delusions (self-delusions from the standpoint of Alberich and Hagen, certainly) of religion, self-sacrificial morality, and art. Hagen represents this spirit within Siegfried himself, which compels Siegfried, of necessity, to expose the inner process, the secret mechanism underlying his own unconscious artistic inspiration, within his own music-drama, which he will perform, at Hagen’s behest, for the Gibichungs in T.3.2.
[T.1.2: B]
Gunther now offers Siegfried his official welcome to the Hall of the Gibichungs, introducing a new motif, #155 (sometimes called “False Friendship”), which, according to Cooke, is in the same family as several other motifs associated with the Gibichungs, #151 (Hagen), #156 (Gutrune), and #171 (The Gibichung Horncall, associated later with the tragic double wedding of Gunther with Bruennhilde, and Siegfried with Gutrune). The loose variant of #155, which develops as Gunther effectively offers himself and all he possesses to Siegfried, is of the most poignant nobility, yet this is a message of false friendship, since Gunther, Gutrune, and Hagen all plan to exploit Siegfried and take advantage of him, each for their own separate reasons:
(At Gunther’s invitation, Siegfried advances into the hall. [[ #155 ]])
Gunther: [[ #155 loose vari: ]] [music of the greatest nobility and poignancy: I believe the following passage is modeled on Mime’s wheedling song of greeting to Siegfried, #131 (heard after Siegfried has killed Fafner and returned from Fafner’s cave with the tarnhelm and ring), and on other music heard when Mime tries to cover up his intention to exploit Siegfried to obtain the ring, drug him with a potion, and then dispose of him?]) Greet gladly, o hero, my father’s hall; wherever you tread, whatever you see, now treat it as your own: yours are my birthright, lands and men – by my body I swear the oath! (#155:; #92c or #71 vari “Hero” or #57 vari hint?:) Myself I give you as liegeman (:#155; :#92c or #71 vari “Hero” or #57 vari hint?)!
Siegfried: I can offer you neither lands nor men, (#152?) nor a father’s house and court: (#71:) I inherited only this body of mine (:#71); (#141:) living, I waste it away (:141). (#120 counter melody from S.1.3:; #109/#41:; #111?:) I’ve only a sword, (#57) which I forged myself – (#155:) by that sword I swear this oath (:#155)! – With myself I present it as part of the bond.
Hagen: (having returned, now standing behind Siegfried. #151/#46/#41 >>: [#151 on horn’s high notes]) but the tale names you lord of the Nibelung hoard (:#151/#46/#41).
