After a linking orchestral interlude, the
scene returns to the Valkyries' rock. Brunnhilde is sitting in the entrance of
the cave, gazing at her ring and lost in memories of Siegfried. She runs into
the wood and hears a distant clap of thunder and a rushing sound in the air (Altgewohntes Gerdusch), a Valkyrie steed
winging its way through the air. She
returns with her sister Valkyrie Waltraute, whose anxious fear she does not
notice, [SIDE 5] and wonders what
can have induced her sister to break their father’s stern interdict imposed on
all her fellow Valkyries at the time of her own fall from grace — never to see
her more. Was it to share (Lockte dicta, Schwester) in her present
all-embracing happiness? Waltraute is horrified at what she considers to be her
sister's levity. She has come —unknown to Wotan, defying his dread command —to
tell (Hore mit Sinn, was ich dir sage)
of the unhappy state of affairs existing in Valhalla ,
which fills her with dismay and dread. Since Brunnhilde's departure, Wotan has
ceased to send her and her fellow -Valkyries into battle to procure heroes for Valhalla . Long he roamed the earth alone, returning one
day with his spear shattered. Having ordered the heroes to pile the logs of the
world ash-tree around Valhalla , he called the
council of the gods together and sits there in their midst silent upon his
throne, partaking no more of Freia's apples, which confer immortality upon the
gods. He has dispatched his two ravens, harbingers of death, upon some mission,
from which they have not yet returned. Once, when Waltraute wept upon his
breast, she saw his face soften and knew he was thinking of his favorite child
Brunnhilde. As in a dream, he whispered that if Brunnhilde would return the
ring to the Rhine daughters the world would be
freed from its curse. So Waltraute had dared to steal away and come (An deiner Hand der Ring) to beg her
sister to do just this. At first the mated Brunnhilde can scarcely comprehend
what is being required of her, but, when she does understand, she laughs (Den Rheintochtern— ich —den Ring) in her
sister's face. The ring given her by Siegfried means more to her than all the
glories—all the agonies, too—of the gods. Finding her sister adamant, Waltraute
departs, distraught (Wehe! Wehe!) and full of reproaches.
Evening falls. The fires surrounding
the rock leap up suddenly and burn brighter. Brunnhilde wonders why. A horn
call is heard from the valley below. She rises (Siegfried zur ck) to greet her hero. Siegfried, transformed into
the likeness of Gunther by the tarnhelm which he wears upon his head, cleaves
his way through the enveloping flames, which fall back before him. Brunnhilde
realizes (Verrat!) that she is
betrayed.
[SIDE
6]
Speaking with Gunther's voice, rougher and deeper than his own,
Siegfried demands her in marriage, announcing himself (Ein Gibichung bin ich) as Gunther the Gibichung. Though she opposes
the power of the ring to him, its power proves impotent as Siegfried/Gunther seizes
hold of Brunnhilde and they struggle violently. As he forces the Ring from her
finger she shrieks and collapses as if broken. As he drives her, with faltering
steps, before him into the cave, the young hero (Nun, Nothung, zeuge du) draws his sword—the magical sword Nothung
(Needful), conferred by Wotan upon his father Siegmund — and sets it between
them, calling it to witness his loyalty to his blood brother. The curtain
falls.
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