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Tannhäuser-Richard Wagner · Tristan and Isolde

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  Speaker 1: Section one of Tannheuser. This is a LibriVox recording. All
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
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  Speaker 1: or to volunteer, please visit libriyvox dot org. Read by
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  Speaker 1: Alan Maxtone. Tannheuser by Ricard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckel,
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  Speaker 1: Part one. In the Hill of Venus, close to the
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  Speaker 1: peaceful vale of Eisenacht in far Thuringia, towers a gloomy mount,
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  Speaker 1: the Horselburgh, a grim and lonely pile, long called the
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  Speaker 1: Hill of Venus, with its cave unfathomed, depths of subterranean gloom,
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  Speaker 1: where men have lost their souls in heathen love to
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  Speaker 1: that fair goddess of the evil Heart, who vanished from
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  Speaker 1: the light by the White Christ, holds now her court
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  Speaker 1: and pagan revelries deep in the dark abysses of the earth.
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  Speaker 1: Come near and gaze into the desperate depths. For now
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  Speaker 1: the Horselberg is gaping wide, and music of the revels
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  Speaker 1: issues forth, re echoing from the rocky halls and walls.
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  Speaker 1: The fair false Venus holds her court to day. See
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  Speaker 1: far within, behold the great cave's breadth. See there the sparkling,
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  Speaker 1: flashing waterfall plunging in foam across the mossy rocks to
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  Speaker 1: winding waters of a happy brook that pearls and flashes
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  Speaker 1: through the flowery fields. Far off a crystal lake of
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  Speaker 1: shimmering blue, where grace for niads toss the shining waves
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  Speaker 1: with laughter, shouting in their merry baths. Along the lake's
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  Speaker 1: white strand, fair sirens rest within the grateful shade of
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  Speaker 1: noble trees. A rosy light, like the first flush of dawn,
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  Speaker 1: illumines all the cave with sunrise tints. Here a group
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  Speaker 1: of nymphs in airy dance of fairy circles, while amid
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  Speaker 1: the groves are pairs of blushing lovers, dimly seen reclining
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  Speaker 1: blissful on the grassy mounds. Sudden come rushing in tumultuous dance,
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  Speaker 1: the wild bikantes, mad with fiery joy and quivering with
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  Speaker 1: voluptuous melody. They stir the dancing nymphs and lover's fair
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  Speaker 1: to join them in their frenzied whirl of love. While
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  Speaker 1: soft the sirens sing a serenade, Oh, come to the
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  Speaker 1: strand of the Lake of Delight, Oh, come to the
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  Speaker 1: land of beauty. Most bright, where the sweetness of kisses
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  Speaker 1: and soft arms caressing shall infold you with blisses love's rapture.
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  Speaker 1: Confessing a fleeting moment, all the dancers pulls to listen
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  Speaker 1: to the siren's passion song, with many repetitions and sweet strains,
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  Speaker 1: the fervent invitation to these bowers, where music is the
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  Speaker 1: soul an atmosphere, and flowers breathe their heavy, rich perfume,
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  Speaker 1: and love is ever more the only queen them. Visions
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  Speaker 1: seem to float upon the air fair Europa, upon her
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  Speaker 1: snow white bull, festooned with flowers, and rite through the sea,
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  Speaker 1: led on by nyrids and tritons bald. Then beauteous Lada
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  Speaker 1: throned on rosy mists, soft moonlight, and ashore of forest lake.
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  Speaker 1: A swan swims toward her and caressingly hides his fond
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  Speaker 1: head upon her bosom fare. Still, other visions of the
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  Speaker 1: old time love appear and disappear as music throbs. Then,
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  Speaker 1: as the sirens cease, the dance begins once more with
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  Speaker 1: wilder energy of joy and stranger fiercer music Arabesque, until
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  Speaker 1: the wild bacantes fever hot have fired the ardent souls
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  Speaker 1: of all the throng, to fierce's frenzy, of the maddest
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  Speaker 1: love full at the height, a sudden blight is felt,
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  Speaker 1: of awful weariness, and all is still. The lovers rest
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  Speaker 1: again upon the sword. The wild Bacantes quickly disappear. A
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  Speaker 1: thick mist gathers in great rosy clouds, concealing naiads, sirens,
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  Speaker 1: lover's nymphs, and leaving visible one only pair, two glorious lovers,
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  Speaker 1: splendid to behold one, the fair, radiant Queen of love herself,
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  Speaker 1: the Goddess Venus, perfect in her charms, features and form,
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  Speaker 1: superbly beautiful, lying in rest upon a royal couch and
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  Speaker 1: at her feet as lover, suppliant slave, kneeling enraptured in
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  Speaker 1: devoted vows, Tanneiser, valiant knights of German lands and famous
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  Speaker 1: minstrel singer of brave songs, poet and prince of poets
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  Speaker 1: in all lands. For in an evil hour, when sad
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  Speaker 1: of heart and full of earthly griefs and desperate pain,
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  Speaker 1: a sudden madness seemed to strike his brain, and he
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  Speaker 1: had sought for refuge in the mount of Horselbergh, and
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  Speaker 1: wandered to the depths led captive in the lure of
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  Speaker 1: evil love. End of section one, Section two of Tannheuser
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  Speaker 1: by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckele. This Livery Box
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  Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. Part one, Scene two.
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  Speaker 1: A year of maddest revelry had passed, it seemed to him,
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  Speaker 1: but as a single day, and now the life of
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  Speaker 1: sin pulled on his heart. Oh, sad saiety of evil love,
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  Speaker 1: for sin can never satisfy the soul now had his
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  Speaker 1: better nature waked again, and long'd for earthly life and liberty,
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  Speaker 1: for earthly life with mingled joy and pain. Sudden he
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  Speaker 1: wildly raised his aching head as if he started from
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  Speaker 1: a weary dream, but Venus drew him back most lovingly.
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  Speaker 1: Again he started and upraised his hands across his eyes,
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  Speaker 1: as if he dream'd a dream and would recall it
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  Speaker 1: to his half waked brain. But Venus softly whispered, words
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  Speaker 1: of love, my dearest, speak where stray thy thoughts to day?
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  Speaker 1: He answered not, but cried in desperate pain, no more,
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  Speaker 1: no more, Oh that I now might wake, than Venus
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  Speaker 1: speak what grief is in thy heart? Then he essay'd
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  Speaker 1: to bear his troubled soul. In dreams, I seem to
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  Speaker 1: hear the distant sounds that have so long been strangers
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  Speaker 1: to my ears, the silver chime of church bells in
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  Speaker 1: the hills. Tell me, I pray, how long since these
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  Speaker 1: I heard? Stung by his words, she spake in quick reproof,
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  Speaker 1: art thou beside thyself? What aileth thee? And in pathetic
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  Speaker 1: maze he answer'd her How long my sojourn here? I
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  Speaker 1: cannot tell? I cannot measure it by days or months?
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  Speaker 1: The seasons pass, but I am unaware. For now the
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  Speaker 1: radiant sun I see no more, and never more the
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  Speaker 1: friendly stars of heaven. No more, the verdure of the
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  Speaker 1: gentle spring, nor fresh green foliage of the summer days.
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  Speaker 1: No more here I the nightingale's sweet song that brings
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  Speaker 1: the promise of the earth renewed. These sights, these sounds,
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  Speaker 1: fair nature and sweet earth? Are these delights forever lost
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  Speaker 1: to me? Full of reproaches, stern lea venus spake, what
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  Speaker 1: dost thou waver why these vain regrets? Art thou so
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  Speaker 1: soon grown weary of the bliss with which my love
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  Speaker 1: Divine has compass thee? Or dost thou now so soon
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  Speaker 1: repent the crown of godhood that my love set on
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  Speaker 1: thy brow, giving THEE place with THEE immortal great hast
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  Speaker 1: Thou so soon forgot thy bitter woes, which only by
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  Speaker 1: my love were soothed, and cur'd come my own minstrel.
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  Speaker 1: Seize thy heart divine sing now of love, which thou
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  Speaker 1: didst praise so well, chanting its bliss and rapture in
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  Speaker 1: such tones that thou didst win me. Goddess of all
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  Speaker 1: love and Goddess of all beauty, Sing to me, sing love,
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  Speaker 1: foresee its highest prize is thine, for I am thine
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  Speaker 1: fair Venus is thine own. Then, suddenly inspired by her
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  Speaker 1: great love, love that had been delight and deep despair,
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  Speaker 1: enthralled by her great beauty's mystic spell, tan Heuser seized
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  Speaker 1: his golden harp and sang a rapturous song to Venus,
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  Speaker 1: Queen of Love, O, Queen of Love, immortal fame, attend
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  Speaker 1: thee most joyful praise to THEE. Be Ever sun, each
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  Speaker 1: dear delight which thy fair grace did lend me shall
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  Speaker 1: wake the arp. While time and love are young, twas
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  Speaker 1: joy alone a longing deep for pleasure that filled my
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  Speaker 1: heart and darkened my desire, and thou, whose bounty gods
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  Speaker 1: alone can measure? Didst give to me Love's only mortal fire?
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  Speaker 1: Yet am I only mortal? And the dower of thy
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  Speaker 1: great love grows heavier every hour. Only a god can
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  Speaker 1: bear such boundless joy, unceasing bliss these mortal hearts destroy.
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  Speaker 1: Give me I pray the earthly pain and pleasure of
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  Speaker 1: wholesome Nature's sweet al turnip measure, Oh, Queen beloved, I
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  Speaker 1: must away or die? Oh Venus, fair is goddess, let
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  Speaker 1: me fly? A flush of shame glowed on her angry face,
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  Speaker 1: as rudely wakened from her dream of love? Fair Venus spake?
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  Speaker 1: Is this thy fealty? Is? Is this thy song? So
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  Speaker 1: weary with regret? Ah? Where are now the rapturous measures?
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  Speaker 1: Glad the joy of love which erst inspired? Thy heart?
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  Speaker 1: Tell me what has my love denied to thee? Tell
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  Speaker 1: me what have I done to weary thee. End of
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  Speaker 1: section two, Section three of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated
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  Speaker 1: by Oliver Huckele. This livery Box recording is in the
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  Speaker 1: public domain. Part one, Scene three. Then once again Tannheuser
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  Speaker 1: took his harp, a glowing penitence within his heart, a
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  Speaker 1: fervent gratitude for all her love, and sang with swelling
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  Speaker 1: voice this wondrous song, Oh Queen of Love, in numbers sweets,
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  Speaker 1: I praise THEE thrice blessed, he on whom thy favors
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  Speaker 1: shine with grace of beauty. Every charm eraise THEE, and
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  Speaker 1: in thy soft white arms is bliss divine, transporting are
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  Speaker 1: thy wonders without measure, the magic of all pleasure. Breathe,
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  Speaker 1: I hear. No land of all the earth can both
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  Speaker 1: such treasure. Their wealth beside thy riches deems most drear.
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  Speaker 1: Yet in the pleasures of these rosy bowers, I long
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  Speaker 1: to see the woods and common flowers. I long to
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  Speaker 1: see the heavens crystal blue, and that the fair fields
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  Speaker 1: and the verdure wet with dew. I long to hear
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  Speaker 1: the song birds in the dells, and the dear chiming
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  Speaker 1: of the silver bells. O Queen of Love, I must
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  Speaker 1: away die, Oh venus fai is Goddess, Let me fly.
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  Speaker 1: Thus sang he praises of voluptuous love. While in his
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  Speaker 1: heart was lassitude and pain, And as he ceased and
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  Speaker 1: pleaded to be gone. Fair Venus sprang up from her
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  Speaker 1: couch and cried, ungrateful wretch to speak such scoffing words
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  Speaker 1: and scorn the wealth of love. I pour'd on thee.
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  Speaker 1: Thou praisest what thou seekest now to flee, alas that
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  Speaker 1: all my charms have wearied thee. But quietly tannheuser answer'd her, O,
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  Speaker 1: fair perfection, frown not on thy slave, thine overwhelming charms.
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  Speaker 1: Thou must I shun thy wealth of love? I cannot
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  Speaker 1: more endure. Quickly, cried Venus, with indignant breath. Beware thou, traitor,
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  Speaker 1: false disad hold thou shalt not leave me. I forbid
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  Speaker 1: thy flight. But firm he answered in a voice of pain. YEA,
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  Speaker 1: never was my love more strong, more true? And yet
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  Speaker 1: I must forever flee from thee, be reft of thy
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  Speaker 1: sweet presence. Joy is hate, Yet fate impels I long
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  Speaker 1: for liberty. And at that word, Fair Venus turned away,
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  Speaker 1: buried her tear stained face within her hands, and long
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  Speaker 1: sat silent. Then again she turned tears in her eyes,
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  Speaker 1: but love upon her lips in smiles and words of
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  Speaker 1: winning tenderness. Beloved, come renew our vows of love, Remember
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  Speaker 1: all the rapture of the past. See this fair grotto
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  Speaker 1: sacred to our bliss. The purple shadows break in softest down,
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  Speaker 1: the murmurous music sounds the joys of love. The perfumed
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  Speaker 1: air is full of fairest dreams. Love hath a solace
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  Speaker 1: for thy restless heart. Love hath delights as yet unknown
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  Speaker 1: to thee. Come. Let us now confess our faith renewed,
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  Speaker 1: enter again into the bliss divine twere worse than dying
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  Speaker 1: from sweet love to part Come plite, anew our tender
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  Speaker 1: troth of love, Enjoy immortal, be our hearts at peace,
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  Speaker 1: no longer worship the fair power of love. Come be
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  Speaker 1: with me Love's Lord for evermore. Deep was remov'd and
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  Speaker 1: quickly snatch'd his harp to make melodious vows of loyalty firm.
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  Speaker 1: Had he fix'd his purpose to be gone, yet sought
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  Speaker 1: release by solemn promises to make her beauty known to
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  Speaker 1: all the world. Thus did he hope to soothe her
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  Speaker 1: wounded heart, and sang his farewell song of praise to her.
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  Speaker 1: O Queen of Love, my heart shall ever praise THEE
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  Speaker 1: while I have life. Thou shalt my song inspire, Thou
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  Speaker 1: found of beauty, every charm obeys thee of all that lives.
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  Speaker 1: Thou art the best desire. The fire that thou dost
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  Speaker 1: kindle in my spirits shall burn and alter flame to
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  Speaker 1: THEE alone. My song shall be divine, but by thy
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  Speaker 1: merit for both my heart and harp, Thy love doth own,
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  Speaker 1: and yet for earth and earthly pain, still yearning in
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  Speaker 1: thy soft chains with weakest shame. E'er burning tis dauntless
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  Speaker 1: liberty for which I sigh, for deathless freedom, I can
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  Speaker 1: all defy to the this world's strife and glory. I
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  Speaker 1: must go, come life or death, Come joy or bitterest woe,
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  Speaker 1: O Queen of love, I must away or die, Oh Venus,
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  Speaker 1: fairest goddess, Let me fly. End of section three, Section
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  Speaker 1: four of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckle.
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  Speaker 1: This liveryvox recording is in the public domain. Part one,
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  Speaker 1: Scene four. Thus had he sung three times this hymn
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  Speaker 1: of praise, extolling Venus and her radiant charms and all
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  Speaker 1: the rare enchantments of her realm, vowing to sing these
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  Speaker 1: praises evermore, And yet each time he sang. His heart
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  Speaker 1: was torn, longing for nature and the radiant spring, yearning
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  Speaker 1: for flow'ry fields and verdant woods, haunted by dreams of
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  Speaker 1: purity and peace. Quickly she saw her plea with him
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  Speaker 1: was lost. She saw him steal'd against her blandish mens.
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  Speaker 1: She felt the bitter hate a woman scorn'd, and in
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  Speaker 1: a burst of furious passion, cride. Begone, Thou shameless traitor,
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  Speaker 1: heart begone, madman, begone. I will not hold thee more.
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  Speaker 1: I set thee free. Begone, I say, begone. What thou
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  Speaker 1: art longing for shall be thy doom. Go back to
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  Speaker 1: all the cold and joyless earth, where neither life nor
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  Speaker 1: love can fully bloom. Whence every smiling god of joy
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  Speaker 1: hath fled, where dark suspicion has its evil birth. Begone, Thou, madmen,
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  Speaker 1: seek thy empty joy in thy cold world, and find it.
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  Speaker 1: Never more soon will this pride and fever quit thy soul.
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  Speaker 1: I see THEE humbled coming back to me, bruised yea
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  Speaker 1: and crushed. Be morse deep in thy heart, remembering the
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  Speaker 1: joys that thou hast lost. I see THEE seeking me
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  Speaker 1: with cries and tears, beseeching for the magic of my might,
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  Speaker 1: Tannhuser answered proudly with a boast, Ah, fair enchantress, take
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  Speaker 1: my last farewell. Never again shall I return to thee.
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  Speaker 1: Then Venus spake with a quick look of scorn. Yea,
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  Speaker 1: if thou never shalt return to me, and if thou
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  Speaker 1: ever dost forget my love, then I do put my
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  Speaker 1: curse on all thy race, on all the false and
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  Speaker 1: faithless sons of men, Then shall they seek for love,
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  Speaker 1: but all in vain, the world a desert and its
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  Speaker 1: lord a slave, go forth, thou, madman, seek thy loveless doom.
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  Speaker 1: Thou wilt return again to seek my love. Quickly he
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  Speaker 1: answer'd her with earnest speech. Nay, never shall I be
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  Speaker 1: thy slave again, nor know again the rapturous bliss of love.
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  Speaker 1: Then Venus go a wanderer on the earth until thy
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  Speaker 1: heart shall draw THEE back again. But he I go forever.
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  Speaker 1: When I go, Yea, my beloved, though it break my heart,
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  Speaker 1: then Venus once again the world will scoff and scorn
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  Speaker 1: THEE when it learns thy secret sin, and all the
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  Speaker 1: year of dalliance with me, But he no more to
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  Speaker 1: joy and bliss. I go my longing cause to combat
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  Speaker 1: Yea to death. I go to sorrow and to direst pain.
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  Speaker 1: Through penance, shall I lose the hated curse? A true
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  Speaker 1: repentance heals the sorest heart. Then Venus spake again forgiveness.
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  Speaker 1: Ne'er can be thy portion with thy blackened soul. Never
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  Speaker 1: will mercy op its gates to THEE. Thou wilt return
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  Speaker 1: to me, No hope for THEE, nor peace in all
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  Speaker 1: the world except with me. But with a cry, ann
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  Speaker 1: Heuser answer'd her Goddess a pleasure. Not in THEE, my trust,
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  Speaker 1: my hope, my peace doth rest in Mary's grace, Mary Fair,
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  Speaker 1: Queen of Heaven, verging queen to THEE. I cry for help,
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  Speaker 1: Oh rescue me. And with that prayer, and at that
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  Speaker 1: magic name of Holy Mary, Mother of all Grace, a
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  Speaker 1: miracle was wrought. A shriek was heard, and Venus vanished,
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  Speaker 1: and her realm of love was overwhelmed in darkness and abyss.
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  Speaker 1: And of section four, Section five of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner,
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  Speaker 1: translated by Oliver Huckele. This livery Box recording is in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. Part one, scene five, Amazed and stunned,
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  Speaker 1: Tannheuser lay in trance and knew not if he lived
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  Speaker 1: or died or slept. At length, he raised himself and
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  Speaker 1: looked around. And what wondrous scene his wondering eyes beheld.
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  Speaker 1: Here was the valley, green and beautiful that boyhood days
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  Speaker 1: had known and loved so well, again, sweet sunshine and
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  Speaker 1: the sky's clear blue. There on the right the towering
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  Speaker 1: Voorburg rose, that rocky fortress on a rocky height that
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  Speaker 1: filled his soul with dreams of chivalry. And on the left,
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  Speaker 1: seen through the opening vale, the wooded ranges of the Horselberg.
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  Speaker 1: He looked with deepest shudder as he thought of all
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  Speaker 1: that he had known in those deep woods, the hidden path,
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  Speaker 1: the dark depths, and the cave where he had spent
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  Speaker 1: his year of nameless sin. Now was his thought transformed
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  Speaker 1: and comfort heed for just before him, on the wooded
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  Speaker 1: path that upward guided to the Ortburg Heights, his eye
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  Speaker 1: beheld the Holy Virgin Shrine, a wayside shrine for passing
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  Speaker 1: traveler's prayers. And now he heard the sheep bells tinkling soft,
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  Speaker 1: and there on a high cliff, in careless joy, a
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  Speaker 1: youthful shepherd sang the charms of spring, playing upon his pipe.
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  Speaker 1: A rustic strain, Fair holder, Goddess of the spring, steps
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  Speaker 1: forth from the mountains. Old she comes, and all the
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  Speaker 1: brooklets sing and fled is winter's cold. My heart is
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  Speaker 1: full of gladys dreams. The day dawns fresh and clear,
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  Speaker 1: the golden sunshine or me streams, and may, sweet May
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  Speaker 1: is here. Play play my pipe, your light is lay,
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  Speaker 1: for spring has come, and merry may scarce. The shepherd
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  Speaker 1: played his happy strain. When other songs were heard far
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  Speaker 1: off and slow, the shepherd stopped and listened. As they
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  Speaker 1: neared and grew in clearness and in solemn power. It
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  Speaker 1: was a band of pilgrims, ancient men descending from the
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  Speaker 1: frowning Vortburg's Heights, beginning pious pilgrimage to Rome. And as
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  Speaker 1: they walked they sang this solemn hymn, O Lord, the
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  Speaker 1: Sinner's hope and Plea, we bend our sorrowing steps to thee.
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  Speaker 1: O Mary, Queen of Heaven, we pray be gracious to
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  Speaker 1: our pilgrim way. Deep is the guilt within the breast,
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  Speaker 1: Gone is the heavenly peace, and rest Oh that relief
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  Speaker 1: would come again. Heavy the sorrow and the pain unto
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  Speaker 1: the Holy Shrine we go thrice blessed They who pardon
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  Speaker 1: know to seek the peace of God's own word by
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: penitence before our Lord. Slowly they sang and wended their
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: slow way. The shepherd lifted up his cap and waved
• 27:19
  Speaker 1: a greeting and farewell, and called to them, God speed
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: you on your blessed pilgrim way, and breathe a prayer
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: for me. At Holy Rome, spellbound and noiser seemed to stand,
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: new thoughts and hopes were surging in his breast. Then
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: suddenly he knelt in prayer and cried, Almighty God, or
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: praise I give to THEE. Great are the marvels of
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: thy wondrous grace. Slowly the pilgrims passed the mountain way
• 27:55
  Speaker 1: hard by the Virgin shrine and through the woods, and
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: now were lost to sight. The sheep bells clear far sounded,
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: and the shepherd left the heights, playing soft ditties on
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: his merry pipe. Then fainter came the pilgrim's song. Once more,
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: Oh Lord, the sinner's hope and plea. We bend our
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: sorrowing steps to THEE. Oh Marry Queen of Heaven, we
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: pray be gracious to our pilgrim way absorb'd in fervent prayer.
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: Tannhuser knelt, and with the far off song his own
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: heart sang, deep, is the guilt within my breast? Gone
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: is the heavenly peace? And rest oh, that relief might
• 28:45
  Speaker 1: come again. Heavy the sorrow and the pain tears choked
• 28:51
  Speaker 1: his voice. He bowed his sorrowing head and wept most bitterly.
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: The pilgrim's song had died in distance, and another's sound,
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: blessed with the memories of childhood days, came to his ears.
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: The mellow church bells chime calling the worshipers to holy prayer,
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: and once again the fountain of his tears welled up
• 29:16
  Speaker 1: with newborn hopes and new felt prayers. End of section
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: five Section six of Tannheuser by Ricard Wagner, translated by
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: Oliver Huckle. This livery Box recording is in the public domain.
• 29:42
  Speaker 1: Part one, scene six sudden. The startling blast of hunting
• 29:49
  Speaker 1: horns rang through the hills and valleys, echoing and from
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: the forest and the neighboring hills. In quick and hot
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: pursuit of worrying game rushed down a throng of huntsmen,
• 30:04
  Speaker 1: brave arrayed in all their hunting trappings, gay and bright,
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: the Langrave of Thuringia and all his brilliant court of
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: minstrels and of knights. But seeing there a figure motionless,
• 30:20
  Speaker 1: the Landgrave stopped amazed, and though inquired, who is yon
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: penitent so deep in prayer? Then Walter, gayest knight of
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: all the train, made answer prayer, and pilgrims close agree.
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: But Bitterolf, another knight, spake up by every sign he
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: seems a noble knight. Whilst still another huntsman, Wolfram cried,
• 30:47
  Speaker 1: for his keen eyes had recognized a friend. Tis he
• 30:52
  Speaker 1: whom we have lost for full a year. Tis he
• 30:56
  Speaker 1: whom we have mourned with sorrowing hearts, and all cried
• 31:00
  Speaker 1: out with joy. Tis he tis he Henry, our brave
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: tan Heiser. Hail to thee Amazed Tannhuser rose in haste
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: and stood in silence, for deep guilt was in his heart.
• 31:16
  Speaker 1: He looked upon their faces and was sad. Then said
• 31:21
  Speaker 1: the Langrave, Art thou surely come, dost thou return to
• 31:25
  Speaker 1: our poor company, which once so proudly rashly thou didst leave.
• 31:31
  Speaker 1: And bitter Rolph, remembering old days, pray tell us what
• 31:36
  Speaker 1: thy coming means to day? Shall it be peace? Or
• 31:40
  Speaker 1: means it war? Renewed? Yea, added Walter Art, thou friend
• 31:45
  Speaker 1: or foe? And others cried, what may he come as foe?
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: But Wolfram, largest freest heart of all, cried out in
• 31:56
  Speaker 1: generous welcome and good cheer, Oh speak not such harsh words.
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: Look at his face. No trace of scorn and hate
• 32:05
  Speaker 1: can there be seen. We welcome thee, great minstrel and
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: brave knight. Alas too long hast thou been lost to us?
• 32:15
  Speaker 1: Then after him spake Walter kindlier. Now yea welcome, if
• 32:21
  Speaker 1: thou comest here in peace and bitter of YEA welcome,
• 32:26
  Speaker 1: if a friend, and all all hail, all hail, We
• 32:31
  Speaker 1: welcome thee. The landgrave spake again, except our word. We
• 32:38
  Speaker 1: give thee hearty welcome, and we pray that thou wilt
• 32:42
  Speaker 1: tell us thy adventurous course. Where thou hast tarried all
• 32:47
  Speaker 1: these weary months? What thou hast done to make thy
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: heart so sad? Then answered slow, the errant minstrel knight,
• 32:56
  Speaker 1: in strange and distant realm, thy wandered far, but never
• 33:01
  Speaker 1: found thy joy nor rest of heart. Ask me no
• 33:05
  Speaker 1: further no more would I strive friendly, I come, let me,
• 33:11
  Speaker 1: as friend depart. Nay, thou shalt not depart. The landgrave
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: spake for once again thou hast become our own, and
• 33:22
  Speaker 1: Walter urged. I say thou must not go, And Bitterolf,
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: we will not let thee go. Then said Tannheuser, bitterly
• 33:34
  Speaker 1: and slow, a desperate sadness in his weary eyes. Let
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: me depart. I cannot tarry here. Nowhere on earth is
• 33:44
  Speaker 1: rest for me again. Forward, I drive in doom my
• 33:49
  Speaker 1: weary way the past. I must forget for evermore, but
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: all the nights, exclaimed as with one voice, Oh, stay
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: with us, forget yet the dreary past. Here in thy
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: home and friends, thou shalt find rest. What dost thou seek?
• 34:07
  Speaker 1: With vain and weary search, abide with us. We cannot
• 34:11
  Speaker 1: say farewell. But though their words were generous and kind,
• 34:17
  Speaker 1: nought could persuade him to remain and rest. Sadly, he
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: shook his head and turned to go. Then Wolfram intercepted
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: him and cried, in a loud voice and gazing in
• 34:31
  Speaker 1: his face, listen one word stay for Elizabeth and of
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: section six Section seven of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: by Oliver Huckle. This Livery Box recording is in the
• 34:56
  Speaker 1: public domain. Part one finale. And at that word, Tannheiser
• 35:05
  Speaker 1: stopped his face, stirred with a deep emotion as he
• 35:10
  Speaker 1: spake elizabeth O blessed love of Heaven. And do I
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: hear that sweetest name again? And Wolfram answered, yea, No,
• 35:23
  Speaker 1: foe is he who dares recall to thee that blessed name.
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: And may I be permitted, gracious Lord, to tell him
• 35:32
  Speaker 1: of the splendid prize he won thereat. The Langrave answered graciously, YEA,
• 35:40
  Speaker 1: tell him of the marvel that he wrought in that
• 35:43
  Speaker 1: last famous tournament of song before we lost him. And
• 35:48
  Speaker 1: God keep him true, that worthily he may explain his
• 35:53
  Speaker 1: fate all eager. Wolfram told the wondrous tale when thou,
• 35:59
  Speaker 1: in art of song, last strove with us thy conquering strain,
• 36:04
  Speaker 1: was monster in the strife. For while our songs gained
• 36:08
  Speaker 1: some small victory, one glorious prize was won alone by thee.
• 36:15
  Speaker 1: Pray was it magic or some power divine that wrought
• 36:20
  Speaker 1: through thee such wondrous miracle? Thy song so full of
• 36:24
  Speaker 1: mystic joy and woe enthralled the perfect flower of royal maids.
• 36:32
  Speaker 1: For after thou, in scorn alas hadst gone closed was
• 36:37
  Speaker 1: her heart to all our brightest lays, we saw a
• 36:41
  Speaker 1: sorrow on her pallid cheek of thee bereft. She wearied
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: of our songs. Oh noble minstrel, come and sing anew
• 36:53
  Speaker 1: await once more, thy strain of joyous love cast off
• 36:57
  Speaker 1: the burden of thy cares and fears, and her fair
• 37:02
  Speaker 1: star shall brightly shine again. And many knights joined in
• 37:07
  Speaker 1: with eager voice. Yea, Henry's stay with us, come back again.
• 37:13
  Speaker 1: We will forget all anger and all strife. Our strains
• 37:17
  Speaker 1: of harmony shall rise and soar for brothers, shall we
• 37:22
  Speaker 1: be for evermore touch'd by the love so freely given Again.
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: Despite his absence and his lame excuse, tan Hoiseth threw
• 37:33
  Speaker 1: himself in Wolfram's arms and long embraced him as a
• 37:37
  Speaker 1: faithful friend, greeted the other minstrels each in turn, and
• 37:43
  Speaker 1: bowed before the langrave gratefully. Then, with a longing, eager heart,
• 37:49
  Speaker 1: he cried, Elizabeth, though, guide my steps to her, O
• 37:54
  Speaker 1: radiant world that I had seemed to lose. Thou smilest
• 37:59
  Speaker 1: once again upon my heart, Oh son of Heaven, hid
• 38:05
  Speaker 1: with stormy clouds. Again, Thou shinest on my path of hope.
• 38:11
  Speaker 1: Oh beauteous spring. Thy thousand carols sweet are singing in
• 38:16
  Speaker 1: my soul, so jubilant, O heart, my heart in new
• 38:21
  Speaker 1: unwonted bliss, Thou art rejoicing, blest Elizabeth. Meanwhile he spake,
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: came many hunters more, the landgraves hold art, retinue, and train,
• 38:35
  Speaker 1: until the valley thronged with hunting men, horses and falcon bearers,
• 38:41
  Speaker 1: hounds and horns. Eager the men came at the Landgrave's
• 38:46
  Speaker 1: call and shouted. Seeing Tannheiser again shouted with joy to
• 38:52
  Speaker 1: learn that he would stay and grace the court again
• 38:56
  Speaker 1: with song and sword. The langrave blew blast upon his horn,
• 39:02
  Speaker 1: and all the hunters weround their horns and blue the
• 39:06
  Speaker 1: loud mouthed bugle called. The baying hounds made answer, eager,
• 39:11
  Speaker 1: deep and fiercely strong. The minstrels flung themselves upon their
• 39:16
  Speaker 1: steeds for Tanneiser, a white steed, prancing proud, joyful. The
• 39:23
  Speaker 1: whole procession galloped on, ascending to the Wartburg's wooded heights
• 39:29
  Speaker 1: where dwelt the Princess Fair Elizabeth, beloved of all, to
• 39:34
  Speaker 1: Tannheuser thrice deer. And as they galloped gaily on they
• 39:39
  Speaker 1: sang minstrels and hunters, joining in the strain. Hurrah, Rejoice
• 39:46
  Speaker 1: he comes again. The lost is found, his sorrow past.
• 39:51
  Speaker 1: Praise to the love that heals his pain. Praise to
• 39:55
  Speaker 1: the might that holds him fast. Awake our harps and
• 40:00
  Speaker 1: a song. The noblest and the highest dare praise to
• 40:04
  Speaker 1: the hero, great and strong. Praise to the fairest of
• 40:09
  Speaker 1: the fair. End of section seven Section eight of Tannheuser
• 40:23
  Speaker 1: by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckele. This liveryvox recording
• 40:29
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Part two, The Tournament of Song.
• 40:37
  Speaker 1: Grimm is the towered castle on the heights, the ancient
• 40:41
  Speaker 1: Wartburgh Immemorial in noble deeds of splendid chivalry. Its towers
• 40:48
  Speaker 1: have held in battled armies off its bastions have turned
• 40:53
  Speaker 1: back for many a siege. Its dungeons held for many
• 40:57
  Speaker 1: a tragedy. And here within the lordly castle walls the
• 41:03
  Speaker 1: famous hall of minstrels lofty, built with groined and fretted ceiling,
• 41:09
  Speaker 1: quaintly wrought, and many mullioned windows, where the glass shines
• 41:15
  Speaker 1: bravely with the painted deeds of old. And here, where
• 41:20
  Speaker 1: these broad windows open wide, is seen the shaded fountain
• 41:25
  Speaker 1: court within, while far beyond the smiling valley lies, and
• 41:31
  Speaker 1: still beyond the mountains range on range. But why wears now?
• 41:37
  Speaker 1: The hall is festive air, these wreaths of flowers and
• 41:41
  Speaker 1: long festoons of green. Perchance some special day of thanks
• 41:46
  Speaker 1: or praise. Perchance some merry dance or festival. Perchance some
• 41:52
  Speaker 1: knightly deeds are done today, perchant, Some heroes strive with
• 41:57
  Speaker 1: sword or song. Now, as we look and listen, one
• 42:02
  Speaker 1: draws near, most fair of face, most winsome in her grace,
• 42:08
  Speaker 1: her dark hair like a lustrous crown of night, her
• 42:12
  Speaker 1: kind gray eyes, pure, patient, and all wise yet full
• 42:17
  Speaker 1: of laughter and of hidden fire. Her coronet of shining
• 42:22
  Speaker 1: gold and pearls, her simple gown of soft cloth like
• 42:26
  Speaker 1: the snow, her neck and wreathe with lustrous strings of pearl,
• 42:31
  Speaker 1: her girdle rich with gold and glittering gems, Her flowing cloak,
• 42:37
  Speaker 1: soft azure, starred with gold. It is the Landgrave's niece Elizabeth,
• 42:44
  Speaker 1: a niece and yet a daughter unto him, the fairest,
• 42:48
  Speaker 1: sweetest princess at his court, and best beloved and noblest
• 42:54
  Speaker 1: of them all, most joyful came she to the Minstrel's hall,
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: the rosy morning light within her eyes, for he was
• 43:04
  Speaker 1: near the dear choice of her heart, and life was
• 43:08
  Speaker 1: new and radiant again. And now she spake what her
• 43:13
  Speaker 1: fond heart would say, Dear hall of song, I greet
• 43:17
  Speaker 1: thee with my love. I greet thee with all joy,
• 43:21
  Speaker 1: thou hallowed place, twas here he sang that wondrous song
• 43:26
  Speaker 1: of love that lifted me from darksome dreams to heaven.
• 43:31
  Speaker 1: But ah, how soon the dream was changed again. This
• 43:35
  Speaker 1: minstrel hall became a desert drear. When he went forth,
• 43:40
  Speaker 1: all joy went forth with him, and with him fled
• 43:44
  Speaker 1: my heart's deep wealth of peace. But now once more
• 43:48
  Speaker 1: my bosom heaves with bliss, and thou, dear minstrel hall,
• 43:53
  Speaker 1: art bright again, For he who lights both thee and
• 43:57
  Speaker 1: me with joy, no longer roams afar in unknown lands.
• 44:03
  Speaker 1: These volks shall ring again with glorious song. He comes,
• 44:08
  Speaker 1: whose strains bring rapture to my soul. End of Section
• 44:13
  Speaker 1: eight Section nine of Tannheuser by Ricard Wagner, translated by
• 44:26
  Speaker 1: Oliver Huckel. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
• 44:32
  Speaker 1: Part two, Scene two. Scarce had she spoken when two
• 44:39
  Speaker 1: minstrels came Tannheuser, led by Wolfram's loyal hand upon the threshold.
• 44:46
  Speaker 1: Paused they as they saw the fair, sweet vision of
• 44:51
  Speaker 1: the princess there. Then Wolfram whispered, see Elizabeth draw near
• 44:57
  Speaker 1: and greet her. None shall into upt and near the
• 45:01
  Speaker 1: door he stood as sentinel, while forward rushed tan Houser
• 45:06
  Speaker 1: in all haste and threw himself impetuously down before Elizabeth,
• 45:13
  Speaker 1: and faintly cried O Princess, and could speak no further word.
• 45:20
  Speaker 1: While she, confused by all this sudden cry and sudden
• 45:24
  Speaker 1: show of feeling from the night whom long she cherished
• 45:29
  Speaker 1: in her secret heart, speake quickly, nay, thou must not
• 45:33
  Speaker 1: kneel to me, nor dare I meet THEE? Thus I
• 45:37
  Speaker 1: must away, And she would go, But still he pleaded sore,
• 45:43
  Speaker 1: nay dare to stay. I pray THEE do not go. Oh,
• 45:47
  Speaker 1: let me kneel forever at thy feet. Then to his prayers,
• 45:53
  Speaker 1: Elizabeth gave heed, and kindly, turning toward him, gently said,
• 45:59
  Speaker 1: I pray THEE rise. Tis not for THEE to kneel
• 46:02
  Speaker 1: here in this hall which crowned thy triumphs oft rise,
• 46:07
  Speaker 1: I implore I give best thanks to Heaven that thou
• 46:11
  Speaker 1: hast come again to stay with us. Where hast thou
• 46:15
  Speaker 1: tarried all this weary time? Han rising slow Tannheuser soft replied,
• 46:23
  Speaker 1: far far away, in strange and distant lands. But are
• 46:28
  Speaker 1: it all? Oblivion has come between to day and yesterday,
• 46:33
  Speaker 1: a veil which blots out all remembrance of the past,
• 46:38
  Speaker 1: save one thing only in my constant thought, the awful
• 46:43
  Speaker 1: bitterness and dark despair, lest I might never hope to
• 46:48
  Speaker 1: greet THEE more, nor see thy fair face with my
• 46:52
  Speaker 1: weary eyes. Gently, she asked all kindness in her voice.
• 46:58
  Speaker 1: What was it then that led THEE back to us?
• 47:02
  Speaker 1: And he replied, A miracle. It was strange, inconceivable by Heaven.
• 47:09
  Speaker 1: Wrought and stirred to deep emotions by his word, she
• 47:13
  Speaker 1: spake again her secret in her thoughts, revealing with all
• 47:18
  Speaker 1: innocence and grace the fondest hopes of her pure virgin heart.
• 47:24
  Speaker 1: Praise God for this dear miracle of grace. I say
• 47:28
  Speaker 1: it from my heart's profoundest depths. Forgive me scarce. I
• 47:33
  Speaker 1: know what I have said in dreams I seem and
• 47:37
  Speaker 1: foolish as a child. Thy presence is such gladness to
• 47:42
  Speaker 1: my soul, such vision, strange of life, mysterious high. The
• 47:48
  Speaker 1: world to me is changed. What can it mean? This riddle,
• 47:52
  Speaker 1: this emotion of my heart? Always I love the merry
• 47:57
  Speaker 1: minstrel songs, and listened with light so oft and long,
• 48:02
  Speaker 1: always their stirring songs and noble praise held for my
• 48:07
  Speaker 1: soul a fascinating spell. Yet I confess that wondrous song
• 48:13
  Speaker 1: of Thine has waken'd in my heart a strange new life.
• 48:18
  Speaker 1: Repose and joy have seem'd to fly from me, And
• 48:22
  Speaker 1: there have come the bitterest pangs and bliss emotions which
• 48:27
  Speaker 1: I cannot comprehend, and longs which I never knew before.
• 48:33
  Speaker 1: What once to me was lovely now is chang'd and fled.
• 48:38
  Speaker 1: Are all my former dear delights? YEA, when thou hast
• 48:42
  Speaker 1: departed from our midst my peace was gone, and longing
• 48:47
  Speaker 1: went with thee. No more than minstrels woke my heart
• 48:51
  Speaker 1: to joy. Their finest lay seems sad and strange and
• 48:55
  Speaker 1: dead in slumber's dreams. My heart was full of pain
• 49:00
  Speaker 1: in waking hours, a train of woeful thoughts. All gladness
• 49:05
  Speaker 1: had departed from my life. O, Henry, tell, why am
• 49:10
  Speaker 1: I thus enthrall tan hoyser in all rapture, quick rejoin'd
• 49:16
  Speaker 1: YEA god be prais'd for all his loving grace. Love
• 49:21
  Speaker 1: touch my heart with magic melody. Love spake to THEE
• 49:25
  Speaker 1: through all the wond'rous song. Twas love that led me
• 49:29
  Speaker 1: captive to thy feet. O blessed hour in which our
• 49:34
  Speaker 1: hearts do meet, O blessed power of love that fills
• 49:39
  Speaker 1: our lives. At last, I give THEE greeting from my soul,
• 49:44
  Speaker 1: and gladly vow to leave THEE never more. Now shall
• 49:48
  Speaker 1: my life awake, renew'd and strong. Now shall new peace
• 49:53
  Speaker 1: and hope rise in my breast. Now shall the clouds
• 49:57
  Speaker 1: of sorrow break and pass? For glorious the sun of
• 50:02
  Speaker 1: love doth shine. And Wolfram, hearing all this rapturous word,
• 50:07
  Speaker 1: and fair Elizabeth, confessing love, spake to his heart, for
• 50:13
  Speaker 1: he had also loved so flies My last fond hope
• 50:17
  Speaker 1: of winning her so fades my dream. Yet may their
• 50:22
  Speaker 1: life be blessed A moment stood the lovers in farewell,
• 50:27
  Speaker 1: looking with rapture in each other's eyes, and touching hands
• 50:32
  Speaker 1: that trembled in delight. Lifting her hand, he kissed it
• 50:36
  Speaker 1: with an awe that he should dare to touch so
• 50:40
  Speaker 1: pure a thing. Then turned and left her straight to Wolfram,
• 50:45
  Speaker 1: turned and held him to his heart ingratitude, not dreaming
• 50:50
  Speaker 1: of the pain in Wolfram's heart or of the sacrifice
• 50:55
  Speaker 1: of friend for friend. Together from the hall they quickly
• 50:59
  Speaker 1: went tan Heuser, looking back and waving off to her,
• 51:04
  Speaker 1: who watched him from the balcony. His dear Elizabeth, his
• 51:09
  Speaker 1: new life's hope. End of section nine, Section ten of
• 51:21
  Speaker 1: Tannhuser by Recard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckle. This liveryvox
• 51:28
  Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. Part two, Scene three.
• 51:36
  Speaker 1: Soon were more footsteps heard, and presently the landgrave came
• 51:41
  Speaker 1: to meet his loving niece and welcome there the throngs
• 51:46
  Speaker 1: of happy guests who soon would come to grace the
• 51:50
  Speaker 1: war of song. Elizabeth ran to him as he came,
• 51:54
  Speaker 1: and hid her blushing face upon his breast. Then spake
• 51:59
  Speaker 1: he in a kindly, bantering way. Most gladly do I
• 52:03
  Speaker 1: find THEE in this hall which thou hast shunned these
• 52:07
  Speaker 1: many months, and pray what lured thee now from thy
• 52:11
  Speaker 1: long solitude to come and grace our feast of song
• 52:16
  Speaker 1: to day? And clinging to him softly, answered she, my
• 52:21
  Speaker 1: sovereign uncle father. Yea, my all, still smiling and most kindly,
• 52:27
  Speaker 1: Then he spake, Come open now thy secret heart to me.
• 52:33
  Speaker 1: But looking up most sweetly, came her words, gaze in
• 52:37
  Speaker 1: my eyes and read I cannot speak. Then looked he
• 52:43
  Speaker 1: earnestly and sore love's light, deep in the wonder of
• 52:47
  Speaker 1: her tender eyes, and answered, yea, unspoken. Let it be
• 52:53
  Speaker 1: this loving secret of thy holiest life. Let all its
• 52:58
  Speaker 1: magic sweetness be a told till thou thyself shall bid
• 53:03
  Speaker 1: it to unclose. So shall it be the wondrous flame
• 53:08
  Speaker 1: of song today shall soar to heights unknown, before Thy
• 53:14
  Speaker 1: presence shall give life and crown to all. The glorious
• 53:19
  Speaker 1: art shall match the glorious deed. Today our nobles will
• 53:24
  Speaker 1: assemble here. Already they approach to grace the feast. None
• 53:29
  Speaker 1: will be absent, for they all have heard that thy
• 53:33
  Speaker 1: fair hand will give the victors wreath. YEA, some may
• 53:38
  Speaker 1: hope for thy fair hand itself the loveliest prize that
• 53:42
  Speaker 1: this wide world could give. End of Section ten, Section
• 53:54
  Speaker 1: eleven of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckle.
• 54:01
  Speaker 1: This livery Box recording is in the public domain. Part two,
• 54:07
  Speaker 1: Scene four, And as they spoke, the trumpets sounded forth
• 54:14
  Speaker 1: the near beginning of the tournament. The Landgrave and the
• 54:20
  Speaker 1: fair Elizabeth, under a gorgeous canopy of state and high
• 54:26
  Speaker 1: upon a dais brave arranged, waited the coming of the
• 54:31
  Speaker 1: happy guests. Four pages made announcement of the names, while
• 54:36
  Speaker 1: counts and ladies, knights and retinues, each noble holding his
• 54:42
  Speaker 1: fair lady's hand, were welcomed by the Landgrave and his
• 54:47
  Speaker 1: niece with gracious greetings and a smiling joy. And in
• 54:52
  Speaker 1: response of greetings sang the knights hail noble hall, where
• 54:58
  Speaker 1: song the heart rejoices. May lays of peace within the
• 55:02
  Speaker 1: never fail. Long, may we cry with glad and loyal
• 55:07
  Speaker 1: voices Thuringia's Prince, Great Langrave Hermann Hile. Then the assembly
• 55:15
  Speaker 1: took the seats asigned, forming a large half circle, brilliant
• 55:20
  Speaker 1: gay with beauty, valor, gladness and renown, gorgeous The men's
• 55:26
  Speaker 1: gay garments and bright plumes and fair the ladies with
• 55:31
  Speaker 1: their flowery gowns and golden circlets round their radiant brows
• 55:38
  Speaker 1: and flowing veils of airy waving length. And soon the
• 55:43
  Speaker 1: minstrels entered, walking slow, with dignity and glory in their steps,
• 55:50
  Speaker 1: each brow encircled with a laurel wreath, except Tannhuser's, for
• 55:56
  Speaker 1: his wreath was lost by forfeiture of absence from the court.
• 56:02
  Speaker 1: Right gaily were they clad in garb of song. Each
• 56:06
  Speaker 1: minstrel bore his silver stringed harp, while gleaming sword hung
• 56:11
  Speaker 1: fiercely at each side. Stately, they bowed to the assembled
• 56:16
  Speaker 1: guests and took their places as the pages led. These
• 56:22
  Speaker 1: were the minstrels, each a man of fame, ulf Ranbon Eschenbach,
• 56:27
  Speaker 1: a churchly soul and Bitterolf an honest old gray wolf.
• 56:34
  Speaker 1: And Walther von der Volviider called Heinrich de Schreiber, poet
• 56:39
  Speaker 1: of renown, Reimmarbon Schwetter scholar, minstrel knight. But Tannheuser, the
• 56:47
  Speaker 1: last to grace the hall, was greatest of them all
• 56:51
  Speaker 1: in gifts and grace, noble, in bearing every inch, a prince,
• 56:57
  Speaker 1: a glorious, noble and a value knight rising the langraves
• 57:03
  Speaker 1: spake these gracious words. Welcome brave knights and minstrels to
• 57:09
  Speaker 1: these halls, where often nobly have ye sung of yore
• 57:14
  Speaker 1: in wisdom, veil'd perchance in mirthful vain, yet ever gladden'd
• 57:20
  Speaker 1: every listening heart. Ye knights have fought with swords, Now
• 57:26
  Speaker 1: fight with songs. Yea, though your swords were loosed in
• 57:31
  Speaker 1: bloody frey, drawn to uphold the German father land, when
• 57:37
  Speaker 1: with our southern foe we fought and won, and for
• 57:41
  Speaker 1: our country brave the hero's death. Yet to the harp
• 57:45
  Speaker 1: be equal made of praise. For with the harp and voice,
• 57:50
  Speaker 1: ye nobly fight for truth and honor and the happy home,
• 57:56
  Speaker 1: for virtue, and for pure and noble faith, and gain
• 58:00
  Speaker 1: for these most gracious victory. Ye come to day for
• 58:05
  Speaker 1: festival of song, And I would make it festival of joy.
• 58:11
  Speaker 1: For here to day our gallant minstrel comes, whom for
• 58:15
  Speaker 1: so long and woefully we misst we welcome him. Although
• 58:21
  Speaker 1: his blest return in some mysterious darkness still is rapt.
• 58:27
  Speaker 1: Perchance the magic power of song will tell. Therefore here
• 58:32
  Speaker 1: now the theme I set for you. The theme is love,
• 58:37
  Speaker 1: its nature and its ways? How may we know it?
• 58:41
  Speaker 1: What are its sure signs? And know ye? For I
• 58:46
  Speaker 1: say it solemnly, he who most wisely and most worthily
• 58:51
  Speaker 1: sings thus of love, most lofty and most true to him,
• 58:56
  Speaker 1: the Princess shall award the prize he made demand, the
• 59:01
  Speaker 1: fairest gurden known. I vouch that what he asked shall
• 59:05
  Speaker 1: grant It be up. Then, ye, gallant minstrels, chune your
• 59:10
  Speaker 1: hearts and sing the praise of love. Great is the prize,
• 59:15
  Speaker 1: and ere the start, Let all receive our thanks. Then
• 59:21
  Speaker 1: cried the knights and all the throng of guests, Hail
• 59:25
  Speaker 1: yea thrice, Hail Lord of Thuringia, Hail patron of the
• 59:31
  Speaker 1: noble art of song. Then all were seated, and four
• 59:37
  Speaker 1: pages came up, gathering in a golden cup the names
• 59:42
  Speaker 1: of all the minstrels. With a lowly bow, they handed
• 59:47
  Speaker 1: it to fair Elizabeth, who stood as priestess of the
• 59:51
  Speaker 1: sacred lots. She put her fairy fingers in the cup
• 59:56
  Speaker 1: and drew therefrom the fateful written slip, whereon was writ
• 1:00:01
  Speaker 1: his name, Who first should sing in this fair tournament
• 1:00:05
  Speaker 1: of royal song? Quickly, the waiting pages took the slip,
• 1:00:10
  Speaker 1: advanced with ceremony to the midst and read the name
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 1: to all the company. Bulf ramban Eschenbach begins the song
• 1:00:22
  Speaker 1: end of section eleven Section twelve of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner,
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 1: translated by Oliver Huckel. This liveryvox recording is in the
• 1:00:39
  Speaker 1: public domain. Part two, Scene five. Then at the Landgrave's feet,
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 1: the pages sat while Fair Elizabeth, a radiant queen, filled
• 1:00:53
  Speaker 1: all the room with subtle sheen of light. So wondrous
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 1: was her gentle beauty's power, so glorious the sweetness of
• 1:01:02
  Speaker 1: her face apart, and heysers sat as if entranced, and
• 1:01:08
  Speaker 1: lean'd in solemn thoughts upon his harp. Brave wolf ramrose,
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 1: full of a joy divine that he was called to
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 1: sing the praise of love. His eyes shone brightly as
• 1:01:21
  Speaker 1: he tuned his harp. His noble face revealed his noble
• 1:01:25
  Speaker 1: heart softly and sweet. His happy song began. Brave knights
• 1:01:32
  Speaker 1: and ladies, Ye, delight mine eyes. Such fair assemblies grace
• 1:01:37
  Speaker 1: now other land, such gallant heroes, valiant noble wise they
• 1:01:44
  Speaker 1: seem a stately forest, strong and grand and bloom me
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 1: in this forest wondrous sweet. These dames and maidens are
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 1: the flowers fair, Such nobleness and beauty here doth meet.
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 1: My son is mute before the vision rare. Then I
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 1: look upward and behold one's star that shines above the forest,
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 1: clear in heaven. It gathers tender radiance from afar, and
• 1:02:14
  Speaker 1: to my heart one holy prayer is given. But lo
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 1: the forest spring Life's spring is love from whose unfathomed
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 1: depth all joy doth flow. My spirit gazes deep, thanks
• 1:02:29
  Speaker 1: God above, and all my life feels new ethereal glow. Oh,
• 1:02:36
  Speaker 1: never would I sully that pure spring by vain desire
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 1: or dark impurity. Kneeling, I worship THEE O love and sing,
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 1: And for THEE only will I live or die. Brave
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 1: Knights and Ladies, Thus I sing to you what I
• 1:02:55
  Speaker 1: have felt of love, love pure and true. His eye
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 1: had rested on Elizabeth when he had sung of her
• 1:03:04
  Speaker 1: as star of love, twas human love. He sang with
• 1:03:09
  Speaker 1: fervent soul, but love made glorious by its purity. Applauding him,
• 1:03:15
  Speaker 1: the knights and ladies cried, tis true, tis true? We
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 1: praised thy noble song. Then Tanneuser arose as from a
• 1:03:26
  Speaker 1: dream and looked round defiant, fierce and wild, gazing a
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 1: moment into far off space. A passionate delight shone on
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 1: his face. With trembling hands his harp string close. He
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 1: felt a strange, unearthly smile upon his lips, as if
• 1:03:47
  Speaker 1: some magic music thralled his soul. Nor knew he where
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 1: he was, nor seem'd to care that fair Elizabeth was
• 1:03:56
  Speaker 1: looking down with doubt and wonder in her true face.
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 1: Then with a start, he loudly swept his harp and
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 1: sang in strangest mood, an answering song, O wolf ram
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 1: foolish is thy pallid song, ne'er hast Thou tasted love
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 1: or deepest bliss, thy timid heart and smooth and stammering
• 1:04:21
  Speaker 1: tongue make life and love a dreary weariness. Thou singest
• 1:04:27
  Speaker 1: love ethereal, dim and pure, a limpid spring, a far
• 1:04:32
  Speaker 1: off shining star, such bloodless love my heart cannot endure.
• 1:04:39
  Speaker 1: Love is no limpid spring nor star afar. Love is
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 1: fair flesh in beauteous human form, with laughing eyes and
• 1:04:49
  Speaker 1: softest silken tresses, with kisses and a throbbing breast and warm, soft,
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 1: clinging arms for tenderest caresses. Love is no vision, far off, chaste,
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 1: divine Love's a hot heart that beats and throbs with mine.
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 1: And at that interruption rude and wild. For yet Tannhuser
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 1: had no call to speak, but broke the rules and
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 1: blurted out his heart, full of a frenzy, fierce and passionate,
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 1: bringing a discord to all harmony. The people in a
• 1:05:30
  Speaker 1: consternation rose and fair Elizabeth in wilder maze looked on
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 1: the night, intoxicate with lust, then bitterof another minstrel knight
• 1:05:43
  Speaker 1: him answered, speaking in the fiercest wrath. We challenge thee,
• 1:05:49
  Speaker 1: for who could silent be enduring thy vile speech and insults?
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 1: Free thy pride hath reached its lowest ebb this day, thou,
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 1: shameless slanderer of love away? When holy love inspires our
• 1:06:06
  Speaker 1: heart to song, new valor makes the heart and sword
• 1:06:10
  Speaker 1: more strong, unshamed remains its spell, most pure, most high,
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 1: and for its glory. Would I gladly die for gracious
• 1:06:21
  Speaker 1: womanhood and honor true through fire and flood? Would I
• 1:06:26
  Speaker 1: my way pursue but love's low pleasures and the joys
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 1: of lust, I scorn them, worthless as the worthless dust.
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 1: Then knights and ladies cried in great applause, Brabo, brave,
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 1: bitter oflf. We stand with thee but fiercer grutan Heiser
• 1:06:47
  Speaker 1: flash'd his eyes with angry passion and exultant joy, And
• 1:06:53
  Speaker 1: in a storm of wrath he answer'd, wild avaunt, thou
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 1: senseless babbler, bitter wolf, Thou cant'st not sing fair love,
• 1:07:04
  Speaker 1: Thou grim old wolf on thy rough heart, Its sweetness
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 1: never gleamed the bliss that I have known. Thou ne'er
• 1:07:12
  Speaker 1: hast dreamed poor Pallid's soul unfit for bliss or woe?
• 1:07:19
  Speaker 1: What rapture could thy thin blood ever know? The gentle
• 1:07:23
  Speaker 1: thrills of joy, thy weak love brings are worthless as
• 1:07:28
  Speaker 1: the song thy heart now sings. End of section twelve,
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 1: Section thirteen of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckele.
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 1: This livery Box recording is in the public domain. Part two,
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 1: Scene six, stirred to a tumult, all the knights cried out,
• 1:08:02
  Speaker 1: Let him not end. He is beside himself. We will
• 1:08:07
  Speaker 1: not hear his daring madness more, while bitterolph in anger
• 1:08:12
  Speaker 1: drew his sword. Then spake the landgrave, quelling all the strife.
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 1: Put back thy sword, Ye minstrels, keep the peace, Go
• 1:08:23
  Speaker 1: forward with our tournaments of song. Wolf Ram sing now
• 1:08:28
  Speaker 1: thy final song to love, and Wolfram rose amid a
• 1:08:33
  Speaker 1: stillness deep, while with an upward glance for Heaven's smile,
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 1: he sang the closing of his noble song. Hallo my song,
• 1:08:44
  Speaker 1: O Heav'n with holy art, for noblest love. It sings
• 1:08:49
  Speaker 1: for love, it strives, banish'd all sin and evil from
• 1:08:54
  Speaker 1: our heart. Let purity and honor fill our lives. O highest,
• 1:09:01
  Speaker 1: holiest Love. I sing thy praise, immortal fire, God's glory
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 1: in a kiss upon thee Angel beautiful, I gaze deep
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 1: in my soul. I feel thy perfect bliss. Thou camest
• 1:09:18
  Speaker 1: thy like a god. From Heav'n down, I follow thee
• 1:09:21
  Speaker 1: most Reverend, and afar I see all joys and graces
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 1: as thy crown, O Love divine in Heav'n, the brightest star.
• 1:09:33
  Speaker 1: Then once again Tannhuser swept his harp, exulted into madness,
• 1:09:39
  Speaker 1: fierce and strong, invoked the memory of past delights and
• 1:09:45
  Speaker 1: of the evil goddess of his heart, and in the
• 1:09:49
  Speaker 1: very melody a mood. When he had sung to Venus,
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 1: his last song broke out in blasts of stormy rhapsody,
• 1:09:59
  Speaker 1: of strangest frenzy, passionate and wild, O Queen of love,
• 1:10:06
  Speaker 1: immortal fame, attend thee, I sing thy praise, for I
• 1:10:11
  Speaker 1: have known thy heart, gorgeous, the beauty which all grace
• 1:10:15
  Speaker 1: doth lend thee fount of all rapture, fiery love, Thou
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 1: art o burning bliss of rapture in thy kisses. This
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 1: this is love. All else is drear and cold, away,
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 1: dull mortal's prating of love's blisses. Draw near the hill
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 1: of Venus, and behold, and as he utter'd venus name accurst,
• 1:10:43
  Speaker 1: a cry of horror burst from ev'ry throat. Ah, desperate madman,
• 1:10:49
  Speaker 1: let him quick be gone, hear his thyle words. He
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 1: hath with Venus been away his loathed presence from our sight.
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 1: In dire dismay, the ladies rose and ran, shrinking away
• 1:11:04
  Speaker 1: from this attainted wretch. A nameless terror thrilled them through
• 1:11:09
  Speaker 1: and through they crowded from the hall in frantic haste.
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 1: Tan Houser hurled his harp upon the floor with crashing
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 1: stroke that cried out like a shriek. Each minstrel's sword
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 1: leaped from its angry sheath. It seemed as if a
• 1:11:28
  Speaker 1: thunderclap had struck the dreadful day of discord and of doom. Elizabeth,
• 1:11:35
  Speaker 1: in horror, turned away, yet stood in fresh anxiety and fear,
• 1:11:41
  Speaker 1: her soul a throb in agony of tears. It was
• 1:11:45
  Speaker 1: an awful moment, great with fate, wrath, clamor shouting, and
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 1: a horror deep. Quickly the minstrels left their seats and
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 1: now had gathered round the Landgrave and the knights, distress
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 1: and wrath upon their faces, glowered as fierce. They looked
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 1: at Tanneuser, who stood defiant and alone with passion. Mad.
• 1:12:13
  Speaker 1: Then cried the knights for desperate revenge, the dark avowal
• 1:12:18
  Speaker 1: of his shame. Ye hear his own lips, insolent, confess
• 1:12:23
  Speaker 1: his guilt. He hath been partner in the lust of
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 1: Hell and paramour of Venus, in vile love, abominable, shameless,
• 1:12:33
  Speaker 1: thrice accursed. These swords shall drink thy worthless traitor blood,
• 1:12:39
  Speaker 1: go back in shame to Hell's most Loathsome pit and
• 1:12:44
  Speaker 1: be anathema for evermore. End of section thirteen Section fourteen
• 1:12:59
  Speaker 1: of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner translated by Oliver Huckle. This
• 1:13:06
  Speaker 1: lipriyvox recording is in the public domain. At to scene seven,
• 1:13:15
  Speaker 1: they pressed Tannheuser with their glittering swords, and in a moment,
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 1: would have slain him there as shameless traitor to his
• 1:13:25
  Speaker 1: sacred vows. Had not Elizabeth rushed quick between and saved
• 1:13:30
  Speaker 1: the victim from the fierce assault with the loud cry
• 1:13:35
  Speaker 1: stay ye, hold back your swords. And as they halted
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 1: in a wondering maze, the Langrave spake reproof was in
• 1:13:46
  Speaker 1: his voice, Elizabeth, what foolish deed is this? Thou chastest maiden,
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 1: shielding such vile sin? But still she stood her ground
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 1: and answered them, hiding Tannhoys's body with her own, stand back,
• 1:14:04
  Speaker 1: or pierce this bosom with your swords. Death and its
• 1:14:08
  Speaker 1: terrors cannot crush me now, for he hath struck me
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 1: a far deadlier wound. Again, the Langrave spake, Elizabeth, Scarce,
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 1: can I listen to thy gentle words? How comes thy
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 1: purest heart? Thus deep enthralled to pity him? So shameless
• 1:14:29
  Speaker 1: and so vile, such base betrayer needs thy fiercest scorn.
• 1:14:35
  Speaker 1: But still she shielded him, and pleading spoke, think not
• 1:14:40
  Speaker 1: of me, for I would say his soul, he must
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 1: not be accursed eternally. And now I ask you with
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 1: a woman's heart, ye would not rob him of eternal hope?
• 1:14:54
  Speaker 1: Then spake the Langrave sternly with slow words. This madman
• 1:14:59
  Speaker 1: casts away all hope of heaven, and such as he
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 1: can never be redeem'd. A sin like his thrusts him
• 1:15:07
  Speaker 1: beyond the pale. Upon him rests forever Heaven's curse. And
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 1: once again they sought to take his life, but she
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 1: still held them off, and loudly cried away from him.
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 1: Ye cannot be his judge, Oh be not cruel. Put
• 1:15:27
  Speaker 1: aside your swords and listen to a spotless maiden's prayer.
• 1:15:32
  Speaker 1: Let Heaven declare through me its holy will the hapless
• 1:15:37
  Speaker 1: mortal who hath been ensnared by some mysterious maze and
• 1:15:42
  Speaker 1: toil of sin? How dare you say he may not
• 1:15:46
  Speaker 1: win again salvation through deep pain and penitence. Ye who
• 1:15:52
  Speaker 1: are such believers in God's truth? Ye cannot now deny
• 1:15:57
  Speaker 1: his highest word speak, would you rob a sinner of
• 1:16:01
  Speaker 1: his hope? In his name? Who was hope and Mercy's self.
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 1: Behold me, how my tender heart is crush'd. Yon Knight
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 1: has struck my life with cruel blow. For this true
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 1: heart did love him faithfully, and now is hurl'd to
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 1: darkest depths of woe. Yet do I pray for him, Oh,
• 1:16:24
  Speaker 1: spare his life, give him. I pray the chance of penitence,
• 1:16:30
  Speaker 1: renew in him a ray of faith and hope. Tell
• 1:16:33
  Speaker 1: him for sinners. The dear Savior died, and as she spake,
• 1:16:39
  Speaker 1: Tannhuser seem'd to hear his frenzy left him. He grew
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 1: calm again. Then as his reason came, he wept in
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 1: pain and fell upon the floor in agony with moans. Woe,
• 1:16:54
  Speaker 1: woe is me, for ever lost. After a space the
• 1:16:59
  Speaker 1: quiet again, for hearts were deeply touched by her appeal.
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 1: Then spake the Langrave with a trembling voice. Methinks, an
• 1:17:09
  Speaker 1: angel from the highest heaven has come and brought us
• 1:17:13
  Speaker 1: God's own holy word. Behold thou despicable, thou shameless one,
• 1:17:19
  Speaker 1: this noble maiden. Thou hast sinned against Thou gavest hurt
• 1:17:24
  Speaker 1: to her as cruel as death. Yet praise she for
• 1:17:28
  Speaker 1: thy worthless life and soul, who would not yield Hearing
• 1:17:33
  Speaker 1: such angel prayer? Dare I to hold the guilty unforgiven?
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 1: When Heaven's message shows a door of hope, yea thy
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 1: dread crime forgiveness may yet find. And in God's name,
• 1:17:47
  Speaker 1: I bid thee live and hope. Still thy prone in
• 1:17:52
  Speaker 1: sorrow and remorse, weeping, Tannheuser uttered the deep prayer. An
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 1: angel from God's heaven was sent to me to save
• 1:18:02
  Speaker 1: my sinful soul from lowest hell. And Oh, with desperate
• 1:18:07
  Speaker 1: insolence of sin, I dared to raise my lettererous eyes
• 1:18:11
  Speaker 1: to her. Oh, Thou most merciful to human sin. This
• 1:18:17
  Speaker 1: angel comes from THEE to save my soul. Have mercy
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 1: on me deep in sin, I cry, give grace of
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 1: Heaven to my dark despair and the section fourteen Section
• 1:18:39
  Speaker 1: fifteen of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckele.
• 1:18:46
  Speaker 1: This livery Box recording is in the public domain. Part
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 1: T finale In agony, Tannheuser rushed to them, implore each
• 1:19:00
  Speaker 1: to plunge the glittering sword into his heart. And end
• 1:19:05
  Speaker 1: his misery, but none would slay him. After her fair
• 1:19:09
  Speaker 1: prayer into the midst the landrave gravely stepp'd and spake
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 1: his sentence, hard but merciful. Ye see a deed most
• 1:19:21
  Speaker 1: shameless come to light. There stole among us in a
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 1: treacherous mask, a foul and thrice accursed child of sin.
• 1:19:31
  Speaker 1: We now disown him, ban and banish him. By him
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 1: Our threshold pure is stain'd with shame, and harboring him
• 1:19:41
  Speaker 1: too long, the wrath of heaven may justly strike. If
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 1: we deal thight with sin. No wretched one to keep
• 1:19:50
  Speaker 1: THEE from thy doom. One path alone can save thy
• 1:19:55
  Speaker 1: guilty soul. This path I show THEE seek and save
• 1:20:00
  Speaker 1: thy soul. To day, a band of pilgrim penitents have
• 1:20:06
  Speaker 1: gathered from all parts of my domain. The older ones
• 1:20:10
  Speaker 1: already have set forth, the younger rest them in the
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 1: vale below. Tis not for darkest crimes like thine they go,
• 1:20:20
  Speaker 1: but only common daily faults and sins. Desire for heavenly
• 1:20:26
  Speaker 1: grace is in their souls, and so they seek the
• 1:20:30
  Speaker 1: sacred shrine at Rome. Go with these pilgrims to the
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 1: holy place, kneel in the dust, and there atone thy
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 1: sin bow unto him who holds the keys of heaven,
• 1:20:44
  Speaker 1: the sovereign pontive of the Church of God. But come
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 1: not back unless he shall forgive, and thou canst bring
• 1:20:53
  Speaker 1: the open sign of shrift. Yea, we resign the vengeance
• 1:20:58
  Speaker 1: of our heart, because cause this maiden, like an angel pray'd.
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 1: But shouldst thou loiter still in sin and shame, beware
• 1:21:08
  Speaker 1: a sword shall find thy guilty heart. Then, fair Elizabeth
• 1:21:14
  Speaker 1: upbreathe this prayer, O God of Grace, be merciful to him,
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 1: though deep and dark his sin. Forgive I pray for him.
• 1:21:25
  Speaker 1: I do beseech my whole life cries. Let him not
• 1:21:29
  Speaker 1: sink in knight, but see thy light, O God, to
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 1: save his soul. I give myself in willing sacrifice. I
• 1:21:38
  Speaker 1: give THEE all. Henceforth, I hide me in the cloister'd
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 1: walls with nuns of God and sisters of the poor,
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 1: to mingle prayers to THEE with loving deeds, and plead
• 1:21:52
  Speaker 1: for ever for his guilty soul. Take my whole life,
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 1: I call it mine no more full bitterly turennheiser pray'd again, Oh,
• 1:22:04
  Speaker 1: where shall I find mercy for my sin, and how
• 1:22:08
  Speaker 1: atone for this mine awful guilt, all hope hath vanish'd
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 1: from my sorrowing soul. God's grace hath gone and left
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 1: me deep despair. Yet I will turn my steps in
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 1: penitence to beat my breast and sorrow for my sin,
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 1: and kneel in dust before the throne of Grace. Accursed,
• 1:22:32
  Speaker 1: forever be my guilty. Lust, O thou that also might
• 1:22:37
  Speaker 1: forgive my guilt, Thou, heavenly Angel of my heart's last hope,
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 1: so cruelly and basely wronged by me, who yet can
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 1: give thyself in sacrifice. Then as he knelt in heartfelt penitence,
• 1:22:55
  Speaker 1: he heard again the early morning chant solemn majestic in
• 1:23:00
  Speaker 1: the twilight vale full. Soon a band of pilgrims came
• 1:23:05
  Speaker 1: in sight, and Fair Elizabeth, with upraised hand, pointed to
• 1:23:10
  Speaker 1: them as to a happy sign. Nearer they came, she
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 1: heard the solemn words and bade him listen to their
• 1:23:19
  Speaker 1: holy hymn. Upon the Holy shrine, we go thrice. Blessed
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 1: They who pardon know to seek the peace of God's
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 1: own word by penitence before their Lord. Tannheuser heard and started.
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 1: Suddenly a ray of hope had lighted in his soul.
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 1: Down at the feet of dear Elizabeth, he threw himself
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 1: in agony of tears, devoutly kissing her fair garment's hem.
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 1: Then rising up again, he broke away to follow, with
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 1: the pilgrims, crying loud to Rome, To Rome, and all
• 1:24:01
  Speaker 1: call after him, langraven, minstrels, knights and nobles, all and
• 1:24:07
  Speaker 1: fair Elizabeth, with tearful eyes, a prayer and hope uprising
• 1:24:13
  Speaker 1: in their hearts to Rome, To Rome, God grant him
• 1:24:18
  Speaker 1: grace at Rome. End of section fifteen. Section sixteen of
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 1: Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckell. This liveryvox
• 1:24:38
  Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. Part three, The Pope's Pardon.
• 1:24:47
  Speaker 1: The sunset of a glorious autumn day flings out effulgence
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 1: purple and red gold, the skies and apocalypse of light,
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 1: the open portal of a radiant heaven. There are the
• 1:25:03
  Speaker 1: towers and pinnacles and domes of the celestial city of
• 1:25:07
  Speaker 1: the Clouds, while far beyond gleams summits, snowy capped of silver,
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 1: mountains lustrous with the light and shining lakes of that
• 1:25:18
  Speaker 1: immortal land of shimmering glory in the sunset skies. Nearer
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 1: at hand the massive rocky height and strong built castle
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 1: of the Wartburg stand, and to the left that mount
• 1:25:34
  Speaker 1: of heathen wilds, that frowning dreariness, the Horselberg. Here in
• 1:25:40
  Speaker 1: the valley where the autumn leaves are thick with color,
• 1:25:44
  Speaker 1: stands the Virgin shrine for roadside worship. And before it
• 1:25:49
  Speaker 1: now a woman knelt in prayer, in sorrow, deep and
• 1:25:54
  Speaker 1: sore distress. She wrung her hands and wet clothed all
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 1: in white, like some fair cloistered nun in penitential robe
• 1:26:04
  Speaker 1: of purity, with sorrows whitening even her white soul. Lo
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 1: twas the fair Elizabeth, who wept heartsick for love betrayed
• 1:26:15
  Speaker 1: and hope deferred. And now another figure came in sight,
• 1:26:20
  Speaker 1: descending from the wooded mountain heights along a path that
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 1: led him to the shrine. Twas that brave night Vulfram
• 1:26:29
  Speaker 1: von Aschenbach. Slowly he walked, as if in heavy thought.
• 1:26:34
  Speaker 1: Sudden he saw the fair Elizabeth and stopped a moment,
• 1:26:38
  Speaker 1: murmuring to himself, see where she kneels by yonder sacred
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 1: shrine in fervent prayer. YEA, often is she there? For
• 1:26:49
  Speaker 1: thus I see her as I wind my way, sad
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 1: way and lonely, these dull, weary days down the far
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 1: valley from the wooded heights. There praise she for the
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 1: sinner night and day who struck a death blow to
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 1: her loving heart, bruising her life. In passionate disdain for him,
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 1: she praised the mercy of high heav'n O holy love,
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 1: how wonderful thy grace. But soon the pilgrims will return
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 1: from Rome tis autumn, and ere long they must be here.
• 1:27:26
  Speaker 1: Will he come back, repentant and absolv'd? These are her questions,
• 1:27:32
  Speaker 1: This her constant prayer. Grant O, ye saints, that they
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 1: may meet once more, although my wound may never heal again, YEA,
• 1:27:42
  Speaker 1: grant to her all comfort and all peace. And once
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 1: again he started on his way. When floating up the
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 1: valley came a sound of happy pilgrims singing holy hymns. Quickly,
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 1: Elizabeth before the shrine, arose and listened, then cried out
• 1:28:02
  Speaker 1: in joy, it is the pilgrim's song. They come again.
• 1:28:07
  Speaker 1: Oh Holy Saints, reveal my duty now that I may
• 1:28:12
  Speaker 1: do it worthily and well, while Wolfram spake communing with himself.
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 1: Yea tis the Pilgrims and their solemn chant that tells
• 1:28:24
  Speaker 1: of sins absolv'd and pardon one. Oh, Heavenly grace makes
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 1: strong her loving heart for this, the dreaded crisis of
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 1: her life. Far off, the pilgrim's song was sweetly heard.
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 1: Nearer they came, and clearer were the words. The winding roads,
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 1: thick wooded, hid from view, the marching throng as chumefully.
• 1:28:49
  Speaker 1: They raised their joyous voices, full of cheer and peace,
• 1:28:54
  Speaker 1: until they came in sight, and Reverend kneeled beside the
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 1: wayside shrine and sang this song. Happy we come to
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 1: home and friends in these dear fields. Our journey ends,
• 1:29:08
  Speaker 1: our pilgrim staves henceforth may rest for peace. Deep peace
• 1:29:14
  Speaker 1: now fills our breast. The sinner's prayer on high was
• 1:29:19
  Speaker 1: heard and answered by our gracious Lord. The tears we
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 1: poured before his shrine were turned to hope and joy divine.
• 1:29:30
  Speaker 1: The saving grace washed out our sin. The peace of
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 1: God came flowing in all fear of death and hell
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 1: is ore. Oh, praise the Lord for evermore, Sing hallelujah.
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 1: Or and er sing Hallelujah evermore. End of section sixteen,
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 1: Section sevent Scene of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated by
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 1: Oliver Huckel. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 1: Part three, Scene two, and still they sang their hymns
• 1:30:20
  Speaker 1: as on they went, passed by the shrine and further
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 1: down the vale. The while Elizabeth scanned each glad face,
• 1:30:31
  Speaker 1: her heart tremble with her eager hope. No face she knew,
• 1:30:37
  Speaker 1: deep piteous was her cry. Kneeling once more before the
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 1: Virgin shrine. He cometh back no more, nay, never more, Oh,
• 1:30:49
  Speaker 1: blessed Virgin, hear my fervent prayer to thee beloved Helper.
• 1:30:55
  Speaker 1: Now I cry here in the dust I bend before
• 1:30:59
  Speaker 1: thy shrine. Oh, now release me from this weary earth.
• 1:31:05
  Speaker 1: Grant that my virgin soul, made angel pure, may enter
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 1: now thy holy Kingdom's gates. There may I utter truer
• 1:31:16
  Speaker 1: prayers for him whose burden of deep guilt is on
• 1:31:21
  Speaker 1: my heart. If in vain hope I have been deep
• 1:31:25
  Speaker 1: enthralled and turned my heart at all from thee away,
• 1:31:31
  Speaker 1: If in a thoughtless, foolish hour I held an earthly longing,
• 1:31:37
  Speaker 1: cherish'd in my soul. Now have I struggled with the
• 1:31:41
  Speaker 1: bitterest pains and slain desire within my secret heart. Yet
• 1:31:47
  Speaker 1: if thou shrive me not by welcome death, O, grant
• 1:31:52
  Speaker 1: me grace to bear my loveless fate. For I, in
• 1:31:56
  Speaker 1: all humility to THEE, do vow to live a virgin
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 1: all my days, and evermore my prayer to THEE shall rise,
• 1:32:07
  Speaker 1: that heavenly grace may save him from his sins, Him
• 1:32:12
  Speaker 1: whom I loved and lost long time she knelt. Then,
• 1:32:18
  Speaker 1: as she slowly rose, she saw Wolfram, who near approach'd
• 1:32:24
  Speaker 1: to have a word with her. She bade him by
• 1:32:27
  Speaker 1: a gesture not to speak. Too full and heavy are
• 1:32:32
  Speaker 1: sad hearts for words. And when at length, after a
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 1: silence long, he asked, pray, may I walk the path
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 1: with THEE. She spake no word, but showed him by
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 1: a look that though she thanked him for his faithful love,
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 1: she never could accept it. Nought to her were things
• 1:32:54
  Speaker 1: of earth. Henceforth she liv'd for heaven, And as she
• 1:32:59
  Speaker 1: up looked with glance entranced, he saw her meaning, and
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 1: in reverence stood slow and alone. She wended her sad
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 1: way along the mountain path to farther heights, until at
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 1: last she disappeared from view within the frowning Wartburg's massive walls.
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 1: As long as he could see her, Wolfram watch'd with
• 1:33:26
  Speaker 1: tenderness and longing in his eyes. Then taking up his harp,
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 1: he played and sang this fair romance of Evening's Holy Star.
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 1: While twilight trembled into gathering night. The dusk like death,
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 1: a gloomy darkness rings enshrouds the valleys with her somber wings.
• 1:33:52
  Speaker 1: The soul who follows to yon glorious height must leave
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 1: behind all fear and dare the night There shynest thou
• 1:34:02
  Speaker 1: o loveliest, tenderest star, thy soft'n light, a blessing near
• 1:34:07
  Speaker 1: and far. With thy fair rays, new faith and hope
• 1:34:12
  Speaker 1: are given. And from the veil of earth thou leadest
• 1:34:16
  Speaker 1: to heav'n o Thou sublime sweet ev'ning star. Joyous I
• 1:34:23
  Speaker 1: greet thee from afar, whisper my love as she goes
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 1: by from Earth's green valleys to the sky, my heart
• 1:34:32
  Speaker 1: to that fair angel given soon to be brightest star
• 1:34:37
  Speaker 1: in heav'n o ev'ning star, thy holy light, gladly I
• 1:34:43
  Speaker 1: welcome with the knight, and from my heart that hid
• 1:34:48
  Speaker 1: its love, I send my prayers to her above God
• 1:34:53
  Speaker 1: gave her for earth fairest vision. Soon rises she to
• 1:34:58
  Speaker 1: hights a Lizzie. End of section seventeen. Section eighteen of
• 1:35:12
  Speaker 1: Tannheuser by Ricard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckele. This livery
• 1:35:20
  Speaker 1: Box recording is in the public domain. Part three, Scene three.
• 1:35:27
  Speaker 1: Now grew the night more dark, and in the gloom
• 1:35:31
  Speaker 1: appeared a traveler, footsore and sad, pallid his face and
• 1:35:37
  Speaker 1: drawn his tattered dress. Perchance was once a pilgrim solemn
• 1:35:42
  Speaker 1: garb Helped by his staff, he walked with faltering steps.
• 1:35:48
  Speaker 1: Suddenly he stopped and listened. Then he spake, I hear
• 1:35:52
  Speaker 1: the sound of harp, how sad the strings? Surely it
• 1:35:57
  Speaker 1: was not she who played and sang from out the
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 1: night and shadows. Wolfram rose and asked the stranger, courteously
• 1:36:07
  Speaker 1: and fair, who art thou pilgrim wandering so alone? Whereat
• 1:36:13
  Speaker 1: the tattered traveler drew near and gazed intently at the
• 1:36:18
  Speaker 1: minstrel night, And dost thou ask that question? Who am I? Right? Well?
• 1:36:25
  Speaker 1: Do I know thee, wolf Ram, thou art the clever
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 1: minstrel called by loving friends mocking he spake, and Wolfram
• 1:36:36
  Speaker 1: quickly cried, what see mine eyes, Tanheuser, is it thou
• 1:36:43
  Speaker 1: what brings thee here? Dejected and distress'd, speak gloomy pilgrim,
• 1:36:49
  Speaker 1: not with sin unshrived, thou darest to set foot in
• 1:36:53
  Speaker 1: our domain. But sadly spake tan Heuser, for twas he
• 1:37:00
  Speaker 1: nay pious minstrel, put thy fears aside. I seek not thee,
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 1: nay nor thy fellow's proud a path I seek, or
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 1: else a trusty guide to find a path at once
• 1:37:14
  Speaker 1: I trod with ease, and Wolfram asked what path is
• 1:37:19
  Speaker 1: that you seek? To which tan Heuser answer'd with a
• 1:37:23
  Speaker 1: cry that seem'd to tell a frenzy of desire, the
• 1:37:27
  Speaker 1: bitter longing of a desperate heart, the path to Venus
• 1:37:32
  Speaker 1: in the Horselberg. Amazed and horror stricken, Wolfram cried, O,
• 1:37:39
  Speaker 1: hapless wretch, is this thy purpose? Vile, thy desperate words?
• 1:37:44
  Speaker 1: My very ears profane, then asked tan Heuser, fiercely once again, nay,
• 1:37:51
  Speaker 1: but the path? Canst guide me to the path? Madman,
• 1:37:56
  Speaker 1: cried Wolfram, horrors in thy words. Whence comest thou. Didst
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 1: thou not go to Rome? Speak not of Rome? Tannheuser
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 1: cried in rage. Then Wolfram once again asked quietly, and
• 1:38:13
  Speaker 1: didst thou seek no pardon for thy sin? Didst thou
• 1:38:17
  Speaker 1: not seek the Holy shrine for shrift? Nor speak of that?
• 1:38:22
  Speaker 1: Tannhuser answered him. Yet Wolfram still persisted, Speak, I pray
• 1:38:28
  Speaker 1: and tell me whether thou hast been to Rome. Then
• 1:38:32
  Speaker 1: grimly Tannheuser, in bitter pain, yea, I have been to Rome,
• 1:38:38
  Speaker 1: God save the day. But Wolfram cried, speak on unhappy man.
• 1:38:44
  Speaker 1: I hear thy words with deepest sympathy, with sympathy the
• 1:38:50
  Speaker 1: other in a maze. What sayest thou? Then art thou
• 1:38:54
  Speaker 1: not my foe? And Wolfram nay thy foe? I never was.
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 1: I only sought to keep thee firm and true? But
• 1:39:03
  Speaker 1: speak how fared thy pilgrimage. End of section eighteen. Section
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 1: nineteen of Tannheuser by Ricard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckle.
• 1:39:26
  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Part three,
• 1:39:32
  Speaker 1: Scene four, his eye alone, responding to the generous love.
• 1:39:40
  Speaker 1: Slowly Tannheuser spake, yea, wolfram hark, and thou shalt hear
• 1:39:46
  Speaker 1: all that befell at Rome, Nay, come not close to
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 1: me where'er I am in deep accursed stand off, But
• 1:39:56
  Speaker 1: mark me well more penitent in soul that ever pilgrim
• 1:40:01
  Speaker 1: went on earth. Before I sought my way to Rome,
• 1:40:05
  Speaker 1: an angel had dispell'd the pride of sin, the mad
• 1:40:10
  Speaker 1: profaneness from my guilty breast. For her dear sake, I
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 1: took the sorrowing path to pray for pardon and for
• 1:40:19
  Speaker 1: earthy peace, for her, whose sweet tears pleaded still for me,
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 1: and sad bewail'd my heavy grievous sin. Yea, as I
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 1: saw the pilgrims laden soar, meseemed their burdens still were
• 1:40:35
  Speaker 1: far too light. And when their feet off sought the
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 1: easy path, I trod unshod amid the rock and thorn.
• 1:40:45
  Speaker 1: When they refreshed their lips by some cool stream, thirsty,
• 1:40:50
  Speaker 1: I plodded on beneath the sun. When they besought the
• 1:40:54
  Speaker 1: aid of holy saints. I shed my life blood for
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 1: the cause divine. When in some hospice they sought shelter'd rest,
• 1:41:04
  Speaker 1: I stretched my limbs amid the snow and ice lest
• 1:41:08
  Speaker 1: Italy's fair scenes should give me joy blindfold, I walked
• 1:41:13
  Speaker 1: and kept my soulful sad. Thus did I go repenting,
• 1:41:18
  Speaker 1: crush'd and bruised for that dear angel's sake, who wept
• 1:41:23
  Speaker 1: for me. Then roam I gain'd at last, and at
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 1: its shrine, its holiest shrine, I knelt in fervent prayer.
• 1:41:32
  Speaker 1: The daylight broke, the silver bells peel'd forth neath faulted roofs.
• 1:41:38
  Speaker 1: The heavenly hymns were sung. A thousand voices rose exultantly
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 1: for grace and mercy flow'd o'er every soul. Then saw
• 1:41:48
  Speaker 1: I him who holds the keys of heaven, and prostrate
• 1:41:52
  Speaker 1: fell the throngs before his face, and thousands he forgave
• 1:41:58
  Speaker 1: that day and blest and sent them forth renewed in
• 1:42:02
  Speaker 1: heavenly grace. Then I drew near, head bowed and eyes
• 1:42:07
  Speaker 1: down cast, confess'd my sin in sorrow and despair, accus'd
• 1:42:13
  Speaker 1: my darkened soul of mad desires, bewail'd the fire no
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 1: penitence had quench'd, and wildly cried for pardon and release.
• 1:42:24
  Speaker 1: I thought he seem'd at first most pisiful. In tears
• 1:42:28
  Speaker 1: and dust, I craved one gracious word, Then pity died
• 1:42:33
  Speaker 1: within his kindly eye. He looked at me most sternly,
• 1:42:38
  Speaker 1: and replied, if thou hast shared the joys of evil
• 1:42:42
  Speaker 1: love and warm thy soul in those unholy fires where
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 1: Venus dwells in heathen blasphemy, then art thou now and
• 1:42:52
  Speaker 1: evermore accursed? YEA sooner shall this season's staff I hold
• 1:42:58
  Speaker 1: put forth in my fresh leave for bloom, and thy
• 1:43:03
  Speaker 1: lost soul be snatch'd from lowest hell, or fair forgiveness,
• 1:43:08
  Speaker 1: ever bloom. For thee despair heart rending made my senses swim,
• 1:43:14
  Speaker 1: and I sank down. When I awoke again twas night,
• 1:43:18
  Speaker 1: and all forsaken, There I lay, the only one of
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 1: thousands so repulsed. Far off I heard the songs of
• 1:43:28
  Speaker 1: prayer and praise, but deep damnation thundered in my soul,
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 1: the sorrowing music of a deep despair, loathing the place
• 1:43:37
  Speaker 1: I fled their holy hymns, fled from the lying clangor
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 1: of their bells, fled madly as though called unclean, unclean,
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 1: With horror in my heart, I turned and fled, Then
• 1:43:52
  Speaker 1: longed my soul again to taste those joys that once
• 1:43:56
  Speaker 1: had cured my earth born pains and woe, and so
• 1:44:01
  Speaker 1: cast out a curst, my god, a man fair Venus
• 1:44:06
  Speaker 1: once again to thee, I come, the sweet knight. Breathe
• 1:44:11
  Speaker 1: thy magic witchery. I come to thy dark courts as
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 1: bound and slave. Only be gracious and assuage my pains.
• 1:44:22
  Speaker 1: Appalling was his mad ecstatic voice. Them wolf from cried nay, nay,
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 1: unhappy man. But still to Venus, did tan houser pray
• 1:44:35
  Speaker 1: o Venus, Thou forgivest guide my feet. How well in
• 1:44:40
  Speaker 1: other days this road I knew. Behold, I have been
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 1: curst and spurn'd of men. Come fairies, Venus, take me
• 1:44:50
  Speaker 1: once again. Ah Now methinks I see her fairy clouds
• 1:44:56
  Speaker 1: that softly float into the valley here and light the
• 1:45:00
  Speaker 1: darkness with their rosy light. YEA, dost thou not the
• 1:45:05
  Speaker 1: balmy breezes, feel and breathe her presence in the perfumed air. YEA,
• 1:45:12
  Speaker 1: hear the rapturous music sounding forth mysterious glory from the
• 1:45:18
  Speaker 1: mountain's heart. And see in mazy dance the gracious nymphs,
• 1:45:25
  Speaker 1: see see their ecstasy of whirling love. Behold the air
• 1:45:30
  Speaker 1: is full of dancing forms. Come on, ye fair ones,
• 1:45:35
  Speaker 1: poor me pleasures draft, but wolfram in a greater horror, cride,
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 1: madman away, or thou art lost or dead? Yea, would
• 1:45:47
  Speaker 1: that thou wert rather in thy grave? How wildly now
• 1:45:52
  Speaker 1: he pants in shuddering joy. What evil magic fills the
• 1:45:57
  Speaker 1: darkened air with visions that are lure him to the depths?
• 1:46:02
  Speaker 1: What evil demons seem to crowd the night? End of
• 1:46:08
  Speaker 1: section nineteen, Section twenty of Tannheuser by Rickard Wagner, translated
• 1:46:21
  Speaker 1: by Oliver Huckele. This livery Box recording is in the
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 1: public domain. Part three, seam five Louder Tannheuser called in
• 1:46:34
  Speaker 1: frantic might oh rapture bliss in all my throbbing heart.
• 1:46:39
  Speaker 1: I feel her dark ambrosial breath on me. This is
• 1:46:45
  Speaker 1: the magic realm of her sweet love. Now, fairest Venus,
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 1: I am here with thee. And as he spake, the
• 1:46:54
  Speaker 1: rifting clouds unclosed, the wild mysterious music, thrilled and thrilled,
• 1:47:00
  Speaker 1: And though fair Venus radiant in charms, reclining on a
• 1:47:06
  Speaker 1: couch of rosy light. Gently she spake with soft reproaches kind, yea,
• 1:47:13
  Speaker 1: thou art welcome, poor, unfaithful soul, the world has cursed
• 1:47:18
  Speaker 1: thee with its fate and ban Nowhere on earth canst
• 1:47:22
  Speaker 1: thou find pardon peace. So wouldst thou seek for solace
• 1:47:28
  Speaker 1: in my love. Devoutly, kneeling glad, Tannhuser prayed, yea Fai
• 1:47:34
  Speaker 1: is Venus great in tenderness, receive me in thy pity
• 1:47:38
  Speaker 1: to thy heart. And Venus answered him with gracious smiles.
• 1:47:44
  Speaker 1: If of thine own free will thou seekest me, I
• 1:47:48
  Speaker 1: will forgive thy rash unfaithfulness. Come then, and taste the
• 1:47:54
  Speaker 1: fount of deathless joy, the myriad joys within my radiant well,
• 1:48:00
  Speaker 1: and never more depart from my heart's love. But Warfram
• 1:48:06
  Speaker 1: tightly clutched him, crying, loud begone, ye, hellish phantoms, quick begone,
• 1:48:13
  Speaker 1: Ye banish every pure thought from our hearts. Fiercely, tan
• 1:48:18
  Speaker 1: Heuser tore himself away with the wild words, nay, let
• 1:48:23
  Speaker 1: me go. I say I am accursed and lost to
• 1:48:27
  Speaker 1: hope on earth naught, but the joys of hell are
• 1:48:31
  Speaker 1: left to me. But Wolfram clutched him tighter still and prayed,
• 1:48:36
  Speaker 1: Almighty God, be pitiful and kind. Henry one word forgiveness
• 1:48:42
  Speaker 1: full It means repent. But angrily tan Heuser cried, nay,
• 1:48:49
  Speaker 1: speak no more away from me, I say. Then Venus
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 1: called again him wistful word, Oh, come, beloved mine forever now.
• 1:49:00
  Speaker 1: But Wolfram clung to him with desperate strength. Tan Heuser,
• 1:49:04
  Speaker 1: vainly struggling to get free, exclaiming still, I will not
• 1:49:10
  Speaker 1: let thee go. Thou must be saved, Thy sin must
• 1:49:14
  Speaker 1: be forgiven. Tanheuser, struggling, muttered with slow breath, nay, never
• 1:49:20
  Speaker 1: let me go. I must go down, Wolfram. All hope
• 1:49:25
  Speaker 1: is gone. The heavens are closed. But Wolfram cried, nay,
• 1:49:31
  Speaker 1: heaven is open still. An angel on the earth once
• 1:49:35
  Speaker 1: prayed for thee. Now even now, her spirit winging flight
• 1:49:40
  Speaker 1: dropped blessings on thee as she rose to heaven with reverence. Deep,
• 1:49:45
  Speaker 1: I speak her holy name, Angel of Purity, her name,
• 1:49:50
  Speaker 1: I breathe, Elizabeth, she prays for thee in heaven. Sudden
• 1:49:57
  Speaker 1: Tannhuser paused nor struggled more. He seemed, awaking from some
• 1:50:03
  Speaker 1: darksome dream and looking upward fervently, he cried, Elizabeth, she
• 1:50:10
  Speaker 1: prays for me in heaven. O God, I do repent
• 1:50:14
  Speaker 1: me in the dust, and in a torrent of repentant tears,
• 1:50:20
  Speaker 1: his whole soul throbbed and trembled in its woe, and
• 1:50:24
  Speaker 1: Wolfram came to him most tenderly, put round him his
• 1:50:29
  Speaker 1: strong brotherly right arm, and whispered to him, yea Thine Angel,
• 1:50:35
  Speaker 1: praise She prays for THEE. Before the very throne, she prays.
• 1:50:41
  Speaker 1: And God doth hear. Thy heart repents, Henry, thou art, forgiven,
• 1:50:47
  Speaker 1: thou art forgiven? Faintly the voice of Venus sighed and sobbed,
• 1:50:53
  Speaker 1: WHOA I have lost him? Now forevermore? And quick she
• 1:50:58
  Speaker 1: vanished with her rosy clouds and all the evil witchery
• 1:51:03
  Speaker 1: of night. And now God's morning broke in fresh, sweet light,
• 1:51:09
  Speaker 1: pure as a soul, but newly shrived for heav'n, A
• 1:51:13
  Speaker 1: fair day for the sweet and holy earth, a fair
• 1:51:18
  Speaker 1: day for the sweet immortal life. Forth from the wartburg
• 1:51:23
  Speaker 1: came a saddened throng with glimmering torches of funereal gloom,
• 1:51:29
  Speaker 1: in slow procession down the winding way. And as they
• 1:51:34
  Speaker 1: walked this solemn dirge, they sang, receive, O Lord, this
• 1:51:40
  Speaker 1: patient soul so bright that now to THEE has gladly
• 1:51:45
  Speaker 1: wing'd her flight. Hers be the blest reward to angels. Given,
• 1:51:51
  Speaker 1: crown'd with the glory and the joy of Heaven, sainted
• 1:51:55
  Speaker 1: for ever with that glorious band who rob'd in white
• 1:52:00
  Speaker 1: before the eternal stand, and blessed be he whose sins
• 1:52:05
  Speaker 1: are all forgiven, and by her prayers and tears at
• 1:52:09
  Speaker 1: last gains heaven. Faint with his grief, Tannheuser trembling fell,
• 1:52:16
  Speaker 1: but Wolfram caught him gently in his arm and whispered, speak,
• 1:52:22
  Speaker 1: dost hear their holy hymn of prayer and praise for
• 1:52:26
  Speaker 1: her who is in heaven dying. He murmur'd yea, I
• 1:52:31
  Speaker 1: hear the hymn. Then nearer still the sad procession drew
• 1:52:36
  Speaker 1: the landgrave, knights and nobles following, and like a bride
• 1:52:41
  Speaker 1: of death on open couch lay fair Elizabeth, a saint
• 1:52:46
  Speaker 1: of God, clothed in a simple robe of purest white,
• 1:52:50
  Speaker 1: lustrous like her own soul's sweet purity, and crowned and
• 1:52:55
  Speaker 1: garland dead with pure white flowers, herself the sweet's flower
• 1:53:01
  Speaker 1: of all the world. Then Wolfram brought tan Heuser to
• 1:53:06
  Speaker 1: the couch to gaze upon that sweet face, still in death,
• 1:53:11
  Speaker 1: and coming near, Tanheuser looked in love, and bending o'er
• 1:53:15
  Speaker 1: her body, prayed the prayer, dear Saint Elizabeth, Oh, pray
• 1:53:21
  Speaker 1: for me, And with the words he swooned and breathed
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 1: his last end. Section twenty Section twenty one of Tannheuser
• 1:53:40
  Speaker 1: by Rickard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckele. This livery Box
• 1:53:45
  Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. Part three conclusion. Thus
• 1:53:54
  Speaker 1: were two suffering souls prepared for heaven and found each
• 1:53:59
  Speaker 1: other there after many days. Thus was a pure and
• 1:54:04
  Speaker 1: faithful woman's heart triumphant over all the wilds of sin.
• 1:54:11
  Speaker 1: For as in all the bearers quenched their lights, inverting
• 1:54:16
  Speaker 1: their funereal torches flame. And as the glorious morning sun
• 1:54:22
  Speaker 1: burst forth in greater glory or the mountain tops, another
• 1:54:28
  Speaker 1: company of pilgrims came returning from the holy shrines of Rome.
• 1:54:35
  Speaker 1: Across the mountain paths, they slowly moved and to the
• 1:54:39
  Speaker 1: valley wended their sad way, holding aloft a rough hun
• 1:54:45
  Speaker 1: wooden cross wreathed in fair flowers. For it was special
• 1:54:50
  Speaker 1: gift and special message from the Pope's own hand. And
• 1:54:56
  Speaker 1: as they walked they sang this wondrous strain, Rejoice the
• 1:55:01
  Speaker 1: gracious Lord hath marvels wrought he hath redemption to his
• 1:55:07
  Speaker 1: people brought. Behold his deed in Knight's most holy hour,
• 1:55:13
  Speaker 1: Behold his miracle of wondrous power. For lo the pontives stump,
• 1:55:21
  Speaker 1: Once dry and dead, God hath renew'd with blossoms, bright
• 1:55:26
  Speaker 1: and red. So shall the sinner, dead in shame and
• 1:55:31
  Speaker 1: sin receive forgiveness and new life begin. Tell why the
• 1:55:37
  Speaker 1: news raise high the gladsome voice, and may sinning sorrowing
• 1:55:44
  Speaker 1: heart rejoice. High above all is God, the sinner's friend.
• 1:55:50
  Speaker 1: His mercy and compassion have no end. So sang they,
• 1:55:56
  Speaker 1: and the hearts of all were glad. Redemption had been
• 1:56:00
  Speaker 1: wrought before their eyes, a lost soul saved at last
• 1:56:05
  Speaker 1: by faith and love. And all the throng, a motley
• 1:56:09
  Speaker 1: company knights, pilgrims, nobles, stirred with feeling deep, united in
• 1:56:16
  Speaker 1: one hymn of gratitude. Praise God with hallelujahs or and
• 1:56:23
  Speaker 1: or praise Him and sing Hosannah's evermore. His pitying grace
• 1:56:29
  Speaker 1: gives now its open token the Lord himself. The bonds
• 1:56:34
  Speaker 1: of sin hath broken. Praises to God, Ye angel hosts
• 1:56:39
  Speaker 1: on high, praises to God. Let every creature cry God's
• 1:56:45
  Speaker 1: grace to every penitence is given. The vilest sinner may
• 1:56:51
  Speaker 1: at last win heaven. End of Section twenty one. Recording
• 1:56:59
  Speaker 1: by Alum Mapster in Oxford, England. End of Tannheuser by
• 1:57:05
  Speaker 1: Recard Wagner, translated by Oliver Huckel,