"Waft your waves, ye waters!" "Carry your crests to the cradle!" " Are you watching alone?" " With you there'd be two of us" " Let's see how you watch" " Safe from you" " Heiaha!" "Sprightly sisters!" " Help me capture Woglinde" "Badly you guard the gold" "Watch better or you'll repent" "Hey, nymphs!" "How inviting you look" "From Nibelheim I'd gladly draw near if you'd but come down to me" "See who's spying on us!" " Ugh!" "How frightful!" " Guard the gold!" "Father warned us of a foe" " You up there!" " What do you want?" "Do I spoil your sport by staring?" "If you'd come down, the Nibelung would freely frolic with you" "Is he in jest?" "How brightly you shine!" "My arms would love to enfold one of you" "Now I laugh at my fears!" "Our foe is in love!" " Lascivious beast!" " We'll teach him!" " She's coming down" " Come close to me, then!" "Loathsome slime!" "My hands and feet are slipping!" "Damp fills my nostrils" "Curse this sneezing!" "My wooer comes spluttering!" "Be my love, fairest child!" "Woo me up here!" "Alas, come back!" "What you manage is hard for me" "Climb to the bottom!" "You'll catch me there!" " Better down there!" " But now up again!" "How can I catch this bashful fish?" "Wait, false one!" "Hey, beloved!" "Don't you hear me?" "Is it me you're calling?" "Turn to me." "Do not heed Woglinde!" "You are far lovelier." "That shy one is much too sly" "Come down if you'd delight me" " Am I close to you now?" " Not close enough!" "Twine your arms around me   that I may touch your neck   and caress your soft breast" "If you're longing for love   let's see what you look like" "Ugh, you hairy horror!" "Swarthy, sulphurous dwarf!" "Find yourself a sweetheart who'd suffer you!" "Though I don't please, I'll hold you" "Fast then, or I'll fly" "Perfidious child!" "Frigid fish!" "If I don't seem handsome, suave and sprightly   then flirt with the eels!" "So soon disheartened?" "You've courted two" "If you asked the third   blissful balm she'd bestow" "A sweet song sounds in my ear" "How good there are more of you!" "There must be one I'd please" "If I'm to believe you, come down!" "How stupid you are, sisters!" "Don't you think him handsome?" "I think them stupid and ugly since I saw you, the fairest" "Sing on." "That song tempts my ear" "My heart hammers and shivers in pleasure at such praise" "Your grace rejoices my eyes" "Your smile rejoices my spirit" " Dearest of men!" " Sweetest of maids!" " Would you but favour me!" " I'd hold you for ever" "Might I ever see your piercing gaze and clasp your bristly beard!" "Might your wiry hair flow round me for ever" "Might I see only your toad-like form   and hear your croaking voice!" " Do you mock me?" " How justly at the song's end!" "Alas!" "Woe is me!" "Has the third betrayed me too?" "You sly, sluttish wenches!" "Do you feed only on fraud?" "Heia!" "For shame, gnome!" "Don't scold down there!" "Listen to what we tell you!" "Why did you not secure the maid for whom you yearned?" "We are faithful to the wooer who holds us fast" "Seize on us and do not fear." "In the water we cannot escape" "Through me an ardent fire burns" "Fury and longing surge through my spirit" "Though you laugh, I long for you and one of you must yield to me!" "If this fist could seize one!" "Look, the sun laughs in the depths" "Through the green waters she greets the sleeper" "Now she kisses his eyes open" "See, he smiles in the light" "His rays flood through the waters" "Rhinegold!" "Dazzling delight!" "Your glow spreads a glorious light" "Awake, friend, to joy!" "The river flashes as we dance and sing in our joyous sport" "Rhinegold!" "Heiajahei!" "What is it that gleams there?" "Whence come you that you have never heard of the Rhinegold?" "Does the gnome know nothing of the eyes of gold that wake and sleep?" "Of the star in the depths that shines through the waves?" "See how we bask in its glow!" "If you wish, sport with us!" "Gold only for games would be little use to me" "He would not scorn the gold if he were aware of its wonders" "He could win the world's wealth if from the Rhinegold   he fashioned the ring that confers immeasurable might" "Father ordered us   to guard the treasure" "No cheat should ravish it." "So hush, you chatterers!" "Do you not know to whom alone it is given to shape the gold?" "Only he who forswears   love's power and delight" "Only he can attain the magic to fashion the gold into a ring" "Then we are secure." "Everything that lives wants love" "No one will reject it" "Least of all that lascivious gnome" "I do not fear him as I found him." "His passion almost burned me" "Like a brand in the waves, he was sizzling with love" "Dear gnome, why don't you laugh?" "In the glow how fair you shine!" "Come, beloved, laugh with us!" "The world's wealth I could win through you?" "If I cannot extort love, can I by cunning attain pleasure?" "Mock on!" "The Nibelung nears your toy!" "Save yourselves!" "The gnome has gone crazy!" "Love has sent him mad!" "Are you still not afraid?" "Then coquette in the dark!" "I will put out your light   wrench the gold from the rock   forge the ring of revenge" "Hear me, waves!" "Thus I curse love!" "Stop, thief!" " Rescue the gold!" " Help!" "Wotan, husband, awake!" "Gate and door guard the sacred hall of my joy" "Man's honour, eternal might extend to endless fame" "Up, leave dream's deceit!" "Rouse yourself and reflect!" "The everlasting work is done" "The god's stronghold soars resplendent" "As in my dreams I desired it   as my will directed   strong and fair it stands   sublime, superb!" "Do you delight in what I dread?" "I fear for Freia" "Reckless man, recall the price" "The fort is finished:" "forfeit is the pledge" "I well know the terms" "By a contract   I tamed those that built this abode" "Now it stands, thanks to them." "As to the price, pay that no heed" "Outrageous levity!" "Had I known of your contract, I would have prevented the fraud" "You men kept women away to deal alone with the giants" "Shamelessly you bartered Freia, my lovely sister" "What do you men hold sacred   when you thirst for power?" "Was Fricka free from thirst   when she begged for the building?" "Concern over his constancy   makes me ponder how to keep him   when he is drawn to roam" "A stately dwelling might tempt you to tarry here and rest" "You thought only of defences to increase your power" "Only to arouse storms   did this castle arise" "You wished to keep me in the castle" "But even as a god confined, I must win the outside world" "All who live love roaming" "I cannot relinquish this sport" "Unloving man!" "For the toys of dominion   would you stake love and a woman's worth?" "To win you for my wife I sacrificed one of my eyes" "I prize women more than pleases you!" "And I will not yield Freia." "I never intended it so" "Then protect her now!" "Save me, sister!" "Protect me, brother!" "From yonder mountain Fasolt would come to force me away" "Let him threaten!" "Did you not see Loge?" "You always trust that trickster!" "Much harm he's already done us   yet ever again he ensnares you" "When courage suffices I ask none for help" "But to use foes' jealousy   only Loge's cunning will serve" "He promised to deliver Freia" "I now rely on him" "And he forsakes you!" "The giants approach Where loiters your helper?" "Where linger my brothers   who should bring help, since my brother-in-law abandons me?" "Donner, help!" "Come hither, Froh!" "They who betrayed you have all gone to ground" "Sleep sealed your eyes   while we two built the fort" "Toiling yet untiring, we heaped up massive stones" "There stands what we raised   brightly shining in the light of day" "Now pass in and pay us our fee" "Name your price, my men" "Is your memory so weak?" "Freia the fair   it was agreed we should take home" "Think of some other reward" "Are you planning treachery?" "Are the marks of solemn compact on your spear but sport to you?" "Brother, do you see the swindle?" "Son of light, beware!" "Hold firm to your bond!" "What you are, you are only by contracts" "Limited and defined is your power" "You have more wisdom than we" "You bound us to keep peace" "I will curse all your wisdom and flee from your peace   if you do not keep your bond!" "A simple giant thus counsels you." "Wise one, weigh his words!" "How cunning to take in earnest what was agreed only in jest" "The lovely goddess, of what use is her charm to you?" "Do you mock us?" "You, who rule by beauty   radiant race, foolishly you strive for towers of stone   and pledge woman's beauty!" "We toil away to win a winsome woman   who will live with us poor creatures" "And do you now upset our bargain?" "Cease your idle chatter!" "Custody of Freia serves little   but to carry her off is worth much" "Golden apples grow in her garden" "Only she knows how to tend them" "By eating the fruit, her kindred are endowed with eternal youth" "Sick and wan   they will waste away if they are forced to forego Freia" "Let her be taken from their midst!" "Loge delays too long" " Your answer!" " Another fee!" "Only Freia!" "Follow us!" "Help from these ruffians!" "To me, Freia!" "Froh will protect you" "Fasolt and Fafner, have you felt my hammer's heavy blow?" "Why do you threaten?" "We only want our wages" "Many a time have I paid giants their due" "The payment I'll weigh in full measure" "Hold, hothead!" "My spearshaft protects bonds" "Spare your hammer's haft!" "Alas!" "Wotan forsakes me!" "Do I understand you, cruel man?" "Loge at last!" "Is this how you hasten to right your evil bargain?" "What bargain?" "That which you contracted?" "House and hearth delight me not" "Donner and Froh are dreaming of shelter" "A stately home was Wotan's wish" "House and court, hall and keep, the glorious fortress now stands" "I made sure that all was solid" "I found Fasolt and Fafner reliable" "Every stone was firm in place" "I was not idle, as were many here!" "Take care how you betray your only friend among the gods!" "Speak and counsel well!" "When those who built the castle stipulated Freia as payment   I agreed because you undertook to redeem the noble pledge" "To consider how to release her - that I promised" "But how could I promise what never existed nor could succeed?" "What a treacherous knave you trusted!" "Your name is Loge." "I call you liar" "I'll quench your fire!" "To cover their disgrace they revile me" "Leave my friend in peace!" "Loge's counsel is of richer weight when he delays in giving it" " No delays!" "Pay up!" " We're waiting for our wages" "Listen, shifty one!" "Where have you been roving?" "Ingratitude is always Loge's lot!" "Concerned but for you   I ransacked the earth to find a substitute for Freia" "In vain I searched" "In the whole wide world nothing is so rich   that a man will accept it in lieu of woman's beauty and delight" "Wherever there is life and being, in water, earth and air   I asked and sought of all   what would a man think mightier than woman's beauty and delight?" "My question was derided" "Nothing gives up love and womankind" "Only one I saw had forsworn love for gold" "The Rhine's children bewailed their plight to me" "The Nibelung, night-Alberich, stole from them the Rhinegold" "He now esteems it earth's most precious prize   greater than woman's grace" "The daughters appeal to you, Wotan   to bring the thief to justice" "Give them the gold back   to remain their own for ever" "I promised them to tell you this" "Now Loge has kept his word" "You are mad, if not malicious!" "You see me in trouble myself." "How can I bring others help?" "I grudge the gnome this gold." "Much harm he has already done us" "New mischief will the Nibelung plot if the gold gives him power" "You there, Loge!" "Of what great value is the gold?" "It is a toy for laughing children" "But were it fashioned into a ring it would bestow supreme power   and win its master the world" "I have heard of the Rhine's gold" "Its glow hides runes of riches" "A ring would give unbounded power" "Would the glittering gems serve as adornment for women?" "A wife could ensure her husband's fidelity   with the ornament dwarfs forge, toiling in the power of the ring" "Could my husband win this gold?" "To control this ring seems wise" "But how can I learn the art of forging this gem?" "A spell turns the gold into a ring" "No one knows it" "But anyone can acquire it who renounces love" "That you will not." "You are too late" "Alberich did not hesitate" "He gained the power of the spell" "The ring became his!" "The dwarf will control us all   if the ring is not wrested from him" "I must have the ring!" "It is easily won without cursing love" "Child's play!" " Tell us, how?" " Theft!" "What a thief stole, you steal from the thief" "Could possessions be more easily acquired?" "But Alberich guards with guile" "You must act subtly to return   the Rhinemaidens' gold   for that is what they beg" "Rhinemaidens?" "What is this to me?" "I wish to know nothing of them." "Many a man, to my sorrow   have they lured with their sport" "That gold is worth more than Freia" "Eternal youth he gains who commands it by gold's magic" "Hear, Wotan, what we have to say!" "Freia may stay with you in peace" "We giants would be satisfied with the Nibelung's gold" "Can I give you what I do not own?" "The castle was hard to build" "It will be easy for you with craft to fetter the Nibelung firmly" "Shall I exert myself to fetter the foe for you?" "Come, girl!" "Follow us till we receive your ransom" "Till evening we will hold her as hostage" "We shall return" "If as ransom the Rhinegold is not ready   she will go with us for ever!" "Sister!" "Brothers!" "Help!" " After them!" " Let us break everything!" "Save me!" "Over stock and stone they stride   through the ford across the Rhine" "Heia!" "How the louts lurch along!" "Only at Riesenheim will they pause" "On what does Wotan brood?" "How goes it with the glorious gods?" "Does a mist deceive me?" "How anxious and pale you've become!" "The light has faded from your eyes!" "Courage, Froh, it is but early yet!" "From your hand the hammer falls!" "How is it with Fricka?" "Is she displeased with Wotan's grey gloom?" "Alas!" "What has happened?" "My hand drops" "My heart falters" "Hear what it is you lack!" "You have not yet eaten Freia's fruit" "The golden apples in her garden   made you hearty and young   when you ate them every day" "She is now a hostage" "On the branches the fruit withers" "It irks me less." "To me Freia was always niggardly" "I am only half as godlike as you glorious ones!" "But you staked all on the fruit." "This the giants knew well" "Without the apples   old, grey, and haggard, the scorn of all the world   the race of gods will die!" "Wotan, husband, unhappy man!" "See how your thoughtlessness has brought disgrace on us all" "Loge, come down to Nibelheim" "I will procure the gold" "The Rhinemaidens appealed to you." "Can they hope for a hearing?" "Silence!" "We must deliver Freia" "As you command, I will lead you down." " Shall we go through the Rhine?" " Not through the Rhine!" "Through the sulphurous cleft?" "Slip into it with me!" "Wait here till evening" "Our loss of youth I'll banish with redeeming gold!" " Farewell, Wotan!" " Good luck!" "Return soon to your anxious wife!" "Come here, crafty dwarf!" "You shall be pitilessly pinched   if you haven't finished the fine-wrought gold on time" "Let me go!" "It's ready as ordered" " Why are you so slow to show it?" " Lest something was lacking" " What is not ready?" " Here ... and there" "Give me the work!" "See, scoundrel, everything finished!" "Did the simpleton seek to deceive   and keep for himself the object my craft taught him how to forge?" "The helmet fits." "Will the spell work too?" ""Night and mist, like to no one!"" "Can you see me, brother?" "Where are you?" "I cannot see you" "Then feel me, rascal!" "Take that for your thieving thoughts!" "Thank you, stupid!" "Your work has stood the test" "Nibelungs, bow down to Alberich!" "Now he is watching you everywhere and rest is refused you" "Work for him though he is unseen" "You are his vassals for ever!" "Listen for him, he is near, the Lord of the Nibelungs" "Here is Nibelheim." "What fiery sparks are flashing?" "What is that among the rocks?" "Why are you whimpering?" "Hey, Mime!" "What torments you so?" "Leave me in peace!" "More yet, I would help you, Mime!" "I must obey my own brother who brought these bonds on me" "What gave him the power to bind you?" "Cunning Alberich wrought himself a ring from the Rhine's gold" "With it he has overcome us, the Nibelungs' nocturnal race" "Carefree smiths, once we created ornaments for our women   and lightly laughed at our work" "This villain compels us to creep into caverns and toil for him" "Through the ring his greed divines where a new gleam is concealed" "We have to dig it out, melt the booty and forge the cast   to pile up our master's hoard" "Your idleness brought on his ire?" "On me he forced the heaviest task" "He bade me forge and weld a helmet" "I noted what power lay in the work I fashioned" "I wanted to keep the helmet and escape from Alberich's sway   perhaps get him in my power   and snatch the ring so that I might be free and he my slave!" "Why did you not succeed?" "Though I fashioned the work   I did not guess the spell aright" "He who planned the work and snatched it from me   has taught me what cunning lay in the helmet" "He vanished from my sight, but unseen his arm raised weals" "That's what thanks I earned!" " Our capture will not be easy" " He will fall with your cunning" "Who are you, then, strangers?" "Friends." "We will free the Nibelungs" "Beware!" "Alberich draws near" "We'll wait here for him" "Idle herd, pile up the hoard!" "Put down the treasure!" "Must I help?" "Who is there?" "Here, scamp!" "Have you been chattering to these tramps?" "Be off, idler!" "Back to your bench!" "Out of here, all of you!" "Find me gold from the new veins!" "My whip waits for those that don't dig deep!" "I am everywhere though none can tell where" "Are you still lingering?" "Still loitering?" "Tremble, abject throng!" "Obey the master of the ring!" "What do you want here?" "From Nibelheim's land of night we have heard new rumours" "Mighty marvels Alberich works." "Greed brought us as guests to gorge" "Envy led you, that I well know" "Do you know me well?" "Who am I that you should snarl?" "In your cave Loge smiled on you, gave light and warming flames   and fired your forge" "I am your kinsman, was your friend." "You show little thanks" "Loge smiles now with elves of light" "If, false one, you're their friend as you once were mine   I have nothing to fear" " You can have faith in me" " In faithlessness not fidelity" "But dauntlessly I defy you all!" "Your power lends you assurance" "Great has grown your strength" "Do you see the hoard heaped up?" "I never yet saw one so enviable" "That is today's paltry pile." "It will increase in the future" "But Nibelheim is joyless   and treasure can buy nothing" "Nibelheim's night serves me to create and conceal treasure" "With the hoard in the cave I intend to work wonders" "I will win the world for my own" "How will you start on that?" "You who aloft in the breeze live, laugh and love   all you gods I'll grip in my golden grasp!" "As I renounced love   all shall renounce it!" "Allured by gold, for gold alone shall you hunger" "On radiant peaks you live in bliss" "The black gnome you despise, you eternal revellers!" "Beware!" "When you men serve my might the dwarf will take his pleasure   with your pretty women, though love does not smile on him" "Did you hear?" "Beware when the Nibelung horde   rises from the depths to the light!" " Blasphemous fool!" " What?" "Keep your head!" "Faced with Alberich's work who would not feel wonder?" "If you win, with your treasure, all you demand   I must acclaim you the mightiest" "Moon, stars, and radiant sun   can do no other but serve you" "But   I deem it significant that those who heap the hoard   obey you ungrudgingly" "Boldly you fingered a ring   before which they trembled" "But if a thief by stealth   snatched the ring?" "How would you guard yourself?" "Loge thinks himself most artful" "Others seem stupid to him" "That I should need his counsel, the thief would rejoice to hear" "I conceived the concealing helmet and had Mime fashion it for me" "The helmet allows me to change my shape at will" "No one can see me, yet I am everywhere" "I can live safe even from you   kind, considerate friend!" "I have seen many strange things, but never witnessed such a wonder" "I cannot credit this unique work" "Were this possible, your power would last for ever" " Do you think I lie like Loge?" " Until I see for myself" "The fool is bursting with wisdom" "Now may envy devour you!" "In what shape shall I appear?" "Whatever you will" "Strike me dumb with astonishment!" "Giant serpent, curl and coil!" "Oh, do not swallow me!" "Spare Loge's life!" "Good, you villain!" "How quickly the dwarf turned to a dragon!" "Do you believe me now?" "My trembling testifies to it" "Now that I have seen it I readily believe the marvel" "But can you make yourself tiny?" "That would be the subtle way to escape danger" "But that would be too hard!" "How small shall I be?" "So that a crevice might hold you where a toad timidly hides" "Nothing simpler!" "Watch me!" "Crawl, crooked grey toad!" "Seize it quickly!" " I am captured!" " Hold him till I tie him!" "Up we go." "There he will be ours" "Sit tight there, kinsman!" "Look, there lies the world that you wanted to win" "What spot, tell me, will you allow for my sty?" "Rogue!" "Ruffian!" "Loosen my bonds or you'll rue this outrage!" "You are caught in my chains" "You fancied the world lay in your power" "Wretch, you cannot deny it!" "To free you a ransom is demanded" "Dolt I am, to trust this trick!" "Terrible vengeance I vow!" "First you must set yourself free" "To a fettered man no free soul makes amends" "If you relish thoughts of revenge, first think about the ransom" " Say what it is you want" " The treasure and your gold" "Greedy gang of rogues!" "But if I keep the ring I could spare the treasure" "New wealth would soon be won at the ring's command" "I shall not pay too dear if the lesson costs only baubles" " Will you yield the treasure?" " Loosen my hand and I'll summon it" "I have called the Nibelungs" "I hear them hauling the hoard from the depths" "Now loosen my bonds!" "Not until all has been paid" "Oh humiliation that my slaves should see me captive!" "Bring it in as I command!" "Pile the hoard into a heap!" "Don't glance over here!" "Quick there, quick" "Then get back to your labour!" "Woe betide if I find you idle!" "I am following at your heels" "I have paid." "Now let me depart" "And the helmet that Loge holds, now kindly give back to me" "This belongs to the ransom" "Accursed thief!" "But patience!" "He who made it can make another" "Mine is the might that Mime obeys" "Yet it's hard to leave my weapon to my foes" "Alberich has left you everything." "Now, bullies, loosen my bonds!" "Shall I untie him?" "A golden ring rests on your finger" " That belongs to the hoard" " The ring?" " To be freed you must forfeit it" " My life, but not the ring!" "I require the ring." "With your life do what you will!" "I lose limb and life if I must lose the ring too" "Hand and head, eye and ear are not more my own than this!" "You call the ring your own?" "Are you raving, shameless gnome?" "From whom did you take the gold from which you made the ring?" "Was it your own, that you stole it from the depths?" "Ask the Rhine's daughters   whether they gave you the gold you robbed" "Base trickery!" "Vile deceit!" "Do you throw on me the blame for what you so dearly desired?" "Gladly you would have robbed the Rhine of its gold   had you so easily found the way to forge it!" "How well it worked for you   that I, in shame and fury   gained the terrible magic whose work now gladdens you!" "Must this fatal, fearful deed   serve you as a royal toy, my curse serve for your pleasure?" "Take heed, haughty god!" "If I sinned it was against myself" "But you sin against all that was, is and shall be   if you seize my ring!" "Surrender the ring!" "No right to it can you prove" "Crushed!" "Shattered!" "Of wretches the wretchedest slave!" "Now I possess what will make me the mightiest of mighty lords!" "Is he to go?" "Set him free!" "Slink off home!" "No knot holds you" "Am I free?" "Truly free?" "Then thus I give you my freedom's first greeting!" "Since by curse it came to me, accursed be this ring!" "Since its gold gave me might   may its magic bring death to whoever wears it!" "It shall gladden no happy man" "Its gleam shall light on no one lucky!" "Whoever possesses it shall be consumed with care   whoever has it not shall be gnawed with envy!" "Each shall itch to possess it, but none shall find in it pleasure!" "Its owner shall guard it profitlessly" "Through it he shall meet his executioner!" "Forfeit to death, faint with fear shall he be fettered" "The length of his life he shall long to die   the ring's master to the ring a slave   until again I hold in my hand what was stolen!" "Thus in direst distress   the Nibelung blesses his ring!" "Keep it now, guard it well!" "My curse you cannot escape!" "Did you heed his fond farewell?" "Let him give vent to his fury" "Fasolt and Fafner are approaching" "They are bringing Freia back" " They have returned" " Welcome, brother!" "Do you bring good tidings?" "We carried out the task." "There lies what will free Freia" "From the giants' grasp our fair one approaches" "The breeze breathes on us again" "Bliss fills our senses" "It would be gloomy to be for ever separated from her   who gives us perpetual youth and joyous delight!" "Dearest sister!" "Are you restored to me?" "Do not touch her!" "She still belongs to us" "At Riesenheim's boundary we stopped to rest" "Honourably we tended the pledge for the pact" "I regret I am returning her   for us to be paid her ransom" "The ransom lies ready" "Now the gold shall be measured" "To do without the woman saddens us sorely" "If she is to be banished from my mind   the treasure must be so high that it hides her from my sight!" "Freia's form shall be the measure" "These poles measure the pledge." "Now fill the space with the hoard" "Hurry!" "The work is repugnant!" " Help me, Froh!" " I'll end Freia's shame" "Not so loosely packed!" "Fill the measure tightly!" "I can still see through it." "Stop up these chinks!" "Stand back, clod!" " Keep your hands off!" " Close these crevices!" "Deep in me burns my disgrace" "Our pure one stands humiliated" "Her look mutely pleads for release" "Wicked man, to ask this of a loved one!" "Still more!" "Rage this rogue rouses in me!" "You cur!" "If you want to measure, measure yourself against me!" "Your din avails you nothing!" "Not even to crush you?" "Peace!" "I think Freia is covered now" "The hoard is used up" "I still see the gleam of her hair." "Throw that object on the pile!" "The helmet too?" " Here with it!" " Let it go!" "Are you satisfied?" "Freia the fair I see no more" "Must I let her go?" "Her gaze still gleams on me here, through a crack" "As long as I see those lovely eyes I cannot tear myself away!" "I advise you, stop up this crack!" "Can't you see the gold has gone?" "By no means." "On Wotan's finger   still glints a ring of gold." "Give it here to fill the crack!" "What!" "This ring?" "Listen!" "This gold belongs to the Rhinemaidens" "Wotan will give it back to them" "What idle chatter is this?" "What I won I'll keep for myself" "It goes badly with the promise I gave the lamenting maidens" "Your promise does not bind me." "The ring remains with me" "But you must yield it here" "I will grant you everything   but for all the world I will not surrender the ring!" "Then our first bargain stands." "Freia follows us for ever!" " Help!" " Give in to them!" " Do not hold back!" " Give up the ring!" "Leave me in peace!" "The ring I'll not surrender" "Yield, Wotan, yield!" "Escape from the ring's curse" "To dark destruction   its possession dooms you" "Who is this woman who threatens?" "I know whatever was" "Whatever is, whatever shall be   I also see" "The eternal world's first ancestress   Erda warns you" "My womb bore three daughters, conceived before the start of time" "What I see, the Norns nightly tell you" "But direst danger today brings me in person to you" "Hear me!" "All that is shall come to an end" "A dark day dawns for the gods" "I charge you   shun the ring!" "Mysterious your words sound" "Stay that I may know more!" "I have warned you" "You know enough" "Reflect in fear and dread!" "If I must fear and dread, I must seize you and learn all!" "What would you do, madman?" "Desist, Wotan!" "Touch not the noble one." "Heed her words!" "Listen, you giants!" "Wait!" "You shall be given the gold" "Dare I hope so?" "Do you think me truly worth this ransom?" "Come to me, Freia!" "You are freed" "Bought back, restore our youth!" "You giants, take your ring!" "Stop, greedy!" "Leave some for me." "A fair division will be best" "You longed more for the maid than for gold, lovesick loon!" "I persuaded you to exchange her." "You would not have shared Freia   so I retain more for myself" "Do you insult me?" "I call on you as judges" "Divide the treasure between us" "Let him take the treasure." "Only keep the ring!" "Back!" "Mine is the ring!" "For it I gave up Freia's gaze" "Hands away!" "The ring is mine!" "I hold it." "It belongs to me!" "Hold it fast in case it falls!" "Now blink at Freia's gaze." "The ring you will not touch again!" "Terrible now I find the curse" "What luck, Wotan!" "Great your gain when you won the ring" "More it profits now it is taken" "See, your foes fell each other for the gold that you gave up" "Yet anxiety weighs upon me" "Dread and fear fetter my mind" "How to end it Erda must teach me" "I must go down to her" "Why do you tarry, Wotan?" "Does the noble fort not beckon as it waits to welcome its owner?" "I paid for it with unclean wages!" "A sultry haze hangs in the air." "Its dull weight oppresses me" "I will collect the clouds in a storm to sweep the sky" "Come to me, mists and vapours!" "Donner, your master, summons you" "As I swing my hammer, hover here!" "Misty moisture, hanging haze!" "Donner, your master, summons you" "Brother, point out the path!" "The bridge leads to the fort   light but firm below your feet" "Boldly tread its terrorless path!" "The sun sheds its evening beams" "In its gleam the castle shines" "In the radiance of the morning it stood tenantless   grand and inviting before me" "From morn to eve, in care and anxiety   not lightly was it won" "Night draws on" "From envy it now offers shelter" "Thus I salute the fortress   safe from terror and dread" "Wife, follow me" "Dwell in Valhalla with me!" "What means the name?" "Never have I heard it before" "What my courage found for me" "If it lives on victorious, it will make its meaning plain" "They hasten to their end, though they think themselves strong" "I am almost ashamed to share their doings" "Fancy lures me to transform myself back into flames" "To burn them who tamed me rather than end with the blind!" "It doesn't seem stupid" "I'll think it over" "Who knows what I'll do?" "Rhinegold!" "Purest gold!" "How bright you once shone on us!" "What lamenting assails me here?" "Give us the gold!" "The children of the Rhine lament their looted gold" "Accursed nymphs!" "Give us its glory again!" "Stop them annoying us!" "You in the water, why wall to us?" "Hear what Wotan wills for you" "No more gleams the gold on you" "Henceforth bask in bliss   in the gods' new radiance!" "Rhinegold!" "If but your gleam still glittered in the deep!" "Now only in the depths lie tenderness and truth" "False and faint-hearted are those who revel above!"