Page:MU KPB 001 The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie - Illustrated by Artur Rackham.pdf/200

Sieglinde With all her ſtrength.	Hold your hands, ye men there! Strike me dead first! [She ruſhes towards the paſs, but is suddenly dazzled by a light which flaſhes forth from above the combatants to the right, and ſtaggers aſide as if blinded.
Brünnhilde’s voice	Strike him, Siegmund! Trust to the sword! [Brünnhilde appears in the glare of light, floating above Siegmund, and protecting him with her ſhield, Just as Siegmund is aiming a deadly blow at Hunding a glowing red light breaks through the clouds from the left, in which Wotan appears, ſtanding over Hunding and holding his spear acroſs in front of Siegmund.
Wotan’s voice	Back! Back from the spear! In splinters the sword! [Brünnhilde with her ſhield recoils in terror before Wotan; Siegmund’s sword breaks in splinters on the outſtretched spear. Hunding plunges his sword into the disarmed man’s breaſt, Siegmund falls down dead, and Sieglinde, who has heard his death-ſigh, ſinks to the ground as if lifeleſs. With Siegmund’s fall the lights on both ſides disappear. Dense clouds ſhroud all but the foreground in darkneſs. Through these Brünnhilde is dimly seen turning in wild haſle to Sieglinde.
Brünnhilde	To horse, that I may save thee! She lifts Sieglinde up quickly on to her horse, which is ſtanding near the ſide ravine, and immediately disappears. Thereupon the clouds divide in the middle, so that Hunding, who has juſt drawn his sword out of Siegmund’s breaſt, is diſtinctly seen, Wotan, surrounded by clouds, ſtands on a rock behind, leaning on his spear and gazing sorrowfully on Siegmund's body.

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