A shepherd peers over the wall to ask how Tristan fares, and promises to play his sad tune until he sees a ship approaching, then he will change to a happy one. Tristan, gravely wounded, is back at his home, Kareol. Tristan lets his sword drop and Melot deals Tristan a mighty blow, prevented from killing him only by the hand of Marke.Ī ruined castle along the coast of Brittany. He invites Isolde to follow him to the land of night. King Marke, in shock, wonders how his dearest nephew, whose mission – whose idea! – was to bring Marke a bride, could so dishonor him. The King’s soldiers surround the lovers, still locked in a mad embrace. Kurwenal rushes in, begging Tristan to save himself. They welcome night’s sweet redeeming oblivion. The lovers, enraptured, defy the approach of dawn and the warnings of Brangäne. At last Isolde sends her to stand watch, and puts out the torch herself. Brangäne warns her again of Melot’s treachery. Isolde nevertheless urges her to extinguish the night torch, giving the signal for Tristan to come. She is sure that Tristan’s enemy Melot has arranged the expedition to trap no animal prey but Tristan and Isolde themselves. Isolde’s apartments, opening onto King Marke’s palace gardens.
She separates the ecstatic pair just in time for all to disembark. Brangäne has switched the drinks and given them a love-potion. Then she drains it … and they fall into each other’s arms. Knowing she intends to kill them both, he takes the goblet and drinks. He greets her courteously, and she bids him toast to reconciliation. Isolde insists she will not accompany Tristan ashore until he apologizes to her. She asks Brangäne to prepare her mother’s death potion. Isolde, furious, reminds Brangäne of Morold’s death, of Tristan’s disguise, of her healing powers, of her old desire for revenge – and of her helpless passion.
Tristan’s squire, Kurwenal, mocks the Irish women with a song in praise of Tristan. Isolde orders Brangäne, her maid, to command Tristan to appear before her. Now she is bitterly resentful, and Tristan has ignored her throughout the voyage. At the moment she recognized him and found a way to kill him, their eyes locked and she fell madly in love. She is hardly at peace within: Tristan killed her husband Morold in battle and then came back to her in disguise, hoping to avail himself of her healing arts for his own wounds. The Irish princess Isolde is being carried to England aboard Tristan’s ship as a peace prize, to marry Tristan’s uncle, King Marke of Cornwall.
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