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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

So near was King Arthur's army, that right well might Parzival
Be seen of all men, and the wonders, and the conflict that then befell.
The victor by Love was vanquished, by Love that in days of old
Did the king of all kings the wisest, King Solomon, captive hold! 170
Short space, then, ere back to the army once more Knight Segramor came,
An with praise or with blame they should greet him, he counted it still the same.
And sharp words he flung among them, with mocking tongue and bold,
Tho' vanquished, yet not dishonoured, must they ever the hero hold!

And he quoth, 'Have ye never heard this, that strife bringeth loss as gain?175
And never a joust, I wot me, but the victor doth one remain,
While one aye shall be the vanquished: The best ship in storm may sink,
And I wot that ye ne'er have heard me to speak, for I ne'er did think,
An he knew of my shield the blazon, he had faced me not as a foe!
Much evil, in sooth, hath he wrought me, and yet doth he wait below180
All those who would ride against him, for he seemeth for conflict fain,
An a knight should in joust o'erthrow him, such chance might he count for gain.'

Then straightway unto King Arthur Sir Kay did the tidings bring,
How his knight, Segramor, had fallen, and his victor, without their ring,
A young knight, for jousting ready, yet waited with ill intent— 185
'Nay, I think an this stranger warrior of so many unpunished went,
A burden both sore and shameful on our honour such lack would lay;
Now, my king, an thou hold me worthy, do thou grant me this grace, I pray,
I would ride hence to ask his meaning, who thus in the presence fair
Of our Queen Guinevere and her maidens his lance-point aloft doth bear;190
But if thou shouldst this boon refuse me, then know, not another hour
I abide here as this thy servant; for I hold that the knightly power
And the fair fame of thy Round Table are stainèd if we delay
To arm ourselves 'gainst the stranger who dareth our strength to-day!
Now, I prithee, give leave to fight him—For tho' blind and deaf were we,195
Yet 'tis time that we should defend us'—'As thou willest, so let it be!'

Then swift did the seneschal arm him, and I ween in fierce anger's fire
A woodland he fain had wasted 'gainst the foe, who with strong desire
And love was thus sorely burdened; for Frau Minne a magic spell
Had wrought with the snow-flakes spotless, and the blood-drops that crimson fell.200
And his knighthood he sorely shamèd, who thought here to work him harm,
Since he faileth true Love to honour, who denieth of Love the charm.

Frau Minne, say, why dost thou make glad the souls that mourn
With bliss that too swiftly fleeting, but leaveth them more forlorn?
And how canst thou, Frau Minne, true worth and knightly fame, 205
And manly strength and courage, thus vanquish and put to shame?
For the least is to thee as the greatest, and the earth shall no hero boast,
Who thinketh to scorn thine empire, but he learneth unto his cost
That thou canst, an thou wilt, o'erthrow him; yea, all men thy power obey,
For thy sceptre we own as mighty, and wide as the world its sway. 210

Yet this one thing it doth thee honour, tho' thou rulest all else but ill,
Joy maketh her dwelling with thee, and for this would I praise thee still!

Frau Minne, alas! of old time full false were thy ways, I ween,
Nor hast thou thy dealings mended, nor to-day hast thou truer been,
Thou hast many a maiden shamèd, who love forbidden sought; 215
Thro' thy dealings, upon the vassal, his lord hath sorrow brought;
And the friend shall false and faithless to the friend of his bosom prove,
And the servant betray his master; such deeds do but shame thee, Love!
And I would that it were far from thee, the body to yield to lust,
In such wise that the soul ashamèd is stricken with sorrow's thrust,220
And that with force compelling, the young thou makest old,
Though their years but few be counted, this must we for treason hold!

Such speech, I ween, beseems not the man who in serving thee
Hath comfort found! If succour thine hand ever brought to me,
I had been less slow to praise thee, but sorrow and loss alone 225
Hast thou counted to me as guerdon, and such glamour thine art hath thrown
O'er mine eyes, that, methinks, henceforward I trust thee never more,
Though small profit it brought unto thee, the bitter grief I bore!
And yet too high above me art thou, that whate'er my wrong,
I should e'en as a fool upbraid thee with bitter words and strong: 230
For thy spear too sharply pierces, and scarce may we bear the weight,
Thou layest at will upon us—Methinks he who sang of late,
'Neath a tree, of thy mystic dealings, and thy wondrous ways of old,
Had better done had he told us how we thy grace might hold!
(Heinrich of Veldeck was he, and he taught us, I ween, right well 235
Of the winning of Love, of its guarding, alas! he failed to tell.)
For oft one thro' folly loses the prize that he late did win;
Yea, to me hath such fate befallen, yet Frau Minne, thine was the sin!
Since all wisdom shall be thy portion, since against thee nor spear, nor shield,
Nor charger, nor guarded fortress their vaunted power can wield, 240
I know not what shall withstand thee, nor on earth, nor on the sea!
He who feareth to face thy conflict, say whither shall he flee?
'Twas thy mystic power, Frau Minne, that dealt thus with Parzival,
And reft him awhile of knowledge, and wrought with him as a fool.
For fair was the queen and gracious who reigned in far Pelrapär, 245
And she thought on her lord and husband, and she made thee her message bear.
And for this cause Kardeiss her brother, hast thou for thy payment slair,
And since thou such tribute askest, 'tis well that I ne'er have ta'en
From thine hand aught of good, since in such wise thou dost for thy debtors care—
This I spake for the sake of all men—List ye now how Sir Kay did fare:250

Now he rode forth in knightly armour to the strife that he sore did crave,
And Gamuret's son, right willing, to his wish fulfilment gave.
And wherever fair maids compelling, their voices uplift in prayer,
And the grace they shall ask be granted, let them pray here for his welfare,
Since it was thro' a woman's beauty, that the spell of a woman wrought255
Love's magic, of senses robbed him—Then his charger to halt Kay brought;
And he spake to the gallant Waleis, 'Sir Knight, since thou thus our king
Hast shamed, thou shalt hear my counsel, for wisdom perchance 'twill bring;
Thou shalt hang thee a hempen halter around thy neck straightway,
For so may I lightly lead thee, and take thou with me thy way. 260
Nor think thou, thou canst escape me, but with me unto my lord
Shalt thou go, as befits a captive, else worse may be thy reward!'

By love constrained, the Waleis nor word nor answer spoke,
Kay gripped his spear-shaft tightly and he smote with a mighty stroke
On the hero's head, till the helmet rang loudly beneath his hand; 265
And he quoth, 'Now will I awake thee! Dost think here to take thy stand,
And standing sleep unsheeted? Nay, other shalt thou fare,
Low on the snow I'll lay thee! The ass that is wont to bear
The sack from the mill would rue it, did one smite him in such wise,
As here I think now to smite thee, and thy sloth and thy sleep chastise!'270