Act 2

Scene two

Brunnhilde

I am afraid the quarrel ended badly; the outcome made Fricka laugh.

Father, what must your childe be told?

You seem gloomy and sad.

Wotan

I have been caught in my own trap.

I am the least free of all man.

Brunnhilde

I never saw you like this.

What is nagging at your heart?

Wotan

Oh! Sacred disgrace!

Oh! Shameful affliction!

Distress for the gods!

Distress for the gods!

My anger will never end.

My misery is everlasting.

I am the saddest of all men.

Brunnhilde Father, father, tell me! What is troubling you? How your worries upset your child! Confide in me, I am loyal to you. Look, Brunnhilde entreat you.

Wotan

If I say it aloud won’t I then let go of the grip sustaining my will?

Brunnhilde

You are speaking to your will when you tell me your will: who am I if not your will?

Wotan

What I tell no one verbally remains unspoken for ever: I only talk to myself when I talk to you.

When young love’s delights waned in me, my spirit longed for power.

Impetuous wishes roused me to madness and I won the world for myself.

With unwitting dishonesty I acted disloyally, by treaties I made alliance with powers concealing evil.

Loge cunningly tempted me and now has fluttered away.

Yet I could not let go from love.

In my power I longed for love.

Born of night the fearful Nibelung alberich broke night’s bonds: he cursed love and through his curse own the glittering rhinegold, and with it immeasurable power. The ring that he made I took from him by a trick. But I did not return it to the Rhine: with it I paid the price for Valhalla, the castle that giants built me, from which I ruled the world.

One who knew everything that ever was, erda, the sacred and wisest of woman, told me to give up the ring, warned me of the everlasting end.

About that end I wanted to know more; but silently the woman vanished.

Then I lost my lightheartedness.

As a god I longed for knowledge.

I swung myself down her pride in wisdom and now she talked to me. I learned her secrets, but she exacted a fee from me: the world’s wisest woman bore me you, Brunnhilde.

With eight sisters I brought you up; through you valkyries I wanted to avert what the woman told me to fear: a shameful end for the immortals.

	So that our enemies would find us strong in battle, I told you to fetch heroes to me, such as once we masterfully subjected to our laws; men whose spirits we curbed, and, through shady treaties deceitfully binding, held them to us in blind obedience.

You were to spur them to storm and strife, tempt their strength into bitter war so that hosts of bold warriors would gather in Valhalla’s hall.

Brunnhilde

We filled your hall full: I have brought you a multitude by now.

What troubles you, since we never delayed?

Wotan

It is something else.

Listen carefully what the wala warned me of.

Through Alberich’s army our end is looming.

With baleful rage the Nibelung nurses his grudge.

But now I do not fear his forces of darkness: my heroes would bring me victory.

But if ever the ring were won back to him, then Valhalla would be lost.

He who cursed love, he single-handed, could cruelly use the spell of the ring for all noble people’s unending disgrace; he would take away the bravery of my heroes from me: he himself would rouse their boldness for battle; with their strength he would wage war on me.

I anxiously deliberated with myself how the ring could be snatched from my enemy.

One of the giants, to whom I once gave the accursed gold as payment for work, he, fafner, guards the treasure for which he slew his brother.

From him I would have to seize the ring, which I myself paid him as wages.

But since I covenanted with him I may not attack him.

Powerless before him, my courage would fail me.

These are the bonds that bind me.

I became ruler through treaties; by my treaties I am now enslaved.

Only one person could do what I may not: a hero whom I have never stooped to help. A stranger to the god, free from his favors, unwitting and unprompted, out of his own needs with his own weapons, could do the deed which I must avoid, and which I never suggested, even though it is my only wish.		This man opposed to the gods who will fight for me, this friendly foe, how can I find him? How can I create a free agent whom I have never protected, who by defying me will be most dear to me? How can I make that other, no longer part of me, who of his own accord will do what I alone desire?

What a predicament for a god, a grievous disgrace!

With disgust I find only myself, every time, in everything I create.

The other man for whom I long, that other I can never find: for the free man has to create himself; I can only create subjects to myself.

Brunnhilde

But the “Volsung” Siegmund does he not act on his own?

Wotan

I wandered wild through the woods with him; I provoked him to boldness against the council of the gods:

against the vengeance of the gods his only protection now is the sword, which a god’s favor bestowed on him.

Why did I try a trick to defraud myself?

It was easy for Fricka to spot the trick: to my deep disgrace she saw through me.

I must yield to her will.

Brunnhilde

Then will you deprive Siegmund of victory?

Wotan

I touched alperich’s ring: greedily I held his gold.

The curse from which I fled still has not left me:

I must forsake what I love, murder the man I cherish, deceive and betray someone who trusts me.

Away, then with lordly splendor, divine pomp and shameful boasting!

Let it fall to pieces, all that I built.

I give up my work.

Only one thing I want now:

the end, the end!

And for that end Alberich is working.

Now I understand the hidden meaning of the wise woman’s wild words: ‘when Love’s dark enemy begets a son in anger, the end of the blessed ones will not be long delayed.’

Of the Nibelung I recently heard a rumor that a woman was overpowered by the dwarf and seduced for money.

The fruits of his hatred a woman is carrying: his envy at full strength is stirring in her womb.

This miracle befell the loveless creature.

But I who wooed by love cannot beget my free man.

Then take my blessing, Nibelung’s son.

What deeply revolts me I bequeath to you, the empty glory of divinity:

greedily feed your hate on it!

Brunnhilde

Speak; tell me, what must your child do now?

Wotan

Fight purely for Fricka, guard marriage for her and its vows.

What she decided is my decision too: what use is my own will?
I cannot will a free man to life: you must therefore fight Fricka’s subjects.

Brunnhilde

O shame!

Repent and take back your words.

You love Siegmund; out of love for you, I know, I must protect the Volsung.

Wotan

You must kill Siegmund and procure victory for Hunding.

Be on your guard and keep yourself strong.

All your bravery must be summoned in the fight: Siegmund wields a conquering sword: he will hardly die a coward!

Brunnhilde

You have always taught me to love him, and his noble virtues are dear to your heart; I will never be turned against him by your two-faced orders.

Wotan

What, you presumptuous girl, are you rebelling against me?

What else are you but my wish’s blindly approving instrument?

When I confided in you did I so demean myself that abuse from my own creation was the result?

Child, do you know my anger?

Your courage would fail you, if ever a crushing spark of my rage burst upon you.

In my heart I hide the fury that can throw into dust and ashes the world whose smiles once pleased me.

Woe to anyone whom it strikes!

His pride would turn to sorrow.

Therefore I advise you: do not provoke me.

Remember what I commanded.

Siegmund shall die.

This is the Valkyrie’s task.

Brunnhilde

I have never seen the father of victories like this, even when he’s been upset by some quarrel.

My lord of armor weighs heavy on me.

When I fought as I wished how light it was!

Into this evil fight today I am afraid to creep.

O my poor Volsung!

In your deepest sorrow I, your friend, must disloyally forsake you.