Tristan und Isolde (Wagner)/Act III
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, lies Tristan sleeping on a couch under the shade of a great lime-tree, stretched out as if lifeless. At his head sits Kurvenal, 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.]Shep. Kurvenal, ho!— Say, Kurvenal,— tell me friend! Does he still sleep!Kurv. (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?Shep. Quite another ditty then would I play as merry as ever I may. But tell me truly, trusty friend, why languishes our lord?Kurv. Do not ask me;— for I can give no answer. Watch the sea, if sails come in sight a sprightly melody play.Shep. (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.)Tris. (motionless—faintly). The tune so well known— why wake to that?(opens his eyes and slightly turns his head.) Where am I?Kurv. (starting in joyous surprise.) Ha!—who is speaking? It is his voice!— Tristan! lov'd one! My lord! my Tristan!Tris. (with effort). Who—calls me?Kurv. Life—at last— O thanks be to heaven:— Sweetest life unto my Tristan newly given!Tris. (faintly). Kurvenal!—thou? Where—was I?— Where—am I?Kurv. Where art thou? In safety, tranquil and sure. Kareol 'tis: dost thou not know thy fathers' halls?Tris. This my fathers'?Kurv. Look but around.Tris. What awoke me?Kurv. The herdsman's ditty hast thou heard, doubtless; he heedeth thy herds above on the hills there.Tris. Have I herds, then?Kurv. 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.Tris. What foreign land?Kurv. Why! in Cornwall; where cool and able, all that was brilliant, brave and noble, Tristan, my lord, lightly took.Tris. Am I in Cornwall?Kurv. No, no; in Kareol.Tris. How came I here?Kurv. 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, they carried you to the shore. Now you are at home once more; your own the land, your native land; all loved things now are near you, unchanged the sun doth cheer you. The wounds from which you languish here all shall end their anguish.(He presses himself to Tristan's breast.) Tris. Think'st thou thus! I know 'tis not so, but this I cannot tell thee. Where I awoke ne'er I was, but where I wandered I can indeed not tell thee. The sun I could not see, nor paisage fair, nor people; but what I saw I can indeed not tell thee. It was— the land from which I once came and whither I return: the endless realm of earthly night. One thing only there possessed me: blank, unending, all-oblivion.— How faded all forebodings! O wistful goadings!— Thus I call the thoughts that all t'ward light of day have press'd me. What only yet doth rest me, the love-paints that possess'd me. from blissful death's affright now drive me toward the light, which, deceitful, bright and golden, round thee, Isolda, shines. Accurséd day with cruel glow! Must thou ever wake my woe? Must thy light be burning ever, e'en by night our hearts to sever? Ah, my fairest, sweetest, rarest! When wilt thou— when, ah, when— let the torchlight dwindle, that so my bliss may kindle? The light, how long it glows! When will the house repose?(His voice has grown fainter and he sinks back gently, exhausted.)Kurv. (who has been deeply distressed, now quickly rouses himself from his dejection). I once defied, through faith in thee, the one for whom now with thee I'm yearning. Trust in my words, thou soon shalt see her face to face. My tongue that comfort giveth,— if on the earth still she liveth.Tris. (very feebly). Yet burns the beacon's spark: yet is the house not dark, Isolda lives and wakes: her voice through darkness breaks.Kurv. Lives she still, then let new hope delight thee. If foolish and dull you hold me, this day you must not scold me. As dead lay'st thou since the day when that accurséd Melot so foully wounded thee. Thy wound was heavy: how to heal it? Thy simple servant there bethought that she who once closed Morold's wound with ease the hurt could heal thee. That Melot's sword did deal thee. I found the best of leeches there, to Cornwall have I sent for her: a trusty serf sails o'er the sea, bringing Isold' to thee.Tris. (transported). Isolda comes! Isolda nears!(He struggles for words.) O friendship! high and holy friendship!(Draws Kurvenal to him and embraces him.) O Kurvenal, thou trusty heart, my truest friend I rank thee! Howe'er can Tristan thank thee? My shelter and shield in fight and strife; in weal or woe thou'rt mine for life. Those whom I hate thou hatest too; those whom I love thou lovest too. When good king Mark I followed of old, thou wert to him truer than gold. When I was flase to my noble friend, to betray too thou didst descend. Thou art selfless, solely mine; thou feel'st for me when I suffer. but—what I suffer, thou canst not feel for me! this terrible yearning in my heart, this feverish burning's cruel smart,— did I but show it, couldst thou but know it, no time here wouldst thou tarry, to watch from tow'r thou wouldst hurry with all devotion viewing the ocean, with eyes impatiently spying, there, where her ship's sails are dying. Before the wind she drives to find me; on the wings of love she neareth,— Isolda hither steereth!— she nears, she nears, so boldly and fast! It waves, it waves, the flag from the mast! Hurra! Hurra! she reaches the bar! Dost thou not see? Kurvenal, dost thou not see?(As Kurvenal hesitates to leave Tristan, who is gazing at him in mute expectation, the mournful tone of the shepherd is heard, as before).Kurv. (dejectedly). Still is no ship in sight.Tris. (has listened with waning excitement and now recommences with growing melancholy.) Is this the meaning then, thou old pathetic ditty of all thy sighing sound?— On evening's breeze it sadly rang when, as a child, my father's death-news chill'd me: through morning's mist it stole more sadly, when the son his mother's fate was taught, when they who gave me breath both felt the hand of death to them came also through their pain the ancient's ditty's yearning strain, which asked me once and asks me now which was the fate before me to which my mother bore me?— What was the fate?— The strain so plaintive now repeats it:— for yearning—and dying!(He falls back senseless.) Kurv. (who has been vainly striving to calm Tristan, cries out in terror.) My master! Tristan!— Frightful enchantment!— O love's deceit! O passion's pow'r! Most sweet dream 'neath the sun, see the work thou hast done!— Here lies he now, the noblest of knights, with his passion all others above— behold! what reward his ardor requites; the one sure reward of love!(with sobbing voice.) Art thou then dead? Liv'st thou not? Hast to the curse succumbed?—(He listens for Tristan's breath.) O rapture! No! He still moves! He lives! and gently his lips are stirr'd.Tris. (very faintly). The ship—is't yet in sight?Kurv. The ship? Be sure 'twill come to-day: it cannot tarry longer.Tris. On board Isolda,— see, she smiles— with the cup that reconciles. Dost thou see? Dost thou see her now? Full of grace and loving mildness, floating o'er the ocean's wildness? By billows of flowers lightly lifted, gently toward the land she's drifted. Her look brings ease and sweet repose; her hand one last relief bestows. Isolda? Ah, Isolda! How fair, how sweet art thou!— And Kurvenal, why!— what ails thy sight? Away, and watch for her, foolish wight. What I see so well and plainly, let not thine eye seek vainly. Dost thou not hear? Away, with speed! Haste to the watch-tow'r! Wilt thou not heed? The ship, the ship! Isolda's ship!— Thou must discern it, must perceive it! The ship—dost thou see it?—(Whilst Kurvenal, still hesitating, opposes Tristan, the shepherd's pipe is heard without, playing a joyous strain.)Kurv. (springing joyous up). O rapture! Transport!(He rushes to the watch-tower and looks out.) Ha! the ship! From northward it is nearing.Tris. So I knew, so I said! Yes, she yet lives, and life to me gives. How could Isold' from this world be free, which only holds Isolda for me?Kurv. (shouting). Ahoy! Ahoy! See her bravely tacking! How full the canvas is filled! How she darts! how she flies!Tris. The pennon? the pennon?Kurv. A flag is floating at mast-head, joyous and bright.Tris. Aha! what joy! Now through the daylight comes my Isolda. Isolda, oh come! See'st thou herself?Kurv. The ship is shut from me by rocks.Tris. Behind the reef? Is there not risk! Those dangerous breakers ships have oft shattered.— Who steereth the helm?Kurv. The steadiest seaman.Tris. Betrays he me? Is he Melot's ally?Kurv. Trust him like me.Tris. A traitor thou, too!— O caitiff! Canst thou not see her?Kurv. Not yet.Tris. Destruction!Kurv. Aha! Halla-halloa! They clear! they clear! Safely they clear! Inside the surf steers now the ship to the strand.Tris. (shouting in joy). Hallo-ho! Kurvenal! Trustiest friend! All the wealth I own to-day I bequeath to thee.Kurv. With speed thee approach.Tris. Now dost thou see her? See'st thou Isolda?Kurv. 'Tis she! she waves!Tris. O woman divine!Kuv. The ship is a-land! Isolda!—ha!— With but one leap lightly she springs to land!Tris. Descend from the watch-tow'r, idolent gazer! Away! away to the shore! Help her! help my belov'd! Kurv. In a trice she shall come; Trust in my strong arm! But thou, Tristan, hold thee tranquilly here!(He hastens off.) Tris. (tossing on his couch in feverish excitement). O sunlight glowing, glorious ray! Ah, joy-bestowing radiant day! Boundeth my blood, boisterous flood! Infinite flood! Infinite gladness! Rapturous madness! Can I bear to lie couched here in quiet? Away, let me fly to where hearts run riot! Tristan the brave, exulting in strength, has torn himself from death at length.(He raises himself erect.) All wounded and bleeding Sir Morold I defeated; all bleeding and wounded Isolda now shall be greeted.(He tears the bandage from his wound.) Ha, ha, my blood! Merrilly flows it.(He springs from his bed and staggers forward.) She who can help my wound and close it, she comes to my aid. Be space defied: let the universe fade!(He reels to the centre of the stage.) Isolda's Voice (without). Tristan! Tristan! Belovéd!Tris. (in frantic excitement). What! hails me the light? The torchlight—ha! The torch is extinct! I come! I come!
SCENE II.
[Isolda hastens breathlessly in. Tristan, delirious with excitement, staggers wildly towards her. They meet in the centre of the stage; she receives him in her arms, where he sinks slowly to the ground.Isolda. Tristan! Ah!Tris. (turning his dying eyes on Isolda.) Isolda!(He dies.) Isolda. 'Tis I, 'tis I— dearly belov'd! Wake, and once more hark to my voice! Isolda calls. Isolda comes. with Tristan true to perish.— Speak unto me! But for one moment, only one moment open thine eyes! Such weary days I waited and longed. that one single hour I with thee might awaken. Betrayed am I then? Deprived by Tristan of this our solitary, swiftly fleeting, final earthly joy?— His wound, though—where? Can I not heal it? The rapture of night O let us feel it? Not of thy wounds, not of thy wounds must thou expire. Together, at least, let fade life's enfeebled fire!— How lifeless his look!— still his heart!— Dared he to deal me such a smart? Stayed is his breathing's gentle tide! Must I be wailing at his side, who, in rapture coming to seek him, fearless sailed o'er the sea? Too late, too late! Desperate man! Casting on me this cruelest ban! Comes no relief for my load of grief? Silent art keeping while I am weeping? But once more, ah! But once again!— Tristan!—ha! he wakens—hark! Beloved— —dark!(She sinks down senseless upon his body.)
SCENE III.
[Kurvenal, who re-entered close behind Isolda has remained by the entrance speechless and petrified, gazing mationless on Tristan. From below is now heard the dull murmur of voices and the clash of weapons. The Shepherd clambers over the wall.]Shepherd (coming hastily and softly to Kurvenal). Kurvenal! Hear? Another ship!(Kurvenal starts up in haste and looks over the rampart, whilst the shepherd stands apart, gazing in consternation on Tristan and Isolda.Kurvenal. Fiends and furies!(In a burst of anger). All are at hand! Melot and Mark I see on the strand,— Weapons and missiles!— 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 toe 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?Kurv. With foes do you come? Woe to you, false one!Melot's voice (without). Stand back, thou fool! Bar not the way!Kurv. (laughing savagely). Hurrah for the day on which I confront thee!(Melot, with armed men, appears under the gateway. Kurvenal falls on him and cuts him down.) Die, damnable wretch!
SCENE IV.
(He dies.)Melot. Woe's me!—Tristan!Brang. (still without). Kurvenal! Madman! O hear—thou mistakest!(To his men.)Kurv. Treacherous maid! Come! Follow me!(They fight.) Force them below!Mark. (without). Hold, thou frantic man! Lost are thy senses?Kurv. Here ravages Death! Nought else, O king, is here to be holden! If you would earn it, come on!(He sets upon Mark and his followers.) Mark. Away, rash maniac!Brang. (has climbed over the wall at the side and hastens to the front.) Isolda! lady! Joy and life!— What sight's here—ha! Liv'st thou, Isolda! (She goes to Isolda's aid.)Mark (who with his followers has driven Kurvenal and his men back from the gate and forced his way in.) O wild mistake! Tristan, where art thou?Kurv. (desperately wounded, totters before Mark to the front.) He lieth—there— here, where I lies too.—(Sinks down at Tristan's feet.) Mark. Tristan! Tristan! Isolda! Woe!Kurv. (trying to grasp Tristan's hand.) Tristan! true lord! Chide me not(He dies.) that I try to follow thee!Mark. Death together!— All are dead! My hero Tristan! truest of friends, must thou again be to thy king a traitor? Now, when he comes another proof of love to give thee! Awaken! awaken! O hear my lamentation, thou faithless, faithful friend!(Kneels down sobbing over the bodies.) Brangæna (who has revived Isolda in her arms.) She wakes! she lives! Isolda, hear! Hear me, mistress beloved! Tidings of joy I have to tell thee: O list to thy Brangæna! My thoughtless fault I have atoned; after thy flight I forthwith went to the king: the love potion's secret he scarce had learned when with sedulous haste he put to sea, that he might find thee nobly renounce thee and give thee up to thy love.Mark. O why, Isolda, Why this to me? When clearly was disclosed what before I could fathom not, what joy was mine to find my friend was free from fault! In haste to wed thee to my hero with flying sails I followed thy track: but howe'er can happiness o'ertake the swift course of woe? More food for Death did I make more wrong grew in mistake.Brangæna. Dost thou not hear? Isolda! Lady! O try to believe the truth!Isolda. (unconscious of all around her, turning her eyes with rising inspiration on Tristan's body.) Mild and softly he is smiling; how his eyelids sweetly open. See, oh comrades, see you not how he beameth ever brighter— how he rises ever radiant steeeped in starlight, borne above? See you not how his heart with lion zest, calmly happy beats in his breast? From his lips in heavenly rest sweetest breath he softly sends. Harken, friends! Hear and feel ye not? Is it I alone am hearing strains so tender and endearing? Passion swelling, All things telling, gently bounding, from him sounding, in me pushes, upward rushes trumpet tone that round me gushes. 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!(Isolde 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.)