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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

Now who had as knight best ridden, or best for a maiden fought?
Nay, I know not, an I would name them small leisure such task had brought.800
For Maid Obilot's sake with the townsfolk a knight valiant deeds had dared;
Without, a Red Knight fought bravely, and the fame 'twixt those two was shared.

When the guest of the outer army had learnt he no thanks might win
From the king he had served, since Meljanz was captive the town within,
He rode where his squires were waiting, and thus to his prisoners spake,805
'Sir Knights, ye your word have pledged me; ill-chance doth me here o'ertake,
For King Meljanz of Lys is captive—Now if ye such grace can find
With his captors, that for your freedom his fetters they will unbind,
Such service I'ld gladly do him!' To the King of Avendroin
He spake, and to Duke Marangliess, and King Schirniel of Lirivoin. 810
And this oath must they swear unto him, ere they rode the walls within,
To loose Meljanz, or if they failed here, to help him the Grail to win.
But never a word could they tell him of where It was hid, the Grail,
Save 'twas guarded by King Anfortas, but further, their lore must fail.

When thus they spake, quoth the Red Knight, 'Then if it shall still betide
That my wish find not here fulfilment, ye to Pelrapär shall ride,
And unto the fair queen yielding say, "He who in days of yore
Faced Kingron for her and Klamidé, for the Grail now sorroweth sore,
As he yearneth for her, his lady, and after the twain in thought
And deed is he ever striving." To her be this message brought 820
And ye heroes bear it truly, and as on your way ye ride
God have ye in His safe keeping, for the world and its ways are wide.'

Then they prayed his leave, and they rode hence—And the knight to his squires he spake,
'Here is booty none may gainsay us, of these steeds ye at will may take;
But leave me one for my riding, since sore wounded mine own shall be.'825
Spake the Squires, 'Sir Knight, we must thank thee for the grace thou hast shown us free,
For our lifetime hast thou enriched us.' Then he chose in his charger's stead,
With the close-cropped ears, Ingliart, the same that from Gawain fled,
When Meljanz he made his captive, and the twain they must fall in field,
And the Red Knight's hand had caught it, when hewn was many a shield.830

Then Farewell the hero bade them—Full fifteen steeds they tell,
To the squires he left, unwounded, in sooth might they thank him well.
And they prayed him to linger with them, and abide with them yet a space,
But far hence lay the goal he was seeking, and the road he was fain to trace.
So he turned him about, the hero, to where ease should be bought full dear835
For naught but strife was he seeking—In the days that ye read of here
No knight e'en as he had battled—Then the outer host would ride
To where they might find a lodging, and in peace for a space abide.

And within, Lippaut spake, and asked them how matters had gone that day?
That Meljanz was taken captive, that tale did he know alway. 840
And all was as he would have it, and comfort the hour would bear—
And Gawain loosed the sleeve full gently from his shield, lest perchance it tear,
For he deemed it o'er good for tearing, and Clauditté she held it fast,
And 'twas slashed in the sides and the centre with the spears that had thro' it passed;
And he bade her to Obilot bear it, and glad was the little maid, 845
On her bare white arm soft-rounded the tattered sleeve she laid,
And spake, 'Who hath done this for me?' whene'er she her sister saw,
And wrathful her elder sister her maiden mischief bore.

Then, as weariness it bade them, the knights they craved for rest—
Then Scherules took Count Lahduman, and Gawain his gallant guest 850
And many a knight whom he found there, whom Gawain with valiant hand
Had o'erthrown on the field of battle tho' strife they might well withstand.
And the Burg-grave rich he bade them to sit them in order fair,
And he and his wearied vassals would stand 'fore their monarch there
Till Meljanz his fill had eaten—And they treated him courteously, 855
But Gawain, o'er-much he deemed it, and he spake out, frank and free,

'Methinks an the king allow thee, Sir Host, thou shouldst take a seat.'
Thus spake Gawain in his wisdom, as his courtesy found it meet.
But the host gave his prayer denial, 'The king's man is that gallant knight
My master, this were his office if the king had but deemed it right860
To take, as of old, his service—My lord thro' his courtesy
Will not see the face of his monarch while exiled from grace is he.
An it pleaseth God of friendship to sow here the seed once more,
Then joyful we'll do his bidding with one will, as in days of yore.'

Then spake the youthful Meljanz, 'Yea, courteous knights and true 865
Were ye, when I dwelt among ye, nor your rede did I ever rue.
An I now had thy counsel followed, this even had seen me glad;
Now give me thine aid Count Scherules, for the trust that I ever had
In thy faith, with this knight my captor, and with him my second sire
Duke Lippaut—for well I think me they will do as thou shalt require—870
Yea, pray them to show me favour, for friends had we been to-day
Had not Obie such jest played on me as no maiden I ween should play!'

Then out spake the gallant Gawain, 'Afresh shall be knit a band
That naught but death can sever'—Then they came whom the Red Knight's hand
Without had taken captive, on the height would they seek their king,875
And they told him all that befell them; and Gawain must list the thing,
And they told of the arms of the hero, how their strength before his must fail,
And how he their pledge had taken, and had bidden them seek the Grail;
And he thought how the knight of this venture was none other than Parzival,
And his thanks uprose to high Heaven that no evil did there befall,880
But that God apart had held them, and they met not in strife that day.
And courteous I ween were those heroes that they tore not the veil away,
But both of them there were nameless, and none knew from whence they came,
Yet I wot well the world around them rang fair with their warlike fame.