For thee, yes; Thou art so dull! How small shall I be?
The most cramped of crannies must hold thee That hides the timorous toad.
[_He puts the Tarnhelm on his head again._
[_He vanishes. The Gods see a toad on the rocks creeping towards them._
[_Wotan sets his foot on the toad. Loge makes a dash at its head and holds the Tarnhelm in his hand._
[_Is suddenly seen in his own shape writhing under Wotan's foot._
[_Loge binds his hands and feet with a rope._
[_Both seize hold of the prisoner, who struggles violently, and drag him towards the shaft by which they descended. They disappear mounting upwards._
_The scene has changed as before, only in reverse order. Open space on mountain heights. The prospect is veiled by pale mist as at the end of the second scene. Wotan and Loge climb up out of the cavern, bringing with them Alberich bound._
Here, kinsman, Thou canst sit down! Friend, look round thee; There lies the world That was thine for the winning, thou fool! What corner, say, Wilt give to me for my stall?
[_He dances round Alberich, snapping his fingers._
Infamous robber! Thou knave! Thou rogue! Loosen the rope, Set me at large, Or dear for this outrage shalt answer!
My captive art thou, Caught and in fetters. As thou hadst fain Subdued the world And all that the world containeth, Thou liest bound at my feet, And, coward, canst not deny it. A ransom alone Shall loose thee from bondage.
Ah, the dolt, The dreamer I was, To trust blindly The treacherous thief! Fearful revenge Shall follow this wrong!
Vain talk this of vengeance Before thy freedom is won. To a man in bonds No free man expiates outrage. If vengeance thou dreamest, Dream of the ransom First without further delay!
[_He shows him the kind of ransom by snapping his fingers._
If I only can keep the ring, The hoard I can lightly let go, For anew I could win it And add to its worth By the powerful spell of the ring. If as warning it serves To make me more wise, The warning will not have been lost, Even though lost may be the gold.
[_Touches the ring with his lips and secretly murmurs the command._
Behold the Nibelungs Hither are called; I can hear them coming, Bid by their lord, With the hoard from the depths to the day. Now loosen these burdensome bonds.