When the sailors have ended their chorus, the pretty peasant girls come trooping down to the shore, bringing food and drink for both crews, which they hail from the shore.  The Norwegian sailors promptly respond to their call, and, hastening ashore, they receive their share of the feast; but the phantom vessel remains as lifeless as before.  In vain the girls offer the provisions they have brought, in vain the other crew taunt the sleepers, there is no answer given.  The provisions are then all bestowed upon the Norwegians, who eat and drink most heartily ere they resume their merry chorus.  Suddenly, however, the Dutch sailors rouse themselves, appear on deck, and prepare to depart, while singing about their captain, who has once more gone ashore in search of the faithful wife who alone can save him.  Blue flames hover over the phantom ship, and the sound of a coming storm is borne upon the breeze.  The Norwegian sailors sing louder than ever to drown this ominous sound, but they are soon too alarmed to sing, and hasten into their cabins making the sign of the cross, which evokes a burst of demoniac laughter from the phantom crew.

The storm and lights subside as quickly and mysteriously as they appeared, and all is quiet once more as Senta comes down to the shore.  Erik, meeting her, implores her to listen to his wooing, which once found favour, and to forget the stranger whom her father has induced her to accept on such short notice.  Senta listens patiently to his plea, which does not in the least shake her faith in her new lover, or change her resolution to live and die for him alone.  But the Dutchman, appearing suddenly, mistakes her patience for regret, and, almost frantic with love and despair, he bids her a passionate farewell and rushes off toward his ship.

   ’To sea!  To sea till time is ended! 
    Thy sacred promise be forgot,
    Thy sacred promise and my fate! 
    Farewell!  I wish not to destroy thee!’

But Senta has not ceased to love him.  She runs after him, imploring him to remain with her, protesting her fidelity and renewing her vows in spite of Erik’s passionate efforts to prevent her from doing so.  The Flying Dutchman at first refuses to listen to her words, and rapidly gives his orders for departure.  She is about to embark, when he suddenly turns toward her and declares that he is accursed, and that she has saved herself, by timely withdrawal, from the doom which awaits all those who fail to keep their troth:—­

   ’Now hear, and learn the fate from which thou wilt be saved: 
    Condemned am I to bear a frightful fortune,—­
    Ten times would death appear a brighter lot. 
    A woman’s hand alone the curse can lighten,
    If she will love me, and till death be true. 
    Still to be faithful thou hast vowed,
    Yet has not God thy promise? 
    This rescues thee; for know, unhappy, what a fate is theirs
    Who break the troth which they to me have plighted: 
    Endless damnation is their doom! 
    Victims untold have fallen ’neath this curse through me. 
    Yet, Senta, thou shalt escape. 
    Farewell!  All hope is fled forevermore.’