nto which
Parsifal gazes with rapture and astonishment. Lovely maidens rush
towards him, accusing him of having destroyed their lovers. Parsival
surprised answers, that he slew them, because they checked his approach
to their charms. But when their tenderness waxes hotter, he gently
{261} repulses the damsels and at last tries to escape. He is detained
however by Kundry, who tells him again of his beloved mother, and when
Parsifal is sorrow-stricken at having forgotten her in his thoughtless
rambles, she consoles him, pressing his lips with a fervent kiss. This
rouses the dreamy youth, he awakes to his duty, he feels the King's
spear-wound burning; the unconscious fool is a fool no longer, but
conscious of his mission and distinguishing right from wrong. He calls
to the Saviour to save him from a guilty passion, and at last he starts
up, spurning Kundry. She tells him of her own crime, of Amfortas' fall
and curses all paths and ways, which would lead him from her.
Klingsor, appearing at her cry, flings the holy spear at Parsifal, but
it remains floating over his head, and the youth, grasping it, destroys
the magic by the sign of the cross.

In the third act Gurnemanz awakes Kundry from a death-like sleep, and
is astonished to find her changed. She is penitent and serves the
Grail. Parsifal enters from the woods. Gurnemanz recognizes and
greets him, after his wanderings in search of the Grail which have
extended over long years. Kundry washes his feet and dries them with
her own hair. Parsifal, seeing her so humble, baptizes her with some
water from the spring, and the dreadful laugh is taken from her; then
she weeps bitterly. Parsifal, conducted to the King, touches his side
with the holy spear and the wound is closed. Old Titurel, brought on
the stage in his {262} coffin, revives once more a moment, raising his
hands in benediction. The Grail is revealed, pouring a halo of glory
over all. Kundry, with her eyes fixed on Parsival, sinks dead to the
ground, while Amfortas and Gurnemanz render homage to their new King.

PHILEMON AND BAUCIS.

Opera in two acts by CHARLES GOUNOD.

Text by JULES BARBIER and MICHEL CARRE, with an intermezzo.

This is a truly delightful musical composition and though unpretending
and not on the level of Gounod's "Margaretha", it does not deserve to
be forgotten.

The libretto is founded on the well-known legend.

In the first act Jupiter comes to Philemon's hut,