night I have come;In the dark who is hiding there?
[As from a sudden rent in the clouds moonlight streams forth and lights up the Wanderer's figure.
ALBERICH
[Recognises the Wanderer and shrinks back at first in alarm, but immediately after breaks out in violent fury.
'Tis thou who comest thus?
What wilt thou here?
Go, get thee hence!
Begone, thou insolent thief!
WANDERER [Quietly.
Schwarz-Alberich
Wanders here?
Guardest thou Fafner's house?
ALBERICH
Art thou intent
On mischief again?
Linger not here!
Off with thee straightway!
Has grief enough
Not deluged the earth through thy guile?
Spare it further
Sorrow, thou wretch!
WANDERER
I come as watcher,
Not as worker.
The Wanderer's way who bars?
ALBERICH
Thou arch, pestilent plotter!
Were I still the blind,
Silly fool that I was,
When I was bound thy captive,
How easy were it
To steal the ring again from me!
Beware! For thy cunning
I know well,
[Mockingly.
And of thy weakness
I am fully aware too.
Thy debts were cancelled,
Paid with my treasure;
My ring guerdoned
The giants' toil,
Who raised thy citadel high.
Still on the mighty
Haft of thy spear there
The runes are written plain
Of the compact made with the churls;
And of that
Which by labour they won
Thou dost not dare to despoil them:
Thy spear's strong shaft
Thou thyself wouldst split;
The staff that makes thee
Master of all
Would crumble to dust in thy hand.
WANDERER
By the steadfast runes of treaties
Thou hast not,
Base one, been bound;
On thee my spear may spend its strength,
So keen I keep it for war.
ALBERICH
How dire thy threats!
How bold thy defiance!
And yet full of fear is thy heart!
Foredoomed to death
Through my curse is he
Who now guards the treasure.
What heir will succeed him?
Will the hoard all desire
Belong as before to the Niblung?—
That gnaws thee with ceaseless torment.
For once I have got it
Safe in my grasp,
Better than foolish giants
Will I employ its spell.
The God who guards heroes
Truly may tremble!
I will storm
Proud Walhall with Hella's hosts,
And rule, lord of the world!
WANDERER [Quietly.
Thy design I know well,
But little I care:
Who wins the ring
Will rule by its might.
ALBERICH
Thou speakest darkly,
But to me all is plain.
Thy heart is bold
Because of a boy,
[Mockingly.
A hero begot of thy blood.
Hast thou not fostered a stripling
To pluck the fruit thou durst not
[With growing violence.
Pluck frankly for thyself?
WANDERER [Lightly.
With me
'Tis useless to wrangle;
But Mime thou shouldst beware;
For thy brother brings here a boy
To compass the giant's doom.
He knows not of me;
He works for Mime alone.
And so I say to thee,
Do as seems to thee best.
[Alberich makes a movement expressive of violent curiosity.
Take my advice,
Be on thy guard:
The boy will hear of the ring
When Mime tells him the tale.
ALBERICH [Violently.
Wilt thou hold thy hand from the hoard?
WANDERER
Whom I love
Must fight for himself unaided;
The lord of his fate,
He stands or falls:
All my hope hangs upon heroes.
ALDERICH
Does none but Mime
Dispute me the ring?
WANDERER
Only thou and Mime
Covet the gold.
ALDERICH
And yet it is not to be mine?
WANDERER
