Rhine-daughtersThy aid invoked:
Not vainly they hoped for thy help then?
WOTAN [Angrily.
Fool, be silent!
Freia, the fair one—
Freia's ransom we go for.
LOGE
Where thou wouldst go
Gladly I lead.
Shall we dive
Sheer through the depths of the Rhine?
WOTAN
Not through the Rhine.
LOGE
Then swift let us swing
Through this smoky chasm.
Together, come, creep we in!
[He goes in front and vanishes at the side through a cleft, from which, immediately afterwards, sulphurous vapour streams forth.
WOTAN
Ye others wait
Till evening here;
The golden ransom
When got will again make us young.
[He descends after Loge into the chasm. The sulphurous vapour which rises from it spreads over the whole stage and quickly fills it with thick clouds. Those who remain behind are soon hidden.
DONNER
Fare thee well, Wotan!
FROH
Good luck! Good luck!
FRICKA
O come back soon
To thy sorrowing wife!
[The sulphurous vapour darkens till it becomes a black cloud, which rises upwards from below. This then changes to a dark, rocky cavern which keeps rising, so that the stage seems to sink deeper and deeper into the earth.
THIRD SCENE
From various points in the distance ruddy lights gleam out. An increasing clamour, as of smiths at work, is heard on all sides. The clang of the anvils dies away. A vast subterranean chasm becomes visible which seems to open into narrow gorges on all sides. Alberich drags the screaming Mime out of a side cleft.
ALBERICH
Héhé! Héhé!
Come here! Come here!
Mischievous dwarf!
Prettily pinched
Promptly thou'lt be
Hast thou not ready,
Wrought to my wish,
The dainty thing I desire!
MIME [Howling.
Ohé! Ohé!
Oh! Oh!
Let me alone!
It is forged;
Heeding thy hest
I laboured hard
Till it was done!
Take but thy nails from my ear!
ALBERICH
Then why this delay
To show thy work?
MIME
I feared that something
Might still be wanting.
MIME, howling.
"Ohé! Ohé!
Oh! Oh!"
ALBERICH
What is there to finish?
MIME [Embarrassed.
Here—and there–
ALBERICH
How here and there?
Hand me the thing!
[He tries to catch hold of his ear again. In his terror Mime drops a piece of metal-work which he has been clutching convulsively. Alberich picks it up hastily and examines it with care.
Rogue, observe!
See how all wrought is
Well finished and feat,
Done as desired!
The simpleton wants
Slyly to trick me
And keep by cunning
The wonderful work,
Though all his skill
Came alone from my craft.
Thou art discovered, thief.
[He puts the Tarnhelm on his head.
The helmet fits the head;
But will the spell prosper too?
[Very softly.
"Night and darkness,
Seen of none!"
[He vanishes, and a pillar of cloud takes his place.
Brother, canst see me?
MIME [Looks round in amaze.
Where art thou? I see no one.
ALBERICH [Invisible.
Then feel me instead,
Thou lazy scamp!
Take that for thy thievish thoughts!
MIME
[Writhes under the lathes he receives, the sound of which is heard without the whip being seen.
Ohé! Ohé!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
ALBERICH [Invisible and laughing.
Ha! ha! ha!
Ha! ha! ha!
I thank thee, blockhead;
Thy work has stood the test.
Hoho! Hoho!
Nibelungs all
Bow now to Alberich!
For he is everywhere,
Waiting
