New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-06

J
Grail Is disclosed before oil the Brothers.
The scene changes to the Hall OF the Grail. The
Knights enter in procession and AmtortGs is
brought in Boys follow bearing the Grail, and at
Last come GurnemGnS and PdrsitaL. ApfOrtGs must
perform the duties of King, and from this task he
shrinks from the opening OF his wound afresh
until the soft voices of the choir boys from the
dome repeat the words of the comforting prophecy
Through pity cOmeth the purest youth" etc.
The celebration takes place. Pdrslal has remained
like one in a trance during the complaint and
prayer OF ABJOrtaS GbrneDldng now steps up to
him and asks him if he understood what he saw
and heard But of what he has heard sung about the
gracousness OF God. Christs sacrifice OF love, and
the redeeming power OF compassion, what he has
seen IN the spiritual elevation and refreshing OF the
knights through the mysterious beauty of the Grail
IdrsQdL has understood nothing whatever.
GurnemGns, disappointed, pushes him angrily
in the second act the scene IS transferred TO
KHngsOr's enchanted castle. upon parapet Of
which the magician appears, and kindlDg fire
from which q bash vapOr arises calls to sOmeOre
in the depths TN the forest of the first act,
hundry after delivering message TO ParSifai from
his mother drags herself YEARLY toward - thicket,
overmastering force which seems to be compelling
her to sleep She starts up with hollow cry and
exclaims-
Michtless defence The hour Is comei
Sleep-seep-I must.
She staggers on and SINKS down behind the hedge
unnoticedJ AS hHngsOr calls down III frghttul
tones, huRdr11s form rises from the depths IN the
blue vapOr. She utters n terrible cry like one
startled out OF deep trance. hLings0r, looking
in AN enchanted mirror, beholds the youth Pdrsi-
Jdl approaching,the castle. new sacrifice 10 to be
made, for hAHgsOr knows that PdrslH Is the
elected. saviour and that when the prophecy Is full
filled his power will be forever gone; he yet hopes
to detain PGrSifdl and thus once more conquer his
enemies. hundry must obey the curse which binds
her TO htngsors influence. In hts service must she
tempt to destruction those same holy knights
whom, as Grail essens ger, she also serves II awaked
by them from slumber. hlDgs0r cannot hold her;
she escapes from him. but he seize her when she
is by sleep overpowered, and then she is forced to
do his will. She it was whom KHRgsr trans
formed into beautiful damSel and sent TO meet
Amt0ytds, and he calls her to do his work
again. In vain she struggles against her fate and
cries for pity; she knows that her only release
shall be when one yields not to her alluIng.
Then only shall the curse which is upon her he at
end, and death aud heavenly salvation shall be
her toward
THE MISSION OF PARsIFAL.
Atength with a cOnvulsve cry of woe she disap-
pears. Kingsor and the castle sink slowly out of
sight and beautiful garden at the same time rises
and fills the stage. Parsifal is seen standing upon
the garden wall. Lo,ely maldens run from all
directions and upbraid Parsifd for Staying their
lovers; ho very gayly replies that they had to be
slain because they hindered him from coming 10
play with the fair children whom he from altar.
They become friendly and at last caressing; they
disappear in groups and return clad that they
seem to he flowers. FdTsfdt is about to fly from
their endearments when from ti0wery hedge
voice is heard calling him. Pdrsifat" Surprised,
he stops, for he has heard no one so address hum
save his mother; he turns toward the side from
whence the voice speaks and peCelves huDdrB but
transformed beyond recognition, lying upon couch
of flowers The madenS retire at her bidding. PdrSVdt
gazing in childlike surprise at the enchanting being
before him. asks If she too Is blossom and did
bloom In this flowery vale. She replies that her
home is far away but that she tarried here for him.
that she might tell him all she has seen; She re-
minds him of his childhood and his mothers love
and fear lest he too should share the fate OF bis
father Ia herO's death, of her sorrow when he
wandered away, and at last of her death PdrSl
JdEs grief at his mothers death OvorpOwers him,
and he falls at hundrys feet. She endeayors to
bending over bin tells that she brings him as his
mothers last greeting the first kiss OF love, ut the
same time pressing her Ups upon ms through
realization of Amf0rtdSS suffering. lie remembers
the Holy Brothers and knows that he is the
one who can save the Grail. He offers TO huRdIy
both love and redemption if she will show him the
way to AHJOrtdS This she refuses TO do, and calls
upon him the clrse of ever wandering from the
right path: Error. Error! well known TO me,
shall lead thee hence through the wOrldW Hing
scr appears on the fortress wall the madens also
rnsh from the castle and Aasten to laundry. hhng-
hurls the sacred spear at PdrSVdt; 1t remains
suspended over his head lie grasps IL and makes
with it the sign OF the cross. At once, as by an
earthquake the castle crumbles into ruins the
garden becomes desert the maidens sink to the
ground like faded flowers; hHadry falls with
Shrek to her Pdrslai turns with the words:
and disappears.
CLOSING SCENES.
The third act shows again the dominion of the
Grail, but with a significant change of aspect
Amfrtas despairing of the promised saviour and
longing for death, celebrates no the unwilling
of the Grail Iiturcl has died. The courage and
strength of the knights are gone; GuraeIadRz has
retired to a lonely hut on the edge of the forest
Here he is now found grown old and hoaIy.
.1-.1 l..
early on the morning of Good Friday He finds
Knndry thcro She appears to be quite lfeless, but
at length he arouses her. AS in the first act, she is
clad IN the costume OF messenger OF the Grail. but
her complexion is paler and the wildness of her
manner is gone. At this moment knight bearing
spear is seen coming through the wood. 1t is Pdrsi
f!L GUrnemaRz recognizes the Spear and halls the
holy day which brings the lOng-delayed dellyerer.
TarSidt relates how through long years OF painless
confusion he has been ever driven away from the
spot which fancy often led him TO hope was the
path to the Grail. GurRcmdnz and huHdry lead him
to the fountain, and while hund'y bathes his feet
GuyntmaDs sprinkles his head with the sacred
water and thus receives him INTO the brotherhood
of the Holy Knights. Parslats first act Is to bap-
tie the knceling KaRdry and bad her live IN
the faith of the Redeemer She bO7s her
head to the ground and woeps.
GurhcpGH@ now leads IarsJdl and hWndrVto the
IalOqthe Grail The changes, rs in the first act
but the Knights are clad in mourning garments ana
no tables are visible. Two professions Tile soIennly
into the Hall, bearing the body OF Iiurei, the
other 4BitOrtds upon lis couch of suffering, ana
the Grail. Amt0rtas has promised once more To
unvcil the Grail he addresses the spirit of
Titurtl, beseeches him to implOre the Almighty at
whose throne he now stands to give unto him
DEATH the only release from his woes. The Knights
pray for one more sight of the Grail but the
King shrinks from fulfilling his promise, for his
only hope OF death is to deny himself that bless
ing lie springs up in agony and rushes among the
Knights. calling upon them to plunge their swords
into his side. They fall back. horror stricken.
. Inn Pfr9 sta aln IN thf
centre of the stage, PdTSifal appears followed by
GurnemdRz and hundry lie stretches forth the
Spear and touches Amfortass side. The wound is
at once healed the Grail and the spear are again
nnlted RarsltaL takes the Grail from its shrine