TANNHAUSER
The proper minstrel! The ideal lover !
The pure, unsullied soul. Even so, forsooth!
They tell no secrets in the scullery.
And there is Heinrich, wastrel of the Court,
Yet hides a heart beneath the foolish face.
And lo! The Landgrave! Flushed, undigni-
fied !
The chase was long—if he could see himself!
Wind, wind the mort! What call will
answer me
When I step forward? Am I dead, I wonder,
Or merely on my hare-brain quest? ‘Three
years
Since I was seen in Germany !
(He descends the hill and enters the
CoM pany.
Hail, friends !
Good cousin Landgrave, merry be the meet!
LANDGRAVE.
Hands off me, fellow! Who are you?
TANNHAUSER.
My lord,
Your cousin. Is my face so changed with
care,
My body shrunken with my suffering
(That was not ever of the body) so?
WOLFRAM.
I know you, my old friend! Our chiefest
bird !
Sweetest of singers !
TANNHAUSER.
No, the naughty one!
HEINRICH.
Tannhauser! Yes!
you dead.
And we have thought
LANDGRAVE.
Friends, will you swear to him?
HEINRICH.
Yes, yes, ‘tis he!
WOLFRAM.
I know the blithe look in the sober eyes !
LANDGRAVE,
Changed verily. It was most urgent, cousin,
I were assured of your identity. —
Three weeks the couriers scour the land for
you,
Urgent demands:
last?
Your horse? Your arms?
since Germany
Saw the brave eyes and kindly face of you!
Where have you been? Upon the sacred
quest
Still riding?
how came you here at
Three years
TANNHAUSER.
Ay, my lord, upon the quest.
LANDGRAVE.
Vou travelled in far lands?
TANNUAUSER.
Far, very far !
LANDGRAVE.
You fought with Turks?
>
TANNHAUSER.
I fought within myself,
LANDGRAVE.,
Why is such suffering written in dark lines,
And painted in the greyness of your hair?
TANNHAUSER.,
I had an evil dream.
LANDGRAVE.
You saw the Grail?
TANNHAUSER.
I saw—strange things.