This it is!
From the flask go pour
this philtre out;
yon golden goblet 'twill fill.
BRANGAENA (filled with terror receiving the flask).
Trust I my wits?
ISOLDA.
Wilt thou be true?
BRANGAENA.
The draught-for whom?
ISOLDA. Him who betrayed!
BRANGAENA. Tristan?
ISOLDA. Truce he'll drink with me.
BRANGAENA (throwing herself atISOLDA'S feet). O horror!
Pity thy handmaid!
ISOLDA. Pity thou me,
false-hearted maid!
Mindest thou not
my mother's arts?
Think you that she
who'd mastered those
would have sent thee o'er the sea
without assistance for me?
A salve for sickness
doth she offer
and antidotes
for deadly drugs:
for deepest grief
and woe supreme
gave she the draught of death.
Let Death now give her thanks!
BRANGAENA (scarcely able to control herself). O deepest
grief!
ISOLDA. Now, wilt thou obey?
BRANGAENA. O woe supreme!
ISOLDA. Wilt thou be true?
BRANGAENA. The draught?
KURVENAL (entering). Sir Tristan!
(BRANGAENArises, terrified and confused. ISOLDAstrives with
immense effort to control herself.)
ISOLDA (to Kurvenal). Sir Tristan may approach!
SCENE VI.
[KURVENALretires again. BRANGAENA, almost beside herself,
turns up the stage. ISOLDA, mustering all her powers of
resolution, walks slowly and with dignity towards the sofa, by the
head of which she supports herself, turning her eyes firmly towards
the entrance]
(TRISTANenters, and pauses respectfully at the entrance.)
TRISTAN. Demand, lady,
what you will.
ISOLDA. While knowing not
what my demand is,
wert thou afraid
still to fulfil it,
fleeing my presence thus?
TRISTAN. Honor
Held me in awe.
ISOLDA. Scant honor hast thou
shown unto me;
for, unabashed,
withheldest thou
obedience unto my call.
TRISTAN. Obedience 'twas
forbade me to come.
ISOLDA. But little I owe
thy lord, methinks,
if he allows
ill manners
unto his own promised bride.
TRISTAN. In our land
it is the law
that he who fetches
home the bride
should stay afar from her.
ISOLDA. On what account?
TRISTAN. 'Tis the custom.
ISOLDA. Being so careful,
my lord Tristan,
another custom
can you not learn?
Of enemies friends make:
for evil acts amends make.
TRISTAN. Who is my foe?
ISOLDA. Find in thy fears!
Blood-guilt
gets between us.
TRISTAN. That was absolved.
ISOLDA. Not between us.
TRISTAN. In open field,
'fore all the folk
our old feud was abandoned.
ISOLDA. 'Twas not there
I held Tantris hid
when Tristan was laid low,
He stood there brawny,
bright and brave;
but in his truce
I took no part:
my tongue its silence had learnt.
When in chambered stillness
sick he lay
with the sword I stood
before him, stern;
silent-my lips,
motionless-my hand.
But that which my hand
and lips had once vowed,
I swore in stealth to adhere to:
lo! now my desire I'm near to.
TRISTAN. What hast thou sworn?
ISOLDA (quickly). Vengeance for Morold!
TRISTAN (quietly). Mindst thou that?
ISOLDA (animated). Dare you to flout me?-
Was he not my betrothed,
that noble Irish knight?
For his sword a blessing I sought;
for me only he fought.
When he was murdered
no honor fell.
In that heartfelt misery
my vow was framed;
if no man remained to right it,
I, a maid, must needs requite it.-
Weak and maimed,
when might was mine,
why at thy death did I pause?
Thou shalt know the secret cause.-
Thy hurts I tended
that, when sickness ended,
thou shouldst fall by some man,
as Isolda's revenge should plan.
But now attempt
thy fate to foretell me?
if their friendship all men do sell thee,
what foe can seek to fell thee?
TRISTAN (pale and gloomy, offers her his sword). If
thou so lovedst this lord,
then lift once more my sword,
nor from thy purpose refrain;
let the weapon not fail again.
ISOLDA. Put up thy sword
which once I swung,
when vengeful rancor
my bosom wrung,
when thy masterful eyes
did ask me straight
whether King Mark
might seek me for mate.
The sword harmless descended.-
Drink, let our strife be ended!
(ISOLDAbeckonsBRANGAENA. She trembles and hesitates to
obey. ISOLDAcommands her with a more imperious gesture.
BRANGAENAsets about preparing the drink.)
VOICES OF THE CREW (without). Ho! heave ho! hey!
Reduce the sail!
The foresail in!
Ho! heave ho! hey!
TRISTAN (starting from his gloomy brooding). Where
are we?
ISOLDA. Near to shore.
Tristan, is warfare ended?
Hast not a word to offer?
TRISTAN (darkly). Concealment's mistress
makes me silent:
I know what she conceals,
conceal, too, more than she knows.
ISOLDA. Thy silence nought
but feigning I deem.
Friendship wilt thou still deny?
(Renewed cries of the Sailors.)
(At an impatient sign fromISOLDABRANGAENAhands
her the filled cup.)
ISOLDA (advancing with the cup toTRISTAN, who gazes
immovably into her eyes).
Thou hear'st the cry?
The shore's in sight:
we must ere long (with slight scorn)
stand by King Mark together.
SAILORS (without). Haul the warp!
Anchor down!
TRISTAN (starting wildly). Down with the anchor!
Her stern to the stream!
The sails a-weather the mast!
(He takes the cup fromISOLDA.)