Isolda monologue (Act 1) — Tristan and Isolda: Opera in Three Acts

His praise briskly they sing now:-- "Bravo, our brave Tristan!"-- he was that distressful man. A thousand protestations of truth and love he prated. Hear how a knight fealty knows!-- When as Tantris unforbidden he'd left me, as Tristan boldly back he came, in stately ship from which in pride Ireland's heiress in marriage he asked for Mark, the Cornish monarch, his kinsman worn and old. In Morold's lifetime dared any have dreamed to offer us such an insult? For the tax-paying Cornish prince to presume to court Ireland's princess! Ah, woe is me! I it was who for myself did shape this shame! with death-dealing sword should I have stabbed him; weakly it escaped me:-- now serfdom I have shaped me. Curse him, the villain! Curse on his head! Vengeance! Death! Death for me too!