umphant. She extorts an oath from Wotan that he will not protect
Siegmund, and departs satisfied. Bruennhilde again appears, and another
interminable scene follows between her and Wotan. The father of the gods
is weighed down by the sense of approaching annihilation. He now
realises that the consequences of his lawless lust of power are
beginning to work his ruin. He tells Bruennhilde the whole story ot his
schemes to avert destruction by the help of Siegmund and the Valkyries,
ending by commanding her, under dreadful penalties, to leave the Volsung
hero to his fate. Siegmund and Sieglinde now appear, flying from the
vengeful Hunding. Sieglinde's strength is almost spent, and she sinks
exhausted in a death-like swoon. While Siegmund is tenderly watching
over her, Bruennhilde advances. She tells Siegmund of his approaching
doom, and bids him prepare for the delights of Valhalla. He refuses to
leave Sieglinde, and, rather than that they should be separated, he is
ready to plunge his sword into both their hearts. His noble words melt
Bruennhilde's purpose, and, in defiance of Wotan's commands, she promises
to protect him. Hunding's horn is now heard in the distance, and
Siegmund leaves Sieglinde still unconscious and rushes to the encounter.
Amid the gathering storm-clouds the two men meet upon a rocky ridge.
Bruennhilde protects Siegmund with her shield, but just as he is about to
deal Hunding a fatal blow, Wotan appears in thunder and lightning and
thrusts his spear between the combatants. Siegmund's sword is shivered
to fragments upon it, and Hunding strikes him dead. Bruennhilde hastily
collects the splinters of the sword, and escapes with Sieglinde upon her
horse, while Hunding falls dead before a contemptuous wave of Wotan's
hand.

The third act shows a rocky mountain-top in storm and tempest. One by
one the Valkyries appear riding on their horses through the driving
clouds. Last comes Bruennhilde, with the terrified and despairing
Sieglinde. Sieglinde wishes to die, but Bruennhilde entreats her to live
for the sake of her child that is to be, and giving her the splintered
fragments of Siegmund's sword, bids her escape to the forest, where
Fafner watches over his treasure. The voice of the wrathful Wotan is now
heard in the distance. He appears, indignant at Bruennhilde's
disobedience, dismisses the other Valkyries, and tells Bruennhilde what
her punishment is to be. She is to be banished from the sisterhood of
Valky