[Moving quickly again.
Runes he knows
That he cannot rede.
A glorious gift
Fell to his lot;
He flung it from him
Unawares;
And the ring that deals doom and death
Alone he will not surrender!
Farewell, Siegfried!
A woman proud
Ere night falls thy wealth shall inherit.
Our cry by her will be heard.
To her! To her! To her!
[They turn quickly to their dance, and gradually swim away to the back singing.
SIEGFRIED
[Looks after them smiling, one foot on a piece of rock and his chin resting on his hand.
Alike on land and water
I have studied women's ways:
Still those who mistrust their smiles
They seek with threats to frighten,
And, are their threats despised,
At once they begin to scold.
And yet—
Held I not Gutrun' dear,
Of these alluring maidens
One had surely been mine.
[He looks calmly after the Rhine-Maidens, who have disappeared, and whose voices gradually die away. Horn-calls are then heard. Siegfried starts from a reverie and sounds his horn in answer.
HAGEN'S VOICE [Far off.
Hoiho!