“Tannhäuser” – Act 1

ACT ONE

Scene One

The interior of the Venusberg (the Hörselberg, near Eisenach). A wide grotto which, as it curves towards the right in the background, seems to be prolonged till the eye loses it in the distance. From an opening in the rocks, through which the daylight filters dimly, a greenish waterfall plunges down the whole height of the grotto, foaming wildly over the rocks; out of the basin that receives the water a brook flows to the further background; it there forms into a lake, in which Naiads are seen bathing, while Sirens recline on its banks. - On both sides of the grotto are projecting cliffs, of irregular form, covered with wonderful, coral-like tropical growths. In front of an opening in the grotto, stretching upwards to the left, through which comes a soft roseate half-light, Venus reclines in the foreground on a rich couch; before her, his head in her lap, his harp by his side, is Tannhäuser, half-kneeling. The Three Graces, charmingly entwined, recline about the couch. At the side of and behind the couch are numerous sleeping Cupids, huddled together in a confused tangle, like children who, tired after play, have fallen asleep. The whole of the foreground is illuminated from below, by a magical rosy light, through which the emerald-green of the waterfall and the white foam of its waves break in strong contrast. A clear blue vapour envelopes the far background, with the banks of the lake, in a kind of moonlight. When the curtain rises, the youths, holding goblets in their hands, are still reclining on the cliffs; now, in response to the alluring signs of the Nymphs, they hasten down to these; the Nymphs have already begun, round the foaming basin of the waterfall, the inviting dance that is meant to draw the youths to them. The pairs find and mingle with each other; pursuits, flights and alluring coquetries enliven the dance. From the far background comes a swarm of Bacchantes, who break through the ranks of the amorous couples, inciting them to wilder delights. By gestures of exalted intoxication the Bacchantes urge on the lovers to further abandonment. The revellers embrace each other with the most ardent passion. Satyrs and Fauns emerge from the clefts in the rocks, and thrust themselves with their dance between the Bacchantes and the pairs of lovers. They increase the confusion by chasing the Nymphs; the general tumult rises to the maddest climax. At the outburst of the greatest delirium, the three Graces rise to their feet, horror-stricken. They try to restrain the furious groups and drive them off. Impotent against them, they fear that they themselves will be drawn into the whirl; they turn to the sleeping Cupids, who flutter upwards and in different directions like a flock of birds, and, drawn up as it were in battle array on the heights, and commanding the whole cavern, they rain down a ceaseless shower of arrows on the tumult beneath. The wounded, seized by a powerful yearning for love, quit the mad dance and sink down in exhaustion; the Graces take possession of the wounded, and try, by disposing the revellers in pairs, to disperse them with gentle force towards the background; there the Bacchantes, Fauns, Satyrs, Nymphs and Youths withdraw, pursued by Cupids from the heights. A rosy mist comes down, growing thicker and thicker as it descends. In it the Cupids first disappear; then it envelops the whole background, so that finally, beside Venus and Tannhäuser, only the three Graces remain visible. These now return towards the foreground; gracefully interlocked they draw near to Venus and apparently tell her of the victory they have won over the mad passions of the subjects of her realm. Venus gives them a grateful glance. (The thick mist in the background dissolves, revealing a cloud-picture of the Rape of Europa; she is being carried across the blue sea on the back of the garlanded white bull, escorted by Tritons and Nereids)

CHOIR OF SIRENS (unseen) Draw near the strand! Approach the land, where blissful warmth, in the arms of glowing love, will content your desires! (The rosy mist gathers again, obliterating the picture, and the Graces interpret in a graceful dance the mystic meaning of the picture as a work of love. Once more the mist dissolves. In the soft half-light of the moon, Leda is seen reclining on the banks of a woodland lake. The swan swims up to her and fawningly lays his head upon her bosom) CHOIR OF SIRENS Draw near the strand! Approach the land! (This picture also gradually fades away. At last the mist wholly disappears, showing the entire grotto deserted and still. The Graces mischievously make obeisance to Venus and slowly move off the grotto of love. Deepest quiet. Venus and Tannhäuser maintain their attitudes unchanged)

Scene Two

(Tannhäuser lifts up his head suddenly, as if starting from a dream. - Venus draws him back again caressingly)   (Tannhäuser raises his hand over his eyes as if trying to capture a dream image.) VENUS (very quiet) Tell me, beloved, of what are you thinking? TANNHÄUSER (quickly) Too much! Too much! (more slowly and softly) Oh, that I now might awake!

VENUS (calm and soothing) Tell me what ails you. TANNHÄUSER In dreams, it was as if I heard - a sound long stranger to my ears - as if I heard the joyful peal of bells! Oh, tell me! How long is it since I heard them? VENUS (as before) What is it holds you in thrall? Where are you straying? (She gently guides her hand over his forehead.) TANNHÄUSER (melancholically) The time I have sojourned here I cannot measure. Days, moons - mean nothing to me any more, for I no longer see the sun, nor the friendly stars of heaven; I see no more the blades of grass, which, turning freshly green, bring the new summer in; the nightingale that foretells me the spring, I hear no more. Shall I never hear it, never behold it more?

VENUS (with calm astonishment) Ha! What do I hear? What foolish complaining? Are you so soon wearied of the sweet wonder my love devises for you? Or what? Can you so greatly regret being a god? Have you so soon forgot how once you suffered, whilst now you delight in pleasure here? (She rises) Come, my Singer, (She takes the harp and holds it up to him) up and grasp your lyre! Celebrate love, which you extol so marvellously in song, that you won the goddess of love herself for yours! Celebrate love, for its highest prize has become yours!

TANNHÄUSER (Summoning himself to a sudden resolve, he seizes his harp and solemnly places himself before Venus.) Let your praises ring out! Let the marvel your might created for me, fortunate as I am, be extolled! May the sweet delight, sprung from your favour, raise my song up in a loud cry of jubilation! My heart yearned, oh my senses thirsted after pleasure, after delicious gratification: that which once you rendered to gods alone you graciously bestowed upon me, a mortal. But mortal, oh, I have remained and your loving is too huge for me. Though a god may incessantly savour enjoyment, I am subject to change: not pleasure alone lies close to my heart - in the midst of joy I crave after pain. From your kingdom I must fly - O queen, goddess, let me go! VENUS (as though awakening from a dream) What’s this I must harken to? What kind of singing is that? Into what doleful strain has your song lapsed? Whither has that inspiration flown, which once prompted songs of delight alone from you? What is it? Wherein has my love proved wanting? Beloved, with what do you reproach me?

TANNHÄUSER Thanks be to your favour! May your loving be extolled! Fortunate forever the man who has tarried with you! Forever envied he who, with ardent passion, has shared the godlike glow in your embrace! Entrancing are the marvels of your kingdom, I breathe the magic of all pleasure here; no country on the broad earth offers the like, what they possess you can easily spare. But amid these rosy perfumes I long for the woodland breezes, for the clear blue of our skies, for the fresh green of our meadows, for the sweet song of our little birds, for the dear sound of our bells. From your kingdom I must fly - O queen, goddess, let me go! VENUS (springing up from her couch) Faithless man! Alas! What is that you say? You dare scorn my love? You praise it, yet would fly from it? Are you surfeited with my charms? TANNHÄUSER Oh lovely goddess, do not be angry with me! VENUS Are you surfeited with my charms? TANNHÄUSER Your overwhelming charm it is I flee from. VENUS Woe to you, traitor! Hypocrite! Ungrateful man! I will not let you go! You may not go from me! TANNHÄUSER Never was my love greater, never truer, than now, when I must fly from you for ever! (Venus turns away with a cry, hiding her face in her hands. — A long silence.) (Then she gradually seeks Tannhäuser’s gaze again, suddenly turning toward him with a seductive smile.) (At her gesture, a magical grotto appears, to which she points.)

VENUS (beginning in a soft voice) Come, beloved, see yonder grotto, filled with rosy fragrance gently wafting! That abode of sweetest delight would offer enchantment even to a god. Lulled on the downiest of cushions let every hurt fly from your limbs, let coolness fan your burning brow, blissful ardour swell your heart. (As she gently tries to draw him toward her.) Come, sweet love, come, follow me! Come! CHOIR OF SIRENS (unseen) Draw near the strand! VENUS From the pleasant distance, sweet sounds bid my arm enfold you in closest embrace: from my lips, my gaze, you sip nectar divine, the reward of love sparkles for you: a feast of delight shall arise from our union. Let us joyfully celebrate the festival of love! You must not dedicate a timid offering to it - revel in union with the goddess of love! Say, sweet friend, tell me, my beloved - would you fly?

TANNHÄUSER (Carried away to the utmost, again seizing the harp.) For you alone my song shall ever ring out! Your praise alone be loudly sung by me! Your lovely fascination is the fount of all beauty, and every sweet wonder stems from you. The glow you shed in my heart blazes bright as flame for you alone! Yes, against the whole world, then, untiring, for henceforth your bold champion I will be! Yet, I must go from hence to the world of earth; if I remain with you, I can only be a slave. For freedom, then, I long, for freedom, freedom, do I thirst; for struggle and strife I will stand, though it be, too, for destruction and death: from your kingdom, therefore, I must fly - Oh queen, goddess, let me go!

VENUS (in the fiercest anger) Begone, madman, begone! Go! Traitor, see, I am not stopping you! Fly! I set you free! Begone hence! Deluded mortal, let that which you long for be your lot! Begone! Begone! Fly hence to frigid men, before whose timid, cheerless fancy we gods of delight have escaped deep into the warm womb of earth. Begone, deluded mortal, seek your salvation, seek your salvation - and find it never! Beg those for pardon now, whom once, when victorious, in exultant mood you derided and scorned; in those quarters you disdained, cry out now for favour! Let your infamy shine forth, then! Their derision, then will be your utter shame! Banished, accursed, oh, how well I see you approach me already, your head bowed down to earth: “Oh, if only you might find her again, she who once smiled upon you! Oh, that the portals of her delight might once more open for you!” On the threshold, see there - he lies now, stretched full length, there where once delight engulfed him! Imploring, he begs for pity, not for love! Back! Be off, beggar! To heroes alone, to menials never, does my kingdom open! TANNHÄUSER No! My pride will spare you the complaining; ever again to appear before you would degrade me! He who parts from you today, oh goddess, will never return to you again!

VENUS (with a cry) Ha! You will never return? What have I said? Ha! What has he said? Never to return to me! What am I to think? Now understand it? My beloved leave me for ever? (with gentle hesitation) How could I have deserved that? How incurred such censure, as would rob me of the pleasure of forgiving my dear one? To the queen of love, to the goddess of all grace, alone, should offering her friend comfort be denied? Smiling through tears, how once I listened to you, yearning to hear the proud song that has been silent around me for so long! Oh say, how could you ever suppose I might remain unmoved if, some time, your soul’s sighing were to urge me, if I were to hear your cry? That in your arms supreme comfort I have found, oh, for that, do not let me suffer. Do not you one day scorn my solace! (breaking out in despair) If you do not return to me, a curse, then, upon the whole wide world, and may that from which the goddess withdraws be for ever waste! (pleading despairingly) Oh, come, come back again! Trust my favour, my love!

TANNHÄUSER He who flies from you, goddess, flies from all favour for ever! VENUS Do not resist your longing from pride, if it draw you back to me! TANNHÄUSER My longing urges me to combat; I do not seek pleasure and rapture! Oh, if you could understand it, goddess! Hence, to the death I seek! I am drawn to death! VENUS Return, when death itself flies from you, when the grave itself closes before you. TANNHÄUSER I carry death and the grave here in my heart, through repentance and atonement I will find myself repose! VENUS Repose will never be your lot, neither will you find peace! Come again to me, if, some time, you should seek your salvation! TANNHÄUSER Goddess of pleasure and delight, no! Oh, not in you shall I find peace and repose! My salvation lies in Mary! (Venus vanishes. - The scene is changed quickly)

Scene Three

Tannhäuser, who has not moved from his position, suddenly finds himself transported into a beautiful valley. Blue sky, bright sunshine. — In the background to the right stands the Wartburg; through the opening of the valley to the left, the Hörselberg can be seen. — On the right, halfway up the valley, a mountain path leads from the direction of the Wartburg toward the foreground, where it then turns aside; in this same foreground is an image of the Virgin Mary, reached by a low rocky ascent. — From the heights on the left comes the sound of herdsmen’s bells; upon a high outcrop sits a Young Shepherd with his pipe, facing the valley.

SHEPHERD Dame Holda’s come out of the mountain to roam through field and meadow; my ear caught a sound there so sweet, my eye longed to behold. (He plays.) There I dreamt many a sweet dream, and my eyes had scarcely opened when there the sun shone warm. May, May had come! Now I gaily play my pipe. May is here, the lovely May! (The singing of the older pilgrims is heard, approaching along the mountain path from the direction of the Wartburg. The Shepherd plays upon his pipe.) OLDER PILGRIMS To Thee do I journey, Lord Jesus Christ, for Thou art the pilgrims’ hope! Praise be to thee, Virgin sweet and pure. Grant that our pilgrimage may prove propitious! (Hearing the singing, the Shepherd stops playing his pipe and listens devoutly.)

Alas, the burden of my sins weighs me down. I can endure it no longer; I will know neither sleep nor rest therefore and gladly choose toil and vexation. At the sublime feast of clemency and grace I will atone for my sins in humility; blessed is he who truly believes: he shall be saved through penitence and repentance. SHEPHERD (As the pilgrims reach the height opposite him, he calls out loudly to them, waving his cap.) God speed! God speed to Rome! Pray for my poor soul! (Tannhäuser, who had stood in the middle of the stage as though rooted to the spot, sinks to his knees, violently shaken.) TANNHÄUSER Glory be to Thee, Almighty God! Great are the marvels of Thy grace. (From this point, the procession of pilgrims turns left along the mountain path by the image of the Virgin Mary and thus leaves the stage. — The Shepherd also departs to the right from the height with his pipe — the sound of the herdsmen’s bells grows ever fainter.)

OLDER PILGRIMS To Thee do I journey, Lord Jesus Christ, for Thou art the pilgrims’ hope! (on the stage — growing ever fainter) Praise be to thee, Virgin sweet and pure. Grant that our pilgrimage may prove propitious! (The pilgrims have already left the stage at this point.) TANNHÄUSER (on his knees, as though absorbed in fervent prayer) Alas, the burden of my sins weighs me down, I can endure it no longer; I will know neither sleep nor rest therefore and gladly choose toil and vexation.   (Tears choke his voice; he bows his head deeply to the ground, and from the direction of Eisenach the sound of bells is heard.) PILGRIMS (from far away) At the sublime feast of clemency and grace, I will atone for my sins in humility; (A hunting horn on the stage, in the distance.) blessed is he who truly believes. (Hunting horns are heard in the distance. As the sound of the horns gradually draws nearer, the distant ringing of the bells falls silent.) (From the hill on the left, descending along a forest path, the Landgrave and the Minstrels appear one by one in hunting attire.)

Scene Four

LANDGRAVE (catches sight of Tannhäuser) Who is that man yonder, sunk in fervent prayer? WALTHER A penitent surely. BITEROLF By his garb a knight. WOLFRAM (He hastens first toward Tannhäuser and recognizes him.) It is he! WALTHER, HEINRICH DER SCHREIBER, BITEROLF, REINMAR Henry! Henry! Do I see aright? (Tannhäuser, startled and quickly springing up, regains his composure and silently bows to the Landgrave after casting a fleeting glance at him and the singers.)

LANDGRAF Is it really you? Have you returned to the circle you forsook in haughty arrogance? BITEROLF Say, what does your return signify for us? LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS Tell us what! BITEROLF Reconciliation? Or does it betoken renewed strife? WALTHER Do you approach us as friend or foe? SINGERS except WOLFRAM As foe?

WOLFRAM Oh, do not ask! Is this the bearing of arrogance? (to Tannhäuser) Be welcome, you valiant Singer, who have been, oh, so long absent from our midst! WALTHER Welcome, if you come in peace! BITEROLF Welcome, if you call us friends! Welcome! Welcome! We greet you! THE OTHER SINGERS except WOLFRAM Welcome! Welcome! We greet you! LANDGRAVE Be welcome then to me as well! Tell us - where have you tarried so long? TANNHÄUSER I have journeyed in far-distant realms - there where I never found response nor rest. Do not ask! I did not come hither to contend with you. Be reconciled with me and let me go on further! LANDGRAVE Not so! You have become one of us once more. WALTHER You may not go away. BITEROLF We will not let you go. LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS except BITEROLF Stay with us!

TANNHÄUSER Let me be! Delay avails me naught, and never can I stop to rest! My way bids me only hasten onward, and never may I cast a backward glance! LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS Oh, stay! You shall tarry with us, we will not let you go from us! you sought us out, why hurry away after so short a reunion? TANNHÄUSER (tearing himself free) Away, away from here! SINGERS Stay, stay by us! WOLFRAM (Stepping into Tannhäuser’s path, in a raised voice.) Stay by Elizabeth! TANNHÄUSER Elizabeth! - Oh heavenly powers, do you cry out that sweet name to me? WOLFRAM You shall not rebuke me as enemy, for that I have spoken it! (to the Landgrave) Do you permit me, sir, to be herald of his good fortune to him? LANDGRAVE Tell him of the spell he has wrought, and God grant him virtue, that he may undo it aright.

WOLFRAM When you strove with us in blithe song, sometimes victorious against our lays, anon defeated through our art, one prize there was that you alone succeeded in winning. Was it by magic or by pure might that you achieved the miracle of captivating the most virtuous of maids by your singing filled with joy and sorrow? For, when, in haughtiness, you left us, her heart closed to our song; we saw her cheeks grow pale, she ever shunned our circle. Oh, return, you valiant Singer, let not your song be far from ours. Let her no longer be absent from our festivals, let her star shine on us once more! SINGERS except WOLFRAM Be one of us, Henry, return to us! Have done with dissension and strife! Let our lays ring out in unison, and brothers let us call ourselves from henceforth. WOLFRAM Oh, return, you valiant Singer! Oh, return! Let our lays ring out in unison, and brothers let us call ourselves from henceforth. LANDGRAVE Oh, return, you valiant Singer! Have done with dissension and strife! (Deeply overcome with emotion, Tannhäuser throws himself into Wolfram’s arms, warmly greets each of the singers in turn, and bows before the Landgrave with heartfelt gratitude.)

TANNHÄUSER To her! To her! oh, lead me to her! Ha, how I recognize it again, the lovely world that I renounced! The heavens look down upon me, the meadows sparkle, richly-decked! The spring, the spring with a thousand lovely sounds has entered into my soul, rejoicing! In sweet impetuous urgency my heart cries aloud: To her, to her! Lead me to her!   (During the foregoing, the entire hunting retinue of the Landgrave, with falconers and others, gradually gathers upon the stage. The hunters sound their horns.)

LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS He, whom we had lost, has returned! A miracle has brought him hither! Glory be to the sweet power that has charmed his arrogance away! Now may the high-born lady’s ear once more harken to our lays! In joyous animated tones the song goes up from every breast! (The entire valley now teems with the ever-growing hunting retinue.) (The Landgrave and the singers turn toward the hunters; the Landgrave sounds his horn, and loud blasts of horns and the barking of hounds answer him. While the Landgrave and the singers mount the horses that have been brought to them from the Wartburg, the curtain falls.)