We now come upon a last relic of the tragedy of Wotan.Returning to Brynhild's mountain, we find her visited by her sister Valkyrie Valtrauta, who has witnessed Wotan's solemn preparations with terror.She repeats to Brynhild the account already given by the Noms.Clinging in anguish to Wotan's knees, she has heard him mutter that were the ring returned to the daughters of the deep Rhine, both Gods and world would be redeemed from that stage curse off Alberic's in The Rhine Gold.On this she has rushed on her warhorse through the air to beg Brynhild to give the Rhine back its ring.But this is asking Woman to give up love for the sake of Church and State.She declares that she will see them both perish first; and Valtrauta returns to Valhalla in despair.
Whilst Brynhild is watching the course of the black thundercloud that marks her sister's flight, the fires of Loki again flame high round the mountain; and the horn of Siegfried is heard as he makes his way through them.But the man who now appears wears the Tarnhelm: his voice is a strange voice: his figure is the unknown one of the king of the Gibichungs.He tears the ring from her finger, and, claiming her as his wife, drives her into the cave without pity for her agony of horror, and sets Nothung between them in token of his loyalty to the friend he is impersonating.
No explanation of this highway robbery of the ring is offered.
Clearly, this Siegfried is not the Siegfried of the previous drama.
The Second ActIn the second act we return to the hall of Gibich, where Hagen, in the last hours of that night, still sits, his spear in his hand, and his shield beside him.At his knees crouches a dwarfish spectre, his father Alberic, still full of his old grievances against Wotan, and urging his son in his dreams to win back the ring for him.This Hagen swears to do; and as the apparition of his father vanishes, the sun rises and Siegfried suddenly comes from the river bank tucking into his belt the Tarnhelm, which has transported hi from the mountain like the enchanted carpet of the Arabian tales.He describes his adventures to Gutrune until Gunther's boat is seen approaching, when Hagen seizes a cowhorn and calls the tribesmen to welcome their chief and his bride.It is most exhilarating, this colloquy with the startled and hastily armed clan, ending with a thundering chorus, the drums marking the time with mighty pulses from dominant to tonic, much as Rossini would have made them do if he had been a pupil of Beethoven's.
A terrible scene follows.Gunther leads his captive bride straight into the presence of Siegfried, whom she claims as her husband by the ring, which she is astomshed to see on his finger:
Gunther, as she supposes, having torn it from her the night before.Turning on Gunther, she says "Since you took that ring from me, and married me with it, tell him of your right to it;and make him give it back to you." Gunther stammers, "The ring! Igave him no ring--er--do you know him?" The rejoinder is obvious."Then where are you hiding the ring that you had from me?" Gunther's confusion enlightens her; and she calls Siegfried trickster and thief to his face.In vain he declares that he got the ring from no woman, but from a dragon whom he slew; for he is manifestly puzzled; and she, seizing her opportunity, accuses him before the clan of having played Gunther false with her.
Hereupon we have another grandiose operatic oath, Siegfried attesting his innocence on Hagen's spear, and Brynhild rushing to the footlights and thrusting him aside to attest his guilt, whilst the clansmen call upon their gods to send down lightnings and silence the perjured.The gods do not respond; and Siegfried, after whispering to Gunther that the Tarnhelm seems to have been only half effectual after all, laughs his way out of the general embarrassment and goes off merrily to prepare for his wedding, with his arm round Gutrune's waist, followed by the clan.
Gunther, Hagen and Brynhild are left together to plot operatic vengeance.Brynhild, it appears, has enchanted Siegfried in such a fashion that no weapon can hurt him.She has, however, omitted to protect his back, since it is impossible that he should ever turn that to a foe.They agree accordingly that on the morrow a great hunt shall take place, at which Hagen shall thrust his spear into the hero's vulnerable back.The blame is to be laid on the tusk of a wild boar.Gunther, being a fool, is remorseful about his oath of blood-brotherhood and about his sister's bereavement, without having the strength of mind to prevent the murder.The three burst into a herculean trio, similar in conception to that of the three conspirators in Un Ballo in Maschera; and the act concludes with a joyous strain heralding the appearance of SiegEried's wedding procession, with strewing of flowers, sacrificing to the gods, and carrying bride and bridegroom in triumph.
