Tristan and Isolda
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner. Tristan and Isolda
Tristan and Isolda Opera in Three Acts
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Michel Boto and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Transcriber's note: The German text is not included in this eBook.]
GRAND OPERA
LIBRETTOS
GERMAN
AND ENGLISH TEXT
AND MUSIC OF THE LEADING MOTIVES
TRISTAN
UND ISOLDE
(TRISTAN AND ISOLDA)
BY
WAGNER
OLIVER DITSON COMPANY
BOSTON
CHAS. H. DITSON &CO
New York
LYON &HEALY
Chicago
TRISTAN
AND ISOLDA
OPERA IN THREE ACTS
BY
RICHARD WAGNER
BOSTON
OLIVER DITSON COMPANY
CHAS. H. DITSON &CO.
NEW YORK
LYON &HEALY
CHICAGO
THE STORY OF
"TRISTAN AND ISOLDA"
ACT I
Tristan, a valiant Cornish knight, is bringing Isolda, princess of
Ireland, over as a bride for his uncle, King Mark. He is himself in
love with her, but owing to a blood feud between them, forces himself
to conceal his passion. Isolda, in anger at his seeming unkindness,
attempts to poison herself and him, but her attendant, Brangaena,
changes the draft for a love potion, which enflames their passion
beyond power of restraint.
ACT II
Isolda has been wedded to King Mark, but holds stolen interviews with
Tristan, during one of which they are surprised, for Tristan has been
betrayed by a jealous friend, Melot. Touched by King Mark's bitter
reproaches, Tristan provokes Melot to fight and suffers himself to be
mortally wounded.
ACT III
Tristan's faithful servant, Kurvenal, has carried his wounded master
to his native home in Brittany, where he is carefully tended. Isolda
has also been sent for, as being skilled above all others in the
healing art. The excitement of her approach only hastens Tristan's
death, and he breathes his last sigh in her arms. Mark has followed
Isolda; he has had matters explained, and is prepared to reunite the
lovers, but it is too late. Isolda utters her lament over the body of
her lover, and her heart breaks: in death alone are they united.
* * * * *
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
TRISTAN
KING MARK
ISOLDA
KURVENAL
MELOT
BRANGAENA
A SHEPHERD
A STEERSMAN
SAILORS, KNIGHTS, AND ESQUIRES
TRISTAN AND ISOLDA.
ACT I.
[A pavilion erected on the deck of a ship, richly hung with
tapestry, quite closed in at back at first. A narrow hatchway at one
side leads below into the cabin.]
SCENE I.
ISOLDA on a couch, her face buried in the cushions.
-BRANGAENA holding open a curtain, looks over the side of the
vessel.
THE VOICE OF A YOUNG SAILOR (from above as if at the
mast-head).
ISOLDA (starting up suddenly).
What wight dares insult me?
(She looks round in agitation.)
Brangaena, ho!
Say, where sail we?
BRANGAENA (at the opening).
Bluish stripes
are stretching along the west:
swiftly sails
the ship to shore;
if restful the sea by eve
we shall readily set foot on land.
ISOLDA. What land?
BRANGAENA. Cornwall's verdant strand.
ISOLDA. Never more!
To-day nor to-morrow!
BRANGAENA. What mean you, mistress? say!
(She lets the curtain fall and hastens toISOLDA.)
ISOLDA (with wild gaze).
O fainthearted child,
false to thy fathers!
Ah, where, mother,
hast given thy might
that commands the wave and the tempest?
O subtle art
of sorcery,
for mere leech-craft followed too long!
Awake in me once more,
power of will!
Arise from thy hiding
within my breast!
Hark to my bidding,
fluttering breezes!
Arise and storm
in boisterous strife!
With furious rage
and hurricane's hurdle
waken the sea
from slumbering calm;
rouse up the deep
to its devilish deeds!
Shew it the prey
which gladly I proffer!
Let it shatter this too daring ship
and enshrine in ocean each shred!
And woe to the lives!
Their wavering death-sighs
I leave to ye, winds, as your lot.
BRANGAENA (in extreme alarm and concern forISOLDA ).
Out, alas!
Ah, woe!
I've ever dreaded some ill!-
Isolda! mistress!
Heart of mine!
What secret dost thou hide?
Without a tear
thou'st quitted thy father and mother,
and scarce a word
of farewell to friends thou gavest;
leaving home thou stood'st,
how cold and still!
pale and speechless
on the way,
food rejecting,
reft of sleep,
stern and wretched,
wild, disturbed;
how it pains me
so to see thee!
Friends no more we seem,
being thus estranged.
Make me partner
in thy pain!
Tell me freely
all thy fears!
Lady, thou hearest,
sweetest and dearest;
if for true friend you take me,
your confidant O make me!
ISOLDA. Air! air!
or my heart will choke!
Open! open there wide!
(BRANGAENAhastily draws the centre curtains apart.)
SCENE II.
[The whole length of the ship is now seen, down to the stern, with
the sea and horizon beyond. Round the mainmast sailors are ensconced,
busied with ropes; beyond them in the stern are groups of knights and
attendants, also seated; a little apart standsTRISTAN folding
his arms and thoughtfully gazing out to sea; at his feet KURVENAL
reclines carelessly. From the mast-head above is once more heard
the voice of the young sailor.]
THE YOUNG SAILOR (at the mast-head invisible).
The wind so wild
blows homewards now;
my Irish child,
where waitest thou?
Say, must our sails be weighted,
filled by thy sighs unbated?
Waft us, wind strong and wild!
Woe, ah woe for my child!
ISOLDA (whose eyes have at once soughtTRISTANand fixed
stonily on him-gloomily). Once beloved-
now removed-
brave and bright,
/>
coward knight!-
Death-devoted head!
Death-devoted heart!-
(laughing unnaturally).
Think'st highly of yon minion?
BRANGAENA (following her glance).
Whom mean'st thou?
ISOLDA. There, that hero
who from mine eyes
averts his own:
in shrinking shame
my gaze he shuns-
Say, how hold you him?
BRANGAENA. Mean you Sir Tristan,
lady mine?
Extolled by ev'ry nation,
his happy country's pride,
The hero of creation,-
whose fame so high and wide?
ISOLDA (jeeringly).
In shrinking trepidation
his shame he seeks to hide,
While to the king, his relation,
he brings the corpse-like bride!-
Seems it so senseless
What I say?
Go ask himself,
our gracious host,
dare he approach my side?
No courteous heed
or loyal care
this hero t'wards
his lady turns;
but to meet her his heart is daunted,
this knight so highly vaunted!
Oh! he wots
well the cause!
To the traitor go,
bearing his lady's will!
As my servant bound,
straightway should he approach.
BRANGAENA. Shall I beseech him
to attend thee?
ISOLDA. Nay, order him:
pray, understand it:-
I, Isolda
do command it!
[At an imperious sign from ISOLDABRANGAENA withdraws and timidly
walks along the deck towards the stern, past the working sailors.
ISOLDA, following her with fixed gaze, sinks back on the couch,
where she remains seated during the following, her eyes still turned
sternward.]
KURVENAL (observing Brangaena's approach, plucks Tristan by the robe
without rising.) Beware, Tristan!
Message from Isolda!
TRISTAN (starting). What is't?-Isolda?-
(He quickly regains his composure as BRANGAENA approaches and
curtsies to him.)
What would my lady?
I her liegeman,
fain will listen
while her loyal
woman tells her will.
BRANGAENA. My lord, Sir Tristan,
Dame Isolda
would have speech
with you at once.
TRISTAN. Is she with travel worn?
The end is near:
nay, ere the set of sun
sight we the land.
All that your mistress commands me,
trust me, I shall mind.
BRANGAENA. That you, Sir Tristan,
go to her,-
this is my lady's wish.
TRISTAN. Where yonder verdant meadows
in distance dim are mounting,
waits my sov'reign
for his mate:
to lead her to his presence
I'll wait upon the princess:
'tis an honor
all my own.
BRANGAENA. My lord, Sir Tristan,
list to me:
this one thing
my lady wills,
that thou at once attend her,
there where she waits for thee.
TRISTAN. In any station
where I stand
I truly serve but her,
the pearl of womanhood.
If I unheeding
left the helm,
how might I pilot her ship
in surety to King Mark?
BRANGAENA. Tristan, my master,
why mock me thus?
Seemeth my saying
obscure to you?
list to my lady's words:
thus, look you, she hath spoken:
"Go order him,
and understand it,
I-Isolda-
do command it."
KURVENAL (springing up). May I an answer make her?
TRISTAN. What wouldst thou wish to reply?
KURVENAL. This should she say
to Dame Isold':
"Though Cornwall's crown
and England's isle
for Ireland's child he chose,
his own by choice
she may not be;
he brings the king his bride.
A hero-knight
Tristan is hight!
I've said, nor care to measure
your lady's high displeasure."
[WhileTRISTANseeks to stop him, and the offended
BRANGAENA turns to depart, KURVENALsings after her at the
top of his voice, as she lingeringly withdraws.]
"Sir Morold toiled
o'er mighty wave
the Cornish tax to levy;
In desert isle
was dug his grave,
he died of wounds so heavy.
His head now hangs
in Irish lands,
Sole were-gild won
at English hands.
Bravo, our brave Tristan!
Let his tax take who can!"
[KURVENAL, driven away byTRISTAN'S chidings, descends into
the cabin. BRANGAENAreturns in discomposure toISOLDA,
closing the curtains behind her, while all the men take up the
chorus and are heard without.]
KNIGHTS AND ATTENDANTS.
"His head now hangs
in Irish lands,
sole were-gild won
at English hands.
Bravo, our brave Tristan!
Let his tax take who can!"
SCENE III.
[ISOLDAandBRANGAENAalone, the curtain being again
completely closed. ISOLDArises with a gesture of despair and
wrath. BRANGAENAfalls at her feet.]
BRANGAENA. Ah! an answer
so insulting!
ISOLDA (checking herself on the brink of a fearful outburst).
How now? of Tristan?
I'd know if he denies me.
BRANGAENA. Ah! question not!
ISOLDA. Quick, say without fear!
BRANGAENA. With courteous phrase
he foiled my will.
ISOLDA. But when you bade him hither?
BRANGAENA. When I had straightway
bid him come,
where'er he stood,
he said to me,
he truly served but thee,
the pearl of womanhood;
if he unheeded
left the helm
how could he pilot the ship
in surety to King Mark?
ISOLDA (bitterly).
"How could he pilot the ship
in surety to King Mark!"
And wait on him with were-gild
from Ireland's island won!
BRANGAENA.
As I gave out the message
and in thy very words,
thus spoke his henchman Kurvenal-
ISOLDA.
Heard I not ev'ry sentence?
it all has reached my ear.
If thou hast learnt my disgrace
now hear too whence it has grown.
How scoffingly
they sing about me!
Quickly could I requite them!
What of the boat
so bare and frail,
that floated by our shore?
What of the broken
stricken man,
feebly extended there?
Isolda's art
he gladly owned;
with herbs, simples
and healing salves
the wounds from which he suffered
she nursed in skilful wise.
Though "Tantris"
The n
ame that he took unto him,
as "Tristan"
anon Isolda knew him,
when in the sick man's keen blade
she perceived a notch had been made,
wherein did fit
a splinter broken
in Morold's head,
the mangled token
sent home in hatred rare:
this hand did find it there.
I heard a voice
from distance dim;
with the sword in hand
I came to him.
Full well I willed to slay him,
for Morold's death to pay him.
But from his sick bed
he looked up
not at the sword,
not at my arm-
his eyes on mine were fastened,
and his feebleness
softened my heart:
the sword-dropped from my fingers.
Though Morold's steel had maimed him
to health again I reclaimed him!
when he hath homeward wended
my emotion then might be ended.
BRANGAENA.
O wondrous! Why could I not see this?
The guest I sometime
helped to nurse-?
ISOLDA.
His praise briskly they sing now:-
"Bravo, our brave Tristan!"-
he was that distressful man.
A thousand protestations
of truth and love he prated.
Hear how a knight
fealty knows!-
When as Tantris
unforbidden he'd left me,
as Tristan
boldly back he came,
in stately ship
from which in pride
Ireland's heiress
in marriage he asked
for Mark, the Cornish monarch,
his kinsman worn and old.
In Morold's lifetime
dared any have dreamed
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