the Christ-spirit. But the blind desire of her dual personality
is that pardon should wear the form of love. Parsifal, with every
moment more firmly established in his strength and purpose, replies
to her madness with a calm homily,--his theme, how from the springs
of passion flow waters of thirst. Words of wisdom, eternal truths,
drop from the so young lips of the fool. Kundry, who has listened
in wonder, exclaims: "So it was my kiss which gave you universal
vision! The full cup of my love then would make you to a god!"
and coming back eagerly to her point: "Deliver the world, if such
is your mission. If an hour can make you to a god, let me, for
that hour, suffer damnation...." "For you, too, sinner, I will
find salvation," is Parsifal's mild reply. "Let me love you in your
godlikeness, that shall be salvation for me!" "Love and salvation
both shall reward you, if you will show me the way to Amfortas!"

It will have been remarked that Kundry in her singular role has
been playing fair; that, though life for her (which paradoxically
is death) depends upon failure, she has put forth her whole strength
in the temptation. But it is not at this juncture the penitent who
is in the ascendant, it is the evil side of Kundry, and at that
last request of Parsifal's, proving the vanity of her effort, a
great anger seizes her: "Never!" she cries, "never shall you find
him! The fallen king, let him perish! The wretch whom I laughed
and laughed and laughed at! Ha ha! Why--he was wounded with his
own spear.... And against yourself," she follows this, "I will
call to aid that weapon, if you give that sinner the honour of
your pity!" But, at the sound of her own words, her anger dropping:
"Ah, madness!... Pity! On me, do you have pity! One single hour
mine... and you shall be shown on your way!" With a renewal of
tenderness she attempts to clasp him; but at his abhorrent, "Unhappy
woman, away!" furious beside all bounds, she falls to shouting for
help against him, help to prevent his going. "Help! Here! Hold
the audacious one! Bar the roads against him! Bar the paths!..."
Then, addressing him in the blaze of her revengeful wrath: "And
though you should escape from here--and though you should find
all the roads in the world, the road which you seek you shall not
find! For all roads and paths which lead you away from me, I place
a curse upon them. Hopelessly--hopelessly shall you wander and
stray!..."

At her wild summoning the women h