Tristan and Isolda

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