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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

'Then hence from this plain shalt thou journey to the kingdom of Brittany,
And bear to a gentle maiden thy pledge and thy fealty.
For she for my sake hath suffered a sorrow she ne'er had borne,
Had not Kay been of knightly customs, and of courtesy fair forsworn.320
Say to her how with me it fareth, that I come not in joy again
Till my spear, thro' his shield sharp-piercing, hath wiped out her honour's stain.
To King Arthur and to his lady, and the knights of the Table Round
Bear my greeting, and say in their presence shall I never again be found
Till the day I from shame have freed me; from the shame which I too must share325
With the maiden who smiled upon me, and great grief for that greeting bare.
Say to her I am aye her servant, to serve her with service fain!'
So Kingron must swear unto him ere they parted, those heroes twain.

Thus he came afoot to the city, for thither had fled his steed,
The Burgers' help in battle, from their anguish the folk he freed. 330
But the outer host was troubled that Kingron, their chosen knight,
In this wise had been dishonoured, and broken his dauntless might.
Then they led Parzival in triumph to their queen so fair and young,
And the maiden was fain to greet him, and her white arms around him clung,
And in close embrace she held him as she spake, 'The wide earth doth hold335
No man I will have for my husband save him whom these arms enfold!'
And as here they disarmed the hero her part would the maiden bear
With ready hand and skilful, nor her service she thought to spare.

But tho' heavy had been his labour, yet scanty, I ween, the board.
And the Burgers they came before him, and they sware him with one accord340
They would have him for lord and master; and the queen in her turn she spake,
And she said that this knight so valiant for her love and her lord she'ld take
Who had won him a fame so mighty o'er Kingron the seneschal—
But now from the castle bulwarks two sails might be seen by all,
A strong wind to the haven brought them, and their lading must needs make glad345
The folk, they bare naught but victuals,—God's guidance they surely had!

Then they rushed adown from the ramparts, and swift to the ships they fled,
The hungry crowd, for the booty, as leaves by the wind are sped.
With flesh they were not o'erweighted, so wasted and thin were they,
Nor they strutted with well-filled belly, but bending they went their way.350
The queen's marshal he sware the shipmen, by the doom of the hempen cord,
Safe conduct for life and lading, none should touch that which lay aboard.
Then he bade them to lead these merchants straightway into the town,
And Parzival for their lading the double he paid them down,
And gladly the merchants took it, for princely they deemed such pay;355
And the Burgers these welcome viands to their fires did they bear straightway.

Now fain would I there take service, no man of them all drank beer,
Wine and food had they there in plenty—Then he did as you now shall hear,
Parzival, the gallant hero, for first in portions small,
With his own right hand he shared out the viands among them all, 360
Yea, even unto the nobles; so long had they lacked for bread,
He feared it had wrought them evil if perchance they were over-fed.
But to each one he gave his portion, and his counsel they deemed it right,
And more should they win ere nightfall from the hand of this gallant knight.

To their marriage couch they bade them, 'twas the will both of king and queen—365
Yet throughout the night so courteous he bare him, in truth I ween,
He little had pleased those ladies who now, in these latter days,
In passion's heat forget all that should win for a woman praise;
Tho' modest they seem to strangers, yet their heart gives their mien the lie,
And their tenderness worketh sorrow to their friend, tho' in secrecy.370
But the steadfast knight and faithful guards himself at every hour,
And well knoweth to spare a woman an she chanceth within his power.
For he thinketh, and thinketh truly, 'For many a lonely year
For her favours I served this lady; now, behold, the day is here
When her will is to reward me, and here we twain do lie— 375
Had I touched with bare hand her vesture I were blest to eternity!
An I vantage take of her slumbers to myself untrue I seem,
Methinks we were both dishonoured did I waken her from her dream,
For a woman's sleep is holy, and all men shall own its sway.'
Thus the Waleis, who ne'er had feared him, lay still till the dawn of day.380

Thus he whom men called the Red Knight, a maiden he left the queen,
Yet surely she deemed in the morning his wife she o'er night had been,
And for love of her lord her tresses she bound with the morning light
As matrons are wont to bind them. And he won him, the gallant knight,
Castles and lands around them from the hand of his maiden bride, 385
But her heart was ere this his guerdon, and in peace did the twain abide.

Thus glad in their love they held them two days till the third night fell,
And often he thought might he take her to himself it would please him well.
Then he thought of his mother's counsel, and how Gurnemanz spake of yore,
That man and wife should as one be, and the doubt vexed his soul no more,390
And his wife did he take unto him—Love's custom ever old,
Yet ever new to lovers, to these twain brought joy untold.

'Twas well, not evil, with them—Now hear how the king, their foe,
As he rode in his might to battle, must tidings of evil know.
'Twas a squire who fain had told them, all crimson his spurs with blood;395
'Before Pelrapär on the meadow have they foughten those heroes good,
'Twas a bitter strife and knightly; thy seneschal fell that day,
Kingron, who led thine army, to King Arthur must take his way.
As he in departing bade them lies the army upon the plain.
Pelrapär shalt thou find well guarded 'gainst thyself and thine armies twain,400
There within is a gallant hero, and naught doth he crave but strife;
In the camp of thy hired soldiers is many a rumour rife,
They say from the good Round Table cometh Ither of Cumberland
To the help of the queen, and knightly and valiant methinks his hand!
'Twas his arms that rode forth for jousting, and no man his deeds shall blame,405
In such wise hath he borne his armour as winneth him meed of fame.'

Quoth the king to the squire, 'My lady, the queen, she desireth me,
And she and her land so goodly I trow shall my portion be.
And Kingron the seneschal told me, and surely the truth he spake,
That famine doth plague the city, and peace they ere long must make,410
And the queen she her love shall proffer'—His wrath must the squire abide.
Then the king and his host passed onward, and a knight did toward them ride,
And he spared not his horse but spurred it, and told them the self-same tale,
And the king deemed the loss o'er-heavy, and courage and joy must fail.