have I wished to have my noble friend at Valhalla. Fly, Brunhilde,
to the battlefield. Give to Siegmund the victory. Carry him here to
dwell upon the heights."

At that moment Wotan's wife rushed to them in great anger.

"Wotan," she cried, "Siegmund must not be brought to Valhalla. I ask
that my friend, the forest chief, shall be given aid. Send Brunhilde to
bear Hunding to our castle."

"No," replied Wotan, "I must protect Siegmund. He it is who won my
sword."

"Take the sword from him," replied Wotan's wife in rage. "I plead for
Hunding's rights. Promise me that you will forbid your war-maiden to
give aid to Siegmund."

Wotan's heart ached at the thought of failing this friend he loved so
well.

On Siegmund were centered all his hopes. Yet he feared to refuse his
wife's request.

Quarrels and strife must not come into Valhalla.

He threw himself upon a rocky seat and hung his head and thought in
silence.

At length he said:--

"I promise. From Siegmund I withdraw my aid."

WOTAN AND BRUNHILDE

Now that Wotan's wife had gained his promise, she turned back to
Valhalla.

Wotan buried his face in his hand and cried out in despair:--

"Oh, woe and shame upon the giants! What I love best I must give up. I
lose the friend I hold most dear. All my hopes are vanishing. A short
time and the giants will be no more."

Loudly he moaned: "This is the curse that clutched me when I snatched
the glittering gold."

Brunhilde knelt at Wotan's feet, and, looking into his sad eyes
begged:--

"Tell me, Father, what thy child can do. Trust me, Father!" she pleaded.
"Tell me all your woe."

Wotan took her hands in his and told her the story of the ring.

How he had taken it from the finger of the dwarf.

How he had stooped to trickery and had stolen the gold with which to pay
for Valhalla.

He told of the sad hearts of the Rhine-daughters, and of the greedy
Fafner, lying at the door of his forest cave, guarding his hoard.

But last of all, he told of the dread of Alberich's curse.

He told of his fear that the black Nibelung might regain the ring and by
its power destroy Valhalla.

OFF TO THE BATTLEFIELD

When Brunhilde had heard the story of the curse, she said:--

"But, Father, Alberich could not destroy Valhalla. Think of all the
heroes gathered there. Surely, they can protect it from all danger."

"Brunhilde, my child," sighed Wotan, "you do not know the power of that
ring when it is in the han