Richard Wagner

“ He looks fearfully off behind him. MARK, MELOT, and courtiers, in hunting dress, come swiftly up the avenue and pause in the foreground in consternation before the lovers. BRANGÆNA at the same time descends from the roof and hastens towards ISOLDA. The latter in involuntary shame leans on the flowery bank with averted face. TRISTAN with an equally unconscious action stretches his mantle wide out with one arm, so as to conceal ISOLDA from the gaze of the new-comers. In this position he remains for some time, turning a changeless look upon the men, who gaze at him in varied emotion. ”

“ Brangæna, ho!
Say, where sail we?
BRANGÆNA (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?
BRANGÆNA. Cornwall's verdant strand.
ISOLDA. Never more!
To-day nor to-morrow!
BRANGÆNA. What mean you, mistress? say!
(She lets the curtain fall and hastens to ISOLDA.)
ISOLDA (with wild gaze) . ”

“ 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!
(ISOLDA sinks, as if transfigured, in BRANGÆNA'S arms upon TRISTAN'S body. Profound emotion and grief of the bystanders. MARK invokes a blessing on the dead. Curtain.) ”

“ Behold King Mark approaching,
in a bark
with brave attendance.
Gladly he stems the tide,
coming to seek his bride.
TRISTAN (looking up in bewilderment) . Who comes?
KURVENAL. The king 'tis.
TRISTAN. What king mean you?
(KURVENAL points over the side. TRISTAN gazes stupefied at the shore.)
ALL THE MEN (waving their hats) . Hail to King Mark!
All hail!
ISOLDA (bewildered) . What is't, Brangæna?
What are those cries?
BRANGÆNA. Isolda—mistress!
Compose thyself!
ISOLDA. Where am I! living? ”

“ 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, Brangæna, changes the draft for a love potion, which enflames their passion beyond power of restraint. ”

“ World, I can shun thee
my love is won me!
Thou'rt my thought, all above:
highest delight of love!
SCENE VII.
[The curtains are now drawn wide apart; the whole ship is covered with knights and sailors, who, with shouts of joy, make signs over towards the shore which is now seen to be quite near, with castle-crowned cliffs. Tristan and Isolda remain absorbed in mutual contemplation, perceiving nothing that is passing.]
BRANGÆNA (to the women, who at her bidding ascend from below) . ”

“ ISOLDA. Nay, order him:
pray, understand it:—
I, Isolda
do command it!
[At an imperious sign from ISOLDA BRANGÆNA 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 Brangæna'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 BRANGÆNA approaches and curtsies to him.) ”

“ If wife he'd make thee
unto King Mark
why wert thou in this wise complaining?
Is he not worth thy gaining?
Of royal race
and mild of mood,
who passes King Mark
in might and power?
If a noble knight
like Tristan serves him,
who would not but feel elated,
so fairly to be mated.
ISOLDA (gazing vacantly before her) .
Glorious knight!
And I must near him
loveless ever languish!
How can I support such anguish?
BRANGÆNA.
What's this, my lady?
loveless thou?
(Approaching coaxingly and kissing ISOLDA.)
Where lives there a man
would not love thee? ”

“ Open! open there wide!
(BRANGÆNA hastily 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 stands TRISTAN 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.] ”

“ Both, seized with shuddering, gaze with deepest emotion, but immovable demeanor, into one another's eyes, in which the expression of defiance to death fades and melts into the glow of passion. Trembling seizes them, they convulsively clutch their hearts and pass their hands over their brows. Their glances again seek to meet, sink in confusion, and once more turn with growing longing upon one another. ”

“ 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!
BRANGÆNA'S VOICE (without, calling from below) .
Isolda! Mistress!
KURVENAL. Brangæna's voice! (Falling down.)
What want you here?
BRANGÆNA. Open, Kurvenal!
Where is Isolda?
KURVENAL. With foes do you come? ”

“ She throws the torch to the ground where it slowly dies out. BRANGÆNA turns away, disturbed, and mounts an outer flight of steps leading to the roof, where she slowly disappears. ISOLDA listens and peers, at first shyly, towards an avenue. Urged, by rising impatience, she then approaches the avenue and looks more boldly. She signs with her handkerchief, first slightly, then more plainly, waving it quicker as her impatience increases. A gesture of sudden delight shows that she has perceived her lover in the distance. ”

“ 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.
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.— BRANGÆNA holding open a curtain, looks over the side of the vessel. ”

“ Let his tax take who can!"
[KURVENAL, driven away by TRISTAN'S chidings, descends into the cabin. BRANGÆNA returns in discomposure to ISOLDA, 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.
[ISOLDA and BRANGÆNA alone, the curtain being again completely closed. ISOLDA rises with a gesture of despair and wrath. BRANGÆNA falls at her feet.]
BRANGÆNA. Ah! an answer
so insulting! ”

“ TRISTAN. Each the other's—
ISOLDA. Own for aye,—
TRISTAN. Never fearing—
ISOLDA. Never waking—
TRISTAN. Blest delights
of love partaking—
ISOLDA. Each to each be given;
in love alone our heaven.
(ISOLDA, as if overcome, droops her head on his breast.)
BRANGÆNA'S VOICE (as before) .
Have a care!
Have a care!
Night yields to daylight's glare. ”

“ I mind aright,
and highly her magic
arts I hold:—
Vengeance they wreak for wrongs,
rest give to wounded spirits.—
Yon casket hither bear.
BRANGÆNA.
It holds a balm for thee.—
(She brings forward a small golden coffer, opens it, and points to its contents.) ”

“ 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.] ”