Prince Hagen | Page 7

. . . my grandson and
my heir . . .
HAGEN. Have you sent for me to preach at me again?
ALB. Hagen, this stranger . . . he has come to visit us from the world
above. These earth-men know more than we . . . they have greater
powers . . .
[He hesitates.]
HAGEN. What is all that to me?

ALB. You know that you yourself are three-quarters an earth-man . . .
HAGEN. I know it. [With a passionate gesture.] But I am in chains!
ALB. There may be a way of your having another chance. Perhaps this
stranger will teach you. If you will promise to obey him, he will stay
with you . . . he will be your tutor, and show you the ways of the earth-
men.
HAGEN. No!
ALB. What?
HAGEN. I will not have it!
ALB. Hagen!
HAGEN. I will not have it, I say! Why did you not consult me?
ALB. But what is your objection . . .
HAGEN. I will not obey an earth-man! I will not obey anyone!
ALB. But he will teach you . . .
HAGEN. I do not want to be taught. I want to be let alone! Take off
these chains!
ALB. [Half rising.] Hagen! I insist . . .
HAGEN. Take them off, I say! You cannot conquer me . . . you cannot
trick me!
ALB. [Angrily.] Take him away!
[The Nibelungs seize hold of him to hustle him off.]
HAGEN. I will not obey him! Mark what I say . . . I will kill him. Yes!
I will kill him!
[He is dragged off protesting.]
ALB. [Sits, his head bowed with grief, until the uproar dies away; then,
looking up.] Mimi!
MIMI. Yes, your majesty.
ALB. Let the earth-man be brought.
MIMI. Yes, your majesty!
ALL. The earth-man! The earth-man!
[The call is heard as before. GERALD is brought on; the orchestra
plays a beautiful melody, violins and horns. MIMI moves left to meet
him.]
GERALD. [Enters left with attendants; hesitating, gazing about in
wonder. He sees MIMI, and stops; a pause.] The pack peddler!
MIMI. The pack peddler!
GER. And these are Nibelungs?

MIMI. You call us that.
GER. [Laughing nervously.] You . . . er . . . it's a little disconcerting,
you know. I had no idea you existed. May I ask your name?
MIMI. I am Mimi.
GER. Mimi! Mimi, the smith? And may I ask . . . are you real, or is this
a dream?
MIMI. Is not life a dream?
GER. Yes . . . but . . .
MIMI. It is a story. You have to pretend that it is true.
GER. I see!
MIMI. You pretend that it is true . . . and then you see what happens! It
is very interesting!
GER. Yes . . . I have no doubt. [Peers at him.] And just to help me
straighten things out . . . would you mind telling me . . . are you old or
young?
MIMI. I am young.
GER. How young?
MIMI. Nine hundred years young.
GER. Oh! And why did you come for me?
MIMI. The king commanded it.
GER. The king? And who may this king be?
MIMI. King Alberich.
GER. Alberich. [Stares at the king.] And is this he?
MIMI. It is he.
GER. And may I speak to him?
MIMI. You may.
ALB. Let the earth-man advance. Hail!
GER. Good evening, Alberich.
MIMI. [At his elbow.] Your majesty!
GER. Good evening, your majesty.
ALB. [After along gaze.] You play our music. Where did you learn it?
GER. Why . . . it's in Wagner's operas. He composed it.
ALB. Humph . . . composed it!
GER. [Aghast.] You mean he came and copied it!
ALB. Of course!
GER. Why . . . why . . . we all thought it was original!
ALB. Original! It is indeed wonderful originality! To listen in the

Rhine-depths to the song of the maidens, to dwell in the forest and steal
its murmurs, to catch the crackling of the fire and the flowing of the
water, the galloping of the wind and the death march of the thunder . . .
and then write it all down for your own! To take our story and tell it
just as it happened . . . to take the very words from our lips, and sign
your name to them! Originality!
GER. But, your majesty, one thing at least. Even his enemies granted
him that! He invented the invisible orchestra!
ALB. [Laughing.] Have you seen any orchestra here?
[Siegfried motive sounds.]
GER. I hadn't realized it! Do you mean that everything here happens to
music?
ALB. If you only had the ears to hear, you would know that