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    "slug": "parzival",
    "name": "Parzival"
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  "parents": [
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      "name": "Holy Grail Romances",
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 9,
    "slug": "08-book-viii-antikonie",
    "title": "Book VIII: Antikonie",
    "of": 17,
    "words": 8245,
    "text": "## Book VIII: Antikonie\n\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle\n\nARGUMENT\n\nBook viii. tells how Gawain cajpe to Schamfanzon, ahd how King\nVergulacht committed him to the care of his sister Antikonie. How\nGawain wooed the maiden, and of the wrath of her people. Of the\nadventure of the chess-board, and how Kingrimursel came to the help\nof Gawain. How Antikonie reproached King Vergulacht, and how the\nnobles counselled their monarch. Of the oath Gawain sware to the King,\nand bow he rode forth to seek the Grail.\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nHOSOE’ER at Beaurosch had battled, methinks that Gawain\nhad won\n\nThe highest fame in both armies, save but for one knight\nalone;\n\nAnd none knew his red harness glowing, and none knew\nfrom whence he came,\n\nBut high as a banner waveth, so high did it rise, his fame.\n\n[ Yet of honour alike and good fortune had Gawain in full his share— 5\n\nNow hence must he ride, for the moment of strife which he sought drew\nnear,\n\nAnd far and wide stretched the woodland thro* which he must wend his\nway—\n\nNo conflict he shunned, tho* all guiltless of the sin men on him would lay.\n\nBut, alas ! his charger failed him, Ingliart, with the close-cropped ear,\n\nIn the land of the Moors at Tabronit no better the steeds they rear. io\n\nAnd diverse the wood around him, here a bush and there a field,\n\nAnd so narrow at whiles, that pathway, it scarcely a space might yield\nFor tent, or for knight’s pavilion. Then fair dwellings met his eye,\n\n*Twas Askalon, and he prayed them if Schamfanzon at hand did lie ?\n\nBut many a marsh and moorland and many a steep hillside *5\n\nMust he traverse, ere fair before him in the setting sun he spied\nA fortress stand so stately, it gleamed in the sunlight’s rays,\n\nAnd he turned his steed towards it who rode here on unknown ways.\n\nNow list ye awhile the venture, and mourn ye awhile with me\nThe sorrow that fell on Gawain—And if old ye shall chance to be\nOr young, yet of this your friendship I pray you his grief to weep;\n\nI Alas! were it best to tell ye, or silence a space to keep ?\n\nr r\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nNay, better to tell the story, how he whom Good Luck did call\nHer friend, was by her forsaken, andliow grief to his lot must fall.\n\n2 5 So proudly uprose the fortress that never did Carthage seem\nSo fair to the eyes of iEneas, when Dido, as failed her dream\nOf love, turned to death and, seeking, foufid rest in his cold embrace.\n\nWould ye know what countless turrets those stately halls did grace ?\n\nScarce more had Akraton boasted, that city whose walls so wide,\nd° An man may believe the heathen, with Babylon only vied ;\n\nSo high rose the circling ramparts, and where to the sea they fell\nNo storm might they fear, but defiance could they bid to their foes right\nwelL\n\nTore the city a plain outstretching lay fair for a mile or more.\n\nAs Sir Gawain rode across it, five hundred knights he saw,\n\n35 Yet one, o’er all the others, gallant and fair to sight;\n\nGaily they rode towards him all clad in raiment bright,\n\nFor so the venture telleth—With their falcons soaring high\n\nWould they chase the crane, or other fair game that should wingM fly.\n\nA tall steed from Spain’s far kingdom, King Veigulacht bestrode,\n\nAO And his glance was as day in the night-time—Aforetime his race abode\nWhere Mazadan reigned as monarch, by Fay Morgan’s mystic mount,\n\nAnd amid the roll of his fathers he many a fay might count—\n\n. And even as in the spring-tide the May blossom bloometh fair\nSo rode the king in his beauty, and Gawain he bethought him there,\n\n45 As he saw him ride so stately, ’twas another Parzival,\n\nOr Gamuret, as he came to Kanvoleis, as this venture erewhile did tell.\n\nNow into a pond so marshy a heron had taken flight\n\nAs it fled from before the falcon, and the king, as beseemed a knight,\n\nSought not for the ford but followed as he saw his falcon’s need,\n\n50 And wet he won in the aiding, and lost was his gallant steed,\n\nAnd lost too his royal raiment, tho’ safe was I ween the bird.\n\nThe falconers took his garments, for this, so the tale 1 ’ve heard,\n\nWas their right, and they needs must have them, and no man might say\nthem nay.\n\nAnother horse they brought him, for lost was his own for aye,\n\n55 And fresh garments they put upon him, since such was the chance of fate\nThat his falconers won the vesture that had decked their king of late.\n\nDigitized by VjiOCK^lC\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nThen Sir Gawain, he rode towards them, and knightly and worshipful\n\nThe greeting they gave unto him, not such as in Kariddl\n\nOnce fell to the lot of Erec, when after his well-fought fight\n\nHe had fain drawn near to King Arthur, and with him his lady bright, 60\n\nFair Enid, who graced his coming—But the dwarf Maliklisier\n\nWith a scourge full hardly smote him, ’neath the eyes of Queen Guinevere.\n\nAt Tulmein he took his vengeance, where, within the ring so wide\nTo win the hawk, the heroes in deeds of valour vied.\n\n*Twas Ider, the son of Noit, a hero true and bold 6 5\n\nWhom he else had slain, whom Erec did there in surety hold.\n\nBut leave we all other venture, and hearken awhile to me,\n\nFor in sooth never fairer welcome shall it fall to your lot to see.\n\nYet, alas I for ill it wrought him, Gawain, King Lot’s brave son—\n\nAn ye will I will cease my story ere the tale to its end be run, 70\n\nAnd for pity’s sake keep silence—Yet perchance it were best to tell\nThe ill that thro’ others’ treason on a gallant spirit fell.\n\nAnd if I yet further pray ye this story strange to heed\n\nThen in sooth, e’en as I, right truly will ye mourn for its hero’s need.\n\nQuoth the king, ‘ Sir Knight, thus I think me, thou shalt to the castle'ride, J 75\nThine host will I be right gladly, tho’ scarce may I be thy guide ; »\n\nYet if this on my part shall vex thee the chase will I gladly leave ! ’\n\nQuoth Gawain, * As it best may please thee, that do, nor for my sake grieve,\nWhate’er thou shalt do shall be well done—No grudge do I bear thee, Sire,\nBut of right good-will I gladly will do as thou shalt require.’ 80\n\nQuoth the king of Askalon further, ‘ Schamfanzon thou well mayst see\nSir Knight, theremy sister dwelleth, who as yet but a maid shall be;\n\nAnd she hath in fullest measure such beauty as poets sing—\n\nAn thou as a grace shalt hold it, my knights unto her shall bring\nSuch word she shall well entreat thee in my stead, till I come again.\n\nAnd whfenever I come, I think me, ’twill be sooner than thou art fain\nTo look on my face, for gladly wilt thou spare me when thou shalt see\nMy sweet sister, nor e’er bemoan thee, tho’ my coming o’er late shall be\n\n‘ Nay, gladly again I’ll see thee, and gladly thy sister greet,\n\nTho’ as host never queen has done me such service as host finds meet.’\n\nDigitized by Google\n\n9 »\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nThus spake the gallant Gawain—Then a knight bare the king’s behest\nTo his sister, that she, as fitting, should so care for the stranger guest\nThat however long his absence the hours should as minutes fly—\n\n(An ye will, I will cease my story that now runneth but mournfully !)\n\n95 Nay, further I ’ll tell the venture,—Steed and pathway the hero bore\n\nWhere as one were both Burg and palace, and he held him before the door.\nAnd he who shall e’er have builded a house, he shall better know\nTo tell of this mighty castle, and the strength of its walls to show.\n\nYea, indeed ’twas a Burg, none better might this earth on its bosom bear\n100 And around it, far outstretching, the ramparts towered high in air.\n\nLeave we the praise of the castle, and speak of the castle’s queen,\n\nA maiden fair, for of women 1 shall better speak I ween,\n\nAnd as fitting I’ll sing her praises—Was she fair to the eye ? ’Twas well;\nWas she true of heart ? Then gladly will men of her praises tell.\n\n105 And so both in mind and manner might she vie with that lady true,\n\nThe Margravine, who from Heitstein afar o’er her marches threw\nA light,—Well for him who dwelleth as friend in her presence fair,\n\nSuch pastime as there his portion he findeth not other-where !\n\nFor I praise but a woman’s virtue, as I see, and shall surely know,\n\n“o True and pure must she be, the maiden, on whom I shall praise bestow.\nAnd he whom this venture singeth is a gallant man and true,\n\nFor no dealing have I with falsehood, or with one who his deeds shall rue,\nAs repentance, slowly piercing, but tumeth his bliss to bale,\n\nAnd his soul knoweth wrath and sorrow, or ever his life-days fail\n\n1 x 5 To the castle court rode Gawain, and the goodly company\n\nTo whom the king had sent him, who shamed for his sake should be.\n\nThen the knight to his lady led him, as she sat in her beauty’s glow,\n\nQueen Antikonie—Could the merchants a woman’s fame bestow,\n\nOf such goods had she made rich purchase ; ’gainst falsehood she set her face,\n120 And hers was the crown of honour, and a maiden’s maiden grace.\n\nAh! woe’s me for him of Veldeck, that death thus cut short his days.\n\nNone is there of all men living who so well could have sung her praise.\n\nThen Gawain, he looked on the maiden, and the messenger spake the word\nE’en as the king had bade him, and the queen his message heard.\n\nDigitized by oogle.\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nThen gently she spake to the hero, ‘ Come thou near unto me, Sir Knight, 125\nThyself shalt be my master in courtesy, as is right;\n\nAnd gladly I ’ll do thy bidding—If well it shall please thee here,\n\n’Twill be even as thou shalt order—Yea, since my brother dear\nHath bid me well entreat thee, I ’ll kiss thee, if so I may.\n\nI ’ll do, or leave it undone, e’en as thou the word shalt say 1 ’ 130\n\nCourteous she stood before him, quoth Gawain, ‘ Thy lips so red.\n\nIn sooth were made for kissing, be kiss and greeting sped! *\n\nSo full and warm and rosy were the lips that Gawain pressed,\n\nNo stranger sure had kissed her as kissed this stranger guest\n\nUnchecked he sat him by her, and sweet words passed between, 135\n\nSoft spake they to each other; and oft renewed, I ween,\n\nHis prayers and her denials, yea, sorely grieved was he,\n\nAnd fain to win her favour—Then she spake as I tell to ye :\n\n‘ Bethink thee, Sir Knight, thou art wise else, with this I enough have done,\n\nFor I ween at my brother’s bidding mine uncle Gamuret won 140\n\nLess welcome from Queen Anflisl than the welcome / gave to thee,\n\nAn our tending were weighed together methinks hers would lighter be.\n\nNor know I, Sir Knight, whence thou comest, nor e’en what shall be thy\nname,\n\nThat, after such short approving, thou shouldst to my love lay claim ! ’\n\nThen out spake the gallant Gawain, ‘Then know here assuredly >45\n\nO 1 queen, of my father’s sister the brothers son am I ;\n\nWilt thou give me sweet love’s rewarding, for my birth shalt thou not delay, f\nHand in hand, and to equal measure, it paceth with thine alway! * *\n\nThe maiden who filled the wine-cup she had passed from out the hall,\n\n' And the women who sat beside them must now to their mind recall 150\n\nThe task that elsewhere did wait them; nor longer the knight stood there\nWho erst to the queen had brought him—As Gawain was now aware\nThat no man was here beside them, he thought how a mighty bird\nIs oft trapped by a little falcon—nor further he spake a word,\n\nBut he passed his arm around her beneath her mantle’s fold, x 55\n\nAnd love laid such stress upon them, the maid and the hero bold,\n\nThat belike a thing had chanced there, an no eye had been there to see,\n\nOf one mind were the twain—yet heart-sorrow drew near to them speedily.\n\nDigitized by V OOQ1C\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nFor straight stepped within the doorway an old and grey-haired knight,\n\n160 And loudly he called on Gawain, and shouted a shout of might,\n\nFor well did he know the hero, and fiercely his cry did ring,\n\n‘ Alas! alas 1 woe upon us, since the hand that hath slain our king\nIs fain now to force his daughter ! ’ At the sound of his battle-cry\nt The folk that within the castle abode to the hall did hie,\nl6 5 So it fell out—Then quoth Sir Gawain to the queen, ( Now, Lady mine,\n\nSay thou how we best may ward us ’gainst this wrathful folk of thine,\n\nFor sure they will come against us—An I had but my sword at hand ! ’\n\nThen out spake the gentle maiden, ‘ Their might shall we best withstand\nAn we to yon tower betake us that riseth my bower beside,\n\n* 7 ° Perchance they will then bethink them, and the storm shall we override. 1\n\nHere a knight, and there a merchant, already the maid must hear,\n\nWith the cry of the angry townsfolk, as the twain to the tower drew near;\nAnd sore was her friend beset there, tho’ she prayed them from strife to cease,\nSo loud rose the angry tumult none hearkened her words of peace.\n\ni7S ’Gainst the portal the foe pressed onward, Gawain stood within the door,\nAnd held off the angry rabble ; an iron bolt he tore -\n\nFrom its fastenings wherewith to arm him, and before his strong right hand\nFull oft fled his evil neighbours, they durst not his blows withstand.\n\nWhile the queen, with flying footsteps, hither and thither sought\n180 To find, perchance, some weapon ’gainst the foe that so fiercely fought,\nj At length did she chance on some chess-men, and a chess-board, wide and\n\\ fair,\n\nThat hung by a ring of iron; to Gawain she brought it there,\n\nAs a shield four-square it served him ; yea, many a game was played\nOn that board ere ’twas hewn in battle—Now hear of the royal maid;\n\n*85 Were it king, or queen, or castle, she hurled them against the foe,\nHeavy and large the chess-men, and in sooth I would have ye know\nThey who by her shaft were stricken must ever a fall abide.\n\nRight bravely the queen so gracious now fought by her hero’s side,\n\nAnd she bare herself so knightly, that never the Burger maids\n* 9 ° Of Tollenstein at Shrove-tide such dauntless skill displayed.\n\nAnd yet they but fight for folly, and weary themselves for naught—\n\nAn a woman bear trace of battle, on her womanhood shame is brought,\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nANTIKONIE\n\n(For I know what befits a woman,) unless love shall have bid her fight\nTo prove her faith—Now faithful and true was that lady bright,\n\nAs Schamfanzon might bear witness—Yet, tho’ high of heart was she, *95\nMany tears that conflict cost her; for in sooth shall it ever be\nThat Love is brave as steadfast, yet tefider and true of heart—\n\nWould ye know how in such fierce conflict Sir Gawain would bear his part ?\n\nWhen the strife but leisure gave him to gaze on the maid aright,\n\nHer lips so red and glowing, her eyes so soft and bright—\n\nMore slender was she and shapely than ever a lowland hare\nThat ye truss on the spit, so graceful her limbs, and her form so fair ;\n\nFull well might her charms awaken desire in the heart of man.\n\nAnd smaller, I ween, the maiden, where her golden girdle ran\nAround her waist, than ants are, and their slender shape ye know—\n\nThe sight wrought in Gawain courage his foemen to overthrow,\n\nFor she shared his need ; his chastising none other than death should be,\nAnd help was there none—Then his anger flamed high and wroth was he\nAs he looked on that gentle maiden, and no fear was his but hate,\n\nAnd sorely his foemen rued it who met at his hand their fate.\n\naoo\n\n*>5\n\nCame King Vergulacht, and he saw well how his folk ’gainst Gawain did fight; 1\nNor do I in this deceive ye, nor can 1 account him right\nThat not as a host he bare him, when he saw his gallant guest\nThus stand, as one man against many—But straight thro’ the throng he\npressed,\n\nIn such wise, I must mourn for Gandein, the monarch of Anjou fair, ^\n\nThat his daughter, so true a lady, so faithless a son must bear. \\\n\nFrom the strife his folk he called not, short space must they stay their hand '\nWhile the king would don his armour, he lusted to lead the band. 1\n\nToo mighty the force for Gawain, nor I ween shall ye count it shame\n\nThat he closed the door upon them—Then in wrath and haste there came r 220\n\nThe knight who to battle bade him ’fore Arthur at Plimizol\n\nBut short time back—They called, him the Landgrave Kingrimursel,\n\nAnd sore did Gawain’s need vex him, he wrung his hands amain,\n\nFor in sooth had he pledged his honour his foe should in peace remain i\nTill one man alone o’ercame him—Old and young from the tower he drave, / 225\nYet the portal would they force open, as their king commandment gave.\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nThen the Landgrave he cried on Gawain, * Sir Knight, I would in to thee\nAs a friend, that this bitter conflict I may share, if it so must be,\n\nFor then must my monarch slay me, or leave thee in life to-day.’\na 3 ° Peace Gawain would swear unto him, and he made to the tower his way—\nThen doubtful, the foemen thronging, their hand for a space must hold,\n\nFor their Burg-grave he was, and his bidding had they hearkened both young\nand old.\n\nThen, as ceased the noise of battle, thro’ the doorway he sprang, Gawain,\nAnd the Landgrave, he stood beside him, swift and bold were those heroes\ntwain.\n\n»35 Quoth King Vergulacht, * Why tarry ? Why stand we here as on guard,\nWhen of foemen but two shall dare us, and none other the tower gates ward ?\nMuch my cousin doth take upon him, when he dareth to shield my foe,\n\n, Yea, himself should wreak vengeance on him, if his faith he were fain to\nshow! ’\n\nOf true heart then they chose a true man, and unto the king he spake,\n\n240 * Now, Sire, upon our Landgrave no vengeance we think to take,\n\nNor shall harm at our hand befall him—May God so turn thy mind\nThat, instead of shaming, honour thou shalt from this venture find.\n\nFor shame shall it bring upon thee, and an ending to thy fair fame,\n\nIf he who as host doth hail thee shall here at thine hand be slain.\n\n*45 And thy kinsman is he, this other who hath brought him into this land ;\n\nSo, lest cursing and shame be thy portion, we pray thee to stay thine hand,\nAnd grant thou a truce thro’ the daylight, and the fleeting hours of night,\nThen bethink thee for shame or honour, and do as shall seem thee right! *\n\n* And our queen who hath ne’er known falsehood, thy sister, Antikonie,\n\n250 See there as she standeth by him and weepeth full bitterly.\n\nCanst thou see such sight without rueing, since one mother bare ye both ?\nAnd bethink thee, sire, thou art wise else, thou didst send him, nothing loth,\nAlone to this gentle maiden, nor further a guardian gave ;\n\nFor her sake it were well to spare him ! ’ Then the king bade those warriors\nbrave\n\n255 To call a truce—He ’Id bethink him how vengeance he best might take\nFor his father’s death—Yet all guiltless Gawain, for another’s sake]\n\nMust he bear the shame; with a lance-thrust by Ekunat was he slain\nAs to Barbigdl Prince Iofreit, a prisoner, hf would have ta’en,\n\nDigitized by * L.oogle\n\nANTIKONIE\n\n*37\n\nWho had ridden erewhile with Gawain—In such wise the chance befell\nThat they deemed that Gawain had slain him—So men do the venture tell. a6o\n\nAnd scarce was the truce bespoken ere of men was the field bereft,\n\nEach betook him unto his lodging, nor one on the ground was left\nThen the queen threw her arms around him, and with many a kiss so sweet\nShe gave to her gallant cousin such rewarding as seemed her meet,\n\nSince so bravely he stood by Gawain, and sheltered the twain from wrong, 265\nAnd she spake, ‘ Now art thou my cousin, nor unfaith shall to thee belong.’\n\nNow hearken and I will read ye that word which I spake of late,\n\nHow a true heart sore was darkened—I ween ’twas an evil fate\n\nThat led Vergulacht to Schamfanzon ; such deed he ne’er did learn\n\nFrom sire or aye from mother, with shame did the young knight bum, 270\n\nAnd torment sore and suffering his better self must know\n\nAs his sister ’gan upbraid him, small mercy the maid would show. ]\n\nAnd thus spake the noble maiden, 4 Now had it but been God’s will,\n\nThat I, a man bom, might sword bear, and knightly tasks fulfil,\n\nTo strive with me hadst thou come here, methinks thou hadst come too 275\nlate,—\n\nBut now am I all defenceless, a maiden, and no man’s mate.\n\nAnd yet a shield I carry, and fair Tfe device shall be,\n\nAnd honoured of all—Its blazon would I read here, Sir King, to thee,\n\nThat thou henceforth mayst know it—Pure heart and upright mind,\n\nThat true man beneath its cover a shelter may ever find. 280\n\nAnd that, o’er the gallant hero whom thou sentest unto my care,\n\nDid I hold, and ’gainst thee, his foeman, I did, as beseemed me, bear,\n\nFor none other armour had I—And if thou repent the ill\nThou hast done to thy guest, me, thy sister, hast thou wronged more deeply\nstill;\n\nFor this is the right of woman, so ever ’twas told to me, 285\n\nThat if ever unto the shelter of a maiden a knight shall flee,\n\nThen they who as foemen follow shall straightway leave their chase—\n\nIn such wise they ever bear them who would not their shield disgrace—\n\nNow, Sir Vergulacht, that thy guest fled to me as his hope of life,\n\nHath loaded with shame thine honour, since thou aided, nor checked, the 990\n\nstrife!’\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nThen Kingrimursel quoth sternly, i Yea, Sire, ’twas at thy command,\n\nThat on Plimizttl’s plain I bade him, Sir Gawain, to seek this land.\n\nOn thy royal word safe conduct I sware him, that should he ride\nHither we twain were pledged him no evil should here betide,\n\n»95 Save but from one foeman only—Now, Sire, thou hast here done ill\nIn that, spite of thine oath so knightly, thy word thou didst not fulfil.\n\nAnd here shall my fellows hearing give judgment betwixt us twain,\n\nIf tHus thou wrongest princes , what as king mayst thou hope to gain\nFrom us of faith and honour?—If honoured thou fain wouldst be,\n\n3 °° Then, courteous, make confession that near of kin are we ;\n\nTrue cousin am I, no bastard, and e’en if such chance had been,\n\nEven then, in this thy dealing, thou hadst done me a wrong, I ween !\n\nA knight am I in whom no man hath found a taint of shame,\n\nAnd I think me that free from falsehood, yea, to death will I guard my\nfame,\n\n3°5 For in God have I ever trusted, and, methinks, He holds not in store\nSuch fate for the days of the future as I knew not in days of yore.\n\nYet they who shall hear the story, how the nephew of Arthur rode\nTo Schamfanzon ’neath my safe-conduct, where’er shall be his abode—\n\nAn he come from the land of the Breton, or from France, or from Provence\nfair,\n\n310 Burgundian he, or Gallician, or the arms of Punturtois bear—\n\nWhen he hear of the grief of Gawain then my fame shall be swiftly sped.\nAnd shame be my meed for the danger that threatened that knightly head.\nAt the tale of this strife shall my glory wax narrow, and blame grow wide ;\nAnd, as joy in the past dwelt with me, so henceforward shall shame abide.’\n\n315 As he made an end of speaking stood a vassal the king before,\n\nAnd, as Kiot himself hath told us, Liddamus was the name he bore.\n\nAnd I speak here of Kiot the singer, and so sweet was I ween his song\nThat none wax of the hearing weary, tho’ the days of their life be long.\n\nAnd I rede ye to wit that Kiot of old was a Provencal,\n\n390 Who found writ in a book of the heathen this story of ParzivaL\nAnd in French again he sang it, and I, if no wit shall fail,\n\nWould fain in his footsteps follow, and in German would tell the tale.\n\nQuoth the Prince Liddamus in his anger, ‘ Now say, what doth he do here\nIn the house of my lord, who his father hath slain, and hath brought anear\n\nDigitized by VjiOCK^lC\n\n\\\n\nANTIKONIE\n\n*39\n\nThe brand of shame ? My king’s courage is known thro’ many a land, 335\n’Twould better beseem his honour to avenge him with his own hand ;\n\nOne death for the other payeth—and the need waxeth here as there.’\n\nAnd Gawain he stood in sore peril, and fear for his life must bear.\n\nQuoth Kingrimursel, 1 Who to threaten is swift, he as swift should be\nTo mingle in strife, yet but lightly thy foeman he holdeth thee! 330\n\nAn wide were the field or narrow, yet Sir Liddamus, I know well\nThis man were safe from thine onslaught e’en tho’ shame at his hand befell,\n\nFor ne’er wouldst thou dare to avenge it, who yet dost so loudly boast—\n\nAnd swifter were we to hearken if ever in battle host\n\nWe had seen thee ride the foremost! But strife ever wrought thee pain, 335\nAnd afar from the field of battle to linger thou aye wast fain.\n\nYea, more hast thou learnt—The beginning of strife didst thou ever see,\n\nThen hence wouldst thou fly as swiftly as a maiden is wont to flee.\n\nAnd the prince who thy counsel hearkens, and doeth as thou shalt say,\n\nShall find that the crown he weareth but loosely shall sit alway 1 1 340\n\n* And fain, in a joust so knightly, were 1 to have faced Gawain,\n\nNor feared me aught, for such combat had we sworn fast betwixt us twain.\n\nAnd here had we fought, as fitting, ’neath the eye of the king my lord,\n\nAnd wroth am I now, for dearer, methought, had he held his word !\n\nNow swear thou to me, Sir Gawain, when a year from this day be past, | 345\n\nTo meet me again in combat—If thou ’scape my lord’s wrath at last, '\n\nAnd thy life for a prey he leave thee, yet we twain must fight our fight\nAt Plimizdl first I bade thee ; at BarbigSl, if it seem thee right,\n\nBefore Meljanz, the youthful monarch, the strife shall methinks be fought;\n\nAnd around my heart till the day come shall sorrow’s wreath be wrought, 350\nAnd gladly I’ll hail that dawning, and face thee, thou hero bold,\n\nTho’ the guerdon be but of sorrow, that shall there by tbine hand be\ntold.’\n\nSo there, as the Landgrave bade him, the hero Gawain swore,\n\nAnd his oath, and his pledge so knightly, he plighted as erst of yore.\n\nBut Duke Liddamus, he bethought him of words that he fain would say, 355\nAnd with cunning skill and wisdom his speech did he weave that day.\n\nThus he spake for all men to hear him, for the time of speech was come,\n\n‘ Now if strife ever call upon me, if the won >\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nIf I fight as beseems a hero, or fly as a coward flies,\n\n36 ° If the meed of my warlike bearing be honour in all men’s eyes,\n\nThen reward me I pray, Sir Landgrave, with rewarding as I shall win ;\n\nBut if honour or praise be withholden I count it not me for sin ! 9\n\nNor here did his speech find eliding. * If Tumus thou fain wouldst be,\nThen good, thou shalt find me Tranxes ; thou mayst well wreak thy will\non me,\n\n365 If so be thou hast aught against me, but ’tis thou who dost boast too loud,\nYea, e’en an thou wert the highest of my peers, these princes proud ;\n\nFor Prince am I too, and Landgrave, and I have in Galicia’s land\nMany Burgs so fair and stately that e’en far as Vedrun stand.\n\nAnd tho’ thou and this Breton stranger were minded to work me ill,\n\n370 Yet not even a fowl for thy threatening would fly, but abide thee still! ’\n\nl 4 He came from the land of the Breton whom thou hither for strife didst hale.\n1 Take thou vengeance for king and kinsman, if such vengeance may aught\navail;\n\n’ With him, not with me, thy quarrel, avenge thou thine uncle’s life\nOn him who of life hath robbed him, it toucheth me not, this strife,\n\n375 For I wot well in naught I wronged him, and none for such wrong makes\nmoan.\n\nWhat need to bewail thine uncle ? His son sitteth on his throne,\n\nAnd I ask for no higher ruler, since Fleurdamur, the queen, * >\n\n‘Was his mother, his sire Kingrisein, and his grandsire Gandein hath been.\nAnd still in my mind it dwelleth how Galoes and Gamuret,\n\n380 Those heroes twain, were his uncles, nor lie I, nor truth forget\nAnd I think me that in all honour my castles and lands so-wide\nI may take from his hand, with their banners, and serve him v&ate’er betide! ’\n\n4 Let him fight who hath lust for fighting, for weary of strife am I,\n\nTho’ I know well who fame in battle doth win, for his victory\n385 Hath reward from the lips of women, yet for never a maidente sake\nWill I evil entreat this body, or bid it such ill-road take.\n\nNay, why should I be a Wolfhart ? Since barred is the battle way,\n\nAnd no lust of strife hath beguiled me that I know not the thing I say.\n\nIf thou shouldst for aye despise me, yet Rumolt I ’ll take as guide,\n\n390 Who gave counsel unto King Gunther, ere yet to the Huns he hied.\n\nDigitized by VjOOQ LC\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nFor he bade him in Worms abide still, where was plenty and e’en to spare,\n\nAnd content his soul with the flesh-pots and the riches of Rhineland fare! *\n\nBut ready of wit was the Landgrave, and he spake, ‘ Yea, the tale be told\nE’en to-day, and no man shall marvel, for we know well thy ways of old.\n\nThou wouldst urge me to strife, yet thy counsel is e’en what a cook once 395\ngave\n\nTo the Nibelung lord, little recked he such counsel, the hero brave.\n\nFor he and his, little doubting, went boldly to meet their fate,\n\nAnd avenged was the death of Siegfried, and sated was Kriemhild’s hate!\n\nAnd Sir Gawain, I ween, must give me my death, or himself must feel I\nThe weight of my bitter vengeance as we battle for woe or weal! ’ / 400\n\n* Thou dost well,’ Liddamus made answer, * yet I think me of treasure fair,\n\nAll that Arthur might hold, or India, if one such to my feet should bear,\n\nAnd say ’twas mine own, he might have it ere I fought e’en for such a prize.\n\nAn thou wilt, win thee fame and honour, I, I think me, am all too wise.\n\nGod knoweth, no Segramor am I, whom men must with fetters bind 405\n\nSo keenly for strife he lusted, far other was aye my mind.\n\nYet mine be my monarch’s favour, for Sibech ne’er drew a sword,\n\nBut ever he fled with the flying, yet men hearkened well his word ;\n\nAnd many for counsel prayed him, and great gifts and lands enow\nThe hand of Ermenrich gave him, tho’ no helmet e’er felt his blow. 410\n\nAnd Sir Kingrimursel, I rede thee, thou shalt mark me with never a scar ! ’\nThen out spake King Vergulacht sternly, as he ended their wordy war:\n\n4 Peace, peace, nor so loudly wrangle, Sir Knights, all too bold are ye,\n\nFor too near is your monarch’s presence, and of speech are ye both too free;\nAnd that thus ye should strive before me, tho’ your strife be of w&rd, not 4*5\ndeed.\n\nIll beseemeth both king and vassal, so hearken my word, and heed.’\n\nThis befell in the hall of the palace, ’neath the eyes of his sister fair,\n\nAnd Gawain stood beside the maiden, and heroes and knights were there. *\nQuoth the king to his gentle sister, ‘ Now take thou with thee thy guest\nAnd the Landgrave, while I bethink me the word that shall ’seem me best. 4*>\nAnd all ye who wish well unto me, shall follow and give me rede.’\n\nQuoth the maid, 4 Of good faith seek counsel, for better ’twill serve thy\n\nneed! 1\nVOL. I.\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogle\n\nQ\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nGat the king to his council-chamber; the king’s daughter had comrades\nthree,\n\nCousin, and guest, and beside them black care bare them company.\n\n435 Gawain, as right well beseemed her, by the hand to her bower she led.\n\nAnd she quoth, ‘ Now shall all lands rue it if here thou shalt be ill-sped !’\nAnd the son of King Lot, Sir Gawain, with the maiden went hand in hand,\nAnd none thought them shame, for so gracious was the custom of that fair\nland.\n\nSo passed they unto her chamber, the queen and those heroes twain,\n\n430 And that none ’gainst her will should enter was the care of her chamberlain.\nOnly her bower maidens as befitted them there might be,\n\nAnd the queen, in all love and honour, her guest tended royally.\n\nAnd the Landgrave in naught gainsaid her, for belike did he bear a part\nIn the fear for her guest’s well-doing that lay dark on the maiden’s heart.\n435jSo the twain with the queen abode there till the strife of the day was o’er,\nf And the night and the hour of feasting had come in their course once more.\nThen the slender maidens bare them sweet drinks, and the wine so red,\n\nAnd with fish and fowl in plenty, I ween, was the table spread.\n\nFair and white was the bread to look on, and the Landgrave and Knight Gawain,\n440 Who had passed thro’ such deadly peril, to taste of the food were fain.\n\nAnd each as the queen might bid him ate that which should please him best,\nAnd no lack did they find, for right queenly the maid did entreat her guest,\nAnd vainly the heroes prayed her to cease from her kindly care.\n\nOf the many who knelt before them no maid but was young and fair;\n\n445 Yea, fair with the opening beauty of the rose that is yet unblown,\n\nAnd soft lay their locks as the feathers of a falcon the knight hath flown.\n\nNow list, ere they close the council, to the rede they would rede the king\nAnd wise were the men who, wisely, good counsel in need should bring;\n\nAnd each spake as his mind should bid him, and that which his heart\ndeemed best,\n\n450 And they turned the thing hither and thither, till the king thus his speech\naddrest:\n\nAnd he spake, ‘ One of late fought with me, as on venture bent I rode\nIn the wood Laehtamreis—too proudly, perchance, I my steed bestrode,\n\nFor a knight, who o’er great my fame deemed, in joust smote me such a blow\nThat, behind my gallant charger, on the greensward he laid me low.\n\nDigitized by' igle\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nAnd this oath must I swear unto him, in search of the Grail to ride, \\ 455\n\nAnd my knightly pledge 1 gave him, were it other, I there had died.\n\nNow give me, 1 pray, your counsel, for ’gainst death was no other shield\nBut to swear as my victor bade me, and, as knight, to a knight to yield ! ’\n\n‘ Yea, mighty and strong that hero,—nor sware I that oath alone,\n\nBut he bade me, as true man truly, when a year should have come and gone, 460\n\nAnd the Grail I still were seeking, to ride unto Pelrapar\n\nTo the queen who the crown there weareth, the child of King Tampentare.\n\nAnd there, as I looked upon her, I should yield me unto her grace;\n\nAnd from him should I bear this message in the day that I sought her face.\n\nHe would say, “An she thought upon him ’twas his joy and his labour’s meed, 465\nHis hand from the King Klamidl aforetime her land had freed.”’\n\nThen the speech to the end they hearkened; and Liddamus spake this word,\n\n1 Give me leave to speak, ye shall follow, Sir Knights, when my rede is heard,\n\nFor the oath that perforce thou swarest, its fulfiller shall be Gawain,\n\nAnd he, captive, his wings shall flutter in the snare wherein thou wast ta’en. 470\nFor here, where we stand to hearken, shall he swear us the Grail to win, I\nAnd then of free will let him ride hence; for I deem men would count it sin\\\nWere he slain in thine house—Nay, me-seemeth ’twere better to let him live, J\nFor but ill would it please thy sister an thou didst not her knight forgive 1\nSore stress at our hands hath he suffered, and he now to his death shall ride; J175\nFor far as the far sea’s water shall circle the earth so wide\nThere standeth no Burg so mighty as Monsalvasch, its towers shall fear\nNo foeman, and strait the pathway that wendeth its walls anear,\n\nAnd sore dangers that road encompass—Let him slumber in peace this night,\n\nAnd the word that we deem the wisest shall be told him with morning light!’ 480\nRight well did the counsel please them, and ended, 1 ween, the strife,\n\nAnd Gawain, so the venture telleth, thus won at their hands his life.\n\nSo they tended the dauntless hero right well thro’ the hours of night;\n\nFrom the Mass came the folk on the morrow when the noontide hour waxed\nbright,\n\nAnd the hall was thronged and crowded with townsfolk and warriors good, 485\nWhen before the king, as they counselled, his foeman, Sir Gawain, stood.\n\nTo naught other would he compel him than to that which ye late did hear. ^\nNow see ye the gentle maiden as she drew with 0 ^,)knight anear,\n\nPARZIVAL\n\n*44\n\nAnd her uncle’s son came with her, and many a hero brave\n49 o Of the king’s men were fain to follow, and thus fair escort gave.\n\nThen the queen led Gawain to her brother with slender hand and white,\nAnd a chaplet of fair flowers woven she bare on her locks of light,\n\nFair the flowers, yet the maid was fairer, and no blossom around her\nhead\n\nBut waxed pale and dim, if’twas mated with her lips of glowing red.\n\n495 And he whom of true heart gently she kissed, as beseemed a maid.\n\nSuch lances for her had broken as had wasted a woodland shade.\n\nNow hearken to me and heed me, as with gracious words I ’Id greet\nAntikonie, free from falsehood, a maiden pure and sweet.\n\nIn such wise did she ever bear her that never a doubting word,\n\n500 Were one fain to sing her praises, from the lips of men was heard;\n\nFor no heart but wished her gladness, and no mouth but spake her free\nFrom all thought of guile—Far-reaching, as a falcon’s eye can see,\n\nShone the light of her gracious presence, as the light of a balsam rare\nThat burneth, and sheddeth perfume, and sweeteneth the scented air.\n\n5°5 And her will was ever gracious, as the will of a maid should be,\n\nAnd she spake to her royal brother of a true heart right maidenly:\n\n4 I bring here to thee, my brother, the guest thou didst bid me tend.\n\nAnd I would thou shouldst well entreat him, as befitting my knight and\nfriend—\n\nFor better shall that become thee, to bear thee as brother true,\n\n5 10 Than to feel the world’s hate, or to teach me to hate thee, who hate ne’er\nknew.*\n\nQuoth the king, 4 Nay then, my sister, an I may, so stands my will,\n\nThou shalt give me here thy counsel, for I think me I did but ill.\n\nAnd stained thereby mine honour, and dimmed my knightly fame;\n\nAnd I deem me but little worthy that thou shouldst me as brother claim.\n\n5 Z 5 E’en if all lands should do my bidding at thy prayer would I yield them all.\nLest that sorrow of sorrows greatest, thine hatred, on me should fall!\n\nAnd honour and joy were ended an I said to thy pleading, Nay—\n\nSir Gawain, I here entreat thee, since for fame thou didst ride this way,\nr An thou knightly fame wouldst honour, so help me, that I may win\n5 30 Anew from my sister favour, and forgiveness for this my sin.\n\nDigitized by V\n\nANTIKONIE\n\n*4i\n\nFar liefer were 1 to pardon the wrong thou hast done to me\n\nThan to lose her, my sweetest sister—Now list what thy task shall be,\n\nDo thou swear to me here that truly thou wilt strive, as 1 erst was fern\nTo strive, for the Grail’s fair kingdom, and the honour thou there shalt gain.’\n\nIn such wise the strife was ended, Sir Gawain for hence must ride, 5*5\n\nAnd with sword and spear do battle, and woe for the Grail abide.\n\nAnd the Landgrave forgave his monarch the wrong that he did his word\nWhen he brake his pledge unto Gawain—and no prince of the land but heard.\n\nThen their swords they ungirt, and they hung them in their place on the\ncastle wall—\n\nAnd the squires of Gawain came swiftly, and, joyful, he hailed them all, 53°\nFor not one in strife was wounded—for a man of the Burger folk,\n\nEre the battle waxed hot, had claimed them, and wise were the words he\nspoke,\n\nAnd their peace he prayed from the foemen, and he held them awhile in\nward,\n\nWere they French, or from land of the Breton, till again to their rightful lord\nHe might send them in peace—Some were children, and some were lads 535\nstrong and young—\n\nAnd glad were their hearts when they saw him, and awhile on his neck\nthey hung,\n\nAnd weeping they kissed Sir Gawain, yet no sorrow I ween was there,\n\nBut from joy sprang the crystal tear-drops that ran o’er their feces fair.\n\nAnd one came from the land of Cornwall, Count Laiz he, and Tinal’s son ;\n\nAnd a noble lad was with him whose father his death had won 540\n\nAt Schoie-de-la-Kurt, Gandelus, the son, and Gurzgrei, the sire—\n\n(Thro’ that venture full many a maiden must weep for her heart’s desire)\n\nAnd his aunt was the maid Liassfe, and fair was the lad of face\nAnd of feature, for Love had touched them, and had wrought them with\nhand of grace,\n\nAnd fein were all men to see him—Six were there those twain beside, 545\nEight lads, all of noble bearing and birth, with Gawain did ride.\n\nAnd as kinsmen right well they loved him, anl they served him for payment\nfair 5\n\nWhat payment gave he ? Meed of honour their guerdon, and tender care!\n\nDigitized by JVLC\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nThen Gawain quoth unto the children, °Tis well, for I now have seen,\n55°>Fair kinsmen, that ye had mourned me, if slain I perchance had been,\n\n(And well might he see their sorrow, for as yet they mourned full sore,)\nWhere were ye in hour of battle ? Much sorrow for ye I bore.’\n\nThen they answered, and none spake falsely, ‘As thou safst in the high hall\nplace\n\nA hawk flew astray, and we ran thence, and joined for awhile the chased\n\n555 Then all they who sat or stood there, nor ceased for awhile their gaze.\n\nSaw well that Gawain was a true knight, and a man whom all men might\npraise;\n\nThen the king gave the leave he prayed for, and he spake unto all farewell,\nSave the queen alone, and the Landgrave, he whom men called Kingrimursel.\nFor the queen took the twain, and the children who followed as Gawain’s\nsquires,\n\n560 And she led them where gentle maidens should serve as she should require,\nAnd in peace, as became fair maidens, each maid did her lady’s will.\n\nAnd fair were the hands and gracious that did gracious tasks fulfil.\n\nStraightway when the meal was ended Gawain from the feast uprose,\n\nThus Kiot hath told the story—and as blossom from root up-grows,\n\n565 So afresh from a true heart’s true faith did sorrow spring forth amain—\nQuoth the hero unto the maiden, ‘ Now, Lady, an God be fain\nTo leave to me life and wisdom, wherever my way I take\nTrue service, true knight befitting, will I do for thy gentle sake.\n\nThe rede did 1 hear and hearken that spake thee of falsehood free,\n\n570 And thy fame o’er the fame of all maidens shall high as the heavens be.\n\nAnd Heaven Itself shall bless thee, and thy gifts all be gifts of God!\n\nNow, Lady, thy leave I crave here, since ’tis time on my way I rode.\n\nGive me leave, then, and let me ride hence, for I ween for the future days\nShalt thou be thine own best defender, and thy virtue shall crown thy praise ! ’\n\n575 Then sorrow of heart was her portion that the knight thus her side must\nleave,\n\nSore she wept, and her gentle maidens awhile with her grief must grieve.\nAnd the queen she spake out freely, ‘ An more I had done for thee,\n\nThen my joy had o’ercome my sorrow, yet better it might not be ;\n\nDigitized by 1 Google\n\nANTIKONIE\n\nLittle peace for thee here might blossom—but, believe me, be ill thy share,\n\nOr should deeds of knighthood lead thee where sorrow thou needs must 5*>\nbear,\n\nThen, Sir Gawain, my heart findeth portion in thy lot, be it loss or gain ! ’\n\nOn his mouth, with her red lips glowing, the maiden she kissed Gawain.\n\nThen joy fled afar from the hero, and sorrow hath pierced his heart,\n\nToo early the twain they deemed it, from each other for aye to part.\n\nMeantime had his squires bethought them, and his steed to the palace 585\nbrought,\n\nWhere the boughs of a mighty linden might shadow the outer court;\n\nAnd the Landgrave’s folk they sought him, and together they took their way\nWithout the walls ; ere they parted this grace would Sir Gawain pray,\n\nSince his squires might no more fare with him, that the Landgrave with\nthem in ward\n\nShould ride forthwith unto Beaurosch, ‘ There Scherules the Burg doth guard, 590\nThou shalt pray him that these fair children to Dianasdron he bring\nWhere many a Breton dwelleth, and shall yield them unto the king\nOr to Guinevere, his Lady’—So sware him Kingrimursel,\n\nAnd, with kindly words and courteous, to Sir Gawain he bade ‘ Farewell.’\n\nShort the space ere both steed and rider were clad in their mail of might 595\nKinsmen and squires, he kissed them, and alone rode that gallant knight,\n\nFor, as this his oath had bade him, to the Grail must his pathway wend,\n\nAnd many a pain and peril must he know ere his task should end.\n\nDigitized by v^ooQle\n\nDigitized by LjOOQle",
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