh, my beloved, no woman host thou known, I see it now! Else nevermore hadst thou Unto a trembling girl who doth betray Herself through fear, intrusted such a secret.

Still do I hear the playful whispered words With which thou told'st it to me when I praised The dragon's death. And then I made thee swear To tell no other soul in all the world, And now--Oh birds that circle overhead, Oh snow white doves that fly about me now, Take pity on me, warn him, fly to him!

[_Exit_.]

ACT V

_Oden Forest_.

SCENE I

_Enter_ HAGEN, GUNTHER, VOLKER, DANKWART _and serving men_.

HAGEN.

This is the place. The spring is gushing forth, The bushes cover it. If I stand here, I can impale the man who stoops to drink Against the rock.

GUNTHER.

I've given no command.

HAGEN.

When thou hast taken thought thou wilt command.

There is no other way, and there will come No second day like this one. Therefore speak, Or if thou wilt not speak, be still!

(_To the serving men_.)

h.e.l.lo!

'Tis here we rest!

[_The serving men prepare a meal_.]

GUNTHER.

Thou'st always hated him.

HAGEN.

I'll not deny that gladly to this work I lend my hand, and I would surely meet In combat any man who came between My enemy and me, and yet the deed I hold not for that reason less than just.

GUNTHER.

And yet my brothers spoke against the deed And turned their backs upon us.

HAGEN.

Had they then The courage to warn him and hinder us?

They must have felt that we are in the right, And it is but their youth that makes them shrink From blood that is not shed in open fight.

GUNTHER.

It must be so.

HAGEN.

Why he has bought off death And so enn.o.bled murder.

(_To the serving men_.)

Sound the horns, And call the hunt together. For 'tis time That we should eat.

[_The horns are blown_.]

Now take things as they are And leave it all to me. If thou art not Offended, or forgivest what is past, So be it, yet forbid thy servant not To rescue and avenge thy n.o.ble wife!

She will not break the solemn oath she swore.

If she's deceived in her firm trust in us--Her confidence that we'll redeem the pledge--Then all the joy of life that once again, May be aroused within her youthful heart When shadows deepen and the end is near, Will be transformed into one dreadful curse, One final imprecation upon thee!

GUNTHER.

There still is time.

SCENE II

_Enter_ SIEGFRIED _with_ RUMOLT _and huntsmen_.

SIEGFRIED.

I'm here! And now ye hunters, Where are your spoils? Mine were to follow me Upon a wagon, but the wagon broke.

HAGEN.

A lion is the game I chase today, But I have failed to find one.

SIEGFRIED.

That I know, For I myself have killed him!--Food is spread.

Sound trumpets in his praise who ordered that, For now we feel the need. Accursed ravens, Here too? Now blow your bugles till they burst!