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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": 14,
    "slug": "13-book-xiii-arnive",
    "title": "Book XIII: Arnive",
    "of": 17,
    "words": 11751,
    "text": "## Book XIII: Arnive\n\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogk\n\nARGUMENT\n\nBook xiii. tells of the goodly feast that was holden in Chateau Merveil,\nand of the wedding of Gawain and Orgeluse. How Gawain's squire did\nhis bidding ; and how King Arthur and Queen Guinevere pledged them-\nselves to ride to Ioflanz to behold the conflct between Gawain and\nGramoflanz.\n\nHow Gawain fared in Chateau Merveil ; and how Arnive told him the\nhistory of Klingsor, and of his unlawful love.\n\nOf the coming of King Arthur and his host; how they fought before\nLogrois ; and came with great pomp to the plain of Ioflanz.\n\nHow Gawain and the dwellers in Chateau Merveil followed to the plain ;\nof the goodly camp prepared for them ; of the wonder of the court and\nKay's jealousy ; and how the four queens were made known to King\nArthur.\n\nK L I N G S O R\n\nYet wroth was she still with the footman — Then she would to the Duchess\n\nAnd win from her lips the answer, but ready was she of wit,\n\nAnd the name that he bare, her hero, her mouth spake no word of it.\n\nGawain he would have her silent, in her hearing his prayer found grace,\n\nAnd she spake not, nor might Arnive* learn aught of his name and race. 10\n\nThen the sound as of many trumpets thro' the hall of the palace rang,\n\nAnd joyful the blasts — Then rich carpets around on each wall they hang,\n\nAnd no foot but fell on a carpet would it tread on the palace floor,\n\nA poor man had surely feared him for the riches that there he saw.\n\nAnd many a couch they stood there, around the stately hall, 15\n\nSoft were they as down, and rich cushions they laid upon each and all.\n\nBut Gawain with his toil was wearied, and he slept tho' the sun was high,\nAnd his wounds, with such skill they bound them, tho' his love should beside\nhim lie,\n\nAnd he in his arms should hold her, he had gotten no hurt I ween.\n\nAnd sounder his daylight's slumber than his sleep of the night had been 20\n\nWhen his love had so sorely vexed him ; he slept till the vesper bell,\n\nYet still in his sleep he battled for the lady he loved so well.\n\ngo,\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nThen rich garments of fair silk fashioned, and heavy with broidered gold,\nDid the chamberlain bear unto him — Then out quoth the hero bold,\n25 1 More robes such as these, and as costly, I ween, shalt thou hither bear,\nFor Gowerzein's Duke shall need them, and Florand, the hero fair,\nFor in many a land hath he battled, and hath won for him glory's meed —\nNow see that thou make them ready, and do my behest with speed ! '\n\nThen he prayed, by a squire, the boatman send hither the captive knight,\n3° And Lischois did he send at his bidding by the hand of his daughter bright.\nAnd the maiden Bend brought him for the love that she bare Gawain,\nAnd the good that he vowed to her father that morn when she wept amain,\nAnd the knight he left her weeping, and rode on his toilsome way —\nAnd the highest prize of his manhood it fell to his lot that day.\n\n35 The Turkowit too had come there, and Gawain the twain did greet\nIn all friendship, and then he prayed them beside him to take their seat\nTill their robes should be brought unto them ; and costly they needs must be,\nFor never was fairer raiment than the garb of those heroes three.\nFor one lived of yore named Sarant, (a city doth bear his name,)\n\n40 From out of the land of Triande in the days that are gone he came.\nIn the land of Queen Sekundille* stood a city so great and fair,\n(E'en Nineveh or Akraton with its glories might scarce compare,)\nAnd the city, men called it Thasme ; there Sarant won meed of fame,\nSince he wove there a silk with cunning, Saranthasmd should be its name.\n\n45 Think ye it was fair to look on ? How might it be otherwise,\n\nFor much gold must he give for the payment who would win to him such a\n\nSuch robes ware these two and Gawain : then they gat them unto the hall,\nAnd on one side the knights they sat them, on the other the ladies all,\nAnd he who a woman's beauty had wisdom to judge aright\n\n50 Must reckon Gawain's fair lady the first of these ladies bright.\n\nAnd the host and his guests so gallant they gazed on her radiant glow,\nAs they stood before Orgeluse* ; and her knights she again must know,\nAnd her Turkowit, gallant Florand, and Lischois, the young and fair,\nWere set free, without let or hindrance, for the love that Gawain must bear\n\n55 To the lovely lady of Logrois— Then their victor they thanked amain,\nWho was dull to all ill, yet had wisdom in all that might true love gain.\n\nprize.\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nAs the captives thus free were spoken, Gawain the four queens must see\nAs they stood by the side of the Duchess, and he spake in his courtesy,\nAnd he bade the two knights go nearer, and with kiss greet those ladies\nbright,\n\nThe three younger queens, and joyful, I ween, was each gallant knight. 60\nAnd there was the maiden Bend, with Gawain had she sought the hall,\nAnd I think me a joyful welcome she found there, from each and all.\n\nThen the host would no longer stand there, and the twain did he pray to sit\nBy the maidens, as best should please them, and it grieved them not one\nwhit,\n\nSuch counsel it grieveth no man ! Then the gallant Gawain spake,\n4 Now which of these maids is Itonje* ? Beside her my seat I 'Id take ! '\nThus in secret he spake to Bene, and she showed him the maiden fair,\n' She, with eyes so clear and shining, and red lips, and dusky hair !\nWouldst thou speak with the maid in secret ? Then thy words be wise anjj}\nfew:'\n\nThus quoth Bend the wise in counsel, who Itonje's love- tale knew, 7°\nAnd knew that King Gramoflanz loved her, and did service for her heart's\nlove,\n\nAnd his faith as a knight unstained would fain to the maiden prove.\n\nGawain sat him by the maiden, (as I heard so the tale I tell,)\nAnd soft was his speech and gentle, and his words they beseemed him well.\nAnd tho' few were the years of Itonje yet great was her courtesy, 75\nAnd well did she know how to bear her as a maiden of high degree.\nAnd this question he asked the maiden, if a lover she aye had known ?\nAnd with wisdom she made him answer, 1 To whom might my love be shown,\nFor ne'er to a man have I spoken, since the day I first saw the light,\nSave the words which thou now dost hearken as I speak unto thee, Sir 80\nKnight!'\n\n* Yet mayst thou have heard the rumour of one who hath bravely fought,\nAnd striven for prize of knighthood, and with dauntless heart hath sought\nFair service for fair rewarding ?' In such wise spake the knight Gawain ;\nBut the maiden she quoth, 1 Nay, no hero hath striven my love to gain ;\nYon lady, the Duchess of Logrois, hath many a gallant knight 85\nWho serve her for love, or for payment, and hither they come to fight,\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd we of their jousts are witness, yet none shall have come so nigh\n\nAs thou hast, Sir Knight, and this conflict thy glory hath raised on high ! '\n\nThen he quoth to the lovely maiden, 4 Whose pathway shall she have crossed\n90 With many a chosen hero ? Say, who hath her favour lost ? '\n\n'That, Sir Knight, hath the valiant monarch, King Gramoflanz, he who bore\nFrom aforetime the crown of honour ; so men say, and / know no more ! '\n\nQuoth Gawain, 4 Thou shalt know more of him, since he draweth the prize\nanear,\n\nAnd with steadfast heart doth he seek it ; from his lips I this tale did hear —\n95 Of true heart would he do thee service, if such service shall be thy will,\n\nAnd help at thine hand he seeketh that thy love may his torment still.\n\nIt is well that a king face peril, if his lady shall be a queen,\n\nAnd thou art the maid whom he loveth, if King Lot hath thy father been ;\n\nThou art she for whom his heart weepeth, if thy name shall Itonje be,\n100 And sorrow of heart dost thou give him — By my mouth would he plead\nwith thee.'\n\n4 Now if thou be true and faithful of his woe wilt thou make an end,\nAnd both would I serve right gladly — This ring he to thee doth send,\nI prithee to take it, Lady ! In sooth do I mean thee well,\nAnd if thou wilt trust unto me no word of the tale I '11 tell ! '\n105 Then crimson she blushed, the maiden, and e'en as her lips were red\nSo red grew her cheek, yet the blushes as they came so they swiftly sped.\nAnd she stretched forth her hand so shyly toward the little ring of gold,\nFor e'en at a glance she knew it, and her hand did the token hold.\n\nThen she spake, 4 Now, Sir Knight, I see well, if I freely to thee may speak,\nno That thou comest from him, whom, desiring, my heart doth for ever seek.\nMy words shalt thou still hold secret, as courtesy biddeth thee,\nThis ring have I seen aforetime, for it oft hath been sent to me ;\nFrom the hand of the king it cometh, and I know it for token true,\nFrom my hand did he first receive it. What sorrow so e'er he knew,\n115 Of that do I hold me guiltless ; what he asked, that in thought I gave,\nHad we met I had ne'er withholden the boon he from me did crave.'\n\n4 This day have I kissed Orgeluse, who thinketh his death to win,\nI ween 'twas the kiss of Judas which all men count to him for sin !\n\nKL1NGS0R\n\nAnd honour and faith forsook me, when the Turkowit, brave Florand,\nAnd Gowerzein's Duke, fair Lischois, I kissed here at thy command. 120\nFrom my heart I might not forgive them, for my true love they hate alway —\nBut speak thou no word to my mother.' Thus the maiden Gawain did pray.\n\n' Sir Knight, it was thou didst pray me to take from their lips this kiss,\nTho' no will for forgiveness had I, and my heart sickeneth sore for this !\nIf joy shall be e'er our portion, our help in thine hand shall be, 125\nAnd I know well, above all women, the king he desireth me ;\nAnd his will shall he have, for I love him o'er all men on earth that live-\nGod send thee good help and good counsel, that joy thou to us mayst give ! '\n\nQuoth Gawain, * How may that be, Lady ? He beareth thee in his heart,\n\nAnd in thine dost thou ever hold him, and yet are ye twain apart. I3°\n\nIf I knew how to give thee counsel that ye twain might in gladness dwell,\n\nOf a sooth no pains would I spare me such rede unto thee to tell.'\n\nThen she quoth, ' Yet in truth shalt thou rule us, myself, and my gallant king,\n\nAnd naught but thy help and God's blessing our love to its goal may bring,\n\nSo that I, poor homeless maiden, his sorrow may put away, x35\n\nFor his joy shall be set upon me ! If so be I from truth ne'er stray,\n\nWhat other can I desire here, or for what shall my true heart yearn,\n\nSave to give him the love he asketh, and his grief unto gladness turn ? '\n\nGawain, he saw well that the maiden woujd fain to her love belong,\nYet her hatred towards the Duchess as aforetime was fierce and strong ; 140\nThus hatred and love did she bear here, and wrong had he done the maid\nWho thus, of a true heart simply, her plaint had before him laid.\nSince never a word had he told her how one mother had borne them both,\nAnd King Lot he had been their father — Then he answered her, little loth,\nHe would do what he might to aid her, and in secret with gracious word 145\nShe thanked him who brought her comfort, and her sorrow with kindness\nheard.\n\nNow the hour it was come, and they brought there for the tables fair linen\nwhite,\n\nAnd bread did they bear to the palace unto many a lady bright,\n\nAnd there might ye see a severance, for the knights they sat by one wall,\n\nApart from the maids ; and their places Gawain gave to each and all. 150\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd the Turkowit sat beside him, and Lischois ate with Sangiv£,\n(And that fair queen was Gawain's mother,) and Orgeluse\" by Arnive\\\nAnd Gawain set his lovely sister by his side at that festal board,\nAnd all did as he bade them gladly, for he was that castle's lord.\n\n155 My skill not the half doth tell me, no such master-cook am I,\n\nThat I know the name of the viands they offered them courteously ;\nThe host, and each one of the ladies, their servers were maidens fair,\nTo the knights who sat over against them many squires did their portion\nbear.\n\nFor this was the seemly custom, that no squire, in his serving haste,\n160 Brushed roughly against a maiden, but ever apart they paced —\n\nAnd whether 'twas wine, or 'twas viands, they offered unto the guests,\nIn naught was their courtesy harmed, for so did men deem it best.\n\nAnd a feast they to-day must look on such as no man before had seen,\nSince vanquished by Klingsor's magic both lady and knight had been.\n165 Unknown were they yet to each other, tho' one portal it shut them in,\nAnd never a man and a maiden might speech of each other win ;\nAnd a good thing Gawain he thought it that this folk should each other\nmeet,\n\nAnd much he rejoiced in their gladness, and his own lot it seemed him\nsweet ;\n\nYet ever he looked in secret on his lady and love so fair,\n170 And his heart it waxed hot within him, and love's anguish he needs must\n\nBut the day drew near to its closing, and faint waxed the waning light,\nAnd fair thro' the clouds of heaven gleamed the messengers of the night,\nMany stars so bright and golden, who speed on their silent way\nWhen the night would seek for shelter in the realm of departing day ;\n\n175 And after her standard-bearers, with her host doth she swiftly tread —\nNow many a fair crown golden in the palace hung high o'erhead,\nAnd with tapers they all were lighted around the stately hall,\nAnd they bare unto every table a host of tapers tall ;\nAnd yet the story telleth that the Duchess she was so fair,\n\n180 That ne'er was it night in her presence tho' never a torch were there !\nFor her glance was so bright and radiant it brought of itself the day ;\nAnd this tale of fair Orgeluse full oft have I heard men say.\n\nbear.\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nHe had spoken, methinks, untruly who said that he e'er had seen\nA host so rich and joyous, and joyous his guests, I ween ;\n\nAnd ever with eager gladness each knight and each gentle maid ^85\n\nLooked well on each other's faces, nor shrank from the glance afraid.\n\nIf friendship they here desired, or each other would better know,\n\nThen naught of their joy would I grudge them, methinks it were better so !\n\nTho' I wot well there none was a glutton, yet still had they ate their fill,\n\nAnd they bare on one side the tables, and Gawain asked, with right goodwill, 190\n\nIf here there should be a fiddler? and many a gallant squire\n\nWas skilled on the strings, and gladly would play at the host's desire,\n\nYet were they not all too skilful, and the dances were old alway.\n\nNot new, as in fair Thuringia the dances they know to-day.\n\nThen they thanked their host who, joyful, would give to their joy its vent, 195\n\nAnd many a lovely lady in his presence danced well content,\n\nFor goodly their dance to look on, and their ranks, with many a pair\n\nOf knight and lady, mingled, and grief fled from their faces fair.\n\nAnd oft 'twixt two gentle maidens might be seen a noble knight,\n\nAnd they who looked well upon them in their faces might read delight. 200\n\nAnd whatever knight bethought him, and would of his lady pray\n\nReward, if for love he .served her, none said to his pleading Nay.\n\nThus they who were poor in sorrow, and rich in joy's fairest dower,\n\nWith sweet words, by sweet lips spoken, made gladsome the passing hour.\n\nGawain and the Queen Arnive, and Sangive, the dance so fleet 205\nWould look on in peace, for they danced not ; then the Duchess she took\nher seat\n\nBy the side of Gawain, and her white hand he held in his own a while,\nAnd they spake of this thing and the other, with many a glance and smile ;\nHe rejoiced that she thus had sought him, and his grief it waxed small and\nfaint,\n\nAnd his joy it grew strong and mighty, nor vexed him with sorrow's plaint. 210\nAnd great was the joy of the lady o'er the dance, and the merry feast,\nYet less was the sorrow of Gawain, and his joy o'er her joy increased.\n\nThen spake the old Queen Arnive, ' Sir Knight, now methinks 'twere best\nThat thou get thee to bed, for sorely, I ween, shall thy wounds need rest\n\nDigitized by\n\n8o\n\nPARZIVAL\n\n215 Has the Duchess perchance bethought her to care for thy couch this night,\nAnd tend thee herself, with such counsel and deed as shall seem her right ? '\nQuoth Gawain, ' That thyself mayst ask her ; I will do as shall please ye\ntwain ! '\n\nThen the Duchess she spake in answer, 6 He shall in my charge remain.\nLet this folk to their couch betake them, I will tend in such sort his rest\n220 That never a loving lady dealt better by gallant guest ;\n\nAnd the other twain, my princes, in the care of the knights shall be,\nFlorand, and the Duke of Gowerzein, for so seemeth it good to me.'\n\nIn short space the dance was ended, and the maidens in beauty bright\nSat here and there, and between them sat many a gallant knight ;\n225 And joy took her revenge on sorrow, and he who so sweetly spake\nWords of love, from his gentle lady must a gracious answer take.\nThen the host must they hear, as he bade them the cup to the hall to bear,\nAnd the wooers bemoaned his bidding ; yet the host he wooed with them\n\nAnd he bare of his love the burden, and the sitting he deemed too long,\n23° For his heart by love's power was tortured with anguish so fierce and strong.\nAnd they drank the night-drink, and sadly to each other they bade good-\n\nAnd the squires they must bear before them full many a taper bright.\nAnd the two gallant guests did Gawain commend to them each and all,\nAnd glad were the knights, and the heroes they led forth from out the hall.\n235 And the Duchess, with gracious kindness, wished fair rest to the princes twain,\nAnd then to their sleeping chambers forth wended the maiden train,\nAnd as their fair breeding bade them, at the parting they curtseyed low :\nQueen Sangive and her fair daughters they too to their rest would go.\n\nThen Bene*, the maid, and Arnive, they wrought with a willing hand\n240 That the host he might sleep in comfort, nor the Duchess aside did stand,\nBut she aided the twain, and Gawain was led of the helpers three\nTo a chamber fair where his slumber that even should joyful be.\nTwo couches alone did he see there, but no man to me hath told\nOf their decking, for other matters, I ween, doth this story hold.\n\n245 Quoth Arnive unto the Duchess, * Now, Lady, think thou how best\n\nThis knight whom thou broughtest hither, shall beneath this roof-tree rest,\n\nthere,\n\nnight,\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nIf aid at thine hand he craveth, to grant it shall honour thee ;\n\nNo more would I say, save this only, his wounds they shall bandaged be\n\nWith such skill he might bear his armour — But if he bemoan his grief\n\nThen methinks it were good and fitting that thou bring to his woe relief. 250\n\nIf thou wakest anew his courage, then we all in his gladness share —\n\nNow think thou no ill of my counsel, but have for thy knight good care ! '\n\nThen the Queen Arnive left them, (yet leave had she craved before,)\n\nAnd Bene she bare the taper, and Gawain he made fast the door.\n\nIf the twain to their love gave hearing ? The tale how should I withhold, 255\n\nI would speak, were it not unseemly that love's secrets aloud be told,\n\nFor courtesy doth forbid it ; and he who would tell the tale\n\nWorketh ill to himself, o'er love's dealings true hands ever draw the veil.\n\nNow betwixt his love and his lady had the joy of Gawain waxed small,\n\nAn the Duchess would have no pity, then healing might ne'er befall. 260\n\nThey who sat in the seat of the wise men, and knew many a mystic word,\n\nKancor, and Thebit, and Trebuchet, the smith who Frimutel's sword\n\nOnce wrought, ('twas a wondrous weapon, and men of its marvels tell) —\n\nNay, all the skill of physicians, tho5 they meant to the hero well\n\nAnd plied him with roots well mingled — Had a. woman ne'er sought his side, -65\n\nThen vain were their skill, in his torment methinks had he surely died !\n\nFain would I make short the story, he the rightful root had found\nThat helped him unto his healing, and the chain of his grief unbound,\nAnd brought light in the midst of his darkness — (Breton by his mother's side\nWas Gawain, and King Lot his father) thus the healing task he plied, 270\nAnd sweet balsam for bitter sorrow was his lot till the dawn of day.\nYet that which had wrought him comfort it was hid from the folk alway,\nBut all there, both knights and ladies, they beheld him so gay and glad\nThat their sorrow was put far from them and their heart was no longer sad.\nNow list how he did the message whom Gawain he had sent afar, 275\nYea unto the land of Lover, unto Bems by the fair Korka,\nFor there he abode, King Arthur, and his lady, the gracious queen,\nWith fair maids and a host of vassals ; this the lot of the squire had been.\n\n'Twas yet in the early morning, when his message he fain had brought,\n\nAnd the queen, in the chapel kneeling, on the page of her psalter thought ; 280\n\nVOL. II.\n\nF\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nThen the squire bent his knee before her, and he gave her a token fair,\nFor she took from his hand a letter, and the cover must writing bear\nThat was writ by a hand she knew well, ere yet she the name might know,\nFrom the squire, of him who had sent him, as she looked on him kneeling\nlow.\n\n285 Then the queen she spake to the letter, ' Now blessed that hand shall be\nThat wrote thee ; for care was my portion since the day that mine eyes\nmight see\n\nThe hand that hath writ this writing ' — She wept, yet for joy was fain,\nAnd she quoth to the squire, * Of a surety thy master shall be Gawain ! '\n*\n\n* Yea, Lady, he truly offers true service as aye of yore,\n290 With never a thought of wavering, yet his joy it shall suffer sore,\nIf so be thou wilt not upraise it ; and never it stood so ill\nWith his honour as now it standeth — And more would he tell thee still,\nIn joy shall he live henceforward if comfort he gain from thee ;\nAnd I wot that yet more shall be written than what thou hast heard from me.'\n\n295 Then she quoth, * I have truly read there the cause that hath brought thee\nhere,\n\nAnd service I think to do him with many a woman dear,\n\nWho to-day shall I ween be reckoned to have won to them beauty's prize —\n\nSave Parzival's wife and another, Orgeluse, in all men's eyes,\n\nThro' Christendom none shall be fairer— Since far from King Arthur's court\n\n300 Gawain rode, sore grief and sorrow have made of my life their sport.\nAnd Meljanz de Lys hath told me he saw him in Barbigol —\nAlas ! ' quoth the queen, * that ever mine eyes saw thee, Plimizol !\niiVhat sorrow did there befall me ! Since that day might I never greet\nKunnewaare of Lalande, she hath left me, my friend and companion sweet .\n\n305 And the right of the good Round Table was broken by words of scorn,\nAnd four years and a half and six weeks have left us, I ween, forlorn,\nSince the Grail Parzival rode seeking ; and after him rode Gawain\nTo Askalon — Nor Jeschute' nor Hekuba come again\nSince the day that they parted from me, and grief for my friends so true\n\n310 Hath driven my peace far from me, nor joy since that day I knew ! '\n\nAnd the queen spake much of her sorrow : then the squire would her counsel\nknow,\n\n4 Now do thou in this my bidding, in secret thou hence shalt go,\n\nDigitized by\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nAnd wait till the sun be higher, and the folk all at court shall be,\nKnights, servants, and gentle ladies, and vassals of all degree ;\nAnd then to the court ride swiftly, nor think who shall hold thy steed, 315\n\" But spring from its back, and hasten where the king shall thy coming heed.\nThey will ask of thee news of venture, but thou, do thou act and speak\nAs one who from peril flieth, whom the flames would devouring seek,\nAnd they may not prevail to hold thee, nor win from thy lips the tale,\nBut press thou thro' them to the monarch, and to greet thee he will not fail. 320\nThen give to his hand the letter, and swiftly from it he '11 read\nThy tale, and thy lord's desiring ; I doubt not the prayer he'll heed ! '\n\n' And this will I further rede thee, make thou thy request to me\nWhere I sit, and, amid my ladies, thy dealings may hear and see ;\nAnd beseech us, as well thou knowest, for thy lord wouldst thou hearing 325\ngain.\n\nBut say, for as yet I know not, where abideth the knight Gawain ? '\n' Nay,' quoth the squire, ' 1 may not, ask not where my lord doth dwell,\nBut think, an thou wilt, that good fortune is his, and he fareth well ! '\nThen glad was the squire of her counsel, and he took from the queen his\nway\n\nIn such wise as ye here, have hearkened, and he came, e'en as she did say. 330\n\nFor e'en at the hour of noontide, not in secret but openly\nHe came to the court, and the courtiers his garments eyed curiously,\nAnd they thought that they well beseemed him, and were such as a squire\nshould wear,\n\nAnd his horse on each flank was wounded, where the spurs they had\nsmitten fair.\n\nAnd, e'en as the queen had taught him, he sprang straightway unto the 335\nground,\n\nAnd a crowd of eager courtiers pressed, thronging, his steed around.\nMantle, sword, and spurs, e'en his charger might be lost, he would little care\nBut he gat thro' the crowd to the heroes, and the knights they besought him\nthere,\n\nBrought he news of some gallant venture ? For the custom was aye of yore,\nThat they ate not, nor man nor maiden, save unto the court they bore 340\nThe news of some deed of knighthood, and the court might claim its right,\nIf so be 'twas a worthy venture, and one that beseemed a knight.\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nQuoth the squire, 4 Nay, I naught may tell ye, for my haste doth not brook\n\nOf your courtesy then forgive me, and lead to the king the way,\n345 For 'tis meet that I first speak with him, and mine haste it doth work me ill ;\nBut my tale shall ye hear, and God teach ye to aid me with right goodwill !'\n\nAnd so did his message urge him he thought not on the thronging crowd,\nTill the eyes of the king beheld him, and greeting he spake aloud.\nThen he gave to his hand the letter that bade to King Arthur's heart,\n35° As he read it, two guests, joy and sorrow, alike there the twain had part.\nAnd he spake, 4 Hail ! the fair day's dawning, by whose light I have read\nthis word,\n\nAnd of thee, O son of my sister, true tidings at last have heard !\nIf in manhood I may but serve thee as kinsman and friend, if faith\nEver ruled my heart, 'twill be open to the word that Sir Gawain saith ! '\n\n355 Then he spake to the squire, 4 Now tell me if Sir Gawain be glad at heart ?'\n* Yea, sire, at thy will, with the joyful I ween shall he have his part,'\n(And thus quoth the squire in his wisdom,) 4 yet his honour he sure shall lose,\nAnd no man fresh joy may give him, if thine aid thou shalt here refuse.\nAt thy succour his gladness waxeth, and from out of dark sorrow's door\n\n360 Shall grief from his heart be banished, if thou hearken his need so sore.\nAs of yore doth he offer service to the queen, and it is his will\nThat the knights of the good Round Table as their comrade account him\nstill,\n\nAnd think on their faith, nor let him be 'spoiled of his honour's meed,\nBut pray thee his cry to hearken, and make to his aid good speed ! '\n\n365 Quoth King Arthur, 4 Dear friend and comrade, bear this letter unto the\nqueen,\n\nLet her read therein, and tell us why our portion hath twofold been,\nAnd at one while we joy and we sorrow. How King Gramorlanz is fain\nIn the pride of his heart, and his malice, to work ill to my knight, Gawain ;\nHe thinketh for sure that my nephew shall be Eidegast, whom he slew,\n37o Thence grief hath he won ; deeper sorrow I 'Id teach him, and customs new !'\n\nThen the squire he would pass where a welcome so kindly he did receive.\nAnd he gave to the queen the letter, and many an eye must grieve,\n\ndelay,\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nAnd with crystal tears run over, as with sweet lips she read so clear\nThe words that within were written, and the need of Gawain they hear,\nAnd his prayer did she read before them ; nor long would the squire delay 375\nWith skill to entreat the ladies, and aid at their hand to pray.\n\nKing Arthur, Sir Gawain's uncle, he wrought wjth a hearty will\nThat his vassals might take the journey : nor did she abide her still,\nGuinevere, the wise and the courteous, for she prayed them make no delay,\nHer ladies, but bravely deck them, and get on their stately way. 38<>\nQuoth Kay aloud in his anger, ' If ever I dared believe\nThat so gallant a man as Gawain of Norway on earth should live\nI would cry to him, \"Come thou nearer !\" Fetch him swift, else he swift\nwill go,\n\nAs a squirrel away he flasheth, and is lost ere his place ye know ! '\n\nTo the queen quoth the squire, * Now, Lady, my lord must 1 swiftly seek, 385\nHis cause do I leave to thine honour ! ' To her chamberlain did she speak,\n' See thou that this squire doth rest well, and look well unto his steed,\nIs it hewn with spurs, find another, the best that shall serve his need.\nAnd what else beside shall fail him, for his dress, or lest pledge he lose,\nMake ready as he shall ask thee, and naught unto him refuse ! ' 39°\nAnd she quoth, 1 Thou shalt say unto Gawain, I am ever to serve him fain,\nThy leave from the king will I care for, he greeteth thy lord again ! '\n\nThus the king he was fain for the journey ; and the feast it might now be\nserved,\n\nSince the right of the good Round Table by this venture was well observed ;\nAnd joy in their hearts awakened, since this gallant knight Gawain 395\nShould be yet in life, and true tidings they might of his welfare gain.\nAnd the knights of that noble order, that even were glad at heart,\nAnd there sat the king, and those others who had in the ring their part,\nAnd they sat and they ate with their monarch who fame by their strife had\nwon,\n\nAnd the news of this gallant venture wrought joy to them every one. 400\n\nNow the squire might betake him homewards, since his errand so well had\nsped,\n\nHe gat forth at the early dawning, ere the sun should be high o'erhead,\n\nGoogle\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd the queen's chamberlain he gave him a charger, and robes beside,\nAnd gold lest his pledge be forfeit, and glad on his way he hied,\n4°S For had he not won from King Arthur what should end his lord's sorrow\n\nAnd I know not the days of his journey, but in safety he came once more\nTo Chateau Merveil ; then joyful was Arnive, for as she bade\nThe porter bare news of his coming, how his steed he no whit had stayed,\nBut swiftly had done his errand. Then in secret she made her way\n\n410 To where by the castle drawbridge the squire did his charger stay,\n\nAnd she asked him much of his journey, and why he in haste must ride?\nQuoth the squire, 4 'Tis forbidden, Lady ! my errand I needs must hide,\nAn oath have I sworn of silence, and my lord he might well be wroth\nIf to thee I should tell the tidings, for so should I break mine oath,\n\n4*5 And a fool would he surely hold me ! Ask himself what thou fain wouldst\n\nYet she strove still with many a question from his purpose the squire to turn,\n\nThen weary was he of her pleading, and in anger this word he spake,\n\ni Without cause dost thou here delay me, for I think not mine oath to break ! '\n\nSo he went where he found his master, and the Turkowit brave Florand,\n42o And Lischois, and the lady of Logrois, many ladies did with them stand,\nAnd the squire made his way to his master, and up stood the knight Gawain,\nAnd he took him aside, and welcome he bade him in joyful strain,\n' Now tell unto me, my comrade, the tidings thou here hast brought,\nIf thy news be for joy or for sorrow, what speak they of me at court ? '\n\n425 * And say, didst thou find King Arthur ? ' quoth the squire, ' My master, yea,\nThe king, and the queen, and with them many brave knights I saw alway,\nAnd they offer to thee their service, and they will at thy bidding come,\nAnd they heard in such sort thy message, with such gladness, that every one,\nRich and poor, as one man were joyful when I spake, thou wert safe and\n\n430 And the folk there were sure a marvel ! Their number I may not tell !\nAnd the Table Round, by thy message, was spread for the feast 1 ween ;\nAnd if knight e'er won fame by his valour, then I wot that thy fame hath\nbeen\n\nFar greater than all who hearkened to the words that I spake of thee,\nAnd it beareth the crown o'er all others, tho' mighty their fame shall be !'\n\nsore?\n\nlearn ! '\n\nwell.\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nThen he told him all that befell there, how he spake with the gracious queen, 435\nAnd the counsel she gave unto him ; and how he the folk had seen,\nThose brave knights and gentle ladies ; how Gawain should behold their\nface\n\nAt Ioflanz, before the combat, and the end of his day of grace.\n\nAnd the sorrow of Gawain vanished, yet his joy in his heart he 'Id hide,\n\nTho' from grief did he pass to gladness ; yet the squire must his oath abide 440\n\nAnd yet for a space keep silence — Forgotten was all his care,\n\nAnd thither he went, and he sat him again by his lady fair,\n\nAnd with joy he abode in the castle till King Arthur to his relief\n\nMight come with his host — Now hearken to a story of love and grief :\n\nGawain he was ever joyful ; one morn did it so befall 445\nThat many a knight and lady were seen in that stately hall,\nAnd Gawain sat apart in a window, and looked o'er the stream so wide,\nAnd with many a tale of wonder sat Arnive the knight beside.\n\nTo the queen spake the gallant hero, * Ah ! hearken, my Lady dear,\nIf my questions they shall not vex thee, do thou to my words give ear 45°\nAnd tell me the wondrous story, which as yet shall be hid from me —\nThat I live, and my life is joyful, I owe it to none but thee ;\nTho' my heart had the wit of manhood, yet the Duchess she held it fast,\nBut thou in such wise hast helped me that my sorrow is overpast ;\nOf my love, and my wounds had I died here, but with wisdom thy helpful 455\nhand\n\nThou didst stretch to my aid, and hast loosed me for aye from my sorrow's\nband.\n\nI owe thee my life ! My Lady of healing, now tell to me\n\nThe wonder that was, and the marvel that yet in this place shall be.\n\nSay, wherefore by mighty magic hath Klingsor this palace made ?\n\nFor surely my life had I lost here had thy wisdom not been mine aid ! ' 46°\n\nThen out quoth the wise Arnive, (and ne'er with such goodly fame\n\nOf womanly faith and wisdom fair youth unto old age came,)\n\n' Sir Knight, these are but small marvels to the marvels his cunning hand,\n\nAnd his skill in hidden magic, have wrought in full many a land.\n\nHe who counteth it shame unto us that into his power we fell, 465\n\nHe sinneth for sure ! His doings, Sir Knight, I to thee will tell.\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nMany folk, I ween, hath he troubled, his land is Terre de Labur :\nFrom a wondrous race he springeth, whose marvels they aye endure,\nFor Virgil was his forefather, in Naples his spells he wrought :\n' 47° And in this wise his nephew Klingsor was to shame and to sorrow brought ;'\n\n' And the chief of his towns was Capua — such high fame was his, I ween,\nThat never in praise or in honour methinks had he shamed been,\nAnd all folk they spake of Duke Klingsor, and praised him, both man and\nmaid,\n\nTill in this wise he won dishonour, and his glory to earth was laid.\n475 In Sicily reigned a monarch, King Ibert, his life was blest\n\nWith a fair wife, Iblis, none fairer e'er hung on a mother's breast,\nAnd Klingsor would do her service, till her love should be his reward,\nAnd in shame did he win his guerdon from the hand of her rightful lord.'\n\n' If here I must tell his secret, forgiveness I first must pray,\n480 For methinks it shall be a story that scarce fitteth my lips to say ;\n\nWith a stroke was he made magician, with the self-same stroke unmanned'—\nThen loudly he laughed, Sir Gawain, as the tale he must understand.\n\n* In Kalot Enbolot's castle he won him this lasting shame,\n\n(I trow 'tis a mighty fortress, and far lands shall know its fame,)\n\n48S With his wife did the monarch find him, there lay Klingsor within her arm,\nAnd sorely must he repent him of his slumber so soft and warm,\nFor the hand of the king avenged him in such wise as he deemed his right ;\nAnd he left with his knife such token of shame on the traitor knight\nThat henceforward the love of woman it rejoiceth him never more !\n\n490 And I wot well for his dishonour many folk shall have suffered sore.'\n\n' ('Tis not in the land of Persia) in a city called Persida\nWere magic spells first woven ; it stands in a land afar,\nAnd thither did Klingsor journey, and there did he learn such skill,\nThat with secrets of magic cunning he worketh whate'er he will.\n495 For the ill that was wrought his body he beareth goodwill to none,\nBut rejoiceth to work them evil, the more if they fame have won.'\n\n' E'en such peril beset one monarch — Ir6t was, I ween, his name,\n\nAnd Rosch-Sabbins was his kingdom — At length to such pass he came,\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nThat he bade him to take of that country what he would, so he peace would\nkeep ;\n\nThen Klingsor he took of the monarch this mountain so high and steep, 500\nAnd the land for eight miles around it ; on the summit did Klingsor rear\nThe wonder-work thou seest, and this palace we look on here.\nAnd there faileth nor worldly riches, nor marvel of magic skill,\nIf for thirty years one besieged it, methinks 'twere provisioned still.\nAnd power doth he hold o'er all spirits, 'twixt the earth and the heaven 505\nabove,\n\nBoth evil and good, save those only whom God doth from his power\nremove.'\n\n' Sir Knight, since thy deadly peril thou hast passed, nor thy death hast\nfound,\n\nHe gives to thine hand his kingdom, this Burg, and the lands around,\nNo claim doth he make upon it ; and peace doth he promise thee —\nThis he sware in the ears of his people, and a man of his word is he, 5™\nThat the knight who withstood the venture, this gift should be his for aye.\nAnd all who from Christendom's countries 'neath the spell of his magic lay,\nBe they woman, or man, or maiden, are thy vassals both one and all,\nAnd many from lands of paynim with us 'neath his power must fall.\nLet this folk then now get them homewards, where yet for our loss they 5I5\nmourn,\n\nFor to dwell in the land of the stranger, it maketh my heart forlorn.*\nAnd He, who the stars hath counted, may He teach thee to give us aid,\nAnd turn once again to rejoicing those hearts that are sore afraid ! '\n\n1 A child was born of a mother, who its mother's mother shall be ;\n\nFor the ice it came of the water ; when the sunlight shineth free, 520\n\nThen nothing I ween shall hinder that water from ice be born —\n\nOf my glad youth I often think me, tho' now I must weep forlorn,\n\nIf my lot shall once more be joyful then the child from the child shall spring.\n\nAnd thou, art thou wise and courteous, methinks well mayst work this thing I5\n\n1 'Tis long since all joy forsook me ! The skiff 'neath its sail flies fast, 525\nBut the man who doth sail within it hath swifter his voyage o'erpast.\nIf thou readest aright my riddle thy fame shall wax high and fleet,\nFor our joy canst thou make to blossom, and our song to ring clear and\nsweet.\n\nitized by G00gle\n\nPARZ1VAL\n\nAnd, bringers of joy, shall we journey into many a distant land,\n53° Where the folk weep sore for our losing, and shall greet us with outstretched\nhand!'\n\n' Of joy had I once full measure : a crowned queen was I !\nAnd my daughter amid her princes bare a crown too right royally,\nAnd all men they deemed us worthy — Sir Knight, I wrought ill to none,\nBut alike, both man and maiden, from my hand due guerdon won.\n\n535 And all men they knew, and they owned me one fit o'er the folk to reign,\nFor I, so God gave me wisdom, ne'er brought to another pain.\nYet she who in gladness dwelleth, tho' a fair praise she think to earn,\nAnd the prayer of the poor she hearken, yet her joy to such grief may turn\nThat a poor lad may make her joyful — Sir Knight, here o'erlong I stay,\n\n540 Yet there cometh no man who doth know me, and turneth my care away ! '\n\nThen out quoth the gallant hero, * Lady, if life be mine,\nThen gladness shall be thy portion, nor shalt thou in exile pine ! '\nNow this self- same day brought the coming of Arthur the Breton king,\nThe son of the sad Arnive, whom kinship and faith did bring ;\n545 And many a fair new banner Gawain from the castle saw,\n\nAnd the field it was thick with the horsemen who near at his summons\ndraw.\n\nOn the road that wound hence from Logrois came many a blazoned spear,\nAnd Gawain, he was glad at their coming ; for delay it oft teacheth fear,\nWho waiteth o'erlong for succour, he doubteth 'twill come too late !\n550 From such doubt had King Arthur freed him ! Ah me ! how he rode in\nstate !\n\nGawain, he would hold it secret, yet his eyes they were fain to weep,\nLittle good had they been for cisterns, since the water they failed to keep.\nAnd for love must he weep, for Arthur such love had toward him shown,\nHe had cherished him from his childhood, and had dealt with him as his\nown ;\n\n555 And the twain they had never wavered, but their faith to each other kept,\nAnd nor falsehood nor thought of doubting betwixt their two hearts had\ncrept.\n\nBut Arnive was 'ware of his weeping, and quoth, 1 Now shalt thou begin\nTo joy with the shout of rejoicing, thus comfort we all shall win.\n\nDigitized by\n\nKLINGSOR\n\n9i\n\n'Gainst sorrow shouldst thou defend thee— See the host that now draweth\nnigh,\n\nMethinks 'tis tlje Duchess' army, with their coming shall joy wax high.' 560\nNow many a tent and banner they saw wind across the plain,\nBut one shield did they bear before them, and Arnive beheld again,\nAnd she knew, as of yore, the blazon, and Isaye she called the name\nOf the knight, he should be king's marshal, and Uther Pendragon came !\nBut the shield it was borne by another, graceful of limb and tall, 565\nAnd she said, ' He shall be queen's marshal, and Maurin his name they\ncall.'\n\nBut little she knew, Arnive, that dead were both king and knight,\nAnd Maurin, he held the office that afore was his father's right.\nTo the bank in the meadow of conflict rode the host — They who served the\nqueen\n\nFound a resting-place for the ladies, and a fair camp it was I ween. 57°\nBy the side of a swift, clear streamlet they set up the tents so fair,\nAnd, apart, many goodly circles for the king and his knights prepare.\nAnd methinks they had left behind them, wherever the host must ride,\nA mighty track of hoof-prints on the field and the roadways wide !\n\nGawain, by the mouth of Bene, his host Plippalinot prayed 575\nTo hold vessel and boat in safe keeping that no crossing that day be made.\nAnd the maid from the hand of Gawain took the first gift of his rich store,\n'Twas a swallow, the harp was costly, such as harpers in England bore.\n\nThen joyful, she sought her father, and Gawain, he gave command\nTo shut fast the outer portals, since a host at the gate did stand ; 580\nAnd old and young they listed the word that he courteous spake :\n' On the further side of the river an army its camp doth make,\nAnd never, by land or by water, a mightier host I saw,\nWould they fight, then I pray ye help me my knighthood to prove once\nmore ! '\n\nWith one voice did they make the promise — Then they asked of the 585\nDuchess fair,\n\nIf the host should be hers ? But she answered, ' Believe me, of all men there\nI know neither shield nor bearer ; perchance he who wrought me ill\nHath entered my land, and thought him to bow Logrois unto his will.\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nHe hath found it right well defended ! My people might well defy,\n59° From their tower and their battlements lofty, e'en such army as here doth\nlie !\n\nHath he wrought there fresh deeds of knighthood, then King Gramoflanz\nsure hath thought\n\nTo revenge himself for the garland that my knight from his tree hath\nbrought.\n\nBut whoever they be, I know well, they shall many a joust have seen,\nAnd many a spear at Logrois by mine army hath splintered been.'\n\n595 And never a lie had she spoken — For Arthur must peril face\nAs he rode thro' the land of Logrois ; and many of Breton race\nIn knightly joust had fallen — But Arthur their ill repaid\nIn the self-same coin, and on both sides sore stress on the host was laid.\n\nBattle-weary, so came they hither of whom one full oft must hear\n600 That they sold their lives full dearly, and did never a foeman fear.\nAnd either side had suffered, both Garel and Gaherjet,\nKing Meljanz of Lys, and Iofreit, son of Idol, in durance set\nEre even the end of the Tourney — From Logrois they captive bare\nThe Duke of Vermandois, Friam, and Count Richard, he of Nevers,\n605 Who naught but one spear had needed ere he against whom he rode\nHad fallen 'neath his stroke so mighty, and no man his joust abode.\nWith his own hand King Arthur made him his captive, this gallant knight ;\nThen, dauntless, they spurred them onward, and the armies they met in\n\nAnd a forest, methinks, it cost them ! For no man the jousts might know\n610 That were ridden, a rain of splinters fell thick at each mighty blow ;\n\nAnd the Bretons, they bore them bravely 'gainst the Lady of Logrois' host,\nAnd Arthur himself the rear-guard would keep at sore conflict's cost.\nAnd in this wise they fought and they vexed them through the hours of the\nlivelong day,\n\nTill the greater part of the army outwearied with conflict lay.\n\n615 And well might Gawain have told her, the Duchess, that to his aid\n\nThey had ridden her land, then, I wot well, no strife had their way delayed,\nBut he would that no lips should tell her till her own eye the truth had seen —\nThen he dealt as should well befit him had King Arthur his foeman been,\n\nfight,\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nAnd made ready to march against him with rich tents and warlike gear.\nAnd no man of them all repented that he came as a stranger here, 620\nFor with open hand Sir Gawain his gifts upon all did shower\nIn such wise that ye might have deemed well he drew nigh to his dying hour.\nAnd servant, and knight, and lady, they looked on his gifts so fair,\nAnd all, with one mouth, they praised him who brought help in their sore\ndespair ;\n\nAnd all, for his sake, were joyful — Then the hero he bade prepare 625\nStrong chargers, and well-trained palfreys, such as well might a lady bear.\nNor the knights should be lacking armour — Strong squires in coat of mail\nWere ready to do his bidding, nor should one of their number fail.\nAnd in this wise he gave his orders, four knights he aside did take :\nHis chamberlain one ; and another, cup-bearer he fain would make ; 630\nThe third he would make his steward ; and his marshal the fourth should be,\nFor this was his prayer, and the four knights said 4 Yea' to him willingly.\n\nAt peace lay King Arthur's army, and no greeting did Gawain send,\nYet I wot well it sorely grieved him ! With the morning the host did wend,\nWith the blast of many a trumpet, their way unto Ioflanz' plain, 635\nAnd the rear-guard was armed, yet no foeman did they find in their path\nagain.\n\nThen Gawain took his office-bearers, and in this wise to them he spake,\nThe marshal, he bade him straightway to Ioflanz his way to take,\n4 There a camp of my own prepare me — The host that thou here didst see\nShall unto that plain have ridden, and its lord will I name to thee, 640\nFor 'tis well that thou too shouldst know him, he is Arthur, my kinsman true,\nIn whose court and whose care from my childhood I unto my manhood grew.\nNow do this thing in which I trust thee, rule my journey in such a wise,\nWith such riches and pomp, that my coming be stately in all men's eyes ;\nBut within the walls of this castle no word of the truth be told — 645\nThat the king for my sake cometh hither, this must thou for secret hold ! '\n\nSo did they as Gawain bade them, and Plippalinot he found\n\nLittle space had he now for leisure, since his lord was on journey bound.\n\nFor large and small his vessels, both boat and skiff, must fare\n\nO'er the water, and troops well armed, ahorse and afoot they bare. 650\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd the marshal the squires and footmen on the track of the Bretons led,\nAnd hither and thither riding behind them the army sped.\n\nAnd they bare with them, so 'twas told me, the tent that in days of yore\nFairTblis had sent to Klingsor, as pledge of the love she bore.\n\n6SS By the sending of this love-token their secret to men was told,\n\nAnd the favour they bare each other in the days that have waxen old.\nAnd no cost had they spared who had wrought it, and no better was ever seen\nSave the tent of Eisenhart only — Then apart on the grass so green\nThey set up the tent, and around it many others in goodly ring,\n\n660 And so great was the pomp and the riches that men deemed it a wondrous\n\nAnd they spake before King Arthur that the marshal of Gawain came,\nAnd his lord the same day would follow, and encamp him upon the plain.\n'Twas the talk of all the vassals — Then Gawain, from falsehood free,\nRode forth from his home and there followed a goodly company.\n665 And their train was so richly ordered that marvels I here might tell !\n\nWith church gear and chamber hangings the pack-steeds were burdened\n\nAnd some were with harness laden, and above the harness bare\nFull many a crested helmet, and shield that was blazoned fair.\nAnd many a gallant war-horse was led by the bridle rein,\n670 And behind them both knight and lady rode close in the glittering train.\nWould ye measure the length ? a mile long, methinks, had it stretched, and\n\nAnd Sir Gawain, I ween, forgat not that a gallant knight should draw\n\nHis rein by the side of each lady, and ever of love they spake,\n\nOr one scant of wit had deemed them ! And in this wise the road they take,\n\n675 The Turkowit, brave Florand, for companion upon his way\nHad the daughter of Queen Arnive, Sangive* of Norroway,\nAnd Lischois, who was ne'er unready, he rode at sweet Kondrie's side,\nAnd by Gawain the maid Itonje, his sister, perforce must ride.\nAt the same time the Queen Arnive and the Duchess of fair Logrois\n\n680 Rode gaily the one by the other, for in such wise they made their choice.\n\nBeyond the camp of King Arthur the tents of Gawain they lay,\n\nAnd they who were fain to reach them thro' the army must take their way.\n\nthing.\n\nwell ;\n\nmore,\n\nKLINGSOR\n\n'Twas a sight for all men to gaze at ! Ere the folk to their journey's end\n\nMight come, of a courteous custom, to do honour unto his friend,\n\nGawain by the tent of Arthur bade the first maiden take her stand, 685\n\nThen the marshal so did his office that the second, to her right hand,\n\nAnd the third beside the second, should unto each other ride,\n\nAnd none of them all delayed them — So made they a circle wide,\n\nHere the matrons, and there the maidens, and by each of them rode a knight\n\nWho would fain do the lady service, and would for her favours fight. 690\n\nAnd thus round the tent of the monarch stood the ladies, a goodly ring,\n\nAnd to Gawain, the rich in gladness, fair welcome would Arthur bring.\n\nTo the ground sprang Gawain and Arnive, and her daughters with children\ntwain,\n\nThe Lady of Logrois, and the heroes he o'erthrew on the grassy plain,\nLischois and the gallant Florand ; then unto those heroes brave 695\nStepped Arthur from his pavilion, and a kindly welcome gave ;\nAnd the queen, she greeted Gawain, and she welcomed him and his\nOf true heart, and from many a lady, I ween, was there many a kiss !\n\nQuoth Arthur unto his nephew, ' Say, who shall thy comrades be ? '\nQuoth Gawain, * A kiss of greeting from my lady I fain would see,\nTwere ill an she should refuse it, for noble are both I ween.'\nThen Florand and the Duke of Gowerzein were kissed by the gracious\n\nThen into the tent they gat them, and to many the fair field wide\nWas as if it were full of maidens, so close stood they, side by side.\nThen not as the heavy-footed sprang Arthur upon his steed, 705\nAnd he turned to the knights and the ladies in the ring with a kindly heed,\nAnd he rode from one to the other, and gracious the words he spake,\nFrom the lips of the king so kindly each one must his welcome take.\nFor this was the will of Gawain that no man from hence should ride\nTill he himself rode with them, but courteous his coming bide. 710\n\nThen the king would dismount, and straightway he entered the lent again,\n\nAnd he sat him beside his nephew, and straitly he prayed Gawain\n\nTo say who were these five ladies, whom hither the knight did bring.\n\nThen Gawain he looked on the eldest and he spake to the Breton king,\n\n* Didst thou know Uther Pendragon ? 'Tis Arnive, his queen and wife, 715\n\nAnd well mayst thou look upon her, from the twain didst thou draw thy life.\n\nqueen.\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nAnd there standeth the Queen of Norway, and / am the son she bare,\nAnd these twain they shall be my sisters ; say, are they not maidens fair?'\n\nAh ! then once again they kissed them, and sorrow and joy were seen\n720 of all those who looked upon them, from Love this their lot had been ;\nAnd they laughed, and they cried together, and their lips spake of joy and\nwoe,\n\nAnd 1 ween that with tears of gladness their bright eyes must overflow.\nThen Arthur he spake to Gawain, ' Nephew, unknown to me\nIs the fifth of these lovely ladies, I prithee who may she be ? '\n\n725 4 The Duchess, is she, of Logrois,' quoth Gawain in his courtesy,\n\n* In her service have I come hither, and, so it was told to me,\n\nThou thyself hast sought her dwelling, and how it rejoiced thee there,\nThou canst without shame declare us, as a widower dost thou fare.'\nQuoth Arthur, ' She doth, as her captive, thy kinsman Gaherjet hold,\n\n73° And Garel, who in many a conflict hath shown him a hero bold ;\nFrom my very side was he taken, one charge had we made so nigh\nThat almost we gained the portal, when lo ! from the gate did fly\nMeljanz of Lys ! How he battled ! On high flew a banner white\nAnd the host who fought beneath it took captive my gallant knight.\n\n735 And the banner it bare a blazon of crimson, a bleeding heart,\n\nAnd right through the midst was it pierced by the shaft of a sable dart,\nAs one who to death is smitten — 'Lirivoin' was the battle-cry\nOf the army who fought beneath it, and their hand did the victory buy.\nMy nephew, Iofreit, was taken, and grief for his sake I know —\n\n740 Yestreen did I keep the rear-guard, and the chance it hath worked me woe ! '\n\nSore mourned the king for his sorrow — quoth the Duchess, with courteous\nmien,\n\n* Sire, I speak thee free of all shaming, I had greeted thee not, I ween.\nThou mayst well have wrought me evil, tho' no wrong had I done to thee,\nAnd I would that God's wisdom teach thee trjat harm to make good to\n\n745 The knight to whose aid thou earnest, if combat with me he dared,\nHath found me, methinks, defenceless, with side to the foeman bared.\nIf yet for such strife he lusteth, nor of conflict hath had his fill,\nWith never a sword or a weapon I think to withstand him still. '\n\nme.\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nThen Gawain, he quoth to King Arthur, ' Wilt thou that we fill the plain\nWith knights ? For we well can do so — I think me such grace to gain 750\nFrom the Duchess that all the captives from thine host she will swiftly free,\nAnd, many a new spear bearing, her knighthood we here may see. '\n'Yea, such were my will,' quoth Arthur; then the Duchess she gave\ncommand,\n\nAnd many a gallant hero she summoned from Logrois' land —\n\nAnd I wot well a host so goodly the earth ne'er had seen before — 755\n\nThen Gawain, he prayed leave of the monarch, he would to his tent withdraw,\n\nAnd the king's will was e'en as Gawain's, and all they who hither rode\n\nWith the knight, they turned their bridles, and with him in his camp abode.\n\nAnd his tent was so rich and so goodly, as befitted a gallant knight,\n\nThat afar from its costly trappings had poverty taken flight. 760\n\nAnd there rode unto his pavilion full many whose hearts were sore\nFor the weary days since he left them, and the love they to Gawain bore.\nAnd the wounds of Kay had been healed since he jousted by Plimizol,\nAnd he looked on the wealth of Gawain, and with envy his heart was full,\nAnd he quoth, ' Now, King Lot, his father, my monarch's near of kin, 765\nNe'er thought with such pomp to shame us, nor a camp of his own would\nwin. '\n\n(For ever did he bethink him how Gawain would no vengeance take\nOn the knight who so sorely smote him, when his right arm in joust he\nbrake,)\n\n' God worketh for some His wonders, — Who gave Gawain this woman folk ? '\nAnd the words they were scarce a friend's words that Kay in his anger 770\nspoke.\n\nOf the honour his friend hath won him the true knight is ever glad,\nBut the faithless, aloud he crieth, and his heart ever waxeth sad\nWhen the heart of his friend rejoiceth, and he needs must his gladness see.\nBliss and honour had fallen to Gawain ; and, if one would more favoured be,\n1 know not what thing he may wish for ! Thus ever the evil mind 775\nIs with envy filled, while the brave man his comfort and joy doth find\nWhen honour shall seek his comrade, and shame from his face doth flee —\nGawain ne'er forgat his knighthood, and from falsehood was ever free ;\nAnd thus it was right and fitting that men on his bliss should gaze,\nAnd gladness and fair rejoicing henceforward should crown his days* 780\nVOL. II. G\n\nDigitized by\n\nPARZIVAL\n\nIn what wise for the folk that followed did the knight of Norway care,\nAlike for his knights and ladies ? Not ill was, methinks, their fare.\nAnd Arthur and all his people they looked on King Lot's fair son,\nAnd I trow well they greatly marvelled at the riches his hand had won.\n\n785 Now the evening meal was ended, and 'twas time for the folk to sleep,\nAnd little I grudge their slumber ! A guard thro' the night they keep,\nAnd lo ! at the early morning, ere the dawning had waxed to-day,\nCame a folk in goodly armour, and the men of Logrois were they.\nAnd they read their helmet's token by the light of the waning moon,\n\n79° On this side lay the host of Arthur, and his camp had they passed full soon,\nAnd they came to the goodly circle where Gawain and his men should lie —\nAnd, methinks, who such gallant succour by the might of his hand could\n\nWere reckoned of men a hero ! Then Gawain bade his Marshal find\nA place for the host to camp on, but, such was their leader's mind,\n795 He deemed it best that their circle apart from the rest should be,\nAnd 'twas even the hour of noontide ere all were lodged fittingly.\n\nThen Arthur, the noble monarch, a message would straightway send ;\nUnto Rosche Sabbins, and the city, a squire on his way should wend\nTo King Gramoflanz should he speak thus, c Since conflict the king doth\n\n800 And he lusteth to fight my nephew, the strife shall he not delay,\nFor Sir Gawain is fain to meet him — But bid him to meet us here,\nAs a gallant man do we know him, were he other, 'twould cost him dear!'\n\nAnd the messenger of King Arthur he rode on his errand fain —\nThen forth, with Lischois and Sir Florand, rode the gallant knight, Gawain,\n805 And he prayed them to show them to him who from many a land afar\nHad ridden for love's high service, and had fought in his lady's war.\nAnd he met them and gave them greeting in such wise that the heroes\nknew\n\nSir Gawain for courteous lover, and faithful knight and true.\n\nWith that again he left them, and in secret his way he sped,\n810 And he gat him again to his chamber, and he armed him from foot to\nhead ;\n\nbuy\n\npray,\n\nKLINGSOR\n\nHe would know if his wounds were healed so that never a scar should pain,\nAnd his limbs would he test, since so many, both maiden and man were\nfain\n\nTo look on the strife, had they wisdom they should see if his dauntless hand\n\nMight even to-day, as aforetime, the victor's crown command.\n\nA squire did he bid to bring him his charger, Gringuljet, 815\n\nAnd he sprang to the saddle lightly and the horse to a gallop set.\n\nHe would try both himself and his charger, if ready for strife the twain —\n\nAh ! woe is me for his journey ! so rode he upon the plain,\n\nAnd so had his Fortune willed it, that a knight his bridle drew\n\nBy the side of the river Sabbins, and ye know that knight so true, 820\n\nAnd a rock, men well might call him, for manhood and courage high,\n\nAnd no knight might stand before him, and falsehood his heart did fly.\n\nAnd yet so weak was his body that no burden it bare of wrong,\n\nYea, a hand's-breadth had been too heavy, and a finger-length too long !\n\nAnd, I ween, of this gallant hero of old time ye oft must hear, 825\n\nFor my tale hath come to its root-tree, and draweth its goal anear.\n\nDigitized by\n\nDigitized by\n\nGoogk",
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