“Parsifal” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three

ACT ONE

In the domain of the Grail

Forest, shady and solemn but not gloomy

Rocky soil. A clearing in the centre. On the left a path rises to the castle. The background slopes down in the centre to a deep-set forest lake.

Daybreak. Gurnemanz (elderly but vigorous) and two youthful squires are lying asleep under a tree. From the left, as if from the castle, sounds a solemn reveille on trombones.

GURNEMANZ
(waking and rousing the squires)

Ho there! You guardians of the woods,
or rather guardians of sleep,
at least wake at morn!

(The two squires leap up)

Do you hear the call? Give thanks to God
that you are called to hear it!

(He sinks to his knees with the squires
and joins them in silent morning prayer;
as the trombones cease they slowly rise)

Now up, my children! See to the bath.
It is time to await the King there.

I see the heralds already approaching
in advance of the litter bearing him.

(Two knights enter)

Greetings to you! How fares Amfortas today?
Right early does he seek the bath:
I assume the healing herb that Gawain
won for him by craft and daring
has brought him some relief?

2ND KNIGHT

You assume this, you who know all?
His pain soon returned
even more searingly:
sleepless from his grievous infirmity,
he eagerly bade us prepare the bath.

GURNEMANZ
(sadly bowing his head)

We are fools to hope for relief
when only recovery can relieve him!
Search and hunt far and wide through the world
for every simple, every potion,
there is but one thing can help him -
only one man!

2ND KNIGHT
Tell us who he is!

GURNEMANZ
(evasively)

See to the bath!

(The two squires, who have returned to the background, look off right)

2ND SQUIRE

See there, the wild rider!

1ST SQUIRE

Hey!
How the mane of her devil's mare is flying!

2ND KNIGHT

Ha! Is Kundry there?

1ST KNIGHT

She must be bringing momentous news!

2ND SQUIRE

The mare is staggering.

1ST SQUIRE

Has she flown through the air?

2ND SQUIRE
She is crawling over the ground.

1ST SQUIRE

And her mane is sweeping the moss.

(They all eagerly look off right)

2ND SQUIRE

The wild woman has flung herself off.

(Kundry rushes in, almost staggering. She is in wild garb, her skirts tucked up by a snakeskin girdle with long hanging cords; her black hair is loose and dishevelled, her complexion deep ruddy-brown, her eyes dark and piercing, sometimes flashing widly, more often lifeless and staring. She hurries to Gurnemanz and presses on him a small crystal phial.)

KUNDRY

Here! Take this! - Balsam...

GURNEMANZ

Whence have you brought this?

KUNDRY

From farther away than you can imagine.
Should the balsam not help,
then Arabia hides
nothing more to heal him. -
Ask no further. I am weary.

(She throws herself on the ground)

(A train of squires and knights appears from the left, carrying and escorting the litter on which lies Amfortas. Gurnemanz has at once turned from Kundry to the approaching company.)

GURNEMANZ
(as the train appears)

He is coming, they are bringing him along. -
Alas! How it grieves my heart
to see the Liege Lord of a conquering race
in the pride and flower of his manhood
fall a slave to his sickness!
(to the squires)

Carefully! Hear! the king groans.

(The squires halt and set down the litter)
AMFORTAS
(raising himself a little)
That will do! - I thank you. - A brief rest.
After a night of wild distress,
now the woodland splendour of morning!
In the holy lake
may the waters refresh me,
ease my anguish
and brighten my night of pain. -
Gawain!

2ND KNIGHT

My lord, Gawain did not stay;
For when the power of his healing herb,
won as it was with such difficulty,
yet disappointed your hope,
he set forth at once upon a new search.

AMFORTAS

Without permission! He will have to atone
for flaunting the Grail's command!
Ah, woe to him, that defiant bold spirit,
should he fall into Klingsor's snares!
Let none thus disturb my peace!
I await the one appointed to me:
"enlightened through compassion" -
was that not it?

GURNEMANZ

So you told us.

AMFORTAS

"The innocent fool!"
It seems to me that I know him:

would that I might name him as Death!

GURNEMANZ
(handing Kundry's phial
to Amfortas)

But first try once more with this!

AMFORTAS
(examining it)

Whence came this strange vessel?

GURNEMANZ
It was brought you from Arabia.

AMFORTAS

And who obtained it?

GURNEMANZ
There she lies, the wild woman. -
Up, Kundry! Come!

(Kundry refuses and remains on the ground.)

AMFORTAS

You, Kundry?
Have I to thank you again,
you restless, timorous maid?
Well then!
I will try your balsam now:
let this be thanks for your devotion.

KUNDRY
(writhing uneasily
on the ground)

No thanks! Ha, ha! How will that help?
No thanks! Away to the bath!

(Amfortas gives the signal to move on. The procession passes into the far background. Gurnemanz, gazing sadly after it, and Kundry, remains still; stretched on the ground. Squires come and go.)

3RD SQUIRE
(a young man)

Hey, you there!
Why do you lie there like a wild beast?

KUNDRY

Are not beasts holy here?

3RD SQUIRE

Yes, but whether you are holy
we don't yet know.

4TH SQUIRE
(likewise a young man)

With her magic balm, I fancy,
she'll wholly undo our master.

GURNEMANZ

Hm! Did she ever harm you?
When you all stood perplexed,
not knowing how, and scarcely even where,
to send tidings to our brothers
fighting in far-off lands,
who, before you can even ponder,
rushes and flies there and back,
bearing the message faithfully and successfully?
You do not support her, she never approaches you,
she has nothing in common with you;
yet when help is wanted in danger,
her zeal speeds her through the air,
and she never looks to you for thanks.
I say if this be harm,
it works out well for you.

3RD SQUIRE

But she hates us: just see
how balefully she glares at us!

4TH SQUIRE

She's a heathen, a sorceress.

GURNEMANZ

Yes, she may be under a curse.
She lives here now - perhaps reincarnated,
to expiate some sin
from an earlier life
not yet forgiven there.
Now she makes atonement by such deeds
as benefit out knightly order;
she has done good, beyond all doubt,
serving us and thereby helping herself.

3RD SQUIRE

Then perhaps it was this guilt of hers
which brought upon us such dire distress?

GURNEMANZ
(recollecting)
Yes, when she remained for long away from us,
misfortune indeed befell us.
I have known her a long time,
but Titurel has known her longer yet.
While he was building the castle there,
he found her asleep in the undergrowth in the wood,
numb, lifeless as if dead.
So I myself again lately found her
shortly after we had suffered that misfortune
which that evildoer beyond the mountains
brought upon us in such shame.
(to Kundry)

Ho, you! Listen and say:
Whereabouts were you roaming
when our master lost the Spear?

(Kundry is gloomily silent)

Why did you not help us then?

KUNDRY
I never help.

4TH SQUIRE

She says so herself.

3RD SQUIRE

If she is so true, so bold in daring,
then send her after the missing Spear!

GURNEMANZ
(gloomily)

That is quite different:
it is forbidden to all.

(with deep emotion)

O wondrous-wounding
hallowed Spear!
I saw thee wielded
by unhallowed hand!

(absorbed in recollection)

All too daring Amfortas, thus armed,
who could have prevented you
from vanquishing the sorcerer? -
Hard by the keep our hero was drawn away:
a woman of fearsome beauty bewitched him;
in her arms he lay intoxicated,
letting fall the Spear.
A deathly cry! I rushed in:
Klingsor, laughing, was vanishing from there,
having stolen the holy Spear.
Fighting, I guarned the king's flight;
but a wound burned him in the side;
this wound it is which never will heal.

(The 1st and 2nd Squires return from the lake.)

3RD SQUIRE
(to Gurnemanz)

Then you know Klingsor?

GURNEMANZ
(to the two returning
squires)
How fares the King?

1ST SQUIRE
The bath has refreshed him.

2ND SQUIRE

The balsam eased the pain.

GURNEMANZ
(to himself)
This wound it is which never will heal!

3RD SQUIRE

But father, speak and tell us plainly:
you knew Klingsor - how could that be?

(The 3rd and 4th squires have already sat down at Gurnemanz's feet; the other two join them under the great tree.)

GURNEMANZ

Titurel, the godly hero,
knew him well.
For to him, when savage foes' craft and might
threatened the realm of the faith,
the Saviour's angel messengers
once came down in holy solemn night:
the sacred vessel, the precious holy Cup
from which He drank at the last love-feast,
in which too His divine blood flowed from the Cross,
and with it that same Spear which shed it -
the supremely wondrous wealth of these treasured witnesses -
they gave into our King's charge.
For these holy relics he built this sanctuary.
You who were called to its service
by paths denied to sinners,
you know that it is given
only to the pure to become one of the brothers
to whom the Grail's mighty power grants
the strength to work divine salvation.
Therefore it was forbidden to Klingsor, of whom
you ask, though he expended much effort on it.
Yonder in the valley he lived secluded;
beyond lies a rich heathen land:
I never knew of what sin he was guilty there,
but he then wished to atone and indeed become sanctified.
Powerless to stifle the sin within him,
on himself he laid dastardly hands
which he then turned towards the Grail,
from which its guardian drove him out in scorn.
At which, wrath taught Klingsor
how his deed of shameful sacrifice
could give him knowledge of evil magic;
this he now found. -
He transformed the desert into a magic garden
in which bloomed women of infernal beauty;
there he awaits the knights of the Grail
to lure them to sinful joys and hell's damnation:
he gains control of those he entices;
full many of us has he ruined.
When Titurel, much burdened with age,
had conferred sovereignty on his son,
Amfortas could not wait
to subdue this plague of sorcery.
You know what happened there;
the spear is now in Klingsor's hands:
if he can wound even a holy man with it,
he fancies the Grail already firmly his!

(Kundry has been turning violently back and forth in furious agitation.)

4TH SQUIRE

Before all else now, the spear must be ours again!

3RD SQUIRE

Ha! He who brought it back would win fame and joy!

GURNEMANZ

Before the looted sanctuary
Amfortas lay in fervent prayer,
anxiously imploring some sign of salvation:
a blessed radiance emanated from the Grail;
a holy vision
clearly spoke to him
this message in words of fire:
"Enlightened through compassion,
the innocent fool;
wait for him,
the appointed one."

THE FOUR SQUIRES
(deeply moved)

"Enlightened through compassion,
the innocent fool..."
(From the lake are heard shouts and cries from the knights and squires.)

KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES
Alas! Alas! Hoho!
Up! Who is the miscreant?

(Gurnemanz and the four squires start up and turn in alarm - A wild swan flutters unsteadily from over the lake. The swan, after a laboured flight, falls to the ground exhausted; the 2nd knight draws an arrow from its breast.)

GURNEMANZ

What is it?

4TH SQUIRE

There!

3RD SQUIRE

Here!

2ND SQUIRE

A swan!

4TH SQUIRE

A wild swan!

3RD SQUIRE
It's wounded!

ALL KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES

Alas! Alas!

GURNEMANZ

Who shot the swan?

1ST KNIGHT

The king hailed it as a happy omen
when the swan circled over the lake;
then an arrow flew...

SQUIRES AND KNIGHTS

It was he! He shot it! Here's his bow!
Here's the arrow, like his.

GURNEMANZ
(to Parsifal)
Are you the one who killed this swan?

PARSIFAL

Indeed! Whatever flies I can hit in flight!

GURNEMANZ

You did this? And you're not worried by the deed?

SQUIRES AND KNIGHTS

Punish the offender!

GURNEMANZ

Unprecedented act!
You could murder, here in the holy forest,
where tranquil peace surrounded you?
Did not the woodland beasts tamely come near
and innocently greet you as friends?
What did the birds sing to you from the branches?
What harm did that faithful swan do you?
Seeking his mate, he flew up
to circle with it over the lake
and gloriously to hallow the bath.
This did not impress you? It but tempted you
to a wild childish shot from your bow?
He was pleasing to us: what is he now to you?
Here - look! - here you struck him,
the blood still congealing, the wings drooping lifeless,
the snowy plumage stained dark,
the eyes glazed - do you see his look?
(Parsifal has followed Gurnemanz
with growing emotion;
now he breaks his bow
and hurls his arrows away)

Now do you appreciate your misdeed?

(Parsifal passes his hand over his eyes)

Say, boy, do you realise your great guilt?
How could you commit this crime?

PARSIFAL
I didn't know.

GURNEMANZ

Where are you from?

PARSIFAL

I don't know.

GURNEMANZ

Who is your father?

PARSIFAL

I don't know.

GURNEMANZ

Who sent you this way?

PARSIFAL

I don't know.

GURNEMANZ

Your name, then?

PARSIFAL

I had many,
but I know none of them any more.

GURNEMANZ

You know nothing of anything?

(aside)

Such a dullard
I never found before, save Kundry!

(to the squires, who have assembled
in increasing numbers)

Now go!
Do not neglect the King in the bath! - Help here!

(The squires reverently lift the dead swan on to a bier of fresh branches and move away with it towards the lake. At length only Gurnemanz, Parsifal and - apart - Kundry remain behind.)

GURNEMANZ
(turns back to Parsifal)

Now say! You know nothing I ask you:
tell me what you do know,
for you must surely know something.

PARSIFAL
I have a mother, whose name is Heart's Sorrow.
The woods and wild moors were our home.

GURNEMANZ

Who gave you the bow?

PARSIFAL

I made it myself
to scare the savage eagles from the forest.

GURNEMANZ

But you yourself seem eagle-like and nobly born.
Why did your mother not let you
learn to use better weapons?

KUNDRY
(who during Gurnemanz's recital
of the fate of Amfortas has been
violently writhing in furious agitation,
now, still lying in the undergrowth,
eyes Parsifal keenly and,
as he is silent,
hoarsely calls)

His mother bore him fatherless,
for Gamuret was slain in battle!
To preserve her son from a similar
untimely hero's death, she reared him up
in the desert to folly, a stranger to arms - the fool!

(she laughs)

PARSIFAL
(who has listened to her with sudden attention)

Yes, And once, along the forest's edge,
came a glittering array of men
mounted on fine creatures:
I wanted to be like them;
they laughed and galloped off.

I ran after them but could not overtake them;
through deserts I wandered, up hill and down dale;
often night fell, and again came day;
my bow had to defend me
against wild beasts or giants...
(Kundry has risen and moved towards the men.)

KUNDRY

Yes! Robbers and giants engaged his strength:
they learned to fear the fierce boy.

PARSIFAL
(in surprise)

Who fears me? Say!

KUNDRY

The wicked!

PARSIFAL

They who threatened me, were they wicked?

(Gurnemanz laughs)

Who is good?

GURNEMANZ

Your mother, whom you deserted,
and who now frets and grieves for you.

KUNDRY
She grieves no more: his mother is dead.

PARSIFAL
(in fearful alarm)

Dead? My mother? Who says so?

KUNDRY

As I rode by I saw her dying:
she bade me greet you, fool.

(Parsifal springs furiously at Kundry and seizes her by the throat.)

GURNEMANZ
(restrains him)

Insane youth? Again violent?

(After Gurnemanz has freed Kundry,
Parsifal stands as if dazed,
seized with violent
trembling)

What has the woman done to you? She spoke the truth;
for Kundry never lies, though she has seen much.

PARSIFAL

I am fainting!
(Kundry, perceiving Parsifal's condition, at once hastens to a spring in the wood and now brings water in a horn, sprinkles Parsifal with it and then gives it to him to drink.)

GURNEMANZ

Well done, according to the Grail's mercy:
they vanquish evil who requite it with good.

KUNDRY

I never do good; I long only for rest,

(while Gurnemanz tends
Parsifal in a fatherly way,
she creeps unobserved by them
towards a thicket in the wood)

only rest in my weariness.
To sleep! O that no one would wake me!

(starting in fear)

No! Not sleep! Horror seizes me!
(She falls into a violent trembling,
then lets her arms and head
drop wearily
and totters away)

In vain to resist! The time has come. -

(By the lake a movement is seen,
and at length in the background
the train of knights and squires
returning home with litter)
Sleep - sleep - I must.
(She sinks down behind the bushes
and is not seen further.)

GURNEMANZ
The king is returning from the bath;
the sun stands high;
now let me lead you to our hallowed feast;
for if you are pure, the Grail
will be meat and drink to you.

(He has gently taken Parsifal's arm
round his neck and put his own
arm round the boy's body:
in this way he leads him
with very slow steps.)

PARSIFAL

Who is the Grail?

GURNEMANZ

That cannot be said;
but if you yourself are called to its service
that knowledge will not remain withheld. -
And see!
I think I know you aright;
no earthly path leads to it,
and none could tread it
whom the Grail itself had not guided.

PARSIFAL

I scarcely tread,
yet seem already to have come far.

GURNEMANZ

You see, my son,
time here becomes space.

(Gradually, while Gurnemanz and Parsifal appear to walk, the scene has changed more perceptibly: the woods have disappeared, and in the rocky walls a gateway has opened, which closes behind them. The way leading upwards through walls of rock, the scene has entirely changed. Gurnemanz and Parsifal now enter the mighty hall of the castle of the Grail.)

GURNEMANZ
(turning to Parsifal,
who stands as if bewitched)

Now observe well, and let me observe,
if you are a fool and innocent,
what knowledge may be divulged to you. -
(On both sides at the far end the doors are opened: the knights of the Grail enter from the right and range themselves by the Feast-tables.)

KNIGHTS OF THE GRAIL
At this latest love-feast,
prepared day after day,

(A procession of squires
passes rapidly across the scene
into the background)

as on the last occasion
may it refresh us today.

(A second procession of squires
crosses the hall)

The meal will renew him
who delights in doing good:
may he derive comfort,
and receive the supreme gift.

(The assembled knights station themselves at the tables)

VOICES OF YOUTHS
(from halfway
up the dome)

As once His blood flowed
with countless pains
for the sinful world -
now with joyful heart
let my blood be shed for
the great Redeemer.
His body, that He gave to purge our sin,
lives in us through His death.

(From the left door Amfortas is carried in on a litter by squires and serving brothers: before him walk the four squires bearing the covered shrine of the Grail. This procession moves to the centre background, where stands a raised couch on which Amfortas is set down from the litter; before it is an oblong stone altar on which the squires place the covered shine of the Grail.)

VOICES OF BOYS
(from the apex of the dome)
The faith endures,
the dove, the Saviour's
loving messenger, hovers.
Drink the wine
poured out for you
and take the bread of life!

(When all have taken their places, and after a complete silence, the voice of Titurel is heard in the extreme background from a vaulted niche behind Amfortas's couch, as if from a tomb.)

TITUREL

Amfortas, my son, are you in your place?
(long silence)

Shall I again today look on the Grail and live?

(long silence)

Must I die without my Saviour's guidance?

AMFORTAS

Alas! Woe is me for my pain!
My father, oh once more
serve the Office!
Live, live - and let me die!

TITUREL

Within the grave I still live by the Saviour's grace,
but I am too feeble to serve him.
In His service you may expiate your sin! -
Uncover the Grail!

AMFORTAS

No! Leave it covered! - Oh!
May no man, no man undergo this torture
wakened in me by the sight which transports you! -
What is the wound, its raging pain,
against the distress, the torments of hell,
in this Office - to be accursed!
Woeful inheritance to which I am called,
that I, the only sinner of all my people,
must tend what is supremely sacred,
invoking its blessing on the righteous!
O punishment, unparalleled punishment
of - ah! - the wronged Lord of mercy!
For Him, for His holy greeting,
must I ardently yearn;
by the repentance of my inmost soul
must I reach Him.
The hour draws near: -
a ray of light descends upon the holy vessel:
in covering falls.

The divine contents of the sacred chalice
glow with radiant glory;
thrilled by the agony of ecstasy,
I feel the fount of divine blood

pour into my heart:
the ebb of my own sinful blood
in mad tumult
must surge back into me,
to gush in wild terror
into the world of sinful passion:
it breaks open the door anew
and now rushes out
here, through the wound, like His,
struck by a blow from that same Spear
which pierced the Saviour,
from whose wound the Holy One
wept tears of blood for man's disgrace
in the heavenly yearning of pity -
and now from my wound, in holiest Office,
the custodian of the most divine treasure
and guardian of its redeeming blam
spills forth the fevered blood of sin,
ever renewed from the fount of longing
that - ah! - no repentance of mine
can ever still! Mercy! Mercy!
All-merciful one, have mercy on me!
Take back my inheritance,
heal my wound,
that I may die holy,
pure and whole for Thee!

(He sinks back as if unconscious)

BOYS AND YOUTHS
(from halfway up the dome)

"Enlightened through compassion,
the innocent fool:
wait for him,
the appointed one!"

KNIGHTS

Thus ran the promise made to you:
wait confidently;
serve the Office today!

TITUREL'S VOICE
Uncover the Grail

(Amfortas raises himself slowly and with difficulty. The acolytes remove the cover from the golden shrine and take from it the "Grail" [an antique crystal chalice], from which they also remove a covering, and place it before Amfortas.)

VOICES
(from high up)

"Take this My body,
take My blood,
in token of our love!"

(While Amfortas bows devoutly in silent prayer before the chalice, an increasingly dark twilight extends over the hall.)

BOYS
(from high up)

"Take this My blood,
take My body,
in remembrance of Me!"

(Here a dazzling ray of light falls from above on the crystal cup,, which now glows in a brilliant crimson, shedding a soft light on everything. Amfortas, transfigured, raises the Grail aloft and waves it gently round to every side, blessing the bread and wine with it. All are on their knees.)

TITUREL'S VOICE

O heavenly rapture!
How brightly Our Lord greets us today!

(Amfortas sets down the Grail again, and its glow gradually fades as the darkness lifts: at this the acolytes replace the vessel in the shrine and cover it as before. - Daylight returns. The four squires, after closing the shrine, now take from the altar-table the two wine-flagons and two baskets of bread, which Amfortas had previously blessed by passing the chalice of the Grail over them, distribute the bread among the knights and fill with wine the cups standing before them. The knights seat themselves at the feast, as does Gurnemanz, who has kept a place empty beside him and signs to Parsifal to come and partake of the meal; Parsifal however remains standing apart, motionless and silent, as if completely transported.)

VOICES OF BOYS
(from high up)

Wine and bread from the Last Supper
the Lord of the Grail once turned,
through the power of pity and love,
into the blood which He shed,
into the body which He broke.

VOICES OF YOUTHS
(from halfway up the dome)
Blood and body of that holy gift,
the loving spirit of blessed consolation,
now turn for your refreshment
into the wine poured out for you,
into the bread that feeds you today.

KNIGHTS
(first half)

Take of the bread,
turn it confidently
into bodily strength and power;
true until death,
steadfast in effort,
to work the Saviour's will!
(second half)

Take the wine,
turn it anew
into the fiery blood of life.

(both half)

Rejoicing in the unity
of brotherly faith,
let us fight with holy courage!

(The knights rise and pace from either side to the centre, where they solemnly embrace during the ensuing)

ALL THE KNIGHTS

Blessed in faith!
Blessed in love!

YOUTHS
(from halfway up the dome)

Blessed in love!

KNABEN

(from the summit of the dome)

Blessed in faith!

(During the meal Amfortas, who has taken no part in it, has gradually relapsed from his inspired exultation: he bows his head and holds his hand on the wound. The acolytes approach him; their movements reveal that his wound is bleeding anew: they tend Amfortas, assisting him back on to his litter and, while all prepare to depart, they bear out Amfortas and the holy shrine in the order in which they entered. The knights likewise fall into solemn procession and slowly leave the hall. The daylight fades. Squires again quickly pass through the hall.)

(Parsifal, on hearing Amforta's previous loud cry of agony, had made a violent movement towards his heart, which he clutched convulsively for a long time: now he again stands motionless, as if petrified. Gurnemanz ill-humouredly approaches Parsifal and shakes him by the arm.)

GURNEMANZ

Why are you still standing there?
Do you know what you have seen?

(Parsifal presses his heart convulsively and slightly shakes his head)

GURNEMANZ

So you are only a fool then!

(He opens a narrow side-door)

Off with you, and go on your way!
But heed Gurnemanz:
in future leave the swans here in peace;
a gander should look for a goose!
(He pushes Parsifal out and bangs the door
angrily upon him)

A VOICE
(from the high up)

"Enlightened through compassion,
the innocent fool."

VOICES
(from the mid-height and the summit)

Blessed in faith!

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three