Götterdämmerung

Act 3: Brünnhilde's Immolation Scene

Brünnhilde Still your triumphant misery's uproar!
As you all have betrayed him,
For vengeance steps forth his wife.
Children I've heard whimper to their mother
For some sweet milk they had spilled once.
And yet unsounded...
Dignified lament
This honoured hero deserves!
Gutrune Brünnhilde! Wicked envier!
You brought this pain upon us,
For you did turn the men against him!
Woe, that to this house you came!
Brünnhilde Poor soul, quiet!
His lawful wife, you were not.
As paramour, bound were you to him.
His spouse rightfully is I,
The vows everlasting, we'd sworn,
When Siegfried knew you not!
Gutrune Accursed Hagen! Suggested poison, you did
That took her husband away!
Alas! Suddenly I understand,
Brünnhild' was his true love
Whom through the drink he forgot!
Brünnhilde Sturdy timber stack for me there
On edge of the Rhine, a pyre!
High and bright, ignite a blaze,
So the honorable corpse
Of the highly-venerated hero is consumed.
His horse, lead it to there,
For with me, the hero we'll follow:
Such the hero's holiest honor is shared,
Demands, my body... be burned!
Obey Brünnhilde's word!
Like sun, how pristine shines out his light:
Most sincere was he... yet he betrayed!
His wife he cheated... yet to friends true!
From his own beloved... her to him precious,
Torn was he... by his sword!
Truer oaths than his have never been sworn;
Loyaler than he held, never a treaty;
Purer than he...
Loved... has no other!
And yet...
All their promises...
All their contracts...
Their loyalest love's bond...
Broke...
No one...
As he did!
Know you why that was?
Oh you, the pledges' eternal stewards!
Turn now your gaze to my burgeoning grief;
Behold your unending regret!
To my lament, listen, noble god!
Through his most valiant deed,
You so justly desired,
You reward him, for his triumph,
With the curse, that you succumbed to:
Me... must the innocent one betray,
So knowing, I do become!
Know I now what you need?
All things...
All things...
All things I know.
All to me is clear.
And now your ravens, I hear rustle;
With feared yet longed-for tidings,
Send I the messengers home.
Rest now...
Rest now...
You god!
My heirloom, I now take possession.
Accursed band!
Infernal ring!
Your gold, grasp I, and give it away.
Oh water-dwelling wise sisterhood,
The Rhine's deep-swimming daughters,
Thank you for honesty's counsel,
What you desire, I give to you:
Out of my ashes, take it for yourselves!
The fire, in which I'll burn,
Cleanses the curse from the ring!
Back in the flood, dissolve it then,
And protect the purely shining gold,
That you to evil did lose!
Fly home, you ravens!
Whisper to your master,
What here, by Rhine, you have heard!
Past Brünnhilde's rock take flight!
Where he still blazes,
Send that Loge to Walhall!
For the godhood's end is dawning on all.
Thus, cast I the fire
On Walhall's glorious keep.
Grane, my horse!
I greet you, steed!
Know you too, my friend,
To where I shall lead you?
In fire, shining,
Lies there your lord,
Siegfried, my hero, blessed.
Eager to follow, neigh'st you with joy?
Lured are you, by laughter of flame?
Deep within my bosom, how it ignites,
Bright with his fire, my heart is engulfed,
With him embracing...
Enveloped by him...
In mightiest loving...
Be wed...
Endlessly!
Heiajoho! Grane!
Greet your master!
Siegfried!
Siegfried!
See!
Joyously....
Greets you...
Your wife!
Hagen Give back the ring!