Richard Wagner
Parsifal
Act III
Translated by Abigail Dyer © Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved.
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Contents
Act III
The Grail's realm.
Act III, Scene 1
Curtain up.
Beautiful, open fields. Springtime in the realm of the Grail. Upstage, a softly rising flowery meadow. Downstage, the forest edge that, to the left, stretches up to a rocky plateau. Downstage near the forest is a spring. Across from it, Up, a simple hermit’s hut, leaning against the rocks. Crack of dawn.
Gurnemanz, now aged and gray, is a hermit clad only in the tunic of the Grail knights, comes out of the hut and listens.
GURNEMANZ What’s groaning in the bushes?
So woefully wails no beast
And for sure not on this holiest holiday.
I think I recognize that mournful cry.
(Muffled groans—it’s Kundry’s voice. Gurnemanz walks purposefully to an overgrown thorn bush on the side of the stage. He pulls the undergrowth apart and stops suddenly.)
Ha! You’re back again?
Did wintertime’s prickly thorns cover her up?
For how long?
Up! Kundry! Up!
The winter’s gone and spring is here!
(pulls Kundry, stiff and lifeless, from the bushes and lays her on a nearby grassy hill)
Wake up now!
Wake up to the spring!
Cold and still!
Maybe this time she’s really dead?
Were those her groans, the noises I heard?
(Kundry stiffly laid out before him. He rubs her hands and temples, doing everything possible to soften her stiff limbs. Finally, life seems to return to her. She wakes up completely and as she opens her eyes, lets out a scream. Kundry wears the coarse clothes of a penitent, similar to what she wore in Act I, but now her face is paler and all trace of wildness is gone from her appearance and behavior. She stares for a long time at Gurnemanz. Then she gets up, fixes her clothes and hair and sets herself to work right away as a servant girl.)
You wild wench!
Have you no word for me?
Are these my thanks for resuscitating you
Once more from a dead sleep?
(Kundry nods. Then she speaks with a raw, broken voice:)
KUNDRY Let me serve you.
GURNEMANZ (shaking his head)
That shouldn’t be too hard.
We’ve no more messages to send.
Herbs and roots, each of us finds for himself.
We learned to in woodlands, from beasts.
(During all of that, Kundry has looked around, seen the hut and gone inside. Gurnemanz watches her go, astonished.)
Her stride is different from before!
Has this Holy Day wrought the change?
Oh Day of Mercy without equal!
Is it for her salvation
That I could wake her from her death-sleep on this morning?
(Kundry comes back out of the hut, bringing with her a water jug which she takes to the spring. There, she notices a figure in the forest, in the distance. She turns to Gurnemanz to point it out to him. Gurnemanz looks into the forest.)
Who’s coming toward the holy spring?
(At Parsifal’s entrance, Kundry has taken the now filled water jug into the hut, where she sets about working. Parsifal comes out of the forest in a blackened suit of armor. The visor is closed and the Spear, lowered. With his head bowed, dreamily hesitant, he slowly walks toward the grassy hill and sits down there, near the spring.)
He’s dressed in grimmest armor?
There’s no way that’s a brother!
(Gurnemanz, who has been gazing in astonishment at Parsifal for some time, steps closer to him.)
Welcome, my guest!
Say, are you lost? And may I direct you?
(Parsifal shakes his head.)
Do you not greet me in return?
(Parsifal nods. Gurnemanz, annoyed:)
Hey! What?
You may have taken a vow to remain silent—
But I, too, took a vow:
To tell you what is proper here.
You stand on consecrated ground.
We do not carry weapons here
With lowered visors,
Shields and spears—
Much less today!
Do you not know what holy day this is?
(Parsifal shakes his head.)
Right!
From where came you hence?
Among what heathens did you dwell
That you don’t know what day is today,
Don’t know this is Good Friday morn’?
(Parsifal lowers his head even further.)
Put down your weapon!
Anger not the Lord
Who this day offered His holy blood
To ransom our sins, redeem the world!
(Parsifal stands after further silence, plunges the Spear into the ground in front of him, lays down his shield and sword, opens his visor and takes it off his head. He lays the visor down with the other weapons, whereupon he kneels in silent prayer before the Spear. Gurnemanz observes Parsifal with astonishment and feeling. He calls Kundry to him now that she has come out of the hut. Parsifal raises his gaze devoutly to the Spear tip.
Gurnemanz, softly to Kundry:)
Remember him?
’Twas he who shot the swan that time.
(Kundry affirms with a light nod.)
I’m sure it’s him, the fool whom I angrily drove off.
(Kundry stares fixedly but calmly at Parsifal.)
Ha! How did he get back here?
The Spear, I know it, too.
(with great emotion)
O holiest day for me to wake in wonderment!
(Kundry has turned her face away. Parsifal rises slowly from his prayer, looks around calmly, recognizes Gurnemanz and extends his hand in greeting.)
PARSIFAL Praise be that I once more have found you.
GURNEMANZ So then you know me, too?
You recognize me though I am grey and bent with grief?
How came you here? From where?
PARSIFAL Through error, along suffering’s paths I traveled.
But have I freed myself from their confusion
Or are those forest noises just one more illusion?
You, my good grey-beard, do I greet you?
Are you, too, an illusion?
Yes, everything looks different.
GURNEMANZ But what or whom did you come seeking?
PARSIFAL Ah, him whose lamentations
In foolish wonder I first heard,
To bring salvation to him
I reckon I have been ordained.
But, ah!
Salvation’s path, I almost missed it.
In error I wandered
As a wild curse chased me down.
Numberless conflicts, battles and contests
Turned me away from this path
Even though I knew it was right.
But then a dreadful doubt would seize me.
The sacred, could I keep sacred?
Keep it protected and preserve it?
Yes, wounds from every weapon I won,
For I would never wield this weapon in warfare.
Undefiled, did I guard well its welfare
Till I could bring it back here,
Where now it shimmers bright and clear,
The Grail’s Holy Spear.
GURNEMANZ (bursting out in greatest delight)
Oh mercy!
Blessed bliss!
Oh miracle!
Blessed, beauteous miracle!
(having gotten himself in hand again, turns to Parsifal:)
Oh, sir, if ’twas a curse
That drove you from the righteous path,
Believe that it is lifted.
You’ve gotten to the Grail’s domain.
Your coming they’ve awaited long.
Ah, they’re in need of saving, the saving that you bring!
Since the first time that you came to us
The sorrow they made known to you,
The worry, is now deep distress.
Amfortas fought against his wounds and
Fought his soul’s dark torment
But longed with furious spite only for death.
No prayers, no miseries of his brothers
Could get him to fulfill his holy duty.
Enshrined in darkness, long has lain the Grail
Because its sin-regretting guardian,
Who cannot die if he sees but a glimpse of it,
Is forcing death to take him,
To end his life and end his suffering with it.
We cannot now obtain the holy food;
We eat whatever grows around us
And this has done our heroes' strength no good.
None send us missives now;
No calls to holy battle reach our dark woods.
Wretched and pale, they stagger 'round,
The gutless, leaderless brotherhood.
Here in this woodland, I myself await
Death’s quiet unawareness,
To which my old commander has succumbed.
Yes, Titurel my hero fell.
Without the Grail’s presence to refresh him
He died just as all men do!
PARSIFAL (fighting against deepest pain)
And I, I caused all of this misery!
Ha! Such a sinner!
What disgraceful guilt falls on this foolish head
And weighs it down forever
So that no penance
Or atonement can wrest from me this blindness!
Ordained was I to come and save them
Yet lost, I wandered vaguely.
I sought the path but failed to find it!
(Parsifal nearly collapses but Gurnemanz holds him up and sits him down on the grassy hill. Kundry goes to get a pitcher of water to sprinkle over Parsifal. She returns with the water and Gurnemanz refuses it:)
GURNEMANZ No, no, the holy spring itself
Will sanctify our pilgrim’s bath.
I think that there’s more work today he must accomplish.
To celebrate a holy service
He must be free from stain
And all that wandering’s dust
Must from him now be washed away!
(Parsifal is led by the two to the edge of the spring. During the following, Kundry undoes his leg armor while Gurnemanz takes off his breastplate.)
PARSIFAL Today will Amfortas deign to receive me?
GURNEMANZ For certain, for the mighty castle calls.
The funeral service of my dear loved lord commands me there today.
The Grail once more for us will be uncovered.
His long-neglected duty just once more he will take up
In honor of his lordly father, who through his son’s neglect did die,
A son who wishes to repent….
That’s what Amfortas vowed.
(Kundry washes his feet with humble enthusiasm. Parsifal watches her, astonished.)
PARSIFAL (to Kundry, then to Gurnemanz)
You’ve washed my feet so kindly,
Would you now bathe my head, my friend?
GURNEMANZ (scooping up a handful of water from the spring and sprinkling it over Parsifal’s head)
Be blessed, oh you pure one, by pure water.
And thus may it cleanse your guilty burdens from you!
(As Gurnemanz joyfully sprinkles water, Kundry takes a small gold vial from her breast and pours its contents out over Parsifal’s feet, which she then dries with her quickly unbound hair.
Parsifal gently takes the vial from Kundry and passes it to Gurnemanz.)
PARSIFAL You salved my feet so kindly;
Let salve my head now Titurel’s old friend,
So that today as king he may receive me!
GURNEMANZ (during the following, shakes the remaining contents of the flask out onto Parsifal’s head, gently rubs it in and then folds his hands onto Parsifal’s brow.)
Thus was the promise given;
Thus bless I now your head.
As king I may receive you!
You pure one!
Merciful, patient one,
Wondrous and wise You are!
Just as You took upon Yourself our sufferings,
This one last weight now take, too, from his head!
PARSIFAL (had, unnoticed, taken water from the spring. He bends toward Kundry, who is still kneeling in front of them, and wets her head with it.)
I’ll start my duties with this act:
Be baptized and believe in the Redeemer!
(Kundry sinks her head to the ground. She seems to weep violently. Parsifal turns and looks with gentle delight upon the forest and meadows, now bathed in morning’s light.)
How beautiful the meadow seems this morn’!
I’ve met with flowers marvelous,
As tall as I, who clung like vines around me
But I’ve ne’er seen so soft and sweet a blossom, bud or flower
That smells so childishly fair and speaks such trusting music as these.
GURNEMANZ That is Good Friday magic, Sire!
PARSIFAL Oh horror! Day of agony!
I reckon everything that blooms
Or breathes or lives and lives again
Should mourn Him, ah!, and cry for Him!
GURNEMANZ You see, it is not so.
Repentant sinners’ tears you see here
That now with holy dew
Baptize meadow, flower and bloom
And sweetly consecrate them.
Creation understands this day
The sign of grace our Savior gave,
And sends its prayer in celebration.
Him on the cross is something flowers can’t dream of.
They look but to the saved among mankind,
Those free of sinful burdens and of meanness
Whom God’s own loving sacrifice made pure.
Here’s what the flowers have an idea of:
No human foot will trample them today.
For just as God showed us His heavenly face
And in His mercy for us suffered pain,
This day we show the flowers grace
With tread like gentle rain.
All creatures then give thanks and praise.
All that which blooms and soon decays,
Its sin by Nature washed away,
Wins back its innocence today.
(Kundry has slowly raised her head again. With moist eyes, serious and calmly beseeching, she looks at Parsifal.)
PARSIFAL I saw them wither,
Who mocked and chased me.
This morning, do they seek salvation?
You see, your tears as well are blessed dew.
You cry and, look, the meadow blooms.
(Kisses Kundry on the forehead. Bells peal in the distance.)
GURNEMANZ Midday. The time has come.
Allow me, Sire. Let your servant escort you!
(Gurnemanz has fetched his Grail knight’s cloak, which he and Kundry put on Parsifal. Parsifal solemnly takes the spear and, with Kundry, follows Gurnemanz, who slowly leads the way.
Very gradual scene change, similar to that in Act I, only this time from left to right. After the three have been visible for a while, they disappear entirely and the forest scenery moves Off. The stone arches move nearer. In the vaulted hallways the sound of the bells becomes increasingly loud. The stone walls open and the Grail hall, as in Act I only this time without the feast table, is once again there. Dim lighting. From one side, a procession carries Titurel’s body in a coffin. From the other side, a procession carries Amfortas on a litter preceded by the covered Grail shrine.)
FIRST GROUP OF KNIGHTS We carry in its sheltering shrine
The Grail to its holy office.
Who’s sheltered in the gloomy shrine
You carry mournfully here?
(as the two groups pass each other)
SECOND GROUP OF KNIGHTS We bear our hero’s coffin hence.
It bears the holy power
That God Himself on him once bestowed.
Titurel’s body we bear.
FIRST GROUP OF KNIGHTS But who brought him down,
Him whom God preserved,
God himself protected?
SECOND GROUP OF KNIGHTS ’Twas age and its burdens
That brought him down
Once he could no longer see the Grail.
FIRST GROUP OF KNIGHTS But who blocked the Grail’s grace from his vision?
SECOND GROUP OF KNIGHTS He whom you accompany,
Its sinful guardian.
FIRST GROUP OF KNIGHTS We accompany him now, today,
Since once more, just one last time,
He wishes to do his duty,
One last time today!
(They leave Amfortas in his litter behind the Grail’s altar, before which they set the coffin. The Knights direct the following to Amfortas:)
SECOND GROUP OF KNIGHTS Sorrow! You guarded the Grail!
FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS OF KNIGHTS Oh! Just one last rite he will
celebrate today!
The last time, today!
AMFORTAS (feebly raising himself up a little)
Yes, woe, ah, woe, ah woe unto me!
Yes, I agree with you all.
More so, I’d agree to be put to death,
The lightest sentence for sinners.
(The coffin is opened. At the sight of Titurel’s body, everyone breaks out in sudden cries of distress. Amfortas raises himself higher on his couch and turns toward the body.)
My father!
Best beloved of the heroes!
You, pure one, a man the angels once bowed to,
In seeking my final breath,
You I put to death!
Oh you who sits in glory with God
And beholds our Savior’s face,
Oh beg this of Him:
That His sacred blood,
Should He send once more this true sign,
May bring the brothers healing.
Just as it brings them new life,
May it at last bring me death.
Death! Dying… grant this mercy!
This poisonous wound, may it perish with me!
Make still the heart that it eats away!
My father! I beg you,
Beg our God made flesh,
“Redeemer, oh grant my son his rest!”
KNIGHTS (pressing closer to Amfortas)
Uncover the Grail!
Oh do your duty!
Your father demands it. You must!
Parsifal healing King Amfortas
AMFORTAS (jumping up in wild distress, crashing into the Knights, who back away)
No! Never! Ha!
The dark hand of death overtakes me.
Should I once more push it off of me and live?
You lunatics!
Who’d force me still to stay alive
Instead of helping me to die?
(tearing open his vestment)
I stand here.
My open wound is here!
The blood that poisons is flowing here!
Take up your arms, then!
Thrust all your daggers
Deep, deep, to the hilt!
Come, you heroes!
Kill now the sinner; his pain assail!
Then see it shine by itself, the Grail!
(Amfortas, stands alone in terrible ecstasy. All have shrunk back from him in fear. Parsifal, accompanied by Gurnemanz and Kundry and unnoticed by the Knights, steps forward and reaches with the Spear toward Amfortas, touching the wound in his side with its tip.)
PARSIFAL This blade alone will help:
The wound’s closed by the
Spear that dealt the blow.
(Amfortas lights up with holy joy. He seems to sway under the power of great emotion. Gurnemanz supports him.)
Be healed, forgiven and absolved,
For I assume your duties now.
May blessed be your suffering,
For it gave mercy’s might
And purest wisdom’s light
Unto the bumbling, foolish child.
(Parsifal steps Center, holding the Spear high up in front of him.)
The Holy Spear returns to its domain!
(Everyone gazes joyfully at the Spear. Parsifal has raised his eyes to its tip and continues to stare at it as he goes on in exultation: )
Oh, it brings wondrous joy again!
From this that healed your wound and closed it,
I see the holy blood now flow out
In longing for its kindred fountain:
That which flows within the holy chalice.
No more will it remain confined.
Uncover the Grail! Open the shrine!
(Parsifal climbs the altar steps, takes the Grail from the shrine, which the Squires have opened, and kneels before it in contemplation. Gradually, soft light flows from the Grail. Below, increasing darkness as the Grail’s light from above grows stronger.)
KNIGHTS (voices from the middle and top of the dome, barely audible)
Miracle most holy!
Salvation of our Savior!
A beam of light: the Grail glows its brightest. From the dome, a white dove comes down and lingers over Parisfal’s head. Kundry sinks down slowly, her eyes on Parsifal. She falls to the ground dead. Amfortas and Gurnemanz kneel in homage before Parsifal, who waves the Grail in blessing over the assembled Knights.
Parsifal revealing the Holy Grail
FINAL CURTAIN