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 tide!
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
andISOLDA.)
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!