Collected Works (Vol. I)

TANNHAUSER 235 TANNHAUSER. I sleep not. Those were Her mysterious words As faded the great vision, And I knew In some forgotten corner of my brain Some desperate truth. VENUS, Forget this foolishness ! [ There cometh a shadow. I am afraid, even I! What moves me thus? TANNHAUSER. I saw the mighty vision as before Forming in front of the awakening east, All permeated with the rose of dawn, And pale with delicate green light and shade, Marvellous! So, you say, she is a witch Seeking to rob or trick you of your power? VENUS. Isayso? No! Idare not! Oh forbear! TANNHAUSER (starts up). There, there She comes in waking! Hail to Thee ! I am afraid, I also, I myself! Help! lover, Venus, mistress of my life ! I cannot bear the glory of the gaze. No man shall look upon the face of God! Where art thou? Save me from scorpion ! 1 I am—alone ! the HATHOOR. Light, Truth, arise, arise ! TANNHAUSER. All blinded by the Light— Life, the I see—I see ! Thou art the Way, the Truti. Love ! Thou, Whom I sought through ages of deep sleep 1 Lilith, among other shapes, can assume that of a scorpion. Forgotten when I died. There is no death: Change alternating ; and forgetfulness Of one state in the other—easy truth I could not understand ! Oh hear me, hear ! Spare me the last illusion !—She is gone! VENUS. Save me, my knight! To thy sufficing arms I cling in this distress of womanhood ! TANNHAUSER, Kiss me the last time. VENUS. Whom have I but thee, Thee in the ages? Barren were my bliss And shorn my Godhead of eternal joy, Barred from thy kiss. TANNHAUSER. Call not thyself again Goddess. I saw thee in the Presence there. The scales are fallen, and mine eyes see clear. VENUS. Then you would leave me! Serpent if I were, My cvils should press in dolorous delight Thy straining bosom, and my kiss were death! Death! Dost thou live, Tannhauser? Sayest thou still: ‘* None but the dead can know the worth of love !”? TANNHAUSER, Still,- Iam not in any sense estranged. I yearn for thee in the first hour of spring, As in the dying days of autumn. I Would clasp thee, as a child its mother’s throat, Drinking celestial wine from that dear mouth, Or with goodwill see poison in thy smile, And die, still kissing thee, and kissed again ! This, though I saw thee crawl upon the earth, fowl at Her presence Whom thou wouldest ape, Thy tale reversed. I read that thunder now!