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    "slug": "parzival",
    "name": "Parzival"
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  "parents": [
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      "slug": "grail-romances",
      "name": "Holy Grail Romances",
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 8,
    "slug": "07-book-vii-obie",
    "title": "Book VII: Obie",
    "of": 17,
    "words": 13240,
    "text": "## Book VII: Obie\n\n\nOBILOT\n\nVOL. L\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nN\n\nARGUMENT\n\nThe poet will now for a while recount the adventures of Gawain;\nwhom many have held to be as valiant a knight as Parzival.\n\nBook vii. tells how Gawain fell in with the army of King Meljanz of\nLys, who would fain avenge himself on Duke Lippaut, whose daughter had\nscorned his love. How Gawain came to the beleaguered city of Beaurosch;\nhow Obie scorned him ; and how Obilot besought him to be her knight.\nHow the heroes fought before the walls of Beaurosch, and of the valiant\ndeeds of Gawain and the Red Knight How Gawain took Meljanz of\nLys captive; how Obilot made peace betwixt Obie and Meljanz, and how\nGawain rode forth from Beaurosch.\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle\n\nOBILOT\n\nWHILE shall this venture follow the knight, who to fly was fain\nFrom shame, nor with guile had dealings, that hero bold,\nGawain.\n\nFor many a one hath held him for as brave, yea, for braver\nknight\n\nThan Parzival, who the hero of this wonder-tale is hight\n* Yet he who his friend would ever with his words to the heavens upraise 5\nIs slow to speak well of another, or to yield him his meed of praise;\n\nBut him shall the people follow whose praises with truth are wrought,\n\nElse whatever he speak, or hath spoken, shall ne’er under roof be brought.\nWho shall shelter the word of wisdom if wise men their aid withhold ?\n\nBut a song that is woven of falsehood is best left in the outer cold, TO\n\nHomeless, upon the snowdrift, that the mouth may wax chill and sore\nThat hath spread for truth the story—such rewarding hath God in store\nAs all true folk must wish him whose guerdon in toil is told—\n\nWho is swift to such deeds, I wot me, but blame for reward shall hold,\n\nAnd if good men and true shall praise him, then folly doth rule their mind; 15\nHe will flee such who true shame knoweth, and in knighthood his rule\nwould find.\n\nAnd true of heart was Sir Gawain, for courage as sentiflel\nDad guarded his fame, nor shadow of cowardice across it fell\nBut his heart in the field of battle was strong as a mighty tower,\n\nSteadfast in sharpest conflict, yet foremost in danger’s hour. *>\n\nAnd friend and foe bare witness to the fame of his battle-cry;\n\nFain was Kingrimursel to rob him of his glory thus waxen high—\n\nNow far from the court of King Arthur for many a weary day,\n\nI know not their tale to tell ye, did the valiant Gawain stray;\n\n0 Digitized t\n\nPARZIVAL\n\n*5 So rode he, the gallant hero, from out of a woodland shade,\n\nAnd his folk they were dose behind him as he wended adown the glade,\n\nAnd there on a hill before him he was ’ware of a goodly sight\n\nThat would teach him fear, yet fresh courage it brought to the gallant knight\n\nFor the hero he saw full clearly how a host on their way would fare\n30 With pomp of warlike pageant, and banners borne high in air.\n\nThen he thought, ‘ I too far have journeyed this host in the wood to wait ’—\nAnd he bade them prepare the charger that was Orilus’ gift of late,\n\nAnd red were its ears, and Gringuljet, I think me, they called its name,\nWithout a prayer he won it—The steed from Monsalvasch came,\n\n35 Lahelein, in a joust he took it, when lifeless its rider fell\n\nBy the Lake of Brimbane—Hereafter Trevrezent would the story tell.\n\nThought Gawain, ‘ He who cowardly flieth ere the foe on his track shall be\nFlieth all too soon for his honour—this host would I nearer see\nWhatever may then befall me ; they have seen me ere this I trow,\n\n40 And, for aught that may chance unto me, wit shall counsel me well enow.’\nThen down he sprang from his charger as one who his goal hath found.\nCountless I ween the army that in troops was toward him bound,\n\nAnd he saw many robes fair fashioned, and shields with their blazon bright,\nBut he knew them not, nor the banners that danced on the breezes light.\n\n45 ‘ Strange shall I be to this army,* quoth Gawain, ‘ strange are they to me,\n\nIf they count this to me for evil then a joust shall they surely see,\n\nAnd a spear will 1 break with these heroes ere yet on my way I ride! ’\nGringuljet too was ready when his master would strife abide,\n\nIn many an hour of peril he the hero to joust had borne,\n\nSo As Gawain had well bethought him when the steed he would ride that morn.\n\nThere Gawain saw many a helmet, costly and decked full fair,\n\nAnd new spears white, unsplintered, in sheaves to their goal they bare ;\n\nTo the pages hands were given those blazoned with colours clear,\n\nAnd the badge might ye read on the pennons that floated from every spear.\n\n55 And the son of King Lot, Sir Gawain, he saw there a crowded throng,\n\nThere were mules with harness laden; heavy wagons with horses strong.\nAnd they hasted them, fain for shelter; and behind them a wondrous store\nOf goods, borne by travelling merchants as was ever the way of yore.\n\nDigitized by boogie\n\nOBILOT\n\nAnd women were there in plenty, and of knightly girdle bright\n\nThe twelfth might some wear, the payment and pledge of love holden light. 60\n\nNot queens were they hight, I think me, Vivandierls was their name—\n\nAnd young and old behind them a rabble onward came,\n\nAnd they ran till their limbs were weary; and a rope had fit guerdon been\nFor many who swelled this army, and dishonoured true folk I ween I\n\nSo they rode, and they ran, that army, and Gawain stood beside the way, 6 5\nSo it chanced they who saw the hero deemed him part of their host that day.\nAnd never this side of the water, or in lands that beyond it lie,\n\nSo gallant a host had journeyed, great their strength and their courage high.\n\nAnd close on their track there followed, spurring his steed amain,\n\nA squire of noble bearing, with a led horse beside his rein ; 7 °\n\nAnd a fair new shield he carried, and ever his spurs he plied,\n\nNor thought to spare his charger, but swift to the strife would ride,\n\nAnd his raiment was fairly fashioned—Then Gawain his pathway crossed,\n\nAnd, greeting, he asked him tidings, who was lord of this goodly host ?\n\nQuoth the squire, 4 Sir Knight thou mockest, were I lacking in courtesy, 75\nAnd have chastisement earned, then I pray thee that my penance shall\nother be\n\nThat shall wound not so sore mine honour—For God’s sake lay thine hate\naside,\n\nMethinks thou right well shalt know them, these knights that before us ride,\n\nWhy askest thou me ? Of a surety to each other shall ye be known\n\nAs well, nay, a thousand times better, than I unto thee had shown ! ’ 80\n\nThen many an oath he sware him, he knew not the race or name\nOf the folk who went there before him, 4 My journey hath won but shaifte,\nSince in truth must I make confession that never before to-day\nMine eyes have beheld these heroes, tho’ mine aid men right oft would pray!\nThen the squire he quoth unto Gawain, 4 Sir Knight, mine the wrong hath 85\nbeen,\n\nThy question I should have answered, here my wisdom hath failed I ween 1\nNow pass judgment on me, I pray thee, of thy friendly heart and true,\nHereafter I ’ll gladly tell thee, first must I my folly rue.’\n\n4 Then, lad, by thy words of repentance, sure token of courtesy,\n\nThe name of this gallant army I prithee to tell to mei ’ 9 3\n\n.\n\nPARZIVAL\n\n1*8\ni\n\nc Sir Knight, he who rides before us, and no man his way doth bar,\n\nIs King Poidikonjonz ; and beside him Duke Astor he rides to war,\n\nOf Lanveronz is he ruler—and there rideth beside the twain\nOne whose roughness and ways discourteous Love’s payment have sought\nin vain.\n\n95 He beareth the brand unknightly, Meljakanz that prince is hight,\n\nHe wooeth nor wife nor. maiden, but their love will he take with might.\n\nAnd, methinks, men for that should slay him—Poidikonjonz’ son is he,\n\nAnd here will he fight with his army, and he fighteth right valiantly,\n\nAnd dauntless his heart; but such manhood it profiteth naught, I trow—\n\n100 An ye threaten, perchance, her sucklings, she fighteth, the mother sow I\nAnd never a voice shall praise him whose strength lacketh knighthood fair,\nAnd methinks to the truth of my speaking many men will their witness bear.’\n\n‘ Now hearken to greater marvels, and mark thou the words I say,\n\nOne with a mighty army doth follow upon our way\nI0 5 Whom folly doth drive to battle—The young King Meljanz of Lys,\n\nScorned love wrought in him fierce anger, and pride vexed him needlessly,’\n\nAnd courteous he spake to Sir Gawain. 4 What I saw, I Sir Knight will say :\nThe sire of the young King Meljanz, as he on his death-bed lay,.\n\nHe bade them draw near unto him, the princes from out his land,\nno For his gallant life lay forfeit, a pledge in stem Death’s cold hand,\n\nAnd to Death he needs must yield him—In grief o’er his coming end\nTo the faith of the princes round him his son would the king commend,\n\nAnd he chose out one from among them, the chief of his vassals true,\n\nAnd his faith was proved and steadfast, and from false ways afar he flew.\n\n1x5 And he gave the lad to his keeping, and he quoth , 4 Now, with hand and heart,\nTrue service henceforward show him, bid him aye act a kingly part\nTo vassal alike and strapger ; bid him list to the poor man’s prayer,\n\nAnd freely give of his substance.’ Thus he left him unto his care.’\n\n4 And Prince Lippaut did as his monarch, dying, of him did pray,\n\n130 Nor failed in aught, but true service he did to his lord alway.\n\nAnd he took the lad to his castle, and the prince had two children fair,\n\nHe loved them well, and I think me, e’en to-day they his love shall share.\nOne maidpn in naught was lacking, save in age, that a knight might crave\nHer love for his love’s rewarding; Obie was the name they gave\n\nDigitized by V\n\nOBILOT\n\n*99\n\nTo this maid; Obilot, her sister; and the elder maid, I ween, 1 i *5\n\nHath wrought ill, for she, and none other, the cause of this strife hath been.’\n\n‘ It so fell that one day the young king for his service reward would pray,\n\nTwas an ill thought, she quoth, and she asked him why his wits he had\ncast away ?\n\nAnd she spake unto him ,‘1 think me, e’en if thou so old shouldst be,\n\nThat ’neath shield thou the hours hadst counted that in worthy strife might 190\nflee;\n\nWith helmet on head hadst mingled in knightly venture bold,\n\nTill the tale of thy days, if reckoned, foil five years more had told;\n\nIf there thou hadst won thee honour, and hither hadst come again,\n\nAnd bowed thyself to my bidding, if a yea I to speak were fain\n\nTo that which thou now desirest, all too soon should I grant thy prayer— *35\n\nThou art dear, I will ne’er deny it, as Galoes to Annora fair;\n\nFor death did she seek, and I think me that her seeking was not in vain,\n\nWhen she lost him, her well belov&d, and her knight in a joust was slain. 1\n\n1 Now sore doth it grieve me, Lady, that love worketh so in thee,\n\nThat thine anger with words of scorning thus venteth itself on me. 140\n\nFor true service,’ quoth he, * winneth favour, an love thus be well approved;\n(Ter-weening thy pride thus to taunt me that madness my speech had moved t\nSmall wisdom in this thou showest, ’twere better thou hadst bethought,\n\n* How thy father is but my vassal, and save of my grace hath naught 1 ’\n\n‘ For that which he holds can he serve thee,’ she spake, ‘ higher is my aim, 245\nFor fief will I hold of no man, none shall me as vassal claim!\n\nAnd so high do 1 prize my freedom that no crown it shall be too high,\n\nThat an earthly head e’er weareth 1 ’ Then he spake out wrathfolly,\n\n‘ Methinks thouhastbeen well tutored,that thypride shall have waxed so great,\n\nAn thy father such counsel gave thee, then penance on wrong shall wait— 150\nTis meet that for this I arm me, some wounded shall be, some slain,\n\nAn they call it or war, or Tourney, many spears shall they break in twain ! ’\n\n* Thus in anger he left the maiden, and all did his wrath bemoan,\n\nYea, full sore it grieved the lady—Her father must well atone,\n\nTho’ he sware as his lord reproached him, guiltless of wrong was he, 155\n\n(Or straight were his ways or crooked, his peers should his judges be,\n\nDigitized ty VjOOglC\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAll the princes in court assembled)—that he to this strait was brought\nThro’ no sin of his own—And eager the prince from his lord besought\nHis favour and love as of old time, but in vain he for peace might pray,\nx6o For anger it ruled the monarch, and his gladness was reft away.’\n\n4 Tho* hasty the prince they counselled a prisoner to make his lord,\n\nHis host had he been, and such treason of a true knight were aye abhorred.\nFarewell, the king ne’er bade him, but he rode forth in wrath and pride,\n\nAnd his pages, the sons of princes, aloud in theit sorrow cried.\nz *5 Long time with the king they dwelt there, and goodwill they to Lippaut\nbare,\n\nFor in truth did he aye entreat them, nor failed them in knighthood fair.\n’Tis my master alone who is wrathful, tho’ he, too, Lippaut’s care might claim,\nA Frenchman, the lord of Beauvais, Lisavander they call his name.\n\nAnd the one alike and the other, ere a knight’s shield they thought to bear,\n170 Must renounce the prince’s service, and war against Lippaut swear ;\n\nAnd some shall be prince’s children, and some not so highly bom,\n\nWhom the king to the ranks of knighthood hath lifted, I ween, this morn.’\n\n4 And one who in strife is skilful and bold doth the vanguard lead,\nPoidikonjonz of Gros, and with him hath he many an armed steed.\n\n*75 And Meljanz is son to his brother; and haughty of heart the twain,\n\nThe young as the old, I think me discourtesy here doth reign ! ’\n\n4 Thus these two kings, moved by anger, will forth unto Beaurosch ride,\nWhere with toil he would win the favour that the maid to his love denied.\nAnd there with thrust and onslaught shall be broken many a spear;\n\n180 Yet so well is Beaurosch guarded that, tho* twenty hosts were here,\n\nEach one than our army greater, it ne’er to our force would yield !\n\nThe rear-guard knoweth naught of my journey, from the others I stole this\nshield,\n\nLest perchance fhy lord should find here a joust, and with onslaught fierce\nAnd clash of the meeting chargers the spear thro’ his shield might pierce.’\n\n185 Then the squire he looked behind him, and his lord on his track did ride,\nThree steeds and twelve spears unsplintered sped onward his rein beside.\nAnd I ween that his haste betrayed him, he would fain in the foremost\nflight\n\nThe first joust for his own have challenged, so read I the tale aright\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nOBILOT\n\nThen the squire he spake unto Gawain, ‘Thy leave I, Sir Knight, would pray,’\nAnd he turned him again to his master—What should Gawain do alway 190\nSave see how this venture ended ? Yet awhile he doubted sore,\n\nAnd he thought, ‘ If I look on conflict, and fight not as aye of yore,\n\nThen methinks shall my fame be tarnished; and yet if I here delay,\n\nE’en tho’ it may be for battle, then in sooth is it reft away,\n\nMy meed of worldly honour—To fight not, methinks, were best, 195\n\nFirst must I fulfil my challenge.’ But a fresh doubt vexed his breast,\n\nFor he deemed that his warlike errand but little might brook delay,\n\nYet how could he take his journey thro’ this army that barred his way ?\n\nAnd he quoth, ‘ Now God give me counsel, and strengthen my manhood’s\nmight,’\n\nAnd on to the town of Beaurosch rode Gawain as gallant knight. aoo\n\nSo before him lay Burg and city; fairer dwelling no man might know ;\n\nAlready it shone before him with its turrets in goodly row,\n\nThe crown of all other castles—Before it the army lay\nOn the plain ’neath the walls of the city; thro’ the lines must he take\nhis way,\n\nAnd right well he marked, Sir Gawain, many tents in a goodly ring, aos\n\nAnd strange banners waved beside them, which strange folk to the fight\nwould bring;\n\nAnd doubt in his heart found dwelling, by eagerness cleft in twain—\n\nThen straight thro’ the host encamped there rode the gallant knight Gawain.\n\nOne tent-rope it touched the other, tho’ the camp it was long and wide,\n\nAnd he saw how they lay, and he noted the task which each one there plied, aio\nQuoth they, ‘ Sait bien venu ’ then ‘ Gramercy ’ the knight for an answer gave—\nAnd troops from Semblidag lay there, hired soldiers both strong and brave ;\nAnd closely they camped beside them, the archers from Kahetei—\n\nAnd strangers are oft unfriendly; As King Lot’s son he passed them by\nNo man of them all bade him tarry, so he rode o’er the grassy plain, 915\n\nAnd toward the beleaguered city Sir Gawain he turned his rein.\n\nThen he thought, ‘ Must I e’en as a smuggler, in hiding-place bestow\nMy goods, then the town is safer, methinks, than the plain below,\n\nNor on gain shall my thoughts be turned, for this be my care alone,\n\nAn Fate will so far befriend me, to guard that which is mine own ! ’\n\nDigitized by Google\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nTo the city gate he rode thus, and he found that which worked him woe.\nNone too costly the Burgers deemed it, but their portals against the foe\nHad they walled up; well armed the watch-towers, and he saw on each\nrampart high\n\nArchers, with cross-bow bended that their bolts ’gainst the foe might fly.\n\n32 S For defence and defiance ready on the battlements they stood.\n\nUp the hillside toward the castle he turned him, that hero good.\n\nTho’ little he knew the pathway to the Burg came the gallant knight,\n\nAnd straightway his eyes beheld them, full many a lady bright,\n\nFor the prince’s wife had come there, from the hall abroad to gaze,\n\n330 And daughters twain stood by her, bright as the sunlight’s rays.\n\nThen they spake in such wise as Gawain right well their words might hear—\n‘ Now, who is this,’ quoth the mother, ‘ who doth to our aid draw near ?\nWhere goes he with pack-horse laden ? ’ Spake the elder daughter fair,\n\n‘ Nay, mother, *tis but a merchant! ’ ‘ Yet he many a shield doth bear.’\n\n235 * Such shall oft be the wont of merchants ! ’ Then the younger sister spake*\n‘Thou sayest the thing that is not, and shame to thyself shouldst take.\n\nFor surely he is no merchant 1 My knight shall he be straightway,\n\nIf his service here craveth guerdon, such debt I were fain to pay! ’\n\nNow the squires they saw how a linden and olive-trees stood fair\n340 Beneath the walls, and they thought them how a welcome shade were there.\n\nWhat would ye more? Then King Lot’s son he straight to the ground did\nspring\n\nWhere the shade was best, and his servants, they swift to their lord would\nbring\n\nA cushion fair and a mattress, and the proud knight he sat thereon;\n\nFrom on high gazed a crowd of ladies—Then, as he his rest had won,\n\n345 They lift adown from the pack-steeds the chests, and the harness bright,\n\nAnd beneath the trees they laid them who rode here with the gallant\nknight.\n\nSpake the elder duchess, ‘ Daughter, what merchant think thou would fare\nIn such royal guise ? Thou wrongest his rank who now sitteth there! ’\nThen out quoth the younger sister, ‘ Discourteous she aye shall be,\n\n350 With pride and scorn did she treat him, our king, Meljanz of Lys,\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogI\n\n30 $\n\ntbiiiorr\n\nWhen her love he besought—unseemly such words and ways I trow! ’\n\nThen spake Obie, for anger moved her , 4 1 see naught in that man below!\nThere sitteth, methinks, a merchant, and he driveth a goodly trade;\n\nHe would that they well were guarded, the chests that his steeds do lade,\n\nAnd like to a brooding dragon, O foolish sister mine, 355\n\nO’er his treasure-chest he watcheth, this gallant knight of thine! ’\n\nAnd each word that they spake, the maidens, fell dear on Gawain’s ear—\nLeave we their speech, of the dty and its peril ye now must hear.\n\nA water that ships had sailed on ’neath a bridge of stone flowed past,\n\nAnd the land here was dear of foemen, nor its flood held their armies fast 360\nA marshal came swiftly riding ’fore the bridge on the plain so wide,\n\nAnd a goodly camp had he marked out ere his lord to the field should ride.\nAnd he came e’en as they were ready, and with him came many more—\n\nI will tell ye their names who, for truth’s sake, and the love they to Lippaut\nbore,\n\nHere rode to his aid—His brother, men called him Duke Marangliez, s5 5\nAnd two swift knights came with him from the land of Brevigariex;\n\nKing Schimiel, the gallant monarch who ware crown in Lirivoin,\n\nAnd with him there rode his brother, the monarch of Avendroin.\n\nNow when the Burgers saw well that help drew anigh their wall\nThey deemed that an evil counsel which aforetime seemed good to all— 970\n\nThen out spake their lord, Duke Lippaut, ‘Alas ! for the woeful hour\nThat Beanrosch must seal its portals against the foeman’s power!\n\nYet if 1 against my master in open field had fought,\n\nThen mine honour, methinks, were smitten, and my courtesy brought to\nnaught\n\nHis grace would beseem me better, and gladden me more, I ween, 375\n\nThan the hatred which now he showeth, of such hate have I guiltless been.\n\nA joust that his hand had smitten but little would grace my shield,\n\nOr if his of the sword bare token that I ’gainst my king would wield.\nMethinketh, tho’ wise the woman, she were shamed an she praised such\ndeed—\n\nYea, say that my king were captive in my tower, 1 my lord had freed, ^\nAnd myself had become his prisoner—what had pleased him best to do\nOf evil, I ’Id gladly bear it, as befitted a vassal true,\n\nDigitized by' ^.ooQle\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd I thank my God of a true heart that I here, a free man, stand,\n\nTho’ spurred by love and anger my king doth invade my land! ’\n\n385 Then he quoth again to the Burgers, ‘ Now may wisdom with ye be found\nTo counsel me in the perils that compass my path around.’\n\nThen many a wise man answered, ‘ Thou hast wrought in no wise amiss,\nMight innocence win its guerdon, then thou never hadst come to this.’\n\nThen all with one voice they counselled that the gates be opened wide,\n\n390 And that he should bid their bravest forthwith unto jousting ride.\n\nAnd they quoth, 1 So to fight were better than thus our ramparts high\nTo defend ’gainst our king, and the armies twofold that around us lie,\n\nFor the most part they are but children who ride with their king to-day,\n\nAnd ’twere easy to take a hostage, so wrath oft is turned away.\n\n395 And the king he shall be so minded, that if here knightly deeds be done.\n\nHe shall free us perchance from our peril, and the ending of wrath be won.\nFar better in field to seek them than forth from our walls be brought\nAs their captives—Nay, e’en to their tent-ropes, metfeinks, we with ease\nhad fought\n\nWere it not for the King Poidikonjonz, ’neath his banner the bravest fight;\n300 And there is our greatest peril, the captive Breton knights,\n\nDuke Astor it is who leads them, and foremost in strife are they ;\n\nAnd the king’s son is there, Meljakanz; higher his fame to-day\nHad Gurnemanz been his teacher! Yet never he feareth fight;\n\nBut help have we found against them,’—Now their rede have ye heard aright\n\n305 Then the prince he did as they counselled, the portals he open brake,\n\nAnd the Burgers who ne’er lacked courage their way to the field would\ntake.\n\nHere one jousted, and there another; and the armies they made their way\nWith high courage towards the city, right good was their vesper-play.\n\nOn both sides the troops were countless ; manifold was their battle-cry,\n\n310 And Scotch and Welsh might ye hearken, for in sooth here I tell no lie.\n\nAnd stern were their deeds of knighthood as fitting so stem a fight,\n\nAnd bravely those heroes battled, till weary each gallant knight\n\nAnd they were little more than children who with the king’s army came,\nAnd they took them as pledge in a corn-field, who thought there to win them\nfame,\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle\n\nOBILOT\n\n. 305\n\nAnd he who had ne’er won token of love from a lady fair, 3x5\n\nMight never more costly raiment on his youthful body bear;\n\nOf Meljanz the venture telleth that in harness bright he rode,\n\nOn high flamed his youthful courage—A charger the king bestrode\nThat Meljakanz won when in jousting his foe from his steed he swung,\n\n’Twas Kay, and so high he smote him that aloft from a bough he hung; 390\n\nThere Meljakanz won the charger that Meljanz would ride that day,\n\nAnd foremost of all the heroes he strove in the knightly fray.\n\nAnd Obie beheld his jousting, and watched him with eager eye,\n\nAs she stood there among her maidens, and gazed from the palace high.\n\nSo quoth she unto her sister, 4 See, sister mine, thy knight 325\n\nAnd mine, unlike do they bear them, for thine hath no will to fight,\n\nHe thinketh for sure this city and castle we needs must lose.\n\nAn here we would seek defenders, other champion we needs must choose ! ’\n\nAnd the younger must bear her mocking—then she spake, ‘ Yet I trust my\nknight,\n\nHe hath time yet to show his courage, and thy mockery put to flight 330\n\nFor here shall he do me service, and his gladness shall be my care,\n\nAn thou holdest him for a merchant, with me shall he trade full fair !’\n\nAs with words they strove, the maidens, he hearkened, the Knight Gawain,\n\nYet he made as tho’ he heard not as he sat on the grassy plain.\n\nAnd if knightly soul should hearken, nor feel in the hearing shame, 335\n\n’Twould but be that death had freed him from burden of praise or blame.\n\nNow still lay the mighty army that Poidikonjonz had led,\n\nSave one gallant youth with his vassals, who swift to the combat sped,\n\nAnd Lanveronz was his dukedom—Here came Poidikonjonz the king,\n\nAnd the old man wise one and other again to the camp would bring, 340\n\nFor the vesper-play was ended—In sooth had they fought right well,\n\nAnd for love of many a maiden full many a deed befell\n\nThen out spake the King Poidikonjonz to Lanveronz’ gallant knight,\n\n4 Twere fitting to wait for thy leader, an thou lusted for fame to fight\n\nDost think thou hast borne thee bravely ? See the brave Knight Lahduman, 345\n\nAnd here is my son Meljakanz,—Came these two in the van,\n\nAnd I myself, then, I think me, that a fair fight thou sure shouldst see\nWert thou learnfecLenow in combat to know what a fight should be !\n\nDigitized by VjiOOvlC\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nI come not again from this city till of strife we have had our fill,\n\n350 Or man and woman yield them as prisoners to my will 1 J\n\nQuoth Duke Astor, ‘ The king, thy nephew, O sire fought before the gate\nWith his army of Lys—Should thine army here slumber o’er-long and late\nThe while these others battled? Say when didst thou teach such lore?\n\nMust I slumber while others battle then I ’ll slumber as ne’er of yore 1\n355 Yet believe me, had I not been there then the Burgers bad won them feme,\nAnd a fair prize their hand had taken—I have guarded thee here from shame ;\nIn God’s Name be no longer wrathful 1 Such valour thy folk have shown,\nThey won more than they lost,—I think me fair Obie the same will own 1 ’\n\nYet Poidikonjonz was wrathful with his nephew, Meljanz the king,\n\n8 ^° Tho* of many a joust the token the young knight from the field must bring,\nAnd youthful feme ne’er moumeth such pledge of strife, J ween—\n\nNow hear ye again of the maiden who the cause of this strife had been.\n\nHate enow did she bear to Gawain who was guiltless of ill intent,\n\nAnd shame would she bring upon him—A servant the maiden sent\n365 Below, to Gawain as he sat there , 4 Now ask thou, without delay,\n\nIf his steeds be for sale—In his coffers, perchance, he doth bear alway\nGoodly raiment that we may purchase; say thou if it so shall be,\n\nThen we ladies above in the castle will buy of him readily.’\n\nSo the serving man went, and his greeting was wrath, for Sir Gawain’s eye\n370 Taught fear to his heart, and in terror the lad from his face would fly,\n\nAnd be asked not, nor gave the message his lady had bid him bear.\n\nNor Gawain held his peace, * Thou rascal, from hence shalt thou swiftly fare,\nFor many a blow will I give thee if again thou dost dare draw near ! *\n\nThen the lad hied him back to his lady; what she did shall ye straightway\nhear:\n\n•\n\n375 For she bade one speak to the Burg-grave, Scherules they called his name,\nSaying , 4 This shall he do at my bidding for the sake of his manly feme;\n’Neath the olive-trees by the Burg-moat stand seven steeds, I trow,\n\nIn them shall he find his guerdon, and riches beside enow.\n\nA merchant will here deal falsely—I pray he prevent such deed.\n\n380 I trust in his hand; none shall blame him, if the goods he doth hold for meed.’\n\nDigitized by\n\nOBILOT\n\nThe squire went below as she bade him, and his lady’s plaint he bare ;\n\n‘ From knavery must we guard us,’ quoth Scherules,•I forth will fare.’\n\nSo he rode where Gawain was seated whose courage might never fail,\n\nAnd he found there all weakness lacking, high heart that for naught would\nquail,\n\nAnd a face so fair to look on—Scherules he saw him well, 385\n\nAnd his arms and hands so skilful that a knightly tale might telL\nAnd he spake, ‘Thou art here a stranger, Sir Knight, sure good wit we\nneed\n\nSince here thou hast found no lodging; as sin shalt thou count such deed.\n\nI will now myself be marshal, folk and goods, all I call mine own\n\nThat freely shall do thee service; nor host to his guest hath shown 390\n\nSuch favour as I would show thee.’ ‘Thy favour,’ quoth Knight Gawain,\n\n‘ As yet shall be undeserved, yet to follow thee am 1 fain.’\n\nThen Scherules, of honour worthy, be spake of a true heart free,\n\n‘Since the office hath fallen to me, thy guardian ’gainst loss I ’ll be,\n\nIf the outer host would rob thee, thou shalt call to thine aid mine hand,’ 395\nThen, smiling, he spake to the servants whom he saw round their master\nstand,\n\n‘ Now load ye again your harness that never a piece shall fail,\n\nFor hence must we ride, and shelter shall ye find in the lower vale. 1\n\nWith the Burg-grave he rode, Sir Gawain, nor Obie her wrong would own,\n\nBut she sent a minstrel maiden whom her father right well had known, 400\nAnd she bade her bear the tidings, a false coiner had passed that way,\n\n‘ And goodly and rich is his lading; by his knighthood my father pray,\n\nSince many a hireling serves him for steed, and garb, and gold,\n\nThat he here let them take their payment, ’twere enow, were they sevenfold.’\n\nTo the prince did she tell, the minstrel, all 4 hat his daughter said—\n\nNow to win so rich a booty that his hirelings may be well paid,\n\nThe need right well he knoweth who hath ridden forth to war,\n\nAnd Lippaut, the prince so faithful, by his soldiers was pressed foil sore—\n\nThen he thought, ‘ I must win this treasure or by love or by force to-day.'\n\nAnd swiftly he rode ? but Scherules, he met him upon his way,\n\n< Now whither dost ride so swiftly?’ ‘A knave would 1 here pursue,\n\nA false coiner is he, I think me, if the tale I have heard be true!\n\nDigitized by VjUUV LC\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nNow guiltless in sooth was Gawain, *twas but thro’ his steeds and gold\nThat Suspicion on him had lighted—Then loud laughed the Burg-grave bold,\n4>5 And he quoth , 4 Nay, sire, they misled thee, they lied who thus told the tale\nWere it wife, or man, or maiden—Nor knighthood my guest shall fail,\n\nFar otherwise shalt thou judge him, no die he methinks shall hold;\n\nNe’er bare he the purse of the changer, if the tale shall aright be told.\n\nLook thou on his mien, and hearken his word, in my house is he,\n\n4^0 An knighthood aright thou readest then thou knighthood in him shalt see.\nAnd ne’er was he bold in falsehood—Whoever hath done him wrong,\n\nAn my child it were, or my father; whose wrath waxeth fierce and strong,\nAn my kinsman it be, or my brother, then the rudder of strife shall turn\n’Gainst myself, for I will defend him from the wrong that he ne’er did earn,\n435 If I with thy will may do so. The knight’s garb would I gladly change\nFor the hermit’s robe of sackcloth, and afar thro’ the wide world range\nIn a land where none may know me, than here thou shouldst reap thee\nshame I\n\nMethinks it would better fit thee to welcome such guests as came,\n\nWho have heard the tale of thy sorrow, than to rob them of goods and gold ;\n430 ’Twould better beseem my master as treason such deed to hold !’\n\nThe prince spake, 4 I fain would see him.* 4 Methinks ’twill not harm my\nguest.*\n\nSo he rode where he looked on Gawain, and two eyes and a heart con¬\nfessed\n\n(The eyes and the heart of Lippaut) that the stranger was fair to see,\n\nAnd knighthood and manly virtue the mate to his mien should be.\n\n435 Whosoe’er, by true love constrained, hath felt of true love the pain,\n\nThen his heart, as right well ye know it, doth forfeit to Love remain,\n\nAnd so doth she change and rule it that no mouth can the wonder speak,\n\nBe it heart of man or of maiden on which she her will would wreak,\n\nAnd the wise doth she bend to folly. Now the twain they were lovers\ntrue,\n\n440 King Meljanz and maiden Obie—His anger ye needs must rue,\n\nSince in wrath he had ridden from her; of sorrow such load she bare\nThat her spirit was moved to anger unfitting a maiden fair. '\n\nAnd, guiltless, must Gawain suffer, and others must feel her pain ;\n\nShe had womanly ways forsaken when she gave to her wrath the rein.\n\nDigitized by vjiOCK^lC\n\nOBILOT\n\nWhene’er she beheld the hero as a thorn was he to her sight, 445\n\nFor her heart was fain that Meljanz be held for the bravest knight,\n\nAnd she thought, * Doth he bring me sorrow, then sorrow I ’ll gladly bear,\n\n1 O’er all the world do 1 love him, my hero, so young and fair,\n\n! And my heart for his love aye yearneth.’ Oft anger from love doth grow,\n\nNor blame ye o’er-much the maiden if her love she by wrath would show. 45°\n\nNow list how he spake, her father, as he looked on the Knight Gawain\nAnd bade him a kindly welcome—In this wise he spake again,\n\n‘ Sir Knight, it may be that thy coming the dawn of our bliss hath been;\n\nThro’ many a land have I journeyed, but no face have I ever seen\n\nSo fair to mine eyes as thy face. In this our day of grief 455\n\nThy coming shall bring us comfort, thro’ thee may we find relief.’\n\nThen he prayed him take part in the conflict—‘ If harness shall lack to thee\nAll thou needest will I prepare thee, so here thou wilt fight for me.’\n\nThen out quoth the gallant Gawain, ‘ That would I of right goodwill,\n\nI am strong, and well armed for battle, yet from strife must 1 hold me still, 460\nI Nor fight till the hour appointed ; or else would I gladly fare\nAs thou farest, the fate of battle with thee were I fain to share.\n\nBut now must I needs forego it, for ’tis fitting I first should fight\nWith the foeman to whom 1 pledged me on mine honour as faithful knight\nBy the favour I claim from all true knights my fame must I there defend 465\nOr die on the field—To this conflict, Sir Knight, I my way would wend ! ’\n\nThen a grief were his words to Lippaut, and he quoth, ‘By thy knightly fame,\nAnd thy courtesy, do thou hear me, for free shall I be from blame.\n\nTwo daughters have I, and I love them, and dear to my heart are they,\n\nIn the joy God in them hath given would I live to my dying day.\n\nYea, well is me for my children, tho’ sorrow thro’ them I win,\n\nAnd the one of my two fair daughters methinks hath her share therein,\n\nAnd unlike, tho 9 alike, we share it—for thro 1 Love doth my lord and king\nWork sorrow to her, and thro 9 Hatred his forces ’gainst me would bring.\nAnd thus do I read the riddle, my lord worketh ill to me,\n\nSince a son I lack, but I wot well that my daughters shall dearer be.\n\nWhat, then, if for them I suffer? Then my woe do I count for weal—\n\nWho hath never an heir save his daughter, tho’ the sword ne’er her grip may\nfeel,\n\nVOL. L\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nYet other defence may she bring him, she may win him a son and heir; \\\n\n480 And such is my hope t *—Quoth Gawain, ‘ God grant thee this favour fair!’\n\nThen Lippaut he sorely pressed him, * In God’s name give thy pleading o’er,’\nSpake the son of King Lot, ‘ I pray thee, of thy courtesy ask no more,\n\nNor let me betray mine honour—Yet this will I do, Sir Knight,\n\nI will think the thing o’er, and my answer shalt thou have ere it draw to night.’\n\n485 Then he thanked him, the prince, and he rode forth; in the courtyard he\nfound alway\n\nHis child with the Burg-grave’s daughter ; with rings did the maidens play.\n\n‘ Now, daughter mine, whenceucamest thou V thus to Obilot he spake,\n‘Father, I came from the castle, to the strange knight my way I ’Id take,\n\nI would pray him as knight to serve me, methinks he will hear my prayer,\n490 And do for my sake such service as winneth rewarding fair !’\n\n* Nay, I fear me, my little daughter, for he saith me nor yea, nor nay,\n\nBut plead thou as I have pleaded.’ To the guest did she run straightway.\n\nSo came she to Gawain’s chamber, he greeted her courteously,\n\nAt her fairy feet he sat him, and thanked her that, maidenly,\n\n495 She spake for him to her sister; and he quoth, ‘ Now if ever a knight\nHad fought for so small a maiden, I were ready for thee to fight! ’\n\nThen the little maiden tender spake out so frank and free,\n\n‘Sir Knight, as God is witness, the first man thou aye shalt be\nWith whom I have held free converse; if in this my maiden shame\n500 And my courtesy I wrong not, then joy as reward I claim !\n\nFor ever my mistress taught me how speech is the crown of thought,\n\nAnd I pray thee, Sir Knight, to help us—Thro’ sorrow thine aid I sought;\nAn thou wilt, all our need I ’ll tell thee, nor do thou be wroth with me,\n\nFor I do as befits a maiden, and my prayer to myself shall be.\n\n505 For altho’ our name be diverse, yet methinks that thou art /,\n\nTake thou my name, and maiden and knight art thou verily.\n\nThis grace from us both do I pray here, and if I from hence must go\nAshamed, and my prayer unanswered, then, Sir Knight, I would have thee\nknow\n\nThat thy knightly fame must answer to thy kpightly courtesy,\n\n510 Since my maidenhood sought for shelter in vain in thy chivalry.\n\nDigitized by VjO\n\nOBILOT\n\nBut if thou indeed wilt hearken, and do me this thing I ask,\n\nWith a true heart true love I ’ll give thee as rewarding for knightly task.’\n\n‘ And art thou true man and courteous, then surely thou It do my will,\n\nFor see, wilt thou serve a maiden, 1 am worthy thy service still.\n\n’Tis true that my father kinsman and cousin for help hath prayed, 515\n\nBut for that shalt thou not refuse us, for my love shalt thou give thine aid ! *\n\nThen he quoth, ‘ Thy lips, Sweet maiden, would bid me my word forswear,\nWouldst have me my pledge to forfeit ? On my knightly honour fair\n1 pledged my word—An 1 fail me, ’twere better methinks to die.\n\nYet, e’en an I did thee service for thy love, still long years must fly 530\n\nEre yet thou shalt be a woman, and my service might well approve.*\n\nThen he thought how Parzival trusted less in^God than in woman’s love,\n\nAnd the words he spake bare the message of the maid unto Gawain’s heart;\nAnd he vowed to the little lady to bear arms on her father’s part,\n\nAnd, laughing, he spake,‘ My sword-blade thy little hand must guide, 525\nIf my foeman a fair joust seeketh, then thou must against him ride;\n\nAnd for me shalt thou strive in conflict, for tho’ men think they see me fight\nYet thou in my stead shalt have battled,—so keep I my pledge aright’\n\nThen she spake , i That will I, right gladly, thy shelter and shield 1 ’ll be,\n\nThine heart, and thine heart’s best comfort, since from grief thou hast set me 53°\nfree.\n\nThy friend will I be and comrade, and whatever chance betide,\n\nA roof ’gainst misfortune’s stormcloud, safe dwelling wherein to hide.\n\nTrue peace this my love shall give thee, Good Fortune to thee I ’ll bring;\n\nThat thy strength may by naught be vanquished, I’ll guard thee’gainst host\nand king.\n\nHost am I alike and hostess—To combat I ’ll ride withrthee, 535\n\nAn thou keepest my words in remembrance strength and bliss shall thy\nportion be.’\n\nThen out quoth the gallant Gawain,‘ Yea, maiden, the twain I ’ll share,\n\nSince my life I vow to thy service, thy love and thy comfort fair.’\n\nAnd the hand of the little maiden the while in his strong clasp lay—\n\nThen she quoth, ‘To fulfil mine office I must hence to the Burg away,\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nWouldst thou fare forth without iny aiding, and without my token fight ?\n\nNay, for that all too dear I hold thee—My part will I play aright, |\n\nAnd my token I will prepare thee, and if thou my pledge shalt bear\nThen I wot well that o’er all others thy glory shall blossom fair.’\n\n545 Then they went forth, the little maidens, and Gawain, the stranger guest,\n\nThey thanked with sweet words and kindly, and thus he his speech addrest,\n\n4 When older ye twain shall be waxen, were they spears, every woodland\nbough,\n\nAnd the forest bare naught but spear-shafts, then too poor were the crop, I\ntrow!\n\nIf your childhood shall thus be powerful, what then of your maidenhood ?\n\n55° For your favour brave knights shall shatter both strong shield and spear-\nshaft good 1*\n\nThen forth sped the little maidens, and their hearts they were glad and gay;\nAnd she spake, the Burg-grave’s daughter, 4 Lady, I prithee say\nWhat wilt give to thy knight for a token, since naught but our dolls have we ?\nAn mine were but somewhat fairer I would give it right willingly\n555 Nor be wroth with thee for the taking, we should strive not o’er that I ween ! ’\nThen Lippaut the prince o’ertook them half-way on the hillside green,\n\nAnd he saw Obilot and Claudittd, as up towards the Burg they sped,\n\nAnd he bade them stand still, and await him, and his daughter towards him\nfled.\n\n4 Father, I never needed thy help as I do to-day,\n\n560 Now give me I pray thy counsel, for the knight he hath said me yea.’\n\n4 Whate’er be thy will, little daughter, an I may, I will give it thee,\n\nFor happy the day whose dawning brought thee, a fair gift to me,\n\nThen Good Fortune smiled sweetly on me.’ 4 1 will tell thee, my father dear,\nBut the thing that so sore doth vex me thou must it in secret hear,\n\n565 So hearken, and do as I pray thee! ’ Then he bade them to lift the maid\nOn his charger, 4 But what of my playmate?’ Many knights round their\nleader stayed,\n\nAnd they strove which of them should take her, for each one well pleased\nwould be,\n\nThen one as his prize he claimed her, for Claudittd was fair to see.\n\nDigitized by VjOOQ LC\n\nOBILOT\n\nThen riding, he spake, her father, ‘ Now Obilot tell to me\n\nHow dost thou need my counsel? What is it that vexeth thee?’ 570\n\n* I have promised my knight a token, and my wits were I ween astray,\n\nIf nothing I find to give him then worthless my life to-day ;\n\nSince he vowed unto me his service then in sooth must I blush for shame,\n\nIf I give him naught—Never hero truer love from a maid might claim ! ’\n\nThen he quoth, 4 Trust to me, little daughter, and thy token I will prepare, 575\nIf service from him thou winnest thou shalt give him his payment fair,\n\nIf thy mother she too be willing—God grant he may bring us aid,\n\nThat gallant knight and worthy; what trust I on him have laid !\n\nTho’ never a word to the hero had I spoken before to-day,\n\nYet last night in a dream I saw him, as asleep on my couch I lay.’ 5 80\n\nThen Lippaut he sought the Duchess, and with him he led the maid,\n\nAnd he quoth , 4 Now lady, help us, for we twain sorely need thine aid ;\n\nAnd my heart would shout for gladness that God gave me this maiden fair,\n\nAnd parted me from the sorrow that I all guiltless bare.’\n\nThen out spake the Duchess, 4 Tell me, ^vhat wilt thou of my grace ? ’ 585\n\n‘ Lady, since thou wilt hearken, this maid craves a better dress,\n\nAnd she deems she of right may ask it, since a knight will her token bear,\n\nAnd he asketh her love, and he offers to do for her service fair.’\n\nThen out spake the maiden’s mother , 4 Ah, good and gallant knight!\n\nOf the stranger I ween thou speakest, as May-tide his glance of light.’ 59 °\n\nThen samite of Ethnisd the wise mistress she bade them bear\nAnd rich stuffs as yet unsevered, and silk of Tabronit fair\nFrom far Tribalibofs kingdom—Red the gold on Kaucasus’ strand,\n\nAnd fair is I ween the raiment which the heathen, with cunning hand,\n\nWrought from silk, with the gold inwoven—And Lippaut, the prince, he bade 595\nThat therefrom for his little daughter fitting garments should straight be\nmade.\n\nNor the best would he grudge to the maiden, and they shaped her a garment\nfair,\n\nOf silk that with gold was heavy; but one white arm they left yet bare,\n\nAnd a sleeve that the arm had covered from the vesture they cut away,\n\nThis should Gawain win for his token and badge in the coming fray. 600\n\nDigitized by > tjOOQie\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nSo this was the gift that she gave him, a rich silk of Orient bright,\n\nThat was brought from the land of the paynim, and had covered her arm so\nwhite.\n\nBut they sewed it not to the garment, nor wrought it at all with thread.\n\nAnd Claudittd to Gawain bare it, when home from the Burg she sped.\n\n605 And free from all care was the hero; and three were his shields so bright.\nAnd on one straightway he bound it, and glad was the gallant knight;\n\nAnd fairest thanks he gave her, and oft would he praise the road\nOn which the maid had trodden when she sought him in his abode,\n\n. And so gently bade him welcome, and with sweet words and maiden wile\n610 Had made him rich in gladness, and made joy on his path to smile.\n\nNow the daylight had waned, and the night fell,—many valiant knights and\ngood,\n\nA mighty force, lay on each side,—the besiegers were e’en a flood.\n\nWere they less, for the folk of the city their army enow should be.\n\nAnd now by the light of the moonbeams they would fain to their outworks see;\n615 Nor terror nor cowardice moved them, they were ready ere break of day,\nTwelve breast-works wide, and a deep moat before every earth-work lay.\nThus they shielded them well from onslaught, and to every earth-work wide\nWere barbicans three, that the army might forth to the conflict ride.\n\nAnd at four of the gates the Marshal, Kardefablet of Jamore,\n\n6ao With his army bravely batted, as men well at the dawning saw.\n\nAnd the rich Duke fought full knightly; he was brother to Lippaut’s wife.\nAnd stronger in heart than others who yet bear them well in strife,\n\nAnd for men of war are reckoned—In conflict he grief would bear—\n\nWith nightfall his host drew nearer, from far land would he hither fare,\n625 For but seldom from stress of battle or conflict he turned aside,\n\nAnd four of their gates he guarded right well in his warlike pride.\n\nThe force from beyond the river passed o’er it ere morning light,\n\nAnd entered the walls of Beaurosch, as Lippaut should deem it right.\n\nBut they of Jamore had ridden o’er the bridge before the gate,\n\n630 And every door was guarded, and warlike their foes they wait,\n\nEre ever the day had dawn&d—Scherules one door would ward,\n\nWhich he and the brave Knight Gawain would let not from out their guard.\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nOBILOT\n\nais\n\nAnd there had ye heard lamentation from the lips of many a knight.\n\nAnd the best they were who mourned thus, they had frukd here to see die\nfight,\n\nFor the vesper-play was ended ere yet they a joust might share. $35\n\nYet needless their lamentatioh, for countless they proffered there\nTo all who had lust for battle, and to joust in the field would ride.\n\nIn the streets saw ye many a hoof-track, and there drew in on every side\nFull many a tossing banner by the light of the moonbeam’s ray.\n\nAnd many a costly helmet would they wear in the joust that day, 640\n\nAnd spears with bright colours blazoned—A Regensburg silk, I ween,\n\nHad been held of little value ’fore Beaurosch on the meadow green.\n\nFor many a coat emblazoned had ye looked upon that day,\n\nWhose goal had methinks been higher in the cost that its lord would pay.\n\nAnd the night, as of old her custom, had yielded her place to day, 645\n\nNor by song of the lark might they know it, for they hearkened far other lay,\nWhose voice was the voice of warfare with the crash of the splintered spear,\n\nAs a cloud that is cleft and riven when the thunderbolt falleth near.\n\nAnd the King of Lys’ young army sought the host of Lirivoin,\n\nAnd there, with his warriors, battled the monarch of Avendroin; 650\n\nAnd many a joust rang loudly, e’en as when one is wont to throw\nChestnuts within the furnace that burst in the fiery glow.\n\nAh, me 1 how they strove together that morn on the grassy plain,\n\nHow the knights spurred their steeds to jousting, and the Burgers they\nfought amain.\n\nNow Gawain, and his host the Burg-grave, since it healtlrto their souls might 655\nbring,\n\nAnd yield them a meed of blessing, bade a priest a Mass to sing;\n\nAnd he sang unto God and the heroes—And the prize of their fame waxed\nfair,\n\nFor this was their pious bidding—Then they would to their post repair.\n\nBut their rampart ere this was guarded by many a gallant knight,\n\nThe followers they of Scherules, and well would those heroes fight 660\n\nAnd what should I tell ye further ? Poidikonjonz was proud 1 ween,\n\nAnd he came with such host, if in Schwarzwald each bough had a spear-\nshaft t£en\n\nDigitized by VjOOQ 1C\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nI had looked on no greater forest than here on this field ye saw.\n\nAnd six banners they bare, and early to battle would nearer draw,\n\n^5 With ringing blasts of trumpet e’en as thunder that wakeneth fear,\n\nAnd drums strove amain with the trumpets, and smote on the listening ear.\nIf a grass blade were left untrampled by the conflict I knew it not—\n\n’ E’en now shall the Erfurt vineyards show such tokens of strife, I . wot!\n\nThen hither he came, Duke Astor, and he fought with the men of Jamore,\n670 And for sharp joust the spears they whetted, and many a knight they bore\nFrom his saddle down on the meadow, and for combat they aye were fain ;\nAnd clear rang the stranger war-cries—And masterless o’er the plain\nSped many a gallant charger, and afoot went the fallen knight,\n\nFor I ween he had learnt the lesson how one oft is o’erthrown in fight.\n\n675 Then he saw, the gallant Gawain, how out on the plain afar\nThe host of both friend and foeman were mingled in deadly war;\n\nAnd he spurred him swift towards them ; nor ’twas light in his steps to tread,\nTho’ little they spared their chargers, those knights who behind him sped,\nScherules and his vassals—Gawain gave them pain, I trow,\n\n680 Ah, me 1 for the spears he shivered and the knights that he laid alow.\n\n^ Had God given him not such valour, this knight of the Table Round,\n\nThen in sooth had one made petition for the fame that he there had found.\n’Twas all as one, both armies, ’gainst the twain did he set his hapd.\n\nThat of Gros as of Lys—Many chargers did he win from each knightly band,\n^5 And straightway the hero brought them where his host’s banner waved on high,\nAnd he asked who was there who should need them? And many swift reply;\nThen he gave them e’en as they answered, and rich were they all, I trow,\nThro’ this brother-in-arms whose friendship they here for a space should\nknow. *\n\nThen there came a knight fast spurring, nor spears did he think to spare—\n690 The Lord of Beauvais and Gawain they rode ’gainst each other there,\n\nAnd the young knight, Lisavander, midst the flowers of the field he lay,\nFrom his saddle behind his charger did Gawain thrust the prince that day.\nFor the sake of his squire shall this grieve me, who yestreen so courteous\nspake,\n\nAnd told to Gawain the tidings, and whence all this woe did wake.\n\nDigitized by Google\n\nOBILOT\n\nHe dismounted, and bent o’er his master, and Gawain he knew his face, 695\nAnd he gave him the steed he bad won there, and the squire thanked his\nhand of grace.\n\nNow see ye how Kardefablet himself on the ground doth stand\nFrom a joust that was ridden against him, and aimed by young Meljanz’\nhand;\n\nFrom the ground his warriors lift him, and loud rings the battle-cry\n‘ Jamore 1 ’ and the clashing sword-blades to the challenge make swift reply. 700\nAnd closer the fight draws round him, onslaught on onslaught pressed,\n\nAnd the blows ring loud and deafening that fall on each knightly crest\nThen Gawain called his men around him, and swift to his aid he sped,\n\nAnd be covered the knight with the banner of bis host that flew high o’er-\nhead,\n\nAnd many brave knights had been felled there—Tho* witness I never knew, 705\nYet in sooth ye may well believe me for the venture it telleth true !\n\nI Then the Count of Montane rode ’gainst Gawain, and a goodly joust they\n' ran,\n\nAnd behind his horse, on the meadow, lay the brave Knight Lahduman,\n\nAnd the hero, proud and gallant, his pledge unto Gawain gave.\n\nAnd nearest of all to the ramparts fought Duke Astor with heroes brave, 710\nAnd many a joust was ridden, and many a spear was crossed ;\n\n‘ Nantes ! .Nantes ! ’ came the war-cry pealing, the cry of King Arthur’s\nhost,\n\nFirm they stood, and no whit they yielded, the captive Breton knights,\n\nAnd hirelings from Ereds kingdom and men spake of their deeds of might—\n\nThe Duke of Lanveronz led them—So well did they fight that day 715\n\n| That Poidikonjonz well might free them, since his captives they were alway;\n\nAt the mountain Cluse from King Arthur, in the days that were long gone by,\n\nAs his prisoners did he win them, when they stormed him right valiantly.\n\nAnd here, as was aye their custom, where’er they might chance to fight,\n\nThey shouted ‘ Nantes’ as their war-cry, ’twas the way of these men of 790\nmight;\n\nAnd many had waxed grey-bearded, and on every Breton breast\nOr high on their helmet gleaming stood a Gampilon for their crest\nFor as Ilinofs arms they bare it, who was Arthur’s gallant son—\n\nAnd Gawain he sighed as he saw it (small fame he ’gainst these had won).\n\nDigitized by\n\n2 l8\n\nPARZIVAL\n\n795 And his heart awoke to sorrow for the Mason right well he knew.\n\nAnd it filled him again with anguish for the death of his kinsman true.\n\nAnd his eyes ran o’er with tear-drops, and he passed than upon the field.\nNor with them would he fight—Thus to friendship’s hero full oft shall yield!\n\nAlien he rode on to Meljanz’ army, whom the Burgers with might with¬\nstood,\n\n730 And their rightful meed of honour they won from the warriors good; /\n\nTho’ perforce ’gainst o’ermastering numbers they had foiled to hold the field,\nAnd backward within their trenches awhile to the foe must yield.\n\nAnd he who the Burgers challenged his harness glowed red as flame,\n\n‘ The Nameless Knight' they called him for none knew from whence he\ncame;\n\n735 And 1 tell it to ye as I heard it, to Meljanz he rode, this knight.\n\nBut three days back, and the Burgers must mourn it in coming fight\nThat he swore his aid to their foeman—Twelve squires unto him he gave,\nTo serve him as meet in the jousting, and to follow to onslaught brave.\n\nAnd the spears their hand might proffer those spears he right swiftly brake,\n740 And clear rang his joust o'er the tumult, when he did as his captives take\nKing Schimiel and his brother; nor he would from his pledge release\nThe knight whom he here had vanquished, the Duke of Marangliess.\n\nAnd bravely they fought mid the foremost, and he vanquished them as they\nstood,\n\nYet their folk still held them valiant tho’ reft of their leaders good.\n\n745 And there fought the young King Meljanz, and all were they friend or foe,\nThey owned greater deeds of valour a young knight might seldom show;\n\nBy his hand were the strong shields cloven—Ah! the spears that he brake\nin twain\n\nAs the forces together mingling dashed swift o’er the battle-plain.\n\nAnd his young heart for conflict lusted, and none gave him of strife his fill,\n750 And it vexed him sore, till Gawain would joust with him at his wilL\n\nThen Gawain took a spear of Angram, that he won him at Plimizdl,\n\nAnd twelve were those spears—The war-cry of Meljanz was 4 Barbigdl! ’\nOf his kingdom of Lys ’twas chief city—Gawain aimed his joust so true,\nAnd Oraste Gentesein taught sorrow to the king since it pierced him thro*\n\nDigitized by Google\n\nOBILOT\n\nThat strong shaft of reed; his shield piercing, it brake in his arm of might— 755\nAnd a fair joust again was ridden, and Gawain smote the King in flight;\n\nAnd the hinder bow of the saddle it brake, and those heroes twain\nThey stood on their feet, and valiant, they battled with swords amain.\n\nTwere more than enough such labour for two churls on the threshing-floor,\n\nAnd each one bare the sheaf of the other, and each smote the other sore. 760\n\nAnd a spear must Meljanz carry that had smitten him thro 9 the arm,\n\nAnd thro 9 conflict fierce the hero in blood and sweat waxed warm.\n\nThen Gawain by force he drave him within a portal wide,\n\nAnd he bade him his pledge to swear him, nor the young king his will\ndefied;\n\nWere he not so sorely wounded then so swiftly he ne’er were known, 765\n\nTo yield himself to a foeman, but his prowess had longer shown.\n\nThen Lippaut the prince, the land’s host, his valour might not restrain\nWith the monarch of Gros he battled; and alike must they suffer pain^\n\nBoth man and steed from the bow-shots, for their skill they were fain to\nshow,\n\nThey of Semblidag, and Kahetines, for they fled as they bent the bow. 77 °\nAnd the Burgers must well bethink them the foe from their lines to hold,\n\nBut foot-soldiers had they, and sheltered by their ramparts they battled bold./\nAnd he who of life was forfeit for the wrath of a maid must pay,\n\nFor her folly and scorn on her people brought sorrow enow that day.\n\nBut what part therein had Lippaut ? I think me his lord of old, 775\n\nKing Schaut, ne’er had thus beset him 1 Now faint waxed those heroes bold,\n\nBut Meljakanz still fought bravely—Do ye think it was whole, his shield?\nNot a hand’s-breadth wide was the fragment—Then he bare him across the\nfield\n\nDuke Kardefablet, and I think me the Tourney it came to stand\nOn the meadow fair and flowery, for fast locked was either band.\n\nThen Gawain he rode swiftly to them, and he pressed Meljakanz so sore,\nE’en Launcelot, gallant hero, ne'er wrought him such grief afore\nWhen the sword bridge he crossed to battle—Her captivity pleased him ill,\nThe Queen Guinevere, and he thought him by the sword-blade to free her\nstill.\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nPARZIVAL\n\n785 King Lot’s son he rode full gallop—Meljakanz, what could he do\nBut spur his steed towards him ? And many that joust must view.\n\nWho lay there behind his charger ? He whom the gallant knight\nOf Norroway had smitten to earth with his spear of might\nAnd many a knight and lady they looked on this joust so fair,\n\n79 ° And they spake in praise of Gawain, and his fame would aloud declare.\n\nAnd the maidens right well might see it as they looked from the hall on high.\nUnderfoot was Meljakanz trampled; many steeds did o’er him fly,\n\nAnd tare with their hoofs his surcoat, who fodder might taste no more,\n\nAnd they covered the prostrate hero with rain of sweat and gore.\n\n795 Twas a day of doom for the chargers, but the vultures at will might feast;\nAnd Duke Astor he came to the rescue, and from them of Jamore released\nMeljakanz, or else was he captive, and he raised him from off the ground—\nAnd the Tourney was o’er, and the combat methinks had its ending found.\n\nHow who had as knight best ridden, or best for a maiden fought ?\n\n800 Nay, I know not, an I would name them small leisure such task had brought\nFor Maid Obilofs sake with the townsfolk a knight valiant deeds had\ndared ;\n\nWithout, a Red Knight fought bravely, and the fame ’twixt those two was\nshared.\n\nWhen the guest of the outer army had learnt he no thanks might win\nFrom the king he had served, since Meljanz was captive the town within,\n\n805 He rode where his squires were waiting, and thus to his prisoners spake,\n\n* Sir Knights, ye your word have pledged me ; ill-chance doth me here o’er-\ntake,\n\nFor King Meljanz of Lys is captive—Now if ye such grace can find\nWith his captors, that for your freedom his fetters they will unbind,\n\nSuch service I Id gladly do him! ’ To the King of Avendroin\n810 He spake, and to Duke Marangliess, and King Schirniel of Lirivoin.\n\nAnd this oath must they swear unto him, ere they rode the walls within,\n\nTo loose Meljanz, or if they failed here, to help him the Grail to win.\n\nBut never a word could they tell him of where It was hid, the Grail,\n\nSave ’twas guarded by King Anfortas, but further, their lore must fail\n\n8l 5 When thus they spake, quoth the Red Knight, c Then if it shall still betide\nThat my wish find not here fulfilment, ye to Pelrapar shall ride,\n\nOBILOT\n\nAnd unto the fair queen yielding say, “ He who in days of yore\nFaced Kingron for her and Klamidd, for the Grail now sorroweth sore,\n\nAs he yearneth for her, his lady, and after the twain in thought\n\nAnd deed is he ever striving.” To her be this message brought 820\n\nAnd ye heroes bear it truly, and as on your way ye ride.\n\nGod have ye in His safe keeping, for the world and its ways are wide/\n\nThen they prayed his leave, and they rode hence—And the knight to his\nsquires he spake,\n\n‘ Here is booty none may gainsay us, of these steeds ye at will may take ;\n\nBut leave me one for my riding, since sore wounded mine own shall be/ 8a 5\nSpake the Squires, ‘ Sir Knight, we must thank thee for the grace thou hast\nshown us free,\n\nFor our lifetime hast thou enriched us/ Then he chose in his charger’s\nstead,\n\nWith the close-cropped ears, Ingliart, the same that from Gawain fled,\n\nWhen Meljanz he made his captive, and the twain they must fall in field,\n\nAnd the Red Knight’s hand had caught it, when hewn was many a shield. 830\n\nThen Farewell the hero bade them—Full fifteen steeds they tell,\n\nTo the squires he left, un wounded, in sooth might they thank him well.\n\nAnd they prayed him to linger with them, and abide with them yet a space,\n\nBut far hence lay the goal he was seeking, and the road he was fain to trace.\n\nSo he turned him about, the hero, to where ease should be bought full dear 835\nFor naught but strife was he seeking—In the days that ye read of here\nNo knight e’en as he had battled—Then the outer host would ride\nTo where they might find a lodging, and in peace for a space abide.\n\nAnd within, Lippaut spake, and asked them how matters had gone that day ?\nThat Meljanz was taken captive, that tale did he know alway.\n\nAnd all was as he would have it, and comfort the hour would bear—\n\nAnd Gawain loosed the sleeve full gently from his shield, lest perchance it\ntear,\n\nFor he deemed it o’er good for tearing, and Clauditt£ she held it fast,\n\nAnd ’twas slashed in the sides and the centre with the spears that had thro’\nit passed;\n\nAnd he bade her to Obilot bear it, and glad was the little maid,\n\nOn her bare white arm soft-rounded the tattered sleeve she laid,\n\n» 4 S\n\nIll\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd spake, ‘ Who hath done this for me ?’ whene’er she her sister saw,\n\nAnd wrathful her elder sister her maiden mischief bore.\n\nThen, as weariness it bade them, the knights they craved for rest—\n\n850 Then Scherules took Count Lahduman, and Gawain his gallant guest\nAnd many a knight whom he found there, whom Gawain with valiant hand\nHad o’erthrown on the field of battle tho’ strife they might well withstand.\nAnd the Burg-grave rich he bade them to sit them in order fair,\n\nAnd he and his wearied vassals would stand ’fore their monarch there\n855 Till Meljanz his fill had eaten—And they treated him courteously,\n\nBut Gawain, o’er-much he deemed it, add he spake out, frank and free,\n\n‘ Methinks an the king allow thee, Sir Host, thou shouldst take a seat’\n\nThus spake Gawain in his wisdom, as his courtesy found it meet.\n\nBut the host gave his prayer denial,‘ The king’s man is that gallant knight\n860 My master, this were his office if the king had but deemed it right\nTo take, as of old, his service—My lord thro’ his courtesy\nWill not see the face of his monarch while exiled from grace is he.\n\nAn it pleaseth God of friendship to sow here the seed once more,\n\nThen joyful we *11 do his bidding with one will, as in days of yore.’\n\n865 Then spake the youthful Meljanz, ‘ Yea, courteous knights and true\nWere ye, when I dwelt among ye, nor your rede did I ever rue.\n\nAn I now had thy counsel followed, this even had seen me glad ;\n\nNow give me thine aid Count Scherules, for the trust that I ever had\nIn thy faith, with this knight my captor, and with him my second sire\n870 Duke Lippaut—for well I think me they will do as thou shalt inquire—\n\nYea, pray them to show me favour, for friends had we been to-day\nHad not Obie such jest played on me as no maiden I ween should play ! ’\n\nThen out spake the gallant Gawain, 4 Afresh shall be knit a band\nThat naught but death can sever’—Then they came whom the Red Knight’s\nhand\n\n875 Without had taken captive, on the height would they seek their king,\n\nAnd they told him all that befell them; and Gawain must list the thing,\nAnd they told of the arms of the hero, how their strength before his must fail,\nAnd how he their pledge had taken, and had bidden them seek the Grail;\nAnd he thought how the knight of this venture was none other than Pamval,\n\n880 And his thanks uprose to high Heaven that no evil did there befall,\n\nOBILOT\n\n**3\n\nBut that God apart had held them, and they met not in strife that day.\n\nAnd courteous I ween were those heroes that they tore not the veil away,\n\nBut both of them there were nameless, and none knew from whence they\ncame,\n\nYet I wot well the world around them rang fair with their warlike fame.\n\nTo Meljanz he spake, Scherules, c Now, Sire, wilt thou list to me ? 885\n\nLook thou again on my master, and such rede as is given to thee\nBy friends on both sides shalt thou hearken, and thine anger shalt thou\nrecall ;*\n\nAnd all deemed it good, the counsel, so they rode to the royal hall,\n\nThe inner force of the city, as the Marshal was fain to pray.\n\nThen Gawain took the Count Lahduman, and the captives he made that day, 890\nAnd he gathered them all around him, and the pledge that to him they gave\nWhen he erst on the field overthrew them, must they yield to the Burg-grave\nbrave,\n\nAnd gladly they did his bidding—To the palace the heroes fare,\n\nAnd rich garments as fit for a monarch did the wife of the Burg-grave bear;\nAnd a veil did she give unto Meljanz that should serve him for a sling 895\nFor the arm that Gawain had wounded, when his spear smote the youthful\nking.\n\nAnd Gawain by the mouth of Scherules, Obilot his lady prayed ;\n\nFain would the hero see her, his life in her hand he laid,\n\nAnd would crave from her lipk dismissal—and further the hero spake,\n\n‘ I leave the king here, her captive, and I pray her such thought to take\nThat she mayln such wise entreat him, that het honour shall wax apace\nAnd Meljanz spake, ‘ Well I know this, Obilot is of maiden grace\nAnd maiden worth the glory; and joyful am I at heart\nIf her captive I be, for in gladness methinks shall I have my part.’\n\nThen out quoth the gallant Gawain, ‘ Her prisoner art thou alone,\n\n’Tis she who hath captive made thee, and my glory is here her own.’\n\nBefore them rode Scherules—As was fitting for royal court,\n\nNor man was there nor maiden but had robed them in such sort\nThat one, in poor guise and scanty, might scarce have been seen that day—\nThey who sware their pledge to the Red Knight with Meljanz must take 9*0\ntheir way. Digitized by Google\n\n!’\n\n90s\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd there in the hall of the castle they sat in their order four,\n\nLippaut, his wife, and his daughters, as the guests passed within the door.\n\nUp sprang the host and hastened his lord and king to greet,\n\nAnd close pressed the crowd around them as friend with foe did meet;\n\n9<5 By Gawain’s side stood Meljanz. ‘ Now, an it were here thy will,\n\nThy friend of old, the Duchess, with kiss would she greet thee still’\n\nAnd Meljanz to his host made answer, * Two ladies I think to see\nFrom whom I ’ll take kiss and greeting—but the third naught shall win from\nme’\n\nAnd the parents wept; but the maiden, Obilot, was glad and gay,\n\n930 And they greeted their king with kisses ; and two beardless kings that day\nThey kissed, with the Duke of Marangliess, and the gallant Knight Gawain.\nAnd they brought him his little lady, and the fair child he clasped again,\nAnd e’en as a doll he held her so close to his manly breast,\n\nAs joy and delight constrained him, and to Meljanz his speech addrest:\n\n925 ‘Thine hand hath surety pledged me, of that shall thou now be free,\n\nIn my right arm I hold my lady, her captive thou now shalt be.*\n\nThen Meljanz he stept him nearer, and she held fast to Gawain’s hand,\n\nAnd she took the pledge of her monarch mid the knights who did round\nthem stand.\n\n‘ Sir King, ’twas ill-done I think me, if a merchant he be my knight\n930 As my sister hath said, to yield thee as his captive on field of might! ’\n\nThus spake Obilot, the maiden ; then to Meljanz she gave command,\n\nHe should yield his pledge to her sister, and swear it hand clasped in hand ,*\n‘ Thou shalt have her for Love, for thy knighthood, as her Love and her\nLord art thou\n\nHenceforward, of true heart gladly, and ye twain to my will shall bow ! ’\n\n935 God spake by the lips of the maiden, her will it was done straightway,\n\nAnd Frau Minne with power and wisdom again o’er their hearts held sway.\nAnd knit afresh the meshes, and fettered the twain anew ;\n\nFrom the folds of her flowing mantle her small hand Obie drew,\n\nAnd she touched the arm of her lover, and weeping, her lips so red\n940 Kissed the wound he had won in jousting, since it was for her sake he bled.\n\nDigitized by vjOCK^IC\n\nOBILOT 225\n\nAnd his arm was bathed in the tear-drops that flowed from her eyes so\nbright—\n\nHow waxed she thus bold Yore the people? Twas Love bade her claim\nher right;\n\nAnd fulfilled was the wish of Lippaut, and naught of his bliss should fail,\n\nSince God had willed that his daughter henceforth as his queen he hail!\n\nHow the wedding feast was holden, ask them who took their share 945\n\nOf wedding gifts, or wandering, to Beaurosch had thought to fare.\n\nIf they fought, or were fain to rest them, of that I no word may tell,\n\nBut they say in the hall of the palace Sir Gawain would bid farewell\nTo her for whose leave he came there, and sore wept the little maid\nAnd spake, ‘ Now take me with thee, 1 but Gawain her wish gainsaid, 95 °\n\nAnd scarce might her mother tear her from the knight—leave he prayed\nthem there,\n\nAnd Lippaut he proffered service for the good-will he towards him bare.\n\nAnd his gallant host, Scherules, with his folk he would not delay\nTo ride awhile with the hero; and he wended a woodland way,\n\nAnd they gave him guides for his journey, and food lest he ill should fare, 955\nAnd he bade them farewell, and sorrow Gawain for the parting bare.\n\nVOL. I.\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle\n\np\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle",
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