thy fears!
Lady, thou hearest,
sweetest and dearest;
if for true friend you take me,
your confidant O make me!

ISOLDA. Air! air!
or my heart will choke!
Open! open there wide!

(BRANGAENA _hastily draws the centre curtains apart_.)

SCENE II.

[_The whole length of the ship is now seen, down to the stern, with
the sea and horizon beyond. Round the mainmast sailors are ensconced,
busied with ropes; beyond them in the stern are groups of knights and
attendants, also seated; a little apart stands_ TRISTAN_ folding
his arms and thoughtfully gazing out to sea; at his feet_ KURVENAL
_reclines carelessly. From the mast-head above is once more heard
the voice of the young sailor_.]

THE YOUNG SAILOR (_at the mast-head invisible_).
The wind so wild
blows homewards now;
my Irish child,
where waitest thou?
Say, must our sails be weighted,
filled by thy sighs unbated?
Waft us, wind strong and wild!
Woe, ah woe for my child!

ISOLDA (_whose eyes have at once sought_ TRISTAN _and fixed
stonily on him--gloomily_). Once beloved--
now removed--
brave and bright,
coward knight!--
Death-devoted head!
Death-devoted heart!--

(_laughing unnaturally_).

Think'st highly of yon minion?

BRANGAENA (_following her glance_).
Whom mean'st thou?

ISOLDA. There, that hero
who from mine eyes
averts his own:
in shrinking shame
my gaze he shuns--
Say, how hold you him?

BRANGAENA. Mean you Sir Tristan,
lady mine?
Extolled by ev'ry nation,
his happy country's pride,
The hero of creation,--
whose fame so high and wide?

ISOLDA (_jeeringly_).
In shrinking trepidation
his shame he seeks to hide,
While to the king, his relation,
he brings the corpse-like bride!--
Seems it so senseless
What I say?
Go ask himself,
our gracious host,
dare he approach my side?
No courteous heed
or loyal care
this hero t'wards
his lady turns;
but to meet her his heart is daunted,
this knight so highly vaunted!
Oh! he wots
well the cause!
To the traitor go,
bearing his lady's will!
As my servant bound,
straightway should he approach.

BRANGAENA. Shall I beseech him
to attend thee?

ISOLDA. Nay, order him:
pray, understand it:--
I, Isolda
do command it!

[_At an imperious sign from ISOLDA BRANGAENA withdraws and timidly
walks along the deck towards the stern, past the working sailors.
ISOLDA, following her with fixed gaze, sinks back on the couch,
where she remains seated during the following, her eyes still turned
ster