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!
BRANGÆNA (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.]
BRANGÆNA (to the women, who at her bidding ascend from below).
Quick—the mantle!
the royal robe!—
(Rushing between TRISTAN and ISOLDA.)
Up, hapless ones!
See where we are!
(She places the royal mantle on ISOLDA, 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.