did not wantonly break his bond with Gunther, for he asks Hagen whether Siegfried really broke his bond and betrayed his oath. Siegfried, in fact, throughout the entirety of Twilight of the Gods, has consistently lived the life of the unconsciously inspired hero upon whom Gunther could historically depend to invent and sustain those illusions upon which most men depend for their happiness. But now, as a natural consequence of the evolution of art, art in its highest development, the music-drama, has exposed those inner processes which gave birth to it, processes which are normally hidden from the human mind, to the light of day.
[T.2.5: D]
Bruennhilde interjects that if Siegfried betrayed them, they have all betrayed her. She insists that all the blood spilled in the world could never erase their guilt toward her, but nonetheless one man’s death will suffice to atone for their betrayal, Siegfried. She nominates Siegfried to be a Christ-like savior who takes on the sins of the world to expiate mankind’s sin, i.e., Wotan’s sin of matricide, collective man’s historical denial of Mother Nature’s truth:
Bruennhilde (#159 vari on frag: [a three-note figure expressing anger, perhaps the figure heard at the opening of T.2.2, just after Siegfried appears before Hagen?]; #voc?:) You he betrayed, (#159 vari on frag) and me have you all betrayed (:#voc?)! (#159 vari on frag:; #140?:) If I had my due, (#159 vari on frag) all the blood in the world (#159 vari on frag) (#164:) could never make good your guilt (:#164)! (#7?) But (#167:) one man’s death (#149:) will serve me for all (:#167; :#149): (#167:) may Siegfried fall (#voc?: [#33b, #42, #97, or #112, especially at “Suehne”, i.e., “atone” – what is this???]) to atone for himself and you (:#voc??? [#33b, #42, #97, or #112?])!
Hagen: (turning to Gunther: #151?:; #50?:) May he fall – (secretively: #151 or #155?; #26a’s grace-note slide?) for your good [“Heil”]! (#19 vari >>:) Tremendous power will then be yours (#26a?) if you win from him the ring (:#19 vari) (#37:) that death alone would wrest from him (:#37).
Gunther: (softly: #150 vari [perhaps a hint of Bruennhilde’s remark to Gunther: “Behind the hero you hid yourself … ,” which may incorporate #152, #155, &/or #20a?]; #19?:) Bruennhilde’s ring? (#19?)
Hagen: The Nibelung’s band. (#161 end frag)
