Page:MU KPB 001 The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie - Illustrated by Artur Rackham.pdf/140

Hunding Rises.

I know a wild-blooded breed; What others revere It flouts unawed: All hate it, and I with the rest. When forth in haste I was summoned, Vengeance to seek For my kinsmen’s blood, I came too late, And now return home To find the impious wretch In haven under my roof.—— My house holds thee, Wölfing, to-day; For the night thou art my guest. But wield to-morrow Thy trustiest weapon. I choose the day for the fight: Thy life shall pay for the dead. [T o Sieglinde, who ſteps between the two men with anxious geſtures; harſhly. Forth from the hall! Linger not here! Prepare my draught for the night, And wait until I come.

[Sieglinde ſtands for a while undecided and thoughtful. Slowly and with heſitating ſteps she goes towards the ſtore-room. There she pauses again, loſt in thought, her face half averted. With quiet resolution she opens the cupboard, fills a drinking-horn, and shakes spices into it out of a box. She then turns her eyes on Siegmund, in order to meet his gaze, which he never removes from her. She perceives that Hunding is watching, and proceeds immediately to the bed-chamber. On the ſteps she turns once more, looks yearningly at Siegmund, and indicates with her eyes, perſiſtently and with speaking plainneſs, a particular spot in the ſtem of the aſh-tree. Hunding ſtarts, and drives her off with a violent geſture. With a laſt look at Siegmund, she disappears into the bed-chamber, and shuts the door behind her.

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