,,richard ,,wagner ,,and and his ,poetical ,work ,,from ,,rienzi ,,to ,,parsifal ,,by ,,judith ,,gautier ,,translated ,,with ,,the ,,author',s ,,special ,,permission ,by ,l4 ,s4 ,j4 ,,boston ,a4 ,,williams ,,and ,,company ,old ,corner ,bookstore #ahhc ,,american ,,introduction4 ,richard ,wagner was born ,may #bb1 #ahac1 in ,leipsic1 ,germany4 ,he died in ,venice on ,february #ac1 #ahhc4 ,his father was a ,leipsic city official1 who gave his son the benefit of the illustrious ,thomas ,school1 preparatory to a university career4 ,the latter1 however1 was not of much advantage to him1 as young ,wagner devoted himself mainly to musical studies4 ,he led a theatre orchestra in ,magdeburg1 then in ,knigsberg1 then in ,riga4 ,from the latter place he went1 in #ahci1 to ,paris1 where he completed ,rienzi and the ,flying ,dutchman1 in #ahda4 ,the latter was suggested by a gale which ,wagner experienced during a short voyage4 ,rienzi was first brought out at ,dresden in #ahdb1 and led to ,wagner's appointment as orchestra leader in ,dresden1 where he brought out his ,tanhuser in #ahde4 ,in #ahdi ,wagner had to leave ,germany for political reasons1 and went to ,switzerland1 where ,lohengrin was finished and the tetralogy of the ,nibelung was begun4 ,wagner then lived in ,italy1 ,vienna1 and ,paris1 where ,tanhuser met with a disastrous presentation in #ahfa1 and led accidentally to the following pages4 ,in #ahfd ,wagner became intimate with ,louis ,,ii41 the young ,king of ,bavaria1 under whose zealous patronage he brought out his ,tristan in #aheg the ,mastersingers in #agfh1 ,rhinegold in #ahec and the ,walkyria in #ahgj1--;all at ,munich1 wrote the text for his operas1 and also numerous pamphlets1 most of which led to acrimonious discussions4 ,wagner's musical ideals received some outward impulses from the ,oberammergau passion play and the success of the ,franco-,prussian war1 which led to the establishment of the ,german ,empire4 ,a special ,wagner theatre was begun in #ahgb at ,bayreuth1 where the master has since lived1 and his works were first presented in #ahgf1 in entire harmony with his vast requirements4 ,wagner's last work1 ,parsifal1 was published in #ahgh4 ,wagner's early writings were collected in an edition of nine volumes1 published in ,leipsic1 #ahga to #ahgc4 ,his life was written by ,glasenapp in two volumes1 #ahgf to #ahgh4 ,kastner published a ,wagner catalogue4 ,but it will take years1 perhaps decades1 before a final and just estimate can be formed of so great a master4 ,the following pages were written by ,judith ,gautier1 the ,paris writer1 and translated by an ,american lady4 ,they have gone through several ,european editions1 as they give an account of ,wagner's opera texts1 and pay a tribute to the genius of the great composer1 who was also a remarkable and original author4 ,,preface ,will the reader kindly look upon the first pages of this book as a fragment of reminiscences1 which ,i hope some day to publish2 not that my life in itself is worth relating1 but it has been frequently brought in contact with that of celebrated artists4 ,it treats here of certain experiences only1 written as if for myself1--reminiscences gathered during several years of uninterrupted relations with ,richard ,wagner4 ,the books already published on the master1 in every language and every style1 either to combat or glorify him1 would fill a shelf2 the catalogue of these criticisms1 studies1 and biographies would form a volume4 ,thus1 the subject of his defeats1 victories1 and what is termed his musical system1 has been exhausted2 repetition is therefore useless4 ,beside this1 ,i have of late renounced all idea of proselytism2 after a long struggle ,i abandon the contest1 at the moment when1 to many1 victory seems most probable4 ,i have reasons for this which ,i do not care to indicate1 but which seem to me decisive4 ,what ,i have for so long a time taken to be the customary and fatal resistance1 the instinctive hatred which is experienced by every public in every country for the innovations of genius1 is1 ,i fear1 in ,france something even more4 ,our quick intelligence1 so light1 so mobile1 so disposed to mockery1 deprives us of that quality so indispensable to the comprehension of master works--simplicity4 ,we cannot refrain from finding something to ridicule in grand sentiments1 sublimity1 and noble or terrible passions2 what pleases us above all is graceful1 spirited art1 slightly sentimental1 quick observation1 and arrows of satire2 also1 no people can rival us when comic operas1 vaudevilles1 and comedies of manners are in question4 ,art is for us an amusement4 ,we frankly weary of anything serious1 and if by chance we happen to admit a masterpiece upon the scenes1 it is simply on the score of curiosity4 ,does a theatre exist in ,paris1 this world's capital1 where the great works1 lyrical and dramatic1 of the entire world may be represented8 ,who troubles himself about ,calderon1 ,schiller1 ,goethe1 ,shakspeare8 ,while absurd fairy scenes and miserable comedies1 in which the only discoverable merit is the play or personality of the actors1 and scenes of disgraceful realism1 remain upon the boards during a whole year1 ,othello drags painfully on1 barely reaching the twentieth representation4 ,it will1 perhaps1 be urged that the ,frenchman dare not travel1 and that works of art created outside of his own little world do not interest him4 ,and ,victor ,hugo6 ,is there any sort of indignity or outrage which has been spared him in his own country8 ,it is true1 that after sixty years of contest1 his glory radiates at last splendid and triumphant4 ,well1 where is ,victor ,hugo's theatre8 ,has the new generation ever seen the representations of this master's greatest works8 ,les ,burgraves1 ,cromwell1 and ,le ,roi qui ,s',amuse4 ,this last drama1 it is true1 is about to reappear upon the stage4 ,but fifty years will have intervened between its first and second representations4 ,why hope that ,richard ,wagner should stand a better chance of vanquishing the native antipathy of the ,french public to serious works than ,shakspeare1 who after three hundred years has not yet triumphed among us2 than ,victor ,hugo1 the greatest glory of ,france8 ,are the enchantments of music capable of working this miracle8 ,it is possible1 but ,i no longer hope for it4 ,the success of ,lohengrin in ,paris is probable1 but we shall go no farther4 ,neither the great ,scandinavian epope1 nor the metaphysical loves of ,tristan and ,isolde1 nor the mysticism of ,parsifal will reach us4 ,for this reason1 recognizing the generous error in which ,i have so long persisted1 ,i renounce all sterile efforts1 and1 blessing the invention of railroads1 ,i go bravely toward the mountain which cannot be brought to me4 ,this book is1 in reality1 only addressed to the small number of the initiated who1 having broken through the occult precinct of the new art1 have the incomparable joy of admiring without reserve all that is worthy of admiration4 ,they will find in these pages1 in addition to certain characteristic traits of the master1 drawn from life1 and from which they will be able to modify the ideas which they may have received from fantastic portraits1 the detailed analyses of poems which have not been translated into ,french1 and1 above all1 that of ,parsifal4 ,these analyses will enable those undertaking the pilgrimage to ,bayreuth1 and who do not understand ,german1 to follow the representations4 ,my sole ambition is to be useful to the extent of my power to this intelligent minority1 who1 in my opinion1 alone form this world1 and who1 ,i truly hope1 may alone form another1 should it exist2 for ,i am convinced1 with ,charles ,baudelaire1 that paradise is made up of the small number of chosen ones4 ,,contents4 ,part ,first ,,richard ,,wagner ,part ,second ,,richard ,,wagner',s ,,poetic ,,work4 ,from ,rienzi to ,tristan and ,isolde ,,rienzi--,,the ,,flying ,,dutchman--,,tanh,,user--,,lohengrin--, ,tristan ,,and ,,isolde4 ,,the ,,mastersingers ,,of ,,nuremberg ,,the ,,ring ,,of ,,the ,,nibelung ,,rhinegold 7introductory7--,,walkyria 7first day7--,,sigfrid 7second day7 --,,gloom ,,of ,,the ,,gods 7third day7 ,,parsifal3 ,a ,,lyrical ,,feast ,,first ,,act--,,second ,,act--,,third ,,act4 ,,richard ,,wagner4 ,it was under rather peculiar circumstances that the name of ,wagner was mentioned in my presence1 for the first time1 the evening of the first representation of ,tanhuser in ,paris4 ,i had left school the day before on a vacation1 and if this great combat in regard to ,tnhauser had been mentioned in my hearing1 ,i1 at least1 remembered nothing of it4 ,i was accidentally crossing the ,passage de l',opra with my father1 the evening of this representation1 during an entr'acte4 ,the passage was crowded2 a gentleman1 who approached my father with a bow1 stopped us4 ,he was rather small1 thin1 with hollow cheeks and a prominent nose1 a broad forehead and brilliant eyes4 ,he began to speak of the representation1 at which he had been present1 with malignant intensity1 and such a ferocious joy at seeing the confirmation of its failure1 that1 carried away by an involuntary sentiment1 ,i suddenly emerged from the silence and reserve imposed upon one of my age1 to cry with astonishing impertinence1 ,in hearing you1 sir1 it is easy to divine that a great work is in question1 and that you speak of a brother-artist4 ,now1 what has come over you1 naughty child1 said my father1 wishing to reprove me1 but quietly laughing to himself4 ,who is it8 ,i asked1 when the gentleman had left us4 ,that was ,hector ,berlioz4 ,i have never forgotten this incident1 and ,i have seemed later to see in this sudden movement of anger1 which roused my young conscience to indignation in so singular a manner1 a sort of presentiment1 --something which premonished me that one day ,i should become a passionate admirer of this artist1 whose name ,i now heard for the first time4 ,it seems evident that1 at the moment when a new genius reveals itself1 a little group of chosen mortals springs to life1 called to form about him a devoted company to defend him1 to console him for all but universal hatred1 to sustain him in his agonies1 all the while upholding the divinity of his inspirations4 ,it was doubtless my vocation to become a disciple of this new hero1 to understand and believe in him1 for ,i was influenced by no one4 ,one day chance placed in my hands the score of the ,flying ,dutchman4 ,my music teacher1 who hired music at ,flaxland's1 had taken this volume1 among others1 without knowing its contents1 and left it with me until the next lesson1 as it was inconveniently burdensome4 ,i had profited little by my lessons1 and was a most indifferent pianist2 notwithstanding which1 after having deciphered in the most incomplete and crude manner this unknown score1 ,i was entirely overcome1 and in spite of my numberless mistakes1 the grandeur and meaning of this music were revealed to me by a sort of intuition4 ,i could not be persuaded to leave the piano2 ,i became infatuated1 and my friends tried in vain to get the score out of my hands4 ,from this moment ,richard ,wagner had one more faithful disciple4 ,when1 in #ahfh1 ,i wrote several articles upon his works1 ,i had still a very imperfect knowledge of them from more or less satisfactory executions upon the piano and desultory fragments heard at the popular concerts4 ,i was much alarmed at my own audacity1 after having addressed these articles to ,wagner1 then at ,lucerne1 accompanied by a letter1 begging him to aid me kindly with his advice for their correction and completion4 ,i hoped and waited for an answer with extreme anxiety3 would it come8 ,i could not believe it1 and yet ,i could think of nothing else4 ,i could hardly sleep1 and as each morning passed1 and the messenger brought nothing1 my heart filled with anguish4 ,one day1 however1 ,i spied the ,lucerne postmark upon an envelope addressed in an unknown hand1 which ,i immediately recognized as remarkable4 ,i held this letter a long time between my fingers before opening it4 ,i experienced a strange emotion1--a sort of fear4 ,how had ,i dared1 with my heedlessness1 characteristically ,french1 to write1 confiding alone in my instinct1 upon the works of this artist1 for whom ,i felt already such an enthusiasm that ,i could only imagine him as existing1 after the manner of the gods1 upon an inaccessible ,olympus4 ,was this letter really from him8 ,i opened it at last1 four pages of elegant handwriting1 very legible1 and at the last line the magic signature4 ,the letter began thus3 ,madam1--,it is impossible that you could have experienced the slightest doubt of the touching and kindly impression made upon me by your letter and your fine articles4 ,accept my thanks for them1 and permit me to count you among the small number of true friends whose clear-eyed sympathy is my only glory4 ,there is nothing in your articles to correct1 nothing to suggest2 but ,i perceive that you have not yet a thorough knowledge of the ,mastersingers4 ,he then gave me an interesting explanation of the introduction to the third act in the ,mastersingers1 which had been performed by ,pasdeloup a short time previous at the popular concerts4 ,the letter ended thus3-- ,pardon me1 madam1 if ,i venture to complete1 above all with the aid of my bad ,french1 your acquaintance1 otherwise so profound and intimate1 with my music1 by which you have truly touched and surprised me4 ,i shall probably visit ,paris before long1 perhaps even this winter1 and ,i rejoice beforehand in the true pleasure of taking you by the hand1 and telling you face to face of the pleasure you have given to your truly obliged and devoted1 ,,richard ,,wagner4 ,i waited in vain for this proposed journey4 ,wagner did not visit ,france during that winter4 ,nor has he come since then4 ,there was but one thing to be done1--go to ,lucerne4 ,but how should ,i be received8 ,fantastic legends were reported in regard to ,wagner2 among others1 it was related that he had in his house a seraglio1 composed of women of all colors1 from all countries1 in magnificent costumes2 but that no visitor crossed the threshold of his dwelling4 ,on the other hand1 persons who pretended to know him intimately1 depicted him as an unsocial man1 gloomy and sullen1 living in jealous retreat1 having for sole companionship two large black dogs4 ,this wild solitude was tolerable1 and even pleased me2 but the idea that a feeling of polite gratitude might force him to break through it in my favor troubled me greatly4 ,on this account ,i wrote an extremely complicated letter1 saying1 that passing through ,lucerne by chance1 only passing1 ,i begged him to inform me if he were still there and would permit me the pleasure of greeting him4 ,by this arrangement the fear of his disturbance being prolonged beyond that of a short interview would be averted4 ,to tell the truth1 chance had nothing to do with this journey1 and there was nothing to hurry me4 ,the following letter entirely reassured me3 ,madam1--,i am at ,lucerne1 and ,i have no need to tell you how much pleasure ,i shall have in seeing you4 ,i shall but beg you to prolong your sojourn at ,lucerne in order that the happiness you accord me may not vanish too quickly4 ,i suppose that you go to ,munich for the ,exposition of pictures2 however1 as ,i have the presumption to believe that it will be agreeable to you to hear some of my works1 ,i would inform you that the representation of ,tanhuser1 ,lohengrin1 ,tristan1 and the ,mastersingers will take place in the month of ,june1 that the theatre is at the present moment closed1 and that ,rhinegold will be given at the earliest on the #bith of ,august1 if indeed it be given then4 ,but ,i trust that neither the postponement of the exposition1 nor the closing of the theatre1 will retard your visit to ,lucerne4 ,quite on the contrary1 ,i shall hope for a prolongation of your stay here1 and while begging you to kindly notify me by a word1 of the day when you expect to arrive1 ,i pray you to accept the assurance of my respectful gratitude4 ,,richard ,,wagner4 ,i arrived in ,lucerne on a beautiful afternoon in the month of ,july1 #ahfi4 ,on entering the station ,i looked out of the carriage-door1 when ,i suddenly perceived ,wagner on the platform4 ,he did not in the least resemble the unfavorable photographs which ,i had seen4 ,i had no hesitation in recognizing him and ran toward him4 ,we shook hands in silence1 and he enveloped me with that intense glance which is peculiar to himself1 and seems to pierce one's soul4 ,i experienced no embarrassment during that moment of strange silence1 in which my heart was1 so to speak1 bare beneath his gaze1 but a profound emotion1 a wild joy4 ,come1 he said1 offering me his arm1 ,if you do not care for magnificence1 the ,lake ,hotel will please you2 ,i have engaged rooms there4 ,the hotel was near by1 and we went on foot4 ,he stopped a moment on the way1 and with a very grave1 almost solemn expression1 said to me3 ,we are bound by a very noble sentiment1 madam4 ,but an instant later1 after having recommended me to the innkeeper1 he took leave of me4 ,i am going to prepare for your reception1 he said1 else ,i should be stupid4 ,come presently when you have taken a little rest4 ,from my window ,i saw him move away with a rapid step1 cross the old bridge of ,lucerne1 and step into a boat4 ,he told me later that he was in haste to impart to his wife his impressions1 which were not in the least what he had anticipated4 ,at sunset ,i reached ,tribscheu1 that consecrated bit of land where1 since that time1 ,i have passed so many charming hours4 ,it was a sort of promontory1 extremely picturesque1 jutting into the lake4 ,there was neither grating nor door2 the garden had no defined limits1 and extended indefinitely toward the neighboring mountains4 ,the exterior of the house was perfectly plain1--gray1 with dark tiles2 but in the interior arrangements1 full of grace and elegance1 one felt the presence of a woman4 ,madame ,wagner appeared in the midst of her children1 fair1 tall and gracious1 with a charming smile1 and tender1 dreamy-blue eyes4 ,the sympathy with which she inspired me from the first moment has never been broken1 and our friendship1 already of long standing1 has never known a cloud4 ,it was a delightful evening2 the master displayed incomparable animation and gayety of spirits4 ,i was unprepared for this vivacity of mind1 these witticisms1 the delicacies of language which we are wont to consider the monopoly of the ,parisian1 and which acquired in him a peculiar charm from his foreign accent1 and1 in spite of the great facility with which he spoke ,french1 his original and unexpected expressions4 ,he spoke of ,paris1 where he had greatly suffered1 but which he still loved1 and of the great contest over ,tanhuser1 without bitterness4 ,i remember1 among others1 this phrase3 ,since the public at the opera do not like my music why inflict it upon them8 ,the group of warm partisans which had formed itself in ,france appeared to touch him deeply4 ,perhaps he founded secret hopes upon the initiative spirit of the ,french4 ,in spite of his steadily increasing success in ,germany he still had bitter adversaries1 and was still exposed to base persecutions4 ,the press reviled him incessantly with a coarseness and violence of which our ,french journals1 even those most eager for scandal1 can give no idea4 ,the calumnies went even so far that ,wagner1 for the first and last time in his life1 decided to reply to them4 ,i have seen1 he said1 among other things1 the ,london and ,paris papers mock my works and tendencies without pity2 these works have been dragged through the mire1 they have been hissed in the theatres2 but it still remained to me to see my person1 my private character1 my domestic life1 exposed to public contempt in the country where my works are admired1 and where a masculine energy and lofty aspirations are recognized in my efforts4 ,the nobility and clergy were arrayed against him4 ,what they sought for in him was doubtless the revolutionist of the days in ,may1 #ahdi2 the deep thinker1 the powerful and energetic man of action1 marching toward progress and the liberation of thought4 ,and what hatred6 ,banished1 pursued1 and not knowing where to take refuge4 ,thus came about this almost incredible thing1 that1 at one time1 he might be thought the only ,german who had not seen the representation of ,lohengrin4 ,notwithstanding the unalterable affection of ,king ,louis ,,ii4 he was1 at the time ,i saw him1 morally exiled from ,bavaria4 ,his long-cherished project of a theatre1 the plans of which were already drawn by the great architect1 ,semper1 and which the king wished to have erected in ,munich1 nearly revolutionized the city4 ,the project was relinquished and the plaster model of the building was sorrowfully banished to an attic in the palace4 ,but ,wagner had not ceased to think of it1 and who knows if at this moment ,paris was not the aim of his dreams8 ,he was then working upon the third part of the ,nibelungen1 ,siegfried4 ,i saw the manuscript on his study piano1 in a little apartment adjoining the drawing-room4 ,there was a portrait of his noble friend1 handsome as a hero of the ,edda4 ,i was told that he sometimes escaped from ,munich to pass a few days at ,tribscheu1 and that in this same room a bed was arranged for him4 ,there is nothing more touching than the enthusiastic affection with which this young king was inspired by the man of genius4 ,he came to him like a saving angel at the moment when all abandoned him4 ,what shall ,i say to you1 wrote ,wagner to a friend1 some time after his first interview with the king2 the most incomprehensible thing1 and the only one1 moreover1 which could save me1 is completely realized4 ,in the very year of my first representation of ,tanhuser1 a queen brought into this world the good genius of my life1 him who was destined later1 in the depth of my distress1 to give me safety and consolation4 ,it seems as if he had been sent me from heaven4 ,the king was obliged1 however1 to do battle for his great friend1 for the entire court was hostile to him1 and the struggle was not without danger for the newly-crowned youth4 ,but nothing could change his heart4 ,the world in general revenged itself upon him by inventing various legends more or less absurd and unworthy of his notice4 ,his only peculiarity lies in his deep intelligence1 and his preference for masterpieces over the frivolous and commonplace pleasures of the world4 ,for fifteen days ,i passed my afternoons and evenings in the charming retreat ,tribscheu1 for ,i soon had the honor of being considered a friend4 ,when minds are once in sympathy hearts come quicker to an understanding1 and my affection for my host soon equalled the admiration with which the artist had inspired me4 ,of all the information given me about ,wagner1 his home life1 the great reality1 was the one black spot4 ,rus was a handsome ,newfoundland1 very gentle and pacific1 who often came by himself to see me at the ,lake ,hotel4 ,few visitors ever crossed the threshold of the master's house4 ,he knew no one at ,lucerne1 and this tranquillity was favorable to his work4 ,thus ,i saw him alone with his family1 in all the simplicity of his life1 and could form an exact idea of his character4 ,i was greatly struck in the first place by his powerful1 resolute head1 the extraordinary brilliancy of his eyes1 and his intensity of expression4 ,there was also an expression of infinite goodness1 which would never be suspected from his portraits4 ,this almost superhuman goodness radiated from him at every moment2 it was visible in the adoration with which he inspired not only his family but all who surrounded him4 ,the members of his little domain took advantage of this gentleness4 ,little by little relations of every degree1 near or far1 gathered about him1 who having come for a visit stayed indefinitely4 ,as ,i knew the master better1 ,i gained a further insight into his exquisite tenderness of soul1 which in him has nothing in common with the vulgar philanthropy so frequently met with1 and which is for the most part theoretic4 ,it was a ,frenchman1 the ,count of ,gobineau1 who said of ,wagner1 ,he can never be absolutely happy1 for he will always have some one near him whose sorrows he feels bound to share4 ,one day ,i asked him if he had any plans for his new-born son4 ,my first ambition1 he said1 is to assure him a modest income1 which will render him independent1 that he may be sheltered from the miserable annoyances from which ,i have so cruelly suffered4 ,then ,i should wish him to know something of surgery1 enough to render aid to a wounded person in emergencies1 to prepare a first dressing4 ,i have so often been troubled by my own inability that ,i wish to spare him this pain4 ,beyond this ,i shall leave him entirely free4 ,madame ,wagner told me that the composition of the ,mastersingers had been suspended during long months on account of a sick dog1 wandering and abandoned1 which ,wagner1 then at ,zurich1 had picked up and endeavored to cure4 ,the dog had bitten his right hand badly1 and the wound became so painful as to prevent him from writing4 ,it is impossible to dictate music1 and he was thus reduced to inaction1 which put his patience to a hard test2 but the dog was none the less cared for4 ,there are1 however1 violence and roughness in ,richard ,wagner's character which must be recognized1 and which are frequently the cause of his being misjudged1 but only by those who regard merely the exterior4 ,nervous and impassionable to excess1 the emotions which he experiences are always carried to an extreme4 ,with him slight pain is almost despair1 the smallest irritation has the appearance of madness4 ,this wonderful organization of such exquisite sensibility has terrible vibrations1 and his resistance of them is wonderful4 ,a day of anxiety ages him ten years1 but1 happiness once reinstated1 the day following finds him younger than ever4 ,he gives himself to others with extraordinary prodigality4 ,always sincere1 his whole heart is in everything he does2 but of an extremely variable temper1 his opinions and ideas1 fixed the first moment1 are by no means irrevocable4 ,no one recognizes an error more quickly than he does1 but he must have passed his first enthusiasm4 ,by his frankness and vehemence he often wounds his best friends unintentionally2 always excessive he goes farther than he intends1 and does not recognize the grief he causes4 ,many1 wounded in their self-love1 bear in silence the injury which aggravates them1 and thus they lose a precious friendship2 whereas1 if they had cried out that they were hurt1 they would have found the master filled with such sincere regrets that he would have made an effusive effort to console them1 and their love for him would only have increased4 ,with ,wagner the second movement is the good one1 said a ,french violinist1 who had left everything to enroll himself in the orchestra at ,bayreuth1--an artist of great merit1 a man of spirit who was one of those preferred by the master4 ,in spite of his occasionally rough manner1 ,wagner is1 when he so chooses1 a perfect charmer4 ,there is nothing to be compared with the fascination which he exercises upon the interpreters working under his orders4 ,after a few days the most hostile and rebellious orchestra becomes attached to him4 ,it is the same with the singers1 whom he inspires with unbounded devotion4 ,the illustrious ,schnorr1 the first singer of ,tristan1 in which part he was sublime1 cried1 as he drew his last breath1 ,it is not ,i then who will sing ,siegfried4 ,he regretted nothing in this life but the glory of interpreting ,wagner's works4 ,one of the most remarkable things about ,wagner is the youthful gayety which so frequently breaks out1 and the charming good humor which his tormented life has never been able to quench4 ,his entertaining and profound conversation will become all at once1 without transition1 full of humor and imagination4 ,he tells stories in the most comical manner1 with a fine irony which belongs to him alone4 ,at ,lucerne he surprised me by his skill in bodily exercises1 and by his singular agility4 ,he climbed the highest trees in his garden1 to the terror of his wife1 who besought me not to look at him1 because1 she said1 if he were encouraged he would commit no end of follies4 ,he was then working very regularly1 rising early in the morning4 ,at midday he was free1 took long walks1 or rested while reading1 for he has an insatiable thirst for literature1 and is an indefatigable student4 ,in these hours of rest and meditation he has moments of beautiful serenity4 ,his features then assume an incomparable sweetness1 his face becomes enveloped with a pallor which has nothing of ill-health1 but seems to veil it with a slight cloud4 ,at these moments nothing troubles or agitates him4 ,one feels that he is in self-communion with his dreams1 and one involuntarily thinks of a magnificent lake reflecting the heavens4 ,i have never witnessed this peaceful reverie without emotion1 without the deep desire that nothing may trouble or dissipate it4 ,but little is needed to bring back agitation2 the least breath suffices2 happy if the tempest does not break forth4 ,unfortunately for himself ,wagner will never know the feeling so wisely egotistical--polite indifference4 ,before my departure from ,lucerne he wished to organize an excursion of several days to show us the country of ,william ,tell4 ,we were obliged to start at dawn1 and the carriage was winding its way by the lake of ,lucerne1 or the ,four ,cantons1 when the sun rose4 ,i remember that a gleam of light fell upon the master's lips while he was talking to us4 ,in speaking of ,mendelssohn he said3 ,he is a great landscape-painter4 ,i confess to seeing very little of the country ,i was visiting4 ,i remember at the first halting-place a trout upon which ,wagner made a frightful pun1 which ,i shall not translate4 ,then came the steamboat which conveyed us to ,zurich1 where the master was welcomed by the populace as a well-loved king2 a mountain was climbed1 a sail followed2 but all is confused4 ,what has ever remained in my memory is the charm of those days1 passed in such glorious intimacy1 his gentle gayety and simplicity1 the attentive cares1 the art of organizing everything for one's greatest comfort and pleasure4 ,he was the first to rise and awake the more slothful ones1 and he hummed the ,marseillaise as he tapped upon our doors4 ,once again at ,lucerne ,wagner confessed that he had been suffering during the greater part of the journey1 but had been careful to say nothing lest he should spoil our pleasure4 ,it was with sincere regret that ,i finally took leave of my hosts1 being1 however1 somewhat consoled by the promise that ,i should often receive news from ,tribscheu1 a promise which has been faithfully kept4 ,i returned there the following year1 #ahgj1 being at ,lucerne when the war was declared4 ,it was evident with his ardent character that ,wagner could not fail to be deeply impressed by this event4 ,the idea of a united ,germany impassioned him1 and ,i confess that ,i should have loved him less had he not experienced1 like all of us1 in these crises the inspirations of patriotism4 ,it was deemed expedient1 however1 not to touch upon dangerous questions1 where we could not possibly agree1 but to remain prudently in the regions of art1 where we so entirely understood one another4 ,by this method the events which made us opponents could not disturb our friendship4 ,returned to ,paris1 the last letter which ,i received from him was dated the #eth of ,september4 ,it informed me of the baptism of his son1 to whom ,i stood god-mother1 but alas1 at a distance4 ,at the moment of the benediction1 he wrote1 a storm burst upon us with flashes of lightning and loud peals of thunder4 ,it appears that the thunder claps will play their part in the life of this terrible child4 ,i myself like such celestial auguries1 while ,i hold in aversion those terrestrial blows which have deprived us of your presence4 ,i keep to our silence so sensibly agreed upon4 ,but happily there is a region of existence where we are and always shall remain friends4 ,all that separates us1 even in our opinions upon things which belong to this region1 can only contribute to draw us in time nearer and more intimately together4 ,the horrible tempest once calmed1 we met again with the same sentiments1 each continuing to reserve his own opinions4 ,in #ahgb ,lucerne was abandoned for ,bayreuth2 the great project so long cherished of the theatre built after ,wagner's ideas was at last to be realized4 ,the #bb;d of ,april ,madame ,wagner wrote me3 ,one last word from ,tribscheu1 my dear friend1 which we leave with full hearts and troubled minds4 ,to-morrow ,wagner goes to ,bayreuth1 and ,i am to follow him with the children and ,rus in a week4 ,we cannot1 however1 leave without sending you our tender remembrances4 ,the first stone of the theatre was solemnly laid at ,bayreuth on the #bb;d of ,may of the same year4 ,on this occasion the king sent the following despatch to ,wagner3-- ,from the depths of my heart1 dear friend1 ,i express to you1 on this day of such great import to all ,germany1 my warmest and sincerest congratulations4 ,success and blessing to the great enterprise of the coming year6 ,to-day more than ever ,i am with you in spirit4 ,ludwig4 ,beethoven's symphony1 with choruses1 directed by ,wagner1 was the finest episode of the ftes which followed4 ,the ,german public1 who knew it well1 was enraptured by the inimitable performance4 ,we cannot express in words our thanks and admiration for the manner in which ,wagner interprets the works of ,beethoven1 wrote the ,musical ,journal of ,berlin4 ,we have never heard an orchestra spiritualized to such a degree4 ,we add our share of enthusiasm to that of the transported audience4 ,and ,mr4 ,richard ,pohl1 a well-known writer1 said3 ,richard ,wagner1 who always directs without notes1 knowing the score by heart1 exercises a marvellous and magnetic charm over his orchestra4 ,he forces it to accomplish his wishes1 does with it what he will1 sure of being obeyed4 ,he animates and electrifies each musician1 and always remains in sympathetic contact with the whole instrumental body4 ,all divine1 so to speak1 his thought4 ,he handles the orchestra like a gigantic instrument1 with a certainty that never fails him1 with a sovereignty before which all joyfully bow4 ,to form an idea of this prodigy it must be witnessed2 the revelation is as unique as is ,wagner's incomparably artistic nature4 ,our fte is over1 wrote ,madame ,wagner1 several days later1 and in spite of very bad weather it has been superb4 ,the words of ,beethoven1 'all men become brothers1' seemed to be realized during these few days at ,bayreuth1 where our friends1 known and unknown1 have congregated from every quarter of the globe1 having all one thought and one faith4 ,in #ahgf the theatre was finished1 and that colossal work1 the ,ring of the ,nibelung1 was brought forward and put upon the stage4 ,sovereigns1 artists1 an intelligent crowd1 rushed toward ,bayreuth1 which could not contain it1 and even the streets were put into requisition for improvised camps4 ,that little city1 so completely obscure a few years ago1 suddenly rendered famous by the caprice of a man of genius1 is hidden behind the chilly mountains of ,upper ,franconia4 ,pine woods1 rapid streams1 vast plains1 bounded by blue-tinted hills against the misty sky1 long poplar-studded roads1 along which harnessed oxen slowly travel in couples under the brass yoke which forms a sort of crown over their heads1--such is the approach to this once quiet city1 which1 all at once1 in honor of the theatre which rises in proud simplicity on the hill1 throws open its gates to welcome emperors1 kings1 and princes from all countries1 and finds itself filled with a joyous crowd1 which the innkeepers1 waking from their long lethargy1 swindle to the best of their ability4 ,while speaking of innkeepers ,i may recall a characteristic incident which happened at ,munich4 ,the hotel-keepers of the city1 having previously come to a common understanding1 offered to build the projected theatre for ,wagner at their own expense1 but at ,munich1 not in ,bayreuth4 ,they considered that it would be a great affair for them4 ,even as a river is diverted from its course1 so they proposed to direct toward themselves the tide of visitors2 but the master held to ,bayreuth and declined their offers4 ,wahnfried6 ,such is the name of ,wagner's villa at ,bayreuth4 ,wahnfried1 a name full of melancholy doubt1 which gives rise to many thoughts1 but is difficult to translate2 its truest signification being illusions of peace4 ,at the height of his glory1 adored almost1 he whose life had been so troubled and painful wished to persuade himself that he had at last cremated1 sheltered from all attacks1 a retreat where he could thenceforward live in peace2 but he himself recognized the futility of this scheme4 ,can repose exist for such a mind1 always pushing irresistibly forward and higher8 ,folly1 illusion1 thus to mark a standing-place1 to carve one's tombstone1 and to dig a grave1 while so many desires are still fermenting1 and while so many dreams are still outlived1 which must be formed1 and then again dissipated4 ,wahnfried6 ,this word1 which at first seemed to me to contain a regret1 held1 perhaps1 on the contrary a hope4 ,the house1 constructed upon ,wagner's own plan1 appears at the end of a long avenue2 it is built of grayish red stones1 almost square1 and without other ornament than the fresco upon the front1 which recalls a scene from the ,nibelungen4 ,a straight flight of steps leads to the door2 that opens upon a small anteroom1 which again communicates with a large vestibule1 very high1 and lighted from the top4 ,it is surrounded1 on a level with the first story1 by a gallery1 decorated with paintings1 representing ,eastern scenes4 ,the floor is paved with flagstones1 divans are placed in the angles1 together with marble statues of ,wagner's heroes1 the work of enthusiastic sculptors1 and a large ,american organ with brass stops4 ,at the right is the dining-room2 on the left a little salon filled with objects of art4 ,facing this is the great hall of reunion1 vast and sumptuous1 at once library and working-room4 ,it is terminated by a glass rotunda opening into the garden1 where a fountain is babbling joyously4 ,the theatre1 which stands outside of the city on a hill1 is a construction of simple aspect1 somewhat resembling the palace of the ,trocadro4 ,when ,i saw it for the first time rising majestically on the height1 illumined by the rays of the setting sun2 when ,i saw that contemplative crowd slowly ascending on every side toward this temple of art1 ,i could not restrain tears of joy4 ,the dream of this man's entire life was thus at last realized4 ,the world that had persecuted him hastened finally to greet him with a rapture beyond precedent4 ,he1 once so persecuted1 enjoyed even in life his apotheosis4 ,this new phase of his life had changed nothing in his manner of being2 this immense triumph failed to intoxicate him2 he did not even appear to be greatly impressed4 ,it seemed to me that the ,nibelungen were far from his mind1 which already meditated new creations4 ,he made me visit the theatre in all its details1 from the hidden orchestra1 sunk beneath the stage1 to the mechanism which held suspended the ,undines of the ,rhine4 ,we had to climb everything that was practicable1 descend to the floor under the stage2 and ,i perceived that the master had lost none of his agility of ,tribscheu4 ,those who were present at the admirable representations of #ahgf1 where everything had been prepared and directed by ,wagner1 will never forget them4 ,a like solemnity has not been reproduced since the great theatrical celebrations of ancient ,greece1 and will remain a great event in the future history of art4 ,i shall close these few pages1 written from memory1 by the relation of my last visit to the master1 copied from my travelling note book4 ,,bayreuth1 #bith of ,september1 #ahha4 ,it is with quickly beating hearts that we cross once more the threshold of this dwelling1 which1 in spite of the cordial reception always awaiting us1 we feel to be consecrated ground1 the holy of holies1 which should not be penetrated without a sort of sacred awe4 ,the whole family is assembled in the drawing-room1 which is brightened by a ray of sunlight4 ,liszt1 who has come to pass a few weeks with his dear grandchildren1 is superb1 with his long white hair1 his bushy eyebrows1 beneath which shine a lion's eyes4 ,my godson is already growing large2 he has a broad forehead1 and blue eyes of exquisite sweetness4 ,the master comes up from the garden1 always the same1 even younger4 ,truly the immortals defy time4 ,he receives us with that tender effusion with which those of his followers1 by whom he knows himself perfectly loved1 inspire him1 for he has nothing of the impassable egotism which so often attacks great men when they arrive at a certain height of glory4 ,he is rather1 as we have already said1 too impressionable1 allows himself to be governed by the momentary violence of his impressions2 and the only uneasiness he causes to those who surround him1 who live only for him1 proceeds from this intensity in his sadness or joy1 or from his anger1 which a nature less tempered than his would not be able to resist4 ,he can sometimes forget1 even completely change1 his opinion1 love that which he once detested1 and always with the same sincerity4 ,we pass to the dining-room4 ,the master is now rapturously gay2 he expresses himself with some difficulty in ,french1 which does not1 however1 prevent his playing upon the words as no one else can4 ,he tells us of his journey to ,naples and ,venice1 of the pleasure he has derived from ,italy1 and we quickly divine in him a longing for the sun and new horizons2 he is thinking of ,greece1 the ,bosporus1 ,india4 ,oh ,wahnfried1 ,wahnfried6 ,one thing evidently wearies him greatly2 it is the instrumentation of ,parsifal4 ,he complains of not being able to form young artists capable of aiding him in his work2 but this is simply make-believe1 he well knows that it is impossible4 ,when one is young1 he said1 when the nerves are not yet fatigued1 and one writes scores with a certain ease1 even that of ,lohengrin1 without knowing all the resources of coloring and combination1 the work is not comparable to that which the new works demand1 and which must be written at a maturer age4 ,auber1 however1 wrote until his eighty-fourth year without fatigue2 but he had not changed his manner4 ,liszt relates a speech of ,auber's1 to whom a young musician of great promise had been presented4 ,are we not enough already8 cried the master4 ,he afterwards spoke of a counterbass with five chords1 the object of which is to descend still further in the lower notes than the ordinary counterbass does4 ,wagner said of a gentleman who came to submit a similar process to him1 that he sent him about his business4 ,mendelssohn1 however1 has already tried something of the kind and produced a fine effect4 ,we were reproached for not having come a month sooner1 when the house was full of singers1 to whom the parts of ,parsifal were assigned1 and who began their first studies4 ,to console us1 ,wagner promised to let us hear certain passages4 ,but he pretends to play badly1 so that it will not be the same thing4 ,there is a project to go to-morrow to the theatre to see the models of the scenes1 provided the machinist who is expected has arrived to show them3 #cjth ,september4 ,we are early to-day at ,wahnfried4 ,the gate is never shut except by a bolt1 and we can take a solitary walk in the garden without disturbing any one4 ,long trellises of virgin vines1 already bloodstained by the precocious autumn1 creep the length of each side of the way leading to the house2 it is almost dark under their shelter2 in places1 however1 the green roof becomes lighter1 and the dead leaves rustle under our feet4 ,the space intervening between these trellises and the centre walk is reserved for the kitchen garden2 but the soil does not appear to be fertile4 ,we come out at the conservatory1 where there is already a fire2 all the delicate flowers have been brought in-doors4 ,a few exotic plants destined to ornament the drawing-room1 but which are withering1 are there as in an infirmary4 ,in front of the hot-house1 on the other side of the house1 cries and a flapping of wings indicate the hen-house2 it is large and gay1 and might be taken for a sample from the garden of acclimation in ,paris4 ,peacocks1 silver pheasants1 rare hens1 and a scattering of pigeons fill it1 defying the cook's knife1 for the place is as sacred to them as if they were taking their sports within the enclosure of a ,brahmin temple4 ,in front of the drawing-room1 and surrounding the fountain1 is the pleasure-garden2 with fine lawns1 beds of ,bengal roses1 and flowers of all kinds1 but many of them are already frostbitten4 ,this free space is enclosed by a bushy wood forming a sort of wall4 ,one must penetrate its shadows to approach the tomb1 which has been already so much talked of1 and which by a sufficiently exuberant fancy the master caused to be built at the same time with his house4 ,it is completely enveloped by the thick coppice1 and is without egress2 it is only when autumn strips the trees that a large1 gray marble slab can be seen through the confusion of branches1 over which the briars twine themselves4 ,a graceful pavilion of two stories1 a gymnasium for the children1 hemicycles of grass1 with stone benches1 are scattered in this wood1 which leads to a little gate1 looking out upon the royal residence4 ,the stroke of the clock recalls us to the house4 ,the master has finished his morning task1 and shows us his well-filled page lying upon the table4 ,his life is one of the greatest regularity1 above all when1 as at this time1 he is pursuing a hurried and fatiguing work4 ,he rises at six1 but after his bath retires again and reads until ten4 ,at eleven he sets himself to work until two o'clock4 ,after dinner he rests for a short time1 always in company with a book4 ,from four until six he drives1 then goes back to his work until supper1 at eight2 the evening is passed gayly with his family1 and before eleven all the household is in bed4 ,at table ,liszt announces that ,darwin declares himself a partisan of vivisection1 but that this frightful practice has just been interdicted in ,england4 ,it is well known that ,richard ,wagner is one of the warmest defenders of those innocent victims of the physiologist's cruel curiosity4 ,some time ago he wrote a long article full of sadness and anger1 in which he repeats the words of ,faust1 ,the dogs themselves will no longer wish to live in such a world4 ,our campaign has already had good results in ,germany1 he said2 the joiners who manufacture the instruments of torture destined for the unfortunate dogs complain of the diminution of their sales4 ,he asks us if this humane cause has defenders in ,france2 to which we reply that there are very ardent ones2 in the first instance1 all honest people3 and then we cite among the journalists ,victor ,meunier1 who1 in the ,rappel1 rises vehemently against these cruelties1 and very justly compares the actual position of animals to that of the former slaves1 over whom their masters were supposed to have every right4 ,a visit to the theatre is again spoken of2 the machinist whom we expected1 evidently cannot come2 but we shall go to see the models and scenery in ,m4 ,ioukouski's studio4 ,my theatre will1 ,i think1 said the master1 become a sort of conservatory where singers will be found1 and where the method in which my works will be executed and put upon the stage will serve as a model to directors and managers who will mount them elsewhere4 ,the ,paris ,conservatory still holds to the tradition of the movements of ,gluck's ,iphigenia4444 ,you have there1 he added1 an orchestra of the first order--,beethoven's ,symphonies were played to perfection4 ,liszt tells of a very singular appreciation on ,boieldieu's part of the ,beethoven ,symphonies1 at the time of their first hearing in ,paris4 ,it certainly produces an effect1 he said1 but it bears a resemblance to people chewing tobacco and swearing in a guard-house4 ,we start upon a visit to ,m4 ,paul ,ioukouski's studio4 ,this young painter1 who1 meeting ,richard ,wagner at ,naples1 solicited and obtained the honor of being chosen for the work of the scenery in ,parsifal1 and left all to follow the master1 is the son of one of ,russia's most illustrious poets1 who was the preceptor of ,alexander ,,ii4 ,the artist is installed in a house in the immediate neighborhood of ,wahnfried1 and lives there like a hermit1 putting his whole heart into his work4 ,the sketches1 which are real pictures1 are displayed upon the various easels4 ,on the first is the forest1 with the rising sun1 for the first tableau1 which1 to make place for the second1 will slide gently from left to right1 sinking down little by little1 while the characters are supposed to be advancing as they ascend a hill4 ,these characters will disappear behind masses of rocks1 then will be seen again in grottoes near ,cyclopean substructures1 then in galleries4 ,they finally pass through a door1 and the temple of the ,grail will appear4 ,here it is seen1 upon the neighboring easel1 with its porphyry columns1 its capital of precious stones1 its vaults1 its double cupolas1 its mysterious depths4 ,the tables destined for the sacred repast1 which bring to mind the sacrament1 are arranged on either side of the altar4 ,the smooth marble-paved floor reflects like a lake4 ,mr4 ,brandt1 machinist of the theatre at ,darmstadt1 a man of genius1 it appears1 for whom the word impossible does not exist1 says that he can produce this glittering effect1 and that the only difficulty lies in the rapid shifting of the scenery4 ,the fantastic garden1 created by the magician1 ,klingsor1 in order to reduce and ruin the ,knights of the ,grail1 was a thing difficult to conceive4 ,wagner wished for something absolutely improbable2 the conception of a dream1 a wild efflorescence brought to life by the stroke of a wand1 not by plodding earthly labor2 he was dissatisfied with every attempt4 ,he has1 however1 obtained his desire1 and it appears that on the stage this scene is one of the most successful of all4 ,what is most singular is that these giant flowers1 sheaves1 clusters1 and thickets1 which leave only a corner on the horizon visible1 fade away and die in the twinkling of an eye1 leaving in sight only an arid moor1 shut in by snowy mountains1 while a shower of withered leaves and dried petals falls upon the ground4 ,the flowering meadow near the spring wood1 which shelters the hermit's hut1 with its clear spring murmuring beneath the thick moss1 is truly enchanting4 ,from this we return by a shifting of scenes analogous to that in the first act1 to the temple of the ,grail1 where the piece ends4 ,the costumes are not more easy of invention1 for the master will not be satisfied with anything like the costumers' indignation4 ,even should they all become wretched they must yield4 ,the enchantresses evoked by the magician1--women who are flowers1 as the syrens are fishes1--are those who give the most trouble4 ,wagner will not have attractive young girls1 but real animated flowers4 ,there is also the tunic of the terrible and marvellous ,kundry4 #ast ,october4 ,the master has kept his promise this evening1 and has let us hear fragments from ,parsifal4 ,liszt's presence makes me lose my powers in a measure1 he said1 laughing1 he intimidates me1 for ,i know that my false notes irritate him4 ,unfortunately1 ,liszt1 who only yesterday improvised upon the piano in a delightful manner1 blending with his own inventions motions from ,tristan and ,isolde1 has slightly wounded his finger1 and cannot play4 ,it must certainly be acknowledged that ,wagner is an imperfect pianist1 and he is the first to laugh at his own imperfection4 ,we notice1 however1 in a wonderful manner1 certain passages which the author knows how to render with the true expression1 better than any other4 ,a few months ago1 ,liszt wrote to us3 ,wagner has worked a new miracle1 ,parsifal4 ,those who already have the good fortune to understand this new work share this opinion2 the singers are enraptured4 ,judging from the general impression1 this ought to be a new transformation in the master's method1--one of those giant steps to which he is accustomed4 ,in this instance the height and refinement of art combine to produce an effect of apparent simplicity and perfect serenity4 ,this evening we take leave of our illustrious hosts1 promising to meet them again next year at the first representation of ,parsifal4 ,,poetic ,,work4 ,,wagner',s ,,poetic ,,work4 ,,from ,,rienzi ,,to ,,tristan ,,and ,,isolde4 ,the spectacle1 which represents a series of lofty and still loftier peaks of a chain of mountains1 at the moment when the morning mists envelop them1 furnishes a just comparison to that given us by these works1 which rise successively1 one above the other1 from the lovely green hill to the dazzling and1 for many1 inaccessible summits4 ,from ,rienzi to the ,gloom of the ,gods there is the same difference of attitude as between the ,capitoline ,hill and the ,himalaya4 ,and what gigantic strides from one work to the other4 ,a powerful1 enthusiastic genius already reveals itself in ,rienzi2 but it has done little more than assimilate1 with the greatest facility1 the beauties that had most charmed one in the works of its predecessors4 ,wagner likes show1 pompous processions1 the tumult of battle2 the brilliant orchestra resounds1 is carried away1 enthusiastic2 the power which moves it1 not yet under control1 expends itself in vociferations1 heroic cries of extreme vehemence2 but as yet nothing presages the innovator1 if it be not the almost prophetic sense of the subject1 so ardently revolutionary4 ,between ,rienzi and ,the ,flying ,dutchman lies an abyss4 ,the young master1 disdaining the success of his first work1 judges it with severity and casts it aside2 he considers it an essay4 ,from the first he has equalled his models1 but he feels that he is still far from his ideal2 a new world palpitates in his mind2 he must break the old moulds and fetters of routine that he may soar untrammelled toward unexplored regions4 ,the artist1 now sure of himself1 definitely abandons historical subjects1 whose too hard reality is not in keeping with the idealism of music4 ,the natural poetry of legend and myth suits him far better4 ,henceforward the path is found1 he will no longer turn aside from it1 but continually enlarge upon its thought4 ,from the popular song1 hummed by the ,norwegian spinners while turning their wheels1 he will rise to the savage grandeurs of the northern theogonies4 ,it was upon a sea-voyage1 during a storm1 which cast him upon the coast of ,norway1 that ,richard ,wagner induced the sailors themselves to repeat to him the frightful story of the ,flying ,dutchman--,ahasverus of the ,sea1 who1 blaspheming1 defied the storm with ,satan's aid1 and was condemned to wander eternally1 he and his fantastic ship4 ,but the mystical young girl1 grown pale from the snow's reflections1 who languishes with love for the damned one1 carried incessantly through shipwrecks and lightning1 will save him by her faithful devotion1 even unto death1 if he but reaches her4 ,this work seems to have come at a single stroke1 under the inspiration of a violent emotion4 ,the ocean1 with its rage1 its awe1 its mystery and sweetness--all is in this music1 which is like the sea's own soul4 ,if a few traces of the old formul remain1 it is only in the subordinate parts of the work4 ,the orchestra is no longer a great guitar1 accompanying a song2 it already assumes a capital importance2 the designs1 dividing and blending1 have a precise meaning2 the whole1 less noisy1 acquires a power until then unknown4 ,the orchestral tissue becomes the woof upon which the characters are embroidered2 it becomes the ocean which bears the ship1 the atmosphere which envelops the action1 where the thoughts1 the sentiments of the heroes1 reverberating1 amplifying1 become visible1 so to speak1 and make the mind experience all that is inexpressible in the sensations of the soul4 ,the legend of ,tanhuser still exists in ,germany1 above all in leafy ,thuringia1 where the famous castle of ,wartburg stands1 which1 under the hospitable landgraves of the thirteenth century1 was the theatre of pacific contests1 fought by the illustrious troubadours4 ,in front of the castle rises a bare1 dreary mountain1 burned as it were1 which makes a strange blot in the midst of the fresh vegetation of the neighboring valleys4 ,this is the terrible ,venusberg1 inhabited1 according to popular tradition1 by a dangerous goddess4 ,this divinity was formerly ,hulda the beneficent1 who came each year to awaken the spring1 and wandered over the country scattering flowers under her feet4 ,but being cursed by ,christianity1 she was obliged to take refuge in the unknown caverns of the mountain2 she was soon confounded with ,venus1 the sovereign of the senses4 ,the graces1 syrens1 bacchantes1 and fauns constituted her court1 and enchanting voices seduced those whose impure desires guided them toward the mountain2 unknown roads enticed them1 and they were borne away to the mysterious palace which it encloses1 in the abode of eternal perdition1 from which none return4 ,the ,knight ,tanhuser1 curious and intrepid1 found the path of the grottoes in the ,venusberg1 and was the spouse of the goddess during seven years1 after which1 his desires satiated and himself devoured with remorse1 aspiring to human suffering1 he succeeded in tearing himself from the arms of his love by invoking the ,virgin ,mary4 ,he went and confessed to the pope1 imploring his pardon1 but the pontiff replied1 that having tasted the pleasures of hell he was forever damned4 ,then raising his crosier1 he added1 ,even as this wood cannot become green again1 so is there no pardon for thee4 ,the legend adds1 that at the expiration of three days the crosier began to blossom1 signifying that celestial grace is greater than that of a pontiff4 ,it is from this recital1 enlarged by a powerful spirit1 that ,wagner has taken his drama1 inter-weaving with his own tissue the tradition about the famous contests of the poet-singers1 and also the chaste and melancholy face of ,elisabeth1 whom he voluntarily confounds with the sainted princess whose virtuous life shed a lustre over the the castle4 ,but what ,richard ,wagner has above all wished to bring out in this marvellous work is the eternal struggle between the flesh and the spirit1 the brute and the angel1 which1 being in man1 dispute his soul4 ,and this he has rendered with incomparable clearness and grandeur4 ,the discussions formerly raised by the representation of ,tanhuser have made this debated work better known than many others illustrious from success4 ,it is useless1 therefore1 to speak of it further4 ,lohengrin1 which has never been represented in ,paris1 and which can scarcely be appreciated from partial executions of the most inferior order1 is1 strange to say1 almost popular4 ,whoever has heard the orchestral prelude typifying the vision of ,king ,titurel1 when the angels bring to him the ,holy ,grail1 can never forget this admirable passage1 and the extraordinary impression which it produces4 ,at first an almost imperceptible vibration takes possession of the highest notes of the flutes and violins4 ,the air becomes agitated1 the light approaches and grows larger1 soon with an irradiation of trumpets the luminous vision shines resplendent in all its glory4 ,the incomparable cup1 cut from a stone1 it is said1 which fell from ,lucifer's crown when he was precipitated from heaven1 and which is now filled with the blood of the ,saviour1 is confided to the pure hands of a holy knight4 ,then the angels again take their flight1 the glimmering becomes obliterated1 and the atmospheric vibrations1 which can no longer be heard1 little by little diminish and die away4 ,the curtain rises upon a site near the environs of ,anvers1 on the borders of ,scheldt4 ,we find ourselves in the tenth century4 ,henry the ,fowler1 ,king of ,germany1 has come to ,brabant to convoke the noble lords according to the feudal custom4 ,frederick of ,telramund1 the most valiant of all the lords of ,brabant1 has just accused1 before all the people1 ,elsa1 ,duchess of ,brabant1 of the murder of her young brother1 who has disappeared1 leaving no trace4 ,the young girl possesses no method of proving her innocence2 her cause then is to be submitted to the judgment of ,god4 ,but when the herald has resounded the trumpet toward the four quarters of the world1 no knight has entered the lists in her defence4 ,elsa1 however1 has confidence in a singular vision3 a charming warrior has appeared to her in a dream2 he will fight for her4 ,however1 the herald's second summons remains without response4 ,it is then that1 with an impulse of sublime faith1 she throws herself upon her knees1 and beseeches ,heaven to send her the defender who has visited her in a vision4 ,soon1 in fact1 the people1 grouped upon the banks of the river1 see in the distance1 with increasing agitation1 a strange bark drawn by a dazzling swan2 it approaches1 it draws nearer2 a knight of wondrous beauty stands erect in the bark2 his light helmet1 his silver breastplate are resplendent1 he rests one hand upon his shield4 ,a miracle6 a miracle6 cries the crowd4 ,can it be an angel sent by ,god8 ,the mysterious knight steps upon the shore4 ,with a calm and modest voice he bids farewell to the beautiful swan which has conducted him and now returns to the unknown regions from which it came4 ,then the knight advances in the midst of the surprised and rejoicing multitude4 ,i am come1 he says1 to defend the innocent girl unjustly accused4 ,who will do combat with me8 ,telramund1 notwithstanding the sacred character of his adversary1 and preferring death to dishonor1 raises the gauntlet and upholds the accusation4 ,the knight draws near the enraptured ,elsa1 and in a sweet1 grave voice1 says to her3 ,if ,i bear off the victory1 wilt thou that ,i should become thy husband8 ,then must thou promise never to seek to discover from what countries ,i come1 nor what is my name or nature4 ,my shield1 my angel1 my savior6 cried ,elsa1 thou who defendest me in my distress1 how could ,i do other than faithfully keep to the law thou imposest upon me8 ,elsa1 ,i love thee1 murmurs the unknown knight with deepest tenderness4 ,the king blesses the arms1 and the combat begins4 ,the knight gains an easy victory over his adversary1 whose life he spares4 ,elsa's innocence is proclaimed by the entire people in a triumphal hymn of joy4 ,but ,ortrud1 ,telramund's wife1 daughter of the ,king of ,friesia1 who aspires to the throne of ,brabant1 succeeds in exciting feminine curiosity in ,elsa1 and in pouring the poison of doubt into her heart in order to blight her joy4 ,she torments her until at last ,elsa1 distracted1 violates her oath1 exacting from her spouse the avowal of his origin4 ,doubt has killed faith1 which carries with it all happiness2 the night of love ends in despair4 ,it is upon a meadow near the border of the ,scheldt1 amid flying1 banners and flourishing trumpets1 in the presence of ,brabant counts1 followed by their vassals called by ,king ,henry for an expedition against the ,hungarians1 that the mysterious knight will unveil his origin4 ,in a distant country1 he says1 upon a high mountain1 called ,mont ,salvat1 stands a magnificent temple1 in which knights of absolute purity guard a miraculous cup2 it is the ,holy ,grail1 the cup in which ,christ consecrated the bread and wine at the time of the ,lord's ,supper1 and in which1 later1 ,joseph of ,arimathea received his blood4 ,this cup had been carried to heaven by the angels1 but they brought it back again to the holy king1 ,titurel1 who founded the temple of the ,grail1 and the order of its knights4 ,those who serve the ,grail are endowed with wonderful virtue1 but an inflexible law forces them to remain unknown among men4 ,if their name be discovered1 they must immediately depart1 and once more regain the sacred mountain4 ,for this reason ,i must leave you1 informing you that ,parsifal1 my father1 is ,king of the ,grail1 and ,i1 his knight1 am named ,lohengrin4 ,the swan reappears upon the shore to bear the warrior away to his miraculous country2 ,elsa has destroyed her happiness2 she sees her guardian angel depart forever4 ,lohengrin is1 perhaps1 the most perfect of the three lyric dramas which form the second period in the master's work4 ,from ,lohengrin to ,tristan and ,isolde as great a distance is marked as between ,rienzi and the ,flying ,dutchman4 ,it is a new revelation1 a new art1--something perfect and definite1 a prodigious flight toward the future4 ,there is no longer1 so to speak1 any question of music in the sense formerly attached to this word2 it is poetry in superb and precise form1 with a sonorous resonant soul1--,apollo and ,orpheus melted in a single lyre4 ,the works following may1 perhaps1 be grander1 but ,tristan and ,isolde is and will remain the masterpiece of masterpieces1 by reason of the poetical subject which1 in art as in the human soul1 takes by right the first place4 ,in ,tristan and ,isolde love itself1 in its most complete and perfect form1 finds utterance4 ,the most pointed phases of the passion are pushed to their extreme4 ,in the first act it is unavailing love1 heroically conquered1 which consumes the heart while not a cry escapes the lips1--,tristan1 conducting toward another the royal betrothed1 whose hand he himself1 in his blind love1 has solicited for the ,king of ,cornwall4 ,tristan's love believes itself despised4 ,isolde1 consumed with anger and tenderness1 powerless to master the tumult in her soul1 wishes shipwreck to the vessel which bears her away1 with the hero who disdains her1 toward the shore which she hopes never to reach4 ,death rather1 death for us both6 she cries4 ,and when the tempest betrays her1 when already the hated land is signaled1 she offers poison4 ,tristan cannot refuse to empty a cup in ,isolde's honor1 to drink to their reconciliation1 for a debt of blood lies between them1 long since effaced by their unavowed love1 but which she begins to remember4 ,tristan well knows that eternal forgetfulness is poured out for him by the hand which he secretly adores2 he accepts with gratitude this mitigation of evils which have no remedy4 ,on the threshold of death1 however1 both drop their mask1 the fire then breaks out triumphant1 love casts them into one another's arms in the intoxication of a supreme joy which should repay them for their past sufferings4 ,heart against heart1 eyes looking into eyes1 thus will their hearts cease to beat1 and their mutual gaze be extinguished4 ,but alas6 they are betrayed2 the two devoted followers have substituted for the mortal draught a love-drink1 and instead of the kindly shade which reunited them1 behold the detested shore1 and the deceitful day which separates them4 ,such a love once free can no longer be stifled or conquered4 ,it is a formidable conflagration1 a flame which death itself cannot extinguish4 ,it has devoured everything1--loyalty1 honor1 virtue4 ,the earth itself becomes effaced in the ravishing rapture of mutual possession4 ,infinite and sublime ecstasy follows1 which no heart can have either experienced or foreseen4 ,their happiness even crushes and stifles them2 the heart cannot contain such love1 the human voice has no words to express it2 the most burning embraces leave them disunited4 ,tristan and ,isolde are two1 and they would become one soul1 a single thought1 a scintillation of love in an unlimited night4 ,desperate and unsatisfied1 they aspire to the infinity of death4 ,they dream of a flight beyond all worlds in that mysterious shade which protects them upon earth1 but over which the day and the empty phantoms of life triumph1 ceaselessly inflicting the tortures of impending separation4 ,the eternal and great night of love without the terrors of the morning6 ,a long enchanting dream in unlimited space2 no names to separate2 a single flame2 a single thought2 a sweet swoon in each other's arms2 the ardent rapture of death without end1 without awakening6 ,such is their thought4 ,but suddenly1 behold the cruel day1 and with it shame4 ,this sublime love is dragged before the world1 which calls it an indiscretion1 and censures4 ,then follows the combat1 in which ,tristan1 overcome with a divine ecstasy1 is no longer the victorious hero1 but falls mortally wounded4 ,when we see him again1 in the agonies of death1 it is in the ancient dungeon of his ancestors in ,brittany4 ,the faithful shield-bearer has taken him across the seas in a bark4 ,now he is sheltered from all surprise4 ,but ,isolde8 ,when his eyes1 which seem to be forever closed1 will awake to life1 if they are not gladdened by his soul's sweet sovereign1 they will close again forever4 ,isolde knows her loved one's retreat2 she is coming to him1 but the minutes are centuries1 and the sea is deserted and void1 even to the silent horizon4 ,see1 the hero now comes to himself with the dear name upon his lips4 ,tristan cannot die while ,isolde is still in the empire of the sun4 ,the gates of death1 which had already closed upon him with a clang1 reopen wide before this invincible desire to see once more her with whom alone he can lose himself in eternal night4 ,void and deserted is the sea6 ,thus it is that the fury of despair tears ,tristan's soul4 ,love and fever mingling their delirium1 he writhes upon his bed of pain with cries of superhuman suffering4 ,nothing can render the impression of this frightful agony1 in which the flame of love cannot be extinguished by death1 of this distracted and expectant soul1 retarding the supreme departure4 ,at intervals the hero falls to the ground1 seemingly dead2 but when the weeping shield-bearer stoops to hear a last sigh1 a last palpitation1 ,tristan in a low voice murmurs the name of ,isolde6 ,yet once again hope springs to life in the breast of this martyr to love2 he perceives the ship1 although common eyes cannot distinguish it1 and on the ship ,isolde1 who makes a sign to him4 ,dost thou not see it yet8 ,tender and majestic she crosses the breadth of the sea like a sovereign2 she comes carried toward land as by waves of intoxicating flowers2 her smile will pour out supreme consolation4 ,oh1 ,isolde6 ,isolde6 how beautiful1 how welcome art thou6 ,the ship is1 in truth1 signalled4 ,the soul's eyes are not deceived4 ,all sails spread1 it flies over the waters4 ,she approaches--she1 the enchanting one1 she comes4 ,what delirious impatience1 what joyous transports6 ,intoxication of the soul1 rapture without measure1 impetuous and overheated1 blood1 how shall ,i support you chained to this couch8 ,up then1 up1 on the march toward the beating heart6 ,already ,isolde's voice is heard1 and the hero throws himself1 staggering1 from his bed4 ,she comes1 she calls him1 holds her arms toward him2 but he can only die at her feet1 uttering for the last time the infinitely-beloved name4 ,ah1 live with me yet one hour1 only an hour1 cries the distracted ,isolde in her despair4 ,i have only lived through so many days of anguish and desire to watch one hour with thee4 ,do not die of thy wound1 let me heal thee1 that safe and strong we may share the sainted delights of night4 ,the flame is extinguished1 the soul has fled4 ,isolde1 always faithful1 will follow ,tristan in death4 ,already the loved one draws her toward the mysterious land2 mighty waves seem to overpower her4 ,her ears resound with murmurs of the infinite4 ,night1 consoling night1 gently envelops her1 overwhelms her4 ,she is drowned1 lost1 to unite herself forever to the twin flame1 and loses herself in the divine breath of the universal soul4 ,it is almost impossible to imagine the intensity of expression which this poem1 so passionate1 so intense in itself1 acquires united to the magic of music4 ,it is like the vital energy of the soul1 a supernatural rapture4 ,the intoxication and the acute torments experienced in hearing this work are ineffaceable4 ,all who have entered into its transcendent beauties1 and undergone its terrible charm in all its power1 recognize that no other artistic impression is comparable to that which makes itself felt in this extraordinary work4 ,many volumes in all languages have been written upon ,tristan and ,isolde2 many will still be written1 for it is the magnificent prerogative of a great masterpiece to be the perpetual inspiration of noble minds4 ,,the ,,mastersingers ,,of ,,nuremburg4 ,the scene of this piece is laid in the sixteenth century1 at that singular epoch when art and poetry1 disdained by the nobility1 had taken refuge among the citizens and trades-people4 ,since the disappearance of the ,minnesingers1 those minstrels of love so closely resembling the ,french troubadours1 the ,mastersingers alone taught poetry and music4 ,these masters were also chiefs of corporations1 and their scholars1 at the same time their apprentices1 learned to stitch a sole and hold a note1 to scan a verse and cut a pair of breeches4 ,it is easy to imagine in what degree art must have languished in such a state1 how the many rules and laws of these narrow-minded men must have trammelled the flight of inspiration1 which must of necessity fold its wings and walk in trodden paths4 ,it was like a bird brought up by a mole4 ,if by chance a new-comer1 possessing no science save his own genius1 ventured into the circle of poet-mechanics1 it is easy to imagine what a concert of imprecations assailed the freedom with which he broke the laws1 minutely woven by routine1 as if they had been spiders' webs4 ,it is an event of this nature which ,richard ,wagner has chosen to form the plot of his comedy4 ,walter von ,stolzing1 a knight of ,franconia1 is in love with the daughter of ,pogner1 a rich goldsmith of ,nuremberg2 but only he who shall be proclaimed mastersinger at the next competition shall obtain the hand of ,eva4 ,walter1 who does not know the first word of art1 wishes to compete4 ,he endeavors to gain a little information from the untutored ,david1 pupil and apprentice of ,hans ,sachs4 ,the scene passes in the aisles of the church named after ,st4 ,catherine in ,nuremberg1 which the apprentices are about arranging for the masters' meeting4 ,so you wish to become master8 says ,david to ,walter4 ,it is so difficult then8 ,the art of a master cannot be acquired in a day4 ,here ,i have been a whole year with the greatest man in ,nuremberg1 ,hans ,sachs1 who teaches me poetry and shoemaking at the same time2 when ,i have tanned the leather well1 he makes me repeat the vowels and consonants2 when ,i have waxed the thread well he makes me understand rhyme4 ,well1 where do you imagine ,i am now8 ,perhaps you have made a good pair of buskins8 ,oh1 no1 ,i am not so far advanced yet1 cries the apprentice4 ,let us see2 do teach me1 says ,walter4 ,very well2 know then that the masters' tones and modes are numerous1 and that each has its name2 there is the long tone1 and the too long tone1 the mode of writing-paper1 the sweet tone1 and the rose tone1 the tone of short love1 and the forgotten tone1 the mode of ,english zinc1 of the cinnamon stalk1 of frogs1 of calves1 the mode of the deceased glutton1 and of the faithful pelican1 and so through a long1 long chapter4 ,good heavens1 what is all that1 cried the terrified ,walter4 ,but it is not enough to know the names1 continued ,david1 one must understand how to sing each mode without changing what they call the figuration and the tabulature4 ,for myself1 ,i am not yet so far advanced1 and my master often sings the mode of the martinet to me1 and unless my good friend ,magdalene comes to my assistance ,i myself sing the mode of dry bread and water4 ,know then that a mastersinger is he who composes a new mode in poetry and music4 ,poor ,walter is bewildered4 ,his love1 however1 prevents him from renouncing his project1 and when ,pogner advances1 accompanied by ,beckmesser1 a grotesque scrivener1 who also aspires to ,eva's hand1 ,walter draws near his beloved one's father1 and informs him of his desire to compete4 ,soon the ,mastersingers assemble to deliberate in regard to the public competition of the morrow4 ,among the odd physiognomies of the poet-mechanics the handsome face of ,hans ,sachs1 the illustrious poet-shoemaker1 stands out in fair relief4 ,pogner presents the young gentleman to his brother artists1 announcing that he wishes to take part in the competition4 ,a cry is immediately heard3 ,in what school have you studied8 who are you masters8 ,when1 in the depths of winter1 said ,walter1 the snow covered the court and castle1 seated in a corner of the tranquil fireplace1 ,i read an old book which spoke to me of the charms of spring2 then soon the springtime came1 and what this book had taught me during the cold nights ,i heard re-sound in the forests and fields3 it is then that ,i learned to sing4 ,imagine what shouts and shoulder-shrugs greeted this audacity4 ,he is invited1 however1 to give a specimen of his talent4 ,he must improvise something2 but should he offend the rules more than seven times1 his work will be declared unacceptable4 ,the marker1 or marksman1 armed with slate and pencil1 already steps into the box1 where he is to shut himself up to listen to the song1 and mark down the faults4 ,this marker is ,beckmesser1 the competitor and rival of ,walter4 ,begin1 he sings out from the back of his place4 ,walter seizes this word1 which is cast at him like a defiance4 ,begin6 he exclaims1 it is the cry uttered to ,nature by ,spring1 and her powerful voice resounds in the forests1 in the thickets2 the distant echoes reverberate them4 ,then everything awakes and becomes animated4 ,songs1 perfumes1 colors are born of this cry4 ,all the joy with which the birth of spring can fill a young man's heart1 sings in ,walter's voice4 ,but the rules1 what has he done with them8 and the tabulature1--the rules laid down in the tables8 ,at each instant the pencil is heard grating upon the slate1 and soon even the marker springs furiously from his box1 declaring that there is no more room on his tablet4 ,then every tongue is set loose1 and all vent their anger upon the young knight2 he has heaped error upon error1 folly upon folly2 he does not know the first word of art4 ,he even rose hurriedly from his seat1 cries one master1 at the end of his arguments4 ,in the midst of this tumult1 which becomes formidable1 ,walter resumes his free and joyous song1 as if to protest1 in the name of reviving nature1 against this glacial breath of blighting winter4 ,the frolicsome apprentices1 delighted with this confusion1 surround the furious assembly in a wild round dance1 and ironically wish that ,walter may get the betrothal bouquet4 ,the second act shows us one of the picturesque streets of ancient ,nuremberg4 ,hans ,sachs' shop opens upon one side1 while on the other stands ,pogner's house4 ,sachs returns from the tumultuous sitting in a thoughtful mood2 he alone has been deeply moved by the young knight's improvisation1 and feels his old beliefs wavering4 ,ah1 he cries1 while the orchestra rehearses again and again fragments of ,walter's song1 ,i cannot retain this melody1 nor yet can ,i forget it2 it was new1 and yet it sounded like an old song4 ,he enters his house and sets himself at work before the open window4 ,eva1 who loves the young knight1 comes and surprises ,hans ,sachs1 and tries to obtain information from him in regard to the meeting1 and the manner in which ,walter was received4 ,oh1 as far as that goes1 all is lost6 cries ,sachs4 ,my child1 he who is born master will not make his fortune among masters2 let him go elsewhere in search of happiness4 ,yes1 he will find it elsewhere1 cries the young girl1 angrily2 near hearts which still burn with a generous flame in spite of envious and crafty masters4 ,walter comes back1 still quivering with rage2 he wishes to carry off his beloved and marry her in his castle4 ,it is nightfall1 the hour is propitious1 the street deserted4 ,eva consents to follow her lover2 but ,hans ,sachs1 who watches over the two1 sets his shutters ajar1 and lets the light of his lamp fall upon them2 a luminous trail bars the way2 the two lovers are made prisoners by this ray4 ,moreover1 here is ,beckmesser1 who appears armed with a guitar2 he imagines that a serenade will dispose ,eva's heart favorably1 and he begins a prelude4 ,sachs1 for his part1 has carried his bench outside1 and resumes his work2 by this arrangement he can better overlook the lovers4 ,he attends to his work with all his might1 and strikes up a noisy song1 to the infinite displeasure of the serenader4 ,several windows are already half opened1 and inquisitive heads are thrust out to inform themselves of what is going on4 ,beckmesser will not yield2 he sings louder and louder to drown ,sachs's voice1 who will not1 on his part1 be silenced4 ,the confusion becomes extraordinary1 the awakened inhabitants come in haste from every side1 and ,david1 who thinks that the serenade is intended for his friend ,magdalene1 ,eva's servant1 falls upon the singer with clenched fists4 ,pitchers of water are thrown from the windows upon the heads of the noise-makers2 the delighted apprentices come to increase the confusion2 every one speaks at once2 they become exasperated1 and quarrel2 blows are given at random1 and the squabble becomes general4 ,all at once a trumpet sounds in the distance1 and the crowd disperses as if by magic2 each one takes refuge in his own house1 the windows are again closed1 and the night-watch1 rubbing his eyes1 persuaded that he has been dreaming1 advances in the deserted street4 ,the eleventh hour has struck1 he sings1 guard yourselves against spirits and hobgoblins4 ,the moon1 meanwhile1 shows its broad face behind a pointed gable4 ,the curtain rises again upon the interior of ,hans ,sachs's house4 ,walter1 who has passed the night under the shoe-makers roof1 enters the studio1 worn out and discouraged1 for the day which is dawning is that of the festival and competition4 ,all hope of gaining ,eva is thus lost4 ,come1 come1 says ,sachs1 do not give up yet2 make me a poem upon the dream1 for example1 which has traversed your brain during the night4 ,the young man obeys1 and ,sachs writes the verses1 upon a sheet of paper1 which he designedly leaves upon the table while both go to prepare themselves for the festival4 ,they are hardly gone when ,beckmesser arrives1 still covered with bruises from the night's battle1 of which the orchestra wickedly reminds him4 ,his eyes light upon the sheet of paper2 he reads the verses and imagines that ,sachs also wishes to compete and aspire to ,eva's hand4 ,when the shoemaker returns1 ,beckmesser reproaches him bitterly on this score and overwhelms him with sarcasms4 ,what is the matter with you8 says ,sachs1 laughing4 ,i have never dreamed of competing1 and as these verses please you1 ,i give them to you2 do with them what you will4 ,beckmesser1 thinking the verses those of ,sachs1 the most skilful master of ,nuremberg1 joyously carries off the fortunate manuscript1 sure of victory4 ,eva1 beautifully adorned for the festival1 but with a sad1 pale face1 enters ,sachs' studio as she passes4 ,she has made a pretext of her shoe1 which hurts her1 she pretends2 but ,sachs well knows where the shoe pinches1 in spite of the reproaches she addresses to him for not divining it4 ,while kneeling before her the shoemaker holds her prisoner1 one foot shoeless1 and pretends to rectify the shoe in which she finds so many faults4 ,walter comes out of the bedroom1 and stands dazzled at the head of the staircase before the young girl1 more beautiful than ever in her betrothal dress4 ,then enthusiastically he improvises the last strophe of his song4 ,eva1 palpitating with surprise and emotion1 holds her breath as she listens4 ,well1 does the shoe fit at last8 says ,sachs1 in a troubled voice4 ,eva understands the good shoemaker is her friend and ally1 and throws herself weeping into his arms4 ,after a short interlude1 the curtain rises again upon the site where the festival is to be held4 ,it is on the border of the river in which ,nuremberg reflects its pointed roofs1 towers1 and ramparts2 in a vast meadow which extends along the banks4 ,peasants and citizens arrive from every quarter2 joyous companies disembark from flag-bedecked boats2 the corporations advance with the flourish of the city trumpets2 the apprentices1 gayly decorated1 add their enthusiasm to the merry tumult2 they clasp nimble young girls about the waist and dance a rustic waltz upon the grass4 ,but a rumor in the crowd announces the arrival of the ,mastersingers4 ,silence is established1 and the masters make their appearance in great style4 ,the charming ,eva is near her father1 holding in her hand the crown destined for the conqueror4 ,hans ,sachs appears in his turn4 ,upon seeing him1 a prolonged tremor runs through the assembly2 the crowd cannot contain its joy2 the people's favorite is received with loud acclamations1 and by a sudden inspiration every voice chants the song with which ,hans ,sachs greeted ,luther1 and the dawn of the ,reformation3-- ,rouse thyself2 the day is breaking2 ,a voice rises from the coppice3 ,i hear the song of the nightingale1 ,it resounds from summit to summit1 ,in the valley and in the field4 ,the night is sinking in the west1 ,red dawn is gleaming in the east1 ,and the sad cloud takes flight4 ,it is difficult to give an idea of the power of this piece1 which seems to embody all human aspirations toward liberty4 ,the competition begins4 ,beckmesser1 who has not understood one word of ,walter's poetry1 scans it after his manner1 and sings upon the grotesque motives of his serenade4 ,he becomes so perplexed that the crowd1 at first surprised1 breaks out in a loud peal of laughter4 ,after all1 said the singer1 spitefully1 the verses are not mine1 but ,sachs's4 ,well1 then1 let ,walter sing them1 says ,hans ,sachs4 ,the knight's youth and grace impress the people favorably1 and when his pure voice resounds1 and the poetry is heard in its own form1 acclamations break forth on every side4 ,the masters themselves1 disturbed1 cannot conceal their emotion4 ,the enthusiasm is general4 ,the happy conqueror1 transported with joy1 kneels before his loved one1 who1 trembling1 lays upon his head the crown of laurels4 ,,the ,,ring ,,of ,,the ,,nibelung4 ,,introductory3 ,,rhinegold4 ,when the curtain rises there are seen through a bluish penumbra the vague depths of a stream1 bristling here and there with black rocks2 a peaceful undulation agitates the water1 which seems to be flowing slowly4 ,suddenly a voice re-sounds1 and an ,undine1 gliding from the heights1 swims in circles about a reef1 on the summit of which a gold nugget glitters2 then two other daughters of the ,rhine glide into the water1 and all three chase one another as they play about the all-powerful gold1 as yet virgin and untouched4 ,but see6 from the river's obscure depths clambers an odd dwarf1 who follows the ,undines' charming game with eager eyes4 ,he frightens them at first4 ,but they soon laugh at their fears1 perceiving that the dwarf is in love with them4 ,they make sport of him by pursuing him1 tempting him1 then escaping from him2 defying him with their mocking laughter4 ,the sun now passes above the stream1 a ray falls upon the gold nugget1 which suddenly shines resplendent1 and illumines the water to its depths4 ,what is that8 cries the astonished ,nibelung4 ,what1 they reply1 thou knowest naught of the marvellous gold8 ,he who will be able to forge a ring of this gold shall gain the heritage of the world2 but in order to acquire this power1 he must first renounce love4 ,for this reason we have no fear that our play-thing will be taken from us1 for every one who lives loves4 ,none will renounce the delights of love1 and less than any other1 ,alberich the ,nibelung1 who is almost dying of amorous desires4 ,but the dwarf has listened with profound attention to the ,undines' prattle1 which has so imprudently disclosed the secret of the gold4 ,he climbs from summit to summit1 slips1 falls back again1 becomes infuriated1 but soon cries in a terrible voice1 ,scoff now1 perfidious spirits1 you will sport henceforward in obscurity1 for ,i shall tear the miraculous gold from the rock4 ,i will forge the avenging ring1 and let these waters hear me3 ,i curse love4 ,and the dwarf plunges and disappears with his luminous prey1 pursued by the disconsolate ,undines4 ,the entire stream sinks with them and slowly lays bare the summit of a mountain where the gods are sleeping4 ,on the top of the neighboring mountain1 which little by little emerges from the morning vapors1 appears1 gilded by the morning sun1 a strange and formidable castle4 ,it is the ,walhalla1 the magnificent stronghold which the giants have just finished for the gods4 ,wotan and ,fricka1 upon awakening1 contemplate it with joy and surprise2 but the goddess is anxious2 the rude laborers will claim their reward4 ,wotan has imprudently promised them ,frya1 the sweet divinity of love4 ,the task now being finished1 it must be paid for4 ,it is ,loge1 the genius of fire1 who has taken it upon himself to find ,frya's ransom2 he appears at last1 the mocking god2 but he has explored earth and heaven in vain4 ,in no place has he discovered that which can surpass the charms of love4 ,one being only has given preference to the dominion of gold1 stolen by him from the daughters of the ,rhine4 ,the giants have lent their ear to this recital1 and the desire to possess this gold is aroused in them4 ,let them be given this all-powerful metal1 and they will relinquish the fair ,frya2 meanwhile they carry away the charming goddess1 who weeps and supplicates4 ,then the heavens become darkened2 a mortal affliction has taken possession of the gods4 ,old age has suddenly come upon them2 ,fricka totters1 ,wotan droops his head1 the god of joy sees the roses of his crown fading1 ,thor no longer has his flashes of anger2 the hammer which makes the lightning burst forth drops from his hand2 youth1 beauty1 love are gone with ,frya4 ,wotan suddenly resolves to go and conquer this longed-for gold4 ,accompanied by ,loge1 he descends to the gloomy kingdom1 where the gnomes forge their metals ceaselessly4 ,he soon gains the mastery over the ,nibelung1 possessor of the gold1 which has already brought into subjection all the blacksmiths1 and he carries him off with his treasures to the mountain of the gods4 ,but the despoiled ,nibelung still remains in possession of the all-powerful ring4 ,he presses it between his fingers in supreme despair4 ,it is in vain4 ,wotan wrests it from him1 after which he leaves him free to return to the bowels of the earth4 ,the vanquished ,nibelung then rises1 full of fury and despair4 ,may this ring be forever cursed6 he cries2 misfortune to the possessor of the gold2 may he who has it not covet it with rage2 may he who possesses it retain it in the anguish of fear2 cursed6 cursed6 and he replunges into the night of the ,nibelung's home4 ,frya has returned1 and with her have joy and youth4 ,the giants lay the ,nibelung's gold before her4 ,they desire a heap large enough to cover the goddess4 ,she disappears1 indeed1 but her glance1 like a star's ray1 darts through an interstice4 ,alas6 the treasure is exhausted2 the ring only remains1 which will just fill the fissure1 but ,wotan will not give it up4 ,the gods entreat in vain1 when a solemn voice is heard1 and in a pale light slowly appears the ancient ,erda1 the pallid divinity1 older than the world1 from whom nothing is hidden4 ,yield1 ,wotan1 she says1 fly the cursed ring2 ,i know what has been2 ,i know what should be4 ,hearken6 ,all that exists will have its end4 ,a time will come when a sinister gloom will descend upon the gods4 ,separate thyself from the cursed ring1 and reflect with terror4 ,erda disappears4 ,wotan1 full of anxiety1 casts the ring from him4 ,pride and strength1 however1 are now restored to the gods4 ,thor brandishes his hammer1 and in a formidable and joyous voice invokes the wind and the clouds4 ,the heavens become overcast1 the lightning flashes1 the thunder peals with a crash1 and1 while the rain descends in heavy drops1 the ,walhalla is disclosed on the mountain summit1 and the rainbow stretches its semi-circle above the valley4 ,the gods take the direction of this luminous bridge to enter into possession of the castle1 which glitters in the setting sun4 ,then plaintive voices rise from the valley2 it is the daughters of the ,rhine lamenting their brilliant plaything2 but the piercing music from the divine castle overpowers the ,undines' voices1 and the gods triumphant enter the ,walhalla4 ,,first ,,day3 ,,the ,,walkyria4 ,here begins the human drama4 ,wotan is troubled since ,erda's sinister prediction1 feeling that the shameful traffic which ,walhalla has cost him has lessened his divinity and disturbed the world's equilibrium4 ,wotan has engendered a race of men of whom a hero shall be born1 who by his own force will wrest the gold from the giants and restore it to its primeval place1 thus expiating the fault of the gods4 ,sigmund is the hero chosen by ,wotan for this redemption4 ,when the curtain rises upon the second act it discloses the interior of a habitation of the early ages4 ,a venerable ash raises its enormous trunk in the centre of the hall1 and its verdant branches1 extending in every direction1 support the canvas roof4 ,a large stone serves as fireplace2 on the bare ground are spread skins of wild beasts2 the gate is a high door made of the trunks of trees4 ,the tempest rages without4 ,sigmund1 who seems to be pursued by the angry heavens1 enters staggering1 and falls exhausted near the fire-place4 ,a young woman1 attracted by the noise1 appears1 and bends over the stranger with compassionate surprise4 ,then1 to revive him1 she offers him a horn of mead4 ,sigmund raises his eyes toward her2 their glances meet and remain fixed upon one another with an emotion rich with trouble4 ,but the young man suddenly raises himself4 ,farewell6 farewell6 he cries1 ,i bear misfortune everywhere with me1 let it at least be kept far from thee4 ,ah6 remain1 she replies1 quickly1 misfortune can do nothing where despair already reigns1 and while once more they contemplate each other in silence1 overcome by growing emotion1 ,hunding1 the stern husband1 the savage warrior1 his helmet bristling with curious ornaments1 shows himself on the threshold4 ,it is a guest1 worn out with fatigue1 who demands shelter1 says ,siglinda1 answering her husband's look of inquiry4 ,hospitality is sacred to me1 says ,hunding to the unknown2 may my house be sacred to thee1 and with a gesture he orders the repast4 ,sigmund then relates from whence he is come4 ,vanquished in a combat with a neighboring chief1 stripped of his arms1 he was obliged to flee through the tempest4 ,thou makest light of misfortune1 cries ,hunding2 the chief whom thou hast just named is my ally2 thus hast thou chanced upon thy own mortal enemy4 ,i accord thee shelter beneath my roof1 however1 until morning2 afterward1 out of my house1 and let us meet in combat4 ,and ,hunding retires with a sombre mien1 dragging with him ,siglinda1 who casts a despairing glance at the unfortunate guest4 ,sigmund1 spent with fatigue1 falls again by the fireside1 insensible4 ,where may he find strength with which to defend himself8 ,who will come to his aid in this bitter distress8 ,siglinda reappears4 ,she has poured out the juices of a sleep-making plant for her husband4 ,the stranger will be saved1 provided he can wrench from the tree's trunk a marvellous sword1 which an old man once thrust into it4 ,truly the sword is destined for ,sigmund1 for it yields at his first effort4 ,behold1 it glistens in his hand4 ,henceforward he fears nothing4 ,he will be able to defend the beloved woman1 whom now he recognizes4 ,is she not his twin sister1 formerly carried off from the devastated fireside8 ,he will find her again1 and wrest her from the enemy4 ,my love6 my sister6 he cries1 passionately4 ,and folding her in his arms1 he bears her from the sad dwelling through the moonlit forest4 ,in the second act we see again the mountains inhabited by the gods4 ,wotan joyously announces to ,brunhild1 the beautiful ,walkyria1 armed with silver helmet and cuirass1 that to-day she must award the victory to ,sigmund1 the beloved hero of the gods4 ,but while the happy ,walkyria utters her war-cry1 and bounds from summit to summit on her black horse1 ,fricka1 the jealous goddess1 protector of conjugal vows1 arrives in her chariot1 drawn by rams4 ,she demands vengeance for the outraged ,hunding4 ,this ,sigmund whom thou protectest1 she says1 is not the free hero who should redeem thee1 for thou hast guided him1 pushed him to this end4 ,sigmund must die4 ,wotan is overcome4 ,the goddess is right4 ,sigmund has not acted by his own free-will4 ,he must then abandon this unfortunate youth4 ,the god1 overpowered with grief1 comes1 however1 to this conclusion4 ,the hero1 doomed to perish1 must be conducted by the ,walkyria to ,walhalla4 ,here come the fugitives1 pursued by the infuriated ,hunding4 ,siglinda1 at the end of her endurance1 swoons in the arms of her fraternal lover4 ,it is then that the saddened ,walkyria shows herself to ,sigmund4 ,who art thou1 he says1 who appearest to me so beautiful and so grave8 ,those who behold me have only a few hours to live1 she replies4 ,soon thou wilt follow me to the dwelling of the gods4 ,and ,siglinda1 will she come also8 he asks4 ,no2 she must still live on earth4 ,then thou deceivest thyself2 ,i will not be separated from her1 for we will both die here4 ,and he raises his sword over ,siglinda4 ,in the face of this love and sorrow1 the ,walkyria for the first time feels herself moved by a human emotion4 ,stay6 she cries1 go without fear to the contest2 ,i shall protect thee4 ,soon the savage ,hunding shouts his defiance to ,sigmund2 the adversaries meet in battle upon a summit half lost in the clouds4 ,hunding is on the point of triumph2 but the ,walkyria appears in a light1 and covers ,sigmund with her buckler4 ,wotan1 irritated by ,brunhild's disobedience1 shows himself also in a storm-cloud1 and setting loose the lightning1 shatters the sword in the hands of ,sigmund1 who falls mortally wounded4 ,the third act shows a rugged rock upon which ,brunhild's sisters1 the ,walkyrias1 reunite after the combat4 ,here they come in haste1 riding through the clouds illuminated by the lightning2 they call to one another joyously1 with savage cries1 striking their arms tumultuously4 ,but ,brunhild arrives all tearful2 she has brought in her arms ,siglinda1 who does not wish to survive her lover4 ,live6 she says to her1 live for the brave hero whom thou bearest in thy bosom4 ,and she gives her the precious fragments of ,sigmund's sword4 ,save her1 my sisters1 save the poor woman1 she adds2 for myself ,i must remain here to suffer the punishment of my fault4 ,in fact1 ,wotan's voice resounds1 full of anger4 ,he soon rejoins the guilty goddess who has violated the supreme command4 ,i obeyed not thy order1 but thy secret wish1 says ,brunhild4 ,the god1 alas6 is not free1 primordial laws enchain him2 he cannot pardon4 ,the fallen ,walkyria must sleep upon the road at the mercy of the first comer who will find her4 ,so be it1 she says2 but surround me with a sea of flames that he who will approach must at least be a hero4 ,with what sadness does the god separate from his dearly-loved one1 and take her divinity from her in a supreme kiss6 ,she is now only a sleeping woman1 around whom a flaming rampart is lighted4 ,,second ,,day3 ,,sigfrid4 ,after ,sigmund's death ,siglinda1 having taken refuge in a wild forest1 gave birth to a son1 and died1 confiding him to the ,nibelung1 ,mime1 whom ,alberich1 first possessor of the gold1 had formerly forced to forge the all-powerful ring4 ,the deformed dwarf had brought up the descendant of the gods in his cave1 not in the spirit of devotion1 but with the sole idea of making him of service later in the conquest of the gold1 the object of all desires4 ,sigfrid is now a handsome youth1 impetuous and uncontrollable1 whose heroic spirits are awaking1 and who dreams of conquering the world4 ,meanwhile he reigns master of the forest2 the joyous sound of his silver horn replies to the birds' songs2 the young madcap bounds with the roe and overthrows the deer4 ,there he comes rushing into the cavern2 his pealing laugh resounds4 ,he drags after him1 to ,mime's terror1 a black bear1 which he has just got into his possession4 ,but these sports and contests satisfy him no longer4 ,impatiently he questions the dwarf in regard to the world1 to him unknown2 he wishes to get away1 leave the forest never to return4 ,mime then shows him the fragments of the sword shattered by the lightning in ,sigmund's hands4 ,siglinda has bequeathed it to her son as the most precious of inheritances4 ,sigfrid takes possession of these fragments of steel1 lights the forge fire1 and throws the pieces into the crucible4 ,then raising the heavy hammer with a triumphal song he completely reforges ,wotan's sword4 ,he soon brandishes it1 still smoking1 and with a single blow he cleaves in two the anvil1 henceforward useless4 ,mime then conducts the young hero to the wildest part of the forest1 before the cave where the giant ,fafner1 in the form of a dragon1 guards the gold wrested from the ,nibelung4 ,sigfrid1 laughing all the while at his hideous aspect1 fights with and kills the monster4 ,he disdains the treasure1 taking only the ring1 of whose power he is ignorant1 and a magic helmet which permits the wearer to assume any form4 ,the young man1 as if weary1 throws himself at the foot of a tree all bathed in sunlight2 he listens dreamily to the thousand rustlings of the forest4 ,an unknown desire stirs his heart4 ,while the birds fly in couples he is alone4 ,he thinks of his mother1 of this mysterious being1 man's companion1 whom he has never seen1 and of whom he knows nothing4 ,the song of a bird flying over his head finally captivates his attention4 ,he listens2 he seems to comprehend the meaning of this song4 ,the bird speaks to him4 ,may it not be his mother's soul8 ,ah1 ,sigfrid1 it says1 now thou possesses6 the treasure1 thou should'st conquer the most beautiful of women4 ,she sleeps upon a high rock1 surrounded by flames2 but shouldst thou dare to pass through the furnace1 the war-like virgin would be thine4 ,and ,sigfrid1 filled with enthusiasm1 follows the bird1 which takes its flight as if to guide him toward the lovely bride4 ,in the third act we see ,wotan again4 ,leaning over the brink of a gulf1 in gloomy anguish1 he invokes ,erda1 the lurid goddess who sees the world's destinies2 he will question her once again in regard to this fall of the gods1 which she has announced to him4 ,at this sovereign voice the sleeper rouses herself2 with half-closed eyes she slowly rises from the abyss1 wrapped in her dull veils1 and covered with dew4 ,but she has no further information to give to ,wotan4 ,the end is inevitable4 ,as if submerged by their own creation the gods will become effaced before men4 ,so be it1 cries ,wotan1 wearied perhaps of his divinity2 it is to this end that ,i aspire4 ,however1 when ,sigfrid1 leaping from rock to rock1 his eyes fixed upon his winged guide1 passes near ,wotan1 this latter tries to bar his way2 but the free and fearless hero breaks the god's lance with a single blow of the sword which1 without assistance1 he has forged for himself4 ,then he rushes joyously to the assault of the burning rampart1 passes fearlessly through the furnace1 beholds at last the sleeping warrior in her silver cuirass2 and1 all quivering with love1 awakens her with a kiss4 ,,third ,,day3 ,,gloom ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,under the nocturnal shade of an ash as old as the world itself the three ,fates spin and weave men's destinies4 ,their cold gaze is plunged into the future1 where they see only distress and malediction4 ,they throw from one to the other the thread which they have been spinning uninterruptedly from the beginning of time4 ,but suddenly the thread snaps in their hands2 the sombre spinners1 seized with fear1 press closely together1 and descend to the depths of the earth to take refuge near the wise ,erda4 ,then day breaks4 ,sigfrid and ,brunhilda1 supporting one another1 come out of the mysterious grotto which shelters their happiness4 ,the goddess has divested herself of her divinity for her dearly-loved hero2 she has unveiled to him the mysteries of the sacred ruins and the knowledge of the gods2 but it now appears to her that she has given nothing to him who has revealed love to her4 ,it is necessary that ,sigfrid should leave her for a time1 and that he should go in search of new exploits4 ,it is he who thenceforward will wear the ,walkyria's armor1 and bound upon the savage courser who formerly sped with the storm4 ,before his departure the hero gives to ,brunhilda the gold ring1 which to the lovers is only a pledge of fidelity1 and they part after taking a mutual oath of eternal love4 ,in his adventurous course through the world1 ,sigfrid arrives at the dwelling of ,gunter1 a powerful chief on the ,rhinish borders4 ,gutrune1 his lovely sister1 lives with this warrior1 also the sinister ,hagen1 whom ,alberich1 the ,nibelung1 has begotten of a woman whom he misled1 by the attraction of the gold4 ,the ,nibelung has bequeathed his hatred toward the offspring of the gods to his son1 and has charged him to regain the all-powerful ring4 ,hagen is already plotting ,sigfrid's ruin1 when this latter crosses the threshold1 with joyous impetuosity1 crying to ,gunter1 ,fight with me1 or let us be friends6 ,the chief receives him amicably1 and ,gutrune1 advised by ,hagen1 pours out for him a fatal draught1 which will disturb his mind to such a degree as to efface all remembrance4 ,the young girl's resplendent eyes complete his infatuation1 and he soon forgets ,brunhilda and her love2 his new passion has obliterated everything1 and he demands his host's sister in marriage4 ,give her to him1 breathes ,hagen to ,gunter1 on condition that he shall go and conquer for thee the marvellous woman sleeping in the midst of the flames4 ,brunhilda's name makes no impression upon ,sigfrid's soul2 he remembers no longer4 ,certainly he will go without delay to the conquest of this bride for his brother-in-arms1 and without tarrying further1 he takes his departure1 impatient to return4 ,soon the fallen goddess1 crushed and stupefied1 is brought to ,gunter4 ,sigfrid1 after wresting from her the ring1 symbol of constant tenderness1 has dragged her by force to deliver her over to a stranger1 while he now hastens into the arms of another woman4 ,as the love of the daughter of the gods was sublime and absolute1 so is her anger terrible in the face of this betrayal4 ,sigfrid is doomed to death4 ,it is only by death that ,brunhilda can reconquer the radiant hero to whom she has given all4 ,he is destined to perish at the hunt1 treacherously struck4 ,the daughters of the ,rhine emerge from the waves to warn him1 at the same time demanding from him the ring1 which envelopes him with its malediction2 but ,sigfrid refuses to restore it to them4 ,soon after1 while he is giving his companions a recital of his life1 seeing again little by little the thread of his memory1 ,hagen suddenly and treacherously strikes him with his lance4 ,the hero sinks to the earth and dies1 pronouncing the name1 once more recalled1 of ,brunhilda4 ,the warriors1 in consternation1 lay ,sigfrid's body upon his buckler1 and carry him slowly away in the light of the pale rising moon4 ,in the last scene a groaning crowd bears ,sigfrid's body under the massive portals of ,gunter's dwelling1 gloomily lighted by torches1 and mingles its lament with the dull roar of the ,rhine1 whose dark waves flow in the background4 ,gutrune bursts into tears of despair1 but ,brunhilda1 solemnly advancing1 puts an end to this clamor4 ,i have heard1 she says1 the tears of children lamenting their mother1 but no lament worthy of a hero4 ,then she commands a vast funeral pile to be built1 and when it has been lighted with a torch1 and ,sigfrid laid upon it1 contemplating him with indescribable emotion1 she withdraws from his finger the fatal ring1 the cause of all misfortunes4 ,suffering has made me prophetic1 she says3 those who should efface the fault of the gods are predestined to misfortune and death4 ,may our sacrifice put an end to the curse4 ,may the ring be purified by fire4 ,may the waters dissolve it forever6 ,the end of the gods is at hand4 ,but if ,i leave the world without a master1 ,i bequeath to men the most sublime treasure in my knowledge4 ,know1 then1 that neither gold1 nor divine splendor1 nor omnipotence1 gives happiness4 ,happiness1 in joy or in suffering1 comes from love alone4 ,she has her horse brought to her by a ,walkyria1 and1 leaping into the saddle1 with one bound she rushes into the furnace4 ,then the ,rhine overflows tumultuously1 dispersing the ashes of the funeral pile4 ,the daughters of the ,rhine joyously lift up the reconquered ring1 while ,hagen1 who had rushed forward to seize it again1 is carried away with the flood1 and on the heights in a dim light the ,walhalla is seen crumbling about the gods1 who fade away1 and become effaced4 ,,parsifal3 ,a ,,lyrical ,,feast4 ,,first ,,act4 ,the first act of ,parsifal takes us to ,mont ,salvat1 in the country where the mysterious temple of the ,grail rises upon the northern side of the mountains of the ,spanish ,visigoths4 ,a magnificent forest glade1 on the border of a beautiful lake1 is just waking in the first gleam of dawn4 ,two youthful shield-bearers and ,gurnemanz1 a robust old man1 are sleeping1 stretched upon the grass at the foot of a tree4 ,from the further side of the temple and castle1 which are not seen1 is heard the sound of trumpets solemnly pealing forth the early morning summons1 and the sleepers1 whose mission it is to watch over the sacred forest1 start up ashamed of having allowed themselves to be overcome by sleep4 ,gurnemanz gently reproves the young men2 then all three prostrate themselves in silent prayer4 ,the old man is the first to rise4 ,up now1 youths1 he cries1 the hour is come for attending upon the king2 already ,i see messengers coming toward us preceding the bed of pain which supports him4 ,and approaching two knights who descend from the castle he cries3 ,greetings to you3 how does ,amfortas find himself to-day8 ,truly he descends early toward the waters of the lake2 tell me1 the healing plant obtained for him by ,gawan's skill and audacity has1 ,i presume1 brought him relief8 ,thou presumest1 thou who knowest all1 replies the knight4 ,his sufferings soon returned more heavy than ever1 and deprived of sleep by the violence of the pain1 the king eagerly called for his bath4 ,fools that we are to hope for relief1 where only recovery can heal6 murmurs ,gurnemanz1 sadly bending his head4 ,seek every herb1 every philter1 wander over the entire earth6 ,for him there is only one help1 one saviour6 ,but the old man returns an evasive answer to the knight who demands this saviour's name4 ,the shield-bearers1 who have withdrawn and look toward the valley at the rear of the scene1 suddenly perceive a strange1 savage woman upon a running horse1 which seems to fly over the fields4 ,soon1 bounding from her saddle1 she precipitates herself impetuously upon the scene4 ,her black hair falls half-plaited upon a forehead of bronzen pallor2 her shining eyes are sad and fixed2 her savage dress is held by a girdle of serpents' skins4 ,hold1 she says to ,gurnemanz1 take this balm2 if it heal not1 ,arabia contains nothing that can help the king4 ,question me not1 ,i am weary4 ,and she throws herself upon the ground like an exhausted animal4 ,this woman is the savage and mysterious ,kundry4 ,no one knows who she is1 nor from whence she comes4 ,she has constituted herself messenger to the ,knights of the ,grail4 ,she accomplishes the most perilous missions with skill and zeal1 but never does she accept thanks2 her ironic laughter and her sinister glance seem to belie the good she does4 ,a frightful curse seems to weigh upon her4 ,sometimes she disappears for months1 and ,gurnemanz has often found her worn out under a bush1 plunged in a strange1 deathlike sleep4 ,a procession of shield-bearers and knights precede ,amfortas1 borne upon a litter4 ,they stop for a moment1 and the king lets his feverish glance wander over the wholesome freshness of the woods4 ,ah6 he murmurs1 after the exasperation of this painful night1 behold the magnificent early dawn of the forest2 the waters of the sacred lake will revive me1 pain will cease1 and the chaos of suffering will clear away4 ,gawan6 ,gawan1 my king1 is no longer here2 the virtue of this dearly-acquired plant1 having disappointed thy hope1 he has taken his flight toward new researches4 ,without my permission6 cries the king4 ,let him expiate this infraction of the ,grail's laws6 ,oh1 woe to him1 rash1 self-willed1 if he fall into ,klingsor's snares4 ,let nothing further trouble our peace4 ,i wait for that which is destined for me4 ,knowing by compassion1 was it not thus8 ,it is thus that thou hast told us4 ,a harmless fool only2 ,i think ,i recognize him4 ,ah1 ,i should call him ,death6 ,but make yet a trial of this1 says ,gurnemanz1 holding toward him the phial brought by ,kundry4 ,from whence came this mysterious phial8 demanded the king4 ,it is brought to thee from ,arabia4 ,and who obtained it8 ,she who lies yonder2 the savage woman4 ,rise1 ,kundry1 come hither4 ,but ,kundry refuses to stir4 ,it is thou1 says ,amfortas4 ,must ,i again thank thee1 indefatigable and unknown maid8 ,so be it2 ,i will yet try this balm1 were it only out of gratitude for thy fidelity4 ,but1 agitated1 ,kundry says3 ,no thanks6 ,ha6 ,ha6 ,of what good is this balm8 ,no thanks6 ,away6 ,go to thy bath6 ,and while the procession moves away1 and ,gurnemanz sadly follows the king with a heavy glance1 the shield-bearers scoff at ,kundry who lies stretched upon the ground like a beast of the forest2 but ,gurnemanz defends her1 and reprimands the youths1 recalling the services which she has never ceased to render to them4 ,and yet she hates us1 says one of them4 ,see how she sneers as she looks at us4 ,she is a pagan1 a sorceress4 ,yes1 says ,gurnemanz1 she well may be a damned soul4 ,perhaps she lives now incarnate to expiate the sins of a former life1 sins which are not yet pardoned4 ,if her repentance disposes her to acts profitable to our order1 she serves us1 and purchases back her own redemption4 ,if she be truly faithful and intrepid1 says one of the shield-bearers1 send her to reconquer the lost lance4 ,that is a work forbidden to all1 cries ,gurnemanz1 in gloom1 and adds with emotion3 ,o source of wounds6 ,o source of miracles6 ,sacred lance6 ,i see thee brandished by the most sacrilegious hand6 ,too audacious ,amfortas1 who could'st have restrained thyself when armed with this lance1 thou resolvedst to attack the magician8 ,already1 on the confines of the enemy's castle1 the hero is taken from us4444 ,a woman of terrifying beauty has subjugated him4 ,filled with love he is in her arms4 ,the sacred lance falls from his hand4 ,a cry of death6 ,i fly toward the king6 ,klingsor disappears with a sneer4 ,he has stolen the divine lance4 ,fighting1 ,i protect the king's flight4 ,but a wound burns in his side4 ,it is this selfsame wound that will not heal4 ,the shield-bearers have come and seated themselves in a listening attitude at the old man's feet4 ,dear father1 they say1 speak again4 ,tell us thou hast known ,klingsor8 ,how is that8 ,listen1 says ,gurnemanz3 ,titurel knew him well4 ,it was at the time when the cunning and strength of savage enemies menaced the kingdom of the pure faith that in a solemn and sacred night our king1 the holy hero ,titurel1 saw bending toward him the blessed messenger of the ,redeemer4 ,the chalice from which he drank at the time of the ,lord's ,supper1 this cup of august and sacred election1 which later1 when he was upon the cross1 received his divine blood1 together with this selfsame lance which caused his blood to gush forth1--these most precious among the sacred relics1 were confided to the safekeeping of our king by the celestial messengers4 ,then ,titurel erected the sanctuary4 ,you1 who have attained to his service by paths inaccessible to sinners1 know that only pure men are permitted to associate themselves with these brethren1 consecrated to the highest works of deliverance1 and fortified by the sacred and miraculous virtue of the ,grail4 ,this is why he1 in regard to whom you question me1 ,klingsor1 remained excluded1 notwithstanding all his pains4 ,beyond the mountains1 in the valley1 he became a hermit2 all around stretched the luxuriant land of the infidels4 ,what sin he had committed yonder1 remained hidden from me2 but he desired expiation2 he aspired even to sanctity4 ,powerless to destroy his guilty desires1 he laid a criminal hand upon himself4 ,that hand1 which he stretched out toward the ,grail1 was repulsed with scorn by its guardians4 ,rage then taught ,klingsor how the horrible crime of his sacrifice could serve him to exercise a fatal charm2 he changed his desert into a garden of delight4 ,there1 growing like flowers1 are seductively beautiful women1 who1 by their infernal fascinations1 endeavor to attract the ,knights of the ,grail4 ,he who yields to this seduction is made his own1 and already1 alas6 many are lost to us4 ,when ,titurel1 bowed down by age1 confided the kingdom to his son1 ,amfortas1 this latter would take no rest until he had done away with this scourge of hell4 ,you know what happened4 ,the lance is in ,klingsor's hands1 and as1 by its virtue1 he can wound even the saints1 he imagines that he has already taken the ,grail from us4 ,ah6 before all else1 the lance must be restored to us1 cries a shield-bearer4 ,happiness and honor to him who will restore it4 ,and ,gurnemanz resumes3 ,amfortas1 prostrated in ardent prayer before the deserted shrine1 implored a sign of deliverance1 when a gentle light emanated from the ,grail1 and a holy apparition spoke to him distinctly1 and he clearly discerned these words3 ',let a harmless fool only1 knowing by compassion1 await him whom ,i have chosen4' ,but while the shield-bearers repeat the words of the oracle with profound emotion1 cries resound in the forest4 ,misfortune6 misfortune6 who is the criminal8 ,what is it8 ask ,gurnemanz and the shield-bearers4 ,yonder6444 a swan6444 a wild swan6444 he is wounded6 ,who wounded it8 ,two knights1 arriving unexpectedly1 reply1-- ,the king greeted the bird's whirling flight over the lake as a happy omen1 when an arrow was let fly4 ,new shield-bearers bring ,parsifal forward and say3 ,look6 here is he who sent the arrow4 ,is it thou who hast killed the swan8 demands ,gurnemanz4 ,truly1 cries ,parsifal1 ,i shoot upon the wing whatever flies4 ,unprecedented misdeed6 thou hast then committed a murder here in this sacred wood1 whose peacefulness surrounded thee2 did not the familiar beasts approach thee1 gentle and caressing8 ,what had this faithful swan done to thee8 ,to us it was a friend4 ,what is it now to thee8 ,behold the snowy plumage stained with blood1 the drooping wings1 the dying glance1--,dost thou recognize thy fault8 ,i did not know1 says ,parsifal1 greatly troubled4 ,and he breaks his bow with violence4 ,they question him3 ,from whence dost thou come8 ,what is thy name8 ,who has sent thee8 ,the young man knows nothing of all this2 he knows not even if he have a name4 ,but ,kundry1 who has fixed an eager glance upon ,parsifal1 answers for him3 ,his mother brought him an orphan into the world1 when ,gamuret was slain in combat4 ,to preserve her son from a hero's premature death she brought him up in the forest1 a stranger to arms1 like a fool1 the mad woman4 ,yes1 says ,parsifal1 who has listened with lively attention1 and once glittering men1 mounted upon beautiful animals1 passed along the borders of the forest4 ,i wished to resemble them1 but they laughed at me1 and passed rapidly by4 ,then ,i ran after them1 but ,i could not overtake them4 ,i came to wild places upon mountains1 in valleys2 often night fell1 the day returned2 my bow defended me against the deer and the giants4 ,yes1 cries ,kundry1 eagerly1 the evil-doers and giants were overcome by his strength4 ,they all fear the valiant youth-- ,who fears me1 say8 ,the wicked4 ,were those who menaced me wicked8 ,who is good8 ,thy mother1 from whom thou hast escaped1 says ,gurnemanz2 she weeps and grieves for thy sake4 ,her grief is over2 his mother is dead1 says ,kundry4 ,dead6 my mother6 who says that8 cries ,parsifal1 throwing himself furiously upon ,kundry1 and seizing her by the throat4 ,violence again1 mad youth6 says ,gurnemanz1 holding him back4 ,i perish1 cries the young man1 staggering4 ,kundry has rushed toward a forest stream1 and comes to bathe ,parsifal's forehead with fresh water4 ,it is well thus1 says the old man1 such is the grace of the ,grail1 you banish evil when you do great good4 ,but ,kundry turns sadly away4 ,i never do good1 she murmurs1 ,i seek only repose4 ,alas6 repose for her who is wretched4 ,ah6 horror seizes me1 resistance is vain1 the time is come1 sleep1 sleep ,i must4 ,and with a stifled cry1 she sinks down behind a bush4 ,gurnemanz1 however1 hoping that this may be the redeemer promised to the king1 conducts ,parsifal toward the temple2 he will be present at the ceremony1 and should ,parsifal be the chosen one1 his mission will be revealed to him by the ,grail4 ,the scene changes2 the forest disappears1 while the old man and ,parsifal appear to be advancing2 the side of a large rock conceals them1 then they reappear in the galleries4 ,sounds of trumpets gently swell forth1 and bells toll louder and louder4 ,they finally arrive in a vast hall1 whose lofty cupola permits the daylight to penetrate like a luminous flood4 ,the ,knights of the ,grail1 clad in the white coat-of-arms1 a dove embroidered upon their mantle1 advance in two lines and chant piously3 ,each day prepared for love's last repast1 and troubling himself little that it may be perhaps for the last time1 may it strengthen to-day him who can rejoice in his acts1 and may the repast be renewed unto him4 ,let him approach the holy table and receive the divine gift4 ,voices of youths respond from the halls and heights3 ,as formerly1 with a thousand pains1 his blood flowed for sinning humanity1 may my blood be poured out with a joyous heart for the hero ,saviour1 and may this body which he has offered for our redemption live in us by his death4 ,and children's voices answer back from the cupola's very heights3 ,faith lives1 the dove soars1 sweet messenger of the ,saviour2 drink of the wine which flows for you1 and eat of the bread of life4 ,shield-bearers and serving-brothers then enter1 bearing the litter upon which ,amfortas lies4 ,children advance1 bearing a shrine covered with a scarlet cloth1 which they proceed to place upon a marble altar4 ,suddenly from a vaulted niche at the end of the hall behind the altar a voice makes itself heard4 ,it is that of the aged ,titurel4 ,my son1 ,amfortas1 he says1 doest thou officiate8 ,must ,i behold the ,grail yet again to-day and live8 ,must ,i die1 no longer sustained by my ,saviour8 ,alas6 alas6 oh1 grievous sorrow6 cries ,amfortas4 ,my father1 perform once more thy holy office4 ,oh1 live1 and let me die4 ,and ,titurel3 ,i live in the tomb by the grace of our ,lord1 but ,i am too feeble to serve him4 ,expiate thou thy sin in his service4 ,uncover the ,grail4 ,no1 uncover it not1 cries ,amfortas1 in a passion of despair4 ,oh6 can no one measure the torment which the sight that transports you awakens in me8 ,what is the wound and its agony of pain compared with the infernal suffering of being damned here to officiate8 ,oh1 sorrowful heritage which has fallen to me6 ,i must guard the sublimest of sanctuaries1 ,i1 the only sinner among you all6 ,oh1 chastisement1 chastisement without equal1 inflicted by the all merciful ,one whom ,i have offended6 ,alas6 to him and to the mercy of his salvation ,i ardently aspire from the depths of my soul2 by expiatory penitence ,i hope to return to him4 ,the hour approaches1 a ray of light descends upon the sacred work1 the veil falls1 the sacred cup is illumined with a radiant lustre2 overcome by the celestial possession of pain1 ,i feel the stream of divine blood flowing through my heart1 and the impure wave of my own blood rushes impetuously back in wild terror to cast itself toward the world of lust2 it breaks anew its bonds1 and gushes from the wound1 like unto his1 made by the lance which of yore opened in the ,redeemer's side this wound which weeps in pity's sacred ardor tears of blood for the world's iniquity6 ,and from this wound flows1 though ,i be the keeper of divinest treasures1 of the redeeming balm1 the fiery blood1 renewed without respite by the fountain of longing1 which1 alas6 no penitence can extinguish4 ,mercy1 mercy6 oh1 all-merciful one4 ,ah6 in pity take from me my heritage1 close the wound that ,i may die purified1 and be born again in holiness unto thee4 ,as the king sinks down exhausted the knights murmur in a low tone3 ,let a harmless fool only1 knowing by compassion1 await him--him whom ,i have chosen4 ,such is the revelation2 await with hope1 and this day officiate4 ,uncover the ,grail1 exclaims ,titurel4 ,the king has raised himself in silence1 he opens the golden shrine1 and draws from it the ancient relic1 the crystal cup in which ,joseph of ,arimathea received the blood of ,christ2 it is the miraculous ,grail6 ,a twilight dimness has invaded the hall1 a single ray coming from above falls upon the ,grail1 and illumines it with a constantly-growing glory4 ,from the cupola's heights children's voices are heard3 ,take my blood in the name of our love6 ,take my body in remembrance of me4 ,they add3 ,by compassion and love the ,saviour once changed the bread and wine of the supreme repast into the blood which he has shed1 and the body which he has sacrificed4 ,the blood and flesh of the sacrifice the ,redeemer whom you glorify changes to-day into this wine which flows for you and this bread which you eat4 ,then the knights3 ,take the bread1 transform it without fear into strength and valor of body4 ,faithful even unto death1 intrepid in suffering1 accomplish the ,saviour's works4 ,take this wine1 transform it anew into life's burning blood1 to fight1 united in fraternal fidelity1 with joyous courage4 ,all rise and exchange the kiss of peace4 ,and the voices from above cry3 ,blessed in the faith6 ,blessed in love6 ,blessed in love6 ,blessed in the faith6 ,parsifal has watched this scene with haggard eyes2 but it has only left his mind in a profound stupor4 ,gurnemanz1 disappointed in his hope1 takes him by the arm and says3 ,go1 take thy way thither4 ,thou art but a harmless fool4 ,but ,gurnemanz counsels thee for thy future to leave the swans in peace4 ,seek rather after geese1 thou gosling4 ,he pushes ,parsifal out1 slams the door1 and while he follows the knights the curtain descends4 ,,second ,,act4 ,in the second act we find ourselves in the castle of the magician ,klingsor1 situate upon the confines of ,spanish ,arabia4 ,the scene represents the empty interior of an embattled tower4 ,along the walls narrow steps only project1 ascending toward the battlements1 or flat ledges of rocks4 ,klingsor1 the enchanter1 is seated upon one of these before a metallic mirror2 he gazes intently into its depths1 and in its magic shadows sees ,parsifal advancing1 joyous and thoughtless1 drawn by a charm toward the enchanted castle4 ,klingsor well knows that this is the redeemer promised to the ,king of the ,grail2 if1 however1 the magician can succeed in drawing him into the snares of the flesh before the young madcap will have realized the high mission for which he is chosen1 ,amfortas's safety is at an end4 ,klingsor will employ all his cunning and the most powerful seductions to ruin the pure and artless youth4 ,leaning over the tower's gloomy depths1 he burns aromatics1 whose smoke ascends in bluish clouds2 then1 with mysterious gestures1 he pronounces a formula of incantation3 ,come hither6 obey thy master1 rouse thyself at his call1 thou1 the nameless and primeval devil1 rose of hell who wast formerly ,herodias2 rise1 rise toward thy master1 obey him who holds thee in absolute control4 ,kundry appears1 slowly rising from the shadows4 ,like a creature rudely awakened from a profound sleep1 she utters a horrible cry of fear1 which little by little becomes extinguished in a feeble moan of distress4 ,it is she1 it is the power of her beauty which should cause the ingenious youth to fall into the magicians power4 ,is it not in her arms that the ,king of the ,grail forgot his holy duties8 ,is it not on her account that he now suffers and writhes in the cruel flame of guilty desire8 ,in vain the temptress struggles and attempts to escape from the power which holds her in dominion2 the impure fires which burn within her will force her to yield4 ,good and evil tumultuously dispute the possession of this soul1 already several times incarnate4 ,like a feminine ,ahasuerus1 she formerly insulted ,christ1 and is condemned to be born again ceaselessly in sin's suffering4 ,in vain she aspires to deliverance1 she inevitably falls back again into the snares of the flesh4 ,he who would resist the enchantress might perhaps save her2 but before her beauty all are weak1 all damn themselves with her4 ,he1 ,klingsor1 holds her in his power1 and knows how to rouse her from the lethargic sleep1 into which he plunges her at will4 ,for me alone1 thy seductions are powerless1 he says to her4 ,ah6 ah6 she cries with a harsh laugh1 would'st thou be chaste8 ,what dost thou ask1 cursed woman8 shrieks ,klingsor in a rage4 ,oh1 cruel torment6 ,it is thus that ,satan scoffs me because ,i formerly struggled for holiness2 cruel torment1 torment of unsubdued desire1 hellish urgency of horrible instincts1 upon which ,i have imposed the silence of death4 ,does he laugh now1 and does he jeer at me by thy month1 thou bride of the devil8 ,beware1 such scorn and raillery one has expiated already1--he who once cast me from him1 proud in the strength of his sanctity2 his race is to-day in my power1 and the guardian of the holy of holies must languish un-redeemed4 ,soon1 ,i think1 ,i shall myself watch over the ,grail6 ,ha6 ha6 he pleased thee1 this ,amfortas1 the hero whom ,i assigned to thee for thy joy4 ,oh1 woe6 woe6 groans ,kundry1 he also weak1 all are weak1 all have fallen with me by my damnation4 ,oh1 eternal sleep1 thou only blessing1 how attain thee8 ,ah6 he who would resist thee would deliver thee2 make thy trial upon the youth who approaches4 ,kundry struggles already more feebly4 ,he is handsome1 this youth1 exclaims ,klingsor1 who looks from the castle's height2 see1 he mounts toward the castle4 ,hey1 hey6 ,guardians6 ,knights6 ,heralds6 ,about6 ,the enemy approaches4 ,ah6 how they defend the walls1 the egotistical fools1 to protect their gracious devils6 ,that is it4 ,courage1 courage6 ,ho6 ho6 this one has no fear2 he has just snatched his lance from the hero ,ferris4 ,he brandishes it intrepidly toward the horde of combatants4 ,how little their zeal serves them1 the dullards6 ,the child breaks the arm of one1 the thigh of another4 ,ha6 ha6 they draw back1 they take flight1 each carrying away a wound4 ,thus am ,i happy6 ,thus may the entire race of knights cut one another's throats6 ,ah6 thou tender shoot2 although omens may have forwarned thee1 yet art thou fallen into my power1 too young1 too innocent1--thy purity once stained1 thou art mine4 ,kundry1 seized as if in spite of herself with a fit of ecstatic laughter1 has disappeared4 ,the tower sinks little by little1 and in its place one sees a marvellous garden filled with a tropical vegetation1 beyond which appear the terraces and porticos of an ,arabian palace of the most sumptuous style4 ,parsifal advances1 stupefied with surprise1 in the midst of all this splendor2 ravishing young girls1 similar to living flowers1 at first alarmed1 but soon becoming reassured1 press about him1 completing the measure of his stupefaction by all the charms and graces which they display for his enchantment and ruin4 ,if thou art gracious to us hold not thyself at a distance1 they say1 and if thou wilt not quarrel with us we will recompense thee4 ,we do not play for gold1 our only stake is love4 ,if thou thinkest to console us1 surely thou wilt gain it4 ,come1 come1 gentle youth1 let us bloom for thee4 ,our loving caresses are intended for thee4 ,what fragrant perfume you exhale1 says ,parsifal1 with tranquil gayety2 are you flowers8 ,beauties of this garden1 fragrant spirits1 in the springtime the master gathers us6 ,we grow here in the summer sunlight1 and bloom joyously for thee4 ,be thou then gracious and friendly to us1 accord to the flowers thy sweet tribute4 ,if thou wilt not love us1 we shall wither and die4 ,take me upon thy breast4 ,let me refresh thy forehead4 ,let me kiss thy mouth4 ,no1 ,i 444 ,i am the fairest4 ,no1 my perfume's the sweetest4 ,but ,parsifal laughingly repulses them3 ,you1 medley of flowers1 gracious and wild1 he says1 if you wish me to share in your sports widen this narrow circle4 ,why dost thou chide8 ,because you are in conflict4 ,we struggle for thy love4 ,do not struggle4 ,go4 ,he wants me4 ,no1 he desires me4 ,dost thou repel me8 ,art thou timid in the presence of women8 ,thou lettest the flowers court the butterfly4 ,leave me1 you will not catch me1 exclaims the young man1 who would take flight4 ,then ,kundry appears voluptuously stretched upon a bed of flowers4 ,she is of supreme beauty1 and adorned in the strangest and most superb manner in the oriental fashion4 ,parsifal1 stay1 she cries4 ,at the sound of this voice the young girls1 frightened1 withdraw regretfully1 casting tender glances toward the handsome youth4 ,all hail to thee1 thou innocent fool6 ,and they disappear with stifled laughter4 ,parsifal6 444 murmurs the young man1 stupefied1 my mother once called me thus in a dream4 ,then1 with the majesty of a goddess1 and the tenderness of love1 the seducer speaks to him of the mother whom he abandoned1 and who died after long tortures of despair4 ,my mother6 my mother6 can ,i have forgotten her1 exclaims ,parsifal4 ,alas6 alas6 what have ,i ever remembered8 ,a crushing madness alone possesses me6 ,and overpowered with grief1 he sinks at ,kundry's feet4 ,confession and repentance will blot out thy sin1 she says1 bending toward him2 they will change folly to reason2 learn to understand the love which enveloped ,gamuret when influenced by thy mother's passion4 ,the love that gave thee form and existence1 before which death and madness must drawback1 gives thee to-day1 with the supreme greeting of the maternal benediction1 its first kiss4 ,and with a most radiant smile1 the enchantress leans over the young man and presses a long kiss upon his mouth4 ,at the contact of their lips ,parsifal rises quickly1 as if transfigured2 the veil which enveloped his mind is suddenly torn away2 he now comprehends the meaning of everything he has seen2 he feels kindling in his own heart the devouring fire with which ,amfortas burns4 ,the wound6 the wound6 he cries1 it burns in my heart4 ,oh1 lamentation6 frightful lamentation6 it cries out from the very depths of my being4 ,here1 here in the heart is the flame1 the burning desire1 the terrible and unbidden desire which seizes all my senses and subjugates them6 ,oh1 torment of love6 how the whole framework shudders1 trembles1 and thrills with guilty desires6 ,again he sees ,amfortas before the ,grail1 and the horror of sacrilege1 the sinner's torture he now understands4 ,superb hero1 fly the illusion1 be gracious at the approach of grace1 says the temptress1 filled with passionate admiration4 ,and he1 still prostrated at her feet1 regards her fixedly while she displays before him all the charms of her beauty4 ,yes1 he says1 this voice6 it is thus that she called him1 and this glance which smiled upon him1 ,i recognize it6 ,these lips1 yes1 it is thus that he saw them quiver1 it is thus that she bent her head1 thus raised it proudly4 ,in this manner flowed her silken curls1 thus she enfolded him and gently caressed his cheek4 ,allied to all the tortures of suffering1 she kissed away from him his soul's salvation4 ,ah6 such kisses6 ,raising himself quickly he repulses ,kundry impetuously4 ,away1 corrupter6 he cries1 far from me forever4 ,the lofty mission which he is destined to accomplish is now regaled to him2 he must defy1 like ,amfortas1 all the pleasures of guilty temptations1 suffer all that he has suffered2 but resist where he has yielded1 and triumph where the other has succumbed2 this is the price by which he will save him4 ,kundry1 in a delirium of furious passion1 sets loose in vain all the seductions of hell against him2 in vain she endeavors to soften him3 ,ah cruel one1 if thou feelest naught in thy heart but the sufferings of others1 feel also mine4 ,if thou be the ,saviour1 why not unite thyself to me for my salvation2 during eternities ,i have awaited thee4 ,oh6 if thou couldst know the curse which sleeping and waking in torment and laughter invigorates me endlessly for new suffering4 ,i saw ,him1 ,him1 and ,i laughed4 ,his glance fell upon me4 ,since then ,i seek this glance from world to world1 ,i shall meet it again yet2 in the height of my distress ,i seem to see it1 ,i feel it resting upon me4 ,then the cursed laughter seizes me again4 ,a sinner falls into my arms1 and ,i laugh1 ,i laugh2 ,i cannot weep4 ,i can only cry out1 carried deliriously into the night of folly ever renewed1 from which penitence itself scarce arouses me4 ,him whom ,i ardently desire in the midst of my agony ,i recognize in thee2 let me weep upon thy breast and unite myself to thee for a single hour1 and though seemingly rejected by ,god and the world1 let me be saved and redeemed in thee4 ,thou wouldst be damned with me for all eternity if for one hour ,i should forget my mission in the embrace of thy arms4444 ,it was my kiss which rendered thy eyes clear8 the full gift of my love would give thee divinity4 ,save the world if that is thy mission1 and if this hour has made thee a god1 let me suffer damnation forever4 ,only give me thy love4 ,thee too will ,i save1 sinner2 show me but the road which ,i have lost1 the way which leads to ,amfortas4 ,never1 never6 thou shalt not find him1 cries ,kundry1 transported with rage4 ,error1 imposition1 illusion1 bar his war1 entangle the paths that his feet may never enter upon the road which he seeks2 may all ways be cursed that estrange him from me4 ,aberration6 aberration6 ,i dedicate him to thee1 be thou his guide6 ,at ,kundry's cries the young girls come forth from the palace4 ,klingsor1 armed with the sacred lance1 throws himself upon ,parsifal1 but the divine steel cannot harm him who has remained pure2 it rests suspended miraculously above him4 ,the young hero seizes the weapon and traces the sign of the cross in space4 ,at this symbol the magic castle crumbles away and disappears1 the garden withers1 the young girls1 like dying flowers1 droop and sink to the earth2 nothing is now seen save an arid desert1 with mountains and snowy peaks in the distance4 ,parsifal1 striding over the ruins1 moves away1 uttering a last word of hope to the sinner3 ,thou knowest where alone thou wilt see me again4 ,,third ,,act4 ,the third act takes us back to the domain of the ,grail4 ,the spring festival gladdens the forest1 everything is in flower1 the tender verdure of the fields is sown with ,easter flowers1 the stream forces itself a passage through clusters of lilies of the valley4 ,it is the day sacred to all1 upon which humanity was redeemed1--,good ,friday4 ,gurnemanz1 now quite aged1 comes forth from an humble hut hidden among the trees4 ,he has heard a groan and a lament1 the mournful tone of which is not unknown to him4 ,he approaches the thicket1 and raises a woman who appears to be dead4 ,he was not deceived4 ,it is indeed the strange heathen1 whom he has already roused from this sleep1 so like unto death4 ,yes1 it is ,kundry2 behold her as she arouses herself1 casting about a searching glance which is no longer savage4 ,to serve1 to serve1 she murmurs1 and she goes off to the side of the cabin1 to apply herself to the most humble labors4 ,gurnemanz1 surprised1 watches her proceedings1 but his attention is soon attracted by a stranger1 who advances hesitatingly and dreamily in the refreshing calm of the forest4 ,he is clad in black armor1 his helmet is closed1 and he holds his lance lowered4 ,slowly he draws near and seats himself by the spring4 ,greeting1 my guest1 says ,gurnemanz3 ,dost thou not know what day this is8 ,quickly lay aside thy arms2 offend not the ,saviour1 who1 stripped of all defense1 on this day offered his divine blood for the salvation of the world4 ,the sombre knight obeys2 he takes off his helmet and loosens his armor4 ,gurnemanz then recognizes ,parsifal1 the harmless fool1 whom he had sent away so roughly4 ,with deep emotion he imagines that he recognizes also the sacred lance1 long before carried away from the sanctuary4 ,the young man1 who looks calmly about him1 recognizes ,gurnemanz1 and extends his hand to him4 ,i am happy to have found thee again1 he says4 ,what1 thou knowest me yet8 dost thou remember him1 whom grief and distress have bent so low8 ,how earnest thou here1 and from what place8 ,i am come in the paths of error and suffering1 replies ,parsifal4 ,can ,i believe myself delivered1 since once again ,i hear the rustling of this forest1 and salute thee again1 thou good old man8 ,tell me1 to whom should the path which thou seekest lead8 ,to him whose lament ,i formerly heard in bewildered surprise1 to him for whose salvation ,i to-day believe myself to be elected4 ,but alas6 a horrible curse condemns me never to find the road to salvation1 and to wander in unknown paths4 ,when ,i seemed to have found it1 miseries without number1 with struggles and conflicts1 chased me from the path4 ,then had ,i almost despaired of keeping the sacred arm in safety4 ,in the effort to preserve and defend it ,i received wounds from every side1 for ,i could not make use of it in the combat4 ,inviolate ,i kept it by my side4 ,i take it back again1 it glitters there1 august and radiant1 the ,grail's holy lance6 ,oh mercy6 supreme blessing6 ,holy and most august miracle6 exclaims the old man1 with enthusiasm2 if it be a malediction that turned thee from the true path1 believe me1 my lord1 it has yielded1 for thou art in the domain of the ,grail1 and its knighthood awaits thee4 ,ah6 it stands in sore need of the salvation which thou bringest6 ,since the day that thou wert here1 mourning and anguish have augmented even to supreme distress4 ,amfortas1 revolting against his wound1 in sullen obstinacy1 longed for death2 neither the supplications nor the grief of his knights could impel him to fulfil his holy office4 ,for a long time the ,grail has remained enclosed in its shrine1 and its contrite guardian1 who could not die1 should he contemplate it1 hopes thus to enforce his end1 and terminate with his life his torment4 ,the sacred nourishment is denied us2 also1 our heroic strength perishes4 ,messages and distant calls to holy combats no longer reach us4 ,the knighthood1 deprived of chief and courage1 wanders miserable and wan4 ,here in the corner of the forest ,i have hidden myself in solitude1 tranquilly awaiting death1 which has already become the lot of my old lord of arms1 ,titurel2 for the sainted hero1 being no longer revived by the sight of the ,grail1 died a man like all others4 ,and it is ,i who caused all this misery6 cries ,parsifal1 with a burst of grief4 ,ah6 what sin1 what a mass of misdeeds must have weighed upon this fool's head from eternity1 inasmuch as1 chosen for the redemption1 after having wandered distractedly1 ,i see the last path to salvation vanish4 ,he sinks swooning upon a grassy hillock4 ,gurnemanz supports him1 and aided by ,kundry endeavors to revive him4 ,like a new ,jordan1 the limpid stream will refresh his brow and efface the sin2 it will wash the dust of long wandering and journeys from his weary feet4 ,kundry1 like ,magdalen1 passionately repentant1 will shed perfumes upon these feet1 and will wipe them in her silken flowing hair1 and ,gurnemanz1 understanding that the day of salvation has come at last1 and that the ,grail has a new king1 will pour the sacred oil upon ,parsifal's head4 ,thus ,i bless thee1 and consecrate thee king1 thou innocent1 compassionate martyr1 thou doer of holy deeds6 ,inasmuch as thou hast suffered all the sufferings of the redeemed1 be this last burden taken from thy brow4 ,and the first act of the new king is to pour the baptismal water upon the head of the prostrate and weeping sinner1 ,kundry4 ,thy tears are become a holy dew1 he says to her with divine tenderness1 thou weepest6 ,see1 ,nature rejoices6 and he kisses her upon the forehead4 ,the swelling sound of bells in the distance announces ,titurel's funeral4 ,as in the first act1 the country is gradually transformed1 and soon long files of knights in mourning are seen in the galleries escorting the remains of ,titurel4 ,finally the temple reappears1 and the knights who carry the ,grail and the litter upon which ,amfortas is stretched meet the funeral procession4 ,whom does this casket that you bear in sorrow enclose8 they say1 while we attend the shrine which shields the ,grail4 ,this casket encloses the sainted hero to whom ,god confided himself2 we bear ,titurel4 ,what has struck down him whom even ,god protected8 ,it was the heavy burden of age that hastened his end1 as he saw the ,grail no more4 ,who prevented him from beholding the ,grail and its blessings8 ,he whom you attend1 the guilty guardian4 ,we escort him once more to-day1 because for the last time he wills to discharge his priesthood4 ,woe1 woe6 for the last time be recalled to the duties of thy office6 ,but ,amfortas1 distracted with grief1 raises himself upon his couch4 ,yes1 woe6 he cries1 woe to me6 ,my father6 hero thrice blessed1 toward whom the angels bent2 ,i who coveted death2 it is thy death ,i have caused4 ,oh1 thou who now beholdest1 in divine light1 the ,redeemer himself1 implore him that he may grant me death at last6 ,death6 death6 only grace6 ,may the terrible wound and venom cease1--the wasted heat grow cold6 ,i invoke thee1 my father1 cry to him3 ,saviour1 grant peace to my son4 ,uncover the tabernacle1 cry the knights1 pressing in disorder about ,amfortas2 fulfil thy priestly office2 thy father commands thee2 thou must1 thou must6 ,but the wretched man1 in a frenzy of despair1 throws himself into the midst of them1 tearing his garments4 ,no1 no6 never more6 ,ah6 ,i already feel the shadow of death upon me1 and must ,i return once again to life8 ,which of you would force me to live since you can give me nothing but death8 ,behold1 the wound yawns1 see the poison and my blood6 ,steep your swords in my wound even to the hilt6 ,rise1 heroes6 ,destroy with one blow the sinner and his torment2 and the ,grail will then shine brightly for you by its own virtue6 ,all have drawn back in terror4 ,parsifal then advances solemnly2 stretches forth the divine lance1 and with its point touches the side of ,amfortas4 ,one arm only is propitious1 he says2 the lance that opened the wound can alone close it4 ,be healed1 redeemed1 and saved6 ,may thy suffering1 which gave supreme strength to compassion1 and the power of the purest wisdom to the timorous brother1 be sanctified6 ,i restore to you the sacred lance6 ,and while ,amfortas and ,gurnemanz kneel to do him homage1 and ,kundry1 delivered at last1 dies at his feet with a look of gratitude1 ,parsifal ascends toward the altar1 and raises for the first time the ,grail in all its splendor above the heads of the enraptured knights4