diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:33:14 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:33:14 -0700 |
| commit | 90258dc480514e05b5960ca233d6e315752a852a (patch) | |
| tree | 31a636add32ee5b267aeab233849fd9577bd7d87 /9456-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '9456-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/9456-h.htm | 2940 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/alberich-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 17802 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/alberich-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3287 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/alberich.jpg | bin | 0 -> 295594 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/bruin-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 14165 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/bruin-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 5466 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/bruin.jpg | bin | 0 -> 255007 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/dragon-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 22142 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/dragon-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4267 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/dragon.jpg | bin | 0 -> 182146 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/norns-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 22382 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/norns-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3690 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/norns.jpg | bin | 0 -> 161001 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/siegfried-frontice.jpg | bin | 0 -> 20425 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/siegfried-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3762 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/siegfried.jpg | bin | 0 -> 358200 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/tugged-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 21519 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/tugged-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4869 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/tugged.jpg | bin | 0 -> 125660 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/walkure-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 11683 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/walkure-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3376 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/walkure.jpg | bin | 0 -> 125727 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/wotan-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 17344 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/wotan-th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3203 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 9456-h/images/wotan.jpg | bin | 0 -> 286998 bytes |
25 files changed, 2940 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/9456-h/9456-h.htm b/9456-h/9456-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..612d5c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/9456-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2940 @@ +<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Opera Stories from Wagner, by Florence Akin</title> +<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <style type="text/css"> +<!-- + div.titlepage { text-align: center; border-style: ridge; border-width: 3px; border-color: #c0c0c0; padding: 2em;} + h1,h2,h3 { text-align: center; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 2em; } + h1 { margin-top: 1em } + h2 { margin-top: 1em } + h4 { text-align: left; font-weight: normal; font-size: 150%; margin-top: 1em;} + h5 { text-align: left; font-weight: normal; font-size: 125%; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + + div.illlist { margin-left: 10em; } + .tagline { text-align: right; font-size: 1em; } + li.toc { font-variant: small-caps } + p.smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + div.redirection { text-align: right; font-weight: normal; font-size: 175%; margin-top: 1em;} +--> + </style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Opera Stories from Wagner, by Florence Akin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Opera Stories from Wagner + +Author: Florence Akin + +Release Date: July 24, 2004 [EBook #9456] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OPERA STORIES FROM WAGNER *** + + + + +Produced by Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook of<br> + Opera Stories from Wagner,<br> + + by Florence Akin</h1> + +<hr> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders</h3> +<p> </p> + +<div class="titlepage"> + <h1>Opera Stories From Wagner</h1> + + <h2>By</h2> + <h2>Florence Akin</h2> + <h2>With Illustrations</h2> + <img src="images/siegfried-frontice.jpg" alt="Siegfried" border="0" /> + <h3>1915</h3> +</div> + +<h4>Note</h4> + +<blockquote> +The verses printed in this book are quoted from Dr. Oliver Huckel's +translations of <i>The Rhine-Gold</i>, <i>The Walküre</i>, <i>Siegfried</i>, and +<i>Götterdämmerung,</i> by the kind permission of the publishers, Messrs. +Thomas Y. Crowell & Company. An occasional sentence in several of the +stories is borrowed from the same source. + +</blockquote> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="Contents"></a> +<h4>Contents</h4> + <h5><a href="#CH1">The Rhine-Gold</a></h5> + <a href="#CH1SUB1">The Happy Rhine-Daughters</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB2">Alberich</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB3">The Careless Rhine-Daughters</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH1SUB4">The Theft</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB5">The Sad Rhine-Daughters</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB6">A Castle On The Rhine</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB7">The Morning</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB8">The Payment</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB9">Loki</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH1SUB10">Youth Or Age?</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB11">Nibelheim</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB12">The Best Smith In Nibelheim</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB13">The Master</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB14">The Boaster</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB15">The Wishing-Cap</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH1SUB16">The Trick</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB17">The Curse</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB18">The Greedy Fafner</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB19">A Slave To Gold</a><br /> + <a href="#CH1SUB20">The Beautiful Valhalla</a><br /> + <h5><a href="#CH2">The Walküre</a><br /></h5> + + <a href="#CH2SUB1">A Matchless Sword</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB2">The Valiant Siegmund</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB3">Hunding'S Wife</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB4">Hunding</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB5">The War-Maidens</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB6">Wotan'S Wife</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH2SUB7">Wotan And Brunhilde</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB8">Off To The Battlefield</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB9">The Flight</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB10">The Punishment</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB11">The Sleep</a><br /> + <a href="#CH2SUB12">The Magic Fire</a><br /> + + <h5><a href="#CH3">Siegfried</a></h5> + <a href="#CH3SUB1">The Missing Mimi</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB2">The Dragon</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB3">A Baby In The Forest</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB4">Mimi And The Baby</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB5">Siegfried And His Friends</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH3SUB6">The Broken Sword</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB7">A Big Brown Bear</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB8">Siegfried And Mimi</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB9">Siegfried Mends His Father's Sword</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB10">Siegfried Goes To Fight The Dragon</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB11">A Wood-Bird'S Song</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH3SUB12">Siegfried And The Dragon</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB13">A Change Comes Over Siegfried</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB14">Mimi Has A Surprise</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB15">Mimi And Alberich Stop To Quarrel Too Long</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB16">Siegfried Reaches The Mountain</a><br /> + <a href="#CH3SUB17">Siegfried Learns What Fear Is</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH3SUB18">The Awakening</a><br /> +<h5><a href="#CH4">Götterdämmerung</a><br /></h5> + <a href="#CH4SUB1">A Song Of The Past</a><br /> + <a href="#CH4SUB2">A Song Of The Present</a><br /> + <a href="#CH4SUB3">A Song Of The Future</a><br /> + <a href="#CH4SUB4">A Pledge Of Love</a><br /> + + <a href="#CH4SUB5">The Doom Of Valhalla</a><br /> + <a href="#CH4SUB6">Love</a><br /> +<h5><a href="#CH5">More About The Stories</a><br /></h5> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="Illustrations"></a> +<h4>Illustrations</h4> +<table cellspacing="10" cellpadding="5"> + <tr> + + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/alberich.jpg"> + <img src="images/alberich-th.jpg" alt="The Rhine-Maidens And Alberich" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG1">The Rhine-Maidens And Alberich<br /></a></h5> + </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/wotan.jpg"> + <img src="images/wotan-th.jpg" alt="Wotan" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG2">Wotan<br /></a></h5> + </td> + + </tr> + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/tugged.jpg"> + <img src="images/tugged-th.jpg" alt="He Tugged In Vain" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG3">He Tugged In Vain<br /></a></h5> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/walkure.jpg"> + <img src="images/walkure-th.jpg" alt="Walküre" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG4">Walküre<br /></a></h5> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/siegfried.jpg"> + <img src="images/siegfried-th.jpg" alt="Siegfried" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMGSIG">Siegfried<br /></a></h5> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/bruin.jpg"> + <img src="images/bruin-th.jpg" alt="Mimi, Bruin and Siegfried" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG5">"Eat Him, Bruin," Laughed Siegfried<br /></a></h5> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/dragon.jpg"> + <img src="images/dragon-th.jpg" alt="Dragon" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG6">"I Am Going To Eat You," Hissed The Dragon<br /></a></h5> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td width="25%"> + <div align="center"><a href="images/norns.jpg"> + <img src="images/norns-th.jpg" alt="Norns" border="0" /></a> + </div> + </td> + <td width =" 75%"><h5><a href="#IMG7">Three Norns Came To The Mountain Crest To Spin<br /></a></h5> + + </td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<h4>To The Girls And Boys</h4> + +<p>In these stories you will find some wonderful giants.</p> + +<p>You will find beautiful maidens who lived in a river.</p> + +<p>You will find a large family of little black dwarfs who lived under the +river, and you will find a splendid hero.</p> + +<p>The little children of Germany used to curl up in their mothers' arms, +when bedtime came, and listen to the stories of these strange people.</p> + +<p>When these little children grew up, they told the same stories to their +children.</p> + +<p>So it went for many, many years.</p> + +<p>The stories have been put together by a man named Richard Wagner. He put +them together in such a way that they make one long and wonderful story.</p> + +<p>After he had told these stories in words, he told them again in a more +beautiful way. He told them in music.</p> + +<p>Sometime you will hear this music, and you will think of beautiful +water-maidens, singing and dancing in the sunshine.</p> + +<p>You will think of great giants walking over mountains.</p> + +<p>You will think of the little black dwarfs under the river, and you will +hear them hammering, hammering upon their anvils.</p> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH1"></a> +<div class="redirection"> +<a href="#Contents" title="Contents--Opera Stories From Wagner">i</a> +<strong> </strong> + +<a href="#CH2" title="Next Chapter"><strong>»</strong></a> +</div> + + +<h4>The Rhine-Gold</h4> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH1SUB1"></a> +<h5>The Happy Rhine-Daughters</h5> +<p>In the Rhine River there lived three beautiful maidens. They were called +the Rhine-daughters.</p> + +<p>They had long, golden hair, which floated upon the waves as they swam +from rock to rock.</p> + +<p>When their father went away, he left in their care a great lump of pure +gold.</p> + +<p>This gold was on the very top of the highest rock in the river.</p> + +<p>Every morning the beautiful Rhine-daughters would dance and sing about +their gold.</p> + +<p>They sang a happy song:--</p> + +<blockquote> "Heigh-ho! hither, ye waters!<br /> + Waver and waft me to sleep on your breast!<br /> + + Heigh-ho! hither, ye waters!<br /> + Weave me sweet dreams on your billowy crest!"</blockquote> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB2"></a> +<h5>Alberich</h5> +<p>One morning, when the sun was shining very brightly, the Rhine-daughters +were startled by a strange sound in the depths of the water.</p> + +<p>"Look!" whispered one. "What is that scowling at us from the rocks +below?"</p> + +<p>There, stealing along the river-bed, they saw a hideous little black +dwarf.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, and what do you want?" asked the Rhine-daughters.</p> + +<p>"I am Alberich," answered the dwarf as he tried to climb up on the +slippery rocks. "I came from the kingdom of the Nibelungs, down under +the earth."</p> + +<p>"What!" said the Rhine-daughters. "Surely you do not live down in the +dark earth where there is no sunshine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Alberich. "But I have come up to frolic in the sunshine +with you"; and he held out his ugly, misshapen little hands to take the +hands of the Rhine-daughters.</p> + +<p>They only laughed at him and darted away to a higher rock.</p> + +<p>Alberich hurried after them.</p> + +<p>He blinked and scowled in the sunshine, because his eyes were not used +to the light.</p> + +<p>The maidens laughed and shouted in their play.</p> + +<p>They called to Alberich and teased him.</p> + +<p>They went very close to him, pretending that they would take his hand, +that he, too, might play in the sunshine. Then they would quickly dart +away, mocking him, and laughing at him more loudly than ever.</p> + +<p>Alberich grew fierce and angry.</p> + +<p>He clenched his fists and cried:--</p> + +<p>"Woe be to you if I should catch you now."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB3"></a> +<a name="IMG1"></a> +<h5>The Careless Rhine-Daughters</h5> + +<a href="images/alberich.jpg"> +<img src="images/alberich-insert.jpg" alt="The Rhine-Maidens And Alberic" border="0" align="right" /> +</a> +<p>Alberich was the most hideous of all the black, ugly little Nibelungs.</p> + +<p>The Nibelungs had cross, scowling faces, because they were always +scolding each other.</p> + +<p>They quarreled from morning till night, so, of course, their faces grew +to look quarrelsome and ugly.</p> + +<p>As Alberich hurried after the Rhine-daughters, he suddenly caught sight +of the gold glittering in the morning sun.</p> + +<p>He stood still. Then he straightened up as tall as his crooked, +misshapen little back would let him. He opened his eyes wide.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Sisters! See how Alberich is staring at our gold!" whispered one of +the Rhine-daughters. "Perhaps this is the foe of which our father warned +us. How careless we have been!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," answered one. "Who would fear this little black fellow? He +will do us no harm. Let him gaze upon the gold. Come, let us sing!"</p> + +<p>The maidens joined hands and circled about the gold, singing:--</p> + +<blockquote>"Hail to thee! Hail to thee!<br /> + Treasure most bright!<br /> + Rhine-gold! Rhine-gold!<br /> + Beautiful sight!<br /> +<br /> + "Hail to thee! Hail to thee!<br /> + + Out of the night!<br /> + Rhine-gold! Rhine-gold!<br /> + Wakened so bright!"</blockquote> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB4"></a> +<h5>The Theft</h5> +<p>Still Alberich stood and stared at the gold.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he gasped. "What is it?"</p> + +<p>The Rhine-daughters shouted back to him:--</p> + +<blockquote> "Heigh-ho! and heigh-ho!<br /> + Dear little imp of woe,<br /> + Laugh with us, laugh with us!<br /> + Heigh-ho and heigh-ho!"</blockquote> + +<p>But Alberich did not laugh with them.</p> + +<p>He would not take his eyes off the gold.</p> + +<p>"That," said the maidens, "is our Rhine-gold."</p> + +<p>"A very pretty plaything it is," said Alberich.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the careless sisters, "it is magic gold. Who moulds this +gold into a ring shall have all power upon the earth, save love."</p> + +<p>Alberich muttered to himself: "What do I care for love if I have all the +gold I want?"</p> + +<p>Then he sprang upon the slippery rock and snatched the gold. With one +wild leap he plunged into the depths below.</p> + +<p>Down, down he went to his deep, dark kingdom, clutching fast the +precious gold and muttering:--</p> + +<p>"Now all the earth is mine. It is mine, all mine. Now I shall rule the +world."</p> + +<p>Poor foolish Alberich! He did not know that the best things in this +world are the things which gold cannot buy.</p> + +<p>The power of love is greater than the power of gold.</p> + +<p>The maidens shrieked and screamed: "Our gold! Our gold! Our precious +gold!"</p> + +<p>Too late! Far, far below, they heard a laugh, the rough, rude laugh of +Alberich, the dwarf.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB5"></a> +<h5>The Sad Rhine-Daughters</h5> +<p>After that, when the Rhine-daughters came to the rock where the gold had +been, they could not sing their happy song.</p> + +<p>Their faces were very sad now, and they said: "Oh, why did Alberich +steal our beautiful gold? It cannot make him happy, for no one can ever +be truly happy who does not know love."</p> + +<p>They often sat upon the rocks in the dusk of the evening and cried as if +their hearts would break because they had lost their gold.</p> + +<p>"The black waves surge in sorrow through the depths, And all the Rhine +is wailing in its woe."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB6"></a> +<a name="IMG2"></a> +<h5>A Castle On The Rhine</h5> + +<a href="images/wotan.jpg"><img src="images/wotan-insert.jpg" alt="Wotan" border="0" align="right" /></a> +<p>On a mountain-side, above the banks of the Rhine, lived a family of +splendid giants.</p> + +<p>The greatest of the giants was Wotan. He was the king.</p> + +<p>They had always lived out of doors, because the king had never been +able to find a giant who was large enough to build such a grand castle +as he wanted for his family.</p> + +<p>But one day there came to the mountainside the largest giant Wotan had +ever seen.</p> + +<p>His name was Fafner.</p> + +<p>He was many times larger than Wotan.</p> + +<p>Wotan told Fafner how much he wanted a wonderful castle.</p> + +<p>Fafner said: "I will build such a castle for you if you will give me +your sister, Freya."</p> + +<p>Fafner wanted to take the beautiful Freya to his own country.</p> + +<p>Wotan did not stop to think what an awful thing it would be to lose +Freya.</p> + +<p>His thoughts were of nothing but the wonderful castle.</p> + +<p>"Build it, Fafner," said Wotan.</p> + +<p>That night Wotan and his family lay down upon their mountain to sleep.</p> + +<p>Wotan dreamed of a wonderful stone castle with glittering towers.</p> + +<p>He dreamed he saw the castle gleaming in the morning sun.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB7"></a> +<h5>The Morning</h5> +<p>It was morning in the beautiful country where the Rhine River flows.</p> + +<p>The giants upon the hillside were just awakening from their night's +sleep.</p> + +<p>During the night Fafner had built the wonderful castle.</p> + +<p>Wotan's wife was the first to see it.</p> + +<p>"Awake, Wotan! Awake!" she cried.</p> + +<p>As Wotan opened his eyes he saw the castle upon the summit of the +mountain.</p> + +<p>What a great shining castle it was!</p> + +<p>In delight Wotan cried: "'T is finished! And my glorious dream is true!"</p> + +<p>All night long Fafner had toiled hard.</p> + +<p>He finished just as the morning dawned.</p> + +<p>He was waiting now for Wotan to awaken and to give to him the beautiful +Freya.</p> + +<p>He would take her and hurry to his own country.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB8"></a> +<h5>The Payment</h5> +<p>"While you slept I built the castle," said Fafner. "Now I am ready for +the payment."</p> + +<p>"What payment do you want?" asked Wotan.</p> + +<p>"What payment do I want?" shouted Fafner. "Surely you have not forgotten +your promise? The price was Freya, and I shall take her home with me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that was only in jest," said Wotan. "I could not think of letting +Freya go. But I shall pay you well for the castle. I shall give you +something else that will be just as good for you."</p> + +<p>Fafner grew very angry and screamed:--</p> + +<p>"Cease your foolish talk. I built your beautiful stone palace. I drudged +and toiled and heaped the massive rocks. Each stone lies firm and solid +in its place, and I will have my pay!"</p> + +<p>"But, surely," said Wotan, "you did not think I meant to give you Freya? +'T is she who feeds us golden apples. No one but Freya knows how to +make them grow. If it were not for her fresh fruits my family would grow +old. They would wither like the autumn flowers."</p> + +<p>"Yes," raged Fafner; "I know it is fair Freya's golden apples that keep +you young. But now Freya belongs to me. Nothing else will I have."</p> + +<p>Just then Wotan saw his brother, Loki, coming over the mountain.</p> + +<p>"Wait, Fafner! Wait until I can talk with my brother about this!"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB9"></a> +<h5>Loki</h5> +<p>"Loki, why are you so late?" complained Wotan, when Loki came.</p> + +<p>Loki was much excited.</p> + +<p>"The Rhine-daughters are in great trouble, Wotan. As I was coming by the +river I heard them weeping and wailing. Black Alberich has stolen their +gold, and I promised them that I would tell you about it. Perhaps you +could help them."</p> + +<p>"I have no time for the Rhine-daughters now," said Wotan. "I have +trouble of my own. Tell me how I can save poor Freya!"</p> + +<p>For many years Fafner had heard of this lump of gold. So he listened to +all that Loki told. Then he asked: "Why does Alberich want the gold?"</p> + +<p>"Because," replied Loki, "the gold can be made into a magic ring; if the +one who would make the ring will forever give up all love, the magic +ring will make its owner master of the whole wide world. Alberich +declared that love was nothing to him if he could have all the gold +he wanted."</p> + +<p>To himself Fafner thought: "Perhaps it would be better for me to have +the gold than to have Freya and her golden apples." Then aloud he said: +"Let me tell you what I am willing to do, Wotan. If you will get that +gold for me, I will accept it in place of Freya."</p> + +<p>"You rascal!" roared Wotan. "How can I give you gold that is not mine?"</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Fafner. "I did not come here to quarrel. Already I +have waited too long. I shall take my pay. Come, Freya, you must go +with me."</p> + +<p>Poor, frightened Freya wept and cried aloud as Fafner picked her up and +carried her off over the mountain.</p> + +<p>He called back to Wotan and Loki: "I will keep Freya until evening. Then +I shall come again, and if you have that glittering Rhine-gold for me, +then you may have your sister. If you do not give me the gold, then +Freya is mine and I will keep her always."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB10"></a> +<h5>Youth Or Age?</h5> +<p>As soon as Freya was gone, the flowers began to droop their heads.</p> + +<p>Wotan and his family began to grow old and gray.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Wotan like some awful dream.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Loki cried out: "We have not eaten Freya's fruit to-day! Now +she is gone, we shall all wither and die!"</p> + +<p>Wotan had stood gazing at the ground, trying hard to think what he +could do to save himself and his family.</p> + +<p>"Come, Loki," he said. "We must go to the deep dark kingdom of the +Nibelungs. I must have the gold! Let us go by way of the brimstone +gorge. I cannot go by way of the river. I do not want to hear the +wailing of the Rhine-daughters."</p> + +<p>Wotan called back to his anxious family: "Only wait till evening and I +promise I shall bring your lost youth back to you."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB11"></a> +<h5>Nibelheim</h5> + <blockquote>"Far, far below the ground are gloomy depths,--<br /> + A mighty cavern, rocky, dark and vast."</blockquote> + +<p>It was as dark as night down in the kingdom of the Nibelungs, except for +the light which flared from the smoking torches, or glowed in the coals +upon the anvils.</p> + +<p>The family of dwarfs were skilled blacksmiths and metal-workers.</p> + +<p>From every little niche and corner came the sound of clinking anvils. +Before Alberich stole the gold, the Nibelungs often sang as they worked.</p> + +<p>They sometimes made pretty ornaments for their wives to wear or toys for +their little children.</p> + +<p>But now Alberich had made the ring of gold which bound them to do his +will.</p> + +<p>He had no love in his heart, so he drove and scolded all the time.</p> + +<p>He made them work, work, work, both day and night, and all that they +made belonged to him.</p> + +<p>So Alberich was daily becoming mightier than ever.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB12"></a> +<h5>The Best Smith In Nibelheim</h5> +<p>Mimi, who was Alberich's brother, was the best smith in all this swarm +of black slaves.</p> + +<p>Alberich forced Mimi to make for him a strange wishing-cap.</p> + +<p>It was made of woven steel.</p> + +<p>Mimi had to make it just as Alberich said, but Mimi did not know how it +was to be used. When it was finished, Mimi feared it had some +wonderful power, and he did not want Alberich to have it.</p> + +<p>He wished he might keep it for himself.</p> + +<p>He had worked hard to make it.</p> + +<p>"Give me that helmet," said Alberich. "I want you to know, Mimi, that +everything in this cave belongs to me!"</p> + +<p>Mimi had to give it up.</p> + +<p>Alberich put it on his head. "Now I shall see what magic there is in +this wishing-cap. Come, Night and Darkness!" he called. "Make me so no +one can see me!"</p> + +<p>In an instant he was gone, and there was only a cloud of smoke where he +had stood.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mimi!" he called, "look sharp! Can you see me?"</p> + +<p>"No," gasped Mimi. "I cannot see you at all."</p> + +<p>The cloud of smoke moved down the gloomy cave and Alberich's cruel voice +laughed: "Ha! ha! Now I shall make you black slaves work! Now you dare +not be idle, for when you do not see me I shall be watching you!"</p> + +<p>His voice sank deeper. "Now I will make you dig, dig, dig, to the very +depths of the earth to bring me gold!"</p> + +<p>Mimi was so frightened.</p> + +<p>When the cloud of smoke had gone out of sight, he lay down upon the +rocks and cried.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB13"></a> +<h5>The Master</h5> +<p>Wotan and Loki swung themselves over the ledge and slid down into the +murky cave where Alberich lived.</p> + +<p>Wotan looked around and said:--</p> + +<p>"So this is the Kingdom of the Nibelungs! What an awful place it is!"</p> + +<p>From far down the passages came the sound of hundreds of slaves melting +and welding precious metals for their master.</p> + +<p>"Loki," said Wotan, "I believe it is always dark and gloomy where there +is no love. What is that strange cry I hear?"</p> + +<p>"Ho, Mimi, is that you?" said Loki. "Leave me alone!" cried Mimi.</p> + +<p>"Then tell me what you are crying about?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," replied Mimi, "that wretched Alberich, with his ring of gold, has +made us all his slaves! With it he drives us down into the earth to dig +more gold. What we get is all his. We slave for him both day and night.</p> + +<p>"This curse of gold has filled our cavern with despair. Lately he made +me forge a wishing-cap for him. With it he makes himself so none can see +him. Now we slaves can never rest. <i>Sh! sh!</i> He is coming now!"</p> + +<p>Wotan and Loki, peering through the darkness, could see him now and then +as he passed under the light of a flaring torch.</p> + +<p>He was driving a swarm of bent black slaves who were carrying great +packs of gold and silver and precious ore upon their backs.</p> + +<p>The helmet was hanging at his waist.</p> + +<p>In his hand he was swinging a whip and the giants could hear him +yelling:--</p> + +<p>"Pile up the gold! Hurry! Hurry, you lazy rogues!"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH1SUB14"></a> +<h5>The Boaster</h5> +<p>Suddenly Alberich saw the giants.</p> + +<p>"Who is this that dares come into my cave?" he cried. "Mimi, get back to +your work!"</p> + +<p>Then to all the other slaves he called:--</p> + +<p>"Get below, every one of you! Crawl into your dingy shafts and dig the +gold! Begone, I say! You must obey the master of the ring!"</p> + +<p>As soon as the black swarm had crept away, Alberich spoke angrily to +Wotan and Loki. "What do you want in here?"</p> + +<p>"We just came to see you," said Wotan. "We hoped you might be glad to +have us. We think you must be a very clever man. We have heard a great +deal about the wonderful things you can do."</p> + +<p>This pleased Alberich. He grew very proud and began to boast.</p> + +<p>"See all this gold of mine!" he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Loki; "it is the most gold I have ever seen, but what +use is it? It does no one any good in here where nothing useful can be +bought with it."</p> + +<p>"I am heaping it up," said Alberich. "Some day, with this same treasure, +heaped and hid, I hope to work some wonders. You shall see! I shall be +master of the whole wide world! Ha! the smoke of Alberich's kingdom +shall smudge even your flowery mountain-sides and your sparkling rivers. +Everybody shall be my slave! Beware of this black Nibelung, I say, for +he shall rule the world!"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH1SUB15"></a> +<h5>The Wishing-Cap</h5> +<p>Loki was very sly and cunning. While Alberich boasted, he was planning +how he might trick the dwarf and take his gold.</p> + +<p>To Alberich he said: "Surely, you will be the mightiest of men. But +suppose that while you sleep, one of your slaves should creep upon you +and steal your ring?"</p> + +<p>Alberich smiled. "There is no danger of that," he said. "I will show you +a trick or two. Do you see this helmet? It is a magic helmet. With it I +can make myself so no one can see me, or I can change myself, quick as a +flash, into anything I wish to be. So, you see, I am perfectly safe."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of such wonders," answered Loki. "I really cannot believe +it."</p> + +<p>"I shall prove it to you," said the dwarf, never dreaming that the sly +Loki was only laying a trap for him. "What form will you have me take?"</p> + +<p>"Turn into anything you wish. Only let me see it done and then I shall +believe."</p> + +<p>Alberich put on the helmet. "Ho! Monster Dragon, come!" And quick as a +flash he turned into a huge dragon.</p> + +<p>Loki pretended to be frightened. As the fierce monster squirmed toward +him, he made believe that he was going to rush from the cave.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB16"></a> +<h5>The Trick</h5> +<p>The dragon vanished and there stood Alberich again.</p> + +<p>"Now do you believe?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I do," replied Loki. "It is wonderful. But if you could shrink +to some tiny thing, it would be even much more clever, because you could +creep into a crevice and spy upon your enemies. But, of course, getting +small would be too hard a thing to do."</p> + +<p>"Only tell me what you would have me be," said Alberich.</p> + +<p>"Now I shall catch him," thought Loki. "Could you make yourself as +little as a toad that quickly slinks under the rock when there is +danger near?"</p> + +<p>"Ha! Nothing easier," laughed Alberich.</p> + +<p>And again putting the helmet on his head he coaxed:--</p> + +<p>"Come, little toad! Creep from your cranny!" Alberich was gone, and +there at Wotan's feet hopped the tiny toad.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Wotan!" cried Loki.</p> + +<p>And in an instant Wotan put his heavy foot upon the toad.</p> + +<p>Loki reached down and took the magic wishing-cap.</p> + +<p>As soon as the cap was off, the toad disappeared, and there lay +Alberich, held fast by Wotan's giant foot.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" shrieked the dwarf. "Take your foot off of me, this +minute!"</p> + +<p>Wotan calmly answered: "You may go when you have promised all I ask."</p> + +<p>"Then what do you want?" groaned Alberich.</p> + +<p>"I want all your glittering gold," said Wotan.</p> + + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB17"></a> +<h5>The Curse</h5> +<p>Alberich held the ring close under his breast and muttered to himself: +"They may have the gold! What do I care! With this ring I can soon make +my slaves dig more."</p> + +<p>Then aloud he said: "You may take the gold. My slaves shall heap it at +your feet."</p> + +<p>He slyly slipped his hand to his lips and, kissing the ring, called his +slaves with its magic.</p> + +<p>In a moment the little black Nibelungs came in swarms from every shaft, +bearing the precious gold.</p> + +<p>Alberich did not like to have them see him under Wotan's foot.</p> + +<p>"Heap up the treasure!" he yelled. "Don't stop to stare at me. I am +still your master. Now, crawl back into your shafts and drudge. I am +coming in a minute, and it will not be well for you if I do not find +you digging!"</p> + +<p>Trembling with fear, they scurried to the darkest depths.</p> + +<p>"Now, there is your gold!" said Alberich. "Give back my helmet and let +me go!"</p> + +<p>But Loki quickly tossed the helmet upon the shining heap.</p> + +<p>"Take it, then," snarled the dwarf, thinking he could easily, with the +power of the ring, force Mimi to make another, "but let me go, I say!"</p> + +<p>"Just wait a minute, Alberich," said Wotan. "That ring I saw glittering +on your finger,--I must have that too."</p> + +<p>"The ring!" Alberich screamed in horror. "No, you shall never have the +ring!"</p> + +<p>Wotan's face grew stern.</p> + +<p>"That ring does not belong to you. You stole its gold from the +Rhine-children," he said.</p> + +<p>"Think twice, Wotan, before you take this ring from me! I warn you now a +curse goes with it."</p> + +<p>But Wotan drew the ring from the dwarf's finger, then set him free.</p> + +<p>"Farewell, Alberich! Farewell!"</p> + +<p>"Ha!" laughed Alberich in scorn. "It will never bring you happiness. Its +owner shall always feel its curse of care, sorrow, and unrest."</p> + +<p>Then, turning, he groped his way down the cavern, far poorer than the +day he went stealing along the slippery bed of the river. Then, he had +no gold. Now, he had no gold and no friends.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB18"></a> +<h5>The Greedy Fafner</h5> +<p>Wotan and Loki hurried back to the mountain-side with their treasure.</p> + +<p>At the same time Fafner returned, bringing Freya.</p> + +<p>Already Fafner had made up his mind that if he gave Freya back, he must +have a very great deal of gold.</p> + +<p>When Freya again reached her own country, the sun grew brighter, the air +grew sweeter, and the glow of youth came back to the cheeks of Wotan and +his family.</p> + +<p>"Here, Fafner, is your gold!" great Wotan cried.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to give Freya up," said Fafner. "Pile up the gold between +her and me. You may keep her if there is gold enough to hide her +completely from my sight. So long as I can see her, I cannot part +with her."</p> + +<p>Then Wotan and his family heaped the glittering gold. They piled it as +loosely as they could, but when they had put on all the gold they had, +the greedy Fafner cried:--</p> + +<p>"More, more! It is not high enough! Still I can see fair Freya's +shimmering hair. Throw on that shining helmet!"</p> + +<p>"Put it on, Loki," commanded Wotan. "There, Fafner, is your pay. Freya +again belongs to me."</p> + +<p>"Not yet!" cried Fafner, as he peeped through a space in the heap. "I +can see her eyes through here." Then, pointing to the ring on Wotan's +finger: "Bring that ring and put it in this space."</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried Wotan.</p> + +<p>Then Loki spoke. "The ring belongs to the Rhine-maidens, and Wotan is +going to return it to them. Already we have given you more than you +should expect, all that shining heap and the helmet besides."</p> + +<p>"I will not give you any more!" roared Wotan. "Not all the mighty world +shall take this ring from my finger!"</p> + +<p>"Then I shall be gone," said Fafner. "I was afraid you would not give me +enough gold. Freya is mine forevermore."</p> + +<p>Wotan's family began to plead for Freya. "She is worth more to us than +all the gold in this world! Without her we must all wither and die!"</p> + +<p>It was no use to resist. Wotan knew that he dared not lose Freya.</p> + +<p>Taking the ring from his finger, he flung it upon the shining heap.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB19"></a> +<h5>A Slave To Gold</h5> +<p>Fafner gathered up the hoard--the hoard for which he had worked--the +hoard for which he had made so much trouble.</p> + +<p>He carried it off to his own country. Now that he had it, he had no +thought of using it.</p> + +<p>He wanted it merely for gold's sake; not for the sake of the great, good +things that might be done with it. The only thing he wished to do was to +keep others from getting it.</p> + +<p>He heaped it up in a cave in the forest. Then he put on the helmet and +changed himself into a fierce, ugly dragon.</p> + +<p>For the love of mere gold he was willing to give up being a splendid +giant, who roamed freely over the beautiful mountains, and to become a +hideous, twisting, squirming monster.</p> + +<p>The rest of his life he would lie at the door of the cave and guard the +treasure. The treasure should lie there useless to all the world.</p> + +<p>Fafner,--a slave to gold!</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> +<a name="CH1SUB20"></a> +<h5>The Beautiful Valhalla</h5> +<p>As Fafner carried away his treasure, a great storm gathered over the +mountain crest.</p> + +<p>The sky grew black. The thunder rolled. Its echoes bounded on from cloud +to cloud, from peak to peak, then rumbled down the valleys to the sea.</p> + +<p>Then the clouds drifted away. The setting sun shot its long rays into +the deep valley.</p> + +<p>There, arching over the river and reaching from the flowery +mountain-side to the very door of the gleaming castle, stood a shining +rainbow bridge.</p> + +<p>"Lo! our castle! Our beautiful Valhalla!" cried the king. "Let us cross +over. It shall be our dwelling-place forevermore."</p> + +<p>One by one they stepped upon the bridge.</p> + +<p>As Wotan walked slowly and sadly over, he heard the wailing of the +Rhine-maidens in the river below:--</p> + +<blockquote>"Rhine-gold! Rhine-gold!<br /> + We long for your light!"</blockquote> + +<p>"I shall never be happy again," thought Wotan. "I have given my honor +for Valhalla. What an awful price I have paid!"</p> + + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH2"></a> +<div class="redirection"> +<a href="#Contents" title="Contents--Opera Stories From Wagner">i</a> + +<a href="#CH1" title="Previous Chapter"><strong>«</strong></a> +<a href="#CH3" title="Next Chapter"><strong>»</strong></a> +</div> + +<h4>The Walküre</h4> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH2SUB1"></a> +<a name="IMG3"></a> +<h5>A Matchless Sword</h5> +<p>Many years passed. The giants lived on in their beautiful Valhalla.</p> +<a href="images/tugged.jpg"><img src="images/tugged-insert.jpg" alt="He Tugged In Vain" border="0" align="right" /></a> + +<p>But their king was sad.</p> + +<p>He could not forget Alberich's curse. What if Alberich should in some +way gain possession of the ring again! He would destroy Valhalla.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why was I not brave enough to give the ring back to the +Rhine-children!" sighed Wotan.</p> + +<p>"If only it might again be a mere thing of beauty to gladden their +hearts, but so long as it is in the world, how many more will it not rob +of their happiness.</p> + +<p>"Surely, some great hero must come who will be brave enough to slay the +dragon and give the ring back to its rightful owners."</p> + +<p>Said Wotan to himself, "I shall make a mighty sword, and when the hero +comes, his sword will be ready for him."</p> + +<p>Then the great Wotan wrought a matchless sword.</p> + +<p>When it was finished, he took it and went into the forest. Straight he +went to the home of the bold robber Hunding.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful moonlight night when he reached Hunding's hut.</p> + +<p>From the loud laughter and shouting that Wotan heard as he neared the +hut, he knew that Hunding and his friends were having a merry feast.</p> + +<p>Wotan lifted the latch and entered.</p> + +<p>The great, rude room was built around the trunk of a mighty ash tree.</p> + +<p>The walls were made of roughly hewn logs.</p> + +<p>The floors were covered with the skins of wild animals of the forest.</p> + +<p>Mats of reeds and grasses hung upon the walls.</p> + +<p>The huge fireplace was built of rough stones.</p> + +<p>The mighty Wotan scowled upon the crowd.</p> + +<p>Then, lifting the gleaming sword above his head, with one great lunging +blow, he buried the bright blade, even to its hilt, in the great ash +tree's quivering side.</p> + +<p>Then, turning to the guests, he said:--</p> + +<p>"The sword shall belong to him who can draw it from the ash tree's +heart."</p> + +<p>Though each guest tugged with all his might, he tugged in vain.</p> + +<p>In the years that followed, many came and went, and all tried hard to +gain the sword, and still that magic blade slept on within the ash +tree's sheath.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB2"></a> +<h5>The Valiant Siegmund</h5> +<p>One very dark and stormy night, Siegmund, a brave warrior, wandered +alone in the forest.</p> + +<p>That day a desperate battle had been fought.</p> + +<p>As the darkness came on, Siegmund escaped from the enemy.</p> + +<p>He had lost his weapons, and now he trudged through the pathless woods, +seeking some place where he might find balm for his wounds and shelter +from the raging storm.</p> + +<p>He was almost exhausted when he caught sight of a flickering candlelight +in the window of a forest hut.</p> + +<p>With the little strength that he had left, he dragged himself to its +door.</p> + +<p>No one answered his call, and no longer caring if it were the home of +friend or foe, he opened the door, and staggering in he sank upon +the hearth.</p> + +<p>As he looked about him he thought, "This is the home of some forest +chief."</p> + +<p>A great fire burned in the rude fireplace, and, as he grew warm, being +worn and weary, he sank into a heavy sleep.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB3"></a> +<h5>Hunding'S Wife</h5> +<p>As Siegmund slept, the door of the inner room was gently opened and a +beautiful woman stole softly in.</p> + +<p>She was clad in snowy white.</p> + +<p>Her head was crowned with a wealth of golden hair.</p> + +<p>She had heard Siegmund as he entered the room, and, thinking her +chieftain had returned from the hunt, she came to greet him.</p> + +<p>Instead she saw a stranger on the hearth, and, drawing near, she saw +that his face looked sad and troubled.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" she asked, but Siegmund did not stir.</p> + +<p>Then she knelt beside him and looked into his face.</p> + +<p>It was the strong, noble face of a hero.</p> + +<p>"He sleeps," she said. "How weak and weary he seems. Perhaps he has been +wounded or is faint from hunger."</p> + +<p>Siegmund roused and asked for water.</p> + +<p>The woman ran quickly, and, bringing a cup of cold water, held it to his +parched lips.</p> + +<p>Siegmund drank. Then, gazing into the woman's kind face, he gasped: +"Where am I?"</p> + +<p>But, with a startled look, she stood in silence, listening to the heavy +tread outside the door.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB4"></a> +<h5>Hunding</h5> +<p>The next moment the chieftain entered and glared fiercely at Siegmund.</p> + +<p>The woman hastened to say: "I found this stranger lying on our hearth. +He was faint and needed help."</p> + +<p>"And did you give it?" growled the chieftain.</p> + +<p>"I gave him water. I could not drive him out into the stormy night."</p> + +<p>The chieftain grew dark with anger as he said: "Because it is the sacred +law of my country that none shall be turned from the door who seek +shelter from the night, this intruder may stay until the morning. Then +he shall fight for his life."</p> + +<p>Siegmund knew now that he was in the house of the fierce Hunding.</p> + +<p>Taking the woman by the arm, Hunding led her from the room, and Siegmund +was left alone to think how he might save himself.</p> + +<p>Long he leaned upon the hearth in troubled silence. Then, knowing he +must flee, he turned toward the door.</p> + +<p>That moment the last flickering light of the dying fire flashed upon the +hilt of the magic sword in the ash tree.</p> + +<p>Siegmund saw it, and, springing forward, he grasped its hilt. Then, +bracing himself against the tree, with one mighty pull, behold! he drew +the bright blade from its sheath.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB5"></a><a name="IMG4"></a> +<h5>The War-Maidens</h5> +<p>Wotan gathered to Valhalla a company of nine war-maidens. They were +called the Walküre.</p> + +<a href="images/walkure.jpg"><img src="images/walkure-insert.jpg" alt="Walküre" border="0" align="right" /></a> +<p>They were strong, beautiful young women, who rode through the clouds +upon swift horses.</p> + +<p>The horses could not only run on the ground; they could fly through the +air.</p> + +<p>The maidens wore wings upon their helmets, and each wore a splendid +silver armor which glittered and flashed in the sunshine.</p> + +<p>Wherever there was a battle on the earth, Wotan would send a +battle-maiden for the most valiant hero on the field.</p> + +<p>The maiden would fly over the battlefield and watch while the warriors +fought.</p> + +<p>When the bravest man was wounded, she would quickly swoop down, and, +snatching him up, would fly with him to Valhalla, where he was revived +by fair Freya.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, when evening came, every one of the war-maidens rode into +Valhalla carrying a noble hero.</p> + +<p>This was Wotan's plan for protecting the palace.</p> + +<p>After a while he would have at the castle a company of the bravest +heroes of the earth.</p> + +<p>He hoped he would then be happier.</p> + +<p>The heroes would protect the beautiful Valhalla in time of danger.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB6"></a> + +<h5>Wotan'S Wife</h5> +<p>Morning dawned.</p> + +<p>The king of the giants went forth from his castle and called Brunhilde, +his favorite battle-maiden.</p> + +<p>He loved Brunhilde more than any other of the Walküre.</p> + +<p>She was the bravest of them all.</p> + +<p>He loved her as a father loves a daughter.</p> + +<p>"Brunhilde," said Wotan, "to-day there is to be a fearful battle. The +fierce Hunding is to fight with my dearest friend--the valiant Siegmund.</p> + +<p>"Long have I wished to have my noble friend at Valhalla. Fly, Brunhilde, +to the battlefield. Give to Siegmund the victory. Carry him here to +dwell upon the heights."</p> + +<p>At that moment Wotan's wife rushed to them in great anger.</p> + +<p>"Wotan," she cried, "Siegmund must not be brought to Valhalla. I ask +that my friend, the forest chief, shall be given aid. Send Brunhilde to +bear Hunding to our castle."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Wotan, "I must protect Siegmund. He it is who won my +sword."</p> + +<p>"Take the sword from him," replied Wotan's wife in rage. "I plead for +Hunding's rights. Promise me that you will forbid your war-maiden to +give aid to Siegmund."</p> + +<p>Wotan's heart ached at the thought of failing this friend he loved so +well.</p> + +<p>On Siegmund were centered all his hopes. Yet he feared to refuse his +wife's request.</p> + +<p>Quarrels and strife must not come into Valhalla.</p> + +<p>He threw himself upon a rocky seat and hung his head and thought in +silence.</p> + +<p>At length he said:--</p> + +<p>"I promise. From Siegmund I withdraw my aid."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB7"></a> +<h5>Wotan And Brunhilde</h5> +<p>Now that Wotan's wife had gained his promise, she turned back to +Valhalla.</p> + +<p>Wotan buried his face in his hand and cried out in despair:--</p> + +<p>"Oh, woe and shame upon the giants! What I love best I must give up. I +lose the friend I hold most dear. All my hopes are vanishing. A short +time and the giants will be no more."</p> + +<p>Loudly he moaned: "This is the curse that clutched me when I snatched +the glittering gold."</p> + +<p>Brunhilde knelt at Wotan's feet, and, looking into his sad eyes +begged:--</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Father, what thy child can do. Trust me, Father!" she pleaded. +"Tell me all your woe."</p> + +<p>Wotan took her hands in his and told her the story of the ring.</p> + +<p>How he had taken it from the finger of the dwarf.</p> + +<p>How he had stooped to trickery and had stolen the gold with which to pay +for Valhalla.</p> + +<p>He told of the sad hearts of the Rhine-daughters, and of the greedy +Fafner, lying at the door of his forest cave, guarding his hoard.</p> + +<p>But last of all, he told of the dread of Alberich's curse.</p> + +<p>He told of his fear that the black Nibelung might regain the ring and by +its power destroy Valhalla.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB8"></a> +<h5>Off To The Battlefield</h5> +<p>When Brunhilde had heard the story of the curse, she said:--</p> + +<p>"But, Father, Alberich could not destroy Valhalla. Think of all the +heroes gathered there. Surely, they can protect it from all danger."</p> + +<p>"Brunhilde, my child," sighed Wotan, "you do not know the power of that +ring when it is in the hands of Alberich. Once he gains it, he can do +with it what he will, because he has given up all love. With it, he +could turn my friends into enemies. Our heroes would then fight +for Alberich.</p> + +<p>"I have long hoped that a hero might come who would be brave enough to +slay the dragon. I hoped it might be Siegmund. But now I must desert him +in his time of need. Though it breaks my heart, I must give him up.</p> + +<p>"Darkness and gloom are fast gathering upon Valhalla. Go, Brunhilde. Go +quickly to the battlefield and shield my wife's friend."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Father, I cannot!" cried the battle-maiden. "You love Siegmund, +and I shall guard him well."</p> + +<p>At these words the mighty Wotan grew wrathful and cried:--</p> + +<p>"How dare you disobey me, child? Go, I say! Give to Hunding the victory, +and thus fulfill my promise."</p> + +<p>Sadly Brunhilde took up her spear and shield and rode away to the +battlefield.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB9"></a> + +<h5>The Flight</h5> +<p>Closely Brunhilde watched the struggle.</p> + +<p>When she saw how fairly and valiantly the noble Siegmund fought, and how +unfair and cowardly was the wicked Hunding, she thought:--</p> + +<p>"I shall obey my king's wishes, not his words. He loves Siegmund."</p> + +<p>She hovered nearer as the battle grew more terrible.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she dashed to Siegmund's side and cried:--</p> + +<p>"Slay him, Siegmund, with your matchless sword!"</p> + +<p>Siegmund raised his sword to deal the deadly blow, when lo! Wotan dashed +through a rift in the clouds and struck Siegmund's sword with his +mighty spear.</p> + +<p>The sword fell in pieces at the feet of Brunhilde. The victory belonged +to Hunding.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde, terrified by the angry Wotan, snatched up the broken pieces +of the sword, and, springing to her saddle, dashed away.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster she fled to the forest, bearing the broken blade to +Siegmund's wife.</p> + +<p>"Siegmund is slain!" she cried. "These are the pieces of his mighty +sword. Keep them for your son, Siegfried. He will be brave like +his father.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Siegfried will be the bravest hero the world has ever known."</p> + +<p>Then, springing again to her saddle, she fled toward the mountains.</p> + +<p>"On! on! my fiery steed!" she urged.</p> + +<p>No battle-maiden ever rode so fast.</p> + +<p>If she could but reach the other battle-maidens before the wrathful +Wotan overtook her, surely, they would protect her from his anger.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB10"></a> + +<h5>The Punishment</h5> +<p>It was the custom for the battle-maidens to meet at Walküre Rock every +evening at sunset. This was the highest peak in the mountains. From +here they would ride into Valhalla, each carrying the hero whom she had +snatched from the battlefield.</p> + +<p>"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!" called each as she neared the peak, and +"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!" came the answer.</p> + +<p>At length all but one had reached the rock.</p> + +<p>"Why does Brunhilde not come?" they asked of each other anxiously.</p> + +<p>"What has happened that she should be so late?"</p> + +<p>Loudly they called: "Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!"</p> + +<p>Looking toward the valley, they saw Brunhilde riding fast.</p> + +<p>Her horse was flecked with foam.</p> + +<p>"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!" they shouted; and "Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!" +came Brunhilde's answer.</p> + +<p>She reached the peak and sprang from her saddle, crying:--</p> + +<p>"Help me, Sisters! help me! I disobeyed our king!"</p> + +<p>Even as she cried Wotan drew near.</p> + +<p>"Where is Brunhilde?" he screamed in anger.</p> + +<p>The skies grew black with the storm of his wrath.</p> + +<p>"Every one of you who dares to shield her shall share her punishment."</p> + +<p>Brunhilde, weeping, walked out from her hiding-place among her sisters.</p> + +<p>Sinking at Wotan's feet she cried:--</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Father. What punishment is mine?"</p> + +<p>Wotan spoke in solemn tones:--</p> + +<p>"Never again shall you see the beautiful Valhalla. Never shall you carry +another hero to your king.</p> + +<p>"You shall lie down upon this mountain peak, and here you shall sleep +until some wanderer in passing shall awaken you, and his wife you +shall be."</p> + +<p>"You cannot mean it, Father! Anything but this! Never to see Valhalla? +Never to ride with the Walküre? Father! Father! Take back these words of +doom!" Brunhilde's sisters began to plead for her.</p> + +<p>"Go!" he cried, "every one of you. Leave Brunhilde to me!"</p> + +<p>Frightened by great Wotan's awful wrath, they spurred their horses and +dashed away to Valhalla.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB11"></a> +<h5>The Sleep</h5> +<p>Slowly the storm clouds drifted away. The twilight came.</p> + +<p>Still Brunhilde lay in fear and grief at Wotan's feet.</p> + +<p>At length she lifted her sad eyes to Wotan and cried:--</p> + +<p>"Was it so wrong, this thing that I have done? 'T is you who taught me +to shield the brave and the true. I only sought to care for one +you loved."</p> + +<p>"Brunhilde, you disobeyed me. I have told you what your punishment shall +be. I cannot change it."</p> + +<p>"Then grant me, Father, this one wish: that you will make the place +where I sleep so no coward can reach me. Make it so none but a hero will +dare come near."</p> + +<p>Then, taking Brunhilde in his arms, he said:--</p> + +<p>"I grant your wish, my child. I shall encircle the place with magic +fire. Only he who knows no fear may claim you for his bride."</p> + +<p>Then Wotan kissed Brunhilde upon each eyelid, and she fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Gently he bore her to a mossy mound beneath a spreading fir tree.</p> + +<p>Laying her down, he looked long and lovingly upon her sweet, brave face.</p> + +<p>He drew her helmet close over her eyes, and laid her shield upon her +breast.</p> + +<p>The flowers went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde's noble steed lay down and slept.</p> + +<blockquote>"Farewell, my child, most brave and beautiful!<br /> + + Thou life and light of all my heart, farewell!<br /> + Pride of my soul, farewell, a long farewell!"</blockquote> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH2SUB12"></a> +<h5>The Magic Fire</h5> +<p>Wotan strode a few steps away from where Brunhilde slept, then struck +the rock with his mighty spear.</p> + +<p>Red flames shot up, leaping almost to the sky. They were magic flames +and would not harm any one.</p> + +<p>But they looked like real fire, and none but a hero would dare go into +them.</p> + +<p>They would frighten away all cowards.</p> + +<p>Wotan walked around the peak, drawing a line with his spear.</p> + +<p>From every place the spear touched the fire burst forth, until at length +the mound where Brunhilde slept was entirely encircled by lurid flames.</p> + +<p>Great Wotan looked upon his work. Then he turned and called to all the +mountains and the valleys below:--</p> + +<blockquote>"Whoso dareth Wotan's spear,<br /> + Whoso knoweth naught of fear,<br /> + + Let him burst these flames of war,<br /> + Let him leap this fiery bar!"</blockquote> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH3"></a> +<div class="redirection"> +<a href="#Contents" title="Contents--Opera Stories From Wagner">i</a> +<a href="#CH2" title="Previous Chapter"><strong>«</strong></a> +<a href="#CH4" title="Next Chapter"><strong>»</strong></a> +</div> + +<h4>Siegfried</h4> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB1"></a> +<h5>The Missing Mimi</h5> +<p>The cunning Mimi secretly longed to steal out into the world and find +that magic ring.</p> + +<p>One night when all the other little Nibelungs were asleep, he slipped +stealthily to his forge.</p> + +<p>He gathered up his best tools.</p> + +<p>Making sure that all were soundly sleeping, he stole quietly out.</p> + +<p>What surprise and excitement there must have been the next morning when +the little black Nibelungs found that Mimi had run away and had taken +all of his best tools with him!</p> + +<p>How they must have rushed about, each anxious to tell another the news +of the missing Mimi!</p> + +<p>Of course, Alberich guessed very quickly for what purpose his brother +had gone.</p> + +<p>And how Alberich must have raged when he thought of what a sad day it +would be for him should Mimi become owner of that ring!</p> + +<p>Mimi was strangely clever.</p> + +<p>He said to himself: "That ring is hidden somewhere in the forest. I will +go there and search until I know who has it. Then I will find some way +of getting it."</p> + +<p>On he went, until he came to the darkest place in the woods.</p> + +<p>The boughs overlapped each other, so much that almost no sunshine could +get through.</p> + +<p>Mimi liked this place. It was soothing to his eyes, so used to the +darkness of the Nibelungs' cavern.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB2"></a> +<h5>The Dragon</h5> +<p>Mimi had found the very forest which he sought to find.</p> + +<p>This was the one in which the dragon lay guarding the hoard.</p> + +<p>The sly dwarf caught a glimpse of the huge monster lying at the door of +its cave.</p> + +<p>Its great yawning jaws and sharp teeth filled him with terror.</p> + +<p>Mimi darted into the underbrush. How glad he was that the monster had +not seen him.</p> + +<p>He shook and trembled with fear as he peeped at the loathsome creature.</p> + +<p>Its body was covered with green scales. Poison breath came from its +nostrils.</p> + +<p>Its awful snake-like tail twisted and lashed about. In the end of the +tail was a deadly sting.</p> + +<p>"Alberich's ring is in that cave," thought Mimi. "Now close to this +forest I must find a good little cavern in which to live.</p> + +<p>"Then I can come often to watch the dragon.</p> + +<p>"Some day I shall find a hero to slay this fierce monster. Then I shall +slink into the cave and snatch the ring.</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho! my brother Alberich! We shall see who shall be master and who +shall be slave!"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB3"></a> +<h5>A Baby In The Forest</h5> +<p>Mimi found a cavern in a rocky cleft. It was just the kind of place he +liked.</p> + +<p>In it was just the right kind of rock for a forge.</p> + +<p>There he hammered at weapons or chains or whatever happened to be his +need.</p> + +<p>Daily he sneaked about in the underbrush, watching the dragon, and daily +he became more anxious to gain the gold.</p> + +<p>He was such a coward that he was frightened at almost every animal he +saw in the woods and startled by every sound.</p> + +<p>One day, when he had ventured farther from his cave than usual, he was +startled by a strange little cry.</p> + +<p>He listened a moment and thought:--</p> + +<p>"It sounds like the cry of a little child. I shall run to my cave."</p> + +<p>But as he heard the cry again, something made him want to see what it +was.</p> + +<p>He slipped cautiously through the bushes, in the direction from which +the sound came.</p> + +<p>When he reached the place he found a little baby boy.</p> + +<p>This was the same forest to which Brunhilde had fled, bearing the broken +sword to Siegmund's wife.</p> + +<p>But now the mother had died, and Siegmund's child was left alone in the +woods.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB4"></a> +<h5>Mimi And The Baby</h5> +<p>Mimi was mean and selfish.</p> + +<p>He would not even have cared for a little child alone in the woods had +he not thought that by so doing he might gain something for himself.</p> + +<p>As he looked at the baby he heard a strange voice saying:--</p> + +<p>"Siegfried is his name, and only he who knows no fear can mend the +sword."</p> + +<p>"The sword? The sword?" questioned Mimi. "What does the voice mean?"</p> + +<p>Going nearer to the child, he saw close beside it the broken pieces of +Siegmund's sword.</p> + +<p>Mimi picked up the pieces and looked at them.</p> + +<p>"The finest piece of steel I ever saw," he chuckled, as he ran his +fingers carefully along the keen edges.</p> + +<p>Then he cried aloud in joy.</p> + +<p>"At last I have found the hero! This little baby is the son of some +valiant warrior. These are the broken pieces of the warrior's sword. +Such luck for Mimi!</p> + +<p>"The boy will be a warrior like his father. I shall take him to my cave +and take good care of him.</p> + +<p>"When he is grown up I will make him pay me for my care and pains. He +shall slay the dragon. Then I will take the ring."</p> + +<p>He lifted the little baby as gently as he knew how, and started toward +his cave.</p> + +<p>Again he heard the same strange voice:--</p> + +<p>"Siegfried is his name, and only he who knows no fear can mend the +sword."</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha!" chuckled Mimi. "That voice does not know what a skillful +smith Mimi is.</p> + +<p>"I will mend the sword and Siegfried shall use it to slay the dragon."</p> + +<p>He folded the baby close in his rough, black little arms.</p> + +<p>"A few more years, a few more years," he gurgled in glee, "and Mimi's +hands shall clutch the precious gold."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB5"></a><a name="IMGSIG"></a> +<h5>Siegfried And His Friends</h5> +<a href="images/siegfried.jpg"><img src="images/siegfried-frontice.jpg" alt="Siegfried" border="0" align="right" /></a> +<p>Mimi took good care of Siegfried.</p> + +<p>When the boy had grown large enough to play about in the woods, Mimi +made for him a little silver horn.</p> + +<p>Siegfried loved all the birds and the wild animals.</p> + +<p>He knew they were his best friends, for something in Mimi's face always +showed him that the dwarf was false.</p> + +<p>Siegfried would wander out into the forest with his silver horn swinging +from his shoulder.</p> + +<p>He would blow his little horn song, and his forest friends would hear +the call and come to play with him.</p> + +<p>He watched the birds as they built their nests.</p> + +<p>He listened to the father bird as he warbled his pretty little love +songs.</p> + +<p>How sweetly he sang to the mother bird while she sat upon the nest!</p> + +<p>And when the little eggs had told their secret, both the father and the +mother birds carried food to the babies.</p> + +<p>Siegfried saw how tenderly the mother foxes, wolves, and bears cared for +their babies.</p> + +<p>From these friends in the forest he learned what love is.</p> + +<p>Never for all the world would he have stolen one baby from its mother.</p> + +<p>But it was when he watched the love-light in the eyes of the mother deer +that he would shut his eyes and try to dream that he too had a +loving mother.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB6"></a> +<h5>The Broken Sword</h5> +<p>Mimi always pretended to be Siegfried's father, and he pretended to love +Siegfried.</p> + +<p>But Siegfried knew there was no love in Mimi's heart.</p> + +<p>Daily Siegfried grew larger and stronger.</p> + +<p>Mimi continually boasted of his work at the forge.</p> + +<p>Often he said: "No one in this world can make such marvelous swords as +Mimi."</p> + +<p>Siegfried urged him to make one sword after another, but as fast as they +were made the boy would shatter them to bits with one blow on the +dwarf's forge.</p> + +<p>Then he would cry in disgust: "Nonsense, Mimi. Your swords are mere +toys. Just like little switches.</p> + +<p>"Either make me a good strong sword or quit your bragging."</p> + +<p>Mimi always kept the pieces of Siegmund's sword carefully hidden. +While Siegfried roamed through the woods, the dwarf would work for hours +trying to mend the magic blade, but its hard steel would never yield +either to his fire or his hammer.</p> + +<p>Mimi grew tired and discouraged.</p> + +<p>"I can never mend it," he groaned.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB7"></a><a name="IMG5"></a> +<h5>A Big Brown Bear</h5> +<p>Siegfried grew to be a young man.</p> + +<a href="images/bruin.jpg"><img src="images/bruin-insert.jpg" alt="Mimi, Bruin and Siegfried" border="0" align="right" /></a> +<p>Often he saw his reflection in the water, and he said:--</p> + +<p>"I am not Mimi's son. The babes in the forest all look like their +parents. I do not look like Mimi."</p> + +<p>Siegfried's reflection showed him a fearless face with large, honest +eyes.</p> + +<p>About the face fell a wealth of waving, sunny hair.</p> + +<p>One day, as he studied this reflection and thought of the blinking, +sneaking little black Mimi, he said:--</p> + +<p>"I will endure his falsehoods no longer. I know he is not my father. +This very day I am going to make him tell me who I am!"</p> + +<p>Lifting his silver horn, he blew a loud blast.</p> + +<p>Out of the woods came one of his good friends, a great brown bear.</p> + +<p>"Come, Bruin," said Siegfried.</p> + +<p>And he put a rope around Bruin's neck.</p> + +<p>"We will go to Mimi's cave and we will make him tell us all we want to +know."</p> + +<p>Siegfried led the big bear to the mouth of Mimi's cave.</p> + +<p>When the cowardly Mind saw the bear, he crouched behind the forge and +screamed:--</p> + +<p>"Take him away! Oh, Siegfried, take him away!"</p> + +<p>"Eat him, Bruin," laughed Siegfried, as Mimi trembled with fear.</p> + +<p>The bear growled at Mimi.</p> + +<p>"Oh! keep him off!" gasped Mimi.</p> + +<p>"I shall," said Siegfried, "if you will promise to answer all I ask."</p> + +<p>"I will! I will! I will tell you anything you want to know," stammered +Mimi.</p> + +<p>Siegfried untied the rope.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Bruin," he said, as he gave him a friendly slap on the back, +and the big bear trotted off to the woods.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB8"></a> +<h5>Siegfried And Mimi</h5> +<p>Mimi and Siegfried sat down upon the rocks in the cave, and Mimi told +how he had found the baby in the woods and how he had brought him to +the cave.</p> + +<p>Mimi put in many words of how much Siegfried owed for all this care and +trouble.</p> + +<blockquote>"Thou givest me always trouble and pain,<br /> + I wear to shreds poor foolish me!<br /> + Now, for my care, this is my gain,--<br /> + + Only abuse and hate from thee."</blockquote> + +<p>Siegfried looked straight into Mimi's eyes.</p> + +<p>He tried to see if Mimi were telling the truth.</p> + +<p>"How did you know my name was Siegfried?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Then Mimi told of the strange voice which said:--</p> + +<p>"Siegfried is his name."</p> + +<p>But not once did the dwarf mention the sword.</p> + +<p>"You cowardly little wretch!" cried Siegfried. "You have told me so +much that is not true that I can never believe you.</p> + +<p>"How do I know that this is not another of your miserable falsehoods?</p> + +<p>"Prove to me that this is true, or I shall make you sorry that you ever +saw me. Prove it to me, I tell you!" cried Siegfried, as he grasped the +shrinking dwarf by the shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I will! I will!" gasped the frightened Mimi; and he brought out the +broken sword.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB9"></a> + +<h5>Siegfried Mends His Father's Sword</h5> +<p>Siegfried looked at the sword.</p> + +<p>Then handing it back to Mimi, he said:--</p> + +<p>"Mend it for me, Mimi! Mend it! Now is your chance to prove your skill!"</p> + +<p>"I cannot! Oh, I cannot!" groaned Mimi; and he gasped out the rest of +what the voice had told him:--</p> + +<p>"Only he who knows no fear can mend the sword."</p> + +<p>Siegfried took the broken pieces to the forge and began filing them to +dust.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Siegfried, stop!" cried Mimi. "You will ruin that blade!"</p> + +<p>But Siegfried kept on filing.</p> + +<p>He sang as he worked, until the pieces were filed to dust.</p> + +<p>Then he melted the dust and poured the hot liquid into a mould the shape +of a blade.</p> + +<p>When it had hardened, he took it out and sharpened it.</p> + +<p>Then he welded the blade to its hilt.</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha!" chuckled Mimi. "At last the sword is mended.</p> + +<p>"Now I will show Siegfried the dragon. He will not know a ring is in the +dragon's cave.</p> + +<p>"When the dragon is dead, the ring shall be Mimi's.</p> + +<p>"Mimi, you are no longer the despised little Nibelung. You are the king +of the earth."</p> + +<p>Joyously Siegfried waved the bright blade above his head.</p> + +<p>He brought it down with all his strength upon the forge, and with a +mighty crash the huge rock fell in pieces.</p> + +<p>Mimi sank in terror to the ground.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB10"></a> +<h5>Siegfried Goes To Fight The Dragon</h5> +<p>"Get up, you coward!" cried Siegfried.</p> + +<p>"Now tell me what that thing is that I do not know. Fear? What is fear? +Why did you not teach it to me?"</p> + +<p>The wicked dwarf slipped to Siegfried's side.</p> + +<p>"I will teach you. Come with me. I will show you a horrible serpent, +lying at the door of Hate Cavern.</p> + +<p>"There you will learn what fear is, if you can learn it any place in +this world.</p> + +<p>"Have you never seen anything that made you shiver from head to foot and +made your heart beat fast?"</p> + +<p>"I never have," calmly answered Siegfried. "Take me quickly, Mimi. I am +ready to learn."</p> + +<p>At every step Mimi chuckled to himself:--</p> + +<p>"The ring is mine! At last the ring is mine! Now all the world shall +kneel at my feet!"</p> + +<p>"When he had gone as far as he dared, he pointed out the rest of the way +to Siegfried.</p> + +<p>"Just through here," he said. "And I shall go back now. When the dragon +sees you it will be a terrible struggle! I shall wait anxiously for you, +my Siegfried!"</p> + +<p>But as Siegfried vanished from sight, he rubbed his black hands together +and laughed:--</p> + +<p>"Ah, it will be luck for Mimi if Siegfried and the dragon kill each +other!"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB11"></a> +<h5>A Wood-Bird'S Song</h5> +<p>When Siegfried had gone on a little way, he stretched himself upon a +grassy mound beneath a tree to rest and think.</p> + +<p>Looking up through the branches at the clear sky, he cried:--</p> + +<p>"I am free! Free! Never again will I go back to that loathsome +Nibelung."</p> + +<p>A bird in the tree began singing its sweet wood-song.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, my little feathered friend!" said Siegfried. "I am sure +what you are singing is very sweet, but I cannot understand your words."</p> + +<p>Then Siegfried cut a reed near by, and putting it to his lips, tried to +whistle answers to the little bird's notes.</p> + +<p>His music did not sound much like the song of a bird.</p> + +<p>"I give it up, my little friend," he said, and threw away the reed.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB12"></a><a name="IMG6"></a> +<h5>Siegfried And The Dragon</h5> + +<a href="images/dragon.jpg"><img src="images/dragon-insert.jpg" alt="Dragon" border="0" align="right" /></a> +<p>"I will blow you a song on my silver horn," said Siegfried to the bird.</p> + +<p>"I often blow this little song. It is my call for a comrade. I long for +one. None better have ever come to me than the bears and foxes."</p> + +<p>Loudly he blew his horn.</p> + +<p>Soon there was a great crackling in the underbrush. The huge dragon +came, lashing its deadly tail, gaping its red jaws, and blowing out +poison fumes.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" laughed Siegfried. "What a fair comrade I have charmed from his +cave! You savage brute, are you going to teach me what fear is?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to eat you!" hissed the dragon, glaring at Siegfried and +thrusting out its long forked tongue.</p> + +<p>Siegfried quickly drew his sword.</p> + +<p>Snorting fire and smoke from its nostrils, the monster raised to strike +a deadly blow.</p> + +<p>Siegfried sprang forward; a flash of steel, and his blade sank to the +monster's heart.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB13"></a> +<h5>A Change Comes Over Siegfried</h5> +<p>As Siegfried drew his blade from the breast of the dying dragon, a drop +of its black blood fell on his finger.</p> + +<p>It burned like fire.</p> + +<p>Siegfried quickly put his finger in his mouth.</p> + +<p>The instant the dragon's blood touched his lips, a change came over him.</p> + +<p>He could understand the words of the little bird singing in the tree:--</p> + +<blockquote>"Now the gold is Siegfried's!<br /> + Now all the gold is Siegfried's!<br /> + Go into the cave, Siegfried!<br /> + Go in! Go in!<br /> + Find the helmet and the ring!<br /> + The helmet and the ring are Siegfried's!<br /> + + Take them! Take them! Take them!"</blockquote> + +<p>Siegfried went through the brush in the direction from which the monster +had come.</p> + +<p>When he found the cave, he peered in.</p> + +<p>All was deep, dreary darkness, but Siegfried had not learned fear.</p> + +<p>He went in and found the gold, the helmet, and the ring.</p> + +<p>But he did not need the gold. Its weight would only hinder him.</p> + +<p>He looked upon the wishing-cap, but surely no one could turn into +anything better than a hero, and Siegfried was already a hero.</p> + +<p>What use could he have for a wishing-cap?</p> + +<p>A hero does not try to make believe he is something which he is not.</p> + +<p>He is brave enough to be just himself.</p> + +<p>But the little bird fluttered at the door of the cave.</p> + +<p>"Take the helmet and the ring, Siegfried! Take the helmet and the ring!"</p> + +<p>"I will obey my little friend," said Siegfried.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB14"></a> +<h5>Mimi Has A Surprise</h5> +<p>The sly, wicked Mimi came slinking to the place where the dragon lay.</p> + +<p>When he saw it lying dead under the trees, he looked about for +Siegfried, but Siegfried was nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Now I shall rush in and snatch the ring! At last I shall have my pay +for all these years of trouble with that rogue I hate!"</p> + +<p>But scarcely had Mimi turned toward the dragon's cave when suddenly +Alberich sprang before him.</p> + +<p>"You sly, crafty rascal!" cried Alberich. "What do you want here? Ha! I +have caught you at your sneaking tricks! Long have I guarded here! You +shall not steal my gold! Get back to your murky cave."</p> + +<p>But Mimi screamed:--</p> + +<p>"You shall not have the gold! 'T is mine! Long years have I toiled and +waited! The gold is mine, I say!" "Yours?" Alberich snarled in scorn. +"Yours? You snatched it from the Rhine-daughters, did you? You paid the +price to mould that ring?"</p> + +<p>And Mimi raved:</p> + +<p>"Who made the helmet, that wondrous cap that in a flash can change a man +into anything he wants to be?"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB15"></a> + +<h5>Mimi And Alberich Stop To Quarrel Too Long</h5> +<p>While Mimi and Alberich quarreled, Siegfried came from the dragon's +cave, bearing the helmet and the ring.</p> + +<p>He heard no sound save the rustling of the leaves and the song of the +bird.</p> + +<p>Again he sat down in the shadow of a tree.</p> + +<p>"Little bird, can you not help me to find a true friend?" asked +Siegfried.</p> + +<p>"Each year you have your mate and your little birdlings in the nest. You +sing songs with the other birds.</p> + +<p>"I have never known a father or a mother, a sister or a brother. I am +lonely.</p> + +<p>"Is there nowhere in all this world some one whom I may love? Some one +who will love me?"</p> + +<p>Then the wood-bird began to sing a pretty love-song of a maiden sleeping +on the crest of a mountain, encircled by fire.</p> + +<p>Sweetly he sang:--"Only he who knows no fear may claim her for his +bride."</p> + +<p>Siegfried sprang to his feet. "I do not know fear. I have tried with all +my might to learn it. Oh, help me to find the mountain where +she sleeps!"</p> + +<p>The little bird flew away in the opposite direction from where the +wicked Nibelungs stood quarreling, and Siegfried joyously hurried after.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB16"></a> +<h5>Siegfried Reaches The Mountain</h5> +<p>A heavy storm arose as Siegfried and the bird neared the foot of the +mountain where Brunhilde slept. There were peals of deep thunder.</p> + +<p>The sky grew very dark. The great boughs of the trees swayed with the +wind.</p> + +<p>Siegfried took shelter under a low spreading fir.</p> + +<p>The storm did not last long, and as the light again broke through the +clouds, Siegfried looked about for his little guide, but all in vain. +The bird had fled.</p> + +<p>Siegfried started on up the mountain, when suddenly the giant Wotan +stood before him.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" demanded Wotan.</p> + +<p>Siegfried replied:--</p> + +<p>"I am going to the top of this mountain. There a maiden lies sleeping. I +will awaken her, and she shall be my bride."</p> + +<p>"Go back to your forest!" commanded Wotan. "This mountain is encircled +by fire."</p> + +<p>And stretching forth his arm, he barred the path with his mighty spear.</p> + +<p>Siegfried quickly drew his sword from its sheath.</p> + +<p>"This is the magic spear that rules the world!" said Wotan. "Put away +that sword, or the spear that once shattered it will shatter it again!"</p> + +<p>"Ha!" cried Siegfried, "then you were my father's foe!"</p> + +<p>There was a flash of Siegfried's blade, then a crash that echoed over +mountains and valleys, and Siegfried had shattered Wotan's spear. It lay +in splinters on the ground.</p> + +<p>Wotan stepped aside and sadly bowed his head upon his breast.</p> + +<p>He knew this meant the downfall of the giants. No longer would the earth +be ruled from fair Valhalla's heights.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB17"></a> + +<h5>Siegfried Learns What Fear Is</h5> +<p>Siegfried hurried up the mountain-side.</p> + +<p>The fierce flames leaped as if to meet him.</p> + +<p>They grew redder, and lapped their fiery tongues.</p> + +<p>Siegfried bounded toward them with joy.</p> + +<p>Lifting his silver horn to his lips, and blowing his Comrade Call so +sweet and clear, he plunged into their depths.</p> + +<p>The maddened flames leaped and crackled as if to devour him.</p> + +<p>But on he went, blowing his horn, until at length the sea of flames +slowly sank to earth.</p> + +<p>The redness of the sky gave way to blue, and all grew clear and +beautiful.</p> + +<p>Siegfried looked upon the sleeping figure.</p> + +<p>All the world seemed wrapped in silence. Not a leaf moved on the trees.</p> + +<p>There was not a sound to mar that perfect sleep.</p> + +<p>Siegfried looked in wonder at the shining coat of mail.</p> + +<p>"It is some valiant knight," he whispered.</p> + +<p>"How heavy seems the armor. It should be lifted so that he may rest +better."</p> + +<p>Carefully Siegfried lifted the glittering shield and laid it to one +side.</p> + +<p>Eagerly he raised the helmet. There fell a mass of waving golden hair. +"A burst of glorious sunshine," whispered Siegfried.</p> + +<p>Then he sought to loosen the rings that held the coat of mail.</p> + +<p>Finding it difficult, he drew his sword and cut them.</p> + +<p>The shining armor fell jingling to the ground.</p> + +<p>The soft white folds of her woman's gown fell loosely about her.</p> + +<p>Siegfried started back and stared in silence.</p> + +<p>He trembled from head to foot.</p> + +<p>He pressed his hand to his fast-beating heart.</p> + +<p>"At last!" he cried. "At last! I know what fear is."</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH3SUB18"></a> +<h5>The Awakening</h5> +<p>At length Siegfried went softly to Brunhilde's side.</p> + +<p>He stood and looked upon her sweet, heroic face, and love came into his +heart.</p> + +<p>Bending low, he tenderly kissed her.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde slowly opened her eyes.</p> + +<p>She looked up at the blue sky and the smiling sun, and cried:--</p> + +<p>"All hail to thee, thou glorious sun in heaven!"</p> + +<p>The flowers slowly opened their petals, the birds began to sing.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde's horse awoke and neighed his glad call.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde looked upon Siegfried.</p> + +<p>Slowly her memory returned.</p> + +<p>As she remembered Wotan's words: "Only he who knows no fear may claim +you for his bride," she knew at last her hero had come.</p> + +<p>She looked into Siegfried's strong, brave face, and as he told her of +his love, she no longer wished to go back to Valhalla.</p> + +<p>She knew that she loved Siegfried with all her heart, and she promised +to be his bride.</p> + +<p>She told him that she would always be happy when she was by his side.</p> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH4"></a> +<div class="redirection"> + +<a href="#Contents" title="Contents--Opera Stories From Wagner">i</a> +<a href="#CH3" title="Previous Chapter"><strong>«</strong></a> +<a href="#CH5" title="Next Chapter"><strong>»</strong></a> +</div> + +<h4>Götterdämmerung</h4> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH4SUB1"></a><a name="IMG7"></a> +<h5>A Song Of The Past</h5> +<a href="images/norns.jpg"><img src="images/norns-insert.jpg" alt="Norns" border="0" align="right" /></a> +<p>One very dark night, three Norns came to the mountain crest to spin.</p> + +<p>If you had seen them, you would have called them witches.</p> + +<p>They spun the thread of fate.</p> + +<p>They were very, very old. The eldest was almost as old as the world.</p> + +<p>They were tall and gaunt, and wore long black gowns.</p> + +<p>Their faces and hands were deep-wrinkled with age, and their hair was as +white as the snow.</p> + +<p>They had come up from the great, dark earth-hole, where they lived, and +now they crouched upon the rocks to spin their thread.</p> + +<p>The eldest was the first to spin the thread, and as she spun, she sang a +song about the past, when Wotan and his happy family lived out of doors +upon the mountain-side.</p> + +<p>She sang of the time when he split from the world's ash tree the piece +of wood from which he made the magic spear, which had ruled the world +for so many hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>She sang of Freya's apples, and of the strength and youth of the giant +family.</p> + +<p>At length her voice wavered, the strange, weird song ceased, and she +tossed the thread to the second Norn.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH4SUB2"></a> +<h5>A Song Of The Present</h5> +<p>As the second Norn took the thread in her worn hands, she crooned a +sorrowful song about the present.</p> + +<p>She sang of Alberich and the stolen gold. Of the love that he had given +up in order to make the ring.</p> + +<p>She sang of Wotan and how he grasped the ring and carried it into the +world, bringing with it Alberich's curse.</p> + +<p>Then she told of Fafner.</p> + +<p>Mournfully she sang:--</p> + +<p>"It has robbed all who have had it of their freedom and happiness.</p> + +<p>"It has brought envy and discontent to those who have struggled to gain +it.</p> + +<p>"Now Wotan's magic spear is splintered.</p> + +<p>"Oh! How this gold has tangled all my threads!" she wailed.</p> + +<p>Her long, gaunt fingers pulled and worked at the knots, but all in vain.</p> + +<p>She could not straighten out the snarls.</p> + +<p>"Sing, oh, my Sister, sing!" she cried. "You know what the end will be."</p> + +<p>And she tossed the snarled threads to the third Norn.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH4SUB3"></a> +<h5>A Song Of The Future</h5> +<p>The third Norn took up the thread.</p> + +<p>Twisting and untying, she sang of the future.</p> + +<p>She sang of the downfall of the giants.</p> + +<p>She sang of the time when Wotan and his family would be no more, and +bright Valhalla's halls would be only a ruin.</p> + +<p>"But, Sisters, look!" she cried. "The day is dawning. We must make +haste!"</p> + +<p>She tugged at the thread. The knots grew tighter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see!" she cried. "I cannot make it reach."</p> + +<p>Another pull, the thread snapped.</p> + +<p>The three Norns wailed.</p> + +<p>Then, snatching up the broken ends of their thread of fate, they +vanished in the gloom.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH4SUB4"></a> + +<h5>A Pledge Of Love</h5> +<p>The days went by. Siegfried and Brunhilde were perfectly happy upon the +mountain.</p> + +<p>One day they decided that Siegfried should go forth to do brave deeds in +the world.</p> + +<p>He would come back when he had won honor and fame.</p> + +<p>He told Brunhilde how anxious he would be to get back to her, and that +he would come just as soon as he could.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde told Siegfried how lonely she would be without him, and how +she would listen both day and night for the glad call of his +silver horn.</p> + +<p>Siegfried took Brunhilde's hand and put the ring upon her finger, +saying:--</p> + +<p>"This, Brunhilde, shall stay with you. It shall be a pledge of my love +until I come again."</p> + +<p>Brunhilde gave Siegfried her swift horse. On it he should ride to great +victories.</p> + +<p>Siegfried led the horse down the mountain.</p> + +<p>Every little way he looked lovingly back at Brunhilde.</p> + +<p>They called and waved to each other until he passed from sight.</p> + +<p>And after that Brunhilde listened to the clear notes of his silver horn, +until at length its last faint echo died away.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH4SUB5"></a> +<h5>The Doom Of Valhalla</h5> +<p>Siegfried had been away several days.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde sat looking far out over the valley.</p> + +<p>She was thinking of Siegfried and of how he was proving his courage to +the world.</p> + +<p>She lifted her hand to her lips and kissed the ring, Siegfried's pledge +of love.</p> + +<p>"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!" came from the valley below.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde sprang to her feet with the answer:--</p> + +<p>"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!"</p> + +<p>Could it be that one of her sisters was coming to see her?</p> + +<p>Was it possible that one of the Walküre would so far dare Wotan's wrath +as to venture to the mountain's crest?</p> + +<p>Nearer came the call:--</p> + +<p>"Heiho! hoyotoho! heiho!"</p> + +<p>And a battle-maiden came in sight.</p> + +<p>Brunhilde was very happy to see her sister again, but the battle-maiden +looked sad.</p> + +<p>She brought bad news from Valhalla.</p> + +<p>She and Brunhilde sat down upon the rock, and the battle-maiden told the +sad story of the last days of the giants.</p> + +<p>"Brunhilde," she said, "Wotan does not know that I have come. Valhalla +is in deepest gloom.</p> + +<p>"Wotan has never sent us to a battlefield since that day when we last +saw you.</p> + +<p>"Not long ago he came home with his magic spear broken into splinters. +He sat down and buried his face in his hands, and there he sits day +after day.</p> + +<p>"He tell us the giants are passing from the earth. A little while and +Valhalla shall be no more.</p> + +<p>"He refuses all of Freya's golden fruit. He has grown very old and very +sad.</p> + +<p>"Yesterday I heard him say, 'Oh! if Brunhilde would only give the ring +back to the Rhine-daughters, and release the world from the terrible +curse of gold!'</p> + +<p>"And, Brunhilde, I have come to beg of you, will you not give the ring +back to the Rhine-daughters?"</p> + +<p>Brunhilde clasped the ring close to her breast.</p> + +<p>"Give the ring to the Rhine-daughters?" she cried.</p> + +<p>Then she looked far away toward the valley----and Siegfried.</p> + +<p>"This ring of mine is Siegfried's pledge of love!"</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /><a name="CH4SUB6"></a> + +<h5>Love</h5> +<p>The next morning Brunhilde stood upon Walküre Rock and watched the +glorious sunrise.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she heard the glad notes of Siegfried's silver horn.</p> + +<p>"Siegfried! Siegfried!" she cried in joy, and hurried down the mountain +to greet him.</p> + +<p>All the earth seemed as glad as at that glad time when Siegfried came to +Walküre Rock to claim Brunhilde for his bride.</p> + +<p>But Brunhilde was not altogether happy.</p> + +<p>She could not forget the sorrowful news which her sister had brought, of +the gloom at Valhalla.</p> + +<p>So, after their first glad greeting, they sat down upon the rocks, and +Brunhilde told Siegfried the sad story of the ring, from the time when +Alberich snatched it from the Rhine-daughters, until the day Siegfried +took it from Hate Cavern.</p> + +<p>Then, hand in hand, they went, the valiant Siegfried and the noble +Brunhilde, to the banks of the Rhine.</p> + +<p>They called to the Rhine-daughters and the Rhine-daughters came out upon +the rocks.</p> + +<p>With a glad shout, Brunhilde flung the ring into the water.</p> + +<p>The Rhine-daughters darted after it.</p> + +<p>In a moment they came again to the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>At last they held their precious, glittering +gold.</p> + +<p>The happiest song that ever echoed along the banks of the Rhine was sung +by the Rhine-daughters on that glad morning.</p> + +<hr width="40%" size="2" /> + +<p>Once more gold had become as harmless as a sunbeam.</p> + +<p>Hurry, worry, falsehood, greed, and envy vanished from the earth.</p> + +<p>Anxiety disappeared from the brows of the tired fathers.</p> + +<p>A new happiness came into the eyes of the loving mothers.</p> + +<p>A greater power than gold or giant strength had come to rule the world, +and that power was Love.</p> + +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> + +<a name="CH5"></a> +<div class="redirection"> +<a href="#Contents" title="Contents--Opera Stories From Wagner">i</a> +<a href="#CH4" title="Previous Chapter"><strong>«</strong></a> + +<strong> </strong> +</div> + +<h4>More About The Stories</h4> +<p>The author would not have you think that when you have read this little +book you know all that Richard Wagner told about Siegfried.</p> + +<p>When you are older, do not fail to read <i>The Rhine-Gold, The Walküre, +Siegfried</i>, and <i>Götterdämmerung,</i> as Richard Wagner told them.</p> + +<p>You will enjoy them more because of having read these little stories.</p> +<hr width="80%" size="2" /> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Opera Stories from Wagner, by Florence Akin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OPERA STORIES FROM WAGNER *** + +***** This file should be named 9456-h.htm or 9456-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/5/9456/ + +Produced by Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/9456-h/images/alberich-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/alberich-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..96f1bc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/alberich-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/alberich-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/alberich-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8b5ef5 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/alberich-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/alberich.jpg b/9456-h/images/alberich.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee2e29a --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/alberich.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/bruin-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/bruin-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22fe034 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/bruin-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/bruin-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/bruin-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b1d8aa --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/bruin-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/bruin.jpg b/9456-h/images/bruin.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f5f27a --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/bruin.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/dragon-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/dragon-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1cf0b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/dragon-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/dragon-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/dragon-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1b9990 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/dragon-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/dragon.jpg b/9456-h/images/dragon.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0f1772 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/dragon.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/norns-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/norns-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dae5e00 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/norns-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/norns-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/norns-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e1a2a43 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/norns-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/norns.jpg b/9456-h/images/norns.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1d61c41 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/norns.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/siegfried-frontice.jpg b/9456-h/images/siegfried-frontice.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bb7c08 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/siegfried-frontice.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/siegfried-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/siegfried-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed415e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/siegfried-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/siegfried.jpg b/9456-h/images/siegfried.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f05edab --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/siegfried.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/tugged-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/tugged-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..beb7d80 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/tugged-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/tugged-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/tugged-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aef1cd6 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/tugged-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/tugged.jpg b/9456-h/images/tugged.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..176927c --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/tugged.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/walkure-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/walkure-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d4f4d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/walkure-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/walkure-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/walkure-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ae83fe --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/walkure-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/walkure.jpg b/9456-h/images/walkure.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..851b891 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/walkure.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/wotan-insert.jpg b/9456-h/images/wotan-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec1f871 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/wotan-insert.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/wotan-th.jpg b/9456-h/images/wotan-th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bd167e --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/wotan-th.jpg diff --git a/9456-h/images/wotan.jpg b/9456-h/images/wotan.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e65dac3 --- /dev/null +++ b/9456-h/images/wotan.jpg |
