O cover me, Death,
From the sorrow!
Wouldst thou not have me
Curse thee for flying?
Thou must hearken, maid, to my prayer:
Pierce thou my heart with thy sword!
BRÜNNHILDE [Impressively.
Live for the sake
Of thy love, O woman!
Rescue the pledge
Thou has gotten from him:
The Wälsung's child thou shalt bear!
SIEGLINDE
[Gives a violent start; suddenly her face beams with sublime joy.
Save me, ye bold ones!
Rescue my child!
Shelter me, maidens,
And strong be your shield!
[An ever-darkening thunderstorm nears from the back.
WALTRAUTE [On the look-out.
The storm has drawn nigh.
ORTLINDE
Fly, all who fear it!
THE VALKYRIES
Hence with the woman;
Here she is lost:
The Valkyries dare not
Shield her from doom!
SIEGLINDE [On her knees before Brünnhilde.
Save me, O maid!
Rescue the mother!
BRÜNNHILDE [Raising Sieglinde with sudden resolve.
Away then, and swiftly!
Alone thou shalt fly.
I—stay in thy stead,
Victim of Wotan's anger.
I will hold here
The God in his wrath,
Till I know thee past reach of his rage.
SIEGLINDE
Say, whither shall my flight be?
BRÜNNHILDE
Which of you, sisters,
Eastward has journeyed?
SIEGRUNE
A forest stretches
Far in the east;
The Nibelung's hoard
By Fafner thither was borne.
SCHWERTLEITE
There as a dread
Dragon he sojourns,
And in a cave
Keeps watch over Alberich's ring.
GRIMGERDE
'Tis uncanny there
For a woman's home.
BRÜNNHILDE
And yet from Wotan's wrath
Shelter sure were the wood;
For he both fears
And keeps far from the place.
"There as a dread
Dragon he sojourns,
And in a cave
Keeps watch over Alberich's ring."
WALTRAUTE [On the look-out.