At last, just as he had become thoroughly angry, there appeared suddenly a strange brightness at the top of the rock—a wonderful golden light that glowed with ever-increasing brilliance down into the water.
“Ah, see, sisters!” cried Woglinde. “The awakening sun laughs down into the depths.”
“Yes,” said Wellgunde, with soft delight, “it greets the slumbering Gold!”
“With a kiss of light the Gold is aroused!” said Flosshilde. And, joining hands, they swam excitedly about the rock, singing in bursts of gladness:
“Weia waga,
Weia waga,
Rhinegold, Rhinegold,
Glorious joy.”
“You gliders,” questioned Alberich (for it was he), “what is this that gleams and glistens over yonder?”
THE GLEAMING TREASURE
Laughing at his ignorance, the nymphs told him that it was a magical Gold; that whoever made a Ring from it would have greater power than any one else alive; that he could possess all the wealth of the world if he wished; and they so described the fairy powers of the treasure that Alberich’s wicked soul began to thrill with desire to have it as his own.
The sisters further told him that the Gold was safe from thieves, because it could only be stolen by some one who had made up his mind never to love any one except himself so long as he might live.