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

by von Eschenbach Wolfram

Then Gawain took his office-bearers, and in this wise to them he spake,
The marshal, he bade him straightway to Ioflanz his way to take,
'There a camp of my own prepare me—The host that thou here didst see
Shall unto that plain have ridden, and its lord will I name to thee, 640
For 'tis well that thou too shouldst know him, he is Arthur, my kinsman true,
In whose court and whose care from my childhood I unto my manhood grew.
Now do this thing in which I trust thee, rule my journey in such a wise,
With such riches and pomp, that my coming be stately in all men's eyes;
But within the walls of this castle no word of the truth be told— 645
That the king for my sake cometh hither, this must thou for secret hold!'

So did they as Gawain bade them, and Plippalinòt he found
Little space had he now for leisure, since his lord was on journey bound.
For large and small his vessels, both boat and skiff, must fare
O'er the water, and troops well armèd, ahorse and afoot they bare. 650
And the marshal the squires and footmen on the track of the Bretons led,
And hither and thither riding behind them the army sped.

And they bare with them, so 'twas told me, the tent that in days of yore
Fair Iblis had sent to Klingsor, as pledge of the love she bore.
By the sending of this love-token their secret to men was told, 655
And the favour they bare each other in the days that have waxen old.
And no cost had they spared who had wrought it, and no better was ever seen
Save the tent of Eisenhart only—Then apart on the grass so green
They set up the tent, and around it many others in goodly ring,
And so great was the pomp and the riches that men deemed it a wondrous thing. 660

And they spake before King Arthur that the marshal of Gawain came,
And his lord the same day would follow, and encamp him upon the plain.
'Twas the talk of all the vassals—Then Gawain, from falsehood free,
Rode forth from his home and there followed a goodly company.
And their train was so richly ordered that marvels I here might tell! 665
With church gear and chamber hangings the pack-steeds were burdened well;
And some were with harness laden, and above the harness bare
Full many a crested helmet, and shield that was blazoned fair.
And many a gallant war-horse was led by the bridle rein,
And behind them both knight and lady rode close in the glittering train. 670
Would ye measure the length? a mile long, methinks, had it stretched, and more,
And Sir Gawain, I ween, forgat not that a gallant knight should draw
His rein by the side of each lady, and ever of love they spake,
Or one scant of wit had deemed them! And in this wise the road they take,
The Turkowit, brave Florand, for companion upon his way 675
Had the daughter of Queen Arnivé, Sangivé of Norroway,
And Lischois, who was ne'er unready, he rode at sweet Kondrie's side,
And by Gawain the maid Itonjé, his sister, perforce must ride.
At the same time the Queen Arnivé and the Duchess of fair Logrois
Rode gaily the one by the other, for in such wise they made their choice. 680

Beyond the camp of King Arthur the tents of Gawain they lay,
And they who were fain to reach them thro' the army must take their way.
'Twas a sight for all men to gaze at! Ere the folk to their journey's end
Might come, of a courteous custom, to do honour unto his friend,
Gawain by the tent of Arthur bade the first maiden take her stand, 685
Then the marshal so did his office that the second, to her right hand,
And the third beside the second, should unto each other ride,
And none of them all delayed them—So made they a circle wide,
Here the matrons, and there the maidens, and by each of them rode a knight
Who would fain do the lady service, and would for her favours fight. 690
And thus round the tent of the monarch stood the ladies, a goodly ring,
And to Gawain, the rich in gladness, fair welcome would Arthur bring.

To the ground sprang Gawain and Arnivé, and her daughters with children twain,
The Lady of Logrois, and the heroes he o'erthrew on the grassy plain,
Lischois and the gallant Florand; then unto those heroes brave 695
Stepped Arthur from his pavilion, and a kindly welcome gave;
And the queen, she greeted Gawain, and she welcomed him and his
Of true heart, and from many a lady, I ween, was there many a kiss!

Quoth Arthur unto his nephew, 'Say, who shall thy comrades be?'
Quoth Gawain, 'A kiss of greeting from my lady I fain would see, 700
'Twere ill an she should refuse it, for noble are both I ween.'
Then Florand and the Duke of Gowerzein were kissed by the gracious queen.

Then into the tent they gat them, and to many the fair field wide
Was as if it were full of maidens, so close stood they, side by side.
Then not as the heavy-footed sprang Arthur upon his steed, 705
And he turned to the knights and the ladies in the ring with a kindly heed,
And he rode from one to the other, and gracious the words he spake,
From the lips of the king so kindly each one must his welcome take.
For this was the will of Gawain that no man from hence should ride
Till he himself rode with them, but courteous his coming bide. 710

Then the king would dismount, and straightway he entered the tent again,
And he sat him beside his nephew, and straitly he prayed Gawain
To say who were these five ladies, whom hither the knight did bring.
Then Gawain he looked on the eldest and he spake to the Breton king,
'Didst thou know Uther Pendragon? 'Tis Arnivé, his queen and wife, 715
And well mayst thou look upon her, from the twain didst thou draw thy life.
And there standeth the Queen of Norway, and I am the son she bare,
And these twain they shall be my sisters; say, are they not maidens fair?'

Ah! then once again they kissed them, and sorrow and joy were seen
Of all those who looked upon them, from Love this their lot had been; 720
And they laughed, and they cried together, and their lips spake of joy and woe,
And I ween that with tears of gladness their bright eyes must overflow.
Then Arthur he spake to Gawain, 'Nephew, unknown to me
Is the fifth of these lovely ladies, I prithee who may she be?'