Scene 4

(Brünnhilde enters)

Brünnhilde: (solemnly) Siegmund, look at me. You'll soon be following me home.

Siegmund: Who are you? Why have you come before me like this?

Brünnhilde: The only people who can see me are those that are going to die soon. You've looked on me, so you'll have to leave this life and everything in it behind. I only come to heroes on the battlefield; today, you'll be the victim I've come to take away.

Siegmund: Where will you take me? If I follow you, that is?

Brünnhilde: You'll follow me to my master who has chosen you. He will see you in Valhalla.

Siegmund: Will I find this master of yours alone in Valhalla?

Brünnhilde: Heroes who have fallen before you will welcome you into their family. You'll be among friends.

Siegmund: Will I find my father Wälse there?

Brünnhilde: Yes, he'll be there.

Siegmund: Will there be a woman there for me?

Brünnhilde: There are many beautiful women there. They'll all be glad to serve you.

Siegmund: I recognize you; you're Wotan's daughter. But tell me something I have to know first: Can I take my sister with me? Will Sieglinde be able to be there with me, too?

Brünnhilde: No, she has a little while longer to live. She can't be there with you.

Siegmund: Then you have a good trip back to Valhalla. Say hello to my father, to Wotan, all those women, and…everybody else for me. I'm not going to go with you.

Brünnhilde: You don't have a choice. You've seen me and talked to me; now, you have to go with me.

Siegmund: You don't understand. Wherever Sieglinde is, whether she's happy or sad, no matter what, I have to be there with her. Yes, I've looked at you, but that hasn't killed me yet. I'm staying.

Brünnhilde: As long as you're alive, that's OK. You can go wherever you want. But when you die, that's when you'll have no choice. I've come here to warn you that that's exactly what's going to happen.

Siegmund: Who's going to kill me?

Brünnhilde: Hunding will, in the fight you're about to have with him.

Siegmund: You've got to come up with something better than that! If you're going to sit here and wait for someone to die, you might as well settle for him; I intend to kill him!

Brünnhilde: You're the one who's been chosen.

Siegmund: Do you know who gave me this sword? He promised that it wouldn't fail me, and I defy you to take it's power away from me!

Brünnhilde: The one who promised you that will be the one who takes its power away. He himself has called for your death.

Siegmund: Shh! You'll wake up my wife! Gosh! Look at her, so innocent, so sweet and loyal to me, but so sad. Look at her. Sieglinde, the whole world was against you, but you trusted in me. You left everything you had for me, and I swore I'd defend you forever. Now, I can't believe I'm going to let you down. I hope that whoever gave me this sword knows how bad I feel at this moment; I hope he feels the kind of shame I'm going to have to go through. I hope he's happy. Well, if I'm going to die a coward, then I don't deserve to go to Valhalla! In fact, I'd rather go to Hell instead!

Brünnhilde: What are you talking about? You'd give up the life that awaits you in Valhalla? For her? How great can she be, lying there in her misery like that? Doesn't anything else mean anything to you?

Siegmund: You look magnificent, like a beautiful young goddess, but I can see right through you. You have no true feelings about you at all. If you can't see how it is to really love someone, to give up anything and everything for them, then you should just leave me alone! I don't want you around me! If you can only find pleasure in other people's pain, if it makes you feel good to see me in misery like this, then I'm glad at least one of us is happy. Don't tell me about how wonderful it is in Valhalla, when can I see all too well what it's like here on earth.

Brünnhilde: I see how upset you are; I know what terrible sorrow you have in your heart, believe me. Let me take care of your wife, Siegmund. I can protect her like no one else can.

Siegmund: As long as she's alive, she doesn't need anybody but me to protect her! If I'm going to die, then I'm taking her with me! (raises his sword at Sieglinde)

Brünnhilde: You're crazy! Siegmund, listen to me! Let me watch over your wife! Please, for the sake of your unborn child, listen to me!

Siegmund: A traitor gave me this sword. There's no way I can trust a toy like this to protect me in battle! If it won't help me against my enemies, then maybe it'll at least be good enough for me. Come on, Nothung, here are two people you can defeat! Take us! Take us both with one stroke of your blade! (raises it at Sieglinde again)

Brünnhilde: Stop! Listen to me! OK, I'll help you, Siegmund. I'll let you live, to be with your wife. I'll change the outcome of the battle, to let you win. OK? Now, go get ready for your fight. Trust your sword; I've put the magic back in it. It'll protect you now, because I'm on your side. Good-bye, Siegmund! I'll see you again on the battlefield! (exits)