kurwenal has brought tristan home to his castle at kareol in brittany. a shepherd plays a sad tune on his pipes and asks if tristan is awake. kurwenal says that only isolde’s arrival can save tristan. the shepherd says he will keep watch and pipe a happy tune to mark the arrival of any ship. tristan now wakes up and is sad that it is daylight. his sadness turns to joy when kurwenal tells him that isolde is coming. he asks if her ship is in sight, but only the shepherd’s sorrowful tune is heard.