HAGEN.

  What dost thou dream of?

  KRIEMHILD.  It was jealousy
  That blinded me, or else her boastfulness
  Would not have roused my anger.

  HAGEN.

  Jealousy!

  KRIEMHILD.

  I am ashamed!  But even if that night
  The blows were all, and that I will believe,
  I grudge Brunhilda even blows from him.

  HAGEN.

  Be patient!  She’ll forget it.

  KRIEMHILD.

  Is it true
  That she’ll not eat or drink?

  HAGEN.

  She always fasts
  This time of year, for ‘tis the Norns’ own week,
  And still in Iceland ’tis a sacred time.

  KRIEMHILD.

  Three days have now passed by!

  HAGEN.

  What’s that to us? 
  But hush!  They’re coming.

  KRIEMHILD.

  Well

  HAGEN.

  Were it not wise
  To broider on his tunic a small cross? 
  Forsooth our care is needless, and he would
  Deride thee if thou shouldst but tell thy fear. 
  Yet since I now have made myself his guard
  I would not aught neglect.

  KRIEMHILD.

  That will I do.

     [She goes to meet UTE and the Chaplain.]

  SCENE VII

  HAGEN (following her).

  Thy hero now is as a stag to me. 
  Had he not broken silence, he were safe,
  And yet I surely knew that could not be. 
  If one’s transparent as an insect is,
  That looks now red, now green, as is its food,
  One must beware of any mysteries,
  Lest e’en the vitals show the secret forth!

  SCENE VIII

  UTE and the Chaplain come forward.

  CHAPLAIN.

  There is no image of it in this world! 
  You strive to liken it and comprehend,
  Yet here all signs and measures too must fail. 
  But kneel before the Lord in fervent prayer,
  And when contrition and humility
  Have made you lose yourself, you may be drawn,
  A moment only, as the lightning flash
  Does tarry upon earth, to heavenly heights.

  UTE.

  And can that happen?

  CHAPLAIN.

  Stephen, blessed saint,
  Saw, when the furious horde of angry Jews
  Were stoning him, the gates of paradise
  Standing ajar, and he rejoiced and sang. 
  His suffering body only they destroyed,
  But ’twas to him as if the murderous band
  That thought to kill him in their fury blind
  Could only rend the garment he had doffed.

  UTE (to KRIEMHILD who has joined them).

  Take heed, Kriemhild!

  KRIEMHILD.

  I do.

  CHAPLAIN.