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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

Then she kissed him, and down they sate them, and the princess a maiden sent
And bade her to bring rich raiment; so sped she unto the tent; 480
And the garments they lay there ready, of rich silk of Nineveh,
For her prisoner, King Klamidé, had she fashioned them cunningly.
Then the maiden who bare the garments, full sorely must she bewail
That the mantle was yet unfinished, since the silken cord did fail.
Then the lady, Kunnewaaré, from her side drew a silken band 485
From the folds of her robe, in the mantle she wove it with skilful hand.

Then courteous her leave he prayed him, the rust would he wash away,
And fair shone his face, and youthful, and his lips they were red that day.
And robed was the gallant hero, and so bright and so fair was he,
That all men who there beheld him, they sware he for sure must be 490
The flower and the crown of manhood, a knight without shame or fear;
And they looked upon him, and they praised him and his colour waxed bright and clear,
And right well did his garb become him; an emerald green and rare,
The gift of fair Kunnewaaré, as clasp at his neck he bare;
And a girdle beside she gave him, all wrought in a cunning row 495
With mystic beasts, bejewelled, that burnt with a fiery glow,
And its clasp was a red-fire ruby—How think ye the beardless youth
Was seen when thus richly girded? Fair was he in very sooth,
For so the story runneth—the folk bare him right goodwill,
Men and women who looked upon him, they counted him worthy still. 500

Forthwith, as the Mass was ended, came Arthur the noble king,
And the knights of his Table with him, a goodly following.
No man there whose lips spake falsehood. Yea, all heard the word that day,
'With Gawain the Red Knight dwelleth!' the king thither took his way.

Then the knight who so sore was beaten came swiftly, Sir Antanor, 505
For, fain to behold the Waleis, his feet sped the king before,
And he asked, 'Art thou he who avenged me, and the lady of fair Lalande?
Now vanished shall be Kay's honour, for it falleth unto thine hand,
And an end hast thou made of his threatening, and the days of his strife are o'er,
For his arm it is weak, and his vengeance I fear for it never more!'510

And so fair was the knight and radiant, that all men beheld his face
As an angel from heaven, that wingless, abideth on earth a space.
And well did King Arthur greet him, and his knights were no whit behind,
And all they who looked upon him, naught but love in their hearts might find,
And their lips to their heart made answer, and all spake to his praises, 'Yea,'515
And no man gainsaid the other, so lovely his mien that day!

Then Arthur spake fair unto him, 'Thou hast wrought me both joy and pain,
Yet ne'er from the hand of a hero such honour I thought to gain
As the honour that thou hast brought me! yet no service I did to thee,
An I did, then thy fame had repaid it, tho' no other thy deeds should be520
Than the deed thou hast done in the winning for Jeschuté her husband's grace!
Nor Kay's guilt had been unavengèd, if ere this I had seen thy face
Myself had, unasked, chastised him.' Then Arthur in this wise spake,
'Since so far they had come, and their journey had they taken but for his sake,
They all with one voice did pray him, to swear to them brotherhood,525
And be one of the gallant Table, a comrade both true and good.'
And their prayer it seemed good unto him, and joyful at heart was he,
And he sware them the oath that they asked for, and their knight would he gladly be.

Now hear ye, and speak the verdict, if on this day the Table Round
Its right, and its due observance had here, as aforetime found; 530
Since for many a day King Arthur in this wise had ruled his court,
No knight should break bread before him, if there came of fair venture naught.
But enough should have chanced this morning, and to Table they well might go,
Though from Nantes might they never bear it, yet they here would its semblance show.
Wide enow was the flowery meadow, nor hindered them tree or tent, 535
As they did here their monarch's bidding—for this was his heart's intent,
Fair honour to give the Red Knight, and his valour, as meet, reward—
Then a silk in Acraton woven, they laid on the grassy sward,
'Twas brought from far lands of paynim, and 'twas shapen both wide and round;
For ever this courteous custom mid these gallant knights was found,540
No high seat had they of honour, but all men were equal there;
And thus had King Arthur willed it, both the knights and their ladies fair
At the Table Round were welcome, yea, an they might honour claim,
Knight, lady, or gentle maiden, at his court all should fare the same!

And there, with her maiden following, came fair Guinevere the queen,545
And many a noble princess amid her train was seen,
And none but was fair to look on, and the ring it was spread so wide
That within, without strife or crowding, each maid sat her knight beside.
And Arthur, who ne'er knew falsehood, led the Waleis by the hand,
And Kunnewaaré she walked beside him, the lady of fair Lalande, 550
From sorrow the knight had freed her—Then, with kind and friendly eyes,
Looked Arthur upon the hero, and he spake to him in this wise:

'My queen will I bid to kiss thee, who art fair both of form and face,
For ne'er, in this court, of lady I ween wouldst thou crave this grace,
Since from Pelrapär thou hast ridden, and wert thou on kissing bent555
From lips of all lips the fairest, hast thou there thy full heart's content!
Yet this one grace will I pray thee, if ever there dawn the day
That I find 'neath thy roof abiding, this kiss I may then repay!'
'In sooth, will I do thy bidding,' quoth the Waleis, 'both there and here!'
Then unto the gallant hero stepped the Lady Guinevere, 560
And fair on the lips she kissed him, and she quoth, 'Here I pardon thee
The ill thou aforetime didst me, and the sorrow thou gavest me.
Thou didst leave me sorely grieving, when from hence thou didst ride away.
By thy hand and thy dart my kinsman Prince Ither was slain that day!'

And all tear-bedewed were the eyelids of the Lady Guinevere, 565
For Prince Ither's death wrought sorrow unto many a woman dear.
Now must King Klamidé seat him, on the bank by Plimizöl,
And beside him sate Iofreit, who was son unto King Idöl;
And 'twixt Klamidé and Gawain must the Waleis have his place—
And they know who tell the venture, none sate here of royal grace, 570
None who woman's breast had suckled, whose fame stood so high and fair,
For courage and youthful beauty did the Waleis, as jewels, wear.
And they owned, who there looked upon him, that many a maiden bright
Saw herself in a darker mirror than the lips of this fair young knight.
And on cheek and on chin his colour might well as fetters be 575
For those who should need such fetters, whose fancy flitteth free.
Here might there be naught of changing—(of women my rede I trow
For some they are ever wavering, and ever new friendships know!)
But his look ever constant held them, till I wot well that thro' their eyes
His entry he gained triumphant, and made of their hearts his prize!580