Collected Works (Vol. I)

TANNHAUSER 259 Itself a speck in solar life ; the sun, For all I know, a speck among the stars, Themselves one corporate molecule of space !— You from your perch judge, label, limit Him! Not that your corner is not equally The centre and the whole. Fool’s talk it is! Consider the futility of mind ! Realise utterly how mean, how dull, How fruitless is Philosophy ! ELIZABETH. Indeed My brain is baffled. But I see your point. Talking of God, even imagining, Insane! But for aspiring—that I will! TANNHAUSER. That is true marriage, in my estimate. Aspire together to one Deity? Yes! But to love thee otherwise than that? ELIZABETH. This one thing clearly do I understand : We shall not marry. It is well, my lord. | TANNHAUSER. Miserable, miserable me! I bring Hate and disruption and unhappiness Unto all purity I chance to touch. I have no hope but I am fallen now ; So journey, in this purpose of despair, To Lilith and-the Venusberg. ELIZABETH. Oh no! Grant me one boon—the one that I shall ask Ever in this world! Promise me! TANNHAUSER. Alas ! One promise gave I once to woman—that Drove me to this illusion of your love, And broke your heart. ELIZABETH, Oh no, I shall not die. Have I not Mary and the angels yet? TANNHAUSER. You are so pure, so pitiful—your word Cannot bring evil. Yes, I promise you! ELIZABETH. Go then the bitter pilgrimage to Rome, Gain absolution for this piteous past From him that owns the twin all-opening keys That bar your infinite on either side. Then ! look with freshness, hope, and fortitude Still to the summit—the ideal God. TANNHAUSER. I have no hope nor trust in man at all; But I will go. Fare well, Elizabeth ! [Gotwng, returns and kneels before her. Dare you once kiss these gray and withered brows? as ‘twere some flower that fell amid my hair. The lotus of eternal hope and life. ELIZABETH. Dare I? I kiss you once upon the brow, Praying that God will make the purpo-e clear, And on theeyes—that He may lend them light. ([TANNHAUSER rvses, and silently de- parts. Oh God! Oh God! That I have loved him so! Be merciful! Be merciful ! to him, The great high soul, bound in the lofty sin ; To me, the little soul, the little sin! ACT V. ‘*One birth of my bosom ; One beam of mine eye ; One topmost blossom That scales the sky. Man, equal and one with me, made of me, man that is I.” man that is flertha. A desolate and melancholy wood. Nightfall. HEINRICH. WELL, I am lost! The whistle brings no hound, The horn no hunter! North and South are mixed