Act 2

scene tree

Siegmund

Do stop here, and take a rest.

Sieglinde

On! On!

Siegmund

No further just now!

Wait, my sweet wife!

You rushed away from blessed delight; with sudden haste you stormed off.

I could hardly follow your wild flight.

Through woods and meadows, over cliffs and stones. Speechless, silent you ran ahead.

I could not stop you by calling.

Now take a rest, speak to me.

Stop this silence that scares me.

Look, your brother is holding his bride.

Siegmund is your companion.

Sieglinde

Be off! Be off! Keep clear of the curse upon me.

My arm that clasps you is unholy.

Dishonored, disgraced, my body had died.

Run from my corpse, leave go of it!

Let the wind blow away what I vilely gave to a hero.

Though he clasped me lovingly, though I found sublimes joy, when my man gave all this love, and awoke all my love: through that sweetest bliss, holiest sanctification, which filled my mind and pierced my soul,

came fear and terror because of ghastly shame that could not but horrify and grip me in my disgrace, even though I belonged to a man who obtained me without love.

I am accursed; let me run away from you!

I am condemned, rendered worthless.

Most pure of men, I must hurry away from you; I may never belong to you, wonderful man.

I bring shame on my brother, disgrace on the friend who won me.

Siegmund

Whatever disgrace you suffered, the miscreant’s blood shall pay for.

So run no further; wait for our enemy.

He will die here at my hand when “Notung” devours his heart.

Then you will be revenged.

Sieglinde

Listen! The horns, do you hear them call?

All around the furious din echoes.

From the forest and fields it bellows forth.

Hunding has woken from deep sleep.

He has called relations and dogs together.

Roused to frenzy the pack is howling.

Wildly they cry to heaven for the broken marriage vows.

Where are you, Siegmund?

Can I still see you, dearly beloved, radiant brother?

Let the star in your eyes shine on me once again.

Do not shun the kiss of your outcast wife.

Listen, O listen! That is Hunding’s horn.

His gangs are coming fully armed.

No sword will serve when their dogs attack.

Throw it away, Siegmund. Siegmund, where are you?

Ah, there?I see you?a terrible sight!

The dogs are gnashing their teeth in your flesh; they do not respect your noble features; they fasten their firm teeth in your feet, you fall, your sword shatters in pieces.

Siegmund

Sister, beloved!