Richard Wagner – Tristan und Isolde, Act III Liebestod (1859, prem. 1865) Language: German Text: Richard Wagner This entire passage is sung by Isolde.
[Stage direction: Isolde, aware of nothing round about her, fixes her gaze with mounting ecstasy upon Tristan’s body.]
Mild und leise How gently and quietly wie er lächelt, he smiles, wie das Auge how fondly hold er öffnet --- he opens his eyes! seht ihr's Freunde? Do you see, friends? Seht ihr's nicht? Do you not see? Immer lichter How he shines wie er leuchtet, ever brighter, stern-umstrahlet soaring on high, hoch sich hebt? stars sparkling around him? Seht ihr's nicht? Do you not see? Wie das Herz ihm How his heart mutig schwillt, proudly swells voll und hehr and, brave and full, im Busen ihm quillt? pulses in his breast? Wie den Lippen, How softly and gently wonnig mild, from his lips süßer Atem sweet breath sanft entweht --- flutters – Freunde! Seht! see, friends! Fühlt und seht ihr's nicht? Do you not feel and see it? Hör ich nur Do I alone diese Weise, hear this melody die so wunder- which, so wondrous voll und leise, and tender Wonne klagend, in its blissful lament, alles sagend, all-revealing, mild versöhnend gently pardoning, aus ihm tönend, sounding from him, in mich dringet, pierces me through, auf sich schwinget, rises above, hold erhallend blessedly echoing um mich klinget? and ringing round me? Heller schallend, Resounding yet more clearly, mich umwallend, wafting about me, sind es Wellen are they waves sanfter Lüfte? of refreshing breezes? Sind es Wogen Are they clouds wonniger Düfte? of heavenly fragrance? Wie sie schwellen, As they swell
mich umrauschen, and roar round me, soll ich atmen, shall I breathe them, soll ich lauschen? shall I listen to them? Soll ich schlürfen, Shall I sip them, untertauchen? plunge beneath them, Süß in Düften to expire in sweet perfume? mich verhauchen? In the surging swell, In dem wogenden Schwall, in the ringing sound, in dem tönenden Schall, in the vast wave in des Welt-Atems of the world's breath – wehendem All --- to drown, ertrinken, to sink versinken --- unconscious – unbewußt --- supreme bliss! höchste Lust!
[Stage direction: Isolde sinks gently, as if transfigured, in Brangaene’s arms, on to Tristan’s body. Those standing around are awed and deeply moved. Mark blesses the bodies. –The curtain falls slowly.]