Tristan and Isolda

ACT II.

[A Garden before ISOLDA'S Chamber which lies at one side and is

approached by steps. Bright and pleasant summer night. At the open

door a burning torch is fixed. Sounds of hunting heard.]

SCENE I.

[BRANGAENA, on the steps leading to the chamber, is watching the

retreat of the still audible hunters. She looks anxiously back into

the chamber as ISOLDA emerges thence in ardent animation.]

ISOLDA. Yet do you hear?

I lost the sound some time.

BRANGAENA (listening). Still do they stay:

clearly rings the horns.

ISOLDA (listening). Fear but deludes

thy anxious ear;

by sounds of rustling

leaves thou'rt deceived,

aroused by laughter of winds.

BRANGAENA. Deceived by wild

desire art thou,

and but hear'st as would thy will:-

I still hear the sound of horns.

ISOLDA (listens). No sound of horns

were so sweet:

yon fountain's soft

murmuring current

moves so quietly hence.

If horns yet brayed,

how could I hear that?

In still night alone

it laughs on mine ear.

My lov'd one hides

in darkness unseen:

wouldst thou hold from my side my dearest?

deeming that horns thou hearest?

BRANGAENA. Thy lov'd one hid-

oh heed my warning!-

for him a spy waits by night.

Listening oft

I light upon him:

he lays a secret snare.

Of Melot oh beware!

ISOLDA. Mean you Sir Melot?

O, how you mistake!

Is he not Tristan's

trustiest friend?

May my true love not meet me,

with none but Melot he stays.

BRANGAENA. What moves me to fear him

makes thee his friend then?

Through Tristan to Mark's side

is Melot's way:

he sows suspicion's seed.

And those who have

to-day on a night-hunt

so suddenly decided,

a far nobler game

than is guessed by thee

taxes their hunting skill.

ISOLDA. For Tristan's sake

contrived was this scheme

by means of

Melot, in truth:

now would you decry his friendship?

He serves Isolda

better than you

his hand gives help

which yours denies:

what need of such delay?

The signal, Brangaena!

O give the signal!

Tread out the torch's

trembling gleam,

that night may envelop

all with her veil.

Already her peace reigns

o'er hill and hall,

her rapturous awe

the heart does enthral;

allow then the light to fall!

Let but its dread lustre die!

let my beloved draw nigh!

BRANGAENA. The light of warning suppress not!

Let it remind thee of peril!-

Ah, woe's me! Woe's me!

Fatal folly!

The fell pow'r of that potion!

That I framed

a fraud for once

thy orders to oppose!

Had I been deaf and blind,

thy work

were then thy death:

but thy distress,

thy distraction of grief,

my work

has contrived them, I own it!

ISOLDA. Thy-act?

O foolish girl!

Love's goddess dost thou not know?

nor all her magic arts?

The queen who grants

unquailing hearts,

the witch whose will

the world obeys,

life and death

she holds in her hands,

which of joy and woe are wove?

she worketh hate into love.

The work of death

I took into my own hands;

Love's goddess saw

and gave her good commands

The death-condemned

she claimed as her prey,

planning our fate

in her own way.

How she may bend it,

how she may end it,

what she may make me,

wheresoe'er take me,

still hers am I solely;-

so let me obey her wholly.

BRANGAENA. And if by the artful

love-potion's lures

thy light of reason is ravished,

if thou art reckless

when I would warn thee,

this once, oh, wait

and weigh my pleading!

I implore, leave it alight!-

The torch! the torch!

O put it not out this night!

ISOLDA. She who causes thus

my bosom's throes,

whose eager fire

within me glows,

whose light upon

my spirit flows,

Love's goddess needs

that night should close;

that brightly she may reign

and shun the torchlight vain.

(She goes up to the door and takes down the torch.)

Go watch without-

keep wary guard!

The signal!-

and were it my spirit's spark,

smiling

I'd destroy it and hail the dark!

[She throws the torch to the ground where it slowly dies out.

BRANGAENA 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. She stretches herself

higher and higher, and then, to look better over the intervening

space, hastens back to the steps, from the top of which she signals

again to the on-comer. As he enters, she springs to meet him.]

SCENE II.

TRISTAN (rushing in). Isolda! Beloved!

ISOLDA. Tristan! Beloved one!

(Passionate embrace, with which they come down to the front.)

BOTH. Art thou mine?

Do I behold thee?

Do I embrace thee?

Can I believe it?

At last! At last!

Here on my breast!

Do I then clasp thee!

Is it thy own self?

Are these thine eyes?

These thy lips?

Here thy hand?

Here thy heart?

Is't I?-Is't thou,

held in my arms?

Am I not duped?

Is it no dream?

O rapture of spirit!

O sweetest, highest,

fairest, strongest,

holiest bliss?

Endless pleasure!

Boundless treasure!

Ne'er to sever!

Never! Never!

Unconceived,

unbelieved,

overpowering

exaltation!

Joy-proclaiming,

bliss-outpouring,

high in heaven,

earth ignoring!

Tristan mine!

Isolda mine!

Tristan!

Isolda!

Mine alone!

Thine alone!

Ever all my own!

TRISTAN. The light! The light!

O but this light,

how long 'twas let to burn!

The sun had sunk,

the day had fled;

but all their spite

not yet was sped:

the scaring signal

they set alight,

before my belov'd one's dwelling,

my swift approach repelling.

ISOLDA. Thy belov'd one's hand

lowered the light,

for Brangaena's fears

in me roused no fright:

while Love's goddess gave me aid,

sunlight a mock I made.

But the light its fear

and defeat repaid;

with thy misdeeds

a league it made.

What thou didst see

in shadowing night,

to the shining sun

of kingly might

must thou straightway surrender,

that it should

exist in bright

bonds of empty splendor.-

Could I bear it then?

Can I bear it now?

TRISTAN. O now were we

to night devoted,

the dishonest day

with envy bloated,

lying, could not mislead,

though it might part us indeed.

Its pretentious glows

and its glamouring light

are scouted by those

who worship night.

All its flickering gleams

in flashes out-blazing

blind us no more

where we are gazing.

Those who death's night

boldly survey,

those who have studied

her secret way,

the daylight's falsehoods-

rank and fame,

honor and all

at which men aim-

to them are no more matter

than dust which sunbeams scatter,

In the daylight's visions thronging

only abides one longing;

we yearn to hie

to holy night,

where, unending,

only true,

Love extendeth delight!

(TRISTANdrawsISOLDAgently aside to a flowery bank, sinks

on his knee before her and rests his head on her arm.)

(TRISTANandISOLDAsink into oblivious ecstasy, reposing on

the flowery bank close together.)

BRANGAENA (from the turret, unseen). Long I watch

alone by night:

ye enwrapt

in love's delight,

heed my boding

voice aright.

I forewarn you

woe is near;

waken to

my words of fear.

Have a care!

Have a care!

Swiftly night doth wear!

ISOLDA. List, beloved!

TRISTAN. Let me die thus!

ISOLDA (slowly raising herself a little). Envious

watcher!

TRISTAN (remaining in reclining position). I'll ne'er

waken.

ISOLDA. But the Day

must dawn and rouse thee?

TRISTAN (raising his head slightly). Let the Day

to Death surrender!

ISOLDA. Day and Death

will both engender

feud against

our passion tender.

TRISTAN (drawingISOLDAgently towards him with expressive

action). O might we then

together die,

each the other's

own for aye!

never fearing,

never waking,

blest delights

of love partaking,-

each to each be given,

in love alone our heaven!

ISOLDA (gazing up at him in thoughtful ecstasy).

O might we then

together die!

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. )

BRANGAENA'S VOICE (as before).

Have a care!

Have a care!

Night yields to daylight's glare.

TRISTAN (bends smilingly to ISOLDA).

Shall I listen?

ISOLDA (looking fondly up at TRISTAN).

Let me die thus!

TRISTAN. Must I waken?

ISOLDA. Nought shall wake me!

TRISTAN. Must not daylight

dawn, and rouse me?

ISOLDA. Let the Day

to Death surrender!

TRISTAN. May thus the Day's

evil threats be defied?

ISOLDA (with growing enthusiasm).

From its thraldom let us fly.

TRISTAN. And shall not its dawn

be dreaded by us?

ISOLDA (rising with a grand gesture).

Night will shield us for aye!

(TRISTANfollows her; they embrace in fond exaltation.)

BOTH. O endless Night!

blissful Night!

glad and glorious

lover's Night!

Those whom thou holdest,

lapped in delight,

how could e'en the boldest

unmoved endure thy flight?

How to take it,

how to break it,-

joy existent,

sunlight distant,

Far from mourning,

sorrow-warning,

fancies spurning,

softly yearning,

fear expiring,

sweet desiring!

Anguish flying,

gladly dying;

no more pining,

night-enshrining,

ne'er divided

whate'er betided,

side by side

still abide

in realms of space unmeasured,

vision blest and treasured!

Thou Isolda,

Tristan I;

no more Tristan,

no more Isolda.

Never spoken,

never broken,

newly sighted,

newly lighted,

endless ever

all our dream:

in our bosoms gleam

love delights supreme!

SCENE III.

[BRANGAENAutters a piercing cry. TRISTANandISOLDA

remain in their absorbed state. KURVENALrushes in with

drawn sword.]

KURVENAL. Save yourself, Tristan!

[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. BRANGAENAat

the same time descends from the roof and hastens towardsISOLDA.

The latter in involuntary shame leans on the flowery bank with

averted face. TRISTANwith an equally unconscious action

stretches his mantle wide out with one arm, so as to conceal

ISOLDAfrom 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. The morning dawns.]

TRISTAN. The dreary day-

its last time comes!

MELOT (to Mark). Now say to me, my sov'reign,

was my impeachment just?

I staked my head thereon:

How is the pledge redeemed?

Behold him in

the very act:

honor and fame,

faithfully I

have saved from shame for thee.

MARK (deeply moved, with trembling voice). Hast thou

preserved them?

Say'st thou so?-

See him there,

the truest of all true hearts!

Look on him

the faithfulest of friends, too

His offence

so black and base

fills my heart

with anguish and disgrace.

Tristan traitor,

what hope stayeth

that the honor

he betrayeth

should by Melot's rede

rest to me indeed?

TRISTAN (with convulsive violence). Daylight phantoms-

morning visions

empty and vain-

Avaunt! Begone!

MARK (in deep emotion). This-blow.

Tristan, to me?

Where now has truth fled,

if Tristan can betray?

Where now are faith

and friendship fair,

when from the fount of faith,

my Tristan, they are gone?

The buckler Tristan

once did don,

where is that shield

of virtue now?

when from my friends it flies,

and Tristan's honor dies?

(TRISTANslowly lowers his eyes to the ground. His features

express increasing grief while MARK continues.)

Why hast thou noble

service done,

and honor, fame

and potent might

amassed for Mark, thy king?

Must honor, fame,

power and might,

must all thy noble

service done

be paid with Mark's dishonor?

Seemed the reward

too slight and scant

that what thou hast won him-

realms and riches-

thou art the heir unto, all?

When childless he lost

once a wife,

he loved thee so

that ne'er again

did Mark desire to marry.

When all his subjects,

high and low,

demands and pray'rs,

on him did press

to choose himself a consort-

a queen to give the kingdom,

when thou thyself

thy uncle urged

that what the court

and country pleaded

well might be conceded,

opposing high and low,

opposing e'en thyself,

with kindly cunning

still he refused,

till, Tristan, thou didst threaten

forever to leave

both court and land

if thou receivedst

not command

a bride for the king to woo:

then so he let thee do.-

This wondrous lovely wife,

thy might for me did win,

who could behold her,

who address her,

who in pride

and bliss possess her,

but would bless his happy fortune?

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.]