m by the Rhine-daughters, who had made him their
advocate with Wotan, to procure its restitution.

But their plea meets with a deaf ear. "You are stupid, indeed,
if not perverse," the god answers Loge, when he delivers their
appeal. "You find me in straits myself, how should I help others?"

The giants have been listening to this talk about Alberich, an
ancient enemy of theirs. The cleverer brother asks Loge, "What
great advantage is involved in the possession of the gold, that
the Nibelung should find it all-sufficient?" Loge explains. There
drift back to Wotan's memory runes of the Ring, and the thought
readily arises that it would be well he possessed the ring himself.

"But how, Loge, should I learn the art to shape it?" At the reply
that he who would practise the magic by which it could be shaped
must renounce love, the god turns away in conclusive disrelish.
Loge informs him that he would in any case have been too late:
Alberich has already successfully forged the ring.

This alters the face of things.

"But if he possesses a ring of such power," says simple Donner, "it
must be taken from him, lest he bring us all under its compulsion!"

Wotan hesitates no more. "The ring I must have!"

"Yes, now, as long as love need not be renounced, it will be easy
to obtain it," says simple Froh.

"Easy as mocking--child's-play!" sneers Loge.

"Then do you tell us, how?..." Wotan's fine majestic simplicity
has no false pride.

The Serpent gleefully replies, "By theft! What a thief stole, you
steal from the thief! Could anything be easier? Only, Alberich
is on his guard, you will have to proceed craftily if you would
overreach the robber... in order to return their treasure to the
Rhine-daughters, who earnestly entreat you."

"The Rhine-daughters?" chafes Wotan. "What do you trouble me with
them?"

And the goddess of Wisdom,--more sympathetic on the whole in this
exhibition of weakness than in her hard justice later--exposing
the core of her feminine being, breaks in: "I wish to hear nothing
whatever of that watery brood. Many a man, greatly to my vexation,
have they lured under while he was bathing, with promises of love."

The giants have been listening and have taken counsel together.
Fafner now approaches Wotan. "Hear, Wotan.... Keep Freia.... We
have fixed upon a lesser reward. We will take in her stead the
Nibelung's gold."

Wotan comes near losing his temper. "What I do not own, I shall
bestow upon you