In order to improve it. He then blows again. He shakes his head and makes further improvements. He tried again. He grows angry, squeezes the reed in his hand and tries once more. Finally he gives up with a smile.)
Siegfried: That doesn’t sound right; on the reed the delightful tune doesn’t work. I think, little bird, I’ll remain a fool. From you it’s not easy to learn.”
[Siegfried then decides to try to blow woodland tunes instead with his horn, which he has often blown trying, but failing, to attract a boon companion. He decides to find out what boon companion he might call up now, by blowing his own characteristic motifs such as #103, #92, and #109, but his performance only wakes up Fafner, whose arrogance inspires Siegfried to kill him. Later, after Siegfried has killed Fafner and accidentally tasted his blood, Siegfried does indeed learn the meaning of the Woodbirdsongs #128 and #129, at least subliminally:]
“Siegfried: [to the dying Giant Fafner] (#19 Vari?) Advise me yet on where I have come from; (#17?) wise you seem, wild beast, in dying: (#92) divine it from my name: (#92c or #71 Vari “Hero”?) Siegfried am I called.
Fafner: (sighing deeply: #126) Siegfried! (He rears up and dies. #126?; #48?)
Siegfried: the dead can serve as no source of knowledge. (#103?) So let my living sword now lead me!
(Fafner, in dying, has rolled over on one side. #109: Siegfried now draws his sword from his breast; as he does so, his hand comes into contact with the dragon’s blood: he snatches his hand away.)
Siegfried: It’s blood is burning like fire.
(Involuntarily, he raises his fingers to this mouth in order to suck the blood from them. As he gazes thoughtfully in front of him, his attention is caught increasingly by the song of the forest birds. #11>>; (#128; #129)
Siegfried: It’s almost as though [[ #128 ]] the woodbirds were speaking to me. Was this brought about by the taste of blood? (#128 Fragment?; #108?) That strange little bird here. – Listen! What is it singing to me?
The Woodbird: (from the branches of a life-tree above Siegfried: [[ #129 ]]/#11>>>>) Hey! Siegfried now owns the Nibelung Hoard: o might he now find the hoards in the cave! If he wanted to win the Tarnhelm, it would serve him for wondrous deeds: but could he acquire the Ring, it would make him lord of the world!
(#11 Vari: Siegfried has listened with bated breath and a rapt expression on his face)
