ared, the sun
shone forth and at Donner's feet a brilliant rainbow-bridge appeared.
It bridged the way from peak to palace. It was the bridge of promise,
and to it Froh pointed the way. As the sun beamed upon the earth, the
pinnacles and roofs of Walhall shone like burnished gold, and Wotan
took his Goddess by the hand and crossed the bridge of promise while
the others followed in his train. Loge, going last, paused.

"I foresee the downfall of the Eternals," he murmured. "They have
longed for ease and luxuries which they have bought with evil
bargains. Shall I go with them, or shall I once more wander,
flickering, dancing, wavering, glancing--a Spirit of Flame that shall
destroy while others build?" Thinking of what was to come, he slowly
crossed the rainbow-bridge and cast in his lot with the Eternals.

As the Gods departed for Walhall, the Rhein-daughters were lamenting
their loss; but Wotan heard and turned to chide them. (_See following
pages--in which the music is to be read straight across five pages:
331 to 335 inclusive._)

[Music:

(Die drei Rheintoechter in der Tiefe des Thales, unsichtbar.)

(_The three Rhein-daughters in the valley._)

Wogl.

Rheingold! Rheingold!
guileless gold!
how brightly and clear
shimmered thy beams on us!

Wellg.

Rheingold! Rheingold!
guileless gold!
how brightly and clear
shimmered thy beams on us!

Flossh.

Rheingold! Rheingold!
guileless gold!
how brightly and clear
shimmered thy beams!

Wotan

(im Begriff den Fuss auf die Bruecke zu setzen, haelt an, und
wendet sich um.)

(_preparing to set his foot on the bridge, stops and turns
round._)

What plaints come hither to me?

Wogl.

For thy pure lustre now lament me:

Wellg.

For thy pure lustre now lament me:

Flossh.

For thy pure lustre now lament me:

Loge

(spaeht in das Thal hinab.)

(_looks down into the valley._)

The [Transcriber's Note: music ends here]]

THE NIBELUNG RING

SECOND DAY

THE VALKYRIE

CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA

Siegmund.
Hunding.
Wotan.
Sieglinde.
Bruennhilde.
Fricka.

The Valkyries: Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Schwertleite, Waltraute, Helmwige,
Siegrune, Grimgerde, Rossweisse.

ACT I

Far off in the forest lived a huntsman and his wife. The huntsman was
rough and brutal, but his wife, Sieglinde, was a young and tender
creature who lived far away from pleasure and frien