Page:MU KPB 001 The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie - Illustrated by Artur Rackham.pdf/67

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The Rhinegold

Wasting, the scoff of the world,
The Gods must pine and pass.

Fricka
Anxiously.
Wotan, alas!
Unhappy man!
See what thy laughing
Lightness has brought us——

Scoff and scorn for all!

Wotan
Coming to a sudden resolve, ſtarts up.
Up, Loge,
And follow me!

To Nibelheim hastening downward,
I go in search of the gold.

Loge
The Rhine-daughters
Thy aid invoked:

Not vainly they hoped for thy help then?

Wotan
Angrily.
Fool, be silent!
Freia, the fair one—

Freia’s ransom we go for.

Loge
Where thou wouldst go
Gladly I lead.
Shall we dive

Sheer through the depths of the Rhine?

Wotan
Not through the Rhine.
Loge
Then swift let us swing
Through this smoky chasm.

Together, come, creep we in!

[He goes in front and vaniſhes at the ſide through a cleft, from which, immediately afterwards, sulphurous vapour ſtreams forth.
Wotan
Ye others wait
Till evening here;

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