Page:MU KPB 001 The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie - Illustrated by Artur Rackham.pdf/18

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FIRST SCENE

At the bottom of the Rhine

A greeniſh twilight, lighter above than below. The upper part is filled with undulating water, which ſtreams reſtleſsly from right to left. Towards the bottom the waves resolve themselves into a miſt which grows finer as it descends, so that a space, as high as a man’s body from the ground, appears to be quite free from the water, which floats like a train of clouds over the gloomy ſtretch below. Steep rocky peaks jut up everywhere from the depths, and enclose the entire ſtage. The ground is a wild confuſion of jagged rocks, no part of it being quite level, and on every ſide deeper fiſsures are indicated by a ſtill denser gloom. Woglinde circles with graceful swimming movements round the central rock.

Woglinde	Weia! Waga! Roll, O ye billows, Rock ye our cradle! Wagala weia! Wailala, weiala, weia!
Wellgunde From above.	Woglinde, watchest alone?
Woglinde	If Wellgunde came we were two.
Wellgunde	How keepest thou watch?
Dives down to the rock.
Woglinde	Wary of thee.
Swimming off; eludes her. [They playfully tease and chase one another.
Flossbilde From above.	Heiaha weia! Ho! ye wild sisters!

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