She whom I have
paid respect to ever,
whom I owned,
yet possess'd her never
she, the princess
proud and peerless,
lighting up
my life so cheerless,
'spite foes,-without fear,
the fairest of brides
thou didst bring me here.
Why in hell must I bide,
without hope of a heaven?
Why endure disgrace
unhealed by tears or grief?
The unexplained,
unpenetrated
cause of all these woes,
who will to us disclose?
TRISTAN (raising his eyes pitifully towardsMARK ).
O monarch! I-
may not tell thee, truly;
what thou dost ask
remains for aye unanswered.-
(He turns toISOLDA, who looks tenderly up at him.)
Where Tristan now is going,
wilt thou, Isolda, follow?
The land that Tristan means
of sunlight has no gleams;
it is the dark
abode of night,
from whence I first
came forth to light,
and she who bore me
thence in anguish,
gave up her life,
nor long did languish.
She but looked on my face,
then sought this resting-place.
This land where Night doth reign,
where Tristan once hath lain-
now thither offers he
thy faithful guide to be.
So let Isolda
straight declare
if she will meet him there.
ISOLDA. When to a foreign land
before thou didst invite,
to thee, traitor,
resting true,
did Isolda follow.
Thy kingdom now art showing,
where surely we are going!
why should I shun that land
by which the world is spann'd?
For Tristan's house and home
Isold' will make her own.
The road whereby
we have to go
I pray thee quickly show!-
(TRISTANbends slowly over her and kisses her softly on the
forehead. MELOTstarts furiously forward.)
MELOT (drawing his sword). Thou villain! Ha!
Avenge thee, monarch!
Say, wilt suffer such scorn?
TRISTAN (drawing his sword and turning quickly
round)
Who's he will set his life against mine?
(casting a look at MELOT).
This was my friend;
he told me he loved me truly:
my fame and honor
he upheld more than all men.
With arrogance
he filled my heart,
and led on those
who prompted me
fame and pow'r to augment me
by wedding thee to our monarch.-
Thy glance, Isolda,
glamoured him thus;
and, jealous, my friend
played me false
to King Mark, whom I betrayed.-
(He sets onMELOT.)
Guard thee, Melot!
[AsMELOTpresents his swordTRISTANdrops his
own guard and sinks wounded into the arms ofKURVENAL. ISOLDA
throws herself upon his breast. MARKholdsMELOT
back. The curtain falls quickly.]
ACT III.
A Castle-Garden.
[At one side high castellated buildings, on the other a low
breastwork interrupted by a watch tower; at back the castle-gate. The
situation is supposed to be on rocky cliffs; through openings the
view extends over a wide sea horizon. The whole gives an impression
of being deserted by the owner, badly kept, and here and there
dilapidated and overgrown.]
SCENE I.
[In the foreground, in the garden, liesTRISTANsleeping
on a couch under the shade of a great lime-tree, stretched out as if
lifeless. At his head sitsKURVENAL, bending over him in grief
and anxiously listening to his breathing. From without comes the
mournful sound of a shepherd's pipe.
Presently the shepherd comes and looks in with interest, showing
the upper half of his body over the wall.]
SHEPHERD. Kurvenal, ho!-
Say, Kurvenal,-
tell me, friend!
Does he still sleep?
KURVENAL (turning a little towards him and shaking his head
sadly). If he awoke
it would be
but for evermore to leave us,
unless we find
the lady-leech;
alone can she give help.-
See'st thou nought?
No ship yet on the sea?
SHEPHERD. Quite another ditty
then would I play
as merry as ever I may.
But tell me truly,
trusty friend,
why languishes our lord?
KURVENAL. Do not ask me;-
for I can give no answer.
Watch the sea,
if sails come in sight
a sprightly melody play.
SHEPHERD (turns round and scans the horizon, shading his eyes with
his hand).
Blank appears the sea!
(He puts the reed pipe to his mouth and withdraws, playing.)
TRISTAN (motionless-faintly).
The tune so well known-
why wake to that?
(opens his eyes and slightly turns his head).
Where am I?
KURVENAL (starting in joyous surprise).
Ha!-who is speaking?
It is his voice!-
Tristan! lov'd one!
My lord! my Tristan!
TRISTAN (with effort). Who-calls me?
KURVENAL. Life-at last-
O thanks be to heaven!-
sweetest life
unto my Tristan newly given!
TRISTAN (faintly). Kurvenal!-thou?
Where-was I?-
Where-am I?
KURVENAL. Where art thou?
In safety, tranquil and sure!
Kareol 'tis;
dost thou not know
thy fathers' halls?
TRISTAN. This my fathers'?
KURVENAL. Look but around.
TRISTAN. What awoke me?
KURVENAL. The herdsman's ditty
hast thou heard, doubtless;
he heedeth thy herds
above on the hills there.
TRISTAN. Have I herds, then?
KURVENAL. Sir, I say it!
Thine are court,
castle-all.
To thee yet true,
thy trusty folk,
as best they might,
have held thy home in guard:
the gift which once
thy goodness gave
to thy serfs and vassals here,
when going far away,
in foreign lands to dwell.
TRISTAN. What foreign land?
KURVENAL. Why! in Cornwall;
where cool and able,
all that was brilliant,
brave and noble,
Tristan, my lord, lightly took.
TRISTAN. Am I in Cornwall?
KURVENAL. No, no; in Kareol.
TRISTAN. How came I here?
KURVENAL. Hey now! how you came?
No horse hither you rode:
a vessel bore you across.
But on my shoulders
down to the ship
you had to ride: they are broad,