ANTONY.

She spared me nothing!  People have seen it!

SECRETARY.

She did the best she could!  You did not deserve to have her act succeed!

ANTONY.

Or she did not!

[Tumult outside.]

CARL.  They are coming with her!

[Starts to go.]

ANTONY (immovable, as to the end; calls after him).

Into the back room, where your mother stood!

SECRETARY.

Away to meet her!

[He attempts to rise, but falls back.]

Oh, Carl!

CARL (helps him up and leads him away).

ANTONY.

I no longer understand the world!

[Stands brooding.]

* * * * *

SIEGFRIED’S DEATH

  A TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS

  By FRIEDRICH HEBBEL

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  KING GUNTHER

  HAGEN TRONJE

  DANK WART

  VOLKER

  GISELHER

  GERENOT

  WULF Warrior

  TRUCES Warrior

  RUMOLT

  SIEGFRIED

  UTE

  KRIEMHILD

  BRUNHILDA, Queen of Iceland

  FRIGGA, her nurse

  A CHAPLAIN

  A CHAMBERLAIN

  Warriors, Populace, Maidens, Dwarfs

SIEGFRIED’S DEATH (1862)

TRANSLATED BY KATHARINE ROYCE

  ACT I

  Iceland, BRUNHILDA’S castle.  Early morning.

  SCENE I

  Enter BRUNHILDA and FRIGGA from opposite sides.

  BRUNHILDA.

  From whence so early?  Dewy is thy hair
  And blood-stained are thy garments.

  FRIGGA.

  I have made
  A sacrifice unto the ancient gods,
  Before the moon was gone.

  BRUNHILDA.

  The ancient gods! 
  The cross rules now, and Thor and Odin dwell
  As devils in deep hell.

  FRIGGA.

  And dost thou fear
  Them less for that?  Their curses still may fall
  Upon us, though their blessings are withheld,
  And willingly I sacrificed the ram. 
  Oh, wouldst thou kill one too!  Thy need is great
  Above all others.

  BRUNHILDA.

  Mine?

  FRIGGA.

  Another time. 
  I long had meant to tell thee, and today
  At last the hour has come.

  BRUNHILDA.

  I’ve always thought
  That at thy death the hour would come to me,
  So did not importune thee.

  FRIGGA.

  Mark me now! 
  From our volcano came there suddenly
  An aged man and left with me a child,
  A tablet, too, with runes.

[Illustration:  Peter Cornelius Title Page of the Nibelungenlied]