Tannhäuser monologue (Act 2) — Tannhäuser : $b A story of all time

Who is this maiden robéd for a bride, White shoulders and bright brows adorable, The flaming locks that clothe her, and abide, As God were bathing in the fire of Hell? They change, they grow, they shake As sunlight on the lake: They hiss, they glisten on her bosom bare. O maiden, maiden queen! The lightning flows between Thy mounting breasts, too magically fair. Draw me, O draw me to a dreaming death! Send out thine opiate breath, And lull me to the everlasting sleep, That, closing from the kisses of disdain To ecstasy of pain, I may sob out my life into their dangerous deep. Who cometh from the mountain as a tower Stalwart and set against the fiery foes? Who, breathing as a jasmine-laden bower? Who, crowned and lissome as a living rose? Sharp thorns in thee are set; In me, in me beget The dolorous despair of this desire. Thy body sways and swings Above the tide of things, Laps me as ocean, wraps me round as fire! Ye elemental sorceries of song, Surge, strenuous and strong, Seeking dead dreams, the secret of the shrine; So that she drain my life and being up As from a golden cup, To mingle in her blood, death’s kiss incarnadine.