At last, however, he admits to Eva that, despite his feelings for her, he is resolved to avoid the fate of King Marke (a reference to the subject of another Wagner opera, Tristan und Isolde, in which an old man tries to marry a much-younger woman), thus conferring his blessing upon the lovers.
Ao final, non obstante, admite ante Eva que, a pesar dos seus sentimentos por ela, está decidido a evitar o destino do Rei Marke (unha referencia ao tema doutra ópera de Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, na que un home vello tenta casar cunha muller moito máis nova), dando así a súa bendición aos novos.