nce cleft asunder a spear.
The eternal coil of the law, whatever wild curses they have woven
into it, the Norns shall see cut through by Nothung. A dragon once
upon a time did of a truth warn me of the curse, but he could not
teach me to fear! Though the whole world might be gained to me by
a ring, for love I would willingly cede it; you should have it
if you gave me delight. But if you threaten me in life and limb,
though the ring should not enclose the worth of a finger, not by
any force could you get it from me! For life and limb, if I must
live loveless and a slave to fear,--life and limb, look you, like
this I cast them far away from me!" He takes up and flings a clod
of earth over his shoulder. The Rhine-daughters in agitation press
him still for a moment with warnings; but, realising the futility
of these, with the prophecy: "A proud woman will this very day
inherit of you; she will lend a more heedful ear to our warning!"
they finally swim away, as they announce: "To her! To her! To her!"

Their singing floats back, dying away, a long time after they have
taken their leave; Siefgried stands watching them out of sight,
amused: "In water as on land I have now learned the ways of women;
if a man resist their cajoling, they try threats with him; if he
boldly brave these, let him look for scorn and reproaches! And
yet--were it not for my truth to Gutrune, one of those dainty
water-women I should have liked to tame!"

The horns of the hunting-party are heard approaching. Siegfried
shouts in answer to their shouts. When Hagen and Gunther come in
sight, he calls to them to join him down there where it is fresh
and cool. The company with their freight of game descend into the
shady gorge, to camp for an hour. The wine-skins and drink-horns
are passed. Siegfried, questioned by Hagen of his fortune at the
chase, jestingly gives his account: "I came forth for forest-hunting,
but water-game was all that presented itself. Had I had a mind
to it, three wild water-birds I might have caught for you, who
sang to me, there on the Rhine, that I should be slain to-day!"
Never had he spoken with a more unclouded brow. Gunther starts at
his words and glances apprehensively at Hagen. Siegfried stretches
out contentedly between them, the ample sunshine in his blood,
and remembers that he is thirsty. Hagen treats the evil prophecy
as lightly as does Siegfried himself. In not unnatural sequence
to Siegfried's reference to the water-bir