expiation in this world? You
who are so strong in the pure faith, do you apprehend so ill the
mind of the Most High? Would you take away the hope of the sinner?
State then what wrong he has done to you. Behold me, the maiden,
whose blossom he shattered with a swift blow, me, who loved him to
the depths of being, and whose heart he pierced with a jubilant
laugh... I plead for him, I plead for his life! Let his feet be
turned into the path of penitence. Let the courage be restored to
him of the faith that for him too the Saviour died!" In a spasm
of realisation and self-horror the unhappy Tannhaeuser hides his
face and sinks to the earth. The angry lords have calmed under
the Princess's exhortation. They see in her an angel descended
from Heaven to announce the holy will of God. Who could persist
in violence after hearing the supplications of an angel?

Tannhaeuser has come at last completely to himself, to a clear vision,
by light of that heavenly goodness, of what he has been, what he
has done. Sapped of its pride, his spirit grovels helplessly in
the lowest depths of abasement. "To lead the sinner to salvation,
the God-sent came to me, but I, alas, to touch her impiously, I
lifted upon her eyes of vice. Oh, Thou, far above the vale of earth,
who didst send to me this angel of salvation, have mercy upon me
who, ah! so deeply steeped in sin, did such ignoble wrong to the
mediatrix of Heaven!"

The Landgrave decides upon the course to be taken. An abominable
crime has been committed; in hypocritical disguise the accursed
son of sin has slipped into their midst. Among them he may not
remain, the displeasure of Heaven already lowers upon this roof
which too long has covered him. One road is open to the sinner,
which, while rejecting him, the Landgrave points out--let him take
advantage of it to his welfare! Numerous bands of penitents are
starting from this region on pilgrimage to Rome for the great Pardon.
The older have left already; the younger are still gathering in
the valley. Let Tannhaeuser join them, go with them to the Holy
City, fall upon his knees and do penance for his sin. Let him cast
himself before him who speaks the decrees of God upon earth, entreat
his blessing, and never return if he fail to obtain it. For if
their vengeance stay its hand at the prayer of an angel, their
swords will not fail to reach him if he continue in his sin. The
chant comes wafted from the distance of those younger pilgrims
gath