What seek ye here?
WOTAN
From Nibelheim's gloomy realm
Strange tidings have travelled up,
Tales of wonders
Worked here by Alberich;
And, greedy of marvels,
Hither came we as guests.
ALBERICH
By envy urged,
Hither ye hie.
Such doughty guests
I do not mistake.
LOGE
Since I am known,
Ignorant elf,
Say then, with growling
Whom dost thou greet?
In caverns cold
Where once thou didst crouch,
Who gave thee light
And fire for thy comfort,
Had Loge not smiled on thee?
Or what hadst thou fashioned
Had not I heated thy forge?
I am thy kinsman
And once was kind:
Lukewarm, methinks, are thy thanks!
ALBERICH
On light-born elves
Laughs now Loge,
The crafty rogue:
Art thou, false one, their friend
As my friend thou wert once,
Haha! I laugh!
No harm from such need I fear.
LOGE
No cause then for thy distrust.
ALBERICH
I can trust thy falsehood,
Not thy good faith!
[Taking up a defiant attitude.
Yet I dare you all unflinching.
LOGE
'Tis thy might
That makes thee so bold;
Grimly great
Groweth thy power.
ALBERICH
Seest thou the hoard
Yonder heaped
High by my host?
LOGE
A richer one never was seen.
ALBERICH
A wretched pile
Is this to-day, though.
Boldly mounting,
'Twill be bigger henceforward.
WOTAN
But what is gained by the hoard
In joyless Nibelheim,
Where wealth finds nothing to buy?
ALBERICH
Treasure to gather
And treasure to garner—
Thereto Nibelheim serves.
But with the hoard
In the caverns upheaped
Wonders all wonder surpassing
Will I perform
And win the whole world and its fairness.
WOTAN
But, my friend, how compass that goal?
ALBERICH
Ye who live above and breathe
The balmy, sweet airs,
Love and laugh:
A hand of gold
Ere long, O ye Gods, will have gripped you!
As I forswore love, even so
No one alive
But shall forswear it;
By golden songs wooed,
For gold alone will his greed be.
On hills of delight
Your home is, where gladness
Softly lulls;
The dark elves
Ye despise, O deathless carousers!
Beware!
Beware!
For first your men
Shall bow to my might;
Then your women fair
Who my wooing spurned
The dwarf will force to his will,
Though frowned on by love.
[Laughing savagely.
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
Mark ye my word?
Beware!
Beware of the hosts of the night,
When rise shall the Nibelung hoard
From silent depths to the day!
WOTAN [Furiously.
Avaunt, impious fool!
ALBERICH
What says he?
LOGE [Stepping between them.
Cease from thy folly!
[To Alberich.
Who would gaze not in wonder,
Beholding Alberich's work?
If only thy skill can achieve
Everything hope has promised,
Almighty I needs must acclaim thee!
For moon and stars
And the sun in his glory,
Forced to do thee obeisance,
Even they must bow down.
But what would seem of most moment
Is that they who serve thee,
The Nibelung hosts,
Bow and bear no hate.
When thy hand held forth a ring
Thy folk were stricken with fear.
But in thy sleep
A thief might slip up
And steal slyly the ring.
Say, how wouldst thou save thyself then?
ALBERICH
Most shrewd to himself seems Loge;
Others always
Figure as fools.
If I had to ask for
Advice or aid
On bitter terms,
How happy the thief would be!
This helmet that hides
I schemed for myself,
And chose for its smith
Mime, finest of forgers.
I am now able
Swift to assume
Any form that I fancy,
Through the helm.
No one sees me,
Search as he will;
Though everywhere hidden,
I always am there.
So, fearing nothing,
Even from thee I am safe,
Most kind, careful of friends!
LOGE
I have met
Full many a marvel,
But one so wondrous
Have never known.
Achievement so matchless
Scarce can I credit.
Were this possible, truly
Thy might indeed were eternal.
ALBERICH
Dost thou believe
I lie, as would Loge?
LOGE
Till it is proved
I must suspect thy word.
ALBERICH
Puffed up with wisdom,
The fool will explode soon:
Of envy then die!
Decide to what I shall change;
In that form I shall stand.
LOGE
Nay, choose for thyself,
But strike me dumb with amaze.
ALBERICH [Puts the Tarnhelm on his head.
"Dragon dread,
Wreathe thou and wriggle!"
[He immediately disappears. An enormous serpent writhes on the floor in his place. It rears and threatens Wotan and Loge with its open jaws.
LOGE [Pretends to be terrified.
Ohé!
ALBERICH [Laughing.
Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!
LOGE
Ohé! Ohé!
Horrible dragon,
O swallow me not!
Spare the life of poor Loge!
WOTAN
Good, Alberich!
Well done, rascal!
How swiftly grew
The dwarf to the dragon immense!
[The dragon disappears and, in its stead, Alberich is again seen in his own shape.