Prologue
(On the Valkyrie's Rock)

First Norn: What's that light?

Second Norn: Is it daytime already?

Third Norn: It's just Loge's fire around the rock; it's still nighttime. We need to get busy, and start spinning our rope.

Second Norn: (to the First Norn) We'll spin and sing for awhile; will you get the rope started?

First Norn: (Gets up, takes a golden rope from around her waist and ties one end to a branch of a fir tree.) No matter what happens, I'll wind the rope, and sing with you. Once, I sat at the world's great ash tree, spinning and weaving my rope, when all at once the tree gave birth to a great forest, full of wonderful, majestic trees. A beautiful stream ran by it - you could hear all the world's wisdom in the water there. As I was telling my story, a great God came by and listened. I took one of his eyes as payment for the knowledge I gave him. He took one of the ash tree's branches, and made a spear out of it. That's been a long time, though. The great tree lost its leaves, its branches fell off, and the tree rotted and died. The stream of wisdom dried up, too, and now I can't sit there and spin any more. This old fir tree'll have to do. Here, sister, catch! Do you know what happened then?

Second Norn: (wraps the rope around a rock) Wotan took the spear and carved his contracts and treaties in its shaft. He was honest, and ruled the world with it well. A young boy broke his spear on a whim, though, and when it shattered, all the God's honesty and justness went with it. Wotan tried to protect himself, though; he had the tree destroyed by all the heroes he had collected in Valhalla. They cut it to pieces, and its stream dried up for ever! Now, all that's left is this rock. Here you go, sister! This end's yours. Tell me what will happen next.

Third Norn: Valhalla's still standing. The giants built it for Wotan, and he's there with all his God friends. They cut up our great ash tree, and they've got all its wood piled up around their castle. All that wood will catch on fire soon, and burn up the Gods while they're "safe" at home! Their day is coming, and they don't even know it. Keep winding the rope, and it'll tell you more. Here you go, sister! (throws the rope to the First Norn, who unties it and reattaches it to another branch of the fir tree.)

First Norn: Is that still the fire, or is it daytime already? I can't trust my eyes any more; I can't see as clearly as I used to. Loge's fire was so bright and clear to me; what's happened to him now?

Second Norn: (winding the rope around her rock) Wotan's magic spear gave him power to control Loge. Wotan depended on him for advice, and Loge was reduced to gnawing and chewing on the spear with the flames of his magic fire. Then, Wotan made Loge burn a great fire around Brünnhilde's rock. I wonder what's going to happen to him. (throws the rope to the Third Norn.)

Third Norn: Wotan's spear is shattered now, and one day soon, he'll throw the pieces in Loge's magic fire. The flames will rise up and catch the ash tree's remains on fire. If you want to know when, then keep spinning the rope!

First Norn: (catching the rope and retying it) There's not enough night left; I can't tell any more. The rope's all tangled up, and I'm not sure what it's telling me. But Alberich - he stole the Gold from the Rhine; what's going to happen to him now?

Second Norn: (winding the rope around a rough part of her rock) The edge of the rock is cutting into the rope, and I can't keep it tight. I know that the Ring has a curse on it, put there by Alberich's greed. That curse is tearing at the rope! Do you know what's going to happen?

Third Norn: (catching the rope again) There's too much slack in the rope. I can't get it around me to throw it back. Stretch it tighter! (she pulls on the rope, and it breaks) It broke!

Second Norn: It broke!

First Norn: It broke!

(The Norns take the broken ends of the rope and tie themselves together with them.)

The Three Norns: Our knowledge and wisdom are gone! We can't tell what's going to happen any more!

Third Norn: Let's go!

Second Norn: To mother!

First Norn: Down!

(They vanish)

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE

(Sunrise - Siegfried in armor, Brünnhilde leading her horse)

Brünnhilde: I really must love you, if I'm letting you go on all your little "adventures" like this. There's only one thing bothering me - Am I good enough for someone like you? I've given you everything I have: all the wisdom I had when I was a God, all the knowledge of the world they let me know about. But you've taken all I could give, and more. The things I knew don't hold a candle to how I feel about you. I lose all my strength when I'm around you. Please tell me you love me, even though I know I'm not good enough for you!

Siegfried: You're more woman than I could ever hope to be a good enough husband to! It's not your fault if there are still things I don't know about! I know how much you love me, if I know anything! And you can be sure I love you just as much!

Brünnhilde: Then take care of yourself. Be careful, and come back to me. Remember when you rescued me from the fire?

Siegfried: I did it so I could have you!

Brünnhilde: Remember how you found me in my armor, and helped me out of it?

Siegfried: So I could see you!

Brünnhilde: Remember how much we love each other, how strong our trust is, and the vows we took. If you do, I know you'll never be able to forget about me! (hugs Siegfried)

Siegfried: I have to go now. (Takes the Ring off his finger and gives it to Brünnhilde.) You've given me so much, I'm going to give you my Ring. It means a lot to me, because of everything I had to go through to get it. It belonged to a dragon, and I killed him for it! You hold onto its power, and I'll be sure to come back to you!

Brünnhilde: (puts on the Ring) This is the greatest thing I have! Here, you take my horse. He was always good to me, but he lost his powers when I did. He can't take you up in the air, but no matter where you go, you can be sure he'll be as faithful to you as I am. Take care of him, talk to him about me, and he'll do whatever you ask him to!

Siegfried: You've had some great adventures yourself; why don't you give me some ideas as to what I should do? Is there some great cause I can go fight for? I've got your love and your horse - You're a part of me now, and I'll do whatever you ask me to!

Brünnhilde: I just want you to love me.

Siegfried: Always.

Brünnhilde: Take me with you in your heart?

Siegfried: Wherever I go, we'll both be there together.

Brünnhilde: Then will my house be empty, if I'm with you?

Siegfried: No, we'll both be there, too.

Brünnhilde: Almighty Gods! Look at us here! We're the strongest couple you've ever seen! When we're apart, no one can separate us! And in separating, we'll never be torn apart!

Siegfried: Brünnhilde, you're the brightest star in the sky to me! I'll love you forever!

Brünnhilde: On to victory, Siegfried! You're the light of my life!

Both: Good-bye! Good-bye! I love you!

(Siegfried leads the horse off, as Brünnhilde watches from the cliff.)

ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE