Part 16 (1/2)

A SONG OF THE PRESENT

As the second Norn took the thread in her worn hands, she crooned a sorrowful song about the present.

She sang of Alberich and the stolen gold. Of the love that he had given up in order to make the ring.

She sang of Wotan and how he grasped the ring and carried it into the world, bringing with it Alberich's curse.

Then she told of Fafner.

Mournfully she sang:--

”It has robbed all who have had it of their freedom and happiness.

”It has brought envy and discontent to those who have struggled to gain it.

”Now Wotan's magic spear is splintered.

”Oh! How this gold has tangled all my threads!” she wailed.

Her long, gaunt fingers pulled and worked at the knots, but all in vain.

She could not straighten out the snarls.

”Sing, oh, my Sister, sing!” she cried. ”You know what the end will be.”

And she tossed the snarled threads to the third Norn.

A SONG OF THE FUTURE

The third Norn took up the thread.

Twisting and untying, she sang of the future.

She sang of the downfall of the giants.

She sang of the time when Wotan and his family would be no more, and bright Valhalla's halls would be only a ruin.

”But, Sisters, look!” she cried. ”The day is dawning. We must make haste!”

She tugged at the thread. The knots grew tighter.

”Oh, see!” she cried. ”I cannot make it reach.”

Another pull, the thread snapped.

The three Norns wailed.

Then, s.n.a.t.c.hing up the broken ends of their thread of fate, they vanished in the gloom.