Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 1 of 2)

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

Nor Gaschier delayed his coming; and unto the Burg-grave told
How his guest sought for further conflict nor his wrath might the host withhold.660
If he swallowed not iron as an ostrich, nor his wrath did on stones assuage
'Twas but that he might not find them! Then he gnashed his teeth for rage,
And he growled as a mighty lion, and the hair of his head he tare,
And he quoth, 'So the years of my lifetime a harvest of folly bear,
The gods they had sent to my keeping a valiant and worthy friend, 665
If with strife he shall be o'erladen, then mine honour hath found an end;
Sword and shield they shall little profit—Yea, shame he would on me cast
Who should bring this to my remembrance!' Then swift from his place he passed,
And he gat him into the portal, and a squire towards him drew,
And he bare a shield that was painted with a knight by a spear pierced thro',670
In Eisenhart's land was it fashioned; and a helmet his hand must hold,
And a sword that Rassalig carried in battle, that heathen bold,
But now was he parted from it whose fame was in every place;
Were he slain unbaptized I think me, God had shown to this hero grace!

And e'en as the Burg-grave saw it, ne'er of yore was his joy so great,675
For the coat-of-arms he knew it—So he rode thro' the city gate,
And without, his guest had halted, young hero he, not yet old,
As one of a joust desirous, and his bridle the Burg-grave bold,
Lahfilirost was his name, he grasped it, and he led him within the wall;
And I wot well no other foeman that day 'neath his spear must fall.680

Quoth Lahfilirost the Burg-grave, 'Sir Knight, thou shalt tell to me
If thine hand Rassalig hath vanquished?' 'Then our land from all strife is free;
For he of the Moors is chieftain, the men of true Eisenhart
Who have brought unto us such sorrow—But now shall our woe depart,
'Twas a wrathful god who bade him thus seek us with all his host, 685
But his weapons to naught are smitten, and to folly is turned his boast!'
Then he led him in (ill it pleased him) and there met then the royal maid,
And she loosened the bands of his vizor, and her hand on his bridle laid,
To her care must the Burg-grave yield it: nor his squires to their task were slack,
For they turned them about, and swiftly they rode on their master's track.690
So men saw the queen so gracious lead her guest thro' the city street
Who here should be hailed the victor—Then she lighted her on her feet,
'Ah me! but thy squires are faithful! Fear ye lest your lord be lost?
Without ye shall he be cared for; take his steed, here am I his host!'

And above found he many a maiden: then her hands of dusky hue 695
The queen set unto his harness, and disarmed the knight so true.
And the bed-covering was of sable, and the couch it was spread so fair,
And in secret a hidden honour they did for the knight prepare,
For no one was there to witness—The maidens they might not stay,
And the door was fast closed behind them, and Frau Minne might have her way.700
So the queen in the arms of her true love found guerdon of sweet delight,
Tho' unlike were the twain in their colour, Moorish princess and Christian knight!

Then the townsfolk brought many an offering to the gods who had seen their woe.
That which Rassalig needs must promise ere he from the field might go
That he did, in all truth and honour, yet heavy was he at heart, 705
And afresh sprang the fount of his sorrow for his prince gallant Eisenhart.
And the Burg-grave he heard of his coming; then loud rang the trumpet call,
And no man of Zassamank's princes but came to the palace hall.
They gave Gamuret thanks for the honour he had won in the field that day,
Four-and-twenty had fallen before him, and their chargers he bore away,710
And three chieftains had he made captive. And there rode in the princes' train
Many gallant knights, in the courtyard of the palace did they draw rein.
And the hero had slept and eaten, and clad him in raiment fair,
Chief host was he, for his body fit garments would they prepare.
And she who afore was a maiden but now was a wife would take 715
Her lord by the hand, forth she led him, and unto her princes spake:
'My body and this my kingdom are vassals unto this knight,
If so be that his foemen fearing, resist not his hand of might!'

Then Gamuret spake, and his bidding was courteous, for hero meet,
Sir Rassalig, go thou nearer, with a kiss thou my wife shalt greet;720
And Sir Gaschier, thou shalt do likewise.' Then the Scotch knight proud Heuteger
He bade on the lips to kiss her (and the wounds won in joust he bare).

Then he bade them all be seated, and standing, he wisely spake:
'I were fain to behold my kinsman, if he who did captive take
The knight shall have naught against it—As kinsman it seemeth me 725
That I find here no other counsel save straightway to set him free!'
Then the queen she smiled, and bade them go swiftly and seek the knight,
And then thro' the throng he pressed him, that count so fair and bright,
Yet bare he the wounds of knighthood, and bravely and well had fought;
With the host of Gaschier the Norman the land of the Moors he sought.730
He was courteous; his sire a Frenchman he was Kailet's sister's son,
Killirjacac his name; in the service of fair women fair meed he won,

And the fairest of men they deemed him. When Gamuret saw his face
(For like were they each to the other, as men of a kindred race)
He bade his queen to kiss him and embrace him as kinsman true, 735
And he spake, 'Now come thou and greet me!' and the knight to his arms he drew,
And he kissed him, and each was joyful that the other he here might meet:
And Gamuret quoth unto him, 'Alas! cousin fair and sweet,
What doth thy young strength in this conflict? Say, if woman hath sent thee here?'
'Nay, never a woman sent me, with my cousin I came, Gaschier, 740
He knoweth why he hath brought me—A thousand men have I,
And I do to him loyal service—To Rouen in Normandy
I came, where his force was gathered, and many a youthful knight
I brought from Champagne in mine army; 'neath his banner we fain would fight.
Now evil hath turned against him what of cunning is hers and skill,745
Thou wilt honour thyself if thou free him for my sake, and cure his ill!'
'Thyself shalt fulfil thy counsel! Go thou, take with thee Gaschier,
I would fain see my kinsman Kailet, do thou bring him unto me here!'
So they wrought out the host's desiring, and brought him at his behest,
And in loving wise and kindly did Gamuret greet his guest; 750
And ofttimes the queen embraced him, and kissed him with kisses sweet:
And nothing it wronged her honour in such wise the prince to greet,
He was cousin unto her husband, by birth was himself a king.
Then smiling his host spake to him, 'God knows, 'twere an evil thing,
Had I taken from thee Toledo, and thy goodly land of Spain 755
For Gascony's king, who wrathful doth plague thee with strife amain;
'Twere faithless of me, Sir Kailet, since mine aunt's son thou sure shalt be;
The bravest of knights shall be with thee; say, who forced this strife on thee?'

Then out spake the proud young hero, 'My cousin Schiltung bade
(Since his daughter Friedebrand wedded) that I lend to the king mine aid.760
For the sake of his wife hath he won him, yea even from me alone
Six thousand chosen heroes, who valour and skill have shown.
And other men did I bring him, but a part they shall hence have sailed,
For the Scottish folk came they hither, brave bands who in strife ne'er failed.
And there came to his aid from Greenland, strong heroes who bravely fought,765
Two mighty kings, and a torrent of knighthood with them they brought,
And many a goodly vessel: and they pleased me, those men of might—
And here for his sake came Morhold, who hath cunning and skill in fight.'

'But now have they turned them homewards, and that which the queen shall say
Even that will I do with mine army, her servant am I alway! 770
Thou shalt thank me not for this service, from kinsman 'twas due, I ween.
Now thine are these gallant heroes, if like mine they baptized had been
And were even as they in colour, then never a monarch crowned
But if they should fight against him, of conflict his fill had found!
But I marvel what here hath brought thee? Say, how didst thou reach this strand?'775
'Yestreen I came, and this morning I am lord o'er this goodly land!
The queen by the hand she took me, and with love I myself would shield,
For so did my wit give counsel—' 'Yea, so hast thou won the field,
Those sweet weapons two hosts have vanquished!' 'Thou wouldst say, since I fled from thee,
So loudly on me thou calledst, say, what wouldst thou force from me?780
Let us speak of the thing in friendship!' 'Thine anchor I failed to know,
But seldom mine aunt's brave husband Gandein, did such token show!'
'But I, I knew well thine ostrich with the snake's head upon thy breast,
Aloft stood thy bird so stately, nor hid it within a nest!'