you warn him that death is at hand, (#126
a:) then perhaps he’ll be willing to give up his toy. – (#48
) I’ll wake him up myself (:#126
a).
(He takes up a position on the knoll in front of the cave and calls into it.)
Wanderer: (#126
a) Fafner! Fafner! wake up, you dragon!
Alberich: (with intense astonishment, aside: #48
frag >>:) What’s the madman doing? Will he really not begrudge it me (:#48
frag)? (…)
Fafner’s voice: (#126
frag inverted) Who’s that who disturbs my sleep? (…)
Wanderer: Someone has come to tell you of danger [“Noth”]: he’ll reward you for it with your life if, in return, you repay that life with the treasure that you’re guarding.
(He inclines his ear towards the cave to listen. #126
; #48
?; #87
hint?)
Fafner’s voice: (#126
frag:) What does he want (:#126
frag)?
Alberich: (joining the wanderer and calling into the cave) Wake up, Fafner! Wake up, you dragon! (#103
?:) A doughty hero is drawing near who means to assail you, invulnerable beast (“ … dich heil’gen will er besteh’n.”) (:#103
?) (#126
)
Fafner’s voice: (#126
inverted; #48
?) I’m ready to eat him.
Wanderer: Bold is the youngster’s strength (#57
:; #58
b vari?:) and keen-cutting is his sword (:#57
; :#58
b vari?).
Alberich: (#17
:) The golden band alone he covets (:#17
): give me the ring as reward and I’ll change the course of the conflict; you’ll keep the hoard for yourself and live a long life of peace!