The daily sentinel., 1905-02-18
The Sketch of ''Parsifal'

nations anu. many aTenBlOnS.
As written by Richard Wagner, the
legend runs that the Sangreal, or
Holy Grail. was preserved in castle
at Monsalyat, Spain. upon an almost
inaccessible mountain. The Grail
castle was presided over by broth
erhood of Templnrs, a society of men
chosen for their chastity and piety
The Grail was supposed to have been
brought from heaven and used by
Christ at the last supper. 1t was
preserved by Joseph of Aumathea.
and afterward used to catch the
blood which flowed from Christ's
side, when wounded by the soldiers
spear.
This trebly sanctified chalice was
sealed and preserved, as was the sa-
cred spear. Afterward it was hand
ed down to King Titmel. This yes
sci was said to have been made from
single emerald and to have the
power of preserving chastity. pro-
longing life and many other wonder
full properties.
In Titmels old age, his son Am
fortas was made custodian of these
relics, which were periodically
brought out and uncovered to renew
the spiritual strength of the knights.
Near Monsalvat lived Klingsor, a
sinful knight who had been denied
admission TO the order, and, in a
spirit of revenge, had created an en-
chanted castle inhabited by beauti-
full women. Through them he hoped
to tempt the chastity of the knights
King Amfortas took the sacred
spear and attacked Klingsor. who
called in his temptress, Kundry,
whose wiles overcame the purity of
Amfortas. Klingsor captured the
spear with which he wounded Am
fortas. Now such was the power of
the spear that a wound from it could
only be healed by a touch from its
point while it was held by man
without sin. So Amfortas was
doomed to lifelong suffering. both
mentally and physically, as King
sor avowed his intention to capture
the holy cup
Kundry, the enchantress. is char
acter made up of many legends, but
commonly supposed to be Herodias
who laughed when John the Baptist's
head was brought in before her
Wagner. to make her more impress
i've. writes her the woman who
laughed when Christ was being cru
oil xph ha Y-ah rad
ing, BE STILL when ] return you will
be waiting Tlrus she was cursed
to become a wanderer forever. At
the opening of the drama she is a
sort of a servant to the knights. a
wild. untamed nature, touched with
remorse, but unable to repent. Con
demned to evil she is not wholly bad +.
as when in her right mind she serves
the holy knights and struggles blind
ly for redemption. But, however
much she try, Klingsor has complete
control over her until she tempts an
absolutely pure man who resists her.
Then comes Parsifal. guileless boy.
who has been brought up by his wild
owed mother in home far from the
haunts of men. In her anxiety to
prevent his becoming a knight he
has been kept from all knowledge of
men and of the world. Parsifal comes
in having shot a sacred swan. for
which he is rebuked by Gurnemanz.
an elderly knight. Just then King
Amfortas and his train of knights
come for bath in the lake. This
bath seems to be the only thing which
Gurnemanz tells Parsifal that he
may follow IL he be pure, which he
does not understand He is a man
of nature. without virtue and with
out vice, having no idea of sin. Then
the procession enters the castle
den shrine, borne by young boys.
These are followed by knights bear
ing great urns of wine and baskets
of bread, that the glory of the Grail
is to endow with supernatural
strength. The knights kneel at a
long curved table and the Grail is un-
covered. The room grows dark and
glow steals from the chalice, grow
ing brighter and brighter until the
hall is filed with purple light.
Boys voices come down from the
dome singing, This is my body; eat
ye all of it, to preserve thy body to
everlasting life. This is my blood.
which was shed for you; drink ye all
of it and be thankful" When the
Grail is uncovered. the goblet in
front of each is found filled with
wine and they partake of holy COM
munion. Then as they file out, the
voices chant in blessed benediction.
Gurnemunz and Parsifal remain
alone and when questioned Parsifal
has no understanding of what he
has seen. Gurnemunz then turns
him from the door.
In the next act he has wandered
until he arrives at Klingsor's cas-
tie, where he meets Kundry. who
tempts him, but he resists her. In