“Tannhäuser” – Act 2

ACT TWO

Introduction

Scene One

(The Hall of Song in the Wartburg; in the background, an open view of the courtyard and the valley.) ELISABETH Dear hall, I greet thee once again, joyfully I greet thee, beloved place! In thee his lays awake and waken me from gloomy dreams. When he departed from thee, how desolate thou didst appear to me! Peace forsook me, joy took leave of thee. How strongly now my heart is leaping; to me now thou dost appear exalted and sublime. He who thus revives both me and thee, tarries afar no more. I greet thee! I greet thee! Thou precious hall, receive my greeting! (Tannhäuser, led by Wolfram, enters with him from the staircase in the background.)

Scene Two

(Elisabeth sees Tannhäuser) WOLFRAM (to Tannhäuser) There she is; approach her without fear. (He remains in the background, leaning against the parapet.) TANNHÄUSER (throws himself at Elisabeth’s feet) Oh princess! ELISABETH (in shy confusion) Heavens! Rise! Leave me! I may not see you here! (She makes a movement as if to depart.) TANNHÄUSER You may! Oh, stay and let me remain at your feet! ELISABETH (turning toward him kindly) Stand up then! You shall not kneel here, for this hall is your kingdom. Oh, rise! Receive my thanks for your return! Where did you tarry so long? TANNHÄUSER Far from here in broad and distant lands. Deep forgetfulness has descended betwixt today and yesterday. All my remembrance has vanished in a trice, and one thing only must I recall, that I never more hoped to greet you, nor ever raise my eyes to you. ELISABETH What was it then that brought you back? TANNHÄUSER It was a miracle, an unbelievably sublime miracle!

ELISABETH I praise this miracle from the bottom of my heart! (composing herself, in confusion) Forgive me if I do not know what I am about. I am in a dream, and foolish as a child, surrendered, powerless, into the power of the miracle. I scarcely know myself more; oh, help me unravel my heart’s enigma! To the Singers’ skilful lays I used to listen often with great pleasure. Their singing and their praise seemed to me a pleasant show. But what a strange new life your song conjured up in my breast! Now it would thrill through me like pain, now penetrate me like sudden joy. Emotions I had never experienced! Longings I had never known! That which once was dear to me vanished before a bliss nameless heretofore! And when you left us then, peace and joy were gone from me. The melodies the Singers sang appeared insipid to me, melancholy their temper. Dreaming, I experienced heavy sorrow, my waking hours became a troubled delusion, joy fled from my heart - Henry! Henry! What had you done to me?

TANNHÄUSER (enthusiastically) You must praise the god of love - he plucked the strings for me, he spoke to you in my lays - he has led me to you! ELISABETH Praised be the hour, praised be the power that has brought me such sweet tidings of your presence! Encompassed about with radiant bliss, sunshine smiles upon me; awakened to new life, I call happiness mine! TANNHÄUSER Praised be the hour, praised be the power that has brought me such sweet tidings from your lips. To the newly-perceived life I may bravely turn; aquiver with joy, I call its fairest wonder mine! WOLFRAM (in the background) Thus vanishes, for this life, my every gleam of hope! (Tannhäuser parts from Elisabeth; he goes to Wolfram, embraces him warmly, and departs with him down the staircase.) (From the balcony, Elisabeth watches Tannhäuser as he leaves.)

Scene Three

(The Landgrave enters through a side door; Elisabeth hastens toward him and buries her face against his breast.) LANDGRAVE Do I meet you here in this hall you shunned for so long? Does a festival of singing of our preparing attract you then at last? ELISABETH Uncle! Oh my kindest of fathers! LANDGRAVE Do you wish at last to open your heart to me? ELISABETH See in my eyes! I cannot speak! LANDGRAVE For a short while still, then, let your sweet secret remain unspoken; the spell remain unbroken till you are mistress of its loosing. So be it! That which his song so marvellously awoke and stimulated, he shall reveal today and crown with fulfilment. Now the gracious art will come to fruition! (Trumpets are heard from the background as if from the courtyard of the castle) The nobles of my land whom I have invited here to a rare festival are approaching now; they come more numerous than of wont, for they have heard you are to be the festival’s queen.

Scene Four

(The Landgrave and Elisabeth ascend the balcony to watch the arrival of the guests; they are announced by the four noble pages, who receive from the Landgrave directions as to their reception) (The Knights and Counts enter, one by one, with their ladies and their retinue. The latter remain in the background; the others are received by the Landgrave and Elisabeth)

KNIGHTS AND NOBLES Joyfully we greet the noble hall, where may art and peace alone linger ever, and the joyous cry long ring out: To the Prince of Thuringia, Count Hermann, hail! LADIES Joyfully we greet the noble hall, where may art and peace alone linger ever, and the joyous cry long ring out: To the Prince of Thuringia, Count Hermann, hail! (All those assembled have taken the places assigned to them, forming a great semicircle. The Landgrave and Elisabeth occupy seats of honor beneath a canopy in the foreground.) (Trumpets on the stage.) (The singers enter and solemnly bow with knightly greeting toward the assembly; then they take the seats prepared for them in the vacant center of the hall, arranged in a narrower semicircle — Tannhäuser in the middle ground to the right, Wolfram at the opposite end to the left, facing the assembly.) (The Landgrave rises.)

LANDGRAVE A great deal, much of great beauty, has been sung already here in this hall by you, esteemed Singers, in sage mysteries and gladsome songs alike you have rejoiced our hearts equally ingeniously. If our swords in battles grim and bloody did battle for the majesty of the German realm, if we withstood the furious Guelphs and averted ruinous dissension, then no less a prize was carried off by you. By your art you won for grace and gracious custom, for virtue and true belief, wholly sublime, magnificent and glorious victory. Then, prepare for us today a festival - today when the valiant Singer, whom we have grievously missed for so long, has returned to us. That which brought him back again among us, appears to me a wondrous mystery; through the art of song you shall reveal it to us. Therefore I put the question to you now: Could you fathom the true essence of love for me? To the man who can do it, to him who celebrates it most worthily in song, let Elisabeth present the prize, let him claim it, exalted and bold as he will - I will see she shall bestow it. Up, beloved Singers! Pluck the strings! The task is set! Compete for the prize and receive in advance all our thanks.   (Trumpets on the stage.) CHOIR Hail! Hail! Hail to Thuringia’s Prince! Hail to the protector of the gracious art! Hail! Hail! (All sit down) (The four noble pages come forward and collect from each Singer, in a golden bowl, a small roll of paper bearing his name; they present the bowl to Elisabeth, who takes out one of the papers and hands it back to the pages. These read the name, and advance ceremoniously into the middle of the hall) FOUR PAGES Wolfram von Eschenbach, begin! (They seat themselves at the feet of the Landgrave and Elisabeth. Wolfram rises. Tannhäuser, as though falling into a reverie, leans upon his harp.)

Singing Competition

WOLFRAM When I cast my eye around this noble circle, what a sublime spectacle makes my heart glow! So many heroes, valiant, upright and judicious, a forest of proud oaks, magnificent, fresh and green. And ladies I behold, charming and virtuous, a richly-perfumed garland of lovely blooms. My glance becomes enraptured at the sight, my song mute in face of such radiant loveliness. I lift my eyes up yonder to one star which stands fast in the firmament and dazzles me: my spirit draws comfort from that distance, my soul devoutly sinks in prayer. And behold! Before me a miraculous spring appears, which my spirit glimpses, filled with wonder! From it, it draws bliss, rich in grace, through which, ineffably, it revives my heart. And never would I sully this fount, nor taint the spring in wanton mood: I would practise myself in devotion, sacrificing, gladly shed my heart’s last drop of blood. You noble sirs may read in these words how I perceive the purest essence of love. (He sits down) KNIGHTS AND LADIES (with gestures of approval) Tis so! Tis so! Praised be your song! (Tannhäuser seems to awaken from a dream: his haughty mien now changes to an expression of ecstasy. He stares fixedly at nothing. A slight trembling of the hand - which has unconsciously sought the strings of the harp - and an uneasy smile indicate that a strange magic has taken possession of him. Then, as if awakened, he sweeps the harp string energetically, his whole demeanour showing that he hardly knows now where he is, and that he is especially oblivious of Elisabeth)

TANNHÄUSER Oh Wolfram, you who have sung thus, have woefully misrepresented love! If you languish so fearfully, the world would come to an end, forsooth! To praise God in the sublime and lofty distance, raise your eyes to heaven, look up to His stars! Worship is due to such marvels, for one should not aspire to touch them! But that which inclines to touch, lies near the heart and senses, that which, conceived of the selfsame stuff in softer mould, nestles to one - I do boldly approach that fount of delight with which no fear is ever mixed, for the fount is inexhaustible, as my longing is unquenchable! That my desire may ever burn I will ever refresh myself at the source! Then know, Wolfram, thus do I conceive love’s truest essence to be! (General astonishment. Elisabeth torn between rapt admiration and anxious bewilderment.) (Biterolf rises quickly and angrily.)

BITEROLF Outside to fight us all! Who could remain calm, when he hears you? If it please your arrogance, then harken, now, to me, too, blasphemer! When sublime love inspires me, it tempers my weapon with courage; that it may remain forever unshamed, I would proudly shed my last drop of blood. For women’s honour and highest virtue as a knight I wield my sword; but that which indulgence offers your youth is cheap and not worth a blow. KNIGHTS AND LADIES (with tumultuous applause) Hail, Biterolf! Here are our swords! TANNHÄUSER (springing up with ever-increasing vehemence) Ha, foolish boaster Biterolf! Do you sing of love, you grim wolf!? It’s certain you cannot have meant that which seems fraught with delight to me! Poor thing! What, then, have you enjoyed? Your life has not been rich in love and that which gave rise to pleasure in you is truly not worth a blow! KNIGHTS (in the greatest agitation) Don’t let him finish! Put a stop to his audacity! LANDGRAVE (to Biterolf, who has drawn his sword) Sheathe your sword! Keep the peace, you Singers!

WOLFRAM (He rises; as soon as he begins to speak, complete silence is immediately restored.) Now, oh heaven, be moved by my entreaty! Grant my song the gift of divine inspiration! Let me see sin banished from this noble and unpolluted circle! To thee, sublime love, that hast penetrated in angelic beauty deep into my heart, may my song ring out inspired! Thou dost approach like a messenger of God, I follow thee from the fair distance - thou leadest thus into the lands where thy star ever shineth. TANNHÄUSER (He springs up, in utter ecstasy.) To thee, goddess of love, shall my song ring out! Now let thy praise be sung aloud by me! Thy honeyed fascination is fount of all beauty, and every sweet wonder stems from thee! That man who has held thee locked in passionate embrace, knows what love is, and he alone. Poor creatures, who have never enjoyed her love, fare hence, fare hence into the Venusberg!   (General uproar and horror.) LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS Ha, the villain! Fly from him! Hear it! He has been in the Venusberg! KNIGHTS AND LADIES Ha, the villain! Fly from him! Hear it! He was in the Venusberg! Away! Away out of his presence! (All the women leave the hall in the greatest alarm and with gestures of abhorrence. Elisabeth, who has listened to the contest of the singers with growing anxiety, alone remains behind among the women — pale, sustaining herself upright against one of the wooden pillars of the canopy only by the utmost effort of her strength. — The Landgrave, all the knights, and the singers have risen from their seats and gather together. — Tannhäuser, at the far left, remains for some time as though in rapture.)

LANDGRAVE. SINGERS. KNIGHTS You heard it! His wicked lips have made horrible confession of his sin. He has shared in hellish delights, he has sojourned in the Venusberg! Frightful! Revolting! Damnable! Steep your swords in his blood! Sent back to the bottomless pit, let him be condemned, let him be banished! (All press upon Tannhäuser with drawn swords, while he assumes a defiant stance; Elisabeth rushes between them.) ELISABETH Hold!   (All pause in the greatest consternation.) LANDGRAVE. SINGERS. KNIGHTS What do I hear? What’s this? What do I see? Elizabeth! The chaste maid siding with the sinner! ELISABETH (shielding Tannhäuser with her body) Back! I take no heed else of death! What is the wound dealt by your swords to the death blow I received from him! LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS Elisabeth! What am I obliged to hear? How can your heart allow you to be so infatuated, as to exorcise punishment from the man who has so shamefully betrayed you? KNIGHTS Elisabeth! How can you be so infatuated, as to exorcise punishment from the man who has so shamefully betrayed you? ELISABETH What do I matter? But he - his salvation! Would you rob him of his eternal salvation? LANDGRAVE. SINGERS. KNIGHTS He has cast away his every hope, never will he win salvation! The curse of heaven has fallen upon him, (They press upon Tannhäuser again.) let him go hence in his sin!

ELISABETH Away from him! You are not his judges! Inhuman wretches, throw your furious swords from you and give heed to the pure maid’s words! Learn from me what is God’s will! Why should the unhappy man, whom a fearful mighty magic holds captive, not attain salvation through repentance and atonement in this world? Do you who are so strong in true belief thus misconstrue the counsel of the Highest? If you would rob a sinner of hope, then say, what harm has he done you? Behold me, the maid whom he destroyed with one swift blow in the flower of her youth, who loved him deep in her soul, and whose heart he pierced, exulting! I pray for him, I pray for his life, may he turn his step penitently towards atonement! May the spirit of faith be granted him anew since for him, too, the Saviour suffered once! TANNHÄUSER (Gradually descending from the height of his agitation and defiance, and profoundly moved by Elisabeth’s plea on his behalf, he collapses in remorse.) Woe, woe is me, unhappy mortal!

LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS (gradually becoming calm and moved) An angel has descended from the shining firmament to make God’s holy counsel known. See there, you infamous betrayer, acknowledge your misdeed! You dealt her death, she begs for your life - Who could remain stern when he hears the angel’s prayer? Though I may not forgive the culprit yet I cannot oppose heaven’s command.

KNIGHTS See there! See there, you infamous betrayer! Look upon her! You dealt her death, she begs for your life - Who could remain stern when he hears the angel’s prayer? Though I may not forgive the culprit yet I cannot oppose heaven’s command.

TANNHÄUSER To lead the sinner to salvation God’s messenger drew near me! But, oh, to touch her wantonly I raised my dissolute gaze to her! Oh Thou, high above this land of earth, Who sent the angel of my salvation to me, have mercy on me who, oh, so deep in sin, shamefully failed to recognize heaven’s mediator! Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me! Oh, have mercy on me! ELISABETH I pray for him, I pray for his life! May the spirit of faith be granted him anew since for him, too, the Saviour suffered once!   (The Landgrave solemnly steps into the center.) LANDGRAVE A fearful wrong has been committed. With dissembling mask, the accursed son of sin came crawling to us. We cast you out from among us: with us you may not tarry; our hearth is stained with shame through you, and heaven itself looks threateningly upon this roof, which has sheltered you too long already. However, a way to deliverance from eternal damnation stands open before you: rejecting you, I point it out to you. Make use of it for your salvation! Gathered together on my lands is a great concourse of pilgrim penitents. The older ones have gone on before already, the younger are still resting in the valley. Trifling though their transgressions be, their hearts will give them no rest; to still the devout distress of repentance they are marching towards Rome for the feast of grace. LANDGRAVE. SINGERS. KNIGHTS You must go along with them on pilgrimage to the city of clemency and grace, in the dust there to fall prostrate and atone for your sin! Before him who pronounces the sentence of God, cast yourself down; but nevermore return, if you do not receive his blessing! Though our anger has been forced to soften, because an angel checked it, this sword will despatch you, if you linger in sin and disgrace!

ELISABETH Let him journey to thee, Thou God of clemency and grace! Forgive him, who has fallen so low, the guilt of his sin! For him only will I pray, may my life be prayer; grant that he may see Thy light, before he is lost in night! In joyful trepidation, let a sacrifice be dedicated to Thee! Take, oh, take my life: I no longer call it mine! TANNHÄUSER How shall I find pardon? How atone for my guilt? My salvation I have seen vanish, heaven’s favour flies from me. Yet I will travel repentant, beat my breast, fall prostrate in the dust - contrition be my chosen lot. Oh, that the angel of my hour of need who, though so insolently mocked by me, yet offered herself for me as sacrifice might be reconciled with me! YOUNGER PILGRIMS (in the background, deep-toned, as though echoing up from the valley) At the sublime festival of clemency and grace. I will atone for my sin in humility. Blessed is he who truly believes! He shall be saved through penitence and repentance. (All have involuntarily subdued their gestures; Elisabeth, as though once more to protect Tannhäuser, had placed herself before those pressing forward again. She now directs their attention to the promising song of the young pilgrims. — Tannhäuser suddenly ceases his movements of passionate remorse and listens to the singing.)

TANNHÄUSER (throws himself with convulsive impetuosity at Elisabeth’s feet, kisses precipitately and ardently the hem of her garment, and then rises in the utmost agitation) To Rome! ALL (calling after him:) To Rome! (The curtain falls)