Scene 2
(the same)

Hagen: Welcome, Siegfried! We've heard a lot about you!

Siegfried: Which one of you is Gibich's son?

Gunther: I am. My name is Gunther.

Siegfried: I've heard people all over talk about you, and I wanted to meet you for myself. You can be my enemy…or my friend.

Gunther: I'm not much of a fighter! You're welcome here!

Siegfried: Where can I put my horse?

Hagen: I'll find a good place for him.

Siegfried: (to Hagen) Wait - you knew my name. Have we met before?

Hagen: I could tell who you were just by seeing how strong you are.

Siegfried: (gives his horse to Hagen) Take care of Grane for me. I guarantee you've never handled a finer horse!

(Hagen takes Grane away, and motions Gutrune away from them.)

Gunther: (to Siegfried) We're very happy to have you here in our house. Wherever you go here, whatever you see, it's yours. I offer everything I have to you - my money, my land, my people, my life.

Siegfried: I can't offer you anything in return. I don't have an inheritance, or land, or a house. All I was given was the body I live in, and that gets worth less and less every day. I have my sword, though. I made it myself, and I'll swear my allegiance to you on it.

Hagen: (returning) But we've heard that you won the Nibelung's treasure for yourself?

Siegfried: (to Hagen) That's right! I almost forgot about that! It doesn't mean much to me, though. I left it in that cave with the dead dragon.

Hagen: What? You didn't take any of it?

Siegfried: I took this helmet, but I don't know what good it is to me.

Hagen: That's the Tarnhelm, the most powerful thing the Nibelungs ever made! If you put it on your head, you can take any shape you want. If you want to go somewhere, it'll take you there instantly. Is that all you took?

Siegfried: A ring, but….

Hagen: Is it safe?

Siegfried: I gave it to a beautiful woman.

Hagen: (to himself) Brünnhilde!

Gunther: You don't need to offer me anything, Siegfried! That helmet of yours makes everything I have look like nothing! You're my friend, and that comes without conditions.

(Gutrune enters, with a drinking horn)

Gutrune: Welcome to our house! Can I offer you a drink?

Siegfried: (Bows to her in thanks, takes the drink, and stares at it.) I could forget everything I know, but I'll always remember you, Brünnhilde. I'll drink to you, with my promise to always be faithful to you.

(He drinks, and then hands the horn back to Gutrune. He stares at her, obviously changed. She lowers her eyes from his.)

You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Why won't you look at me? (She looks at him.) Close your eyes! I can't stand how bright they are! You've set my heart on fire! Gunther, is this your sister?

Gunther: Yes. Her name's Gutrune. ["good counsel"]

Siegfried: I'll say. I see great things in her eyes! (to Gutrune) Your brother didn't allow me to offer him anything. Will you do the same to me?

(Gutrune looks at Hagen, then slowly leaves the room.)

Siegfried: (with Hagen and Gunther watching him closely) Gunther, are you married?

Gunther: No, and I'm not likely to be any time soon. I'm in love with someone I can't ever have.

Siegfried: (turning to face him) You can have anything you want, with me fighting for you!

Gunther: She lives on top of a mountain.

Siegfried: (to himself, quietly) "She lives on top of a mountain…."

Gunther: She's surrounded by fire.

Siegfried: (the same) "She's surrounded by fire…."

Gunther: Only a man who breaks through the fire…

Siegfried: (struggling to remember something) "Only a man who breaks through the fire…."

Gunther: …can have Brünnhilde for his wife. (Siegfried obviously doesn't remember anything, even at the mention of Brünnhilde's name.) I can't climb a mountain, and I know the fire won't let me through!

Siegfried: (coming out of his trance) But I can! I'm not scared of any fire! I'll get your woman for you, if I can have Gutrune as my wife!

Gunther: You do that for me, and she's as good as yours!

Siegfried: Then, Brünnhilde's as good as yours!

Gunther: How will you do it?

Siegfried: With the Tarnhelm! I'll make myself look like you!

Gunther: Let's swear to it!

Siegfried: Yes! We'll swear on our blood.

(Hagen gets a new drinking-horn, and pours wine in it. Siegfried and Gunther cut their arms with their swords, and hold them over the drink to drip blood into it.)

Siegfried: My life's blood is in the drink.

Gunther: Our blood will make our oath to each other strong.

Both: I pledge loyalty to my friend. We'll rejoice in our friendship, and our blood-brotherhood will make us strong!

Gunther: If one of us breaks his word…

Siegfried: If one of us is disloyal to the other…

Both: The drops of blood we drink today will become a flood, and will drown him in vengeance to the other!

Gunther: (drinks and gives the horn to Siegfried) I give you my word.

Siegfried: I swear on my honor. (Drinks and holds the empty horn out to Hagen, who cuts it in two with his sword. Siegfried and Gunther shake hands.)

Siegfried: (to Hagen) Why didn't you join us?

Hagen: You don't want my blood in there! It's not worthy to be a part of such a noble thing. My blood is so thick and cold, it barely keeps me alive. I'd just bring you both down with it.

Gunther: (to Siegfried) Let him be unhappy by himself!

Siegfried: (picks up his shield) Let's go! My boat's down there waiting; it'll get us there! I'll tell you, though, there'll be one night that you'll have to wait for me on the riverbank. I'll use that night to get Brünnhilde for you. (he turns to go)

Gunther: Don't you want to rest a little bit?

Siegfried: I can't come back to Gutrune until we go! (goes to untie the boat)

Gunther: Hagen, hold down the fort for me! (follows Siegfried, and helps get the boat ready as Gutrune enters)

Gutrune: Where are they going in such a hurry?

Hagen: They're going to get Brünnhilde.

Gutrune: Siegfried?!

Hagen: He wants to get back here to you as quick as he can!

Gutrune: (still not really believing everything) I'll have Siegfried! (goes back to her room, as Siegfried and Gunther leave in the boat)

Hagen: (to himself, looking after Siegfried and Gunther) Yes, I'll hold down your fort; I'll protect it really well! So, he's off with the wind to get his wife - or, like I promised, to have someone else get her for him! Siegfried'll bring his own wife back here to him, and he'll bring me the Ring! Go on, row your boat away! You might hate the Nibelungs, but I guarantee you: This Nibelung will be your master yet!

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE