TANNHAUSER: BY RICHARD WAGNER 
 RETOLD BY OLIVER HUCKEL
 
 Tannhauser and the Bride of Death
 
 Cannpuser 
 
 A-DRAMATIC-POEM -BY-RICHARD 
 WAGNER FREELY-TRANSLATED 
 IN-POETIC-NARRATIVE ; FORM-BY 
 
 ) CrotoeU**' Co 
 
 PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
 
 Copyright, 1906, by Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. 
 Published, September, 1906 
 
 Composition and electrotype plates by 
 D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 FOREWORD Page ix 
 
 PART I 
 
 In the Hill of Venus 3 
 
 PART II 
 
 The Tournament of Song 27 
 
 PART III 
 
 The Pope's Pardon 53 
 
 2052570
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Tannhauser and the Bride of Death Frontispiece 
 Elizabeth pleads for Tannhauser Facing 46 
 The Final Prayer of Elizabeth 54 
 
 Elizabeth bids Farewell to Wolfram 58
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 iROFESSOR Albert Lavignac of the 
 Conservatoire at Paris asks the ques- 
 tion, "Which was greater in Wag- 
 ner, the poet or the musician, the 
 InusIcaTcomposer or the dramatist?" He an- 
 swers it by saying that Wagner was a genius 
 whose thought assumed with equal facility the 
 poetic or the musical form. He combined them 
 in one art, and carried them to their utmost 
 power. 
 
 There may be dissentients from this view. Ne- 
 vertheless, with the growing appreciation of 
 Wagner's music, it must be acknowledged that 
 there is also an increasing interest in his poetic 
 and dramatic work. He is unique among com- 
 posers in writing both the words and the music 
 of his great works. He is a splendid poet-mu- 
 sician, remarkable in both qualities. 
 He wrote his poems for music. They are not 
 ordinary librettos. They are dramatic poems of 
 noble conception and composition. Perhaps this 
 has been sometimes forgotten under the spell 
 and genius of the music. In this volume the 
 poem itself claims our first attention. Wagner 
 often felt that people more readily appreciated 
 his music than his drama, and had not there- 
 fore really entered into his full meaning. He 
 wrote once: "The Tannhauser which I wit- 
 nessed last evening was my score here and 
 there, but the drama of it put aside." It may be 
 therefore profitable to study, as we do here, 
 the drama without the music. 
 This story of Tannhauser, "in the skilful weav- 
 
 ix
 
 ing of the dramatic web out of materials scat- 
 tered and apparently unrelated, gives a com- 
 plete demonstration of Wagner's masterly 
 powers as a dramatist and dramatic poet." 
 The first conception of the drama was in 1841. 
 Scenic sketches were made in 1842, and the 
 poem was finally finished on May22, 1843. Tann- 
 hauser and Lohengrin were both conceived in 
 poetic vision about the same time, and from the 
 same sources, and a glimpse of Parsifal was 
 also seen at this period. Tannhauser was writ- 
 ten before Lohengrin and long before Parsifal. 
 They show the inner development of the poet's 
 mind and heart. He was working out his artis- 
 tic destiny and consummation. 
 The literary sources of this Wagnerian story of 
 Tannhauser are probably three distinct ones. 
 The first is the legend of Tannhauser, found in 
 many forms in old German ballads and tales, 
 and in which the ending is quite different from 
 the climax that Wagner makes, not a saving 
 of the soul, but a return to Venus. The second 
 source was a collection of poems of the thir- 
 teenth century called the "Wartburgkrieg." 
 This gives some intimate pictures of the court 
 of Landgrave Hermann of Thuringia, a famous 
 patron of poetry and song, and it describes a 
 poetic contest or debate on the glories of cer- 
 tain princes. Wagner took what he wanted of 
 these poems, and adapted them to his pur- 
 poses, making Tannhauser one of the min- 
 nesingers of his story. The third source was 
 the history of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, the 
 daughter-in-law of Landgrave Hermann of
 
 Thuringia. She furnishes the suggestion for Jf 0f 
 the beautiful character, pure and lofty, of the 
 Elizabeth of Wagner's drama, the direct con- 
 trast to the evil and voluptuous Venus. Eliza- 
 beth had not been mentioned in these previous 
 sources. This third source thus gave what was 
 needed for the exquisite portrait of one of the 
 noblest of Wagner's heroines. 
 It seems rather incongruous at first to find the 
 strange name of Frau Venus in this ancient 
 Teutonic legend. But we must remember that 
 old Germany had taken on much of classic 
 lore from its Roman conquerors. The Venus of 
 the Romans, the goddess of love and beauty, 
 essentially the Aphrodite of the Greeks, and 
 the Astarte of the Phoenicians, had pushed 
 aside the old Teutonic goddess Freya, the wife 
 of Odin, queen and leader of the Valkyres; 
 Hel, the goddess of the underworld and the 
 dead ; and Holda, the goddess of the spring, 
 of budding and fructification ; and gradually all 
 the attributes of these had mingled in Frau 
 Venus. The common people did not readily 
 part with this old poetic mythology of nature, 
 but even after they became Christian, they 
 merely supposed these older and displaced de- 
 ities to be dwelling in caves and mountains. 
 A few references to the scene of the drama may 
 be appropriate. The castle of the Wartburg is 
 a noble old structure in Thuringia, near Eisen- 
 ach, dating from 1070. It was the official resi- 
 dence of the Landgraves of Thuringia until the 
 extinction of the family in 1247. It has been re- 
 stored to its original style and ornamentation, 
 
 xi
 
 JF010* and is now the occasion al residence of the 
 toOtD Grand-Duke f Weimar. It is famous for the 
 medieval minstrel tournaments at the time of 
 Landgrave Hermann I (about 1190-1217); and 
 also has a peculiar interest as the refuge of 
 Martin Lutherat the beginning of the sixteenth 
 century. Here is still shown the room, with 
 many memorials, where Luther worked on his 
 translation of the Bible, a translation which 
 was to mean so much in the language and lit- 
 erature of Germany. 
 
 The Horselberg, where according to tradition 
 is situated the cave of Venus, is a long, deeply 
 furrowed ridge (about one thousand five hun- 
 dred and seventy-five feet high), some ten or 
 twelve miles from Eisenach and the Wart- 
 burg. 
 
 The personages described in the song contest 
 are historical. Wolfram von Eschenbach was 
 a knightly champion of Christianity and of the 
 virtues of woman. Walther von der Vogelweide 
 was a Tyrolean poet of renown. Reimar and Bi- 
 terolf were also notable poets of their day. 
 There are some unusually fine poetic touches 
 in thedrama. Recall Tannhauser in thrall to Ve- 
 nus in the underworld, longing to hear the song 
 of birds and once more to suffer pain. Notice 
 that Venus has real love and womanly feeling. 
 Notice also that Tannhauser's cry to the Vir- 
 gin is the only means of breaking the spell. 
 Then note the contrast between the red revels 
 of the halls of Venus and the green valleys be- 
 fore the Wartburg where the sheep-bells tinkle. 
 See "the pomp and circumstance of the medie- 
 xii
 
 val contest." Recall Wolfram's ode to the even- 
 ing star. Remember Tannhauser's return from 
 Rome, and the contest of his feelings, "one 
 of the most intensely tragic pieces of writing in 
 all dramatic literature." Recall that fine touch, 
 the sainted Elizabeth, dead, is still the guard- 
 ian angel of this poor wanderer. Fine fancy in 
 a hundred places shows Wagner the poet. Re- 
 call that striking appeal, Elizabeth's earnest 
 prayer for the salvation of Tannhauser. Al- 
 though struck to the heart by more than mor- 
 tal wound, Elizabeth thinks first of him : "What 
 matters it to me? But he, his salvation! Would 
 you rob him of his eternal salvation?" Has not 
 Wagner here wrought with the stroke of ge- 
 nius? 
 
 The opening of the drama has two versions, 
 called the Dresden and the Parisian versions. 
 The latter is a much fuller revelation of the 
 character of Venus ; it is usually the one now 
 used, and seemed best liked by Wagner. The 
 drama also has two endings, a longer and a 
 shorter. In the latter, one sees neither Venus 
 nor the funeral procession of Elizabeth. These 
 are indicated merely by the distant lights in the 
 grotto of Venus, and the funeral knells tolled 
 by the bells of the Wartburg. The present vol- 
 ume slightly abbreviates the Parisian opening, 
 but uses the longer ending of the drama. Wol- 
 fram's Song to the Evening Star and the Final 
 Hymn have both been lengthened to give the 
 effect which musical repetition and prolonga- 
 tion give in the actual opera. 
 The poem as indicated was written by 1843 ; the 
 
 xiii
 
 jFOtfc- music was completed in 1845. But before any 
 tDOtO production of the work could be given, Wag- 
 ner had plunged into politics and made many 
 enemies. He associated himself in 1846 with 
 August Roeckel and with the revolutionist Ba- 
 kounine in militant politics. He made some very 
 imprudent speeches, and afterwards fled from 
 Dresden to Weimar, where his friend Liszt was 
 directing rehearsals for Tannhauser. But ru- 
 mor came that his arrest was ordered as a dan- 
 gerous agitator, and he left the country under 
 a fictitious passport, and became an exile for 
 twelve years. 
 
 He went to Paris ;then to Zurich, where he lived 
 and worked for some time, and where he gave 
 Tannhauser. In 1855 he went to London to di- 
 rect eight concerts of the Philharmonic Society. 
 Among other selections of his own he gave the 
 overture to Tannhauser. It excited general en- 
 thusiasm, while the royal family summoned the 
 author to their box to receive congratulations. 
 In 1859 Napoleon III, at the instance of Mme. 
 de Metternich and others, gave orders for a 
 great performance of Tannhauser in Paris, 
 which scored a splendid success. It was for this 
 performance that the Venusberg scenes were 
 enlarged. Another epoch was in 1864, when 
 young King Ludwig II of Bavaria called Wag- 
 nertohiscourt, and bestowinghonorand wealth 
 upon him, commanded him to complete the 
 Nibelungen Lied series, and to have his other 
 works magnificently represented. The kinghad 
 a splendid and unique performance of Tann- 
 hauser given in Munich. Thereafter it was given 
 xiv
 
 in many cities, and became one of Wagner's JFOt0 5 
 most popular works. UJOtD 
 
 A few words concerning the music. As Profes- 
 sor Lavignac, whom we have already cited, 
 says: "Wagner has two languages at his com- 
 mand, two means of making himself under- 
 stood by his fellow men, poetry and music; 
 which, being united, form but one language 
 with an absolutely matchless intensity of ex- 
 pression. By means of poetry Wagner reveals 
 to us the outward man, who speaks and acts; 
 by means of music, he enables us to penetrate 
 into the secret thoughts of the inner man ; with 
 music, also, he raises us above terrestrial hu- 
 manity and transports us into the supernatural 
 regions of the ideal." Wonderful music is this 
 of Tannhauser. The Song of the Sirens, the 
 Dance of the Bacchantes, The Hymn to Venus, 
 The Romance of the Star, The Pilgrim's Cho- 
 rus, each has its own charm. But the great 
 overture is a magnificent inspiration. It paints 
 the whole picture, and voices the whole deep 
 struggle. It is thrilling, almost overpowering, 
 in its agonies, beseechings, strugglings, and 
 glorious triumph. 
 
 TheinnersignificanceoftheTannhauserdrama 
 is manifest. The bacchanals in the Venus scenes 
 typify "the gratification of the senses," while 
 the pilgrims portray "the higher desires of 
 man." Elizabeth represents the loftiest embodi- 
 ment of desire, the eternal woman-soul which 
 "leadeth us ever upward and on." Wagner 
 makes the saving principle in his tragic story 
 the principle of "self-effacement, a love faithful 
 unto death." xv
 
 JfOtC s It has been said that Tannhauser is a man's 
 story ; that women never find in it what a man 
 finds there ; that the experience of the story lies 
 beyond the pale of the feminine nature, and 
 therefore cannot be fully appreciated by them. 
 However this may be, yet there is an appeal and 
 fascination in the story for everysoul. It touches 
 something vital and universal. In the experi- 
 ence of Tannhauser, as the musical and dra- 
 matic critic, W. J. Henderson, rightly asserts, 
 "Wagner has set before us the struggle of the 
 pure and the impure, the lusts and the aspira- 
 tions of man's nature. It is essentially the tra- 
 gedy of a man. Tannhauser is typical of every 
 man, beset on the one hand by the desire of the 
 flesh which satiates and maddens, and courted 
 on the other by the undying loveliness of chaste 
 and holy love. If ever a sermon was preached 
 as to the certainty with which the sins of the 
 flesh will find a man out, it is preached in this 
 tremendous tragedy, when the flame of old pas- 
 sions sears the flesh of new happiness and 
 drives the errant out of paradise. Wagner, out 
 of the old Tannhauser myth, fashioned the tra- 
 gedy of a man's soul. Every man must bow his 
 head in reverence to the genius which thus 
 made quick the battle of passion against purity 
 for the possession of man's soul. Wagner wrote 
 no mightier tragedy than this." 
 This present series of interpretations (of which 
 this volume is the third) has thus treated three 
 great dramas, Parsifal, Lohengrin and Tann- 
 hauser, all closely connected, and each one a 
 superb portrayal of some vital truth of life. They 
 xvi
 
 are exquisite in the artistic beauty of their le- 
 gends, and thrillingwith the surge of the mighty 
 problems with which they struggle. Parsifal 
 means enlightenment and salvation through 
 suffering; Lohengrin portrays unquestioning 
 faith as the basis of noblest and happiest life ; 
 Tannhauser is a parable of the redemptive 
 power of a pure and unselfish love. 
 
 OLIVER HUCKEL 
 
 XV11
 
 TANNHAUSER. PART I
 
 THE HILL OF VENUS 
 
 [LOSE to the peaceful vale of Eisen- 
 ach, 
 In far Thuringia, towers a gloomy 
 
 mount, 
 
 The Horselberg, a grim and lonely pile, 
 Long called "thehill of Venus," with its cave, 
 Unfathomed depths of subterranean gloom, 
 Where men have lost their souls in heathen love 
 To that fair goddess of the evil heart, 
 Who, banished from the light by the white 
 
 Christ, 
 
 Holds now her court and pagan revelries, 
 Deep in the dark abysses of the earth. 
 
 Come near and gaze into the desperate depths ! 
 For now the Horselberg is gaping wide, 
 And music of the revels issues forth, 
 Reechoing from the rocky halls and walls. 
 The fair, false Venus holds her court to-day. 
 See far within ! behold the great cave's breadth ! 
 See there the sparkling, flashing waterfall, 
 Plunging in foam across the mossy rocks 
 To winding waters of a happy brook 
 That purls and flashes through the flowery 
 
 fields. 
 
 Far off a crystal lake of shimmering blue, 
 Where graceful naiads toss the shining waves, 
 With laughter shouting in their merry baths ; 
 Along the lake's white strand, fair sirens rest 
 Within the grateful shade of noble trees. 
 A rosy light, like the first flush of dawn, 
 Illumines all the cave with sunrise tints. 
 Here are a group of nymphs in airy dance
 
 O 
 
 3|n tf)E Of feiry c i rc l es > while amid the groves 
 Iftill Of ^ re P a ^ rs of blushing lovers, dimly seen, 
 j e Reclining blissful on the grassy mounds. 
 * Sudden come rushing in tumultuous dance 
 The wild bacchantes, mad with fiery joy, 
 And quivering with voluptuous melody; 
 They stir the dancing nymphs and lovers fair 
 To join them in their frenzied whirl of love, 
 While soft the sirens sing a serenade : 
 
 COME to the strand 
 
 Of the lake of delight! 
 O come to the land 
 
 Of beauty most bright ! 
 Where the sweetest of kisses, 
 
 And soft arms caressing, 
 Shall enfold you with blisses, 
 Love's rapture confessing!" 
 
 A fleeting moment all the dancers pause 
 To listen to the sirens' passioned song 
 With many repetitions and sweet strains 
 The fervent invitation to these bowers 
 Where music is the soul and atmosphere, 
 And flowers breathe their heavy rich perfume, 
 And love is evermore the only queen. 
 Then visions seem to float upon the air: 
 Fair Europa upon her snow-white bull, 
 Festooned with flowers and riding through 
 
 the sea, 
 
 Led on by nereids and tritons bold ; 
 Then beauteous Leda throned on rosy mists, 
 Soft moonlight and a shore of forest lake. 
 A swan swims toward her and caressingly 
 Hides his fond head upon her bosom fair. 
 4
 
 Still other visions of the old-time love 
 Appear and disappear as music throbs. 
 Then as the sirens cease, the dance begins 
 Once more with wilder energy of joy 
 And stranger, fiercer music arabesque, 
 Until the wild bacchantes, fever-hot, 
 Have fired the ardent souls of all the throng 
 To fiercest frenzy of the maddest love. 
 Full at the height a sudden blight is felt 
 Of awful weariness, and all is still. 
 The lovers rest again upon the sward ; 
 The wild bacchantes quickly disappear; 
 A thick mist gathers in great rosy clouds, 
 Concealing naiads, sirens, lovers, nymphs, 
 And leaving visible one only pair, 
 Two glorious lovers, splendid to behold : 
 One the fair radiant Queen of Love herself, 
 The goddess Venus, perfect in her charms, 
 Features and form superbly beautiful, 
 Lying in rest upon a royal couch. 
 And at her feet, as lover, suppliant, slave, 
 Kneeling enraptured in devoted vows, 
 Tannhauser, valiant knight of German lands, 
 And famous minstrel, singer of brave songs, 
 Poet and prince of poets in all lands. 
 For in an evil hour, when sad of heart 
 And full of earthly griefs and desperate pain, 
 A sudden madness seemed to strike his brain 
 And he had sought for refuge in the mount 
 Of Horselberg, and wandered to the depths, 
 Led captive in the lure of evil love. 
 
 A year of maddest revelry had passed 
 (It seemed to him as but a single day), 
 
 5
 
 3Itt tb0 And now t* 16 life of sin palled on his heart. 
 JKJJJ gf O sad satiety of evil love, 
 
 l&r>nii * ?or sin can never satisfy the soul! 
 
 5 Now had his better nature waked again, 
 And longed for earthly life and liberty, 
 For earthly life with mingled joy and pain. 
 
 Sudden he wildly raised his aching head, 
 As if he started from a weary dream ; 
 But Venus drew him back most lovingly. 
 Again he started and upraised his hands 
 Across his eyes, as if he dreamed a dream, 
 And would recall it to his half-waked brain. 
 But Venus softly whispered words of love : 
 " My dearest, speak ; where stray thy thoughts 
 
 to-day?" 
 
 He answered not, but cried in desperate pain : 
 "No more! no more! O that I now might 
 
 wake !" 
 Then Venus: "Speak! what grief is in thy 
 
 heart?" 
 
 Then he essayed to bare his troubled soul : 
 "In dreams I seemed to hear the distant 
 
 sounds 
 
 That have so long been strangers to my ears, 
 The silver chime of church-bells in the hills. 
 Tell me, I pray, how long since these I heard?" 
 
 Stung by his words, she spake in quick reproof: 
 "Art thou beside thyself? What aileth thee?" 
 And in pathetic maze he answered her: 
 "How long my sojourn here I cannot tell; 
 I cannot measure it by days or months ; 
 The seasons pass, but I am unaware ; 
 
 6
 
 For now the radiant sun I see no more, 
 And nevermore the friendly stars of heaven ; 
 No more the verdure of the gentle spring, 
 Nor fresh green foliage of the summer days ; 
 No more hear I the nightingale's sweet song 
 That brings the promise of the earth renewed: 
 These sights, these sounds, fair nature and 
 
 sweet earth, 
 Are these delights forever lost to me?" 
 
 Full of reproaches, sternly Venus spake : 
 "What! dost thou waver? Why these vain re- 
 grets? 
 
 Art thou so soon grown weary of the bliss 
 With which my love divine has compassed 
 
 thee? 
 
 Or dost thou now so soon repent the crown 
 Of godhood that my love set on thy brow, 
 Giving thee place with the immortal great? 
 Hast thou so soon forgot thy bitter woes, 
 Which only by my love were soothed and 
 
 cured? 
 
 Come, my own minstrel, seize thy harp divine! 
 Sing now of Love, which thou didst praise so 
 
 well, 
 
 Chanting its bliss and rapture in such tones 
 That thou didst win me, goddess of all Love 
 And goddess of all Beauty. Sing to me ! 
 Sing Love, for see, its highest prize is 
 
 thine! 
 For I am thine. Fair Venus is thine own!" 
 
 Then suddenly inspired by her great love, 
 Love that had been delight and deep despair,
 
 And thralled by her great beauty's mystic spell, 
 Tannhauser seized his golden harp and sang 
 A rapturous song to Venus, Queen of Love: 
 
 O QUEEN of Love! Immortal fame at- 
 tend thee, 
 
 Most joyful praise to thee be ever sung! 
 Each dear delight which thy fair grace did 
 
 lend me, 
 Shall wake the harp while time and love are 
 
 young! 
 
 T was joy alone, a longing deep for pleasure, 
 That filled my heart and darkened my de- 
 sire, 
 
 And thou, whose bounty gods alone can mea- 
 sure, 
 Didst give to me love's own immortal fire ! 
 
 "Yet am I only mortal, and the dower 
 Of thy great love grows heavier every hour. 
 Only a god can bear such boundless joy; 
 Unceasing bliss these mortal hearts destroy. 
 Give me, I pray, the earthly pain and pleasure 
 Of wholesome Nature's sweet alternate mea- 
 sure! 
 
 O Queen belov'd, I must away or die ! 
 O Venus, fairest Goddess, let me fly!" 
 
 A flush of shame glowed on her angry face, 
 As rudely wakened from her dream of love, 
 Fair Venus spake: "Is this thy fealty? 
 And this thy song, so weary with regret? 
 Ah, where are now the rapturous measures 
 
 glad,- 
 
 The joy of love which erst inspired thy heart? 
 8
 
 Tell me, what has my love denied to thee? 3lH t{)0 
 Tell me, what have I done to weary thee?" Jhjjj gf 
 
 Then once again Tannhauser took his harp, ^ 
 A glowing penitence within his heart, 
 A fervent gratitude for all her love, 
 And sang with swelling voice this wondrous 
 song: 
 
 QUEEN of Love! in numbers sweet I 
 
 praise thee ! 
 Thrice blessed he on whom thy favors shine ! 
 With grace of beauty every charm arrays thee, 
 
 And in thy soft white arms is bliss divine ! 
 Transporting are thy wonders without mea- 
 sure, 
 
 The magic of all pleasure breathe I here, 
 No land of all the earth can boast such treasure ; 
 Their wealth, beside thy riches, seems most 
 drear. 
 
 "Yet in the pleasures of these rosy bowers 
 I long to see the woods and common flowers ; 
 I long to see the heaven's crystal blue, 
 And the fair fields and verdure wet with dew; 
 I long to hear the song-birds in the dells, 
 And the dear chiming of the silver bells. 
 O Queen of Love, I must away or die! 
 O Venus, fairest Goddess, let me fly!" 
 
 Thus sang he praises of voluptuous love, 
 While in his heart was lassitude and pain ; 
 And as he ceased, and pleaded to be gone, 
 Fair Venus sprang up from her couch and 
 cried: 
 
 9
 
 31tl tf)C "Ungrateful wretch, to speak such scoffing 
 
 Mil of words 
 
 l&fntlS ^ nc * scorn tke wea lth of love I poured onthee! 
 Thou praisest what thou seekest now to flee ! 
 Alas, that all my charms have wearied thee!" 
 
 But quietly Tannhauser answered her: 
 "O fair perfection, frown not on thy slave! 
 Thine overwhelming charms now must I 
 
 shun, 
 
 Thy wealth of love I cannot more endure!" 
 Quickly cried Venus with indignant breath: 
 "Beware, thou traitor! false dissembler, hold! 
 Thou shalt not leave me. I forbid thy flight!" 
 But firm he answered in a voice of pain : 
 "Yea, never was my love more strong, more 
 
 true, 
 
 And yet, I must forever flee from thee ! 
 Bereft of thy sweet presence, joy is hate, 
 Yet fate impels, I long for liberty!" 
 
 And at that word, fair Venus turned away, 
 Buried her tear-stained face within her hands, 
 And long sat silent. Then again she turned, 
 Tears in her eyes, but love upon her lips, 
 In smiles and words of winning tenderness: 
 "Beloved, come! Renew our vows of love! 
 Remember all the rapture of the past! 
 See this fair grotto, sacred to our bliss! 
 The purple shadows break in softest dawn ; 
 The murmurous music sounds the joys of love; 
 The perfumed air is full of fairest dreams. 
 Love hath a solace for thy restless heart, 
 Love hath delights as yet unknown to thee. 
 
 10
 
 Come, let us now confess our faith renewed, 
 
 Enter again into the bliss divine. 
 
 Twere worse than dying from sweet love to 
 
 part. 
 
 Come, plight anew our tender troth of love! 
 In joy immortal be our hearts at peace. 
 No longer worship the fair power of love, 
 Come, be with me Love's Lord for evermore!" 
 
 Deep was he moved, and quickly snatched his 
 
 harp, 
 
 To make melodious vows of loyalty. 
 Firm had he fixed his purpose to be gone, 
 Yet sought release by solemn promises 
 To make her beauty known to all the world. 
 Thus did he hope to soothe her wounded heart, 
 And sang his farewell song of praise to her: 
 
 QUEEN of Love, my harp shall ever 
 
 praise thee ! 
 While I have life, thou shalt my song in- 
 spire ! 
 Thou fount of beauty, every charm obeys thee, 
 
 Of all that lives thou art the best desire! 
 The fire that thou dost kindle in my spirit 
 Shall burn, an altar flame, to thee alone! 
 My song shall be divine but by thy merit, 
 For both my heart and harp thy love doth 
 own! 
 
 "And yet for earth and earthly pain still yearn- 
 ing, 
 
 In thy soft chains with weakest shame e'er 
 burning, 
 
 T is dauntless liberty for which I sigh ! 
 
 II
 
 For deathless freedom I can all defy ! 
 To this world's strife and glory I must go, 
 Come life or death, come joy or bitterest woe! 
 O Queen of Love, I must away or die! 
 
 Venus, fairest Goddess, let me fly!" 
 
 Thus had he sung three times this hymn of 
 
 praise, 
 
 Extolling Venus and her radiant charms, 
 And all the rare enchantments of her realm ; 
 Vowing to sing these praises evermore ; 
 And yet each time he sang his heart was torn, 
 Longing for nature and the radiant spring, 
 Yearning for flowery fields and verdant woods, 
 Haunted by dreams of purity and peace. 
 
 Quickly she saw her plea with him was lost ; 
 She saw him steeled against her blandish- 
 ments ; 
 
 She felt the bitter hate of woman scorned, 
 And in a burst of furious passion cried : 
 "Begone, thou shameless traitor heart, be- 
 gone! 
 Madman, begone! I will not hold thee more! 
 
 1 set thee free ! Begone, I say, begone ! 
 What thou art longing for shall be thy doom ! 
 Go back to all the cold and joyless earth, 
 Where neither life nor love can fully bloom ; 
 Whence every smiling god of joy hath fled ; 
 Where dark suspicion has its evil birth ! 
 Begone, thou madman, seek thy empty joy 
 In thy cold world and find it nevermore ! 
 Soon will this pride and fever quit thy soul. 
 
 12
 
 I see thee, humbled, coming back to me, 3lH tt)0 
 Bruised, yea, and crushed, remorse deep in |])jf J of 
 thy heart, teentlS 
 
 Remembering the joys that thou hast lost ! 
 I see thee, seeking me with cries and tears, 
 Beseeching for the magic of my might!" 
 
 Tannhauser answered proudly with a boast: 
 "Ah, fair enchantress, take my last farewell 1 
 Never again shall I return to thee!" 
 Then Venus spake with a quick look of scorn: 
 "Yea, if thou never shalt return to me, 
 And if thou ever dost forget my love, 
 Then do I put my curse on all thy race, 
 On all the false and faithless sons of men. 
 Then shall they seek for love, but all in vain, 
 The world a desert and its lord a slave ! 
 Go forth, thou madman, seek thy loveless 
 
 doom! 
 
 Thou wilt return again and seek my love!" 
 Quickly he answered her with earnest speech: 
 "Nay, never shall I be thy slave again! 
 Nor know again the rapturous bliss of love!" 
 Then Venus: "Go! a wanderer on the earth, 
 Until thy heart shall draw thee back again!" 
 But he: "I go forever when I go! 
 Yea, my beloved, though it break my heart." 
 
 Then Venus once again: "The world will scoff 
 And scorn thee, when it learns thy secret sin 
 And all this year of dalliance with me." 
 But he: "No more to joy and bliss I go, 
 My longing calls to combat, yea, to death ! 
 I go to sorrow and to direst pain. 
 
 13
 
 3|U tf)C Through penance shall I lose the hated 
 
 curse, - 
 
 ^ true re P entance heals the sorest heart." 
 Then Venus spake again: "Forgiveness ne'er 
 Can be thy portion with thy blackened soul ! 
 Never will mercy ope its gates to thee! 
 Thou wilt return to me. No hope for thee, 
 Nor peace in all the world, except with me." 
 
 But with a cry Tannhauser answered her: 
 "Goddess of pleasure, not in thee my trust 
 My hope, my peace, doth rest in Mary's grace. 
 Mary, fair Queen of Heaven, virgin Queen, 
 To thee I cry for help ! O rescue me !" 
 
 And with that prayer, and at that magic name 
 Of holy Mary, mother of all grace, 
 A miracle was wrought, a shriek was heard, 
 And Venus vanished, and her realm of love 
 Was overwhelmed in darkness and abyss. 
 
 Amazed and stunned,Tannhauserlayin trance, 
 
 And knew not if he lived, or died, or slept. 
 
 At length he raised himself and looked 
 around, - 
 
 What wondrous scene his wondering eyes be- 
 held! 
 
 Here was the valley green and beautiful 
 
 That boyhood days had known and loved so 
 well; 
 
 Again sweet sunshine, and the sky's clear blue. 
 
 There on the right, the towering Wartburg 
 rose 
 
 That rocky fortress on a rocky height, 
 
 14
 
 That filled his soul with dreams of chivalry; J[j| (jjg 
 
 And on the left, seen through the opening vale, IHJII n f 
 
 The wooded ranges of the Horselberg. 
 
 He looked with deepest shudder as he thought 
 
 Of all that he had known in those deep 
 woods, 
 
 The hidden path, the dark depths, and the 
 cave 
 
 Where he had spent his year of nameless sin. 
 
 Now was his thought transformed and com- 
 forted, 
 
 For just before him on the wooded path 
 
 That upward guided to the Wartburg heights, 
 
 His eye beheld the holy Virgin's shrine, 
 
 A wayside shrine for passing travellers' prayers ; 
 
 And now he heard the sheep-bells tinkling 
 soft; 
 
 And there on a high cliff, in careless joy, 
 
 A youthful shepherd sang the charms of 
 spring, 
 
 Playing upon his pipe a rustic strain : 
 
 "*T3~ AIR Holda, goddess of the spring, 
 
 ,1 U Steps forth from the mountains old ; 
 She comes and all the brooklets sing, 
 
 And fled is winter's cold. 
 My heart is full of gladdest dreams ; 
 
 The day dawns fresh and clear; 
 The golden sunshine o'er me streams; 
 
 And May, sweet May, is here ! 
 Play, play, my pipe, your lightest lay, 
 For spring has come, and merry May!" 
 
 15
 
 O 
 
 31tl tf)f Scarce had the shepherd played his happy 
 
 JMl Of strain 
 
 r^ When other songs were heard far off and slow ; 
 
 > The shepherd stopped and listened, as they 
 
 neared 
 
 And grew in clearness and in solemn power. 
 It was a band of pilgrims, ancient men, 
 Descending from the frowning Wartburg's 
 
 heights, 
 
 Beginning pious pilgrimage to Rome ; 
 And as they walked, they sang this solemn 
 
 hymn: 
 
 LORD, the sinner's hope and plea, 
 We bend our sorrowing steps to Thee! 
 O Mary, Queen of Heaven, we pray, 
 Be gracious to our pilgrim way! 
 
 " Deep is the guilt within the breast, 
 Gone is the heavenly peace and rest, 
 O that relief would come again ! 
 Heavy the sorrow and the pain. 
 
 "Unto the holy shrine we go, 
 Thrice blessed they who pardon know, 
 To seek the peace of God's own word, 
 By penitence before our Lord." 
 
 Slowly they sang and wended their slow way ; 
 The shepherd lifted up his cap, and waved 
 A greeting and farewell, and called to them : 
 "God speed you on your blessed pilgrim way! 
 And breathe a prayer for me at holy Rome." 
 
 16
 
 Spellbound, Tannhauser seemed to stand ; J[n ( 
 New thoughts and hopes were surging in his JHJJJ 
 
 breast ' tern 
 
 Then suddenly he knelt in prayer and cried : "^ 
 
 "Almighty God, all praise I give to Theel 
 Great are the marvels of Thy wondrous 
 grace!" 
 
 Slowly the pilgrims passed the mountain way, 
 Hard by the Virgin's shrine and through the 
 
 woods ; 
 And now were lost to sight. The sheep-bells 
 
 clear 
 
 Far sounded, and the shepherd left the heights, 
 Playing soft ditties on his merry pipe. 
 Then fainter came the pilgrims' song once 
 
 "more: 
 
 "O Lord, the sinner's hope and plea, 
 We bend our sorrowing steps to Thee ! 
 O Mary, Queen of Heaven, we pray, 
 Be gracious to our pilgrim way!" 
 
 Absorbed in fervent prayer Tannhauser knelt, 
 And with the far-off song, his own heart sang: 
 
 " Deep is the guilt within my breast, 
 Gone is the heavenly peace and rest, 
 O that relief might come again! 
 Heavy the sorrow and the pain!" 
 
 Tears choked his voice; he bowed his sorrow- 
 ing head, 
 
 And wept most bitterly. The pilgrims' song 
 Had died in distance, and another sound, 
 Blest with the memories of childhood days, 
 
 17
 
 Came to his ears, the mellow church-bells' 
 
 chime, 
 
 Calling the worshippers to holy prayer ; 
 And once again the fountain of his tears 
 Welled up with new-born hopes and new-felt 
 
 prayers. 
 
 Sudden the startling blast of hunting-horns 
 Rang through the hills and valleys, echoing, 
 And from the forest and the neighboring hills, 
 In quick and hot pursuit of hurrying game, 
 Rushed down a throng of huntsmen, brave 
 
 arrayed 
 
 In all their hunting-trappings gay and bright, 
 The Landgrave of Thuringia, and all 
 His brilliant court of minstrels and of knights. 
 But seeing there a figure motionless, 
 The Landgrave stopped amazed and low in- 
 quired : 
 
 "Who is yon penitent so deep in prayer?" 
 Then Walter, gayest knight of all the train, 
 Made answer: "Prayers and pilgrims close 
 
 agree." 
 
 But Biterolf, another knight, spake up : 
 "By every sign he seems a noble knight." 
 While still another huntsman, Wolfram, cried, 
 For his keen eyes had recognized a friend : 
 "'Tis he whom we have lost for full a year, 
 'Tis he whom we have mourned with sorrow- 
 ing hearts!" 
 
 And all cried out with joy: " Tis he! 'tis he! 
 Henry! our brave Tannhauser! hail to thee!" 
 
 18
 
 Amazed, Tannhauser rose in haste and stood 3|U tj)0 
 In silence, for deep guilt was in his heart. J^jJJ 0f 
 He looked upon their faces, and was sad. 
 
 Then said the Landgrave: "Art thou surely 
 
 come? 
 
 Dost thou return to our poor company 
 Which once so proudly, rashly, thou didst 
 
 leave?" 
 
 And Biterolf, remembering old days : 
 " Pray tell us what thy coming means to-day, 
 Shall it be peace, or means it war renewed?" 
 "Yea," added Walter, "art thou friend or 
 
 foe?" 
 And others cried: "What, may he come as 
 
 foe?" 
 
 But Wolfram, largest, freest heart of all, 
 Cried out in generous welcome and good 
 
 cheer: 
 "O speak not such harsh words! Look at his 
 
 face! 
 
 No trace of scorn and hate can there be seen ! 
 We welcome thee, great minstrel and brave 
 
 knight! 
 
 Alas, too long hast thou been lost to us!" 
 Then after him spake Walter, kindlier now: 
 "Yea, welcome, if thou comest here in peace." 
 And Biterolf: "Yea, welcome, if a friend." 
 And all: "All hail! all hail. We welcome thee!" 
 
 The Landgrave spake again: "Accept our 
 
 word, 
 
 We give thee hearty welcome ! And we pray 
 That thou wilt tell us thy adventurous course:
 
 3|n t!)0 Where thou hast tarried all these weary 
 
 Mil Of months 
 
 I^EnUS What thou hast done to make thy heart so 
 
 Then answered slow the errant minstrel 
 
 knight: 
 "In strange and distant realms I wandered 
 
 far, 
 
 But never found I joy, or rest of heart. 
 Ask me no further. No more would I strive. 
 Friendly I come. Let me as friend depart." 
 
 " Nay, thou shalt not depart," the Landgrave 
 
 spake, 
 
 "For once again thou hast become our own!" 
 And Walter urged: "I say, thou must not go!" 
 And Biterolf: "We will not let thee go!" 
 
 Then said Tannhauser, bitterly and slow, 
 A desperate sadness in his weary eyes : 
 "Let me depart! I cannot tarry here! 
 Nowhere on earth is rest for me again ! 
 Forward I drive in doom my weary way ! 
 The past I must forget for evermore!" 
 But all the knights exclaimed as with one 
 
 voice : 
 
 "O, stay with us! forget the dreary past! 
 Here in thy home and friends thou shalt find 
 
 rest! 
 What dost thou seek with vain and weary 
 
 search? 
 Abide with us! We cannot say farewell!" 
 
 20
 
 But though their words were generous and 
 
 kind, 
 Naught could persuade him to remain and 
 
 rest. 
 
 Sadly he shook his head, and turned to go. 
 Then Wolfram intercepted him and cried, 
 In a loud voice, and gazing in his face: 
 "Listen! one word! Stay for Elizabeth!" 
 
 And at that word, Tannhauser stopped, his 
 
 face 
 
 Stirred with a deep emotion as he spake: 
 "Elizabeth! O blessed love of Heaven! 
 And do I hear that sweetest name again?" 
 And Wolfram answered: "Yea, no foe is he 
 Who dares recall to thee that blessed name ! 
 And may I be permitted, gracious lord, 
 To tell him of the splendid prize he won?" 
 Thereat the Landgrave answered graciously: 
 "Yea, tell him of the marvel that he wrought 
 In that last famous tournament of song 
 Before we lost him, and God keep him true 
 That worthily he may explain his fate." 
 
 All eager, Wolfram told the wondrous tale : 
 "When thou in art of song last strove with us, 
 Thy conquering strain was master in the strife, 
 Forwhile our songs gained some small victory, 
 One glorious prize was won alone by thee. 
 Pray, was it magic, or some power divine, 
 That wrought through thee such wondrous 
 
 miracle? 
 
 Thy song, so full of mystic joy and woe, 
 Enthralled the perfect flower of royal maids; 
 
 21
 
 3[U tfrC For after thou in scorn, alas, hadst gone, 
 Mil Of Closed was her heart to all our brightest lays. 
 ^ We saw a sorrow on her pallid cheek; 
 
 J Of thee bereft, she wearied of our songs. 
 
 O noble minstrel, come and sing anewl 
 
 Awake once more thy strain of joyous love! 
 
 Cast off the burden of thy cares and fears! 
 
 And her fair star shall brightly shine again!" 
 
 And many knights joined in with eager voice : 
 "Yea, Henry, stay with us! Come back again! 
 We will forget all anger and all strife; 
 Our strains in harmony shall rise and soar ; 
 For brothers shall we be for evermore!" 
 
 Touched by the love so freely given again, 
 Despite his absence and his lame excuse, 
 Tannhauser threw himself in Wolfram's arms 
 And long embraced him as a faithful friend, 
 Greeted the other minstrels each in turn, 
 And bowed before the Landgrave gratefully. 
 Then with a longing, eager heart he cried : 
 "Elizabeth! O, guide my steps to her! 
 O radiant world that I had seemed to lose, 
 Thou smilest once again upon my heart! 
 O sun of heaven, hid with stormy clouds, 
 Again thou shinest on my path of hope! 
 O beauteous spring, thy thousand carols sweet 
 Are singing in my soul so jubilant! 
 O heart, my heart, in new unwonted bliss 
 Thou art rejoicing! Blest Elizabeth!" 
 
 E'en while he spake came many hunters more, 
 The Landgrave's whole vast retinue and train, 
 Until the valley thronged with hunting-men, 
 22
 
 Horses and falcon-bearers, hounds and horns. 
 Eager the men came at the Landgrave's call, 
 And shouted seeing Tannhauser again, 
 Shouted with joy to learn that he would stay, 
 And grace the court again with song and 
 
 sword. 
 
 The Landgrave blew a blast upon his horn, 
 And all the hunters wound their horns and 
 
 blew; 
 The loud-mouthed bugle called, the baying 
 
 hounds 
 
 Made answer, eager, deep and fiercely strong. 
 The minstrels flung themselves upon their 
 
 steeds, 
 
 For Tannhauser a white steed, prancing proud ; 
 Joyful the whole procession galloped on, 
 Ascending to the Wartburg's wooded heights, 
 Where dwelt the princess, fair Elizabeth, 
 Beloved of all, to Tannhauser thrice dear. 
 And as they galloped gaily on they sang, 
 Minstrels and hunters joining in the strain: 
 
 rejoice! he comes again! 
 The lost is found! his sorrow past! 
 Praise to the love that heals his pain! 
 Praise to the might that holds him fast! 
 
 "Awake our harps and sing a song! 
 
 The noblest and the highest dare! 
 Praise to the hero great and strong ! 
 
 Praise to the fairest of the fair!"
 
 TANNHAUSER. PART II
 
 THE TOURNAMENT OF SONG 
 
 i RIM is the towered castle on the 
 
 heights, 
 
 The ancient Wartburg, immemorial 
 In noble deeds of splendid chivalry; 
 Its towers have held embattled armies off; 
 Its bastions have turned back full many a 
 
 siege; 
 
 Its dungeons held full many a tragedy. 
 And here within the lordly castle walls 
 The famous Hall of Minstrels, lofty built 
 With groined and fretted ceiling, quaintly 
 
 wrought, 
 
 And many mullioned windows where the glass 
 Shines bravely with the painted deeds of old. 
 And here, where these broad windows open 
 
 wide, 
 
 Is seen the shaded fountained court within, 
 While far beyond, the smiling valley lies, 
 And still beyond, the mountains, range on 
 
 range. 
 
 But why wears now the hall this festive air, 
 These wreaths of flowers and long festoons of 
 
 green? 
 Perchance some special day of thanks or 
 
 praise; 
 
 Perchance some merry dance or festival ; 
 Perchance some knightly deeds are done to- 
 day; 
 Perchance some heroes strive with sword or 
 
 song. 
 
 Now as we look and listen, one draws near, 
 Most fair efface, most winsome in her grace, 
 
 27
 
 Her dark hair like a lustrous crown of night, 
 Her kind gray eyes pure, patient and all wise, 
 Yet full of laughter and of hidden fire ; 
 Her coronet of shining gold and pearls, 
 Her simple gown of soft cloth like the snow, 
 Her neck enwreathed with lustrous strings of 
 
 pearl, 
 
 Her girdle rich with gold and glittering gems, 
 Her flowing cloak, soft azure, starred with 
 
 gold. 
 
 It is the Landgrave's niece, Elizabeth, 
 A niece and yet a daughter unto him, 
 The fairest, sweetest princess at his court, 
 And best-belov'd, and noblest of them all. 
 
 Most joyful came she to the Minstrels' Hall, 
 The rosy morning light within her eyes ; 
 For he was near, the dear choice of her heart, 
 And life was new and radiant again. 
 And now she spake what her fond heart would 
 
 say: 
 
 "Dear hall of song, I greet thee with my love! 
 I greet thee with all joy, thou hallowed place! 
 'Twas here he sang that wondrous song of 
 
 love 
 That lifted me from darksome dreams to 
 
 heaven. 
 But ah! how soon the dream was changed 
 
 again: 
 
 This Minstrel Hall became a desert drear. 
 When he went forth, all joy went forth with 
 
 him; 
 And with him fled my heart's deep wealth of 
 
 peace. 
 28
 
 But now once more my bosom heaves with ^TJ)0 
 
 And thou, dear Minstrel Hall, art bright again, J 
 For he who lights both thee and me with joy * 
 No longer roams afar in unknown lands. ^OH0 
 
 These vaults shall ring again with glorious 
 
 song 
 
 He comes whose strains bring rapture to my 
 soul!" 
 
 Scarce had she spoken, when two minstrels 
 
 came, 
 
 Tannhauser, led by Wolfram's loyal hand. 
 Upon the threshold paused they, as they saw 
 The fair sweet vision of the princess there. 
 Then Wolfram whispered: "See, -Elizabeth! 
 Draw near and greet her! None shall inter- 
 rupt!" 
 
 And near the door he stood, as sentinel, 
 While forward rushed Tannhauser in all 
 
 haste, 
 
 And threw himself impetuously down 
 Before Elizabeth, and faintly cried : 
 " O Princess ! " and could speak no further word. 
 
 While she, confused by all this sudden cry 
 And sudden show of feeling from the knight 
 Whom long she cherished in her secret heart, 
 Spake quickly: "Nay, thou must not kneel to 
 
 me, 
 
 Nor dare I meet thee thus! I must away!" 
 And she would go. But still he pleaded sore: 
 "Nay, dare to stay. I pray thee, do not go! 
 O, let me kneel forever at thy feet!" 
 
 29
 
 (()0 Then to his prayers Elizabeth gave heed, 
 flTnurtia-And kindly turning toward him, gently said: 
 
 *m nf '"* pray thee ' rise< T is not for thee to kneel 
 * "* Here in this hall which crowned thy triumphs 
 
 >0n0 oft; 
 
 Rise, I implore ! I give best thanks to Heaven 
 That thou hast come again to stay with us. 
 Where hast thou tarried all this weary time?" 
 
 And rising slow, Tannhauser soft replied : 
 "Far, far away in strange and distant lands; 
 But o'er it all, oblivion has come. 
 Between to-day and yesterday a veil 
 Which blots out all remembrance of the past, 
 Save one thing only in my constant thought 
 The awful bitterness and dark despair 
 Lest I might never hope to greet thee more, 
 Nor see thy fair face with my weary eyes." 
 
 Gently she asked, all kindness in her voice : 
 "What was it, then, that led thee back to us?" 
 And he replied: "A miracle it was, 
 Strange, inconceivable, by Heaven wrought!" 
 And stirred to deep emotions by his word, 
 She spake again her secret inner thought, 
 Revealing with all innocence and grace 
 The fondest hopes of her pure virgin heart : 
 " Praise God for this dear miracle of grace ! 
 I say it from my heart's profoundest depths.... 
 Forgive me ! Scarce I know what I have said ; 
 In dreams I seem, and foolish as a child ; 
 Thy presence is such gladness to my soul, 
 Such vision strange of life, mysterious, high. 
 
 30
 
 The world to me is changed. What can it 
 
 mean, COUtnfl= 
 
 This riddle, this emotion of my heart? tTTnt Of 
 
 Always I loved the merry minstrels' songs, ^ 
 And listened with delight so oft and long; 
 Always their stirring songs and noble praise 
 Held for my soul a fascinating spell; 
 Yet I confess, that wondrous song of thine 
 Has wakened in my heart a strange new life; 
 Repose and joy have seemed to fly from me ; 
 And there have come the bitterest pangs and 
 
 bliss, 
 
 Emotions which I cannot comprehend, 
 And longings which I never knew before. 
 What once to me was lovely now is changed, 
 And fled are all my former dear delights. 
 Yea, when thou hadst departed from our midst, 
 My peace was gone, and longing went with 
 
 thee. 
 
 No more the minstrels woke my heart to joy; 
 Their finest lays seemed sad and strange and 
 
 dead; 
 In slumber's dreams my heart was full of 
 
 pain; 
 
 In waking hours a train of woeful thoughts. 
 All gladness had departed from my life, 
 O Henry, tell! Why am I thus enthralled?" 
 
 Tannhauser, in all rapture, quick rejoined: 
 "Yea, God be praised for all his loving grace ! 
 Love touched my heart with magic melody; 
 Love spake to thee through all ,the wondrous 
 
 song! 
 
 Twas love that led me captive to thy feet I 
 
 31
 
 C|)C O blessed hour in which our hearts do meet ! 
 
 COUtna* blessed power of love that fills our lives! 
 
 merit Of At last l give thee greeting from my soul, 
 
 Ji; And gladly vow to leave thee nevermore! 
 
 Now shall my life awake renewed and strong; 
 Now shall new peace and hope rise in my 
 
 breast; 
 Now shall the clouds of sorrow break and 
 
 pass, 
 
 For glorious the sun of love doth shine!" 
 And Wolfram, hearing all this rapturous word, 
 And fair Elizabeth confessing love, 
 Spake to his heart, for he had also loved : 
 "So flies my last fond hope of winning her! 
 So fades my dream. Yet may their life be blest ! " 
 
 A moment stood the lovers in farewell, 
 Looking with rapture in each other's eyes, 
 And touching hands that trembled in delight. 
 Lifting her hand, he kissed it with an awe 
 That he should dare to touch so pure a thing, 
 Then turned and left her. Straight to Wolfram 
 
 turned, 
 
 And held him to his heart in gratitude, 
 Not dreaming of the pain in Wolfram's heart, 
 Or of the sacrifice of friend for friend. 
 Together from the hall they quickly went, 
 Tannhauser looking back and waving oft 
 To her who watched him from the balcony, 
 His dear Elizabeth, his new life's hope! 
 
 Soon were more footsteps heard, and presently 
 The Landgrave came to meet his loving niece,
 
 And welcome there the throngs of happy 
 
 guests 
 
 Who soon would come to grace the war of 
 
 Elizabeth ran to him as he came, 
 And hid her blushing face upon his breast. 
 Then spake he, in a kindly bantering way: 
 "Most gladly do I find thee in this hall 
 Which thou hast shunned these many months. 
 
 And pray, 
 
 What lured thee now from thy long solitude 
 To come and grace our feast of song to-day?" 
 And clinging to him, softly answered she : 
 "My sovereign uncle, father, yea, my all!" 
 Still smiling, and most kindly then he spake: 
 "Come, open now thy secret heart to me." 
 But looking up, most sweetly came her words : 
 "Gaze in my eyes and read. I cannot speak." 
 
 Then looked he earnestly, and saw love's light 
 Deep in the wonder of her tender eyes, 
 And answered: "Yea, unspoken let it be, 
 This loving secret of thy holiest life. 
 Let all its magic sweetness be untold, 
 Till thou thyself shalt bid it to unclose. 
 So shall it be. The wondrous flame of song 
 To-day shall soar to heights unknown before, 
 Thy presence shall give life and crown to all. 
 The glorious art shall match the glorious deed. 
 To-day our nobles will assemble here, 
 Already they approach to grace the feast. 
 None will be absent, for they all have heard 
 That thy fair hand will give the victor's 
 wreath. 
 
 33
 
 C3)0 ^ ea some ma y hope for thy fair hand itself, 
 OUtnS 1 *^^ e l ve ^ est P r ize that this wide world could 
 
 mentor give *" 
 
 ^0 ng And as they spoke, the trumpets sounded forth 
 The near beginning of the tournament. 
 The Landgrave and the fair Elizabeth, 
 Under a gorgeous canopy of state, 
 And high upon a dais brave arranged, 
 Waited the coming of the happy guests. 
 Four pages made announcement of the names, 
 While counts and ladies, knights and retinues, 
 Each noble holding his fair lady's hand, 
 Were welcomed by the Landgrave and his 
 
 niece 
 
 With gracious greetings and a smiling joy. 
 And in response of greeting sang the knights : 
 
 AIL, noble hall, where song the heart 
 rejoices, 
 
 May lays of peace within thee never fail ! 
 Long may we cry with glad and loyal voices: 
 Thuringia's Prince, great Landgrave Her- 
 mann, hail!" 
 
 Then the assembly took the seats assigned, 
 Forming a large half circle, brilliant, gay 
 With beauty, valor, gladness and renown ; 
 Gorgeous the men's gay garments and bright 
 
 plumes, 
 
 And fair the ladies, with their flowery gowns, 
 And golden circlets round their radiant brows, 
 And flowing veils of airy waving length. 
 And soon the minstrels entered walking slow, 
 With dignity and glory in their steps ; 
 34
 
 Each brow encircled with a laurel wreath, 
 Except Tannhauser's, for his wreath was lost 
 By forfeiture of absence from the court. 
 Right gaily were they clad in garb of song; 
 Each minstrel bore his silver-stringed harp, 
 While gleaming sword hung fiercely at each 
 
 side; 
 
 Stately they bowed to the assembled guests, 
 And took their places as the pages led. 
 
 These were the minstrels, each a man of 
 
 fame: 
 
 Wolfram von Eschenbach, a churchly soul ; 
 And Biterolf, an honest old gray wolf; 
 And Walter, von der Vogelweide called ; 
 Heinrich der Schreiber, poet of renown; 
 Reinmar von Zweter, scholar, minstrel, 
 
 knight; 
 
 But Tannhauser, the last to grace the hall, 
 Was greatest of them all in gifts and grace, 
 Noble in bearing, every inch a prince, 
 A glorious noble and a valiant knight. 
 
 Rising, the Landgrave spake these gracious 
 
 words : 
 "Welcome, brave knights and minstrels, to 
 
 these halls, 
 
 Where oft and nobly have ye sung of yore 
 In wisdom veiled, perchance in mirthful vein, 
 Yet ever gladdened every listening heart. 
 Ye kfiights have fought with swords, now 
 
 fight with songs. 
 Yea, tho' your swords were loosed in bloody 
 
 fray, 
 
 35
 
 C3)0 Drawn to uphold the German fatherland, 
 
 STOUtHfl* When with our southern foe we fought and 
 won, 
 
 fifcri iv And for our countr y braved the heroes' death, 
 Yet to the harp be equal meed of praise ; 
 For with the harp and voice ye nobly fight 
 For truth and honor and the happy home, 
 For virtue and for pure and noble faith, 
 And gain for these most gracious victory 1 
 Ye come to-day for festival of song, 
 And I would make it festival of joy ; 
 For here to-day our gallant minstrel comes 
 Whom for so long and woefully we missed. 
 We welcome him, although his blest return 
 In some mysterious darkness still is wrapped, 
 Perchance the magic power of song will tell. 
 Therefore hear now the theme I set for you : 
 The theme is Love, its nature and its ways: 
 How may we know it? what are its sure signs? 
 And know ye, for I say it solemnly, 
 He who most wisely and most worthily 
 Sings thus of Love, most lofty and most true, 
 To him the Princess shall award the prize. 
 He may demand the fairest guerdon known, 
 I vouch that what he asks shall granted be. 
 Up then, ye gallant minstrels! Tune your 
 
 harps 
 
 And sing the praise of Love. Great is the prize, 
 And ere the start, let all receive our thanks!" 
 
 Then cried the knights and all the throng of 
 
 guests: 
 
 "Hail! yea, thrice hail! Lord of Thuringia! 
 Hail! patron of the noble art of song!" 
 36
 
 Then all were seated, and four pages came 
 
 Up-gathering in a golden cup the names 
 
 Of all the minstrels. With a lowly bow 
 
 They handed it to fair Elizabeth, 
 
 Who stood as priestess of the sacred lots. 
 
 She put her fairy fingers in the cup, 
 
 And drew therefrom the fateful written slip 
 
 Whereon was writ his name who first should 
 
 sing 
 
 In this fair tournament of royal song. 
 Quickly the waiting pages took the slip, 
 Advanced with ceremony to the midst, 
 And read the name to all the company: 
 "Wolfram von Eschenbach begins the song!" 
 
 Then at the Landgrave's feet the pages sat, 
 While fair Elizabeth, a radiant queen, 
 Filled all the room with subtle sheen of light, 
 So wondrous was her gentle beauty's power, 
 So glorious the sweetness of her face. 
 Apart Tannhauser sat as if entranced, 
 And leaned in solemn thought upon his harp. 
 Brave Wolfram rose, full of a joy divine 
 That he was called to sing the praise of love. 
 His eyes shone brightly as he tuned his harp; 
 His noble face revealed his noble heart. 
 Softly and sweet his happy song began : 
 
 RAVE knights and ladies, ye delight 
 mine eyes! 
 Such fair assemblies grace no other land ; 
 Such gallant heroes, valiant, noble, wise, 
 They seem a stately forest, strong and grand. 
 
 37
 
 (j)0 "And blooming in this forest, wondrous, sweet, 
 
 ^DOUtn& s These dames and maidens are the flowers 
 
 merit Of Such no bi eness and beauty here doth meet, 
 My song is mute before the vision rare. 
 
 "Then I look upward and behold one star 
 That shines above the forest, clear in hea- 
 ven; 
 
 It gathers tender radiance from afar, 
 And to my heart one holy prayer is given. 
 
 "But lo! the forest's spring, life's spring, is 
 
 Love, 
 From whose unfathomed depths all joy doth 
 
 flow. 
 
 My spirit gazes deep, thanks God above, 
 And all my life feels new ethereal glow ! 
 
 "Oh, never would I sully that pure spring 
 By vain desire, or dark impurity ; 
 
 Kneeling, I worship thee, O Love ! and sing, 
 And for thee only, will I live or die. 
 
 " Brave knights and ladies, thus I sing to you 
 What I have felt of love, love pure and true!" 
 
 His eye had rested on Elizabeth 
 When he had sung of her as star of love. 
 T was human love he sang with fervent soul, 
 But love made glorious by its purity. 
 Applauding him, the knights and ladies cried: 
 "Tis true! 'tis true! We praise thy noble 
 song!" 
 
 38
 
 Then Tannhauser arose as from a dream, 
 Arid looked around defiant, fierce and wild. 
 Gazing a moment into far-off space, 
 A passionate delight shone on his face; 
 With trembling hands his harp-strings close he 
 
 felt; 
 
 A strange unearthly smile upon his lips, 
 As if some magic music thralled his soul ; 
 Nor knew he where he was, nor seemed to 
 
 care 
 
 That fair Elizabeth was looking down 
 With doubt and wonder in her troubled face. 
 Then with a start, he loudly swept his harp, 
 And sang in strangest mood an answering 
 
 song: 
 
 WOLFRAM,foolish is thy pallid song; 
 Ne'er hast thou tasted love or deepest 
 bliss; 
 Thy timid heart and smooth and stammering 
 
 tongue 
 Make life and love a dreary weariness. 
 
 "Thou singest Love, ethereal, dim and pure, 
 A limpid spring, a far-off shining star! 
 
 Such bloodless love my heart cannot endure, 
 Love is no limpid spring, nor star afar. 
 
 "Love is fair flesh in beauteous human form, 
 With laughing eyes and softest silken 
 tresses, 
 
 With kisses, and a throbbing breast, and warm 
 Soft clinging arms for tenderest caresses. 
 
 39
 
 -HP 
 
 "Love is no vision, far-off, chaste, divine, 
 Love ' s a hot heart that bea ts and throbs with 
 
 mentof raine! " 
 
 And at that interruption rude and wild, 
 For yet Tannhauser had no call to speak, 
 But broke the rules and blurted out his heart, 
 Full of a frenzy fierce and passionate, 
 Bringing a discord to all harmony, 
 The people in a consternation rose, 
 And fair Elizabeth in wild amaze 
 Looked on the knight intoxicate with lust. 
 Then Biterolf, another minstrel knight, 
 Him answered, speaking in the fiercest wrath: 
 
 E challenge thee, for who could silent 
 be 
 
 Enduring thy vile speech and insults free? 
 Thy pride hath reached its lowest ebb this 
 
 day; 
 Thou shameless slanderer of Love, away! 
 
 "When holy Love inspires our heart to song, 
 New valor makes the heart and sword more 
 
 strong; 
 Unshamed remains its spell most pure, most 
 
 high, 
 And for its glory would I gladly die ! 
 
 " For gracious womanhood and honor true, 
 Through fire and flood would I my way pursue ! 
 But love's low pleasures and the joys of lust 
 I scorn them worthless as the worthless dust." 
 
 40
 
 Then knights and ladies cried in great ap- 
 
 plause: 
 
 "Bravo, brave Biterolf! We stand with thee!" 
 But fiercer grew Tannhauser. Flashed his eyes *J 
 With angry passion and exultant joy, 
 And in a storm of wrath he answered wild : 
 
 vaunt, thou senseless babbler, Biterolf! 
 Thou canst not sing fair love, thou 
 grim old wolf! 
 On thy rough heart its sweetness never 
 
 gleamed, 
 
 The bliss that I have known thou ne'er hast 
 dreamed. 
 
 "Poor pallid soul, unfit for bliss or woe, 
 What rapture could thy thin blood ever know? 
 The gentle thrills of joy thy weak love brings 
 Are worthless as the song thy harp now sings!" 
 
 Stirred to a tumult, all the knights cried out: 
 "Let him not end. He is beside himself! 
 We will not hear his daring madness more!" 
 While Biterolf in anger drew his sword. 
 Then spake the Landgrave, quelling all the 
 
 strife, 
 "Put back thy sword! Ye minstrels, keep the 
 
 peace ! 
 
 Go forward with our tournament of song! 
 Wolfram, sing now thy final song to Love!" 
 
 And Wolfram rose amid a stillness deep, 
 While with an upward glance for Heaven's 
 
 smile, 
 He sang the closing of his noble song:
 
 CfcC "T^ ALLOW m y song, O Heaven, with 
 
 * holy art, 
 nf For noblest Love it sings, for Love it 
 
 strives; 
 
 Banished all sin and evil from our heart, 
 Let purity and honor fill our lives ! 
 
 "O highest, holiest Love, I sing thy praise! 
 
 Immortal fire, God's glory in a kiss ! 
 Upon thee, angel beautiful, I gaze; 
 
 Deep in my soul, I feel thy perfect bliss. 
 
 "Thou earnest like a god from heaven down; 
 
 I follow thee most reverent and afar; 
 I see all joys and graces as thy crown ; 
 
 Love divine, in heaven the brightest 
 star!" 
 
 Then once again Tannhauser swept his harp, 
 Exalted into madness fierce and strong; 
 Invoked the memory of past delights, 
 And of the evil goddess of his heart ; 
 And in the very melody and mood, 
 When he had sung to Venus his last song, 
 Broke out in blasts of stormy rhapsody 
 Of strangest frenzy, passionate and wild : 
 
 QUEEN of Love, immortal fame at- 
 tend thee! 
 
 1 sing thy praise, for I have known thy heart ! 
 Gorgeous the beauty, which all grace doth 
 
 lend thee! 
 
 Fount of all rapture, fiery Love thou art! 
 O burning bliss of rapture in thy kisses! 
 This, this is Love ! All else is drear and cold. 
 
 42
 
 Away, dull mortals, prating of love's blisses! 
 Draw near the hill of Venus and behold!" 
 
 And as he uttered "Venus!" name accurst, 
 A cry of horror burst from every throat: 
 "Ah, desperate madman! let him quick be 
 
 gone! 
 
 Hear his vile words ! He hath with Venus been ! 
 Away his loathed presence from our sight!" 
 
 In dire dismay the ladies rose and ran, 
 Shrinking away from this attainted wretch ; 
 A nameless terror thrilled them through and 
 
 through ; 
 
 They crowded from the hall in frantic haste. 
 Tannhauser hurled his harp upon the floor, 
 With crashing stroke that cried out like a 
 
 shriek. 
 Each minstrel's sword leaped from its angry 
 
 sheath; 
 
 It seemed as if a thunderclap had struck 
 The dreadful day of discord and of doom. 
 Elizabeth in horror turned away, 
 Yet stood in fresh anxiety and fear, 
 
 Her soul athrob in agony of tears 
 
 It was an awful moment, great with fate, 
 Wrath, clamor, shouting, and a horror deep. 
 
 Quickly the minstrels left their seats, and now 
 Had gathered round the Landgrave and the 
 
 knights ; 
 
 Distress and wrath upon their faces glowered 
 As fierce they looked at Tannhauser, who stood 
 Defiant and alone, with passion mad. 
 
 43
 
 {|)0 Then cried the knights for desperate revenge : 
 
 Snotltna' "^^6 dark avowal of his shame ye hear! 
 
 His own lips insolent confess his guilt! 
 * Of He hath been partner in the lust of hell, 
 ^>0n0 And paramour of Venus in vile love! 
 
 Abominable! shameless! thrice-accurst! 
 
 These swords shall drink thy worthless 
 traitor-blood ! 
 
 Go back in shame to hell's most loathsome pit, 
 
 And be anathema for evermore!" 
 
 They pressed Tannhauser with their glittering 
 
 swords, 
 
 And in a moment would have slain him there, 
 As shameless traitor to his sacred vows, 
 Had not Elizabeth rushed quick between, 
 And saved the victim from the fierce assault 
 With the loud cry: "Stay ye! hold back your 
 
 swords!" 
 
 And as they halted in a wondering maze, 
 The Landgrave spake, reproof was in his voice : 
 "Elizabeth! What foolish deed is this, 
 Thou chastest maiden shielding such vile sin?" 
 But still she stood her ground and answered 
 
 them, 
 
 Hiding Tannhauser's body with her own: 
 "Stand back! or pierce this bosom with your 
 
 swords ! 
 
 Death and its terrors cannot crush me now, 
 For he hath struck me a far deadlier wound." 
 
 Again the Landgrave spake: "Elizabeth, 
 Scarce can I listen to thy gentle words. 
 
 44
 
 How comes thy purest heart thus deep en- 
 thralled 
 
 To pity him so shameless and so vile? 
 Such base betrayer needs thy fiercest scorn!" 
 But still she shielded him and pleading spoke: 
 "Think not of me! For I would save his soul. 
 He must not be accurst eternally. 
 And now I ask you with my woman's heart, 
 Ye would not rob him of eternal hope?" 
 
 Then spake the Landgrave sternly with slow 
 
 words : 
 
 "This madman casts away all hope of heaven, 
 And such as he can never be redeemed ! 
 A sin like his thrusts him beyond the pale! 
 Upon him rests forever Heaven's curse!" 
 
 And once again they sought to take his life, 
 But she still held them off and loudly cried: 
 "Away from him! Ye cannot be his judge! 
 O be not cruel ! Put aside your swords, 
 And listen to a spotless maiden's prayer! 
 Let Heaven declare through me its holy will! 
 The hapless mortal who hath been ensnared 
 By some mysterious maze and toil of sin, 
 How dare you say he may not win again 
 Salvation through deep pain and penitence? 
 Ye who are such believers in God's truth, 
 Ye cannot now deny His highest word! 
 Speak, would you rob a sinner of his hope, 
 In His name, who was hope and mercy's self? 
 Behold me ! how my tender heart is crushed. 
 Yon knight has struck my life with cruel blow, 
 For this true heart did love him faithfully, 
 
 45
 
 ^J)0 And now is hurled to darkest depths of woe. 
 
 (ETOUtHfl- ^ et ^ * P ray ^ or ki m> O s P are his life! 
 . f Give him, I pray, the chance of penitence! 
 Renew in him a ray of faith and hope! 
 Tell him for sinners the dear Saviour died!" 
 
 And as she spake, Tannhauser seemed to hear, 
 His frenzy left him; he grew calm again. 
 Then as his reason came, he wept in pain 
 And fell upon the floor in agony 
 With moans: "Woe, woe is me! Forever lost!" 
 
 After a space, the quiet came again, 
 
 For hearts were deeply touched by her appeal. 
 
 Then spake the Landgrave with a trembling 
 
 voice : 
 
 "Methinks an angel from the highest heaven 
 Has come and brought us God's own holy word. 
 Behold, thou despicable, thou shameless one, 
 This noble maiden thou hast sinned against! 
 Thou gavest hurt to her, as cruel as death, 
 Yet prays she for thy worthless life and soul. 
 Who would not yield, hearing such angel 
 
 prayer? 
 
 Dare I to hold the guilty unforgiven 
 When Heaven's message shows a door of hope ? 
 Yea, thy dread crime forgiveness yet may find, 
 And in God's name, I bid thee live and hope!" 
 
 Still lying prone in sorrow and remorse, 
 Weeping, Tannhauser uttered the deep prayer : 
 "An angel from God's heaven was sent to me 
 To save my sinful soul from lowest hell! 
 And O! with desperate insolence of sin 
 I dared to raise my lecherous eyes to her. 
 46
 
 Elizabeth pleads for Tannhauser
 
 O Thou most merciful to human sin, CbC 
 
 This angel comes from Thee to save my soul! C^OUtnfl : 
 Have mercy on me, deep in sin I cry, tttltU Of 
 
 Give grace of Heaven to my dark despair!" 
 
 In agony, Tannhauser rushed to them, 
 
 Imploring each to plunge the glittering sword 
 
 Into his heart, and end his misery. 
 
 But none would slay him after her fair prayer. 
 
 Into the midst the Landgrave gravely stepped, 
 
 And spake his sentence, hard but merciful: 
 
 "Ye see a deed most shameless come to light! 
 
 There stole among us, in a treacherous mask, 
 
 A foul and thrice-accursed child of sin. 
 
 We now disown him, ban and banish him ; 
 
 By him our threshold pure is stained with 
 shame, 
 
 And harboring him too long, the wrath of Hea- 
 ven 
 
 May justly strike if we deal light with sin. 
 
 Know, wretched one, to keep thee from thy 
 doom, 
 
 One path alone can save thy guilty soul. 
 
 This path I show thee. Seek, and save thy soul ! 
 
 To-day a band of pilgrim penitents 
 
 Have gathered from all parts of my domain. 
 
 The older ones already have set forth ; 
 
 The younger rest them in the vale below. 
 
 'T is not for darkest crimes like thine they go, 
 
 But only common daily faults and sins; 
 
 Desire for heavenly grace is in their souls, 
 
 And so they seek the sacred shrine at Rome. 
 
 Go with these pilgrims to the holy place! 
 
 Kneel in the dust and there atone thy sin! 
 
 47
 
 Bow unto him who holds the keys of heaven, 
 COUtna* The sovereign Pontiff of the Church of God. 
 tttClU Of But come not back unless he shall forgive, 
 ^pHfl And thou canst bring the open sign of shrift. 
 Yea, we resign the vengeance in our heart, 
 Because this maiden like an angel prayed ; 
 Butshouldstthou loiter still in sin and shame, 
 Beware! a sword shall find thy guilty heart!" 
 
 Then fair Elizabeth up-breathed this prayer: 
 "O God of grace, be merciful to him! 
 Though deep and dark his sin, forgive, I pray! 
 For him I do beseech, my whole life cries, 
 Let him not sink in night, but see Thy light! 
 O God, to save his soul I give myself, 
 In willing sacrifice I give Thee all ! 
 Henceforth I hide me in the cloistered walls, 
 With nuns of God and sisters of the poor, 
 To mingle prayers to Thee with loving deeds 
 And plead forever for his guilty soul. 
 Take my whole life! I call it mine no more!" 
 
 Full bitterly Tannhauser prayed again : 
 "O where shall I find mercy for my sin, 
 And how atone for this mine awful guilt? 
 All hope hath vanished from my sorrowing 
 
 soul; 
 
 God's grace hath gone and left me deep de- 
 spair. 
 
 Yet will I turn my steps in penitence, 
 And beat my breast in sorrow for my sin, 
 And kneel in dust before the throne of grace. 
 Accurst forever be my guilty lust! 
 O, that thou also might forgive my guilt, 
 
 48
 
 Thou heavenly angel of my heart's last hope! 
 
 So cruelly and basely wronged by me, 
 
 Who yet can give thyself in sacrifice!" tttgnt Of 
 
 Then as he knelt in heartfelt penitence 
 He heard again the early morning chant 
 Solemn, majestic in the twilight vale. 
 Full soon a band of pilgrims came in sight, 
 And fair Elizabeth with upraised hand 
 Pointed to them as to a happy sign. 
 Nearer they came, she heard the solemn words, 
 And bade him listen to their holy hymn : 
 
 "Unto the holy shrine we go, 
 Thrice blessed they who pardon know, 
 To seek the peace of God's own word, 
 By penitence before their Lord." 
 
 Tannhauser heard, and started suddenly, 
 A ray of hope had lighted in his soul. 
 Down at the feet of dear Elizabeth 
 He threw himself in agony of tears, 
 Devoutly kissing her fair garment's hem ; 
 Then rising up again, he broke away 
 To follow with the pilgrims, crying loud : 
 "To Rome! to Rome!" 
 
 And all call after him, 
 Landgrave and minstrels, knights and nobles 
 
 all, 
 
 And fair Elizabeth with tearful eyes, 
 A prayer and hope uprising in their hearts: 
 "To Rome! to Rome! God grant him grace at 
 
 Rome!" 
 
 49
 
 TANNHAUSER. PART III
 
 >PE'S PARDON 
 
 HE sunset of a glorious autumn day 
 
 Flings out effulgence, purple and red 
 gold; 
 
 The sky is an apocalypse of light, 
 The open portals of a radiant heaven. 
 There are the towers and pinnacles and domes 
 Of the celestial city of the clouds; 
 While far beyond gleam summits snowy- 
 capped 
 
 Of silver mountains lustrous with the light, 
 And shining lakes of that immortal land 
 Of shimmering glory in the sunset skies. 
 Nearer at hand the massive rocky height 
 And strong-built castle of the Wartburg stand, 
 And to the left, that mount of heathen wiles, 
 That frowning dreariness, the Horselberg. 
 
 Here in the valley where the autumn leaves 
 Are thick with color stands the Virgin's shrine 
 For roadside worship, and before it now 
 A woman knelt in prayer. In sorrow deep 
 And sore distress, she wrung her hands and 
 
 wept, 
 Clothed all in white, like some fair cloistered 
 
 nun, 
 
 In penitential robe of purity, 
 With sorrows whitening even her white soul. 
 
 Lo! 'twas the fair Elizabeth who wept, 
 Heartsick for love betrayed and hope deferred. 
 
 And now another figure came in sight, 
 Descending from the wooded mountain heights 
 Along a path that led him to the shrine. 
 
 53
 
 'Twas that brave knight, Wolfram von Esch- 
 
 enbach; 
 13tU*D011 Slowly ^ e walked as if in heavy thought. 
 
 Sudden he saw the fair Elizabeth, 
 And stopped a moment, murmuring to himself: 
 "See where she kneels by yonder sacred shrine 
 In fervent prayer! Yea, often is she there. 
 For thus I see her, as I wind my way 
 Sad way and lonely these dull, weary days 
 Down the far valley from the wooded heights. 
 There prays she for the sinner, day and night, 
 Who struck a death-blow to her loving heart, 
 Bruising her life in passionate disdain. 
 For him she prays the mercy of high Heaven. 
 (O holy love, how wonderful thy grace !) 
 But soon the pilgrims will return from Rome: 
 T is autumn and erelong they must be here. 
 Will he come back repentant and absolved? 
 These are her questions, this her constant 
 
 prayer. 
 Grant, O ye saints, that they may meet once 
 
 more, 
 
 Although my wound may never heal again, 
 Yea, grant to her all comfort and all peace!" 
 And once again he started on his way, 
 When floating up the valley came a sound 
 Of happy pilgrims singing holy hymns. 
 
 Quickly Elizabeth before the shrine 
 Arose and listened, then cried out in joy: 
 "It is the pilgrims' song! They come again! 
 O holy saints, reveal my duty now, 
 That I may do it worthily and well!" 
 
 54
 
 The final prayer of Elizabeth
 
 While Wolfram spake, communing with him- Cf)0 
 
 self: 
 
 " Yea, 't is the pilgrims and their solemn chant 
 That tells of sins absolved and pardon won. 
 O heavenly grace, make strong her loving 
 
 heart, 
 For this the dreaded crisis of her life!" 
 
 Far off the pilgrims' song was sweetly heard ; 
 Nearer they came, and clearer were the words ; 
 The winding roads, thick-wooded, hid from view 
 The marching throng, as tunefully they raised 
 Their joyous voices full of cheer and peace; 
 Until they came in sight and reverent kneeled 
 Beside the wayside shrine, and sang this song: 
 
 PPY we come to home and friends, 
 In these dear fields our journey ends; 
 
 Our pilgrim staves henceforth may rest! 
 
 For peace, deep peace, now fills our breast ! 
 
 "The sinner's prayer on high was heard, 
 And answered by our gracious Lord; 
 The tears we poured before His shrine 
 Were turned to hope and joy divine! 
 
 "The saving grace washed out our sin; 
 The peace of God came flowing in ; 
 All fear of death and hell is o'er, 
 O praise the Lord for evermore ! 
 
 Sing hallelujah o'er and o'er ! 
 
 Sing hallelujah evermore!" 
 
 And still they sang their hymns as on they 
 
 went, 
 Passed by the shrine, and farther down the 
 
 vale; , 55
 
 The while Elizabeth scanned each glad face, 
 Her heart a-tremble with her eager hope. 
 ^ ^ ace s ^ e ^ new - Deep piteous was her cry, 
 K nee ii n g onc e more before the Virgin's shrine : 
 "He cometh back no more, nay, nevermore! 
 O blessed Virgin, hear my fervent prayer! 
 To thee, beloved Helper, now I cry! 
 Here in the dust I bend before thy shrine! 
 O, now release me from this weary earth ! 
 Grant that my virgin soul, made angel-pure, 
 May enter now thy holy kingdom's gates ! 
 There may I utter truer prayers for him 
 Whose burden of deep guilt is on my heart ! 
 If in vain hope I have been deep enthralled, 
 And turned my heart at all from thee away; 
 If in a thoughtless, foolish hour I held 
 An earthly longing cherished in my soul, 
 Now have I struggled with the bitterest pains, 
 And slain desire within my secret heart ! 
 Yet if thou shrive me not by welcome death, 
 O, grant me grace to bear my loveless fate, 
 For I in all humility to thee 
 Do vow to live a virgin all my days ; 
 And evermore my prayer to thee shall rise 
 That heavenly grace may save him from his 
 
 sins, 
 Him whom I loved, and lost!" 
 
 Long time she knelt ; 
 
 Then as she slowly rose, she saw Wolfram, 
 Who near approached to have a word with 
 
 her. 
 
 She bade him by a gesture not to speak ; 
 Too full and heavy are sad hearts for words ; 
 
 56
 
 And when at length after a silence long, 
 
 He asked: "Pray, may I walk the path with 
 
 thee?" 
 
 She spake no word, but showed him by a look 
 That though she thanked him for his faithful 
 
 love, 
 
 She never could accept it. Naught to her 
 Were things of earth henceforth. She lived for 
 
 Heaven. 
 
 And as she upward looked with glance en- 
 tranced, 
 
 He saw her meaning, and in reverence stood. 
 Slow and alone she wended her sad way 
 Along the mountain path to farther heights, 
 Until at last she disappeared from view 
 Within the frowning Wartburg's massive walls. 
 
 As long as he could see her, Wolfram watched 
 With tenderness and longing in his eyes ; 
 Then taking up his harp, he played and sang 
 This fair romance of evening's holy star, 
 While twilight trembled into gathering night: 
 
 HE dusk, like death, a gloomy dark- 
 ness brings, 
 Enshrouds the valleys with her sombre wings ; 
 The soul who follows to yon glorious height 
 Must leave behind all fear, and dare the night ! 
 There shinest thou, O loveliest, tenderest star! 
 Thy softened light a blessing near and far ! 
 With thy fair rays new faith and hope are 
 
 given, 
 And from the vale of earth, thou leadest to 
 
 heaven ! 
 
 57
 
 "O thou sublime, sweet evening star, 
 Joyous I greet thee from afar! 
 ]K)arfinn Whisper my love as she goes by, 
 
 From earth's green valleys to the sky! 
 My heart to that fair angel given, 
 Soon to be brightest star in heaven ! 
 
 "O evening star, thy holy light 
 Gladly I welcome with the night! 
 And from my heart that hid its love 
 I send my prayers to her above ! 
 God gave her for earth's fairest vision, 
 Soon rises she to heights Elysian!" 
 
 Now grew the night more dark. And in the 
 
 gloom 
 
 Appeared a traveller, footsore and sad ; 
 Pallid his face and drawn ; his tattered dress 
 Perchance was once a pilgrim's solemn garb. 
 Helped by his staff, he walked with falt'ring 
 
 steps. 
 Sudden he stopped and listened. Then he 
 
 spake: 
 "I heard the sound of harp. How sad the 
 
 strings ! 
 Surely it was not she who played and sang." 
 
 From out the night and shadows Wolfram rose, 
 And asked the stranger courteously and fair: 
 "Who art thou, pilgrim, wandering so alone?" 
 Whereat the tattered traveller drew near, 
 And gazed intently at the minstrel-knight : 
 "And dost thou ask that question, Who am I? 
 Right well do I know thee. Wolfram thou art, 
 The 'clever minstrel ! 'called by loving friends." 
 58
 
 Elizabeth bids farewell to Wolfram
 
 Mocking he spake, and Wolfram quickly 
 
 cried: 
 
 "What see mine eyes? Tannhauser, is it thou? 
 What brings thee here dejected and distressed? 
 Speak, gloomy pilgrim! Not with sin un- 
 
 sh rived, 
 Thou darest to set foot in our domain!" 
 
 But sadly spake Tannhauser, for 'twas he: 
 "Nay, pious minstrel, put thy fears aside! 
 I seek not thee, nay, nor thy fellows proud. 
 A path I seek, or else a trusty guide, 
 To find a path that once I trod with ease." 
 And Wolfram asked: "What path is that you 
 
 seek?" 
 
 To which Tannhauser answered with a cry 
 That seemed to tell a frenzy of desire, 
 The bitter longing of a desperate heart: 
 "The path to Venus in the Horselberg!" 
 
 Amazed and horror-stricken, Wolfram cried : 
 "O hapless wretch! Is this thy purpose vile? 
 Thy desperate words my very ears profane!" 
 Then asked Tannhauser fiercely once again : 
 "Nay, but the path! Canst guide me to the 
 
 path?" 
 " Madman ! " cried Wolfram. " Horror 's in thy 
 
 words! 
 Whence comest thou? Didst thou not go to 
 
 Rome?" 
 
 "Speak not of Rome!" Tannhauser cried in 
 
 rage. 
 Then Wolfram once again asked quietly: 
 
 59
 
 "And didst thou seek no pardon for thy sin? 
 Didst thou not seek the holy shrine for shrift?" 
 
 "Nor speak of that!" Tannhauser answered 
 
 him. 
 
 Yet Wolfram still persisted: "Speak, I pray! 
 And tell me whether thou hast been to Rome?" 
 Then grimly Tannhauser, in bitter pain : 
 "Yea, I have been to Rome, God save the 
 
 day!" 
 
 But Wolfram cried : "Speak on, unhappy man ! 
 I hear thy words with deepest sympathy." 
 
 "With sympathy?" the other in amaze, 
 "What sayest thou? Then thou art not my 
 
 foe?" 
 
 And Wolfram: "Nay, thy foe I never was! 
 I only sought to keep thee firm and true. 
 But speak! How fared thy pilgrimage?" 
 
 His eye 
 
 Alone responding to the generous love, 
 Slowly Tannhauser spake: "Yea, Wolfram, 
 
 hark! 
 
 And thou shalt hear all that befell at Rome! 
 Nay, come not close to me ! Where'er I am 
 Is deep accurst! Stand off, but mark me well! 
 More penitent in soul than ever pilgrim went 
 On earth before, I sought my way to Rome. 
 An angel had dispelled the pride of sin, 
 The mad profaneness, from my guilty breast ; 
 For her dear sake I took the sorrowing path 
 To pray for pardon and for earthly peace ; 
 For her whose sweet tears pleaded still for me, 
 And sad bewailed my heavy grievous sin. 
 
 60
 
 Yea, as I saw the pilgrims laden sore, 
 Me-seemed their burdens still were far too 
 
 And when their feet oft sought the easy path, *&&& 
 I trod unshod amid the rock and thorn ; 
 When they refreshed their lips by some cool 
 
 stream, 
 
 Thirsty I plodded on beneath the sun ; 
 When they besought the aid of holy saints, 
 I shed my life-blood for the cause divine ; 
 When in some hospice they sought sheltered 
 
 rest, 
 
 I stretched my limbs amid the snow and ice ; 
 Lest Italy's fair scenes should give me joy, 
 Blindfold I walked and kept my soul full sad. 
 Thus did I go, repenting, crushed and 
 
 bruised, 
 
 For that dear angel's sake who wept for me. 
 Then Rome I gained at last, and at its shrine, 
 Its holiest shrine, I knelt in fervent prayer. . . . 
 The daylight broke; the silver bells pealed 
 
 forth; 
 'Neath vaulted roofs the heavenly hymns were 
 
 sung; 
 
 A thousand voices rose exultantly, 
 For grace and mercy flowed o'er every soul. 
 There saw I him who holds the keys of heaven, 
 And prostrate fell the throngs before his face, 
 And thousands he forgave that day, and 
 
 blessed, 
 And sent them forth renewed in heavenly 
 
 grace. 
 
 Then drew I near, head bowed and eyes down- 
 cast; 
 
 61
 
 Confessed my sin, in sorrow and despair; 
 Accused my darkened soul of mad desires; 
 Bewailed the fire no penitence had quenched ; 
 
 And wildly cried for pardon and release 
 
 I thought he seemed at first most pitiful ; 
 In tears and dust I craved one gracious word; 
 Then pity died within his kindly eye ; 
 He looked at me most sternly and replied : 
 'If thou hast shared the joys of evil love, 
 And warmed thy soul in those unholy fires 
 Where Venus dwells in heathen blasphemy, 
 Then art thou now and evermore accurst ! 
 Yea, sooner shall this seasoned staff I hold 
 Put forth in miracle fresh leaf or bloom 
 Than thy lost soul be snatched from lowest 
 
 hell, 
 
 Or fair forgiveness ever bloom for thee ! ' . . . 
 Despair heartrending made my senses swim, 
 And down I sank. When I awoke again, 
 T was night, and all forsaken, there I lay, 
 The only one of thousands so repulsed. 
 Far off I heard the songs of prayer and praise, 
 But deep damnation thundered in my soul, 
 The sorrowing music of a deep despair. 
 Loathing the place I fled their holy hymns, 
 Fled from the lying clangor of their bells, 
 Fled madly as though called, 'Unclean! Un- 
 clean!' 
 
 With horror in my heart I turned and fled 
 
 Then longed my soul again to taste those joys 
 That once had cured my earth-born pains and 
 
 woe. . . . 
 
 And so, cast out, accurst by God and man, 
 Fair Venus, once again to thee I come ! 
 62
 
 The sweet night breathes thy magic witchery! 
 
 I come to thy dark courts as bounden slave! 
 
 Only be gracious and assuage my pains!" 10 ft tD OH 
 
 Appalling was his mad ecstatic voice, 
 
 Then Wolfram cried: "Nay, nay, unhappy 
 
 man!" 
 
 But still to Venus did Tannhauser pray: 
 "O Venus, thou forgivest! Guide my feet! 
 How well in other days this road I knew! 
 Behold, I have been cursed and spurned of men ! 
 Come, fairest Venus, take me once again ! . . . 
 Ah, now methinks I see her fairy clouds 
 That softly float into the valley here, 
 And light the darkness with their rosy light! 
 Yea ! dost thou not the balmy breezes feel, 
 And breathe her presence in the perfumed air? 
 Yea! hear the rapturous music sounding 
 
 forth, 
 
 Mysterious glory from the mountain's heart! 
 And see ! in mazy dance the graceful nymphs ! 
 See, see their ecstasy of whirling love! 
 Behold, the air is full of dancing forms! 
 Come on, ye fair ones! Pour me pleasure's 
 
 draught!" 
 
 But Wolfram in a greater horror cried : 
 "Madman, away! Or thou art lost or dead! 
 Yea, would that thou wert rather in thy 
 
 grave ! . . . 
 
 How wildly now he pants in shuddering joy! 
 What evil magic fills the darkened air 
 With visions that allure him to the depths? 
 What evil demons seem to crowd the night!" 
 
 63
 
 Louder Tannhauser called in frantic might : 
 "O rapture, bliss in all my throbbing heart! 
 l)fttDOtt * *" ee ^ ner dark ambrosial breath on me! 
 
 This is the magic realm of her sweet love ! 
 Now, fairest Venus, I am here with thee!". . . 
 And as he spake, the rifting clouds unclosed, 
 The while mysterious music thrilled and 
 
 throbbed, 
 
 And lo ! fair Venus, radiant in charms, 
 Reclining on a couch of rosy light. 
 Gently she spake with soft reproaches kind : 
 "Yea, thou art welcome, poor unfaithful soul! 
 The world has cursed thee with its hate and 
 
 ban! 
 Nowhere on earth canst thou find pardon, 
 
 peace! 
 
 So wouldst thou seek for solace in my love?" 
 Devoutly kneeling, glad Tannhauser prayed : 
 "Yea, fairest Venus, great in tenderness, 
 Receive me in thy pity to thy heart!" 
 And Venus answered him with gracious smiles: 
 "If of thine own free will thou seekest me, 
 I will forgive thy rash unfaithfulness ! 
 Come, then, and taste the fount of deathless 
 
 joy, 
 
 The myriad joys within my radiant realms, 
 And nevermore depart from my heart's love!" 
 
 But Wolfram tightly clutched him, crying loud : 
 "Begone, ye hellish phantoms! Quick, begone! 
 Ye banish every pure thought from ourhearts 1" 
 Fiercely Tannhauser tore himself away, 
 With the wild words: "Nay, let me go, I say! 
 I am accurst and lost to hope on earth, 
 
 64
 
 Naught but the joys of hell are left to me!" 
 But Wolfram clutched him tighter still and 
 
 prayed : 
 
 "Almighty God, be pitiful and kind! . . . 
 Henry, one word, forgiveness full it means, 
 Repent!" 
 
 But angrily Tannhauser cried: 
 "Nay, speak no more! Away from me, I say!" 
 
 Then Venus called again in wistful word: 
 
 "O come, beloved! Mine forever now!" 
 
 But Wolfram clung to him with desperate 
 
 strength, 
 
 Tannhauser vainly struggling to get free, 
 Exclaiming still: "I will not let thee go! 
 Thou must be saved ! Thy sin must be forgiven ! " 
 Tannhauser, struggling, muttered with slow 
 
 breath: 
 
 "Nay, never! Let me go! I must go down! 
 Wolfram, all hope is gone! The heavens are 
 
 closed!" 
 
 But Wolfram cried : " Nay, heaven is open still ! 
 An angel on the earth once prayed for thee, 
 Now, even now, her spirit, winging flight, 
 Dropped blessing on thee as she rose to hea- 
 ven! 
 
 With reverence deep I speak her holy name ! 
 Angel of purity, her name I breathe 
 Elizabeth ! she prays for thee in heaven !" 
 
 Sudden Tannhauser paused, nor struggled 
 
 more; 
 He seemed awakwiing from some darksome 
 
 dream ; 
 
 65
 
 And looking upward fervently he cried : 
 
 "Elizabeth! she prays for me in heaven! 
 
 O God, I do repent me in the dust!" 
 
 And in a torrent of repentant tears, 
 
 His whole soul throbbed and trembled in its 
 
 woe. 
 
 And Wolfram came to him most tenderly; 
 Put round him his strong brotherly right arm, 
 And whispered to him: "Yea, thine angel prays! 
 She prays for thee before the very throne ! 
 She prays, and God doth hear! Thy heart re- 
 pents ! 
 Henry, thou art forgiven! thou art forgiven!" 
 
 Faintly the voice of Venus sighed and sobbed : 
 "Woe! I have lost him now for evermore!" 
 And quick she vanished with her rosy clouds 
 And all the evil witchery of night. . . . 
 
 And now God's morning broke in fresh sweet 
 
 light, 
 
 Pure as a soul but newly shrived for heaven, 
 A fair day for the sweet and holy earth, 
 A fair day for the sweet immortal life. 
 
 Forth from the Wartburg came a saddened 
 
 throng, 
 
 With glimmering torches of funereal gloom, 
 In slow procession down the winding way; 
 And as they walked this solemn dirge they 
 
 sang: 
 
 ECEIVE, O Lord, this patient soul so 
 bright 
 That now to Thee has gladly winged her flight ; 
 
 66
 
 "Hers be the blest reward to angels given, Cf)0 
 Crowned with the glory and the joy of heaven ; JpOpC^iS 
 
 "Sainted forever with that glorious band 
 Who robed in white before th' Eternal stand. 
 
 "And blest be he whose sins are all forgiven, 
 And by her prayers and tears at last gains 
 heaven." 
 
 Faint with his grief, Tannhauser trembling 
 
 fell; 
 
 But Wolfram caught him gently in his arms, 
 And whispered: "Speak! dost hear their holy 
 
 hymn 
 
 Of prayer and praise for her who is in heaven?" 
 Dying he murmured: "Yea, I hear the hymn." 
 
 Then nearer still the sad procession drew, 
 
 The Landgrave, knights and nobles follow- 
 ing; 
 
 And like a bride of death on open couch 
 
 Lay fair Elizabeth, a saint of God, 
 
 Clothed in a simple robe of purest white, 
 
 Lustrous like her own soul's sweet purity; 
 
 And crowned and garlanded with pure white 
 flowers, 
 
 Herself the sweetest flower of all the world. 
 
 Then Wolfram brought Tannhauser to the 
 
 couch, 
 
 To gaze upon that sweet face still in death ; 
 And coming near, Tannhauser looked in love, 
 And bending o'er her body, prayed the prayer: 
 
 67
 
 "Dear saint Elizabeth, O, pray for me!" 
 10 ODE'S ^ nc * w ^ t ^ e worc * s > ^ e swoone d, and breathed 
 
 parnon hislast 
 
 Thus were two suffering souls prepared for 
 
 heaven, 
 
 An<J found each other after many days ; 
 Thus was a pure and faithful woman's heart 
 Triumphant over all the wiles of sin. 
 
 For, as in awe, the bearers quenched their 
 
 lights, 
 
 Inverting their funereal torches' flame ; 
 And as the glorious morning sun burst forth 
 In greater glory o'er the mountain tops; 
 Another company of pilgrims came, 
 Returning from the holy shrines of Rome. 
 Across the mountain paths they slowly moved, 
 And to the valley wended their sad way; 
 Holding aloft a rough-hewn wooden cross, 
 Wreathed in fair flowers, for it was special gift 
 And special message from the Pope's own 
 
 hand; 
 And as they walked they sang this wondrous 
 
 strain: 
 
 EJOICE ! the gracious Lord hath mar- 
 
 vels wrought ! 
 
 He hath redemption to his people brought ! 
 Behold his deed in night's most holy hour! 
 Behold his miracle of wondrous power ! 
 
 "For lo! the Pontiff's staff, once dry and dead, 
 God hath renewed with blossoms bright and 
 red! 
 
 68
 
 So shall the sinner, dead in shame and sin, 
 Receive forgiveness, and new life begin! 
 
 "Tell wide the news ! Raise high the gladsome 
 voice ! 
 
 And may each sinning, sorrowing heart re- 
 joice! 
 
 High above all is God, the sinner's Friend! 
 
 His mercy and compassion have no end!" 
 
 So sang they, and the hearts of all were glad ; 
 Redemption had been wrought before their 
 
 eyes, 
 
 A lost soul saved at last by faith and love ! 
 And all the throng, a motley company, 
 Knights, pilgrims, nobles, stirred with feeling 
 
 deep, 
 United in one hymn of gratitude : 
 
 RAISE God with hallelujahs o'er and 
 
 o'er! 
 
 Praise Him and sing hosannas evermore! 
 His pitying grace gives now its open token! 
 The Lord himself the bonds of sin hath broken! 
 Praises to God ! ye angel hosts on high ! 
 Praises to God! let every creature cry! 
 God's grace to every penitent is given ! 
 The vilest sinner may at last win heaven!" 
 
 THE END
 
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