Opera Stories from Wagner
By Florence Akin
The Morning
It was morning in the beautiful country where the Rhine River flows.
The giants upon the hillside were just awakening from their night’s sleep.
During the night Fafner had built the wonderful castle.
Wotan’s wife was the first to see it.
“Awake, Wotan! Awake!” she cried.
As Wotan opened his eyes he saw the castle upon the summit of the mountain.
What a great shining castle it was!
In delight Wotan cried: “’T is finished! And my glorious dream is true!”
All night long Fafner had toiled hard.
He finished just as the morning dawned.
He was waiting now for Wotan to awaken and to give to him the beautiful Freya.
He would take her and hurry to his own country.