Scene 1: In the domain of the Grail
A pleasant, open spring landscape with a background of gently rising flowery meadows. The edge of the forest forms the foreground, and extends to the right to rising rocky ground. In the foreground, by the side of the wood, a spring; facing it, a little further back, a humble hermit’s hut leaning against a mass of rock. Very early morning.
Gurnemanz, now a very old man, clad as a hermit but for the tunic of the knights of the Grail, comes out of the hut and listens.
GURNEMANZ:
From yonder came the groaning. No beast cries so piteously, least of all today on this most holy morning. I seem to know that sound of lamenting.
(muffled groaning in Kundry’s voice. Gurnemanz walks firmly to a densely overgrown thorn thicket at the side, forces the undergrowth apart, then stops suddenly)
Ha! She here again? The rough wintry thorn has been concealing her: for how long?
Up! Kundry! Up! Winter has fled, and spring is here! Awake! Awake to the spring!
Cold and stiff! This time she may well be dead: yet it was her groaning I heard.
He drags Kundry, quite stiff and lifeless, out of the bushes and carries her to a nearby grassy mound. He does his utmost to restore Kundry’s numb circulation. Gradually life seems to return to her. When at last she opens her eyes, she utters a cry. Kundry is in the coarse robe of a penitent, similar to that in Act One, but her face is paler and the wildness has vanished from her looks and behavior. She gazes long at Gurnemanz. Then she rises, arranges her clothing and hair and at once sets to work like a serving-maid.)
GURNEMANZ:
Crazy woman! Have you no word for me? Are these your thanks for having woken you again from deathly sleep?
KUNDRY:
(slowly bows her head: then hoarsely and brokenly brings out the words)
Let me serve... Serve!
GURNEMANZ:
(shaking his head)
It will give you little work! There are no more messages to send. Herbs and roots each finds for himself; we learned that from the beasts in the forest.
(Kundry has meanwhile been looking about her, noticed the hut and gone inside.)
GURNEMANZ:
(gazes after her in astonishment)
How differently she moves from before! Has the holy day brought this about? Oh day of mercy beyond compare! In truth it was for her salvation that I was able to awake that poor soul today from the sleep of death.
Kundry returns from the hut: she carries a water-pitcher and goes with it to the spring. Looking into the forest, she perceives someone coming from the distance and turns to Gurnemanz to point this out to him.
GURNEMANZ:
(looks into the wood)
Who there is approaching the holy spring, in sombre apparel of war? That is none of the brethren!
Kundry moves away with the filled pitcher into the hut, where she busies herself.
Parsifal emerges from the forest, entirely clad in black armor. With closed helm and lowered spear he strides slowly forward with head bowed, dreamily and uncertainly, and seats himself on the small grassy mound by the spring.
GURNEMANZ:
(after gazing long in astonishment at Parsifal, now draws nearer to him.)
Greetings, my guest! Have you lost your way, and may I direct you?
(Parsifal gently shakes his head)
Do you offer me no greeting?
(Parsifal bows his head. Gurnemanz angry:)
Eh! What? If your vows constrain you to silence, then mine charge me to tell you what is fitting. Here you are in a hallowed place: no man comes here armed, with visored helmet, shield and spear; and today of all days! Do you not know what holy day this is?
(Parsifal shakes his head)
No? Then whence come you? Among what heathen have you dwelt, to not know that today is the supremely holy Good Friday?
(Parsifal bows his head still lower)
Lay down your weapons! Do not offend the Lord, who today, defenseless, gave His holy blood to redeem the sins of the world!
After a further silence, Parsifal rises, thrusts the spear into the ground before him, lays shield and sword beneath it, opens his helmet, removes it from his head, and lays it with the other arms, then kneels before the spear in silent prayer. Gurnemanz watches Parsifal with astonishment and emotion. He beckons to Kundry, who has just emerged from the hut. Parsifal raises his eyes devoutly to the spearhead.
GURNEMANZ:
(to Kundry)
Do you recognize him? It is he who once killed the swan.
(Kundry assents with a slight nod of the head)
It is indeed he, the fool whom I wrathfully drove away.
(Kundry gazes fixedly, but calmly at Parsifal)
Ah! How did he find the way? The spear! I recognize it!
(with great emotion)
O most holy day for me to awaken to now!
(Kundry has turned her face away.)
PARSIFAL:
(rises slowly from prayer, looks calmly about him, recognizes Gurnemanz and gently offers his hand in greeting.)
I rejoice to have found you again!
GURNEMANZ:
Then you still know me too? You recognize me again, though grief and care have bowed me so low? How have you come now, and from where?
PARSIFAL:
Through error and the path of suffering I have come. Can I at last believe myself free of them, now that I hear again the murmur of the forest and greet you anew, old friend? Or do I still stray? Everything seems changed.
GURNEMANZ:
But tell me, to whom were you seeking the way?
PARSIFAL:
To him whose deep lamenting I once heard in foolish wonder, to bring him salvation I dare think myself ordained. But alas! An evil curse drove me about in trackless wandering, never to find the way to healing; numberless dangers, battles, and conflicts forced me from my path, even when I thought I knew it. Then would I despair of keeping safe the holy relic, protecting and guarding it, for which I earned wounds from every weapon; for I dared not wield this itself in conflict; unprofaned I have borne it beside me and now bring it home, gleaming clean and bright before you: the holy spear of the Grail.
GURNEMANZ:
(breaking out in a transport of joy)
Oh mercy! Bounteous grace!
Oh miracle! Holy, highest wonder!
(after somewhat composing himself)
Sir knight! If it was a curse that drove you from the rightful path, be sure its power is broken. Here you are: this is the domain of the Grail whose brotherhood awaits you. Ah, it needs the healing, the healing that you bring! Since the day you tarried here, the sorrow then made known to you, the anguish, increased to the extremes of distress.
Amfortas, fighting against his wound, which brought torment to his soul, in maddened defiance craved only for death.
No entreaties, no misery of his knights could move him to perform again his holy office.
The Grail has lain long enclosed within the shrine. Its guardian, repentant of his sin, since he cannot die while he beholds it, hopes to hasten his death, and with his life to end his torment.
The divine bread is now denied us, and common food must sustain us; thereby our heroes’ strength is exhausted.
Now no messages come here or calls from afar to holy war; our dispirited and leaderless knighthood wander about, pale and woeful.
In this corner of the forest I myself lie hidden, silently awaiting that death to which my aged warrior lord surrendered.
For Titurel, the holy warrior, no longer refreshed by the sight of the Grail, is dead - a man like all men!
PARSIFAL:
(springing up in intense grief)
And it is I, I, who caused all this woe! Ah! What transgression, what burden of guilt must my foolish head have borne from eternity, since no repentance, no atonement relieves me of my blindness. Though I was appointed for deliverance, the path of deliverance escapes me, lost as I am in hopeless error!
He seems about to fall in a faint. Gurnemanz holds him upright and sets him down on the grassy mound. Kundry hurriedly fetches a bowl of water with which to sprinkle Parsifal.
GURNEMANZ:
(gently turning Kundry away)
Not with this! The holy spring itself shall refresh and bathe our pilgrim. I suspect he has today to fulfill a lofty task, to perform the holy office. Then let him be cleansed of stain, and the dust of long wanderings be washed from him.
They both help Parsifal to the edge of the spring. During the following Kundry loosens his greaves while Gurnemanz removes his body armor.
PARSIFAL:
Shall I be led today to Amfortas?
GURNEMANZ:
(as he busies himself)
Surely; the great castle awaits us: the solemn funeral rites of my dear lord summon me within.
Once more to reveal to us the Grail, once more to serve today his long-neglected office, to sanctify the noble father slain by his son’s misdeed, which he thus now may atone — this Amfortas has vowed to us.
Kundry bathes Parsifal’s feet with humble zeal. Parsifal watches her in silent wonder.
PARSIFAL:
(to Kundry)
You wash my feet, now bathe my head, oh friend!
GURNEMANZ:
(scoops his hand in the spring and sprinkles Parsifal’s head)
May this purity bless you, pure one! Thus may the load of all guilt be washed away!
While Gurnemanz solemnly sprinkles the water, Kundry draws from her bosom a golden phial and pours part of its contents over Parsifal’s feet, which she then dries with her hastily unbound hair.
PARSIFAL:
(gently taking the phial from Kundry and handing it to Gurnemanz)
You have anointed my feet, let Titurel’s knight anoint my head, that he may greet me today as king!
GURNEMANZ:
(empties the phial over Parsifal’s head, gently strokes it and then folds his hands upon it)
Thus was it promised to us; thus do I bless your head, to greet you as king. Pure of heart! Compassionately enduring, enlightened healer!
Having suffered as did the Redeemed One, lift now from his head the final burden!
PARSIFAL:
(unobserved, he scoops up water from the spring, bends over Kundry kneeling before him, and moistens her head.)
My first office I thus perform: receive this baptism, and believe in the Redeemer!
Kundry bows her head to the ground and appears to weep bitterly. Parsifal turns and gazes in gentle rapture on wood and meadow, which are now glowing in the morning light.
PARSIFAL:
How very beautiful seem the meadows today! Once I came upon magic flowers that twined their tainted tendrils about my head; but never have I seen such fresh and charming stalks, blossoms, and flowers, nor did they smell so sweetly of childhood or speak with such tender love to me.
GURNEMANZ:
That is the magic of Good Friday, my lord!
PARSIFAL:
Alas, the greatest day of pain! On which everything that blooms, breathes, lives, and lives anew should, it seems, but mourn — ah, and weep.
GURNEMANZ:
You see that it is not so. It is the tears of repentant sinners that today with holy dew besprinkle field and meadow: thus they make them flourish. Now all creatures rejoice at the Savior’s sign of love, and dedicate to Him their prayers. Him upon the cross they cannot see: they look up to man redeemed, who feels freed from the burden of sin and terror, made clean and whole through God’s loving sacrifice.
Now grasses and flowers in the meadow know that today the foot of man will not tread them down, but that, as God with divine patience had compassion for him and suffered for him, so man today in devout grace will spare them with soft tread. Thus all creation gives thanks, all that here blooms and soon fades, now that nature, absolved from sin, today gains her day of innocence.
Kundry has slowly raised her head again and looks up at Parsifal with tearful eyes in calm and earnest entreaty.
PARSIFAL:
I saw them that once mocked me wither: do they long for redemption today? Your tears, too, are a dew of blessing: you weep — and see, the meadows smile!
(He kisses her gently on the forehead)
A peal of bells in the far distance.
GURNEMANZ:
Midday: the hour has come. My lord, permit your servant to guide you!
Scene 2
Gurnemanz has brought out his mantle of the knights of the Grail, and he and Kundry enrobe Parsifal with it. Parsifal solemnly takes the spear, and with Kundry, follows Gurnemanz, who slowly leads the way.
The scene very gradually changes, as in Act One, but from right to left. After remaining visible for a time, the three disappear completely from sight as the forest gradually vanishes and rocky vaults draw near in its place. In the vaulted passages, the sound of bells grows increasingly in intensity. The rocky walls open, disclosing once more, as in Act One, the great hall of the Grail, but without the tables. Dim lighting. From one side enter knights bearing Titurel’s body in a coffin, from the other those carrying Amfortas on a litter, preceded by the covered shrine with the Grail.
FIRST PROCESSION:
(with the Grail and Amfortas)
We carry in its sheltering shine the Grail to the holy office; whom do you shelter in yon gloomy shrine and bear here in sorrow?
SECOND PROCESSION:
(with Titurel’s body)
Within this funeral shrine holds the warrior of the holy power, whom God Himself once took as His guardian: we bear Titurel.
FIRST PROCESSION:
Who slayed him that, in God’s care, once guarded God Himself?
SECOND PROCESSION:
The conquering weight of years laid him low, when he no longer beheld the Grail.
FIRST PROCESSION:
Who denied him the sight of the Grail?
SECOND PROCESSION:
He whom you carry there, its sinful guardian.
FIRST PROCESSION:
We bear him in today, because once more for the last time he will perform his office.
Amfortas is set down on the couch behind the altar of the Grail, the coffin placed in front; the knights turn towards him.
ALL KNIGHTS
Alas! Alas! Guardian of the Grail! For the last time! Be mindful of your duty!
AMFORTAS:
(feebly raising himself a little)
Alas indeed! Alas! Woe is me! Thus I willingly cry with you. More willingly yet would I accept from you death, the lightest atonement for sin!
The coffin is opened. At the sight of Titurel’s body all utter a sudden cry of woe.
AMFORTAS:
(raises himself high on his couch and turns towards the body.)
My father! Most blessed of warriors! Most pure, to whom once the angels bowed: I, who alone longed to die, brought death to you! Oh you who in divine radiance behold the Redeemer’s very self, entreat of Him that His holy blood, if once more today His blessing shall revive these my brothers, as it gives them new life may grant me death at last!
Death! To die! The only grace!
Take from me the hideous wound, the poison that paralyses the heart it eats away! My father! As I call to you, I beg you call to Him: “Redeemer, grant my son peace!”
KNIGHTS:
(pressing closer to Amfortas)
Uncover the Grail! Serve the Office! Your father exhorts you You must! You must!
AMFORTAS:
(leaps up in wild despair and rushes among the knights, who recoil)
No! No more! Ha! Already I feel the darkness of death enshround me, and must I yet again return to life? Madmen! Who would force me to live? Could you but grant me death!
(He tears open his garment)
Here I am, here is the open wound! Here flows the blood that poisons me. Draw your weapons! Plunge your swords in deep: deep, up to the hilt! Up, you heroes! Slay the sinner with his agony, then once more the Grail shall shine clear upon you!
All have shrunk back in dread from Amfortas. Parsifal, accompanied by Gurnemanz and Kundry, has appeared unobserved among the knights and now steps forward and extends the spear, touching Amfortas’s side with its point.
PARSIFAL:
But one weapon serves: only the spear that smote you can heal your wound.
Amfortas’s features light up in holy ecstasy; he seems to stagger under overpowering emotion; Gurnemanz supports him.
PARSIFAL:
Be whole, absolved and atoned! For I now will perform your task. Oh, blessed be your suffering, that gave compassion’s mighty power and purest wisdom’s might to the timid fool!
(Parsifal steps towards the center, holding the spear aloft before him.)
I bring back to you the holy spear!
(All gaze in supreme rapture at the uplifted spear, to whose point Parsifal raises his eyes and continues ecstatically)
Oh supreme joy of this miracle! From this which healed your wound, Holy Blood I see flowing forth in longing for its kindred source, that flows there in the Grail’s depth.
No more shall it be hidden: uncover the Grail, open the shrine!
Parsifal mounts the altar steps, takes the Grail from the shrine already opened by the squires, and falls to his knees before it in silent prayer and contemplation. The Grail gradually glows with a soft light. Increasing darkness below and growing illumination from above.
ALL:
(with barely audiable voices from the middle and apex of the dome)
Miracle of supreme salvation! Our Redeemer redeemed!
A beam of light: the Grail glows at its brightest. From the dome, a white dove descends and hovers over Parsifal’s head. Kundry slowly sinks lifeless to the ground in front of Parsifal, her eyes uplifted to him. Amfortas and Gurnemanz kneel in homage to Parsifal, who waves the Grail in blessing over the worshiping brotherhood of knights.
