ous with
excitement, staggers wildly towards her. They meet in the centre of
the stage; she receives him in her arms, where he sinks slowly to the
ground_.]

ISOLDA. Tristan! Ah!

TRISTAN (_turning, his dying eyes on_ ISOLDA). Isolda!--

(_He dies_.)

ISOLDA. 'Tis I, 'tis I--
dearly belov'd!
Wake, and once more
hark to my voice!
Isolda calls.
Isolda comes,
with Tristan true to perish.--
Speak unto me!
But for one moment,
only one moment
open thine eyes!
Such weary days
I waited and longed,
that one single hour
I with thee might awaken.
Betrayed am I then?
Deprived by Tristan
of this our solitary,
swiftly fleeting,
final earthly joy?--
His wound, though--where?
Can I not heal it?
The rapture of night
O let us feel it?
Not of thy wounds,
not of thy wounds must thou expire!
Together, at least,
let fade life's enfeebled fire!--
How lifeless his look!--
still his heart!--
Dared he to deal me
Buch a smart?
Stayed is his breathing's
gentle tide!
Must I be wailing
at his side,
who, in rapture coming to seek him,
fearless sailed o'er the sea?
Too late, too late!
Desperate man!
Casting on me
this cruelest ban!
Comes no relief
for my load of grief?
Silent art keeping
while I am weeping?
But once more, ah!
But once again!--
Tristan!--ha!
he wakens--hark!
Beloved--
--dark!

(_She sinks down senseless upon his body_.)

SCENE III.

[KURVENAL, _who reentered close behind_ ISOLDA, _has remained
by the entrance speechless and petrified, gazing motionless on_
TRISTAN. _From below is now heard the dull murmur of voices and the
clash of weapons. The Shepherd clambers over the wall_.]

SHEPHERD (_coming hastily and softly to_ KURVENAL).
Kurvenal! Hear!
Another ship!

(KURVENAL _starts up in haste and looks over the rampart, whilst
the Shepherd stands apart, gazing in consternation on_ TRISTAN
_and_ ISOLDA.)

KURVENAL. Fiends and furies!

(_In a burst of anger_.)

All are at hand!
Melot and Mark
I see on the strand,--
Weapons and missiles!--
Guard we the gate!

(_He hastens with the Shepherd to the gate, which they both try
quickly to barricade_.)

THE STEERSMAN (_rushing in_).
Mark and his men
have set on us:
defence is vain!
We're overpowered.

KURVENAL. Stand to and help!--
While lasts my life
I'll let no foe enter here!

BRANGAENA'S VOICE (_without, calling from below_).
Isolda! Mistress!

KURVENAL. Brangaena's voice! (_Falling down_.)
What want you here?

BRANGAEN