ry of Bruennhilde, we must believe; the inflaming potion had
somehow blotted out, or covered over and for the time cast into
the background, his father's part in him, the part of Siegmund, who
fought to the end an unequal and losing battle to save a girl from
a marriage without love. "Across the expiring fire," he concludes
his report, "through the mists of early dawn, she followed me from
the mountain-top to the valley. At the shore, Gunther and I, in
a trice, changed places, and by virtue of the Tarnhelm I wished
myself here. A strong wind is even at the moment driving our dear
pair up the Rhine." "Let us display all kindness in our reception of
her," Gutrune proposes, with the generosity of overflowing happiness;
"that she may be pleased and glad to sojourn with us here! Do you,
Hagen, summon the vassals to the wedding at Gibich's court, while
I will gather the women." Siegfried fondly offers her his help;
hand in hand they go within.

Hagen is conscious, presumably, of an incongruity in the task assigned
to him, the genial office of gathering together the clans for a
wedding-feast. However that may be, he does not, to perform it,
depart at all from his character. Ascending to an eminence, he
blows a melancholy blast through a great steer-horn, and, in a
voice portending tidings the most alarming, gives the call to arms:
"Hoiho! Gibich's men! Up! Arms in the land! Danger! Danger!" In
this he persists until from all sides, singly at first, then in
groups and lastly in crowds, the vassals, hurriedly armed, come
flocking. "Why does the horn sound? Why are we called to arms?
Here we are with our weapons.... Hagen, what danger threatens?
What enemy is near? Who attacks us? Is Gunther in need of us?"
"Forthwith prepare, and dally not, to receive Gunther returning
home. He has wooed a wife!" This still in a tone befitting the
announcement of disaster. "Is he in trouble? Is he hard pressed
by the foe?" "A formidable wife he brings home!" "Is he pursued
by the hostile kindred of the maid?" "He comes alone, unpursued."
"The danger then is past? He has come forth victorious from the
encounter?" "The dragon-slayer succoured him in his need; Siegfried,
the hero, secured his safety." "How then shall his followers further
help him?" "Strong steers you shall slaughter and let Wotan's altar
stream with their blood." "And what, Hagen, are we to do after
that?" "A boar shall you slay for Froh, a mighty ram for Donner;
but to Fricka y