KRIEMHILD.

  And didst thou mark them too?

  UTE.

  It was like people trying to be still.

  KRIEMHILD.

  So I was right?

  UTE.

  They seemed to hold their breath,
  Yet dropped a sword that clanged!  On tiptoe walked,
  And yet upset the brazier!  Hushed the dog,
  Yet trod upon his paw.

  KRIEMHILD.

  They have perhaps
  Returned.

  UTE.

  The hunters?

  KRIEMHILD.

  Once it seemed to me
  That some one softly crept up to my door. 
  I thought it must be Siegfried. 
  UTE.  Didst thou make
  Some sign that thou wast wakeful?

  KRIEMHILD.

  No.

  UTE.

  Indeed
  It might then have been Siegfried, but ’twould be
  Almost too soon.

  KRIEMHILD.

  To me it seems so too! 
  And then he did not knock.

  UTE.

  The hunt was not,
  Or so I think, to bring us game for food;
  They wanted our poor farmers to have peace,
  Who have been threatening to burn their ploughs
  Because the wild boar harvests where they sow!

  KRIEMHILD.

  Was that it?

  UTE.

  Child, thou art already dressed,
  Yet hast not any maid with thee?

  KRIEMHILD.

  I thought
  That I would learn who woke the first of all. 
  Besides, it was a pastime.

  UTE.

  Each in turn,
  My candle in my hand, I gazed upon. 
  For each year brings a different kind of sleep. 
  Fifteen and sixteen sleep like five and six,
  But seventeen brings dreams, and eighteen, thoughts,
  And nineteen brings desires—­

  SCENE V

  A Chamberlain cries out before the door.

  CHAMBERLAIN.

  Almighty God!

  UTE.

  What is it?  What is wrong?

  CHAMBERLAIN (enters).

  I almost fell.

  UTE.

  And that was why you called?

  CHAMBERLAIN.

  Some one is dead!

  UTE.

  What’s that?

  CHAMBERLAIN.

  A dead man lying at the door!

  UTE.

  A dead man?

KRIEMHILD (falls).

Then ’tis Siegfried, ’tis my lord!

UTE (catches her in her arms).

Impossible!

(To the CHAMBERLAIN.)

Bring light!

[CHAMBERLAIN brings a light and then nods his head.]

UTE.

’Tis Siegfried?  Go! 
Awaken all!

CHAMBERLAIN.

  Help, help!

  [The maidens rush in.]

  UTE.

  O piteous wife!

  KRIEMHILD (rising).

  Brunhild commanded, Hagen did the deed!—­
  A light!