Laughing at his ignorance, the nymphs told him that it was a magical Gold; that whoever made a Ring from it would have greater power than any one else alive; that he could possess all the wealth of the world if he wished; and they so described the fairy powers of the treasure that Alberich’s wicked soul began to thrill with desire to have it as his own. The sisters further told him that the Gold was safe from thieves, because it could only be stolen by some one who had made up his mind never to love any one except himself so long as he might live. “We have nothing to fear,” said gentle Woglinde, “for every one who lives must love.” But Alberich pondered silently. “All the wealth in the world!” he thought. “For that who would not give up love?” And he sprang wildly up the rocks. “Listen, waves and water-witches!” he shouted, as he reached towards the gleaming treasure. “Never will I, the Dwarf, give love to any creature save myself through all my life.” And while, with wild cries, the Rhine Maidens hastened near to prevent him, Alberich, the Nibelung, tore the Rhinegold from the tall, black rock, and fled with it into the black chasm, and so to Nibelheim. And, left behind, the nymphs could only wail for their lost joy with sobs and cries of “Sorrow, sorrow! Ah—to rescue the Gold!” But it was too late. And in the dark hollow chasm, Alberich, fleeing with the treasure, laughed at their despair. [Music: Motif of the Giants] [Music: Motif of Friea] CHAPTER II FASOLT AND FAFNER One morning not long afterwards the rising sun shone upon strange things up among the gods. Wotan, and Fricka his wife, waking upon the mountain-top where they had slept that night, gazed up to where, built among the clouds, the spires of a wonderful palace glittered in the sunshine—Walhalla, the fair, new home of the gods. It had been built at Wotan’s command by Fasolt and Fafner, the two brother giants, and they had been promised, in payment, the goddess Friea. But Wotan had never intended giving her to them, and so he told Fricka when she spoke anxiously of the reward promised the giants, declaring that the goddess was as precious to him as to her. Even as he spoke Friea rushed wildly in, calling upon him to save her from the rude giants. In answer, Wotan asked where Logi, the Fire God, could be found, saying that where cunning and craft were needed, Logi was the one most to be sought after. But, look as he might, the wayward Fire God was nowhere to be seen. And then came the great brothers, bearing huge clubs, and fiercely clamoring for a reward for their labors in building Walhalla. “You slept while we worked,” they said. “Now claim we our payment.” “What price do you demand?” asked Wotan, pretending not to remember any promised reward. “What will you take as wages?” “Would you deceive us so?” cried Fasolt, in astonished rage. “Friea you promised us. We worked right heartily to win us so fair a woman.”