The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Ix Part 36

SIEGFRIED.

Let be till morning, for a minute's worth A year today. I still can count the words That I have spoken to my loving bride; Then let me have one evening with my wife.

HAGEN.

Without good reason I will ne'er disturb A lover or a drunkard. It avails No longer to resist! What Brunhild said Thou'st heard, and now her wedding gayety Thou may'st behold, for at the feast she weeps!

SIEGFRIED.

And can I dry her tears?

HAGEN.

She'll keep her word, The threat that she has sworn, there is no doubt; That endless shame would follow may we doubt Still less. Dost thou not understand me now?

SIEGFRIED.

What follows them

HAGEN.

That thou must conquer her.

[_GUNTHER approaches._]

SIEGFRIED.

What, I?

HAGEN.

Now listen! Gunther goes with her Into the chamber.[5] In the Tarnhelm thou Must follow. Quickly he demands a kiss Ere she has raised her veil.--She grants it not.

He grapples with her.--She laughs mockingly.

He quenches, as by accident, the light-- Exclaims: So much is jest, 'tis earnest now.

It will not be on sh.o.r.e as on the ship!

Then shalt thou seize her and so master her That she shall beg for mercy and for life.

And when thy part is done, then shall the king Demand her oath to be his humblest maid, And thou shalt vanish as thou cam'st.

GUNTHER.

Wilt thou But do me this one service now, my friend, I vow I'll never ask thee then for more.

HAGEN.

He must and will. The task he has begun, How should he then not finish?

SIEGFRIED.

If I would!

For truly you demand a deed from me That I might well refuse another time Than on my wedding day to do for you-- How could I pray? What should I tell Kriemhild?

She has so much already to forgive, The very ground is hot beneath my feet.

Should I repeat the misdeed once again She never could forgive me in her life.

HAGEN.

When a young daughter from her mother parts And leaves the room where once the cradle stood, Into the bridal chamber she must pa.s.s, The farewell is a long one, know my friend.

There's time enough for thee, and so--agreed!

(_As SIEGFRIED refuses his hand._)

Brunhilda now is like a wounded deer, Who'd let it with the arrow run away?

A n.o.ble hunter sends the second shaft.

The lost is ever lost, nor may return.

The haughty heiress of the Valkyries And Norns is dying. Give the final stroke!

A happy woman laughs tomorrow morn And only says: I had a troubled dream!

SIEGFRIED.

I know not, something warns me.

HAGEN.

Will Frau Ute Be ready ere thou art? Nay, there's no fear, For three times yet will she call Kriemhild back To bless her and embrace her.

SIEGFRIED.

I refuse.

HAGEN.

What? If this moment came a messenger In haste announcing that thy father lay Sick unto death, would'st thou not call at once For thy good steed? And surely would thy bride Speed thy departure! Yet a father may, Though old, recover. Honor wounded once By cruel wrong, nor mended speedily, Will never from the dead be raised again.

The honor of the king's the guiding star Which brings or light or darkness to the knights, As to the king himself. O woe to him Who hesitates and robs him of one ray.

Had I thy strength I'd sue to thee no more, But do the deed myself with pride and joy.

And yet by magic was Brunhilda won, And magic arts must finish now the task.

Then do it! Must I kneel?

SIEGFRIED.

I like it not!

Who would have dreamed of this! And yet it lay So very near! O nature three times blest!

In all my life no deed I've shunned like this; Yet what thou say'st is true. So let it be.

GUNTHER.

I'll go and give my mother but a hint--

HAGEN.

No, no! No woman! We're already three And have, I hope, no tongue to tell the tale.