[They take the pieces of broken rope and bind their bodies together with them.
THE THREE NORNS
So ends wisdom eternal!
The wise ones
Will utter no more.
Descend to Erda! Descend!
[They vanish. The dawn grows brighter; the firelight from the valley gradually fades. Sunrise; then broad daylight.
Siegfried and Brünnhilde enter from the cave. He is fully armed; she leads her horse by the bridle.
BRÜNNHILDE
Belovèd hero,
Poor my love were
Wert thou thereby
Kept from new deeds.
One single doubt
Yet makes me linger:
The fear my service
Has been too small.
The things the Gods taught me
I could give:
All the rich hoard
Of holy runes;
But by the hero
Who holds my heart
I have been robbed
Of my maiden valour.
In wisdom weak,
Although strong in will;
In love so rich,
In power so poor—
Must thou not scorn
Her lack of riches
Who, though so eager,
Can give nothing more?