Tristan and Isolda

TRISTAN. Destruction!

KURVENAL. Aha! Halla-halloa I

they clear! they clear!

Safely they clear!

Inside the surf

steers now the ship to the strand.

TRISTAN (shouting in joy). Hallo-ho! Kurvenal!

Trustiest friend!

All the wealth I own

to-day I bequeath thee.

KURVENAL. With speed they approach.

TRISTAN. Now dost thou see her?

See'st thou Isolda?

KURVENAL. 'Tis she! she waves!

TRISTAN. O woman divine!

KURVENAL. The ship is a-land!

Isolda.'-ha!-

With but one leap

lightly she springs to land!

TRISTAN. Descend from the watch-tow'r,

indolent gazer!

Away! away

to the shore!

Help her! help my belov'd!

KURVENAL. In a trice she shall come;

Trust in my strong arm!

But thou, Tristan,

hold thee tranquilly here!

(He hastens off.)

TRISTAN (tossing on his couch in feverish excitement ).

O sunlight glowing,

glorious ray!

Ah, joy-bestowing

radiant day!

Boundeth my blood,

boisterous 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!

Merrily flows it.

(He springs from his bed and staggers forward.)

She who can help

my wound and close it,

she comes in her pride,

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! Beloved!

TRISTAN (in frantic excitement).

What! hails me the light?

The torchlight-ha!-

The torch is extinct!

I come! I come!

SCENE II.

[ISOLDAhastens 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!

TRISTAN (turning, his dying eyes onISOLDA). 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?-