TAN _drops his
own guard and sinks wounded into the arms of_ KURVENAL. ISOLDA
_throws herself upon his breast_. MARK _holds_ MELOT
_back. The curtain falls quickly_.]

ACT III.

_A Castle-Garden_.

[_At one side high castellated buildings, on the other a low
breastwork interrupted by a watch tower; at back the castle-gate. The
situation is supposed to be on rocky cliffs; through openings the
view extends over a wide sea horizon. The whole gives an impression
of being deserted by the owner, badly kept, and here and there
dilapidated and overgrown_.]

SCENE I.

[_In the foreground, in the garden, lies_ TRISTAN _sleeping
on a couch under the shade of a great lime-tree, stretched out as if
lifeless. At his head sits_ KURVENAL, _bending over him in grief
and anxiously listening to his breathing. From without comes the
mournful sound of a shepherd's pipe_.

_Presently the shepherd comes and looks in with interest, showing
the upper half of his body over the wall_.]

SHEPHERD. Kurvenal, ho!--
Say, Kurvenal,--
tell me, friend!
Does he still sleep?

KURVENAL (_turning a little towards him and shaking his head
sadly_). If he awoke
it would be
but for evermore to leave us,
unless we find
the lady-leech;
alone can she give help.--
See'st thou nought?
No ship yet on the sea?

SHEPHERD. Quite another ditty
then would I play
as merry as ever I may.
But tell me truly,
trusty friend,
why languishes our lord?

KURVENAL. Do not ask me;--
for I can give no answer.
Watch the sea,
if sails come in sight
a sprightly melody play.

SHEPHERD (_turns round and scans the horizon, shading his eyes with
his hand_).
Blank appears the sea!

(_He puts the reed pipe to his mouth and withdraws, playing_.)

TRISTAN (_motionless--faintly_).
The tune so well known--
why wake to that?

(_opens his eyes and slightly turns his head_).

Where am I?

KURVENAL (_starting in joyous surprise_).
Ha!--who is speaking?
It is his voice!--
Tristan! lov'd one!
My lord! my Tristan!

TRISTAN (_with effort_). Who--calls me?

KURVENAL. Life--at last--
O thanks be to heaven!--
sweetest life
unto my Tristan newly given!

TRISTAN (_faintly_). Kurvenal!--thou?
Where--was I?--
Where--am I?

KURVENAL. Where art thou?
In safety, tranquil and sure!
Kareol 'tis;
dost thou not know
thy fathers' halls?

TRISTAN. This my fathers'?

KURVENAL. Look but around.

TRISTAN. What awoke me?

KURVENAL. The herdsman's ditty
has