The golden ring—
'Tis that that we must capture!
The Wälsung
By a wise woman is loved.
If, urged by her,
To the Rhine's fair daughters
—Who bewitched me once
Below in the waves—
The stolen ring he restored,
Forever lost were the gold,
And no guile could win it again.
Wherefore with ardour
Aim for the ring.
I gat thee
A stranger to fear,
That against heroes
Thou mightst uphold me.
I had not the strength,
Indeed, to despatch,
Like the Wälsung, Fafner in fight;
But I reared Hagen
To deadly hatred,
And he shall avenge me—
Shall win the ring,
Putting Wälsung and Wotan to scorn!
Swear to me, Hagen, my son!
[From this point Alberich is covered by an ever-deepening shadow. At the same time day begins to dawn.
HAGEN [Still as before.
The ring shall be mine yet;
Quietly wait!
ALBERICH
Swear to me, Hagen, my son!
HAGEN
To myself swear I;
Make thy mind easy!
ALBERICH
[Still gradually disappearing, and his voice, as he does so, becoming more and more inaudible.