“Tannhäuser” – Act 3

ACT THREE

Introduction

TANNHÄUSER’S PILGRIMAGE (The curtain rises. The valley before the Wartburg, with the Hörselberg to the left, as at the close of the first act, but in autumnal coloring. The day is drawing toward evening. Upon the small rocky ledge to the right, Elisabeth lies prostrate in prayer before the image of the Virgin Mary. Wolfram descends from the wooded height on the left; halfway down he pauses when he catches sight of Elisabeth.)

Scene One

WOLFRAM I knew full well I’d find her here in prayer, as I so often find her, when, down from the wooded heights, I stray in the valley alone. The death he dealt her buried deep in her heart in searing smart, she prays for his salvation day and night - oh, eternal might of holy love! She awaits the return of the pilgrims from Rome. The leaves are falling already, their return is imminent. Will he come back with the pardoned? This is her question, this is her prayer - You Saints in heaven, may she see it consummated! Though the wound remain unhealed, oh, that relief, at least, might be granted her! (As he is about to descend farther into the valley, he hears the singing of the pilgrims and stops.)

THE OLDER PILGRIMS (approaching the stage slowly from a great distance) Blest, I may now look on thee, oh, my native land, and gladly greet thy pleasant pastures; now I lay my pilgrim’s staff aside to rest, because, faithful to God, I have completed my pilgrimage! ELISABETH (She rises, listening to the singing.) That is their song! It is they! They are returning home! You saints in heaven, show me now my task, that I may fulfil it worthily! WOLFRAM It is the pilgrims. - It is the pious lay that tells of the salvation of pardon received! Oh heaven, strengthen now her heart to meet the crucial moment of her life! THE OLDER PILGRIMS (gradually drawing nearer to the stage) Through penance and repentance I have propitiated the Lord, Whom my heart serves, Who crowns my repentance with blessing, the Lord to Whom my song goes up! (Here the pilgrims enter the stage from the right foreground.) The salvation of pardon is granted the penitent, in days to come he will walk in the peace of the blessed! (During what follows, they slowly pass by the rocky ledge and proceed along the valley toward the background.) Hell and death do not appal him, therefore will I praise God my life long. (By this point, the pilgrims have already turned toward the background, gradually moving farther away.) Alleluia! Alleluia in eternity!

ELISABETH (who, from her elevated position, has searched among the passing pilgrims for Tannhäuser with great agitation, now speaks in sorrowful yet calm composure) He has not returned! PILGRIMS (During what follows, they move ever farther away and finally disappear through the opening of the valley to the right.) Blest, I may now look on thee, oh, my native land, and gladly greet thy pleasant pastures; now I lay my pilgrim’s staff aside to rest. (The Pilgrims’ voices die away little by little in the distance)

ELISABETH (sinking to her knees with great solemnity) Almighty Virgin, hear my prayer! I cry to thee, All-glorious! Let me perish in the dust before thee, oh, take me from this earth! Make me, pure and angel-like, enter into my blessed realm! If ever, engrossed in foolish fancies, my heart did stray from thee, if ever a sinful longing, a worldly yearning did spring up within me, I wrestled then beneath a thousand smarts, to kill it in my heart! But if I could not atone for every fault - yet receive me of thy grace, that, as a worthy maid, I may draw near thee in humble greeting, only to implore the richest favour of thy mercy for his sin! (She remains for a long time in devout rapture; as she rises slowly she perceives Wolfram, who is approaching to speak to her) (She entreats him, by a gesture, not to speak to her)

WOLFRAM Elisabeth, might I not bear you company? (Elisabeth assures him, by her gestures, that she thanks him from her heart for his faithful affection, but that her path leads to heaven, where she has a lofty duty to fulfil; he must therefore let her go alone and must not follow her) (She ascends half-way up the height and gradually disappears along the footpath leading to the Wartburg, after her form has long been visible in the distance) (Wolfram, who has followed Elisabeth with his eyes, seats himself down and begins to play upon his harp)

Scene Two

WOLFRAM Like a presentiment of death, twilight covers the land and shrouds the valley in sombre raiment; the soul that yearns for heaven’s heights is fearful before its flight through night and horror. There thou shinest, oh loveliest of stars! Thy sweet light thou dost send into the far-off distance, thy dear beam pierces the evening twilight, and, in friendly fashion, thou dost point the way out of the valley. Oh thou, my gracious evening star, how gladly have I always greeted thee; from a heart that she never betrayed salute her as she passes by thee, as she soars from this earthly vale, to become a blessed angel yonder.   (He remains, continuing to play upon the harp with his gaze lifted toward heaven.)

Scene Three

(Night has completely fallen. Tannhäuser enters; he wears tattered pilgrim’s clothing, his face pale and disfigured. He staggers forward with weary steps, leaning upon his staff.) TANNHÄUSER (in a weary voice) I heard the strains of a harp - how melancholy it sounded - It surely did not come from her! WOLFRAM Who are you, pilgrim, that you journey all alone? TANNHÄUSER Who am I? I know you, however, very well! - you are Wolfram, (mockingly) the Singer of great skill! WOLFRAM (starting up violently) Henry! Is it you? What brings you to these parts? Tell me! Do you dare, still unpardoned, to turn your step hitherward?

TANNHÄUSER Never fear, my good Singer, I do not seek to join you, nor your kindred! (with eerie lustfulness) But I seek someone who will show me the way which once I found so wondrous easily. WOLFRAM And which way is that? TANNHÄUSER The way to the Venusberg! WOLFRAM Dreadful man! Do not profane my ear! Are you drawn to that? TANNHÄUSER (softly) Do you know the way, then? WOLFRAM Madman! Horror seizes upon me, when I hear you! Where have you been? Did you then not tread the road to Rome? TANNHÄUSER (furiously) Speak not of Rome to me! WOLFRAM Were you not at the holy feast? TANNHÄUSER Speak not of it to me! WOLFRAM You weren’t there, then? Speak, I implore you! TANNHÄUSER (as though recollecting himself, with bitter anguish) Indeed I was in Rome!

WOLFRAM Then speak! Tell me about it, unhappy man! I feel profound pity for you!   (Tannhäuser gazes at Wolfram for a long time with moved astonishment.) TANNHÄUSER (slowly) What do you say, Wolfram? Are you then not my enemy? WOLFRAM Nor ever was, whilst I believed you devout! Speak, therefore, did you go on pilgrimage to Rome? TANNHÄUSER Well then! Listen! You shall hear all, Wolfram. (Exhausted, he sinks down at the foot of the rocky ledge; Wolfram also wishes to sit down beside him.) Keep away! The place where I rest me is accursed! (Wolfram remains standing a short distance before Tannhäuser.)

Hear me, Wolfram, hear me! With such devotion in my heart as no penitent has ever felt before, I sought the path to Rome. An angel had, oh, wrenched the sinful pride from out my arrogant being; for her I wished to expiate my fault in humility, implore the salvation that was denied me, in order to sweeten for her the tears she had once shed over me, a sinner! The manner in which the heaviest-laden pilgrim beside me took his way appeared to me too easy. When his foot trod the soft sward of the meadows, I sought thorn and stone for my bare feet; when at the spring he would allow his lips to taste refreshment,

I would imbibe the scorching glow of the sun; when he devoutly offered up his prayers to heaven, I would shed my blood to the glory of the Almighty; when the weary pilgrim would refresh himself at the hospice, I would bed down my limbs in snow and ice. With eyes fast shut, their beauty not to see, I dragged myself, blind, through Italy’s fair pastures, I did it, because, filled with remorse, I wished to atone, in order to sweeten my angel’s tears! I came thus to Rome, to the holy see, lay prostrate, praying, at the threshold to the sanctuary. Day dawned; bells rang out, heavenly anthems came floating down, then rose exultantly in a fervent shout of joy, for they promised pardon and salvation to the multitude. Then I saw him through whom God proclaims himself - all men prostrated themselves before him in the dust. And he bestowed grace on thousands, pardoned thousands, commanded them joyfully to rise. Then I, too, drew near - my head bowed down to earth - with sorely grieving mien, myself I accused of the sinful delights my senses had experienced, of the longings no penance had yet cooled; and for deliverance from the searing bonds, shot through with savage pain, I implored him.

And he whom I so begged began: - “If you have enjoyed such sinful delights and enflamed your passions at the fires of hell, if you have sojourned in the Venusberg, then, now from henceforth, you are eternally damned! As this staff in my hand no longer bedecks itself in fresh green, so from the burning brands of hell deliverance can never blossom for you!” Then I sank, annihilated, speechless, to the ground; I fainted clean away. When I woke, night brooded over the deserted square, from afar off echoed glad songs of grace: the sweet singing sickened me! From the false sound of promise which, icy-cold, pierced my soul, shuddering horror forced me away with wildly staggering step!

It drove me there where I had enjoyed so much delight and pleasure on her warm breast! (with ghastly exaltation) To you, dame Venus, do I return, into thy magic’s sweet night; to your court do I descend, where your alluring charm will smile upon me now for always!

WOLFRAM Hold! Hold, unhappy man! TANNHÄUSER Oh, let me not seek in vain! How easily did I find you once! WOLFRAM Hold, wretched man! TANNHÄUSER You hear men curse me; guide me now, sweet goddess! (Dark night; light mists gradually veil the scene.) WOLFRAM (shudders with horror) Madman, whom do you call? TANNHÄUSER Ha! Do you not feel gentle airs? WOLFRAM Come to me! You are lost! TANNHÄUSER And do you not breathe sweet perfumes? (The mists begin to glow with rosy light) Do you not hear sounds of rejoicing? WOLFRAM My heart beats madly in dread!

TANNHÄUSER (growing ever more agitated as the enchantment draws nearer) It is the dancing horde of nymphs! Come on, come here to rapture and delight! (A confused whirl of dancing shapes can be faintly distinguished) WOLFRAM Alas, evil magic is abroad! Hell is approaching in wild career. TANNHÄUSER Rapture thrills my every sense, when I perceive this glimmering dawn; this is the magic realm of love - (beside himself) we have forced our way into the Venusberg! (Venus appears, reclining seductively upon her couch) VENUS Welcome fickle man! Did the world strike you with ostracism and excommunication? And, finding nowhere pity, do you now seek love in my arms?

TANNHÄUSER Dame Venus, oh, truly merciful, to you, to you am I driven! WOLFRAM Magic of hell, turn aside, withdraw! Do not bewitch the chaste man’s senses! VENUS If you approach my threshold once again, let your arrogance be pardoned, the fount of delight flow for ever for you, and never must you fly from me more! TANNHÄUSER (tearing himself away from Wolfram with wild determination) My salvation, my salvation I have lost, now let the pleasures of hell be my choice!

WOLFRAM Almighty God, stand by the devout man! (He restrains Tannhäuser once more.) Henry! One word, it will set you free! Your salvation! VENUS (with growing anxiety) Oh, come! Oh, come! Now be for ever mine! TANNHÄUSER (to Wolfram) Have done! Let me be! WOLFRAM You may yet achieve salvation, sinner!   (Tannhäuser and Wolfram struggle violently.) VENUS Oh, come! TANNHÄUSER Never. Wolfram, never! I must away there! WOLFRAM An angel prayed for you upon earth, soon she will soar above you, blessing; VENUS Come, oh, come! To me! To me! TANNHÄUSER Leave me! WOLFRAM Elisabeth! TANNHÄUSER (having just torn himself free, suddenly stands as though rooted to the spot) Elisabeth! (The vapours darken and the gleam of approaching torches shines through them) WALTHER, HEINRICH DER SCHREIBER, BITEROLF, REINMAR, MEN Hail to the soul that is now fled from the pious martyr’s body! WOLFRAM (with sublime emotion) Your angel is praying for you at the throne of God, she has been heard: - Henry, you are saved!

VENUS (already out of sight) Lost to me, alas! (She sinks from sight. The mists vanish completely. Dawn breaks. — From the Wartburg, a funeral procession with torches descends into the depths of the valley.)

WALTHER, HEINRICH DER SCHREIBER, BITEROLF, REINMAR, MEN Hers is now the angel’s blessed recompense, the supreme prize of celestial bliss! WOLFRAM (gently holding Tannhäuser in his embrace) And do you hear the chant? TANNHÄUSER I do! (The funeral procession now reaches the open stage. It comprises, first, the Older Pilgrims, then the Singers bearing Elisabeth’s body on an open bier, then the Landgrave, his Knights and Nobles)

MEN Holy the pure maid who now united with the heavenly host, stands in the presence of the Everlasting! (Here Wolfram makes a gesture which moves the singers, when they recognize Tannhäuser, to set down the bier.) Blessed the sinner for whom she wept, for whom she implores salvation of heaven! (Wolfram leads Tannhäuser to the bier bearing Elisabeth’s body. He sinks slowly to the ground) TANNHÄUSER Holy Elisabeth, pray for me! (He dies. — All lower their torches to the ground and thereby extinguish them. The glow of dawn fully illumines the scene.)

YOUNGER PILGRIMS (proceeding along the front rocky ledge and carrying in their midst a priest’s staff newly covered with green leaves) Hail! Hail! Hail to the miracle of mercy! Redemption is conferred upon the world. It came to pass in the holy hour of night, the Lord manifested Himself in a miracle. The barren staff in a priest’s hand He decked with fresh green: for the sinner in the fires of hell redemption shall blossom thus afresh! Throughout all lands let it be proclaimed to him who has found forgiveness by this miracle! High above all the world is God, and His Mercy is no mockery! WALTHER, HEINRICH DER SCHREIBER, WOLFRAM, BITEROLF, REINMAR, LANDGRAVE, KNIGHTS AND OLDER PILGRIMS (all deeply moved) The salvation of grace is the penitent’s reward, now he attains the peace of the blessed! YOUNGER PILGRIMS Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (The curtain falls)