How dost thou dare Aspire to her, the daughter of a king? How dost thou dare, a vassal such as thou, A serving man! SIEGFRIED. What? BRUNHILDA. Cam'st thou not as guide, As messenger departed? (_To_ GUNTHER.) Canst thou suffer And aid him in such boldness? GUNTHER. Siegfried is The first of all our warriors. BRUNHILDA. Grant him then The foremost seat beside thy very throne. GUNTHER. In treasure, he is richer far than I. BRUNHILDA. Is that his claim upon thy sister? Shame! GUNTHER. A thousand of my enemies he's slain. BRUNHILDA. The man who conquered me thanks him for that? GUNTHER. He is a king as I am. BRUNHILDA. Yet he ranks Himself amongst thy servants? GUNTHER. I will solve This riddle for thee when thou art mine own. BRUNHILDA. Ere I am thine thy secret will I know. UTE. Thou wilt refuse to call me mother then? Oh tarry not too long, for I am old. And worn with many sorrows! BRUNHILDA. As I swore, I'll go with him to church, and I will be Most willingly thy daughter--not his wife. HAGEN (_to_ FRIGGA). Pray quiet her! FRIGGA. What need is there of me? For if he once has overcome Brunhild, The second time he surely will not fail; And self-defense is every maiden's right. SIEGFRIED (_taking_ KRIEMHILD _by the hand_). That all may know me henceforth as a king, The Niblung's treasure do I give to thee. And now thy duty and my right I claim. [_He kisses her_.] HAGEN. To church! FRIGGA. Does Siegfried hold the Niblung's hoard? HAGEN. Thou heard'st! The trumpets! FRIGGA. And is Balmung[3] his? HAGEN. Why not? Musicians! Wedding music here! [_Loud and joyful music. Exeunt omnes_.] SCENE VII _The great hall. Enter_ TRUCHS _and_ WULF. _Dwarfs bring treasures across the stage._ TRUCHS. I am for Kriemhild. WULF. And for Brunhild I. TRUCHS. And why, if thou wilt tell me? WULF. Where would be The play of rival lances, if we all Should wear one color? TRUCHS. Why, I grant thee that! The reason is sufficient, otherwise It were mere madness. WULF. Say it not so loud, For many heroes swear by Brunhild now. TRUCHS. They are as different as day and night. WULF. Who says they're not? Yet many love the night. [_Points to the dwarfs_.] What are they bringing? TRUCHS. It must be the hoard, The treasure of the Niblungs Siegfried won. He's called the dwarfs for escort duty here, And bade them bring the treasure, and I'm told It is the marriage portion for his bride. WULF. Uncanny are these dwarfs, with hollow backs! But turn one over--there's a kneading trough! TRUCHS. And ever with the dragons is their home Within the earth and in the mountain caves.-- First cousins to the moles they are. WULF. But strong! TRUCHS.