Richard Wagner
Tannhäuser
Act I
Translated by Abigail Dyer © Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved.
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Contents
- DRESDEN VERSION
- Act I, Scene 1
- Act I, Scene 2
- Act I, Scene 3
- Act I, Scene 4
- PARIS VERSION
- Act I, Scene 1
- Act I, Scene 2
DRESDEN VERSION (Paris Version appended)
Act I, Scene 1
‘Wagner, Tannhäuser, Act 1, Scene 2’
Henri Fantin-Latour (French, 1836-1904)
Picaryl
Inside Venusberg (the Mountain of Venus): a wide grotto extends into the background and curves Upstage Left until it disappears from view. It the most distant background we see a blue sea with bathing naiads. Sirens recline on the beach. Far Downstage Right, Venus lies stretched out on her couch, as Tannhäuser half-kneels before her with his head on her lap. Pink light suffuses the whole grotto. Center, a group of dancing nymphs. On platforms throughout are pairs of lovers, some of whom join the nymphs' dance.
A line of bacchanalian revellers moves Down from Upstage in a wild dance. With drunken gestures, they make their way through groups of nymphs and pairs of lovers, who get pulled into their dance.
SIRENS Come hide away here!
(The passionate dance suddenly stops and the dancers listen to the song.)
Come, come and play here
Where the embrace of love's glowing fire
Gladly fulfils your every desire!
(The dance begins again and builds to a frenzy. At its height, the bacchanalian dancers suddenly go limp. The pairs of lovers slowly leave the dance and, pleasantly fatigued, stretch out somewhere comfortable on the Downstage side of the grotto.)
SIRENS Come hide away here!
Come, come and play here!
(The dancers disappear Upstage, as from Upstage rises an increasingly dense mist. The mist covers the group of sleeping lovers in rosy clouds so that only one section of the stage remains visible, the part where Venus and Tannhäuser have remained in their poses.)
Act I, Scene 2
DRESDEN VERSION (Paris Version appended)
Tannhäuser suddenly raises his head as if startling awake from a dream. Venus, caressing him, pulls him back.
VENUS Beloved, say, what’s on your mind?
TANNHÄUSER Too much! Too much! Oh, if I could awaken!
VENUS Say, what troubles you?
TANNHÄUSER I dreamed I heard the far-off sound,
A sound my ear so long has missed,
I dreamed I heard the sound of bells in the distance.
Oh say, how long since I last hear them ring?
VENUS What has come over you? Where have you gone?
TANNHÄUSER The time that here I have dwelled,
I don't know how to measure!
Days and months just seem to pass me by.
How long since I last saw a sunrise?
Last saw the friendly stars up in the heavens?
No green plants have I seen
That bloom and blossom each year when summer comes.
The nightingale I hear no more as she the spring announces.
Will I not hear, not see her e’er again?
VENUS (sitting up on her couch)
Ha! What is this, such ludicrous complaining?
Have you so quickly tired of the banquet
That my affection lays before you?
Could you be sorry you’ve become a god down here?
Have you so soon forgotten all the pain you suffered
And how happy you are now?
My singer, come, take up your harp and play it!
To love, sing praises with your celebrated voice,
This voice that won you love’s own goddess for your own!
To love, sing praises, for you’ve won her highest prize!
TANNHÄUSER (suddenly resolute, picks up his harp and stands formally before Venus)
Your praise I sing, I praise the wonders gracious
That by your power on me you have bestowed!
May the delight that flows forth from your favour
Lift up my song in loud and joyful tones!
For pleasure, ah!, for exquisite indulgence
My heart did long and all my senses thirst.
You made this world for gods in their refulgence;
Into its charms, this mortal you immersed.
But mortal I am, mortal merely
And of your love I have grown weary.
The gods enjoy your endless fun
But I need change or I’m undone.
This pleasure dome, I find it smothering.
My heart goes seeking after suffering,
So from your kingdom I must flee.
My queen, O my goddess, set me free!
VENUS What are you saying? What a song!
What tragic tale do you tell?
What happened to the bliss you felt,
The songs of passion it inspired?
What's this? Just how was my affection lacking?
Beloved, tell me, where did I go wrong?
TANNHÄUSER Praised be your charms and treasured your embraces
And may he happy be who dwells with you!
Envied for always who’s in your good graces,
Who's in your arms and shares your godly glow!
Enchanting are the joys of your dominion
Where magical delight shines through and through.
No land on earth could boast of such a kingdom
Yet all that’s here is child’s play to you.
But I, deep in this rosy bower,
I long to see some trees and flowers,
Long for our sky so blue and clear,
Long for our forests and our fields,
Long for our birds, their tuneful singing,
Long for our bells, their trusty ringing,
So from your kingdom I must flee!
My queen, O my goddess, set me free!
VENUS (jumping up from her couch)
Disloyal knave! What nonsense are you saying?
You dare accept my love and then disdain it?
You praise my love and want to run away?
You’re weary of my charms and cannot stay?
TANNHÄUSER Ah, lovely goddess, do not be offended!
VENUS You’re weary of my charms and cannot stay?
TANNHÄUSER Your lovely charms are what I run away from!
VENUS Villain! Betrayer! Ingrate! Woe betide you! Woe!
You mustn’t go! I’ll never let you leave me!
Villain! Betrayer! Woe betide you!
You mustn’t go! I'll never let you leave! You mustn’t leave! You mustn't go! Ah!
TANNHÄUSER Ne’er has my love been greater, never truer
Than now, when I must leave you.
Forever I must leave, now that I must leave you.
Forever I must leave.
VENUS (covers her hands with her face and dramatically turns away from Tannhäuser. After a moment, she turns back to him, smiling and seductive.)
Beloved, come, look at our grotto:
The scent of roses wafts throughout.
It would enchant even a god to
Abide here in this charming house!
Reclining on the pillows downy,
Your limbs are freed from every hurt!
Your burning brow now cool and drowsy,
Exquisite ardour swells in your heart!
Out in the distance bells are sweetly tolling.
They whisper, "Fondly in your arms enfold him!"
As from my lips you sample a godly wine,
As by my eyes you’re lit with love divine,
Our union turns into a celebration,
Our feast of love becomes a revelation!
No timid victim to her alter bring, no!
Here with love’s own goddess, worship revelling!
SIRENS (Off, from a distance)
Come hide away here!
Come, come and play here!
VENUS (as she tries to pull Tannhäuser gently toward her)
My champion, my beloved!
Would you leave me?
TANNHÄUSER (in a state of utmost rapture, drunkenly grabs his harp)
Of you alone, alone will I sing praises
As, long and loud, your glory I intone!
Your sweet allure begets all that is gracious
And all things beauteous come from you alone!
The glow you kindled in your humble servant,
Its fire burns now brightly just for you!
Against the very world will I, unswerving,
Henceforth become your champion brave and true!
But I must join the world of humans,
For here I live in bondage to you!
I long for my own liberty!
I long for freedom thirstily:
In wars and contests to compete,
Even to death and harsh defeat,
So from your kingdom I must flee!
My queen, O my goddess, set me free!
VENUS (with violent fury)
Get out, mad maniac!
Get out, you traitor! Leave! Who’s stopping you?
I set you free!
Get out! Get out!
May you get everything you want!
Ah, may you get just what you want!
Get out! Get out—
Out to the world of cold mankind
With its delusions dull and drab,
The world we pleasure gods escaped
Here in the warming womb of the earth!
Get out, you beggar! Seek to be saved!
Seek the salvation you'll ne'er find!
Soon will the pride seep from your soul.
Humbled I’ll see you as you near.
Destroyed, defeated, crawling, you’ll come
Beg for the wonder of my charms,
Destroyed, defeated, crawling you’ll come
Beg for the wonder of my charms!
TANNHÄUSER Ah, lovely goddess, fare you well!
Never will I come back to you!
VENUS (despondent)
Ah, if you don’t come back to me...
If you don’t come back, ah!,
I’ll take the whole human race
And curse them, curse them all their days!
They’ll seek my wonders but in vain find only,
They’ll seek my wonders but in vain find only
The world a wasteland and its knight a knave!
Come back, ah, come to me again!
TANNHÄUSER Our happy love has reached its end!
VENUS Come back, oh, heed your heart’s own plea!
TANNHÄUSER Forever must your lover leave!
VENUS You'll be rejected and disgraced!
TANNHÄUSER From magic spells, through penance, saved!
VENUS There’s no forgiveness for your crime!
Salvation you will never find!
TANNHÄUSER My soul will be saved by Maria!
(Venus screams, collapses and disappears. Sudden change of scene.)
Act I, Scene 3
Tannhäuser, without ever having moved, finds himself suddenly in a beautiful valley. Blue skies, sunlight. Upstage Left is Wartburg Castle. Hörselberg is visible to the Right. A path into the mountains leads Off Left. On a small outcropping is a shrine to the Virgin Mary. On a high outcropping sits a young Shepherd, playing his shawm. From high up, Off Right, comes the sound of sheep bells.
SHEPHERD Dame Holda came from the mountain down
To stroll through meadow and forest.
My ear caught wind of beautiful sounds,
My eye sought a glimpse of the goddess.
I dreamed then many lovely dreams
And as my eyes were opening
The sunlight pleasant shone in,
For May, for May had come in.
Now on my reed I gladly play,
For May is here. It’s lovely May!
(The Shepherd plays his shawm. From the direction of Wartburg Castle comes the sound of pilgrims walking towards the mountain.)
PILGRIMS To You I travel, Christ Jesu.
I place my pilgrim’s hope in You.
The Virgin’s praise we pilgrims sing.
By her, be blessed our pilgrimage.
(Upon hearing the song, the Shepherd puts down his pipe and listens attentively.)
Ah, heavy hang my sins on me.
No longer can I bear their burden,
So I renounce repose and peace
And gladly choose this troubled journey.
There at the feast of clemency
I’ll make confession humbly.
Oh, blessed be he who lives in faith.
Through penitence will he find grace.
(As the pilgrims appear in the mountains across from him, the Shepherd waves his cap at them and calls:)
SHEPHERD Good luck! Good luck in Rome!
Pray there for blessings on my poor soul!
TANNHÄUSER (deeply shaken, sinks to his knees)
Almighty one be praised!
Great are the wonders of Your mercy!
(The procession of pilgrims passes the shrine of the Virgin Mary and exits Right. The Shepherd takes his shawm and exits Left. The sound of sheep bells recedes.)
PILGRIMS To You I travel, Christ Jesu.
I place my pilgrim’s hope in You.
The Virgin’s praise we pilgrims sing.
By her, be blessed our pilgrimage.
Ah, heavy hang my sins on me.
No longer can I bear their burden,
So I renounce repose and peace
And gladly choose this troubled journey.
There at the feast of clemency
I’ll make confession humbly.
Oh, blessed be he who lives in faith.
Through penitence will he find grace.
TANNHÄUSER (kneeling, deep in prayer)
Ah, heavy hang my sins on me.
No long can I bear their burden.
I, too, renounce repose and peace
And gladly choose this troubled journey.
(choking back tears, bows his head to the ground and seems to sob)
PILGRIMS There at the feast of clemency
I’ll make confession humbly.
Oh, blessed be he who lives in faith.
Through penitence will he find grace.
(From the distance, bells and hunting horns are heard.)
Act I, Scene 4
From a forest path, Right, the Landgrave and Singers enter one at a time, wearing hunting costumes.
LANDGRAVE (noticing Tannhäuser)
Who’s praying there in fervent adoration?
WALTHER Some penitent.
BITEROLF Judged by his clothes, he's knightly.
WOLFRAM (hurries to Tannhäuser and recognizes him)
It’s Heinrich!
ALL Heinrich! Heinrich! Is that you?
(Tannhäuser jumps up startled but gets ahold of himself. He silently bows his head to the Landgrave after a fleeting look at the Singers.)
LANDGRAVE Is that you, really? Have you come to join this group you once so pridefully abandoned?
BITEROLF Tell us all, why this sudden reappearance?
WALTHER, DER SCHREIBER, REINMAR AND LANDGRAVE Tell us all!
BITEROLF To own up or to seek another fight?
WALTHER Come you as friend here or as foe?
SINGERS As foe?
WOLFRAM Don’t ask him that!
Is this a prideful posture?
(approaches Tannhäuser in friendship)
We gladly greet you, ardent singer,
Away so long and very greatly missed!
WALTHER We greet you if you come in peace!
BITEROLF I greet you if our friend you be!
SINGERS We greet, we greet you fondly, friend!
LANDGRAVE Then, too, be welcomed back by me!
Say, where’ve you been for all this time?
TANNHÄUSER I wandered off so far, so far away
Where not a moment of repose I found.
Don’t ask!
To fight you all I have no wish.
Let us make peace
And let me go my way.
LANDGRAVE Nonsense! You’ve only just come back among us!
WALTHER You mustn’t leave!
BITEROLF We’ll never let you go!
WALTHER, DER SCHREIBER, REINMAR AND LANDGRAVE Stay with us!
TANNHÄUSER Stop it!
To sloth I give no quarter!
From rest and comfort I abstain!
For I am called to make my journey forward
And I must not look back again!
ALL Oh, stay, oh, stay!
Oh, stay with us, you singer ardent!
Oh, stay and do not leave your friends!
You sought us out; why hurry onward
When you just now came back again?
TANNHÄUSER Stop it! I must, must go!
SINGERS Stay, stay with us!
WOLFRAM Stay with Elisabeth!
TANNHÄUSER (deeply, joyfully shaken, stands transfixed)
Elisabeth! O heavenly power,
Speak you her gentle name to me?
WOLFRAM Bear me no ill intention,
I 'twas, spoke her name.
(to the Landgrave)
Allow me, O my liege,
To be the herald of some happy news!
LANDGRAVE Speak of the spell, the magic spell he cast.
May God lend him the virtue and wisdom to undo it.
WOLFRAM The day you boldly joined our singing contests,
You won some victories o’er us with your song.
Though other times we were the winning artists,
One prize to you and you alone belonged.
Your magic or, perhaps, your might
Left us to marvel on that night:
How did your song of love and pain
Leave spellbound our most virtuous maid?
But when you left in pride so hasty
Our songs she shut out from her heart.
We watched her rosy cheek grow pasty.
She kept herself from us apart,
Ah, she kept herself from us apart.
Come back to us, you ardent singer,
Keep not your song from us, your friends!
May your return among us bring her,
Our star, among us once again!
SINGERS Come back to us, you ardent singer!
Come back again!
Conflict and strife be put away!
In harmony our songs will bind us.
We’ll brothers be as of this day!
LANDGRAVE Come back again, you ardent singer!
Come back among us!
Conflict and strife be put away!
(Tannhäuser, deeply moved, heartily embraces Wolfram and the Singers.)
TANNHÄUSER To her! To her!
Oh, lead me back to her!
Ha! Now I know that I belong here,
Here in the world I’d turned away,
Where heaven’s gaze looks down upon me
And meadows bloom in rich display.
The spring, the spring with lovely sounds abounding
Has filled my soul with joy and mirth.
In sweet, impetuous tones resounding,
My heart calls out: To her! To her!
Oh, lead me back to her!
SINGERS He’s home again, who once forsook it.
A miracle returned him here.
His bluster’s gone. Whatever took it,
May praises reach its glorious ear!
Now may our songs and may our voices
Sound in our lady’s ear most blessed.
May notes ring out in music joyful!
May songs spring forth from every breast!
During the previous, hunters and falconers have entered from the forest and assembled onstage. The hunters blow their horns.
The Landgrave and his Singers turn to the hunters. The Landgrave blows his horn; horns and hounds answer him. As the Landgrave and Singers mount the horses that have been brought from them from Wartburg Castle, the curtain falls.
ACT I CURTAIN
PARIS VERSION
Act I, Scene 1
Inside of Venusberg (the Mountain of Venus), also called Hörselberg, near Eisenach. A wide grotto Upstage follows a curve around Stage Left and extends until it disappears from view. From an opening in the rocks though which dim daylight shines, is a greenish waterfall that plunges down the whole cliff face, foaming and crashing wildly over the rocks. From the basin that receives its water, a stream flows Upstage where it forms a pool in which the Naiads bathe. Sirens recline on its banks.
On both sides of the grotto are irregularly shaped cliffs bedecked with wonderful, tropical, coral-like growths. In front of one grotto opening that leads Up Right and from which dim, rosy light shines, Venus reclines on her couch. Before her kneel the Three Graces, charming entwined with one another. To either side of the couch and behind it, Cupids are heaped and tangled together like tired children asleep after play. The whole Downstage is lit from below by a magical red light, which strongly contrasts with the green waterfall and its foamy white waves. In the furthest background, the banks of the lake are lit with a moonlight-like light blue.
As the curtain rises, Youths lie on high outcroppings holding goblets. Immediately, they hurry to the Nymphs, who flirtatiously beckon to them from below. The Nymphs have begun an alluring dance around the waterfall's foamy pool, designed to attract the Youths to them.
The Youths join in. They pair off and exchange partners. Pursuits, escapes and charming flirtations enliven the dance.
From far Upstage a train of Maenads comes forward and breaks into the dance, encouraging the pairs to wild lust with drunkenly animated gestures. The lovers embrace in most ardent passion.
Satyrs and Fauns appear from clefts in the rocks and, dancing, interpose themselves between the lovers and the Maenads. In their hunt for the Nymphs they amplify the confusion. The general tumult rises to a climax.
At this point, the Three Graces get up in horror. They try to put a stop to the mad goings on and make the participants leave. Powerless and afraid of being drawn into the mayhem themselves, they turn to the sleeping Cupids, shake them awake and send them flying into the air. These flutter upwards in all directions like a flock of birds. They form battle lines and, commanding the entire cavern, unleash a hail of arrows on the tumult below.
The wounded, suddenly gripped by a powerful longing for love, leave off their wild dance and sink down in exhaustion. The Graces gently take control of the wounded and lead them, by drunken pairs, with light force Upstage. The Maenads, Fauns, Satyrs, Nymphs and Youths withdraw, pursued by Cupids.
An increasingly thick rosy mist settles over the stage. It covers first the Cupids, then the whole area until only the Three Graces, Venus and Tannhäuser remain visible.
The Graces, gracefully linking arms, come Downstage to Venus, to tell her of the victory they won over the wildly carousing subjects of her kingdom. Venus gives them a grateful glance.
The heavy mist Upstage dissolves, revealing a cloud-picture of the Rape of Europa, who, carried through the blue sea on the back of the flower-garlanded white bull, is accompanied by Triton and nereids.
SIRENS Come hide away here!
Come, come and play here
Where the embrace of love's glowing fire
Gladly fulfils your every desire!
(The rosy mist closes in again. The picture disappears and the Graces perform an interpretive dance whose theme is the secret meaning of this picture as a work of love.
The rosy mist lifts again. Now in soft moonlight Leda can be seen reclining on the bank of a woodland lake as the swan swims up to her and affectionately lays its head on her bosom.)
SIRENS Come hide away here!
Come, come and play here!
(This picture also fades from view. Gradually, the mist rises completely and the grotto can be seen, lonely and quiet. The Graces bow impishly to Venus and slowly depart in the direction of the love grotto. Deepest silence. Venus and Tannhäuser have not changed position.)
Act I, Scene 2
Tannhäuser suddenly raises his head as if startling awake from a dream. Venus, caressing him, pulls him back.
VENUS Beloved, say, what’s on your mind?
TANNHÄUSER Too much, too much! Oh, if I could awaken!
VENUS Tell me what’s the matter!
TANNHÄUSER I dreamed I heard the far off sound,
A sound my ear so long has missed,
I dreamed I heard the sound of bells in the distance.
Oh say, how long since I last hear them ring?
VENUS Where have you gone? What has come over you?
TANNHÄUSER: The time that here I have dwelled,
I don't know how to measure!
Days and months just seem to slip away.
How long since I last saw a sunrise?
Last saw the friendly stars up in the heavens?
No green plants have I seen
That bloom and blossom each year when summer comes.
The nightingale I hear no more as she the spring announces.
Will I not hear or see her e’er again?
VENUS Ha! What’s this nonsense? What’s this complaining?
Have you become so tired of the banquet that my affection lays before you?
Or else, what? You regret that you’ve become a god?
Have you so soon forgotten all the pain you suffered
And how happy here you are now?
My singer, come! Come take your harp strings and pluck them!
To love sing praises with the celebrated singing
That won you love’s own goddess for your very own!
To love sing praises, for you’ve won her highest prize!
TANNHÄUSER (suddenly resolute, picks up his harp and stands formally before Venus)
Your praise I sing, I praise the marvels gracious
That by your power on me you have bestowed!
May the delight that flows forth from your favour
Lift up my song in loud and joyful tones!
For pleasure, ah!, for exquisite indulgence
My heart did long and all my senses thirst.
You made this world for gods in their refulgence.
Into its charms, this mortal you immersed.
But mortal I am, mortal merely
And of your love I have grown weary.
The gods enjoy your endless fun
But I need change or I’m undone.
This pleasure dome, I find it smothering.
My heart goes seeking after suffering,
So from your kingdom I must flee.
My queen, O my goddess, set me free!
VENUS What are you saying? What a song!
What tragic tale do you tell?
What happened to the bliss you felt,
The songs of passion it inspired?
What's this? Just how was my affection lacking?
Beloved, tell me, where did I go wrong?
TANNHÄUSER Praised be your charm and treasured your embraces
And may he happy be who dwells with you!
Envied for always who’s in your good graces,
Who's in your arms and shares your godly glow!
Enchanting are the joys of your dominion
Where magical delight shines through and through.
No land on earth could boast of such a kingdom
Yet all that’s here is child’s play to you.
But I, deep in this rosy bower,
I long to see some trees and flowers,
Long for our sky so blue and clear,
Long for our forests and our fields,
Long for our birds, their tuneful singing,
Long for our bells, their trusty ringing,
So from your kingdom I must flee!
My queen, O my goddess, set me free!
VENUS (jumping up from her couch)
Disloyal knave! What nonsense are you saying?
You dare accept my love and then disdain it?
You praise my love and want to run away?
You’re weary of my charms and cannot stay?
TANNHÄUSER Ah, lovely goddess, do not be offended!
VENUS You’re weary of my charms and cannot stay?
TANNHÄUSER Your lovely charms are what I run away from!
VENUS Villain! Betrayer! Ingrate! Woe betide you!
You must not go! I'll never let you leave!
You mustn't go! No! No! Ah!
TANNHÄUSER Ne’er has my love been greater, never truer
Than now, when I must leave you evermore!
VENUS (covers her hands with her face and dramatically turns away from Tannhäuser. After a moment, she turns back to him, smiling and seductive.)
Beloved! Come, look at our grotto:
The scent of roses wafts throughout.
It would enchant even a god to
Abide here in this charming house!
Reclining on the pillows downey,
Your limbs are freed from every hurt.
Your burning brow now cool and drowsy,
Exquisite ardor swells in your heart!
Come, dearest friend, come follow me! Come!
SIRENS (Off, from a distance)
Come hide away here!
VENUS Out in the distance bells are sweetly tolling.
They whisper, "Fondly in your arms enfold him!"
As my lips greet you, as my gaze meets you,
You sip a drink divine, love’s gaze upon you shines.
Our union turns into a celebration,
Our feast of love becomes a revelation!
No timid victim to her alter bring:
Here with love’s own goddess, worship reveling!
(as she tries to pull Tannhäuser gently toward her)
Tell me, my friend, tell me, beloved: would you leave?
TANNHÄUSER (in a state of utmost rapture, drunkenly grabs his harp)
Of you alone, alone will I sing praises
As, long and loud, your glory I intone!
Your sweet allure begets all that is gracious
And all things beauteous come from you alone!
The glow you kindled in your humble servant,
Its fire burns now brightly just for you!
Against the very world will I, unswerving,
Henceforth become your champion brave and true!
But I must join the world of humans,
For here I live in bondage to you!
I long for my own liberty!
I long for freedom thirstily:
In wars and contests to compete,
Even to death and harsh defeat,
So from your kingdom I must flee!
My queen, O my goddess, set me free!
VENUS (with violent fury)
Get out! Witless madman! Get out! Go!
You traitor, leave! Who’s stopping you?
Leave! I set you free! Get out, you beggar!
Ah, may you get just what you want!
Get out! Get out--
Out to the world of cold mankind
With its delusions dull and drab,
The world we pleasure gods escaped
Here in the warming womb of the earth.
Get out, you beggar! Seek to be saved!
Seek the salvation you'll ne'er find!
Those whom you haughtily abandoned
And mocked in the hall that you did flee,
You’ll beg for their compassion!
There in that hall you’ll beg them on your knees!
Then brightly will your shame shine
And they will laugh at your disgrace!
Outlawed and cursed, ha!, I see you come crawling back
Stooped and genuflecting.
“Oh, could you once more find her who on you once smiled!
Ah! If once more she would open the portals of her pleasure!”
On the doorstep, broken,
Prostrate there in the dust,
Where in comfort once he had reveled,
He begs and pleads for mercy, not affection!
Go run, go flee, beggar!
Knaves I scorn. For heroes only is my realm!
TANNHÄUSER No! My pride will spare you all that trouble.
To come back would dishonor me!
This man who must leave you, O goddess,
He'll leave and go away for good!
VENUS (with a scream)
Ah! You'd go away for good?
How could I…
Ah! How could he…
Leave me for good?
How could I think it
Or understand it?
My beloved, ne'er to return?
(with tender hesitation)
How ever did I fail him or so neglect my duty
That I'm denied the joy of pardoning my friend?
The queen I am of love and the goddess of all beauty:
Should I not be allowed consolation to lend?
Oh, how once I cried and smiled,
I listened and I yearned for
The music proud you sang me,
That I've not heard for so long!
Oh, say: How could you ever suppose that
I'd show you no compassion
If your soul were to beseech me someday
And I should hear it?
My sweetest comfort I found within your arms.
Oh, for that let me not suffer:
Oh, spurn not the comfort I would give!
If you do not come back then I will curse the whole wide world!
May a wasteland forever be the world the goddess shuns!
(despondently implores him)
Oh, come back to me!
Trust in my grace, in my love pledge!
TANNHÄUSER Who leaves behind a goddess, leaves every hope of grace!
VENUS Don’t let your pride pull your heartstrings,
For they long to come back to me!
TANNHÄUSER I long for mortal combat,
Not ecstasy and bliss!
Ah, can't you understand it, goddess?
It is death I go seeking!
It’s death I run to find!
VENUS Come back when from you death runs away,
When you're shut out e'en from your grave!
TANNHÄUSER My death, my grave, in my heart have their place.
Through prayer and penance I'll find repose and peace!
VENUS For repose you're not destined!
You’re doomed to rejection!
Come back to me someday and be saved!
TANNHÄUSER Goddess of ecstasy and bliss, no!
In you I will not find peace or repose!
I’ll be saved by Maria!
(Venus disappears. Sudden change of scene.)
END Act I, Scene 2 PARIS VERSION