[Goes to the storeroom, fills a horn with mead, and proffers it to Siegmund with friendly eagerness.
This healing and honeyed
Draught of mead
Deign to accept from me.
SIEGMUND
Set it first to thy lips.
[Sieglinde sips from the horn and hands it back to him. Siegmund takes a long draught, regarding Sieglinde with increasing warmth. Still gazing, he takes the horn from his lips and lets it sink slowly, while his features express strong emotion. He sighs deeply, and lowers his gaze gloomily to the ground.
SIEGMUND [In a trembling voice.
Thou hast tended an ill-fated one!
May all evil
Be turned from thee!
[He starts up quickly, and goes towards the the back.
I have been solaced
By sweet repose:
Onward now I must press.
SIEGLINDE [Turning round quickly.
Who pursues thee so close at thy heels?
SIEGMUND [Stops.
Bad luck pursues me,
Everywhere follows;
And where I linger
Trouble still finds me:
Be thou preserved from its touch!
I must not gaze but go.
[He strides hastily to the door and lifts the latch.
SIEGLINDE [Forgetting herself calls impetuously after him.
Then tarry here!
Misfortune thou canst not bring
To those who abide with it!