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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

And free from all care was the hero; and three were his shields so bright,605
And on one straightway he bound it, and glad was the gallant knight;
And fairest thanks he gave her, and oft would he praise the road
On which the maid had trodden when she sought him in his abode,
And so gently bade him welcome, and with sweet words and maiden wile
Had made him rich in gladness, and made joy on his path to smile. 610

Now the daylight had waned, and the night fell,—many valiant knights and good,
A mighty force, lay on each side,—the besiegers were e'en a flood.
Were they less, for the folk of the city their army enow should be.
And now by the light of the moonbeams they would fain to their outworks see;
Nor terror nor cowardice moved them, they were ready ere break of day,615
Twelve breast-works wide, and a deep moat before every earth-work lay.
Thus they shielded them well from onslaught, and to every earth-work wide
Were barbicans three, that the army might forth to the conflict ride.

And at four of the gates the Marshal, Kardefablet of Jamore,
With his army bravely battled, as men well at the dawning saw. 620
And the rich Duke fought full knightly; he was brother to Lippaut's wife,
And stronger in heart than others who yet bear them well in strife,
And for men of war are reckoned—In conflict he grief would bear—
With nightfall his host drew nearer, from far land would he hither fare,
For but seldom from stress of battle or conflict he turned aside, 625
And four of their gates he guarded right well in his warlike pride.

The force from beyond the river passed o'er it ere morning light,
And entered the walls of Beaurosch, as Lippaut should deem it right.
But they of Jamore had ridden o'er the bridge before the gate,
And every door was guarded, and warlike their foes they wait, 630
Ere ever the day had dawnèd—Scherules one door would ward,
Which he and the brave Knight Gawain would let not from out their guard.
And there had ye heard lamentation from the lips of many a knight,
And the best they were who mourned thus, they had failed here to see the fight,
For the vesper-play was ended ere yet they a joust might share. 635
Yet needless their lamentation, for countless they proffered there
To all who had lust for battle, and to joust in the field would ride.
In the streets saw ye many a hoof-track, and there drew in on every side
Full many a tossing banner by the light of the moonbeam's ray.
And many a costly helmet would they wear in the joust that day, 640
And spears with bright colours blazoned—A Regensburg silk, I ween,
Had been held of little value 'fore Beaurosch on the meadow green.
For many a coat emblazoned had ye looked upon that day,
Whose goal had methinks been higher in the cost that its lord would pay.

And the night, as of old her custom, had yielded her place to day, 645
Nor by song of the lark might they know it, for they hearkened far other lay,
Whose voice was the voice of warfare with the crash of the splintered spear,
As a cloud that is cleft and riven when the thunderbolt falleth near.
And the King of Lys' young army sought the host of Lirivoin,
And there, with his warriors, battled the monarch of Avendroin; 650
And many a joust rang loudly, e'en as when one is wont to throw
Chestnuts within the furnace that burst in the fiery glow.
Ah, me! how they strove together that morn on the grassy plain,
How the knights spurred their steeds to jousting, and the Burgers they fought amain.

Now Gawain, and his host the Burg-grave, since it health to their souls might bring,655
And yield them a meed of blessing, bade a priest a Mass to sing;
And he sang unto God and the heroes—And the prize of their fame waxed fair,
For this was their pious bidding—Then they would to their post repair,
But their rampart ere this was guarded by many a gallant knight,
The followers they of Scherules, and well would those heroes fight.660

And what should I tell ye further? Poidikonjonz was proud I ween,
And he came with such host, if in Schwarzwald each bough had a spearshaft been
I had looked on no greater forest than here on this field ye saw.
And six banners they bare, and early to battle would nearer draw,
With ringing blasts of trumpet e'en as thunder that wakeneth fear, 665
And drums strove amain with the trumpets, and smote on the listening ear.
If a grass blade were left untrampled by the conflict I knew it not—
E'en now shall the Erfurt vineyards show such tokens of strife, I wot!

Then hither he came, Duke Astor, and he fought with the men of Jamore,
And for sharp joust the spears they whetted, and many a knight they bore670
From his saddle down on the meadow, and for combat they aye were fain;
And clear rang the stranger war-cries—And masterless o'er the plain
Sped many a gallant charger, and afoot went the fallen knight,
For I ween he had learnt the lesson how one oft is o'erthrown in fight.

Then he saw, the gallant Gawain, how out on the plain afar 675
The host of both friend and foeman were mingled in deadly war;
And he spurred him swift towards them; nor 'twas light in his steps to tread,
Tho' little they spared their chargers, those knights who behind him sped,
Scherules and his vassals—Gawain gave them pain, I trow,
Ah, me! for the spears he shivered and the knights that he laid alow.680

Had God given him not such valour, this knight of the Table Round,
Then in sooth had one made petition for the fame that he there had found.
'Twas all as one, both armies, 'gainst the twain did he set his hand,
That of Gros as of Lys—Many chargers did he win from each knightly band,
And straightway the hero brought them where his host's banner waved on high,685
And he asked who was there who should need them? And many swift reply;
Then he gave them e'en as they answered, and rich were they all, I trow,
Thro' this brother-in-arms whose friendship they here for a space should know.