Before the opening of 'Die Walkuere,' the next work of the series, much
has happened. Wotan has begotten the nine Valkyries (_Walkueren_, or
choosers of the slain), whose mission is to bring up dead heroes from
the battle-field to dwell in Valhalla, and, if need be, help to defend
it. He determines, too, since he may not possess the ring himself, to
beget a hero of the race of men who shall win it from Fafner (who has
changed himself into a dragon in order to guard the treasure more
securely), and so prevent it falling into the hands of an enemy of the
gods. For this purpose he descends to earth and, under the name of
Volse, unites himself with a mortal woman, who bears him the Volsung
twins, Siegmund and Sieglinde. Bound by his oath to Fafner, Wotan may
not openly assist Siegmund in the enterprise, but he dwells with him on
the earth, and trains him in all manly exercises. Sieglinde is carried
off by enemies and given as wife to Hunding, and Siegmund returning one
day from the chase finds his father gone, and nothing but an empty
wolf-skin left in the hut. Alone he has to wage continual war with the
enemies who surround him. One day, in defending a woman from wrong, he
is overpowered by numbers, and losing his sword, has to fly for his
life. With this 'Die Walkuere' opens. A violent storm is raging when
Siegmund reaches Hunding's hut. Exhausted by fatigue, he throws himself
down by the hearth, and is soon fast asleep.
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