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Hagen, eagerly on the watch for his last chance, beholds with the insanity of despair the Rhine-daughters rise from the waves close beside the site of the pyre. Hurling from him shield and spear, he dashes into the water to thrust them back. "Away from the Ring!" Two of the jocose sisters for all reply entwine their arms around his neck and draw him away and away with them into the deep water.

Then comes the end. The body of Siegfried is burned on a funeral pyre, a grand funeral march is heard, and Brunhild rides into the flames and sacrifices herself for love's sake; the ring goes back to the Rhine-daughters; and the old world of the gods of Valhalla, of passion and sin is burnt up with flames, for the gods have broken moral law, and coveted power rather than love, gold rather than truth, and therefore must perish.

The last act opens in a rocky glen on the banks of the Rhine, the ripple of whose waters is repeated in the melody of "The Rhinegold." Siegfried is separated from his companion, and while alone, the song of the Rhine-daughters is heard. They rise to the surface of the gleaming water and demand their gold, but Siegfried refuses to restore it.

"Surely you do not live down in the dark earth where there is no sunshine?" "Yes," answered Alberich. "But I have come up to frolic in the sunshine with you"; and he held out his ugly, misshapen little hands to take the hands of the Rhine-daughters. They only laughed at him and darted away to a higher rock. Alberich hurried after them.

During Praeger's visit, a former singer at the Magdeburg opera and her two daughters called on Wagner. They sang the music of the Rhine-daughters from "Rheingold." When they finished singing, Minna asked Praeger: "Is it really as beautiful as you say? It does not seem so to me, and I'm afraid it would not sound so to others."

So, after their first glad greeting, they sat down upon the rocks, and Brunhilde told Siegfried the sad story of the ring, from the time when Alberich snatched it from the Rhine-daughters, until the day Siegfried took it from Hate Cavern. Then, hand in hand, they went, the valiant Siegfried and the noble Brunhilde, to the banks of the Rhine.

He takes Fricka by the hand, and leading the way, followed by Froh, Freia, Donner, and Loge, the last somewhat reluctantly, the gods pass over the rainbow bridge and enter Walhalla bathed in the light of the setting sun and accompanied by the strains of a majestic march. During their passage the plaintive song of the Rhine-daughters mourning their gold comes up from the depths.

Only, Alberich is on his guard, you will have to proceed craftily if you would overreach the robber... in order to return their treasure to the Rhine-daughters, who earnestly entreat you." "The Rhine-daughters?" chafes Wotan. "What do you trouble me with them?"

Without the apples, old and grey, a mock to the whole world, the dynasty of the gods must perish!" With sudden resolution, Wotan starts from his dark study. "Up, Loge! Down with me to Nibelheim! I will conquer the gold!" "The Rhine-daughters, then," speaks wicked Loge, "may look to have their prayer granted?" Wotan harshly silences him.

Every morning the beautiful Rhine-daughters would dance and sing about their gold. They sang a happy song: "Heigh-ho! hither, ye waters! Waver and waft me to sleep on your breast! Heigh-ho! hither, ye waters! Weave me sweet dreams on your billowy crest!" One morning, when the sun was shining very brightly, the Rhine-daughters were startled by a strange sound in the depths of the water.