“He who is setting will bless his own going down because it is a transition: and the sun of his knowledge will be at high noon.”
Siegfried conquers the father Wotan and takes possession of Brunhilde. The first object that he sees is her horse; then he believes that he beholds a mail-clad man. He cuts to pieces the protecting coat of mail of the sleeper. (Overpowering.) When he sees it is a woman, terror seizes him:
“My heart doth falter and faint;
On whom shall I call
That he may help me?
Mother! Mother!
Remember me!
“Can this be fearing?
Oh, mother! Mother!
Thy dauntless child!