Page:MU KPB 001 The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie - Illustrated by Artur Rackham.pdf/224

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The Valkyrie

Through the clouds her swift steed to the battle;

Her maidenhood’s flower
Will fade away;
Her grace and her favour
Her husband’s will be;
Her husband will rule her
And she will obey =;

Beside the hearth she will spin,
To all mockers a mark for scorn.

[Brünnhilde ſinks with a cry to the ground. The Valkyries, horror-ſtricken, recoil from her violently.
Fear ye her fate?
Then fly from the lost one!
Swiftly forsake
And flee from her far!
Let one but venture
Near her to linger,
Seek to befriend her,
Defying my will—

The fool shall share the same doom:
I warn you, ye bold ones, well!

Up and away!
Hence, and return not!

Get ye gone at a gallop,
Trouble is rife else for you here!

The Valkyries
Separate with a wild cry and ruſh into the wood.
Woe! Woel
[Black clouds settle thickly on the cliff; a ruſhing sound is heard in the wood. From the clouds breaks a vivid flaſh of lightning, by which the Valkyries are seen packed closely together, and riding wildly away with loose bridles. The ſtorm soon subſides; the thunderclouds gradually disperse, In the following scene the weather becomes fine again and twilight falls, followed at the close by night.

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