Tristan and Isolda Part 6

BRANGaeNA (_to the women_). Look to your lady!

TRISTAN. O rapture fraught with cunning!

O fraud with bliss o'er-running!

ALL THE MEN (_in a general burst of acclamation_).

Hail to King Mark!

Cornwall, hail!

[_People have clambered over the s.h.i.+p's side, others have extended a bridge, and the aspect of all indicates the immediate arrival of the expected ones, as the curtain falls_.]

ACT II.

[_A Garden before ISOLDA'S Chamber which lies at one side and is approached by steps. Bright and pleasant summer night. At the open door a burning torch is fixed. Sounds of hunting heard_.]

SCENE I.

[BRANGaeNA, _on the steps leading to the chamber, is watching the retreat of the still audible hunters. She looks anxiously back into the chamber as ISOLDA emerges thence in ardent animation_.]

ISOLDA. Yet do you hear?

I lost the sound some time.

BRANGaeNA (_listening_). Still do they stay: clearly rings the horns.

ISOLDA (_listening_). Fear but deludes thy anxious ear; by sounds of rustling leaves thou'rt deceived, aroused by laughter of winds.

BRANGaeNA. Deceived by wild desire art thou, and but hear'st as would thy will:-- I still hear the sound of horns.

ISOLDA (_listens_). No sound of horns were so sweet: yon fountain's soft murmuring current moves so quietly hence.

If horns yet brayed, how could I hear that?

In still night alone it laughs on mine ear.

My lov'd one hides in darkness unseen: wouldst thou hold from my side my dearest?

deeming that horns thou hearest?

BRANGaeNA. Thy lov'd one hid-- oh heed my warning!-- for him a spy waits by night.

Listening oft I light upon him: he lays a secret snare.

Of Melot oh beware!

ISOLDA. Mean you Sir Melot?

O, how you mistake!

Is he not Tristan's trustiest friend?

May my true love not meet me, with none but Melot he stays.

BRANGaeNA. What moves me to fear him makes thee his friend then?

Through Tristan to Mark's side is Melot's way: he sows suspicion's seed.

And those who have to-day on a night-hunt so suddenly decided, a far n.o.bler game than is guessed by thee taxes their hunting skill.

ISOLDA. For Tristan's sake contrived was this scheme by means of Melot, in truth: now would you decry his friends.h.i.+p?

He serves Isolda better than you his hand gives help which yours denies: what need of such delay?

The signal, Brangaena!

O give the signal!

Tread out the torch's trembling gleam, that night may envelop all with her veil.

Already her peace reigns o'er hill and hall, her rapturous awe the heart does enthral; allow then the light to fall!

Let but its dread l.u.s.tre die!

let my beloved draw nigh!

BRANGaeNA. The light of warning suppress not!

Let it remind thee of peril!-- Ah, woe's me! Woe's me!

Fatal folly!

The fell pow'r of that potion!

That I framed a fraud for once thy orders to oppose!

Had I been deaf and blind, thy work were then thy death: but thy distress, thy distraction of grief, my work has contrived them, I own it!

ISOLDA. Thy--act?

O foolish girl!

Love's G.o.ddess dost thou not know?

nor all her magic arts?

The queen who grants unquailing hearts, the witch whose will the world obeys, life and death she holds in her hands, which of joy and woe are wove?

she worketh hate into love.

The work of death I took into my own hands; Love's G.o.ddess saw and gave her good commands The death--condemned she claimed as her prey, planning our fate in her own way.

How she may bend it, how she may end it, what she may make me, wheresoe'er take me, still hers am I solely;-- so let me obey her wholly.

BRANGaeNA. And if by the artful love-potion's lures thy light of reason is ravished, if thou art reckless when I would warn thee, this once, oh, wait and weigh my pleading!

I implore, leave it alight!-- The torch! the torch!

O put it not out this night!

ISOLDA. She who causes thus my bosom's throes, whose eager fire within me glows, whose light upon my spirit flows, Love's G.o.ddess needs that night should close; that brightly she may reign and shun the torchlight vain.

(_She goes up to the door and takes down the torch_.)

Go watch without-- keep wary guard!

The signal!-- and were it my spirit's spark, smiling I'd destroy it and hail the dark!

[_She throws the torch to the ground where it slowly dies out.

BRANGaeNA turns away, disturbed, and mounts an outer flight of steps leading to the roof, where she slowly disappears. ISOLDA listens and peers, at first shyly, towards an avenue. Urged, by rising impatience, she then approaches the avenue and looks more boldly. She signs with her handkerchief, first slightly, then more plainly, waving it quicker as her impatience increases. A gesture of sudden delight shows that she has perceived her lover in the distance. She stretches herself higher and higher, and then, to look better over the intervening s.p.a.ce, hastens back to the steps, from the top of which she signals again to the on-comer. As he enters, she springs to meet him_.]

SCENE II.

TRISTAN (_rus.h.i.+ng in_). Isolda! Beloved!

ISOLDA. Tristan! Beloved one!

(_Pa.s.sionate embrace, with which they come down to the front_.)