Come hither all! For I will let her see Brunhilda still can conquer! While the sea Of fire still flamed I hastened forth to meet ye, And friendly, as a trusty dog will spring To give his master room, my faithful fire Drew back before me, sank on either hand; The road stands open now, but not my heart. [_She ascends her throne._] Now fling the portals wide and let them in! Whoever here may come, his head is mine! SCENE II _The gates are opened. Enter SIEGFRIED, GUNTHER, HAGEN and VOLKER_ BRUNHILDA. Who cometh seeking death? (_To SIEGFRIED._) Ah! Is it thou? SIEGFRIED. I am not seeking death, nor will I sue. And too much honor dost thou yield to me In greeting Gunther's guide before himself, For I am but his helper. BRUNHILDA (_turning to GUNTHER_). Then 'tis thou? And know'st thou what is toward? GUNTHER. Full well I know! SIEGFRIED. The rumor of thy beauty spreads abroad, But further still the fame of thy hard heart. And who hath gazed but once in thy deep eyes Will nevermore forget, e'en in his cups, That dreadful death beside thee always stands. BRUNHILDA. Tis true! Who cannot conquer, he must die, And all his servants with him. Smilest thou? Be not so proud! For if thou cam'st to me As thou could'st hold a beaker full of wine On high above thy head and still could'st gaze On me as on a picture, yet I swear That thou shalt fall as any other falls. (_TO GUNTHER._) But thee I counsel, if thine ears can hear, List to my maidens! Bid them tell the tale Of heroes that my hand hath laid full low! The chance may hap among them there is one Hath tried his strength with thee. There may be one Hath laid thee conquered at his very feet! HAGEN. Ne'er was King Gunther conquered. That I vow! SIEGFRIED. High stands his castle by the Rhine at Worms, And rich are all the treasures of his land; Yet o'er all heroes stands he higher still, And richer far in honors is our King. HAGEN. Thy hand, thou lowlander! Thou speakest well! VOLKER. And would it be so hard to leave this land Amidst the ocean's desert solitude-- Of thy free will to leave it, and the King To follow forth to life from night and hell? This land is like no other on the earth.-- A desert waste, a rockbound wilderness; All living things have fled long since in fear, And if thou lovest it, 'tis only this, That thou wast born the last of all thy race. Above, the storms rage ever, and the sea Forever surgeth and the fiery mount In labor moaneth, while the fearful light That streameth ruddy from the firmament, As streams the blood from sacrificial stone, Is such as devils only may endure.-- To breathe the air is like to drinking blood! BRUNHILDA.