as the Wanderer, has ostensibly come to wake Erda in order to obtain primal knowledge of how he might alter the course of the fate she foretold, or, barring that, at least to learn from her how he, the god, can overcome the dread her prophecy of the gods’ fated end inspired in him:
(Prelude: A wild place at the foot of a rocky mountain, which rises abruptly towards the right. night. A raging storm. Lightning and violent thunder, which latter ceases, while flashes of lightning continue to rend the clouds for some time to come. #53/(#91 beneath most motifs); #83; #21 [modulation]; #2 & #54/#112 & #91 [repeats twice with modulation]; #2/#1 [modulates]; #45/#91; #2 chromatic inversion modulates; #97; #87; #21; #87; #21 [modulates]: The Wanderer now enters. He strides resolutely to the mouth of a vault-like cavern in a rock at the front of the stage and takes up his position there, leaning on his spear, while calling into the mouth of the cave.)
Wanderer: [[ #133: ]] Waken, vala! (#133:) vala, awake (:#133)! From lengthy sleep I awake you, slumberer! (#133?:) I call upon you: (#133:) arise! Arise! From mist-clad [“nebliger”] vault, from night-veiled depths arise! (#53>>:) Erda! Erda! Eternal woman! (#2:) From native depths rise up to the heights! (#53 vari:) I sing your waking song that you may waken; from brooding sleep I rouse you up (:#53 vari). (#2:; #54: [isn’t this #83?]) All-knowing! Primevally wise! (#53?:; #54?:) Erda! Erda! (133:) Eternal woman (:#53?; :#54?)! (#133:) Waken, awaken! You vala, (#21) awaken (:#133)! (#21)
(#87?:) The vaulted cave begins to glow with a bluish light, in which Erda is seen rising very slowly from the depths. She appears to be covered in hoar-frost; hair and garments give off a glittering sheen: #97)
Erda: (#97:; #77 or #92 or #95?:) Strong is the call of your lay; mighty the lure of its magic spell; (#87?) from knowing sleep am I roused: (#87) who is it who drives away my slumber? (#87)
Wanderer: (#53:) Your awakener am I, and strains I sing (#54:) that all may (#2:) wake whom heavy sleep enfolds (:#53; :#54; :#2). (#112 vari:) I roamed the world and wandered far (#2:) to garner knowledge (#2:; #voc?: [#92c or #71 vari “Hero”?]) and gain primeval lore (:#2; :#voc [#92c or #71 vari “hero”?]). (#38>>:;#19 vari or #29 or #31?: [possible influence of Froh’s remark:
