[Falls upon Fafner, who has meanwhile been steadily packing up the treasure.
Back, brazen rascal!
Mine is the ring.
I lost for it Freia's smile.
[He snatches haply at the ring.
Off with thy hands!
The ring is mine.
[There is a struggle. Fasolt tears the ring from Fafner.
FASOLT
I hold it. It is mine now!
FAFNER
Hold fast, lest it should fall!
[Lunging out with his stave, he fells Fasolt to the ground with one blow; from the dying man he then hastily tears the ring.
Now feast upon Freia's smile:
No more shalt thou touch the ring!
[He puts the ring into the sack and tranquilly continues to pack up the rest of the hoard. All the Gods stand horrified. A solemn silence.