Frightful enchantment!-
O love's deceit!
O passion's pow'r!
Most sweet dream 'neath the sun,
see the work thou hast done!-
Here lies he now,
the noblest of knights,
with his passion all others above:
behold! what reward
his ardor requites;
the one sure reward of love!
(with sobbing voice.)
Art thou then dead?
Liv'st thou not?
Hast to the curse succumbed?-
(He listens forTRISTAN'S breath.)
O rapture! No!
He still moves! He lives!
and gently his lips are stirr'd.
TRISTAN (very faintly). The ship-is't yet in sight?
KURVENAL. The ship? Be sure
t'will come to-day:
it cannot tarry longer.
TRISTAN. On board Isolda,-
see, she smiles-
with the cup
that reconciles.
Dost thou see?
Dost thou see her now?
Full of grace
and loving mildness,
floating o'er
the ocean's wildness?
By billows of flowers
lightly lifted,
gently toward
the land she's drifted.
Her look brings ease
and sweet repose;
her hand one last
relief bestows.
Isolda! Ah, Isolda!
How fair, how sweet art thou!-
And Kurvenal, why!-
what ails thy sight?
Away, and watch for her,
foolish I see so well and plainly,
let not thine eye seek vainly
Dost thou not hear?
Away, with speed!
Haste to the watch-tow'r!
Wilt thou not heed?
The ship, the ship!
Isolda's ship!-
Thou must discern it,
must perceive it!
The ship-dost thou see it?-
(WhilstKURVENAL, still hesitating, opposesTRISTAN,
the Shepherd's pipe is heard without, playing a joyous strain.)
KURVENAL (springing joyously up).
O rapture! Transport!
(He rushes to the watch-tower and looks out.)
Ha! the ship!
From northward it is nearing.
TRISTAN. So I knew,
so I said!
Yes, she yet lives,
and life to me gives.
How could Isold'
from this world be free,
which only holds
Isolda for me?
KURVENAL (shouting). Ahoy! Ahoy!
See her bravely tacking!
How full the canvas is filled!
How she darts! how she flies!
TRISTAN. The pennon? the pennon?
KURVENAL. A flag is floating at mast-head,
joyous and bright.
TRISTAN. Aha! what joy!
Now through the daylight
comes my Isolda.
Isolda, oh come!
See'st thou herself?
KURVENAL. The ship is shut
from me by rocks.
TRISTAN. Behind the reef?
Is there not risk!
Those dangerous breakers
ships have oft shattered.-
Who steereth the helm?
KURVENAL. The steadiest seaman.
TRISTAN. Betrays he me?
Is he Melot's ally?
KURVENAL. Trust him like me.
TRISTAN. A traitor thou, too!-
O caitiff!
Canst thou not see her?
KURVENAL. Not yet.
TRISTAN. Destruction!
KURVENAL. Aha! Halla-halloa I
they clear! they clear!
Safely they clear!
Inside the surf
steers now the ship to the strand.
TRISTAN (shouting in joy). Hallo-ho! Kurvenal!
Trustiest friend!
All the wealth I own
to-day I bequeath thee.
KURVENAL. With speed they approach.
TRISTAN. Now dost thou see her?
See'st thou Isolda?
KURVENAL. 'Tis she! she waves!
TRISTAN. O woman divine!
KURVENAL. The ship is a-land!
Isolda.'-ha!-
With but one leap
lightly she springs to land!
TRISTAN. Descend from the watch-tow'r,
indolent gazer!
Away! away
to the shore!
Help her! help my belov'd!
KURVENAL. In a trice she shall come;
Trust in my strong arm!
But thou, Tristan,
hold thee tranquilly here!
(He hastens off.)
TRISTAN (tossing on his couch in feverish excitement ).
O sunlight glowing,
glorious ray!
Ah, joy-bestowing
radiant day!
Boundeth my blood,
boisterous flood!
Infinite gladness!
Rapturous madness!
Can I bear to lie
couched here in quiet?
Away, let me fly
to where hearts run riot!
Tristan the brave,
exulting in strength,
has torn himself
from death at length.
(He raises himself erect.)
All wounded and bleeding
Sir Morold I defeated;
all bleeding and wounded
Isolda now shall be greeted.
(He tears the bandage from his wound.)
Ha, ha, my blood!
Merrily flows it.
(He springs from his bed and staggers forward.)
She who can help
my wound and close it,
she comes in her pride,
she comes to my aid.
Be space defied:
let the universe fade!
(He reels to the centre of the stage.)
ISOLDA'S VOICE (without).
Tristan! Tristan! Beloved!
TRISTAN (in frantic excitement).
What! hails me the light?
The torchlight-ha!-
The torch is extinct!
I come! I come!
SCENE II.
[ISOLDAhastens breathlessly in. TRISTAN, delirious with
excitement, staggers wildly towards her. They meet in the centre of
the stage; she receives him in her arms, where he sinks slowly to the
ground.]
ISOLDA. Tristan! Ah!
TRISTAN (turning, his dying eyes onISOLDA). Isolda!-
(He dies.)
ISOLDA. 'Tis I, 'tis I-
dearly belov'd!
Wake, and once more
hark to my voice!
Isolda calls.
Isolda comes,
with Tristan true to perish.-
Speak unto me!
But for one moment,
only one moment
open thine eyes!
Such weary days
I waited and longed,
that one single hour
I with thee might awaken.
Betrayed am I then?
Deprived by Tristan
of this our solitary,
swiftly fleeting,
final earthly joy?-
His wound, though-where?
Can I not heal it?
The rapture of night
O let us feel it?
Not of thy wounds,
not of thy wounds must thou expire!
Together, at least,
let fade life's enfeebled fire!-
How lifeless his look!-
still his heart!-
Dared he to deal me
Buch a smart?
Stayed is his breathing's
gentle t
ide!
Must I be wailing
at his side,
who, in rapture coming to seek him,
fearless sailed o'er the sea?
Too late, too late!
Desperate man!
Casting on me
this cruelest ban!
Comes no relief
for my load of grief?
Silent art keeping
while I am weeping?
But once more, ah!
But once again!-
Tristan!-ha!
he wakens-hark!
Beloved-
-dark!
(She sinks down senseless upon his body.)
SCENE III.
[KURVENAL, who reentered close behindISOLDA, has remained
by the entrance speechless and petrified, gazing motionless on
TRISTAN. From below is now heard the dull murmur of voices and the
clash of weapons. The Shepherd clambers over the wall.]
SHEPHERD (coming hastily and softly toKURVENAL ).
Kurvenal! Hear!
Another ship!
(KURVENALstarts up in haste and looks over the rampart, whilst
the Shepherd stands apart, gazing in consternation onTRISTAN
and ISOLDA.)
KURVENAL. Fiends and furies!
(In a burst of anger.)
All are at hand!
Melot and Mark
I see on the strand,-
Weapons and missiles!-
Guard we the gate!
(He hastens with the Shepherd to the gate, which they both try
quickly to barricade.)
THE STEERSMAN (rushing in).
Mark and his men
have set on us:
defence is vain!
We're overpowered.
KURVENAL. Stand to and help!-
While lasts my life
I'll let no foe enter here!
BRANGAENA'S VOICE (without, calling from below).
Isolda! Mistress!
KURVENAL. Brangaena's voice! (Falling down.)
What want you here?
BRANGAENA. Open, Kurvenal!
Where is Isolda?
KURVENAL. With foes do you come?
Woe to you, false one!
MELOT'S VOICE (without). Stand back, thou fool!
Bar not the way!
KURVENAL (laughing savagely). Hurrah for the day
on which I confront thee!
(MELOT, with armed men, appears under the gateway.
KURVENAL falls on him and cuts him down.)
Die, damnable wretch!
SCENE IV.
MELOT. Woe's me!-Tristan! (He dies.)
BRANGAENA (still without). Kurvenal! Madman!
O hear-thou mistakest!
KURVENAL. Treacherous maid! (To his men.)
Come! Follow me!
Force them below! (They fight.)
MARK (without). Hold, thou frantic man!
Lost are thy senses?
KURVENAL. Here ravages Death!
Nought else, O king,
is here to be holden!
If you would earn it, come on!
(He sets uponMARKand his followers.)
MARK. Away, rash maniac!
BRANGAENA (has climbed over the wall at the side and hastens in the
front).
Isolda! lady!
Joy and life!-
What sight's here-ha!
Liv'st thou, Isolda! (She goes toISOLDA'S aid.)
MARK (who with his followers has drivenKURVENALand his men
back from the gate and forced his way in).O wild mistake!
Tristan, where art thou?
KURVENAL (desperately wounded, totters beforeMARKto the
front).
He lieth-there-
here, where I lie too.-
(Sinks down atTRISTAN'S feet.)
MARK. Tristan! Tristan!
Isolda! Woe!
KURVENAL (trying to graspTRISTAN'S hand ).
Tristan! true lord!
Chide me not
that I try to follow thee! (He dies.)
MARK. Dead together!-
All are dead!
My hero Tristan!
truest of friends,
must thou again
be to thy king a traitor?
Now, when he comes
another proof of love to give thee!
Awaken! awaken.
O hear my lamentation,
thou faithless, faithful friend!
(Kneels down sobbing over the bodies.)
BRANGAENA (who has revivedISOLDAin her arms).
She wakes! she lives!
Isolda, hear!
Hear me, mistress beloved!
Tidings of joy
I have to tell thee:
O list to thy Brangaena!
My thoughtless fault I have atoned;
after thy flight
I forthwith went to the king:
the love potion's secret
he scarce had learned
when with sedulous haste
he put to sea,
that he might find thee,
nobly renounce thee
and give thee up to thy love.
MARK. O why, Isolda,
Why this to me?
When clearly was disclosed
what before I could fathom not,
what joy was mine to find
my friend was free from fault!
In haste to wed
thee to my hero
with flying sails
I followed thy track:
but howe'er can
happiness
o'ertake the swift course of woe?
More food for Death did I make:
more wrong grew in mistake.
BRANGAENA. Dost thou not hear?
Isolda! Lady!
O try to believe the truth!
ISOLDA (unconscious of all around her, turning her eyes with,
rising inspiration onTRISTAN'S body).
Mild and softly
he is smiling;
how his eyelids sweetly open!
See, oh comrades,
see you not
how he beameth
ever brighter-
how he rises
ever radiant
steeped in starlight,
borne above?
See you not
how his heart
with lion zest,
calmly happy
beats in his breast?
From his lips
in heavenly rest
sweetest breath
he softly sends.
Harken, friends!
Hear and feel ye not?
Is it I
alone am hearing
strains so tender
and endearing?
Passion swelling,
all things telling,
gently bounding,
from him sounding,
in me pushes,
upward rushes
trumpet tone
that round me gushes.
Brighter growing,
o'er me flowing,
are these breezes
airy pillows?
Are they balmy
beauteous billows?
How they rise
and gleam and glisten!
Shall I breathe them?
Shall I listen?
Shall I sip them,
dive within them,
to my panting
breathing win them?
In the breezes around,
in the harmony sound
in the world's driving
whirlwind be drown'd-
and, sinking,
be drinking-
in a kiss,
highest bliss!
(ISOLDAsinks, as if transfigured, inBRANGAENA 'S arms
uponTRISTAN'S body. Profound emotion and grief of the
bystanders. MARKinvokes a blessing on the dead. Curtain.)
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Tristan and Isolda Page 5
