Slay all the bears
Thou canst, and welcome;
But why thus bring the beasts
Home alive?
SIEGFRIED
[Sits down to recover from his laughter.
For better companions seeking
Than the one who sits at home,
I blew my horn in the wood,
Till the forest glades resounded.
What I asked with the note
Was if some good friend
My glad companion would be.
From the covert came a bear
Who listened to me with growls,
And I liked him better than thee,
Though better friends I shall find.
With a trusty rope
I bridled the beast,
To ask thee, rogue, for the weapon.
[He jumps up and goes towards the anvil.
MIME
[Takes up the sword to hand it to Siegfried.
I made the sword keen-edged;
In its sharpness thou wilt rejoice.
[He holds the sword anxiously in his hand; Siegfried snatches it from him.