The black clouds gathered about him till all the Gods were obscured, and as they enfolded them, even the Thunder God was hidden. Out of the darkness flashed the lightning. Boom! his hammer crashed, and the thunders rolled away into the hills. Boom! the hammer crashed against the rock again, and with another mighty stroke the darkness rolled away, the storm cleared, the sun shone forth and at Donner's feet a brilliant rainbow-bridge appeared. It bridged the way from peak to palace. It was the bridge of promise, and to it Froh pointed the way. As the sun beamed upon the earth, the pinnacles and roofs of Walhall shone like burnished gold, and Wotan took his Goddess by the hand and crossed the bridge of promise while the others followed in his train. Loge, going last, paused. "I foresee the downfall of the Eternals," he murmured. "They have longed for ease and luxuries which they have bought with evil bargains. Shall I go with them, or shall I once more wander, flickering, dancing, wavering, glancing--a Spirit of Flame that shall destroy while others build?" Thinking of what was to come, he slowly crossed the rainbow-bridge and cast in his lot with the Eternals. As the Gods departed for Walhall, the Rhein-daughters were lamenting their loss; but Wotan heard and turned to chide them. (_See following pages--in which the music is to be read straight across five pages: 331 to 335 inclusive._) [Music: (Die drei Rheintoechter in der Tiefe des Thales, unsichtbar.) (_The three Rhein-daughters in the valley._) Wogl. Rheingold! Rheingold! guileless gold! how brightly and clear shimmered thy beams on us! Wellg. Rheingold! Rheingold! guileless gold! how brightly and clear shimmered thy beams on us! Flossh. Rheingold! Rheingold! guileless gold! how brightly and clear shimmered thy beams! Wotan (im Begriff den Fuss auf die Bruecke zu setzen, haelt an, und wendet sich um.) (_preparing to set his foot on the bridge, stops and turns round._) What plaints come hither to me? Wogl. For thy pure lustre now lament me: Wellg. For thy pure lustre now lament me: Flossh. For thy pure lustre now lament me: Loge (spaeht in das Thal hinab.) (_looks down into the valley._) The [Transcriber's Note: music ends here]] THE NIBELUNG RING SECOND DAY THE VALKYRIE CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA Siegmund. Hunding. Wotan. Sieglinde. Bruennhilde. Fricka. The Valkyries: Gerhilde, Ortlinde, Schwertleite, Waltraute, Helmwige, Siegrune, Grimgerde, Rossweisse. ACT I Far off in the forest lived a huntsman and his wife. The huntsman was rough and brutal, but his wife, Sieglinde, was a young and tender creature who lived far away from pleasure and friends, while her husband hunted all day, went to sleep as soon as he had his supper, and was always surly and rough.