And Parsifal in sudden sorrow cried: 
“What have I done to let this curse go on? 
Why have I wasted all these precious years
In wandering, while here was deepest woe? 
Why did I never see the needed truth
That no repentance can assuage the grief,
No expiation can atone the wrong,
Until another feels the bitter pain,
And takes it willingly to his own heart? 
Here I was chosen to redeem the wrong,
And save the anguish of the stricken King,
And yet how blind has been my foolish heart! 
Can blindness mean impurity and sin,
And may it be that I am all deceived,—­
My way all lost, my hopes forever gone?”

And in the bitter struggle of his soul,
And in the self-abasement of his heart,
And in the strong reaction that oft comes
To spiritual natures, deep and fine,
He would have fallen helpless to the ground;
But Gurnemanz quick caught him in his arms,
And led him sinking to a grassy mound,
And Kundry ran with water for his brow.

But Gurnemanz:  “Not so.  The holy spring
Shall now revive our pilgrim’s waning strength. 
My heart sees noble work for him to-day. 
A sacred mystic duty doth await him. 
He shall be pure as light, and all the dust
Of travel and of error washed away!”

Then from his limbs they took the mighty greaves,
And loosed the woven corselet from his side,
And bathed his feet and brought him to himself.

And straight he asked:  “And shall I see the King?”

And Gurnemanz:  “Thou shalt behold the King
This very day and speak thy word to him. 
The death-rites of mine aged warrior-lord,
The noble Titurel, doth call me to the court;
And there again the Grail shall be revealed. 
For King Amfortas hath by solemn vow
Promised once more to open up the shrine,
Sworn to fulfil the long-neglected office,
To sanctify the saintly father’s end,
And expiate the deep unfilial crime,
The added sin, that broke his father’s heart.”

And as he spoke, the kindly Kundry bathed
The feet of Parsifal, who looked at her
With gentle wonder and a pitying love,
And said:  “So humbly hast thou washed my feet,
Perchance the good and faithful Gurnemanz
May sprinkle my poor head with holy water,
And give my soul his gracious benediction.”

And Gurnemanz took water from the spring,
And sprinkled Parsifal in holy rite,
And uttered over him the benediction: 
“O guileless One, thrice blessed be and pure,
And free forever from all care and sin!”

Then Kundry from her bosom drew a vial,
A golden vial, full of perfumed oil,
And poured its soothing fragrance on his feet
And dried them with her flowing unbound hair.

And Parsifal reached out and took the vial,
And gave it unto Gurnemanz and said: 
“This woman hath anointed these my feet;
Let now the faithful servant of the Grail,
And minister of sainted Titurel,
Anoint my chosen head with holy oil,
That I may take the office, as God will,
And you to-day may greet me as your King.”