Tristan and Isolda

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