RUDOLPH-- We Can neither keep our swords nor keep ourselves. Who is it plants the white cross in our land? The Frank? The Wend? The Saxon; we ourselves. No; in that fire that burns up from the south Thousands of our swords have melted and become Scales on the dragon's back and teeth and claws That now tear out our hearts. To-day swords strike For Woden, and to-morrow the strange god With those same swords storms Valhal, and lays low Its golden roof. Our ash Iggdrasil dies. Its beautiful leaves fall far off on the sea. FRITZ--Let's kill the worm that bites it, then. RUDOLPH-- That worm Hath bit the Northman and the Northman bites Val-father. (_A crash is heard in the forest._) FRITZ-- It was the tree fell. RUDOLPH-- So falls Iggdrasil and the golden roof comes down. When the North bites, Val-father dies. No, Fritz; The South has thrown a snake upon the North, And in its trail no fairy can be found. They, too, have gone to the mountains. FRITZ-- Leave our homes? RUDOLPH--For all of us it will be better there. The slopes are thickly clothed with oak and pine. There, too, your flock will find good grazing, Fritz. Conrad and I saw ledges thick with grass. FRITZ--It's thick here, too. RUDOLPH-- And torrents tumbling down Fill to the brim the basins of the rocks. There, in the dryest season-- FRITZ-- Look down here. (_He points down in the stream._) And this mid-summer. RUDOLPH-- And game is plentiful. FRITZ--It's plentiful here, too; deer and-- RUDOLPH-- Chamois And wild-goats browsing on the crags. FRITZ-- And here Are wild-boars' lairs and-- RUDOLPH-- The dragon's den. FRITZ--His den is here, but he feeds everywhere. RUDOLPH--Not on the mountains. FRITZ-- They are barren; but He would feed there if we should go there. RUDOLPH-- No. FRITZ--He ravages the whole wide-- RUDOLPH-- (_Moving his hand horizontally._) This way, yes; But that way? (_Pointing up._) No. He dare not face the light That father Woden pours upon the peaks. Under Valhalla's eaves the dark elf died When the dawn smote him; so the dragon there. His paws would break off on the mountain sides. FRITZ--We will stay here and cut them off. RUDOLPH-- Those paws? Those huge, red, century-scarred paws? With what? FRITZ--They want our woods and crofts, that's what they want.