Tristan and Isolda Act I Scene 6

SCENE VI

KURVENAL retires again. BRANGÆNA, almost beside herself, turns up the stage. ISOLDA, mustering all her powers of resolution, walks slowly and with dignity towards the sofa, by the head of which she supports herself, turning her eyes firmly towards the entrance
TRISTAN enters, and pauses respectfully at the entrance.

TRISTAN
Demand, lady,
what you will.

ISOLDA
While knowing not
what my demand is,
wert thou afraid
still to fulfil it,
fleeing my presence thus?

TRISTAN
Honor held me in awe.

ISOLDA
Scant honor hast thou
shown unto me;
for, unabashed,
withheldest thou
obedience unto my call.

TRISTAN
Obedience 'twas
forbade me to come.

ISOLDA
But little I owe
thy lord, methinks,
if he allows
ill manners
unto his own promised bride.

TRISTAN
In our land
it is the law
that he who fetches
home the bride
should stay afar from her.

ISOLDA
On what account?

TRISTAN
'Tis the custom.

ISOLDA
Being so careful,
my lord Tristan,
another custom
can you not learn?
Of enemies friends make:
for evil acts amends make.

TRISTAN
Who is my foe?

ISOLDA
Find in thy fears!
Blood-guilt
gets between us.

TRISTAN
That was absolved.

ISOLDA
Not between us.

TRISTAN
In open field,
'fore all the folk
our old feud was abandoned.

ISOLDA
'Twas not there
I held Tantris hid
when Tristan was laid low,
He stood there brawny,
bright and brave;
but in his truce
I took no part:
my tongue its silence had learnt.
When in chambered stillness
sick he lay
with the sword I stood
before him, stern;
silent—my lips,
motionless—my hand.
But that which my hand
and lips had once vowed,
I swore in stealth to adhere to:
lo! now my desire I'm near to.

TRISTAN
What hast thou sworn?

ISOLDA quickly
Vengeance for Morold!

TRISTAN quietly
Mindst thou that?

ISOLDA animated
Dare you to flout me?—
Was he not my betrothed,
that noble Irish knight?
For his sword a blessing I sought;
for me only he fought.
When he was murdered
no honor fell.
In that heartfelt misery
my vow was framed;
if no man remained to right it,
I, a maid, must needs requite it.—
Weak and maimed,
when might was mine,
why at thy death did I pause?
Thou shalt know the secret cause.—
Thy hurts I tended
that, when sickness ended,
thou shouldst fall by some man,
as Isolda's revenge should plan.
But now attempt
thy fate to foretell me?
if their friendship all men do sell thee,
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!

ISOLDA beckons BRANGÆNA. She trembles and hesitates to obey. ISOLDA commands her with a more imperious gesture. BRANGÆNA sets 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 from ISOLDA BRANGÆNA hands her the filled cup.

ISOLDA advancing with the cup to TRISTAN, 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 from ISOLDA.
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!

BRANGÆNA who, filled with confusion and horror, has leaned over the side with averted face, now turns to behold the pair locked in their close embrace, and rushes to the front, wringing her hands in despair
Woe's me! Woe's me!
Endless mis'ry
I have wrought
instead of death!
Dire the deed
of my dull fond heart:
it cries aloud to heav'n!
They start from their embrace.

TRISTAN bewildered
What troubled dream
of Tristan's honor?

ISOLDA
What troubled dream
Of Isolda's shame?

TRISTAN
Have I then lost thee?

ISOLDA
Have I repulsed thee?

TRISTAN
Fraudulent magic,
framing deceit!

BOTH
Languishing passion,
longing and growing,
love ever yearning,
loftiest glowing!
Rapture confess'd
rides in each breast!
Isolda! Tristan!
Tristan! Isolda!
World, I can shun thee
my love is won me!
Thou'rt my thought, all above:
highest delight of love!