Chapter 14

TRISTAN (_rushing in_). Isolda! Beloved!

ISOLDA. Tristan! Beloved one!

(_Passionate embrace, with which they come down to the front_.)

BOTH. Art thou mine? Do I behold thee? Do I embrace thee? Can I believe it? At last! At last! Here on my breast! Do I then clasp thee! Is it thy own self? Are these thine eyes? These thy lips? Here thy hand? Here thy heart? Is't I?--Is't thou, held in my arms? Am I not duped? Is it no dream? O rapture of spirit! O sweetest, highest, fairest, strongest, holiest bliss? Endless pleasure! Boundless treasure! Ne'er to sever! Never! Never! Unconceived, unbelieved, overpowering exaltation! Joy-proclaiming, bliss-outpouring, high in heaven, earth ignoring! Tristan mine! Isolda mine! Tristan! Isolda! Mine alone! Thine alone! Ever all my own!

TRISTAN. The light! The light! O but this light, how long 'twas let to burn! The sun had sunk, the day had fled; but all their spite not yet was sped: the scaring signal they set alight, before my belov'd one's dwelling, my swift approach repelling.

ISOLDA. Thy belov'd one's hand lowered the light, for Brangæna's fears in me roused no fright: while Love's goddess gave me aid, sunlight a mock I made. But the light its fear and defeat repaid; with thy misdeeds a league it made. What thou didst see in shadowing night, to the shining sun of kingly might must thou straightway surrender, that it should exist in bright bonds of empty splendor.-- Could I bear it then? Can I bear it now?

TRISTAN. O now were we to night devoted, the dishonest day with envy bloated, lying, could not mislead, though it might part us indeed. Its pretentious glows and its glamouring light are scouted by those who worship night. All its flickering gleams in flashes out-blazing blind us no more where we are gazing. Those who death's night boldly survey, those who have studied her secret way, the daylight's falsehoods-- rank and fame, honor and all at which men aim-- to them are no more matter than dust which sunbeams scatter, In the daylight's visions thronging only abides one longing; we yearn to hie to holy night, where, unending, only true, Love extendeth delight!

(TRISTAN _draws_ ISOLDA _gently aside to a flowery bank, sinks on his knee before her and rests his head on her arm_.)

(TRISTAN _and_ ISOLDA _sink into oblivious ecstasy, reposing on the flowery bank close together_.)

BRANGÆNA (_from the turret, unseen_). Long I watch alone by night: ye enwrapt in love's delight, heed my boding voice aright. I forewarn you woe is near; waken to my words of fear. Have a care! Have a care! Swiftly night doth wear!

ISOLDA. List, beloved!

TRISTAN. Let me die thus!

ISOLDA (_slowly raising herself a little_). Envious watcher!

TRISTAN (_remaining in reclining position_). I'll ne'er waken.

ISOLDA. But the Day must dawn and rouse thee?

TRISTAN (_raising his head slightly_). Let the Day to Death surrender!

ISOLDA. Day and Death will both engender feud against our passion tender.

TRISTAN (_drawing_ ISOLDA _gently towards him with expressive action_). O might we then together die, each the other's own for aye! never fearing, never waking, blest delights of love partaking,-- each to each be given, in love alone our heaven!

ISOLDA (_gazing up at him in thoughtful ecstasy_). O might we then together die!

TRISTAN. Each the other's--

ISOLDA. Own for aye,--

TRISTAN. Never fearing--

ISOLDA. Never waking--

TRISTAN. Blest delights of love partaking--

ISOLDA. Each to each be given; in love alone our heaven.

(ISOLDA, _as if overcome, droops her head on his breast._)

BRANGÆNA'S VOICE (_as before_). Have a care! Have a care! Night yields to daylight's glare.

TRISTAN (_bends smilingly to ISOLDA_). Shall I listen?

ISOLDA (looking fondly up at TRISTAN). Let me die thus!

TRISTAN. Must I waken?

ISOLDA. Nought shall wake me!

TRISTAN. Must not daylight dawn, and rouse me?

ISOLDA. Let the Day to Death surrender!

TRISTAN. May thus the Day's evil threats be defied?

ISOLDA (_with growing enthusiasm_). From its thraldom let us fly.

TRISTAN. And shall not its dawn be dreaded by us?

ISOLDA (_rising with a grand gesture_). Night will shield us for aye!

(TRISTAN _follows her; they embrace in fond exaltation_.)

BOTH. O endless Night! blissful Night! glad and glorious lover's Night! Those whom thou holdest, lapped in delight, how could e'en the boldest unmoved endure thy flight? How to take it, how to break it,-- joy existent, sunlight distant, Far from mourning, sorrow-warning, fancies spurning, softly yearning, fear expiring, sweet desiring! Anguish flying, gladly dying; no more pining, night-enshrining, ne'er divided whate'er betided, side by side still abide in realms of space unmeasured, vision blest and treasured! Thou Isolda, Tristan I; no more Tristan, no more Isolda. Never spoken, never broken, newly sighted, newly lighted, endless ever all our dream: in our bosoms gleam love delights supreme!