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.

ISOLDAon a couch, her face buried in the cushions.

-BRANGAENA holding open a curtain, looks over the side of the

vessel.

THE VOICE OF A YOUNG SAILOR (from above as if at the

mast-head).

ISOLDA (starting up suddenly).

What wight dares insult me?

(She looks round in agitation.)

Brangaena, ho!

Say, where sail we?

BRANGAENA (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?

BRANGAENA. Cornwall's verdant strand.

ISOLDA. Never more!

To-day nor to-morrow!

BRANGAENA. What mean you, mistress? say!

(She lets the curtain fall and hastens toISOLDA.)

ISOLDA (with wild gaze).

O fainthearted child,

false to thy fathers!

Ah, where, mother,

hast given thy might

that commands the wave and the tempest?

O subtle art

of sorcery,

for mere leech-craft followed too long!

Awake in me once more,

power of will!

Arise from thy hiding

within my breast!

Hark to my bidding,

fluttering breezes!

Arise and storm

in boisterous strife!

With furious rage

and hurricane's hurdle

waken the sea

from slumbering calm;

rouse up the deep

to its devilish deeds!

Shew it the prey

which gladly I proffer!

Let it shatter this too daring ship

and enshrine in ocean each shred!

And woe to the lives!

Their wavering death-sighs

I leave to ye, winds, as your lot.

BRANGAENA (in extreme alarm and concern forISOLDA ).

Out, alas!

Ah, woe!

I've ever dreaded some ill!-

Isolda! mistress!

Heart of mine!

What secret dost thou hide?

Without a tear

thou'st quitted thy father and mother,

and scarce a word

of farewell to friends thou gavest;

leaving home thou stood'st,

how cold and still!

pale and speechless

on the way,

food rejecting,

reft of sleep,

stern and wretched,

wild, disturbed;

how it pains me

so to see thee!

Friends no more we seem,

being thus estranged.

Make me partner

in thy pain!

Tell me freely

all thy fears!

Lady, thou hearest,

sweetest and dearest;

if for true friend you take me,

your confidant O make me!

ISOLDA. Air! air!

or my heart will choke!

Open! open there wide!

(BRANGAENAhastily 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 standsTRISTAN 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.]

THE YOUNG SAILOR (at the mast-head invisible).

The wind so wild

blows homewards now;

my Irish child,

where waitest thou?

Say, must our sails be weighted,

filled by thy sighs unbated?

Waft us, wind strong and wild!

Woe, ah woe for my child!

ISOLDA (whose eyes have at once soughtTRISTANand fixed

stonily on him-gloomily). Once beloved-

now removed-

brave and bright,

coward knight!-

Death-devoted head!

Death-devoted heart!-

(laughing unnaturally).

Think'st highly of yon minion?

BRANGAENA (following her glance).

Whom mean'st thou?

ISOLDA. There, that hero

who from mine eyes

averts his own:

in shrinking shame

my gaze he shuns-

Say, how hold you him?

BRANGAENA. Mean you Sir Tristan,

lady mine?

Extolled by ev'ry nation,

his happy country's pride,

The hero of creation,-

whose fame so high and wide?

ISOLDA (jeeringly).

In shrinking trepidation

his shame he seeks to hide,

While to the king, his relation,

he brings the corpse-like bride!-

Seems it so senseless

What I say?

Go ask himself,

our gracious host,

dare he approach my side?

No courteous heed

or loyal care

this hero t'wards

his lady turns;

but to meet her his heart is daunted,

this knight so highly vaunted!

Oh! he wots

well the cause!

To the traitor go,

bearing his lady's will!

As my servant bound,

straightway should he approach.

BRANGAENA. Shall I beseech him

to attend thee?

ISOLDA. Nay, order him:

pray, understand it:-

I, Isolda

do command it!

[At an imperious sign from ISOLDABRANGAENA 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 Brangaena'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 BRANGAENA approaches and

curtsies to him.)

What would my lady?

I her liegeman,

fain will listen

while her loyal

woman tells her will.

BRANGAENA. My lord, Sir Tristan,

Dame Isolda

would have speech

with you at once.

TRISTAN. Is she with travel worn?

The end is near:

nay, ere the set of sun

sight we the land.

All that your mistress commands me,

trust me, I shall mind.

BRANGAENA. That you, Sir Tristan,

go to her,-

this is my lady's wish.

TRISTAN. Where yonder verdant meadows

in distance dim are mounting,

waits my sov'reign

for his mate:

to lead her to his presence

I'll wait upon the princess:

'tis an honor

all my own.

BRANGAENA. My lord, Sir Tristan,

list to me:

this one thing

my lady wills,

that thou at once attend her,

there where she waits for thee.

TRISTAN. In any station

where I stand

I truly serve but her,

the pearl of womanhood.

If I unheeding

left the helm,

how might I pilot her ship

in surety to King Mark?

BRANGAENA. Tristan, my master,

why mock me thus?

Seemeth my saying

obscure to you?

list to my lady's words:

thus, look you, she hath spoken:

"Go order him,

and understand it,

I-Isolda-

do command it."

KURVENAL (springing up). May I an answer make her?

TRISTAN. What wouldst thou wish to reply?

KURVENAL. This should she say

to Dame Isold':

"Though Cornwall's crown

and England's isle

for Ireland's child he chose,

his own by choice

she may not be;

he brings the king his bride.

A hero-knight

Tristan is hight!

I've said, nor care to measure

your lady's high displeasure."

[WhileTRISTANseeks to stop him, and the offended

BRANGAENAturns to depart, KURVENALsings after her at the

top of his voice, as she lingeringly withdraws.]

"Sir Morold toiled

o'er mighty wave

the Cornish tax to levy;

In desert isle

was dug his grave,

he died of wounds so heavy.

His head now hangs

in Irish lands,

Sole were-gild won

at English hands.

Bravo, our brave Tristan!

Let his tax take who can!"

[KURVENAL, driven away byTRISTAN'S chidings, descends into

the cabin. BRANGAENAreturns in discomposure toISOLDA,

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.

[ISOLDAandBRANGAENAalone, the curtain being again

completely closed. ISOLDArises with a gesture of despair and

wrath. BRANGAENAfalls at her feet.]

BRANGAENA. Ah! an answer

so insulting!

ISOLDA (checking herself on the brink of a fearful outburst).

How now? of Tristan?

I'd know if he denies me.

BRANGAENA. Ah! question not!

ISOLDA. Quick, say without fear!

BRANGAENA. With courteous phrase

he foiled my will.

ISOLDA. But when you bade him hither?

BRANGAENA. When I had straightway

bid him come,

where'er he stood,

he said to me,

he truly served but thee,

the pearl of womanhood;

if he unheeded

left the helm

how could he pilot the ship

in surety to King Mark?

ISOLDA (bitterly).

"How could he pilot the ship

in surety to King Mark!"

And wait on him with were-gild

from Ireland's island won!

BRANGAENA.

As I gave out the message

and in thy very words,

thus spoke his henchman Kurvenal-

ISOLDA.

Heard I not ev'ry sentence?

it all has reached my ear.

If thou hast learnt my disgrace

now hear too whence it has grown.

How scoffingly

they sing about me!

Quickly could I requite them!

What of the boat

so bare and frail,

that floated by our shore?

What of the broken

stricken man,

feebly extended there?

Isolda's art

he gladly owned;

with herbs, simples

and healing salves

the wounds from which he suffered

she nursed in skilful wise.

Though "Tantris"

The name that he took unto him,

as "Tristan"

anon Isolda knew him,

when in the sick man's keen blade

she perceived a notch had been made,

wherein did fit

a splinter broken

in Morold's head,

the mangled token

sent home in hatred rare:

this hand did find it there.

I heard a voice

from distance dim;

with the sword in hand

I came to him.

Full well I willed to slay him,

for Morold's death to pay him.

But from his sick bed

he looked up

not at the sword,

not at my arm-

his eyes on mine were fastened,

and his feebleness

softened my heart:

the sword-dropped from my fingers.

Though Morold's steel had maimed him

to health again I reclaimed him!

when he hath homeward wended

my emotion then might be ended.

BRANGAENA.

O wondrous! Why could I not see this?

The guest I sometime

helped to nurse-?

ISOLDA.

His praise briskly they sing now:-

"Bravo, our brave Tristan!"-

he was that distressful man.

A thousand protestations

of truth and love he prated.

Hear how a knight

fealty knows!-

When as Tantris

unforbidden he'd left me,

as Tristan

boldly back he came,

in stately ship

from which in pride

Ireland's heiress

in marriage he asked

for Mark, the Cornish monarch,

his kinsman worn and old.

In Morold's lifetime

dared any have dreamed

to offer us such an insult?

For the tax-paying

Cornish prince

to presume to court Ireland's princess!

Ah, woe is me!

I it was

who for myself

did shape this shame!

with death-dealing sword

should I have stabbed him;

weakly it escaped me:-

now serfdom I have shaped me.

Curse him, the villain!

Curse on his head!

Vengeance! Death!

Death for me too!

BRANGAENA (throwing herself uponISOLDAwith impetuous

tenderness).

Isolda! lady!

loved one! fairest!

sweet perfection!

mistress rarest!

Hear me! come now,

sit thee here.-

(Gradually drawsISOLDAto the couch.)

What a whim!

what causeless railing!

How came you so wrong-minded

and by mere fancy blinded?

Sir Tristan gives thee

Cornwall's kingdom;

then, were he erst thy debtor,

how could he reward thee better?

His noble uncle

serves he so:

think too what a gift

on thee he'd bestow!

With honor unequalled

all he's heir to

at thy feet he seeks to shower,

to make thee a queenly dower.

(ISOLDAturns away.)

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?

BRANGAENA.

What's this, my lady?

loveless thou?

(Approaching coaxingly and kissingISOLDA.)

Where lives there a man

would not love thee?

Who could see Isolda

And not sink

at once into bondage blest?

And if e'en it could be

any were cold,

did any magic

draw him from thee,

I'd bring the false one

back to bondage,

And bind him in links of love.-

(Secretly and confidentially, close toISOLDA.)

Mindest thou not

thy mother's arts?

Think you that she

who'd mastered those

would have sent me o'er the sea,

without assistance for thee?

ISOLDA (darkly).

My mother's rede

I mind aright,

and highly her magic

arts I hold:-

Vengeance they wreak for wrongs,

rest give to wounded spirits.-

Yon casket hither bear.

BRANGAENA.

It holds a balm for thee.-

(She brings forward a small golden coffer, opens it, and points to

its contents.)

Thy mother placed inside it

her subtle magic potions.

There's salve for sickness

or for wounds,

and antidotes

for deadly drugs.-

(She takes a bottle.)

The helpfullest draught

I hold in here.

ISOLDA.

Not so, I know a better.

I make a mark

to know it again-

This draught 'tis I would drain.

(Seizes flask and shows it.)

BRANGAENA (recoiling in horror).

The draught of death!

(ISOLDAhas risen from the sofa and now hears with increasing dread

the cries of the sailors.)

VOICES OF THE CREW (without).

"Ho! heave ho! hey!

Reduce the sail!

The mainsail in!

Ho! heave ho! hey!"

ISOLDA.

Our journey has been swift.

Woe is me! Near to the land!

SCENE IV.

(KURVENALboisterously enters through the curtains.)

KURVENAL.

Up, up, ye ladies!

Look alert!

Straight bestir you!

Loiter not,-here is the land!-

To dame Isolda

says the servant

of Tristan,

our hero true:-

Behold our flag is flying!

it waveth landwards aloft:

in Mark's ancestral castle

may our approach be seen.

So, dame Isolda,

he prays to hasten,

for land straight to prepare her,

that thither he may bear her.

ISOLDA (who has at first cowered and shuddered on hearing the

message, now speaks calmly and with dignity). My greeting take

unto your lord

and tell him what I say now:

Should he assist to land me

and to King Mark would he hand me,

unmeet and unseemly

were his act,

the while my pardon

was not won

for trespass black and base:

So bid him seek my grace.

(KURVENALmakes a gesture of defiance.)

Now mark me well,

This message take:-

Nought will I yet prepare me,

that he to land may bear me;

I will not by him be landed,

nor unto King Mark be handed

ere granting forgiveness

and forgetfulness,

which 'tis seemly

he should seek:-

for all his trespass base

I tender him my grace.

KURVENAL.

Be assured,

I'll bear your words:

we'll see what he will say!

(He retires quickly.)

SCENE V.

ISOLDA (hurries toBRANGAENAand embraces her vehemently).

Now farewell, Brangaena!

Greet ev'ry one,

Greet my father and mother!

BRANGAENA.

What now? what mean'st thou?

Wouldst thou flee?

And where must I then follow?

ISOLDA (checking herself suddenly).

Here I remain:

heard you not?

Tristan will I await.-

I trust in thee

to aid in this:

prepare the true

cup of peace:

thou mindest how it is made.

BRANGAENA.

What meanest thou?

ISOLDA (taking a bottle from the coffer).

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.)

I know the Queen

of Ireland well,

unquestioned are

her magic arts:

the balsam cured me

which she brought;

now bid me quaff the cup,

that I may quite recover.

Heed to my all-

atoning oath,

which in return I tender

Tristan's honor-

highest truth!

Tristan's anguish-

brave distress!

Traitor spirit,

dawn-illumined!

Endless trouble's

only truce!

Oblivion's kindly draught,

with rapture thou art quaff'd!

(He lifts the cup and drinks.)

ISOLDA. Betrayed e'en here?

I must halve it!-

(She wrests the cup from his hand.)

Betrayer, I drink to thee!

[She drinks, and then throws away the cup. 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.]

ISOLDA (with trembling voice). Tristan!

TRISTAN (overpowered). Isolda!

ISOLDA (sinking upon his breast). Traitor beloved!

TRISTAN. Woman divine!

(He embraces her with ardor. They remain in a silent embrace.)

ALL THE MEN (without). Hail! Hail!

Hail our monarch!

Hail to Mark, the king!

BRANGAENA (who, filled with confusion and horror, has leaned over

the side with averted face, now turns to behold the pair locked in

their close embrace, and rushes to the front, wringing her hands in

despair). Woe's me! Woe's me!

Endless mis'ry

I have wrought

instead of death!

Dire the deed

of my dull fond heart:

it cries aloud to heav'n!

(They start from their embrace.)

TRISTAN (bewildered). What troubled dream

of Tristan's honor?

ISOLDA. What troubled dream

Of Isolda's shame?

TRISTAN. Have I then lost thee?

ISOLDA. Have I repulsed thee?

TRISTAN. Fraudulent magic,

framing deceit!

BOTH. Languishing passion,

longing and growing,

love ever yearning,

loftiest glowing!

Rapture confess'd

rides in each breast!

Isolda! Tristan!

Tristan! Isolda!

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.]

BRANGAENA (to the women, who at her bidding ascend from below).

Quick-the mantle!

the royal robe!-

(Rushing betweenTRISTANandISOLDA.)

Up, hapless ones!

See where we are!

(She places the royal mantle onISOLDA, who notices nothing.)

ALL THE MEN. Hail! Hail!

Hail our monarch!

Hail to Mark the king!

KURVENAL (advancing gaily). Hail, Tristan,

knight of good hap!

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?

(KURVENALpoints over the side. TRISTANgazes stupefied at

the shore.)

ALL THE MEN (waving their hats). Hail to King Mark!

All hail!

ISOLDA (bewildered). What is't, Brangaena?

What are those cries?

BRANGAENA. Isolda-mistress!

Compose thyself!

ISOLDA. Where am I! living?

What was that draught?

BRANGAENA (despairingly). The love-potion!

ISOLDA (staring with horror atTRISTAN). Tristan!

TRISTAN. Isolda!

ISOLDA. Must I live, then?

(Falls fainting upon his breast.)

BRANGAENA (to the women). Look to your lady!

TRISTAN. O rapture fraught with cunning!

O fraud with bliss o'er-running!

ALL THE MEN (in a general burst of acclamation).

Hail to King Mark!

Cornwall, hail!

[People have clambered over the ship's side, others have extended

a bridge, and the aspect of all indicates the immediate arrival of the

expected ones, as the curtain falls.]