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PDFThou may’st believe the half of what she says,
The other half though, I can well disprove.
For if I once have won thee, I will show
The world how I can keep unharmed mine own.
Again I ask thee: Kriemhild, wilt thou me?
KRIEMHILD.
Why dost thou smile, my mother? I
have not
Forgotten what I dreamed, the shudder
still
Creeps over me and warns me more and more,
But still I say with dauntless courage:
Yes!
BRUNHILDA (steps between KRIEMHILD and SIEGFRIED).
Kriemhild!
KRIEMHILD.
What wilt thou?
BRUNHILDA.
I will prove myself
Thy sister.
KRIEMHILD.
Now? Wherein?
BRUNHILDA (to SIEGFRIED).
How dost thou dare
Aspire to her, the daughter of a king?
How dost thou dare, a vassal such as thou,
A serving man!
SIEGFRIED.
What?
BRUNHILDA.
Cam’st thou not as guide,
As messenger departed?
(To GUNTHER.)
Canst thou suffer
And aid him in such boldness?
GUNTHER.
Siegfried is
The first of all our warriors.
BRUNHILDA.
Grant him then
The foremost seat beside thy very throne.
GUNTHER.
In treasure, he is richer far than I.
BRUNHILDA.
Is that his claim upon thy sister? Shame!
GUNTHER.
A thousand of my enemies he’s slain.
BRUNHILDA.
The man who conquered me thanks him for that?
GUNTHER.
He is a king as I am.
BRUNHILDA.
Yet he ranks
Himself amongst thy servants?
GUNTHER.
I will solve
This riddle for thee when thou art mine
own.
BRUNHILDA.
Ere I am thine thy secret will I know.
UTE.
Thou wilt refuse to call me mother then?
Oh tarry not too long, for I am old.
And worn with many sorrows!
BRUNHILDA.
As I swore,
I’ll go with him to church, and
I will be
Most willingly thy daughter—not
his wife.
HAGEN (to FRIGGA).
Pray quiet her!
FRIGGA.
What need is there of me?
For if he once has overcome Brunhild,
The second time he surely will not fail;
And self-defense is every maiden’s
right.
SIEGFRIED (taking KRIEMHILD by the hand).
That all may know me henceforth as a king,
The Niblung’s treasure do I give
to thee.
And now thy duty and my right I claim.
[He kisses her.]
HAGEN.
To church!
FRIGGA.
Does Siegfried hold the Niblung’s hoard?
