[Wotan makes a wrathful gesture. Fricka goes on more and more confidently as she sees the impression produced on him.
The Gods
Do not battle with bondsmen;
The free but punish transgressors.
Against thee, my peer,
Have I waged war,
But Siegmund is mine as my slave.
[Another violent gesture from Wotan, who then seems to succumb to the feeling of his own powerlessness.
Shall thy eternal
Consort obey one
Who calls thee master
And bows as thy slave?
What! Shall I be
Despised by the basest,
To the lawless a spur,
A scoff to the free?
My husband cannot desire me,
A goddess, to suffer such shame!
WOTAN [Gloomily.
What then wouldst thou?
FRICKA
Shield not the Wälsung.
WOTAN [In a muffled voice.
His way let him go.
FRICKA
Thou wilt grant him no aid,
When to arms the avenger calls?
WOTAN
I shield him no more.
FRICKA
Seek not to trick me;
Look in my eyes!
The Valkyrie turn from him too.
WOTAN
The Valkyrie free shall choose.
FRICKA
Not so; she but acts
To accomplish thy will;
Give order that Siegmund die.
WOTAN [After a violent internal struggle.
Nay, slay him I cannot,
He found my sword!
FRICKA
Remove thou the magic,
And shatter the blade:
Swordless let him be found.
BRÜNNHILDE [Is heard calling from the heights.
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Hojotoho!
Heiaha! Heiaha!
Heiohotojo! Hotojoha!
FRICKA
Thy valorous maiden comes;
Shouting, hither she rides.
WOTAN
For Siegmund I called her to horse.
[Brünnhilde appears with her horse on the rocky path to the right. When she sees Fricka she stops abruptly and, during the following, slowly and silently leads her horse down the path. She then puts it in a cave.
FRICKA
By her shield to-day
Be guarded the honour
Of thy eternal spouse!
Derided by men,
Shorn of our power,
Perish and pass would the Gods
If thy valiant maid
Avenged not to-day
My sacred and sovereign right.
The Wälsung falls for my honour.
Does Wotan now pledge me his oath?
WOTAN [Throwing himself on to a rocky seat in terrible dejection.
Take the oath!
[Fricka strides towards the back, where she meets Brünnhilde and halts for a moment before her.
FRICKA
Warfather
Waits for thee;
He will instruct thee
How the lot is decreed!
[She drives off quickly.
BRÜNNHILDE