Prince Hagen | Page 8

the whole
world happens to music.
GER. [Stands entranced.] Listen! Listen!
ALB. It is very monotonous, when one is digging out the gold. It keeps
up such a wheezing, and pounding.
[Stopped trumpets from orchestra.]
GER. Ah, don't speak of such things! [Gazes about; sees cup.] What is
this?
ALB. That is the coronation cup.
GER. The coronation cup?
ALB. One of the greatest of our treasures. It is worth over four hundred
thousand dollars. It is the work of the elder Mimi, a most wonderful
smith.
GER. [Advancing.] May I look at it?
ALB. You will observe the design of the Rhine maidens.
GER. I can't see it here. It's too dark. Let me have a candle.
MIMI. A candle?
ALL. A candle!
ALB. My dear sir! Candles are so expensive! And why do you want to
see it? We never look at our art treasures.
GER. Never look at them!
ALB. No. We know what they are worth, and everyone else knows; and
what difference does it make how they look?
GER. Oh, I see!
ALB. Perhaps you would like to see our vaults of gold? [Great

excitement among the Nibelungs. The music makes a furious uproar.
ALBERICH gives a great key to MIMI, who opens the iron doors.]
Approach, sir.
MIMI. Hear the echoes. [Shouts.]
GER. It must be a vast place!
ALB. This particular cavern runs for seventeen miles under the earth.
GER. What! And you mean it is all full of gold?
ALB. From floor to roof with solid masses of it.
GER. Incredible! Is it all of the Nibelung treasure?
ALB. All? Mercy, no! This is simply my own, and I am by no means a
rich man. The extent of some of our modern fortunes would simply
exceed your belief. We live in an age of enormous productivity. [After
a pause.] Will you see more of the vault?
GER. No, I thank you. [They close it.] It must be getting late; and, by
the way, your majesty, you know that no one has told me yet why you
had me brought here.
ALB. Ah, yes, sure enough. We have business to talk about. Let us get
to it! [To MIMI.] Let the hall be cleared. [MIMI drives out the
Nibelungs and retires.] Sit on this rock here beside me. [Confidentially.]
Now we can talk things over. I trust you are willing to listen to me.
GER. Most certainly. I am very much interested.
ALB. Thank you. You know, my dear sir, that I had a son, Hagen, who
was the slayer of the great hero, Siegfried?
GER. Yes, your majesty.
ALB. A most lamentable affair. You did not know, I presume, that
Hagen, too, had a son, by one of the daughters of earth?
GER. No. He is not mentioned in history.
ALB. That son, Prince Hagen, is now living; and, in the course of
events, he will fall heir to the throne I occupy.
GER. I see.
ALB. The boy is seven or eight hundred years old, which, in your
measure, would make him about eighteen. Now, I speak frankly. The
boy is wild and unruly. He needs guidance and occupation. And I have
sent for you because I understand that you earth-people think more and
see farther than we do.
GER. Yes?
ALB. I wish to ask you to help me . . . to use your strength of mind and

body to direct this boy.
GER. But what can I do?
ALB. I wish you to stay here and be Prince Hagen's tutor.
GER. What?
ALB. [Anxiously.] If you will do it, sir, you will carry hence a treasure
such as the world has never seen before. And it is a noble work . . . a
great work, sir. He is the grandson of a king! Tell me . . . will you help
me?
[Gazes imploringly.]
GER. Let me think. [A pause.] Your majesty, I have things of
importance to do, and I have no time to stay here . . .
ALB. But think of the treasures!
GER. My father is a rich man, and I have no need of treasures. And
besides, I am a poet. I have work of my own...
ALB. Oh! don't refuse me, sir!
GER. Listen! There is, perhaps, something else we can do. How would
it do to take Prince Hagen up to the world?
ALB. [Starting.] Oh!
GER. This world is a small one. There he might have a wide field for
his energies. He might be sent to a good school, and taught the ideals of
our Christian civilization.
ALB. [Pondering anxiously.] You mean that you yourself would see to
it that proper care was given to him?
GER. If I took him with me it would mean that I was