Tristan and Isolda

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.]

ACT III.