Tristan and Isolda Act I Scene 5

Scene V

ISOLDA hurries to BRANGÆNA and embraces her vehemently
Now farewell, Brangæna!
Greet ev'ry one,
Greet my father and mother!

BRANGÆNA
What now? what mean'st thou?
Wouldst thou flee?
And where must I then follow?

ISOLDA checking herself suddenly
Here I remain:
heard you not?
Tristan will I await.—
I trust in thee
to aid in this:
prepare the true
cup of peace:
thou mindest how it is made.

BRANGÆNA
What meanest thou?

ISOLDA taking a bottle from the coffer
This it is!
From the flask go pour
this philtre out;
yon golden goblet 'twill fill.

BRANGÆNA filled with terror receiving the flask
Trust I my wits?

ISOLDA
Wilt thou be true?

BRANGÆNA
The draught—for whom?

ISOLDA
Him who betrayed!

BRANGÆNA
Tristan?

ISOLDA
Truce he'll drink with me.

BRANGÆNA throwing herself at ISOLDA'S feet
O horror!
Pity thy handmaid!

ISOLDA
Pity thou me,
false-hearted maid!
Mindest thou not
my mother's arts?
Think you that she
who'd mastered those
would have sent thee o'er the sea
without assistance for me?
A salve for sickness
doth she offer
and antidotes
for deadly drugs:
for deepest grief
and woe supreme
gave she the draught of death.
Let Death now give her thanks!

BRANGÆNA scarcely able to control herself
O deepest grief!

ISOLDA
Now, wilt thou obey?

BRANGÆNA
O woe supreme!

ISOLDA
Wilt thou be true?

BRANGÆNA
The draught?

KURVENAL entering
Sir Tristan!

BRANGÆNA rises, terrified and confused. ISOLDA strives with immense effort to control herself.

ISOLDA to Kurvenal
Sir Tristan may approach!