One  of  the  most  melancholy  episodes  in  the  history  of
Wagnerism  is  the  misunderstanding  between  Dr.  Paul
Lindau  and  Dr.  Eduard  Hanslick  on  the  subject  of  Par-


432  THE  PARSIFAL  PERIOD

Bifal.  Lindau  is  not  quite  reconciled  to  the  IfCadiDg
Motives,  and  he  even  tells  us  that  "the  hatred  of  melody
has  taken  root  more  and  more  deeply  in  Wagner  " ;  but  he
modestly  qualifies  this  hy  speaking  of  melody  "  as  com-
monly understood  "  (t.e.  vocal  dance  rhythms).  He  also
condemns  his  own  procedure  on  former  occasions  by
remarking  that  "all  Wagner's  poems  improve  on  closer
acquaintance,  and  it  would  be  presumptuous  to  express  a
final  opinion  after  a  single  hearing."  He  pronounces
Parsifal  one  of  the  most  beautiful  dramatic  productions
in  existence,  and  compares  the  tableaux  to  Perugino's  ;
for  the  music,  too,  he  has  little  but  praise.
