Stories From Wagner - Part 1 The Ring Of The Curse Story 2 The War-Maidens (Die Walküre)

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Episode Transcript

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Part one, Story two of Talesfrom Wagner by J. Walker mc spadden.
This LibriVox recording is in the publicdomain. Part one The Ring of
the Curse. Story two, Thewar Maidens de Valkier. The new home
of the gods proved to be asbeautiful was in as it had appeared without.

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When they had all crossed the archingrainbow bridge, loud shouts of joy
and admiration arose, for it wasthe most splendid palace that gods or mortals
could ever imagine. Long porticos andgalleries with huge sculptured pillars ran in every
direction, leading to cool fruit arborsor open courts where silvery fountains splashed.

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Great rooms opened up with ceilings sohigh that they seemed to take in the
sky itself. The spacious floors werepaved with burnished gold, and the walls
set with polished stone and fine jewels, so that they blazed with as bright
as the noonday. On every sideof the palace were smooth green swards and
groves of stately trees. And inthe midst of the largest grove of all

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grew the wonderful tree bearing apples ofgold, from which Friya fed all the
divine family to make them immortal.For a long time, the gods and
goddesses lived in Valhalla quite happily.Each morning they found some new beauty to
admire. Each evening they came togetherfor a feast or entertainment. But in

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one heart there was no happiness,and that was the heart of the mighty
Woton himself. His beautiful home.The dream of his life was finished.
But at what a cost. Thecurse of the Rhine Gold would come upon
them. Unless the stolen treasure werereturned to its rightful guardians, the gods
themselves would be destroyed if they keptnot their honor. So Woton sat apart

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from the rest, and his browgrew dark with forebodings. Frica, his
wife, gently guided him for hisgloom, but to no avail, and
even the beautiful Fria could no longermake him smile. When any of the
other gods praised the beauty of thepalace, he would nod his head and
answer its price was great. Finally, Woton could endure his anxiety no longer.

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Knowing that unless some way were foundto restore the gold, they would
be in constant peril, he resolvedto consult Erda the Earth's spirit. So
one day he took his spear ofauthority and went forth into the world to
find a way out of the troublewhich had come to him with Valhalla.
The weeks grew into months, andthe months into years. While Wotan was

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gone. The other gods sought himin vain, but could hear no tidings.
They wondered what had become of him, and the feasting and revelry gave
way to sad forebodings. Only Frica, the Queen, went about with some
measure of confidence. Be not sad, She said, Wotan will return soon,

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bringing with him some great means ofsafety and content. Frica spoke true.
One fair day, at early dawn, the gods were awakened by the
sound of warlike singing. It wasentirely different from their own music, and
it seemed borne to them on thewings of the wind. Nearer and nearer
came the song, swelling into asplendid strain of triumph. Then flying figures

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were descried, and the watchers atthe window saw Woton returning to them,
as it were, through the clouds. He was in the midst of a
company of maidens, whose faces werefair, but who were strong and soldier
like each rode upon a powerful horse, and wonder of wonders, the horses
had wings like eagles, and flewswiftly through the air. There were nine

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of these horses and riders in all, and so fast did they ride that
they had reached the palace gates dismounted, and were being led within by Woton,
almost before the first strain of musichad died away. You may believe
that all the gods and goddesses wereexceedingly glad when they saw Wotan again,
and they hastened out upon the battlementsto greet him and give him love an

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honor to one and all. Hereplied full pleasantly. His brow was clearer
than it had been in many aday, and it was with the sprightliness
of youth that he led the ninefair warriors up the broad palace steps.
Then, turning, he addrest hiscourt. These are the war maidens,
he said, who come to guardour kingdom from its enemies. It is

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their mission to ride up and downin all the world, to choose the
bravest heroes who have fallen in battle, and to bring them to Valhalla.
With all these heroes, we shallbe protected from peril in the evil days
to come. Then Boton introduced eachwar maiden by name, beginning with Brunhilda,

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who was the strongest and the loveliest, and they were welcomed royally to
the palace by all who lived thereinthe golden apples of life were given them
to eat, and they became immortal. Day by day, the war maidens
rode forth into battle, seeking forthe bravest men. Whenever they found one
who had fallen in the forefront ofconflict, they carried him to Valhalla,

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where he became immortal. There wasmuch fighting in the world in those days,
so the palace soon received many mightysoldiers, and Wotan grew light of
heart. For now he thought hecould defy the Dwarf's curse and all the
powers of the underworld. So hetrained his soldiers constantly and had them continually
in battle, one against another,and if one, by chance received a

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wound, it healed of itself throughmagic power. Still, the loss of
the gold and of the ring wasin ever present danger. Wotan knew this,
and cast about for some means torestore the treasure to the rhine daughters
so that the peril might be removed. Now, Faffner the Giant had taken
the gold to a cave in themidst of a dense forest. By the

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aid of the magic helmet, hehad changed himself into a fierce dragon,
and in this shape he guarded themouth of the cave night and day.
So you see that he wasn't gettingvery much pleasure out of his horde.
Being a god, Boton of courseknew where Faffner the Dragon lay hid,
but neither he nor any of thegods could attack Faffner or lay hands upon

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the treasure. It had been giventhe giant in open barter, and so
was beyond their recall. But Wotonreasoned that if some earth born hero could
be found brave enough to slay thedragon, the gold could be secured.
Failing this, the dwarf Albrech mightin the end be crafty enough to regain

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it and wreak his vengeance upon thegods. The peril was still great.
Therefore, in spite of the warriorsin Balhalla, Boton realized all this and
resolved to journey again through the worldin quest of a hero to attack the
dragon. For many days he searchedwithout success. Then he chose a son
of his own for the great task, living with him as a simple forester

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while the boy grew up and traininghim to warlike deeds. The boy's name
was Sigmund, and as he reachedyoung manhood, he was straight as a
young pine tree in the forest,and strong as the oak which defies the
winds of heaven. While Sigmund wasstill a youth, a great sorrow befell
him. Sieglinda, a young girlof his own age, with whom he

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had grown up and whom he lookedupon as a sister, was seized by
a fierce hunter and carried away tohis home in the forest. For many
months, Sigmund sought to rescue her, but without success. He grew to
manhood with this object before him,and vowed eternal warfare against the hunter and
all his clan. A vow Botonaided him to keep until the very name

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of Sigmund became a terror to thehunter. Then another sudden grief befell the
young warrior. Botan mysteriously went awayone day, leaving no trace and no
message save that when Sigmund should bein direst need, he would find a
trusty sword at hand to aid him. Sigmund now felt forsaken indeed, and

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he roamed about aimlessly in the forests, hunting the wild beasts, helping people
in distress, or fighting against thehunter's tribe. One night, utterly spent
from his wanderings, he sought shelterin a house built in a peculiar manner
round the trunk of a great oaktree. Seeing no one within the main
room, he entered, closed thedoor behind him, and lay down,

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exhausted in front of the fire,where he soon fell fast asleep. Presently,
a maiden came into the room.She expected to find the hunter there,
for this was none other than hishouse, although Sigmund did not know
it. When instead of the masterof the house, the maiden saw the
stranger lying upon the hearth, shesprang back in sudden fear, but the

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poor man did not move, soshe came gently to his side to see
whether he were alive or dead.Sigmund stirred uneasily in his sleep, then,
awakening, tried to utter a fewwords, but his parched lips gave
forth a little sound. Seeing hispitiable state, the maiden hastened to give
him a drink. It revived himsomewhat, and he sat up, engaged

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around. The maiden gave him moreof the cup and gently asked him whence
he came. He answered, andbegan telling her of his wanderings, without
revealing his name. Just then thehunter himself arrived, but neither he nor
Sigmund recognized the other as his swornenemy, and the hunter, noting the

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young man's distressed condition, bade himwelcome for the night, and invited him
to the table to share his food. Sigmund accepted the invitation joyfully and soon
found his strength returning to him inthe meat and drink. In answer to
his host's questions, he told thestory of his past adventures, and the
hunter found for the first time thathis guest was the foe whom he had

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long been seeking to slay. Ah. I know you now, he exclaimed,
springing to his feet. It isyou who have done so much harm
to me and mine. I wouldmake you answer for your deeds here and
now were it not for the sacredlaws of hospitality. But tomorrow I shall
meet you at sunrise. Be readyto fight and give me full satisfaction.

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Sig Mound was astonished in his turn, but could not refuse the challenge.
The hunter left him with these words, bidding the maiden also go into another
room. Left to himself, theyoung man fell again into heaviness of spirit.
It seemed to him that sorrow andtrouble had followed him all the days
of his life. He mused overhis present defenseless condition, alone, unarmed,

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and under his enemy's very roof.Then he recalled his father's promise that
a sword would be ready at hishand when his need was direst. Somehow,
the thought of this promise brought comfortto him, and he fell into
a quiet slumber. After a time, during the stillness of night, a
door opened softly, and the maidencame towards him. Up, she said,

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gently, rousing him up, andflee for your life. The hunter
has been planning mischief against you,but I gave him a sleeping draft.
Why should I flee, said Sigmund. Give me but a sword, and
I turned my back upon no man. But who are you, fair lady,
who do this kindness to a stranger? Methinks I have seen your face
in earlier days than this, andI also seem to remember you, she

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answered, gazing at him earnestly.My story is not a long one,
but it is sad. When Iwas a little girl, this cruel hunter
carried me away from home, andhe has compelled me to live with him
ever since. But one day,during a feast, a strange looking man
with only one and I came inbearing a mighty sword. He drove the

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sword to the hilt in the trunkof yonder tree with one sweep of his
arm, declaring that it was foronly one man, the man who should
be able to pull it forth again. Many stout men that day and since
have tried to claim the sword.But there it sticks. There. You
may see the fire light strike thehandle. Perchance, poor stranger, it

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was left for you. Ah.Now I know my father's words were true,
Siegmund cried, joyously. See thesword is mine, and laying hold
of the handle, he drew theshining blade as easily as though the tree
had been at scabbard. And thoualso I know my heart's best. Thou
art, Sieglinda, for whom Ihave sought all these years. Dost thou

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not remember thine old playmate, Siegmund? She gazed at him, first with
startled look. Then a tender lightof memory and love dawned in her eyes.
Sigmund stretched out his arms to her, and the two were united in
a fond embrace. Come, saidSigmund. Now will I flee, and
thou must go with me? Myfather's sword shall shield us both, and

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never again while I live shall thisrobber have thee in his clutches. The
moon was shining brightly on this warmnight in early spring. The wide world
seemed to beckon her two children forth, and, answering her summons and the
glad call of their own hearts,they fled away. King Wotan knew of
all these things. He knew thathis dearly loved son Sigmund had found the

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magic sword and had fled from thehunter's home. He foresaw also that the
hunter would rise up full of wraththe next day and pursue Sigmund to kill
him. This must be prevented.The God summoned Brunhilda before him, wisest
and fairest of war maidens. Hesaid, in yonder mountain Gorge, thou

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wilt discover a young man and amaiden who are dear to me, the
maiden has been stolen away from ahunter who held her against her will,
and the hunter now pursues the youngman with intent to slay him. It
is my will that he be notslain, but that he gained the victory
over the hunter. See thou toit, Brunhilda gladly listened to Woton's behest.

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It shall be done as thou desirest, she exclaimed. Hoyo toho.
The musical shout of the war maidenscame from her lips as she sprang from
cliff to cliff and disappeared. Butshe had hardly gone before Frika, Woton's
queen, entered in a chariot drawnby two rams. Now Frika was goddess

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of love and justice, and itgrieved her that Sigmund should be allowed to
take Siglinda away with him as hehad done. Justice O Woton, she
cried against the young man, Sigmund, the hunter from whose house he fled
away carrying the maiden. Sieglinda hascalled to me for help, and I
have promised to aid him. Thehunter held the maiden against her will,

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replied Woton, natheless. His rightto her had become recognized among men so
she must be restored to him,else men will say that there is no
justice in the world. Woton's browwas wrinkled moodily. He knew the Sieglinda
had dwelt so many years under theHunter's roof that all men believed she rightfully
belonged there. Yet in his hearthe longed to protect his son. Fricka

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saw the struggle, but would notrelent. She added many words to what
she had said, and urged hercase so strongly that every law the gods
had made seemed enlisted in the Hunter'scause. At last, Woton, heavy
and spirit agreed to give the victoryto him. After Frica had departed,
he called Brunhilda again to him andtold her of his last decision. Brunhilda

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was full of grief when she learnedthat she must aid the Hunter against Sigmund.
Why dost thou do this, father, she asked gently, because the
laws of the gods demand it,he answered. Then, the sorrow stricken
Woton unburdened his heart to her andtold her of the rhine gold, of
the ring that had been fashioned fromit, of the curse that had followed,

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and of many other things which wehave set forth in this book.
The curse of the Ring is thefate of Sigmund. He concluded. That
is why I am powerless to protecthim. See that thou dost obey my
latest command, so saying, hedeparted amid the rumblings of a thundercloud,
leaving Brunhilda full of sorrow at thestrange tale she had heard and the sad

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errand she must perform. But sheturned her steps dutifully down the mountain gorge,
and there, in a sheltering cave, she found the young man and
maiden Siglinda had become tired out fromtheir wanderings, and Sigmund had borne her
into the cave and was supporting herhead upon his knee, while smoothing back
the stray locks of gold from herlovely forehead. So intent was he upon

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this devotion that he did not seeBrunhilda when she came into the entrance.
If the war maiden had longed tobefriend these two before she saw them,
how much more did her heart softenwhen she beheld this sweet picture. But
her duty must be done. Shecalled softly to Sigmund, and he raised

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his head. I am the warmaiden she said, and am sent to
warn THEE of thy fate. Thineenemy follows hard upon thy heels, and
none who look upon my face survivea battle. I fear not for the
battle, answered Sigmund stoutly. Thismagic sword was left me by my father,
and with it I must surely bevictorious. It will avail THEE not,

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for the gods have decreed that thoumust die, But glory awaits THEE
in Valhalla, whither I am summonedto bear THEE after death. What is
Valhalla? He asked? It isthe hall of heroes, among whom thou
wilt be First. Will I findmy father there? And my sweet comrade
Sieglinda. The search for these twohad consumed the youthful warrior's whole life,

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so his voice trembled eagerly as heasked the question. Brunhilda smiled, then
shook her head sadly. Thy father, Yes, in Valhalla, shalt thou
find him? But Sieglinda cannot cometo THEE there. Then take my greetings
to Valhalla, he exclaimed. Greetfor me, Voton, Hail to my

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father, and all the heroes,Hail the war maidens. For now I
follow not thee. By this time, Brunhilda's heart had become so touched that
she boldly resolved to disobey Boton's lastcommand and do as he really desired.
Smiling upon Sigmund, she bade himbe of good heart, as she had
only been testing his courage. Thenshe told him she would be with him

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and aid him in the coming strife. Even while she spoke, the hunter's
horn was her, and soon theman himself came hastening fiercely along. He
did not see Sigmund at first,for a heavy storm had come up,
while the heavens seemed rent with terrificcrashes of thunder. The din finally aroused
the sleeping Siglinda, and she gazedaround wildly. Sigmund had sprung out of

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the cave to confront his enemy,and there in front of the cave he
stood, revealed by a flash oflightning, battling strongly with the hunter.
Siglinda uttered a cry of grief andwas about to rush between them, when
another sudden blaze of light made herdraw back. At one side she beheld
the war maiden standing ready to protectSigmund. The young man pressed upon the

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hunter and was about to strike himto the earth with his trusty sword.
When a glowing red flame burst throughthe clouds, Boton himself appeared with his
dread spear and stretched it across thesword. The magic blade broke in sunder,
and Sigmund fell dead by the Hunter'sweapon, but the Hunter himself did

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not survive the conflict, for aglance from the single blazing eye of the
angry god stretched him lifeless on thesward. When Wotan appeared, Brunhilda started
back, amazed and fearful, shebegan to realize what it meant to disobey
the god's command. Hastily seizing thefainting form of Sieglinda, she sprang upon

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her winged steed and fled swiftly fromthe tragic scene. Far and fast through
the storm. She sped, glancingaround fearfully, ever and anon and fancying.
Each rumble of the thunder was Bhoton'svoice. Then she turned her horse's
head toward the summit of a loftycrag. It was the usual meeting place

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of all the war maidens on theirway to Valhalla. Soon the crag came
in sight, and there awaiting herwere her eight companions, haling her swift
approach with Hoyo tohoe their battle cry, hardly taking time to answer their joyous
greetings, Brunhilda placed Sieglinda gently onthe ground and cried, save us,

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O, my sisters, save usfrom the wrath of Woton. Why what
crime hast thou committed? Cried theother more maidens in alarm. I have
disobeyed the God's command, and evennow he rides hard after me under the
wings of the tempest. Save thisinnocent mortal. At least she has done
no wrong. I do not wishfor life, exclaimed Siglinda, who had

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just recovered consciousness. Why should Ilive when Sigmund is dead? I pray
you draw your sword and slay me. Not so, said Brunhilda soothingly.
The fates decree that thou must live. And see I have saved for thee
the sword of Need, which wasbroken in Sigmund's hands. Keep it for

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his son, the hero, whoshall know no fear, and he shall
do mighty deeds with the men deadblade, So saying Brunehi, Hilda drew
from the folds of her cloak thetwo pieces of the broken sword and gave
them to Sieglinda and whispered in herear words of tenderness and balm, and
Sieglinda's face lost its hopeless look,and she promised to go wherever the war

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maiden might direct haste. Thee thenurged Brunhilda, the time is short.
In only one place wilt thou besafe from Boton, and that is the
depth of yonder forest. There dwellsFaffner, the Dragon and their Boton never
ventures because of the curse of thering. The tempest had increased in fury

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while Brunhilda was speaking. The densedarkness shielded Sieglinda while she hurried away.
She was scarce gone, hugging theprecious sword when a terrific clap of thunder
shook the whole cliff, and Botonappeared in a flash of light Brunhilda.
Brunhilda. He called. Brunhilda didnot answer, and the other war maidens,

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braving his anger through loyalty and lovefor their sister, hid her in
their midst. Brunhilda again thundered,Wotton stand forth art afraid to hear thy
doom. Not so o, mightyFather, replied Brunhilda, and she stepped
forward proudly and knelt at his feet. Ah, Brunhilda, how couldst thou

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disobey my command, asked Bhoton.More in sadness than in anger, Thou
hast brought thy fate upon thyself.I but tried to save one who was
dear to thee, she answered,But thou didst violate my will, and
henceforth can be a war maiden.No more, thou must descend to earth,

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lose thy immortality, and live thelife of any other woman. On
hearing this terrible decree by which shelost the rank of goddess, Brunhilda sank
upon the ground with a piteous cry, Have mercy, O Boton, she
pleaded, I tried to meet thewishes of thy heart as given in thy
first command. Do not banish meforever from my dear sisters and thy beloved

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presence. Have mercy, Have mercy? Cried her sisters, stretching out their
hands towards the god silence, saidWoton, solemnly, I have spoken,
and it must be done, Oh, dearly loved maiden. How gladly would
I save THEE if it were sodecreed? But thou must sink to the
ground in deep sleep, and itshall come to pass that in after years,

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the man who shall awaken THEE shallclaim THEE for his bride. As
for ye other maidens, he continued, glancing around with a flash of the
eye. Beware how ye failed tokeep faith with me again, and come
not again into my presence this day. The war maidens fled in woe and
terror at this speech, leaving Brunhildaand Wotan alone upon the rock. The

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sky was clearing, the wind wasdying away, and the moon came forth
and looked down upon the scene.There was silence for many long moments,
until Brunhilda, unable to endure it, rose slowly to her feet in all
her beauty and pride, yet withwild entreaty in her voice. O,
Father, Father, she pleaded,save me from this fate for the honor

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of all the gods. Do notplace me within reach of any coward among
men who might chance to awaken me. If I must fall asleep to wake
a mortal woman, grant me thislast request. Place me in some spot
so hedged about with danger, thatnone but the bravest of all men may
find me and claim me for hisown. Wotton gazed at her, all

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the old love and pride for hershining in his eyes. He gently drew
her to him and kissed her uponthe eyelids. It shall be as thou
dost wish, he said, Ishall shield thee with a barrier of living
fire, so that none save atrue hero can rescue thee. And now,
farewell, my darling child, howI shall miss thee in Valhalla and

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on our rides of glory thou dostlittle know? Farewell, farewell. Brunhilda
clasped her arms around his neck andsmiled for the last time in his face.
He bent down and kissed her again, and yet again, a deep
sleep came over her, and shesank slowly down. Botan carried her tenderly

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to a low mound of moss uponthe very crest of the towering rock,
and there he placed his shield overher to protect her from all harm.
Again, he gazed long and mournfullyon her features, then closed the visor
of the helmet she wore, andturning, began a mystic waving of his
spear of authority. He ended bysummoning Loki, god of Fire, Loki,

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hark hitherward haste as I found theefirst in fiery waste, as once
thou didst fly in fiery display,as then I did call THEE. I
call THEE today. Arise with thyflaming encircle this place to daunt the craven
whom my spear could not face.Loki, Loki, Arise at the last

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call. He struck the rock thricewith his spear, and instantly a stream
of fire gushed forth and licked upwardin tongues of flame from every side.
Higher and wider they spread, leapingand crackling, till they formed a complete
circle round the mossy bed where Brunhildalay sleeping. And as they swept upward

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in the night air, they seemedto blend in strains of music, sweet
as the strumming of a harp,and soft as the lullaby of a mother
crooning her child to sleep, Anda story too