The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie. The Ring of the Niblung, part 1. Рихард Вагнер

not the elf

      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