Parsifal In English Verse (Paperback)

A R S IF A L A FESTIVAL-DRAMA Em Buhnenweihfestspiel BY RICHARD WAGNER TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IN EXACT ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORIGINAL BY H. L. AND F. CORDER BOSTON OLIVER DITSON COMPANY THE GENESIS OF THE DRAMA, FOR the basis of his last music-drama, Parsi fal, Wagner selected from the host of mediaeval legends surrounding the Grail the version found in the poems of the old German Minneshlger, Wolfram von Eschenbach, modifying the details and enriching the meaning to suit his dramatic purposes. The idea of the Grail dates from the earliest times, and during the Middle Ages be came a most poetic conception, representing the Ideal of the pious devotions of chivalry. It was the sacred chalice, of wonderful spiritual power, from which Christ drank at the Last Supper, and in which were caught the last drops of His blood as He hung on the cross. According to Wagner, both the Grail, and the Sacred Spear, with which Longinus pierced the side of Christ, were brought down from heaven by an angel host and given into the keeping of Titurel, who built for them a temple in the mountains of northern Spain Monsalvat, and founded an order of knighthood to watch and protect the sacred relics. None but the pure in heart could find the magic temple none but the noblest and bravest could remain in its service., Titurel was succeeded by Amfortas, who fell a victim to the wiles of a witchwoman Kundry, 1 and was wounded in conflict with her master, the magician Klingsor, who wrested from Amfortas the Sacred Spear, with which he administered a wound which would not heal, though the unfor tunate knight remained in life, through the sus taining power of the Grail. It was prophesied, however, that there should oneday come to Monsalvaf a youth Parsifal, pure and unsophis ticated, who should become wise through com passion durch Mitkid wissmtl and who, after having himself withstood temptation and evil, should regain the Spear, and by its aid heal Amfortas wound. It is with the coming of Parsifal that the action commences. 1 Kundry in the legend was the female prototype of the Wandering Jew having mocked at Christ on the Cross, she was condemned to perpetual laughter. Wagner makes her a dual personality, who seeks expiation in zealous service to the Grail, and yet is condemned to lapse periodically info a magic sleep, during which she is bound to the powert of evil. THE STORY OF THE DRAMA. ACT L A wood near the Grail Mountain, where Gurnemanz and some young esquires are at their morning devotions. They are interrupted by the wild arrival of Kundry, who staggers in exhausted, bearing an ointment for Amfortas 5 wound. The latter then enters on his way to the bath, borne in a litter and attended by a train of knights, Though despairing of help, he takes the ointment and is carried to the lake. While Gurnemaiiz is relating the incidents which led to Amfortas anidping, a wild swan, wounded to the cleath, flutters to the ground. In horror the es- iiires h t to, ., siayer, and bring for-, aird, Parsifal, u fcw iii haiidv tid imitate of . the eii rmi y of feisr defed Hfe replies to Gurnemariz 1 i Uestic ns betray dleef ignbirance of himself and of the world but Kunclry relates what she knows of his birth and parentage, and Gurnemanz, in the hope that this is the pure fool d r fdw Thor promised in the prophecy, leads him to ward the Temple of the Grail ICundry has meanwhile crawled into the thicket ancjfallen into a deep sleep, The scene changes gradually until the stage re j-resents the interior of a vast hall, furnished with long tables, and Amfortas, in spite of the agony it causes him, uncovers the Grail this becomes illumined, and the knights partake of the Lords Sapper. When the rite is finished, Parsifal, wbo has bfeeft an interested spectator of the scene, still shows no Comprehe si ii, olHs meaning ajo4 r fo haE., THE STORY OF THE DRAMA. ACT II. Klingsors castle...