The Star in the West

104 THE STAR IN THE WEST And sinuous sinewy glitter of serpenthood , That I may look once more into his face , And , kissing , kill him ! Thus to hold him fast , Drawing his human spirit into mine For strength , for life , for poison ! Ah , my God ! These pangs , these torments ! See ! the sleeper wakes ! I am triumphant ! For he reaches out The sleepy arms , and turns the drowsy head To catch the dew dissolving of my lip . Wake , lover , wake ! Thy Venus waits for thee ! Draw back , look , hunger ! —and thy mouth is mine !" The vision of Elizabeth , the loved one of his boy hood - his pure ideal — rises before him . so delicate and frail , Far , white , and lonely as the coldest star Set beyond gaze of any eye but God's .2 And he tells Venus of her . To which she answers : Thine old desire Was just to touch the mere impalpable , To formulate the formless ... 3 Again Tannhäuser bursts into song , one of those magnificent lyrics , flashing like a ruby , warm and flaming in the glowing gold of this drama . And thus does his song end : Whose long - drawn curse runs venom in my veins ? What dragon spouse consumes me with her breath ? What passionate hatred , what infernal pains , Mixed with thy being in the womb of Death ? Blistering fire runs , Scorching , terrific suns , Through body and soul in this abominable Marriage of demon power Subtle and strong and sour , 2 Ibid . vol .I, p . 236 . 1 Tannhäuser , vol . i, p . 234 . 3 Ibid . vol . I, p . 237 .