"My lord and uncle! look now at her! A softer
wife thou ne'er could'st find. I slew her lover and sent
her his head; my wound the kindly maid has healed.
My life was in her power, but the gentle maiden gave
it to me; her country's shame and dishonour--that
she gave as well; all that she might become thy
wedded bride. Such thanks for kindly deeds I earned
by a sweet draught of atonement offered to me by
her favour in expiation of my guilt."
Sailors (outside). Stand by the cable! Let go the
anchor!
Tr. (starting wildly). Let go the anchor! Veer her
round to the tide! (he tears the cup from Isolde's hand).
Well know I Ireland's queen, and the wondrous might
of her arts. I took the balsam she once gave to me;
now I take the cup that quite I may recover. Mark
well the oath of peace in which I say my thanks:
To Tristan's honour--highest faith!
To Tristan's woe--bold defiance![[40]]
Delusion of the heart; dream of presage; sole
comfort of eternal sorrow; kind drink of forgetfulness
I drink thee without flinching (he puts the
cup to his lips and drinks).
Is. (tearing the cup from him). Treachery again.
Half is mine! Traitor, I drink to thee! (she drinks
and dashes the cup to the earth).
[40.] "Ehre" and "Elend" are dative.
Instead of falling dead, the lovers stand transfixed gazing at each other. Brangäne has changed the drinks, and they have drunk the draught of love for that of death. Wagner sometimes expects his artists to possess powers beyond those which are allotted to man. The actors have here to express by gesture the change of feeling which gradually comes over them. They start, tremble, the love-motive steals into and at last dominates the orchestra, and they fly into one another's arms.
The increasing commotion outside and the cheers of the men indicate that King Marke has put out from the shore and is nearing the ship. An aside of Brangäne at this moment is not without significance. She has been sitting apart in suspense and confusion; now, as she begins to realize the consequences of what she has done, she gives way to despair. How much better would a short death have been than the prospect of the life that is now before them! The fact of her courage giving way so soon shows that she was only acting under a momentary impulse.
Little more need be said of the rest of the scene. The lovers raise their voices in a jubilant duet. Almost unconscious of their surroundings they are dragged apart. The royal garments are hastily laid over them, and the curtain falls to the joyful shouts of the people as King Marke steps on board.