Collected Works (Vol. I)

242 TANNHAUSER TANNHAUSER. This shakes my spirit as a winnower Whose fan is the eternal breath of God ; Yet on my forehead I perceive a Star That shames thy beauties and thy manifold Mind with Its tiny triple flame. I go! VENUS, Try not the impossible. Thou knowest my power. I shall renew the charm. TANNHAUSER. I see a Power Above thy mockery of witchcraft. Work Thy devilish lusts on me unfortunate ! There is no gateway to this fortalice? Thy fiends surround me? Hein! their pangs begin ! I have one word, one cry, one exorcism : Avé Maria ! VENUS. Mercy! Mercy, God! [ Zhunder rolls in the lightning-riven sky. All the illusion vanishes, and TANNHAUSER finds himself in a cross-way of the forest, where is a Crucifix. eis kneeling at the foot, amazed, as one awakening from a dream, orfrom aviston of mysterious power. "TANNHAUSER. I am escapéd as a little bird Out of the fowler’s net. I thank Thee, God! For in the pit of horror, and the clay Of death I cried, and Thou hast holpen me, Set me upon a rock, established me, And filled my mouth, and tuned mine ancient lyre With a new song—praise, praise to God above,} And to Our Lady of the Smitten Heart, 1 Psalm xi. That David never knew : my pettiness Exceeding through Her mercy and Her might The King and Priest of Israel; for I know Her love, and She hath shewn to me Her face, And given me a magic star to stand Over the house that hides Elizabeth. [A shepherd-boy 7s discovered upon a rock hard by. SHEPHERD-BOY. Hillo ho! The morning ! [He plays upon his flute. Ta-lirra-lirra ! TANNHAUSER. These were the melodies that I despised ! Oh God! Be merciful to sinful me, And keep me in the Way of Truth. But Thou! Forgive, forgive ! Light! Lead, lead me to Thy SHEPHERD-BOY (szzgs). Light in the sky Dawns to the East ! Song-bird and beast Wake and reply. Let me not die, Now, at the least ! Lord of the Light ! Queen of the dawn! Soul of the Night Hid and withdrawn ! Voice of the thunder ! Light of the levin ! I worship and wonder, O maker of Heaven! The night falls asunder; The darkness is riven ! Light, O eternal! Life, O diurnal ! Love, O withdrawn! Heart of my May, spring Far to Thy dawn ! God of the dayspring ! Sun on the lawn!