He wore a
wig and false beard; his white and manicured hands had nothing of
the workman about them; and his easy air, prominent belly, and
flabby muscles readily betrayed the actor. With an absurd hammer he
struck--as no one else would ever strike--a fantastic-looking
sword-blade. One guessed he was a dwarf, because when he walked he
bent his legs at the knees. He cried out a great deal, and opened
his mouth in a queer fashion. The orchestra also emitted peculiar
noises like several beginnings that had nothing to do with one
another. Then another actor appeared with a horn in his belt,
leading a man dressed up as a bear, who walked on all-fours. He let
loose the bear on the dwarf, who ran away, but forgot to bend his
knees this time. The actor with the human face represented the
hero, Siegfried. He cried out for a long time, and the dwarf
replied in the same way. Then a traveller arrived--the god Wotan.
He had a wig, too; and, settling himself down with his spear, in a
silly attitude, he told Mimi all about things he already knew, but
of which the audience was ignorant.
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