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

Sleep on, poor fool, and in thy sleep forlorn Defy the very beauty that thou seekest! Now is the solemn portal of the dusk Lifted; and in the gleaming silver-gray, The eastern sky, steps out the single One, Hathoör and Aphrodite—whom I mock! I may not follow in the dimness—I Chained unto matter by my evil will, Delight of death and carnal life. But see! He stirs, as one beholding in a dream Some deadly serpent or foul basilisk Sunning its scales, called kingly, in the mire. Strike, O my lover! I will drag thee down Into mine own unending pain and hate To be one devil more upon the earth.— Come! ye my serpents, wrap his bosom round With your entangling leprosy! And me, Let me assume the belovéd limber shape, The crested head, the jewelled eyes of death, 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.