(_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_.)