“Tannhäuser” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three

ACT TWO

INTRODUCTION

SCENE ONE
(The Singers' Hall in the Wartburg)

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!
(Tannhäser and Wolfram appear in the background)

SCENE TWO
(Elisabeth sees Tannhäuser)

WOLFRAM
(to Tannhäuser)
There she is; approach her without fear.
(He remains in the background)

TANNHÄUSER
(throws himself at Elisabeth's feet)

Oh princess!

ELISABETH

Heavens! Rise! Leave me!
I may not see you here!

TANNHÄUSER
You may! Oh, stay and let me
remain at your feet!

ELISABETH

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!

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

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!

SCENE THREE

(The Landgrave now enters and addresses Elisabeth)

LANDGRAVE
Do I meet you here in this hall you shunned for so long?
Does a festival of singing of our preparing attracct 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 heared 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!
(The assembled guests have now all taken their seats. The Landgrave and Elisabeth occupy seats of honour under a canopy, in the foreground)
(The Singers step forward and greet the assembly with dignified bows. They then take their seats, which are disposed in a narrow semicircle in the centre of the hall)
(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 dissention,
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.

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 cerimoniously into the middle of the hall)

FOUR PAGES
Wolfram von Eschenbach, begin!
(Wolfram rises. Tannhäuser leans upon his harp, seemingly lost in dreams)

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 ones may gather from these words
how I do apprehend love's purest essence to be!

(He sits down)

KNIGHTS AND LADIES

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 energically, 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 weaker 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 consternation; Elisabeth is a prey to conflicting emotions of rapture and anxious astonishment)

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

Hail, Biterolf! Here are our swords!

TANNHÄUSER

Ha, foolish boaster Biterolf!
Do you sing of love, surely 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

Don't let him finish! Put a stop to his audacity!

LANDGRAVE
(to Biterolf, who has drawn his sward)
Up with your sword! Keep the peace, you Singers!

WOLFRAM
(rises. A profound quiet ensues)

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 unpollucted 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

To thee, goddess of love, shall my song ring our!
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!

LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS
Ha, the villain! Fly from him!
Hear it! He has been in the Venusberg!

KNIGHTS AND LADIES
Ha, der Verruchte! Fliehet ihn!
Hört es! Er war im Venusberg!
Away! Away out of his presence!
(The Ladies retire horrified, Elisabeth alone remaining)

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 condamned, let him be banished!
(They threaten Tannhäuser with drawn swords; Elisabeth throws herself between them)

ELISABETH
Hold!

LANDGRAVE. SINGERS. KNIGHTS
What do I hear? What's this? What do I see? Elizabeth!
The chaste maid siding with the sinner!

ELISABETH

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,

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 belief he granted him anew
since for him, too, the Saviour suffered once!

TANNHÄUSER

Woe, woe is me, unhappy mortal!

LANDGRAVE AND SINGERS

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 belief he granted him anew
since for him, too, the Saviour suffered once!

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,
haven'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

At the sublime festival of clemency and grace.
I will atone for my sin in humility.
Blessed is he who truly belives!
He shall be saved through penitence and repentance.

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

To Rome!

(The curtain falls)

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three