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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

And courteous they spake to each other: then cup-bearers drew anigh,
And from Assagog the vessels, and their cost might no man deny;
And noble pages bare them, many costly bowls and fair, 415
Of precious jewels wroughten, and wide, none too small, they were,
And none of them all were golden—'twas the tribute of that fair land,
Which Eisenhart oft had proffered, when love's need nerved his knightly hand.
And the drink unto each they proffered in many a coloured stone,
And of emerald some, and of sardius, and of ruby some wrought alone.420

Then there drew near to his pavilion two knights who their word must swear,
(To the outer host were they captive and from thence to the town would fare.)
And one of them was King Kailet; and he looked upon Gamuret,
And he saw him sit heavy-hearted, and he spake, 'Dost thou sorrow yet
For all men they own thy valour; Herzeleide and kingdoms twain 425
Hast thou won, and all tongues have said it, to thy praises all men are fain,
Be they Britons or men of Ireland—Who speaketh with foreign tongue,
If France be their land, or Brabant, with one voice they thy praise have sung,
That none here both skill and wisdom in strife like to thine have shown.
True letter it is I read thee! No slumber thy strength hath known, 430
When these knights thou hast put in peril who surety ne'er sware of old,
Brandelidelein the monarch, and Lähelein, hero bold;
And Hardeiss and King Schaffilor; yea, and Rassalig the Moor,
Whom thine hand before Patelamunt o'erthrew and he surety swore,
Such lesson thou there didst teach him—Yea, this doth thy fame desire435
That with every coming conflict it broader shall wax and higher.'

'The queen sure will deem thou ravest, if in this wise thou praisest me,
Yet I think not that thou shalt sell me, since the buyer the flaw shall see;
Thy mouth is o'er-full of praises! Say, how hast thou come again?'
'The worthy folk of Punturtois, this knight from fair Champagne 440
And myself have loosed, and Morhold who this nephew hath stolen of mine
Will set him free, if on thy part thou wilt free Brandelidelein;
Otherwise are we captive to them, both I and my sister's son,
But such grace thou wilt surely show us—Here such vesper-play was run
That it cometh not to a Tourney this while before Kanvoleis, 445
And in sooth do I know how it standeth! Here sit they before mine eyes,
The strength of the outer army—now speak, tell me when and how
They could hold the field against us? Much fame hast thou won, I trow!'

Then the queen she spake to the hero from a true heart full tenderly,
'Whate'er be my claim upon thee, I pray thee to let it be. 450
I were fain of thy service worthy—If here I my right shall claim,
And thine honour thereby be tarnished, I will leave thee nor mar thy fame!'

Then he sprang to his feet, the chaplain of Anflisé the wise and fair,
And he quoth, 'Nay, my queen doth claim him, at her will to this land I fare.
For his love hath she sent me hither, for his love she afar doth pine,455
And her love layeth claim upon him and hers shall he be, not thine.
O'er all women I ween doth she love him: here as messengers hath she sent
Three princes, lads free from falsehood; and the one is hight Lazident
Of noble birth from Greenland, and in Kärlingen doth he dwell,
And his own hath he made the language; and the second his name I'll tell,460
Liodarz he, a count his father, and Schyolarz was he hight.
And who was the third? Will ye hearken, his kinship I'll tell aright:
Belleflur she hath been his mother, Pansamur was his father's name,
Liahturteltart they called him, of the race of the fays he came.
Then they ran all three before him, and they spake, 'Wouldst thy fortune prove?465
(The queen of France doth proffer the chance of a worthy love.)
Thou shalt play the game, and never a pledge shall be asked from thee,
Nor thy joy be to sorrow forfeit, as it waxeth still fair and free!'

Then e'en while they spake their errand Kailet he had ta'en his seat
'Neath a fold of the royal mantle, and she spake to him low and sweet,470
'Now say, hath worse harm befallen? Methinks I the wounds have seen?'
In that same hour his wounds and bruises she sought out, the gracious queen,
With her white hands so small and shapely, which their wisdom from God must win,
And sore was he cut and wounded on nose and on cheek and chin.
He had won for his wife the cousin of the queen who such honour fair475
Would show him, herself would she tend him, and her hands for his hurts should care.

Then e'en as courtesy bade her she spake unto Gamuret,
'The fair queen of France, it seemeth, her heart upon thee hath set;
Now honour in me all women, and give what I here may claim,
Go not till men judge betwixt us, else thou leavest me here to shame.'480
This he sware unto her, the hero, and leave she from him would crave,
And she passed thence, and then King Kailet, that monarch so true and brave,
He lifted her to her saddle; and he turned him about once more
And came into the pavilion, where his kinsman and friends he saw.

Then spake he unto King Hardeiss, 'Aleiss thy sister fair 485
She proffered her love, I took it—Now wedded is she elsewhere,
And a better than I is her husband! No longer thus wrathful frown,
Prince Lambekein, he hath won her—tho' in sooth she shall wear no crown,
Yet honour enough is her portion—Brabant and Hennegau
Do her service, and many a brave knight doth unto her bidding bow. 490
If thy mind it shall turn to greet me let thy favour be mine once more,
And take thou again my service of a true heart as aye of yore.'

Then the king of Gascony answered as befitted a hero brave,
'Yea, soft is thy speech, yet if greeting I give thee as thou dost crave,
Who hath offered to me such insult, men will deem fear such grace hath won,495
For captive am I to thy cousin!' 'Yet ill shall he deal with none,
Gamuret, he shall grant thy freedom, that boon my first prayer shall be:
No man shall thereto constrain thee, yet my service the day shall see
When thou as thy friend shalt claim me. For the shame, 'tis enow I wot,
For whate'er thou mayst do against me, thy sister, she slayeth me not!'500

Then all at his words laughed loudly. But their mirth it was soon o'erpast
For his true heart the host constrainèd, and desire held him once more fast,
And a sharp goad I ween is sorrow—Then the heroes they saw right well
How he wrestled anew with sorrow and his joy in the conflict fell;
And his cousin he waxed right wrathful, and he spake, 'Now thou doest ill.'505
'Nay, nay, for I needs must sorrow, and naught may my yearning still
For the queen I have left behind me, afar on a heathen shore,
Pure wife and true is that lady, and my heart she hath wounded sore.'