The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie. The Ring of the Niblung, part 1

Richard Wagner

The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie / The Ring of the Niblung, part 1

THE RHINEGOLD

CHARACTERS

GODS: WOTAN, DONNER, FROH, LOGE

NIBELUNGS: ALBERICH, MIME

GIANTS: FASOLT, FAFNER

GODDESSES: FRICKA, FREIA, ERDA

RHINE-MAIDENS: WOGLINDE, WELLGUNDE, FLOSSHILDE

SCENES OF ACTION

I. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RHINE

II. OPEN SPACE ON A MOUNTAIN HEIGHT NEAR THE RHINE

III. THE SUBTERRANEAN CAVERNS OF NIBELHEIM

IV. OPEN SPACE AS IN SCENE II.

FIRST SCENE

At the bottom of the Rhine

A greenish twilight, lighter above than below. The upper part is filled with undulating water, which streams respectively from right to left. Towards the bottom the waves resolve themselves into a mist which grows finer as it descends, so that a space, as high as a mans body from the ground, appears to be quite free from the water, which floats like a train of clouds over the gloomy stretch below. Steep rocky peaks jut up everywhere from the depths, and enclose the entire stage. The ground is a wild confusion of jagged rocks, no part of it being quite level, and on every side deeper fisures are indicated by a still denser gloom. Woglinde circles with graceful swimming movements round the central rock.

WOGLINDE

Weia! Waga!Roll, O ye billows,Rock ye our cradle!Wagala weia!Wallala, weiala, weia!

WELLGUNDE [From above.

Woglinde, watchest alone?

WOGLINDE

If Wellgunde came we were two.

WELLGUNDE [Dives down to the rock.

How keepest thou watch?

WOGLINDE [Swimming off, eludes her.

Wary of thee.

[They playfully tease and chase one another.

FLOSSHILDE [From above.

Heiaha weia!Ho! ye wild sisters!

WELLGUNDE

Flosshilde, swim!Woglinde flies:Help me to hinder her flying.

FLOSSHILDE [Dives down between the two at play.

The sleeping goldBadly ye guard;Watch with more zealThe slumberer's bed,Or dear you'll pay for your sport!

[They swim asunder with merry cries. Flosshilde tries to catch first the one, then the other. They elude her, and then combine to chase her, darting like fish from rock to rock with jests and laughter. Meanwhile Alberich climbs out of a dark ravine on to a rock. He pauses, still surrounded by darkness, and watches the frolic of the Rhine-Maidens with increasing pleasure.

ALBERICH

Hey, hey! ye nixies!Ye are a lovely,Lovable folk!From Nibelheim's nightFain would I come,Would ye be kind to me.

[The maidens, as soon as they hear Alberich's voice, stop playing.

WOGLINDE

Hei! Who is there?

WELLGUNDE

A voice! It grows dark!

FLOSSHILDE

Who listens below?

[They dive down and see the Nibelung.

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE

Fie! the loathsome one!

The frolic of the Rhine-Maidens.

FLOSSHILDE [Swimming up quickly.

Look to the gold!Father warned usOf such a foe.

[Both the others follow her, and all three gather quickly round the central rock.

ALBERICH

You above there!

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

What wouldst thou below there?

ALBERICH

Do I spoil sportBy standing and gazing here?Dived ye but deeper,Fain the NiblungWould join in your frolic and play.

WELLGUNDE

He wishes to join us?

WOGLINDE

Is he in jest?

ALBERICH

Ye gleam above meSo glad and fair!If one would onlyGlide down, how close in my armsFondly clasped she would be!

FLOSSHILDE

I laugh at my fears:The foe is in love.

WELLGUNDE

The amorous imp!

WOGLINDE

Let us approach him.

[She sinks down to the top of the rock, whose base Alberich has reached.

ALBERICH

Lo! one of them comes!

WOGLINDE

Climb up to me here!

ALBERICH

[Climbs with gnome-like agility, though with repeated checks, to the summit of the rock. Irritably.

Horrid rock,So slippery, slimy!I slide and slip!My hands and feet vainlyAttempt to hold onTo the slithery surface!Vapour dampFills up my nostrils—Accursed sneezing!

[He has got near Woglinde.

WOGLINDE [Laughing.

Sneezing tellsThat my suitor comes!

ALBERICH

Be thou my love!Adorable child!

[He tries to embrace her.

WOGLINDE [Escaping from him.

Here thou must woo,If woo me thou wilt!

[She swims up to another rock.

ALBERICH [Scratching his head.

Alas! not yet caught?Come but closer!Hard I foundWhat so lightly thou didst.

WOGLINDE [Swims to a third rock lower down.

Deeper descend:Thou'lt certainly seize me!

ALBERICH [Clambers down quickly.

Down there it is better!

WOGLINDE [Darts upwards to a higher rock at the side.

But better still higher!

WELLGUNDE AND FLOSSHILDE [Laughing

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH

How capture this coy,Elusive fish?Wait for me, false one!

[He tries to climb after her in haste.

WELLGUNDE

[Has sunk down to a lower rock on the other side.

Heia! my friend there!Dost thou not hear?

ALBERICH [Turning round.

What? Didst thou call?

WELLGUNDE

Be counselled by me:Forsake Woglinde,Climb up to me now!

ALBERICH

[Climbs hastily over the river-bottom towards Wellgunde.

Thou art more comelyFar than that coy one;Her sheen is duller,Her skin too smooth.But thou must deeperDive to delight me!

WELLGUNDE

[Sinking down till she is a little nearer him.

Well, now am I near?

ALBERICH

Not near enough.Thine arms around meTenderly throw,That I may fondleThy neck with my fingers,And closely may clingTo thy bosom with love and with longing.

WELLGUNDE

Art thou in love?For love art thou pining?Approach and show meThy face and thy form.Fie! thou horribleHunchback, for shame!Swarthy, horny-skinnedRogue of a dwarf!Find thou a sweetheartFonder than I!

ALBERICH

[Tries to detain her by force

I may not be fair,But fast I can hold!

WELLGUNDE

[Swimming up quickly to the middle rock.

Hold firm, or I will escape!

WOGLINDE AND FLOSSHILDE [Laughing.

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH [Angrily calling after Wellgunde.

Fickle maid!Bony, cold-blooded fish!Fair if I seem not,Pretty and playful,Smooth and sleek—Hei! if I am so loathsomeGive thy love to the eels!

FLOSSHILDE

What ails thee, dwarf?Daunted so soon?Though two have been wooed,Still a third waits thee,Solace sweetFain at a word to grant!

ALBERICH

Soothing songSounds in my ear!'Twas well I foundThree and not one!The chance is I charm one of many,Whilst, single, no one would choose me!Hither come gliding,And I will believe!

FLOSSHILDE [Dives down to Alberich.

How senseless are ye,Silly sisters,Not to see he is fair!

ALBERICH [Hastening towards her.

I well may deem themDull and ill-favoured,Seeing how lovely thou art!

FLOSSHILDE

Sing on! Thy song,So soft and sweet,Entrancing sounds in my ear!

ALBERICH [Caressing her with confidence.

My heart burnsAnd flutters and fails,Flattered by praises so sweet!

FLOSSHILDE [Gently resisting him.

Thy grace and beautyMake glad my eye;And thy smile refreshesMy soul like balm

[She draws him tenderly towards her.

Dearest of men!

ALBERICH

Sweetest of maids!

FLOSSHILDE

Wert thou but mine!

ALBERICH

Wert mine for ever!

FLOSSHILDE [Ardently.

To be pierced by thy glance,To be pricked by thy beard,To see and to feel them for aye!Might thy hair hard as bristlesFlow ever moreEnraptured Flosshilde wreathing!And thy form like a frog's,And the croak of thy voice—O could I, dumb with amaze,Marvel forever on these!

WOGLINDE and WELLGUNDE

[Dive down close to them and laugh.

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH [Starting in alarm.

Wretches, dare ye thus scoff?

FLOSSHILDE [Suddenly darting away from him.

A suitable end to the song.

[She swims up quickly with her sisters.

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE [Laughing.

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH [In a wailing voice.

Woe's me! Ah, woe's me!Alas! Alas!The third one, so dear,Does she too betray?O sly and shamefulWorthless and dissolute wantons!Live ye on liesAlone, O ye false nixie brood?

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

Wallala! Wallala!Lalalelai leialalei!Heia! Heia! ha! ha!Shame on thee goblin,Scolding down yonder!Cease, and do as we bid thee!Faint-hearted wooer,Why couldst not holdThe maid, when won, more fast?True are we,And troth we keepWith lovers when once caught.Grasp then and hold;Away with all fear!In the waves we scarce can escape.Wallala!Lalaleia! Leialalei!Heia! Heia! Ha hei!

[They swim apart hither and thither, now lower, now higher, to provoke Alberich to give chase.

The Rhine-Maidens teasing Alberich.

ALBERICH

Fiercely within mePassionate firesConsume and flame!Love and fury,Wild, resistless,Lash me to frenzy!So laugh and lie your fill—One of you I desire,And one must yield to my yearning!

[He starts chasing them with desperate energy. He climbs with terrible agility, and, springing from rock to rock, tries to catch one maiden after another. They keep eluding him with mocking laughter. He stumbles and falls into the abyss, and clambers up quickly again and resumes the chase. They sink down a little towards him; he almost reaches them, but falls, back again, and once more tries to catch them. At last he pauses out of breath, and, foaming with rage, stretches his clenched fist up towards the maidens.

ALBERICH

If but this fist had one!

[He remains speechless with rage, gazing upwards, when he is suddenly attracted and arrested by the following spectacle. Through the water a light of continually increasing brilliance breaks from above, and, at a point near the top of the middle rock, kindles to a radiant and dazzling golden gleam. A magical light streams from this through the waves.

WOGLINDE

Look, sisters!The wakener laughs to the deep.

WELLGUNDE

Through the billows greenThe blissful slumberer greets.

FLOSSHILDE

He kisses the eyelid,Making it open;Bathed in splendour,Behold it smiles,Sending, like a star,Gleaming light through the waves.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

[Swimming gracefully round the cliff together.

Heia jaheia!Heia jaheia!Wallala la la la leia jahei!Rhinegold!Rhinegold!Radiant delight,How glorious and glad thy smile,Over the waterShooting effulgence afar!Heia jahei!Heia jaheia!Waken, friend!Wake in joy!That we may please thee,Merry we'll play,Waters afire,Billows aflame,As, blissfully bathing,Dancing and singing,We dive and encircle thy bed!Rhinegold!Rhinegold!Heia jaheia!Heia jaheia!Wallala la la la heia jahei!

[With increasing mirthful abandonment the maidens swim round the rock. The water is filled with a glimmering golden light.

ALBERICH

[Whose eyes, strongly attracted by the radiance, stare fixedly at the gold.

What is it, sleek ones,That yonder gleams and shines?

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

Where dost thou hail from, O churl,Of the Rhinegold not to have heard?

WELLGUNDE

Knows not the elfOf the famed eye goldenThat wakes and sleeps in turn?

WOGLINDE

Of the star resplendentDown in the depthsWhose light illumines the waves?

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [Together

See how gailyWe glide in the glory!Wouldst thou alsoBe bathed in brightness,Come, float and frolic with us!Wallala la la leia lalei!Wallala la la leia jahei!

ALBERICH

Has the gold no valueApart from your games?It were not worth getting!

WOGLINDE

He would not scoff,Scorning the gold,Did he but know all its wonders!

WELLGUNDE

That man surelyThe earth would inheritWho from the RhinegoldFashioned the ringWhich measureless power imparts.

FLOSSHILDE

Our father told us,And strictly bade usGuard with prudenceThe precious hoardThat no thief from the water might steal it.Be still, then, chattering fools.

WELLGUNDE

O prudent sister,Why chide and reproach?Hast thou not heardThat one aloneCan hope to fashion the gold?

WOGLINDE

Only the manWho love defies,Only the manFrom love who fliesCan learn and master the magicThat makes a ring of the gold.

WELLGUNDE

Secure then are weAnd free from care:For love is part of living;No one would live without loving.

WOGLINDE

And least of all he,The languishing elf,With pangs of lovePining away.

FLOSSHILDE

I fear him notWho should surely know,By his savage lustAlmost inflamed.

"Mock away! Mock away!

The Niblung makes for your toy!"

WELLGUNDE

A brimstone brandIn the surging waves,In lovesick frenzyHissing loud.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [Together.

Wallala! Wallaleia la la!Join in our laughter,Lovable elf!In the golden gloryHow gallant thy sheen!O come, lovely one, laugh as we laugh!Heia jaheia!Heia jaheia!Wallala la la la leia jahei!

[They swim, laughing, backwards and forwards in the light.

ALBERICH

[His eyes fixed on the gold, has listened attentively to the sisters rapid chatter.

Could I trulyThe whole earth inherit through thee?If love be beyond meMy cunning could compass delight?

[In a terribly loud voice.

Mock away! Mock!The Niblung makes for your toy!

[Raging he springs on to the middle rock, and clambers to the top. The maidens scatter, screaming, and swim upwards on different sides.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

Heia! Heia!heia jahei!Save yourselves!The elf is distraught!Swirling waters splashAt every leap:The creature's crazy with love!Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

ALBERICH

[Reaching the top with a last spring.

Still undismayed?Go, wanton in darkness.Water-born brood!

[He stretches his hand out towards the gold.

My hand quenches your light;I tear the gold from the rock;Forged be the ring for revenge!Bear witness, ye floods—I forswear love and curse it!

[He tears the gold from the rock with terrific force, and immediately plunges with it into the depths, where he quickly disappears. Sudden darkness envelops the scene. The maidens dive down after the robber.

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

Seize the despoiler!Rescue the gold!Help us! Help us!Woe! Woe!

[The water sinks with them. From the lowest depth Alberich's shrill, mocking laughter rings up. The rocks are hidden by impenetrable darkness. The whole stage from top to bottom is filled with black waves, which for some time appear to sink even lower.

"Seize the despoiler!

Rescue the gold!

Help us! Help us!

Woe! Woe!"

SECOND SCENE

The waves have gradually changed into clouds which, becoming lighter and lighter by degrees, finally disperse in a fine mist. As the mist vanishes upwards in light little clouds an open space on a mountain height becomes visible in the dim light which precedes dawn. At one side Wotan with Fricka beside him both asleep, lie on a flowery bank. The dawning day illumines with increasing brightness a castle with glittering pinnacles which stands on the summit of a cliff in the background. Between this and the foreground a deep valley is visible through which the Rhine flows.

FRICKA

[Awakes; her gaze falls on the castle, which has become plainly visible; alarmed.

Wotan! My lord! Awaken!

WOTAN [Continuing to dream.

The happy hall of delightIs guarded by gate and door:Manhood's honour,Power for aye,Rise to my lasting renown!

FRICKA [Shakes him.

Up from deceitfulBliss of a dream!My husband, wake and consider!

WOTAN

[Awakes and raises himself slightly. His glance is immediately arrested by the view of the castle.

The walls everlasting are built!On yonder summitThe Gods' abodeProudly rearsIts radiant strength!As I nursed it in dreamAnd desired it to be,Strong it stands,Fair to behold,Brave and beautiful pile!

FRICKA

While thou rejoicest,Joyless am I.Thou hast thy hall;My heart fears for Freia.Heedless one, hast thou forgottenThe price that was to be paid?The work is finished,And forfeit the pledge:Hast thou then no care for the cost?

WOTAN

My bargain well I rememberWith them who built the abode.'Twas a pact tamed them,The obstinate race,So that this hallowedHall they have built me.It stands—the strong ones' doing:—Fret not thou, counting the cost.

FRICKA

O laughing, insolent lightness!Mirth how cruel and callous!Had I but known of thy pact,The trick had never been played;But far from your counselsYe men kept the women,That, deaf to us and in peace,Alone ye might deal with the giants.So without shameYe promised them Freia,Freia, my beautiful sister,Proud of playing the thief.What remains holyOr precious to menOnce grown greedy of might?

WOTAN [Calmly.

From such greedWas Fricka then freeHerself when the castle she craved?

FRICKA

I was forced to ponder some meansTo keep my husband faithful,True to me when his fancyTempted him far from his home.Halls high and stately,Decked to delight thee,Were to constrain theeTo peaceful repose.But thou hadst the work designedIntent on war alone;It was to addMore to thy might still,To stir up to tumult still fiercerThat built were the towering walls

WOTAN

Wouldst thou, O Wife!In the castle confine me,To me, the god, must be granted,Faithful at home,The right to wage warAnd conquer the world from without.Ranging and changingAll men love:That sport at least thou must leave me.

FRICKA

Cold, hard-hearted,Merciless man!For the idle baubles,Empire and sway,Thou stakest in insolent scornLove and a woman's worth!

WOTAN

When I went wooing, to win theeI staked ungrudging,Gladly one of my eyes:What folly now then to scold!Women I honourBeyond thy desire!I will not abandonFrei, the fair:Such never was my intent.

FRICKA

[ Anxiously looking towards a point not on the stage.

Then succour her now:Defenceless, in fear,Hither she hastens for help!

FREIA

[Enters as if flying from someone.

Help me, sister!Shield me, o brother!From yonder mountainMenaces Fasolt:He comes to bear me off captive.

WOTAN

Let him come!Sawest thou Loge?

FRICKA

To this tricky deceiverO why wilt thou trust?He always snares thee anew,Though from his snares thou hast suffered.

WOTAN

I ask for no aidWhere simple truth suffices;But to turn the spiteOf foes to profit,Craft and cunning aloneCan teach, as by Loge employed.He whose advice I obeyedHas promised ransom for Freia:On him my faith I have fixed.

FRICKA

And art left in the lurch.The giants come.Lo! hither they stride:Where lingers now thine ally?

FREIA

Where tarry ye, my brothers,When help ye should bring me,Weak and bartered away by my kin?O help me, Donner!Hither! Hither!Rescue Freia, my Froh!

FRICKA

Now the knaves who plotted and tricked theeAbandon thee in thy need.

[Fasolt and Fafner, both of gigantic stature, enter, armed with stout clubs.

FASOLT

Soft sleepSealed thine eyesWhile we, both sleepless,Built the castle walls:Working hardWearied not,Heaping, heavingHeavy stones.Tower steep,Door and gateKeep and guardThy goodly castle halls.

[Pointing to the castle.

There standsWhat we builded,Shining fairBeneath the sun.Enter inAnd pay the price!

WOTAN

Name, Workers, your wage.What payment will appease you?

FASOLT

We made the termsThat seemed to us meet.Hast thou forgot so soon?Freia, the fair one,Holda, the free one—The bargain isWe bear her away.

WOTAN [Quickly.

Ye must be madTo moot such a thing!Ask some other wage;Freia I will not grant.

FASOLT

Stands for a space speechless with angry surprise.

What is this? Ha!Wouldest deceive?—Go back on thy bond?What thy spear wardsAre they but sport,All the runes of solemn bargain?

FAFNER

O trusty brother!Fool, dost now see the trick?

FASOLT

Son of light,Light, unstable,Hearken! Have a care!In treaties keep thou troth!What thou artThou art only by treaties,For, built on bonds,There are bounds to thy might.Though cunning thou,More clever than we:Though we once freemen,Are pledged to peace,Cursèd be all thy wisdom;—Peaceful promises perish!—Wilt thou not open,Honest and frankStand fast by a bargain once fixed.A stupid giantTells thee this:O wise one, take it from him!

Freia, the fair one

WOTAN

How sly to judge us seriousWhen plainly we were but jesting!The beautiful GoddessLight and bright—For churls what charm could she have?

FASOLT

Jeerest thou?Ha! how unjust!Ye who by beauty rule,Proud and radiant race!How foolish, strivingFor towers of stone,Woman's love to pledge—Price of walls and of halls!We dolts, despising ease,Sweating with toil-hardened hands,Have worked, that a womanWith gentle delightIn our midst might sojournAnd ye call the pact a jest?

FAFNER

Cease thy childish chatter;No gain look we to get.Freia's charmsMean little;But it means much,If from the Gods we remove her.Golden applesRipen within her garden;She aloneGrows the apples and tends them.The goodly fruitGives to her kinsfolk,Who eat thereof,Youth everlasting.Sick and pale,Their beauty would perish,Old and weak,Wasting away,Were not Freia among them.

[Roughly.

From their midst, therefore, Freia must forth!

WOTAN [Aside.

Loge lingers long!

FASOLT

We wait for thy word!

WOTAN

Ask some other wage!

FASOLT

No other: Freia alone!

FAFNER

Thou there, follow us!

[Fafner and Fasolt press towards Freia. Froh and Donner enter in haste.

FREIA

Help! Help from the harsh ones!

FROH [Clasping Freia in his arms.

To me, Freia!

[To Fafner.

Back, overbold one!Froh shields the fair one!

DONNER [Confronting the giants.

Fasolt and Fafner,Have ye not feltWith what weight my hammer falls?

FAFNER

What means thy threat?

FASOLT

What wouldst thou here?No strife we desire;We want but our due reward.

DONNER

Oft I've doled outGiants their due:Come, your reward is hereWaiting, full measure and more!

[He swings his hammer.

WOTAN

[Stretching out his spear between the combatants.

Hold, thou fierce one!Nothing by force!All bonds and treatiesMy spear protects;Spare then thy hammer's haft!

FREIA

Woe's me! Woe's me!Wotan forsakes me!

FRICKA

Can such be thy thought,Merciless man?

WOTAN

[Turns away and sees Loge coming.

There comes Loge!Hot is thy hasteSmoothly to settleThy sorry, badly-made bargain!

LOGE

[Has come up out of the valley in the background.

What is this bargainThat I am blamed for?—The one with the giantsThat thou thyself didst decide?O'er hill and o'er hollowDrives me my whim;House and hearthI do not crave.Donner and Froh,They dream but of roof and room:Wedding, must haveA home in which to dwell,A stately hall,A fortress fast.It was such Wotan wished.Hall and house,Castle, court,The blissful abodeNow stands complete and strong.I proved the lordlyPile myself;In fear of flaws,Scanning it close.Fasolt and FafnerFaithful I found;Firm-bedded is each stone.I was not slothfulLike many here:Who calls me sluggard, he lies!

WOTAN