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 (_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. 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 not daylight dawn, and rouse me?
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!