Of the famed eye golden
That wakes and sleeps in turn?
WOGLINDE
Of the star resplendent
Down in the depths
Whose light illumines the waves?
THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [Together
See how gaily
We glide in the glory!
Wouldst thou also
Be bathed in brightness,
Come, float and frolic with us!
Wallala la la leia lalei!
Wallala la la leia jahei!
ALBERICH
Has the gold no value
Apart from your games?
It were not worth getting!
WOGLINDE
He would not scoff,
Scorning the gold,
Did he but know all its wonders!
WELLGUNDE
That man surely
The earth would inherit
Who from the Rhinegold
Fashioned the ring
Which measureless power imparts.
FLOSSHILDE
Our father told us,
And strictly bade us
Guard with prudence
The precious hoard
That no thief from the water might steal it.
Be still, then, chattering fools.
WELLGUNDE
O prudent sister,
Why chide and reproach?
Hast thou not heard
That one alone
Can hope to fashion the gold?
WOGLINDE
Only the man
Who love defies,
Only the man
From love who flies
Can learn and master the magic
That makes a ring of the gold.
WELLGUNDE
Secure then are we
And free from care:
For love is part of living;
No one would live without loving.
WOGLINDE
And least of all he,
The languishing elf,
With pangs of love
Pining away.
FLOSSHILDE
I fear him not
Who should surely know,
By his savage lust
Almost inflamed.
"Mock away! Mock away!
The Niblung makes for your toy!"
WELLGUNDE
A brimstone brand
In the surging waves,
In lovesick frenzy
Hissing loud.
THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS [Together.
Wallala! Wallaleia la la!
Join in our laughter,
Lovable elf!
In the golden glory
How gallant thy sheen!
O come, lovely one, laugh as we laugh!
Heia jaheia!
Heia jaheia!
Wallala la la la leia jahei!
[They swim, laughing, backwards and forwards in the light.
ALBERICH
[His eyes fixed on the gold, has listened attentively to the sisters rapid chatter.
Could I truly
The whole earth inherit through thee?
If love be beyond me
My cunning could compass delight?
[In a terribly loud voice.
Mock away! Mock!
The Niblung makes for your toy!
[Raging he springs on to the middle rock, and clambers to the top. The maidens scatter, screaming, and swim upwards on different sides.
THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS
Heia! Heia!heia jahei!
Save yourselves!
The elf is distraught!
Swirling waters splash
At every leap:
The creature's crazy with love!
Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!
ALBERICH
[Reaching the top with a last spring.
Still undismayed?
Go, wanton in darkness.
Water-born brood!
[He stretches his hand out towards the gold.
My hand quenches your light;
I tear the gold from the rock;
Forged be the ring for revenge!
Bear witness, ye floods—
I forswear love and curse it!
[He tears the gold from the rock with terrific force, and immediately plunges with it into the depths, where he quickly disappears. Sudden darkness envelops the scene. The maidens dive down after the robber.
THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS
Seize the despoiler!
Rescue the gold!
Help us! Help us!
Woe! Woe!
[The water sinks with them. From the lowest depth Alberich's shrill, mocking laughter rings up. The rocks are hidden by impenetrable darkness. The whole stage from top to bottom is filled with black waves, which for some time appear to sink even lower.
"Seize the despoiler!
Rescue the gold!
Help us! Help us!
Woe! Woe!"
SECOND SCENE
The