As he draws his sword
from the dragon's heart, a rush of blood wets his hand. He feels it
burn, and involuntarily puts his hand to his lips. Forthwith, by virtue
of the magic power of the blood, he understands the song of the birds,
and as he listens he hears the warning voice of one of them in the
linden-tree telling him of the Tarnhelm and the ring. Armed with these
he comes forth from the dragon's cave to find Mime, who has come to
offer him a draught from his drinking-horn after his labours. But the
dragon's blood enables him to read the thoughts in the dwarf's heart
under his blandishing words. The draught is poisoned, and Mime hopes by
slaying Siegfried to gain the Nibelung hoard. With one blow of his sword
Siegfried slays the treacherous dwarf, and, guided by his friendly bird,
hastens away to the rock where Bruennhilde lies within the flaming
rampart awaiting the hero who shall release her.
The third act represents a wild landscape at the foot of Bruennhilde's
rock. Wotan once more summons Erda, and bids her prophesy concerning the
doom of the gods. She knows nothing of the future, and Wotan professes
himself resigned to hand over his sovereignty to the youthful Siegfried,
who shall deliver the world from Alberich's curse. Erda sinks once more
into her cavern, and Siegfried appears, led by the faithful bird. Wotan
attempts to bar his passage, but Siegfried will brook no interference,
and he shivers Wotan's spear (the emblem of the older rule of the gods)
with a blow of his sword.
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