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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

For a little space was she conscious, then a grip on her right hand fell,
And, lo! it was changed, the vision, and wondrous things befell;
For then did she nurse a dragon, that forth from her body sprung,
And its dragon life to nourish awhile at her breast it hung,
Then it fled from her sight so swiftly she might look on it never more:725
And her heart it brake for the anguish, and the terror and grief she bore.

And never methinks a woman in slumber such woe hath seen,
But now had she been so joyful, alas! all was changed I ween,
And sorrow should be her portion, and her ill it waxed long and wide,
And the shadow of coming sorrow did still on her heart abide. 730

Then she did what afore she could not, for the terror that on her lay,
She stretched her limbs in her slumber, and moaned in her grief alway,
And she cried aloud on her people; and many a maid sat by
And they sprang to her side at her summons, and wakened her speedily.

Then Tampaneis he came riding, of her husband's squires the chief, 735
And many a page was with him, and joy's goal was o'erpassed in grief,
And they cried, 'He was dead, their master!' And her senses forsook the queen,
And she fell aback in her anguish—And the knights spake, 'How hath this been?
Hath our lord been slain in his harness, who ever was armed so well?'
And tho' sorely the squire must sorrow, to the heroes the tale he'ld tell:740
'No long life should he have, my master! His helm he put off awhile,
The heat thereto constrained him—'twas accursed heathen guile
That stole him from us, our hero—A knight took a he-goats blood,
And from a long glass he poured it on the helmet of diamond good,
And softer than sponge grew the diamond. May He Whom as Lamb they show745
With the Cross in His hold, have mercy on the deeds that are wrought below!'

'Then when one host met the other: Ah! that was indeed a fight,
And the knights who were with the Baruch they fought all as men of might,
And there in the field by Bagdad full many a shield was pierced,
As they flew each one on the other, and they mingled in charges fierce,750
And banner was mixed with banner, many fell who had bravely fought,
And my lord's hand it did such wonders that his foemen became as nought,
But Ipomidon he came riding, and with death would reward the knight,
And he smote him down, and I think me many thousands they saw that sight.'

'For my master, free from falsehood, rode against Alexandria's king,755
But, alas! for the guile of the heathen, this joust but his death should bring,
For the spear cut sheer thro' the helmet, and it pierced thro' my master's brain
(In his head did they find the splinters), yet the hero still held the rein,
And dying he rode from the combat, o'er a wide plain his way he'ld take,
And his chaplain he knelt above him, and in few words his shrift he spake.760
And he sent here the shift and the spear-blade that hath robbed us of our friend,
He died free from sin—us his servants he did to the queen commend!'

'At Bagdad was the hero buried, and the Baruch the cost would pay,
With gold is it fair to look on, and rich is the tomb alway;
And many a costly jewel doth gleam where he lies at rest, 765
And embalmed was the fair young body (sad was many a faithful breast);
And the grave-stone it is a ruby, and thro' it he shineth clear,
And they granted us as with martyrs, the cross o'er his tomb to rear,—
For as Christ by His death hath freed us, and to comfort that soul so brave,
And for shelter we raised the symbol—And the Baruch the cost he gave.770
For the cross was of emerald wroughten: heathen counsel we asked it not,
For they know not the Cross, nor the blessing that Christ's death won for us I wot!
And the heathen they pray unto him as if he were a god in truth,
Nor they do it the Cross to honour, nor hath Baptism taught them ruth
(Tho' it looseneth us from Hell's fetters when the uttermost day shall dawn),775
But his knightly faith and honour, who leaveth us here forlorn,
Have wrought him a place in Heaven where he shineth with Heaven's light,
And true penitence and confession—for falsehood e'er fled that knight.'

'And there in his diamond helmet an epitaph did they grave,
And fast to the cross they fixed it o'er the tomb of that hero brave,780
And thus do they run the letters: '(Through this helmet a joust hath slain)
This hero who bare all manhood, and Gamuret was his name,
As king did he rule o'er three kingdoms, in each land the Crown he wore
Whom mighty princes followed—Anjou's land this hero bore,
And he lost his life for the Baruch at the city of Bagdad fair.785
And so high did it soar, his honour, that no knight may with him compare,
Howe'er ye may test their dealings. Nor is he of woman born,
(I mean of the knightly order) to whose hand he his strength had sworn.
But help and true manly counsel to his friends did he steadfast give;
And thro' women much grief he suffered, for he would in their favour live. 790
Baptized was he as a Christian tho' Saracens mourn him yet,
(This is truth and no lie)—All his lifetime since his years were on wisdom set
His strength strove for fame and honour, till he fell in his knightly pride,
Wish him bliss who here lieth buried! 'Twas by treason's hand he died!'

So spake the squire, and the Waleis who heard it must weep full sore,795
Cause hast they enow for sorrow! A living child she bore
Who of men was left unaided, Herzeleide the gracious queen,
With death the mother battled: her maidens were crazed I ween,
Since they thought not to help their lady, for within her womb she bare
Him who should be flower of all knighthood, if death did not claim him there.800
Then there came a wise man ancient to weep with his lady's grief,
And he saw how with death she struggled, and he brought to her swift relief;
For he forced her teeth asunder, and betwixt her lips they pour
Water, and at their tending her senses they came once more.
Then she spake, and aloud she mourned him, 'My heart's dearest, Ah! where is he?805
For in sooth my heart's deepest gladness was in Gamuret's chivalry,
Yet his valour of this hath robbed me—Now his mother am I and wife,
Tho' far younger was I, for within me do I carry his flesh and life;
The love that we bore to each other hath been of such flower the root,
And if God shall in truth be faithful, He withholdeth not here the fruit.810
Already too sore my sorrow for my husband so proud and brave,
What ill death hath wrought upon me! Her love never woman gave,
But his heart it rejoiced in her gladness, and sad for her grief was he,
Thus his true heart it gave him counsel who was aye from all falsehood free.'

Now hearken yet more the story how the noble queen must mourn, 815
Within her arms would she hold him, her child who was yet unborn,
And she spake, 'Now God send me safely the child of my hero fair,
For this is my heart's petition; God keep me from dark despair,
'Twere Gamuret's second slaying if I thought myself to slay
While I bear of his love the token who was faithful to me alway!' 820