Child Stories from the Masters: Being a Few Modest Interpretations of Some Phases of the; Master Works Done in a Child WayMenefee, Maud
General
Child Stories from the Masters: Being a Few Modest Interpretations of Some Phases of the; Master Works Done in a Child Way
Menefee, Maud
Children's stories; Literature -- Adaptations
And the musician shows in wonderful music-pictures how Siegfried went
out into the early morning, and how the light glittered on the trembling
leaves and sifted through in little splashes. He stood still, listening
to the stir of the leaves and the hum of the bees and the chirp of the
birds. Two birds were singing as they built a nest, and he wondered what
they said to one another. He cut a reed and tried to mock their words,
but it was like nothing. He began to wish that he might speak to some
one like himself, and he wondered about his mother; why had she left
him? It seemed to him he was the one lone thing in the world. He lifted
his silver horn and blew a sweet blast, but no friend came. He blew
again and again, louder and clearer, until suddenly the leaves stirred
to a great rustling; and the very earth seemed to tremble. He looked,
and behold! he had waked the dragon that all men feared; and it was
coming toward him, breathing fire and smoke. But Siegfried did not know
what fear was; he only laughed and leaped over it, as he plunged; and
when it reared to spring upon him, he drove the immortal blade straight
into its heart.
Now when Siegfried plucked out his sword he smeared his finger with the
blood, and it burned like fire, so that he put it in his mouth to ease
the pain. Then suddenly the most strange thing happened: he understood
all the hum and murmur of the woods; and lo! the bird on the very branch
above was singing of his mother and of him, and of the gold that was his
if he would give up his sword and would love and serve none in the
world. And more, she sang on of one who slept upon a lonely mountain: a
wall of fire burned around, that none could pass but he who knew no
fear.
Siegfried listened to hear more, but the bird fluttered away before
him. He saw it going, and he forgot the gold and the whole world, and
followed it. It led him on and on, to a lonely mountain, where he saw
light burning; and he climbed up and up, and always the light grew
brighter. But when he was nearly at the top, and would have bounded on,
he could not, for Odin stood there with his spear across the way. The
fire glowed and flashed around them, but the sword gleamed brighter than
anything that ever shone, as Siegfried cleft the mighty spear and leaped
into the flame. And there at last, in the great shining, this Siegfried
beheld a mortal like himself. He stood still in wonder. He saw the light
glinting on armor, and he thought, "I have found a knight, a friend!"
And he went over and took the helmet from the head. Long ruddy hair,
like flame, fell down. Then he raised the shield, and behold! in white
glistening robes he saw the maid Brunhilde. And she was so beautiful!
The light glowed into a great shining as he looked, and, hardly
knowing, he leaned and kissed her, and she awoke.
And it seemed to Siegfried that he had found his mother and the whole
world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account