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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

'In thy wrath remember mercy, and slay not a conquered foe,
He who to thine arms shall yield him take his pledge and let him go;
Unless he such ill have wrought thee as sorrow of heart doth give,
An my counsel thou fain wouldst follow, then in sooth shalt thou let him live.'

'Full oft shalt thou bear thy harness—When thy knightly task is sped990
Thy hands and face thou shalt cleanse them from the rust and the iron red,
For such is in truth thy duty, so thy face shall be fair and bright,
And when maiden's eyes behold thee they shall deem thee a goodly sight.'

'Be manly and of good courage, so shalt thou deserve thy fame;
Hold women in love and honour, it shall be to thine own good name; 995
And be ever steadfast-minded as befitteth good man and true,
An with lies thou wouldst fain deceive them much harm can thy dealings do.
If true love be repaid with falsehood then swift shalt the judgment be,
And a speedy end to all honour and renown shall it bring to thee.
As beneath the stealthy footsteps of the thief the dry stick breaks,1000
And the slumbering watcher, startled, to his danger swiftly wakes
So false ways and dealings crooked in their wake bring but strife and woe;
Prove this by true love, for true women have skill 'gainst the hidden foe,
And their wiles can outweigh his cunning—An thou winnest from women hate,
Then for ever art thou dishonoured, and shame on thy life shall wait.'1005

'So take thou to heart my counsel—And more would I tell to thee;
Husband and wife united as one shall they ever be,
As the sun that this morning shineth, and this morn that we call to-day,
So the twain may be sundered never but one shall be held alway.
As twin blossoms from one root springing e'en so shall they bloom and grow;1010
With wisdom receive my counsel that its truth thou hereafter know.'

Then he thanked his host for his teaching, nor spake of his mother more,
But as true man and son so loving in his heart her memory bore.

Then the prince spake as did him honour, 'Yet more will I teach to thee,
Thou shalt learn knightly skill and bearing—In such wise didst thou come to me,1015
Full many a wall have I looked on that the shields might better deck
Than that shield erewhile became thee, as it hung there around thy neck.
None too late shall be the morning, we'll hence to the open field,
And fitting skill I'll teach thee that thine arms thou mayst rightly wield.
So bring to my guest his charger, and mine shalt thou hither lead,1020
And each knight shall make him ready, and mount, e'en as I, his steed.
And pages shall thither follow, and each one shall bear a spear,
And the shaft shall be strong and untested, and blazoned with colours clear.'

So the prince and his guest together they rode to the grassy plain,
And many a feat so skilful was shown by that knightly train. 1025
And the lad he learned how to check him his charger in seeming flight
With touch of spur, and turn him once more 'gainst the foeman's might;
His spear to sink as needed, and before him hold his shield
As he rode a joust; 'Thus shalt thou thine arms in future wield!'

Thus of lack of skill he cured him better than by the bough 1030
That smiteth unruly children and breaketh their skin I trow.
Then he bade swift knights come hither, and a joust with the stranger ride,
And himself to the ring he led him, and against the foe would guide;
And the lad in his first joust carried his spear through the foeman's shield,
And tho' strong was the knight yet he smote him from his steed on the open field.1035

And they marvelled much who beheld it—Then another to joust rode near,
And Parzival took unto him a fresh and unbroken spear,
And his youth had strength and courage—The beardless lad and fair
Was spurred by his inborn manhood, and to Gamuret's skill was heir—
Then he urged his charger onward full swiftly against the foe, 1040
And his spear rang true on the four nails, and struck nor too high nor low,
Nor the host's knight might keep his saddle, but prone on the sward he fell,
Of the spear-shaft full many a splinter the force of the blow might tell.
Thus five of the knights were smitten ere the host to the Burg would ride,
And the victory was his, and hereafter fierce strife might he well abide.1045

Then they who his deeds had witnessed, the wise men, they needs must say
That great was the skill and valour he had shown in the joust that day,
'Our lord may be free of sorrow, and his youth it may bloom anew
If he give him to wife his daughter, our lady so fair and true.
If we see him wax in wisdom then the sorrow shall be o'erpast— 1050
The death of his sons a shadow o'erlong o'er his life hath cast,
But now to his door hath ridden one who maketh amends for all,
And gladness no more shall fly him, but it seeketh his palace hall!'