Now many were sorely angered that I told not this tale afore

Since it wearied them naught in the hearing—Now my words I withhold no more,

But I give ye to wit full truly, as my mouth may the story tell,

The end of this wondrous venture for methinks it shall please ye well.

Ye shall know how the king, Anfortas, of his wound was made whole again—5

Of the queen doth the venture tell us, who in far Pelrap?r did reign;

How she kept a pure heart and loyal till the day of her great reward,

And earth’s fairest crown was her guerdon at the hand of her faithful lord.

Ye shall hear the tale of its winning, if my skill fail me not alway;

Yet first must ye list the labour that Parzival wrought that day.10

Now, tho’ dauntless his hand had striven, but as children his foemen all,

And ne’er would I risk my hero might I rule that which shall befall.

I must sorrow sore for his peril, and fain would I speak him free,

But now must I trust that Good Fortune the shield of his heart may be.

For purity, and high courage, side by side in his heart they lay,15

And ne’er had he cherished cowardice, nor shrunk from the knightly fray;

And I deem this shall surely give him such strength he his life may hold,

Since fierce strife draweth nigh unto him, and his foe is a hero bold.

For he meeteth a prince of battles who dauntless to strife doth ride,

And unbaptized was the foeman who rode here in his heathen pride.20

Full soon had he come, our hero, to a mighty woodland shade,

And without, in the light of the dawning, his armour a knight displayed.

’Twere a marvel could I, a poor man, of the riches now speak to ye

That the heathen he bare as his decking, so costly their worth should be.

If more than enough I told ye, yet more would be left to tell;25

Yet I would not his wealth were hidden—What of riches, I ween, shall dwell

In Bretagne alike and England, and be tribute to Arthur’s might,

They had paid not the stones that, shining, glowed fair on his armour bright.

His blazoned coat was costly, and naught but the truth I say,

Ruby and Chalcedony, ye had held them not fair that day.30

And bright as the sun was his vesture, on the mount of Agremontein,

In the glowing fires, Salamanders had welded that garment’s shine.

There jewels rare and precious, with never a fault or flaw,

Glowed dark and light; of their nature, I ween, I can tell no more!

His desire was for love’s rewarding, and the winning of high renown,35

He had won from the hands of fair women the jewels that his pride did crown.

For the favour Frau Minne showed him with joy did his proud heart beat,

And it swelled high with manly courage, as is for a lover meet.

As reward for his deeds of knighthood on his helmet a beast he bare,

Ecidemon, all poisonous serpents they must of its power beware,40

For of life and of strength doth it rob them, if they smell it but from afar—

Thopedissimonté, Assigarzionté, Thasmé, and Arabia,

They scarce of such silk might boast them as was covering for his steed—

He sought, that mighty heathen, in a woman’s love his meed,

And therefore he bravely decked him, and fain would his courage prove,45

And his manhood, it urged him onward to battle for sake of love.

Now the knight, so young and gallant, in a haven beside the wood,

But little known, on the water had anchored his ships so good.

And his armies were five-and-twenty, and they knew not each other’s speech—

’Twas a token fair of his riches, and the lands that his power might reach,50

As the armies, so were the kingdoms that did service unto his hand—

And Moors and Saracens were they, and unlike was each warlike band,

And the hue of their skins was diverse—Thus gathered from lands afar

Ye might see in his mighty army strange weapons of heathen war.

So thus, in search of adventure, from his army this man would ride,55

In the woodland green he wandered, and waited what should betide.

And since thus it well doth please them, so let them ride, these kings,

Alone, in search of ventures, and the fair fame that combat brings.

Yet Parzival rode not lonely, methinks he had comrades twain,

Himself, and the lofty courage that lord o’er his soul did reign.60

And that he so bravely fought here might win from a woman praise,

If falsehood should not mislead her, that injustice should rule her ways.

So spurred they against each other, who were lambs in their purity,

Yet as lions were they bold and dauntless, ’twas a sight for a man to see!

Ah! woe is me for their meeting, for the world and its ways are wide,65

And they well might have spared each other, nor, guiltless, to battle ride.

I should sorrow for him whom I brought here, save my heart did this comfort hold,

That the Grail shall with strength endue him, and Love shelter the hero bold,

Since he was of the twain the servant, nor his heart ever wavering knew,

And ever his hand was ready to serve them with service true.70

My skill little wit doth give me this combat that here befell,

In fitting words and knightly, from beginning to end to tell.

But the eye of each flashed triumph as the coming foe he saw,

And the heart of each knight waxed joyful, as they nearer to battle draw.

Yet sorrow, I ween, was nigh them, true hearts, from all falsehood free,75

And each bare the heart of the other, and should comrade and stranger be!

Nor may I asunder part them, the paynim and Christian knight,

Hatred they show to each other, tho’ no cause have they here for fight.

And methinks this of joy shall rob them, who, as true women, share their pain

Who risk their lives for a woman! May they part, ere one here be slain!80

As the lion-cub, that its mother beareth dead, doth to life awake

At the aweful voice of its father, so these twain, as the spear-shafts break

Arouse to fresh life, and to honour, I ween, are they newly born,

For many a joust have they ridden and many a spear outworn.

Then they tighten the hanging bridle, and they take to their aim good care,85

That each on the shield of the other, as he willeth, shall smite him fair.

And no point do they leave unguarded, and they give to their seat good heed,

As men who are skilled in jousting, and sharply each spurs his steed.

And bravely the joust was ridden, and each gorget asunder broke,

And the spears bent not, but in splinters they flew from each mighty stroke;90

And sore was he wroth, the heathen, that this man might his joust abide,

For never a knight but had fallen who a course ‘gainst his spear would ride.

Think ye that their swords they wielded as their chargers together drew?

Yea, the combat was sharp and bitter, and each must give proof anew

Alike of his skill and his manhood—The strange beast, Ecidemon,95

Had many a wound, and beneath it the helmet sore blows had won;

And the horses were hot and wearied, and many new turns they tried—

Then down they sprung from their chargers, and their sword-blades afresh they plied.

And the heathen wrought woe to the Christian, ‘Thasmé!’ was his battle-cry,

And when ‘Tabronit!’ he shouted he drew ever a step anigh.100

And the Christian, he showed his valour in many an onslaught bold;

So pressed they upon each other—Nor would I the tale withhold

Of how the fight was foughten, yet must I the strife bemoan,

How, one flesh and one blood thus sharing, each wrought evil unto his own;

For both were the sons of one father, and brothers, I ween, were they,105

And methinks upon such foundation faith and friendship their stone should lay!

And love ne’er had failed the heathen, and his heart was for combat fain,

For the love of Queen Sekundillé fresh honour he thought to gain;

Tribalibot’s land she gave him, and she was his shield in strife—

So bravely he fought, how think ye that the Christian might guard his life?110

On love let his thoughts be steadfast, else sure is he here undone,

And he hath from the hand of the heathen in this combat his death-blow won.

O thou Grail, by thy lofty virtue such fate from thy knight withhold!

Kondwiramur, thine husband in such deadly stress behold!

Here he standeth, of both the servant, in such danger and peril sore115

That as naught ye may count the ventures he hath dared for your sake of yore!

Then on high flashed the sword of the heathen, and many such blow had slain,

To his knee Parzival was beaten—Now see how they fought, the twain,

If twain ye will still account them, yet in sooth shall they be but one,

For my brother and I are one body, e’en as husband and wife are one!120

The heathen wrought woe to the Christian—Of Asbestos, I ween, his shield,

That wondrous wood that never to flame or decay shall yield;

I’ sooth, right well she loved him who gave him a gift so fair,

Turquoise, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Ruby, rich jewels beyond compare

Decked with shining lines its surface, on the boss shone a precious stone,125

Antrax, afar they call it, as Carbuncle it here is known.

And as token of love, for his guarding, Sekundillé the queen would give

That wondrous beast, Ecidemon—in her favour he fain would live,

And e’en as she willed he bare it, as his badge, did that gallant knight—

Here with purity faith joined issue, and truth with high truth would fight.130

For love’s sake upon the issue of this combat each risked his life,

Each had pledged his hand to the winning of honour and fame in strife;

And the Christian, in God he trusted since the day that he rode away

From the hermit, whose faithful counsel had bidden him trust alway

In Him who could turn his sorrow into bliss without thought of bale—135

To Him should he pray for succour, whose succour should never fail.

And fierce and strong was the heathen, when ‘Tabronit,’ he cried,

For there, ‘neath the mount Kaukasus did the queen, Sekundillé’, abide;

Thus gained he afresh high courage ‘gainst him who ne’er knew of yore

The weight of such deadly combat, for in sooth was he pressed full sore—140

To defeat was he aye a stranger, and ne’er had he seen its face,

Tho’ his foemen right well must know it, as they yielded them to his grace!

With skill do they wield their weapons, and sparks spring from the helmets fair,

And a whistling wind ariseth as the blades cleave the summer air;

God have Gamuret’s son in His keeping! and the prayer it shall stand for both,145

For the twain shall be one nor, I think me, to own it were either loth.

For had they but known each other their stake ne’er had been so great,

For blessing, and joy, and honour, were risked on that combat’s fate,

For he who shall here be victor, if true brother and knight he be,

Of all this world’s joy is he forfeit, nor from grief may his heart be free!150

Sir Parzival, why delay thee to think on thy queen and wife,

Her purity and her beauty, if here thou wouldst save thy life?

For the heathen, he bare two comrades who kindled his strength anew,

The one, in his strong heart, steadfast, lay ever a love so true;

And the other, the precious jewels that burnt with a mystic glow,155

Thro’ whose virtue his strength waxed greater, and his heart must fresh courage know.

And it grieveth me sore that the Christian was weary and faint with fight,

Nor swiftly might he avoid him, and his blows they were robbed of might;

And if the twain fail to aid thee, O thou gallant Parzival,

Thy queen and the Grail, then I think me this thought it shall help thee well,160

Shall thy fair babes thus young be orphaned? Kardeiss and Lohengrin,

Whom thy wife, e’en as thou didst leave her, for her joy and her hope must win—

For children thus born in wedlock, the pledge of a love so pure,

I ween are a man’s best blessing, and a joy that shall aye endure!

New strength did he win, the Christian, and he thought, none too soon, I ween,165

On his love so true and faithful, on Kondwiramur, his queen,

How he won his wife at the sword’s point, when sparks from the helm did spring

‘Neath the mighty blows he dealt him, Klamidé, the warrior king.

‘Tabronit! and Thasmé!’ and above them rung clear his battle-cry,

‘Pelrap?r!’ as aloud he cried it to his aid did his true love fly,170

O’er kingdoms four she sought him, and her love gave him strength anew,

And lo! from the shield of the heathen the costly splinters flew,

Each one a hundred marks’ worth—and the sword so strong and keen

That Ither of Gaheviess bare first brake sheer on the helmet’s sheen,

And the stranger, so rich and valiant, he stumbled, and sought his knee—175

For God, He no longer willed it that Parzival lord should be

Of this weapon of which in his folly he had robbed a gallant knight—

Then up sprang afresh the heathen who ne’er before fell in fight,

Not yet is the combat ended, and the issue for both shall stand

In the power of the God of battles, and their life lieth in His hand!180

And a gallant knight was the heathen, and he spake out, right courteously,

(Tho’ the tongue was the tongue of a heathen yet in fair French his speech should be,)

‘Now I see well, thou gallant hero, thou hast no sword wherewith to fight,

And the fame shall be small I win me if I fight with an unarmed knight,

But rest thee awhile from conflict, and tell me who thou shalt be,185

For the fame that so long I cherished it surely had fallen to thee

Had the blow not thy sword-blade shattered—Now, let peace be betwixt us twain,

And our wearied limbs will we rest here ere we get us to strife again.’

Then down on the grass they sat them, and courteous and brave were they,

Nor too young nor too old for battle—fit foemen they were that day!190

Then the heathen, he spake to the Christian, ‘Believe me, Sir Knight, that ne’er

Did I meet with a man so worthy the crown of such fame to bear

As a knight in strife may win him—Now, I prithee, tell thou to me

Thy name, and thy race, that my journey may here not unfruitful be!

Quoth the son of fair Herzeleide, ‘Thro’ fear shall I tell my name?195

For thou askest of me such favour as a victor alone may claim!’

Spake the heathen prince from Thasmé, ‘Then that shame shall be mine, I ween,

For first will I speak my title, and the name that mine own hath been;

“Feirefis Angevin” all men call me, and such riches are mine, I trow,

That the folk of full many a kingdom ‘neath my sceptre as vassals bow!’200

Then, e’en as the words were spoken, to the heathen quoth Parzival,

‘How shall ”Angevin“ be thy title, since as heirdom to me it fell,

Anjou, with its folk and its castles, its lands and its cities fair?

Nay, choose thee some other title, if thou, courteous, wouldst hear my prayer!

If thro’ thee I have lost my kingdom, and the fair town Béalzenan,205

Then wrong hadst thou wrought upon me ere ever our strife began!

If one of us twain is an Angevin then by birthright that one am I!—

And yet, of a truth, was it told me, that afar ‘neath an Eastern sky,

There dwelleth a dauntless hero, who, with courage and knightly skill,

Such love and such fame hath won him that he ruleth them at his will.210

And men say, he shall be my brother—and that all they who know his name

Account him a knight most valiant, and he weareth the crown of fame!’

In a little space he spake further, ‘If, Sir Knight, I thy face might see,

I should know if the truth were told me, if in sooth thou art kin to me.

Sir Knight, wilt thou trust mine honour, then loosen thine helmet’s band,215

I will swear till once more thou arm thee to stay from all strife mine hand!

Then out he spake, the heathen, ‘Of such strife have I little fear,

For e’en were my body naked, my sword, I still hold it here!

Of a sooth must thou be the vanquished, for since broken shall be thy sword

What availeth thy skill in combat keen death from thine heart to ward,220

Unless, of free will, I spare thee? For, ere thou couldst clasp me round,

My steel, thro’ the iron of thy harness, thy flesh and thy bone had found!’

Then the heathen, so strong and gallant, he dealt as a knight so true,

‘Nor mine nor thine shall this sword be!’ and straight from his hand it flew,

Afar in the wood he cast it, and he quoth, ‘Now, methinks, Sir Knight,225

The chance for us both shall be equal, if further we think to fight!’

Quoth Feirefis, ‘Now, thou hero, by thy courteous breeding fair,

Since in sooth thou shalt have a brother, say, what face doth that brother bear?

And tell me here of his colour, e’en as men shall have told it thee.’

Quoth the Waleis, ‘As written parchment, both black and white is he,230

For so hath Ekuba told me.’ ‘Then that brother am I alway,’

Quoth the heathen—Those knights so gallant, but little they made delay,

But they loosed from their heads the helmet, and they made them of iron bare,

And Parzival deemed that he found there a gift o’er all others fair,

For straightway he knew the other, (as a magpie, I ween, his face,)235

And hatred and wrath were slain here in a brotherly embrace.

Yea, friendship far better ‘seemed them, who owed to one sire their life,

Than anger, methinks, and envy—Truth and Love made an end of strife.

Then joyful he spake, the heathen, ‘Now well shall it be with me,

And I thank the gods of my people that Gamuret’s son I see.240

Blest be Juno, the queen of heaven, since, methinks, she hath ruled it so,

And Jupiter, by whose virtue and strength I such bliss may know,

Gods and goddesses, I will love ye, and worship your strength for aye—

And blest be those shining planets, ‘neath the power of whose guiding ray

I hither have made my journey—For ventures I here would seek,245

And found thee, brother, sweet and aweful, whose strong hand hath made me weak.

And blest be the dew, and the breezes, that this morning my brow have fanned.

Ah! thou courteous knight who holdest love’s key in thy valiant hand!

Ah! happy shall be the woman whose eyes on thy face shall light,

Already is bliss her portion who seeth so fair a sight!’250

‘Ye speak well, I would fain speak better of a full heart, had I the skill;

Yet alas! for I lack the wisdom, tho’ God knoweth, of right goodwill

The fame of your worth and valour by my words would I higher raise,

And as eye, and as heart should serve me, the twain, they should speak your praise;

As your fame and your glory lead them, so behind in your track they fare—255

And ne’er from the hand of a foeman such peril hath been my share

As the peril your hand hath wrought me! and sooth are these words I say.’

In this wise quoth the knight of Kanvoleis; yet Feirefis spake alway;

‘With wisdom and skill, I wot well, hath Jupiter fashioned thee,

Thou true and gallant hero! Nor thy speech shall thus distant be,260

For ”ye“ thou shalt no more call me, of one sire did we spring we twain.’

And with brotherly love he prayed him he would from such speech refrain

And henceforward ’thou‘ to call him, yet Parzival deemed it ill,

And he spake, ‘Now, your riches, brother, shall be e’en as the Baruch’s still,

And ye of us twain are the elder, my poverty and my youth265

They forbid me ”thou“ to call ye, or discourteous were I in truth.

Then the Prince of Tribalibot, joyful, with many a word would praise

His god, Jupiter, and to Juno thanksgiving he fain would raise,

Since so well had she ruled the weather, that the port to which he was bound

He had safely reached, and had landed, and there had a brother found.270

Side by side did they sit together, and neither forgot the grace

Of courtesy, to the other, each knight fain had yielded place.

Then the heathen spake, ‘My brother, wilt thou sail with me to my land,

Then two kingdoms, rich and powerful, will I give thee into thine hand.

Thy father and mine, he won them when King Eisenhart’s life was run,275

Zassamank and Assagog are they—to no man he wrong hath done,

Save in that he left me orphaned—of the ill that he did that day

As yet have I not avenged me, for an ill deed it was alway.

For his wife, the queen who bare me, thro’ her love must she early die,

When she knew herself love-bereavèd, and her lord from her land did fly.280

Yet gladly that knight would I look on, for his fame hath been told to me

As the best of knights, and I journey my father’s face to see!’

Then Parzival made him answer, ‘Yea I, too, I saw him ne’er;

Yet all men they speak well of him, and his praises all lands declare,

And ever in strife and conflict to better his fame he knew,285

And his valour was high exalted, and afar from him falsehood flew.

And women he served so truly that all true folk they praised his name,

And all that should deck a Christian lent honour unto his fame,

For his faith it for aye stood steadfast, and all false deeds did he abhor,

But followed his true heart’s counsel—Thus ever I heard of yore290

From the mouth of all men who knew him, that man ye were fain to see,

And I ween ye would do him honour if he yet on this earth might be,

And sought for fame as aforetime—The delight of all women’s eyes

Was he, till king Ipomidon with him strove for knighthood’s prize,

At Bagdad the joust was ridden, and there did his valiant life295

For love’s sake become death’s portion, and there was he slain in strife;

In a knightly joust we lost him from whose life do we spring, we twain;

If here ye would seek our father, then the seas have ye sailed in vain!’

‘Alas, for the endless sorrow!’ quoth the knight. ‘Is my father dead?

Here joy have I lost, tho’ it well be that joy cometh in its stead.300

In this self-same hour have I lost me great joy, and yet joy have found,

For myself, and thou, and my father, we three in one bond are bound;

For tho’ men as three may hold us, yet I wot well we are but one,

And no wise man he counts that kinship ’twixt father, methinks, and son,

For in truth for more must he hold it—With thyself hast thou fought to-day,305

To strife with myself have I ridden, and I went near myself to slay;

Thy valour in good stead stood us, from myself hast thou saved my life—

Now Jupiter see this marvel, since thy power so hath ruled the strife

That from death hast thou here withheld us!’ Then tears streamed from his heathen eyes,

As he laughed and wept together—Yea, a Christian such truth might prize,310

For our baptism truth should teach us, since there are we named anew

In the Name of Christ, and all men they hold the Lord Christ for true!

Quoth the heathen, e’en as I tell ye, ‘No longer will we abide

In this place, but if thou, my brother, for a short space with me wilt ride,

From the sea to the land will I summon, that their power be made known to thee,315

The richest force that Juno e’er guided across the sea.

And in truth, without thought of falsehood, full many a gallant knight

Will I show thee, who do me service, and beneath my banners fight,

With me shalt thou ride towards them.’ Then Parzival spake alway,

‘Have ye then such power o’er these people that your bidding they wait to-day320

And all the days ye are absent?’ Quoth the heathen, ‘Yea, even so,

If for half a year long I should leave them, not a man from the place would go,

Be he rich or poor, till I bade him. Well victualled their ships shall be,

And neither the horse nor his rider setteth foot on the grassy lea,

Save only to fetch them water from the fountain that springeth fair,325

Or to lead their steeds to the meadow to breathe the fresh summer air.’

Then Parzival quoth to his brother, ‘If it be so, then follow me

To where many a gracious maiden, and fair pleasures, ye well may see,

And many a courteous hero who shall be to us both akin—

Near by with a goodly army lieth Arthur, the Breton king,330

’Twas only at dawn I left them, a great host and fair are they,

And many a lovely lady shall gladden our eyes to-day.’

When he heard that he spake of women, since he fain for their love would live,

He quoth, ‘Thou shalt lead me thither, but first thou shalt answer give

To the question I here would ask thee—Of a truth shall we kinsmen see335

When we come to the court of King Arthur? For ever ’twas told to me

That his name it is rich in honour, and he liveth as valiant knight’—

Quoth Parzival, ‘We shall see there full many a lady bright,

Nor fruitless shall be our journey, our own folk shall we find there,

The men of whose race we have sprung, men whose head shall a king’s crown bear.’340

Nor longer the twain would sit there, and straightway did Parzival

Seek again the sword of his brother that afar in the woodland fell,

And again the hero sheathed it, and all hatred they put away,

And e’en as true friends and brothers together they rode that day.

Yet ere they might come to King Arthur men had heard of the twain a tale—345

On the self-same day it befell so that the host, they must sore bewail

The loss of a gallant hero, since Parzival rode away—

Then Arthur, he took good counsel, and he spake, ‘Unto the eighth day

Would they wait for Parzival’s coming, nor forth from the field would fare’—

And hither came Gramoflanz’ army, and they many a ring prepare,350

And with costly tents do they deck them, and the proud knights are lodged full well,

Nor might brides e’er win greater honour than here to this four befell.

Then from Chateau Merveil rode thither a squire in the self-same hour,

And he said, in their column mirrored, had they seen in their fair watch-tower

A mighty fight, and a fearful—‘And where’er men with swords have fought,355

I wot well, beside this combat their strife shall be held as naught.’

And the tale did they tell to Gawain, as he sat by King Arthur’s side,

And this knight, and that, spake wondering to whom might such strife betide?

Quoth Arthur the king, ‘Now I wager that I know of the twain one knight,

’Twas my nephew of Kanvoleis fought there, who left us ere morning light!’360

And now, lo the twain rode hither—They had foughten a combat fair,

As helmet and shield sore dinted with sword-stroke might witness bear.

And well skilled were the hands that had painted these badges of strife, I trow,

(For ’tis meet in the lust of combat that a knight’s hand such skill should show,)

Then they rode by the camp of King Arthur—As the heathen knight rode past365

Full many a glance of wonder at his costly gear was cast.

And with tents the plain was covered—Then rode they to Gawain’s ring,

And before his tent they halted—Did men a fair welcome bring,

And lead them within, and gladly behold them? Yea, even so,

And Gawain, he rode swiftly after when he did of their coming know;370

For e’en as he sat by King Arthur he saw that his tent they sought,

And, as fitted a courteous hero, joyful greeting to them he brought.

And as yet they bare their armour—Then Gawain, the courteous knight,

He bade his squires disarm them—In the stress of the deadly fight

Ecidemon, the beast, was cloven; the robe that the heathen ware375

In many a place bare token of the blows that had been its share,

’Twas a silk of Saranthasmé, decked with many a precious stone,

And beneath, rich, snow-white, blazoned with his bearings his vesture shone.

And one over against the other stood the gems in a double row;

By the wondrous Salamanders was it woven in fierce flame’s glow!380

All this glory a woman gave him, who would stake on his skill in strife

Her crown alike and her kingdom, as she gave him her love and life.

’Twas the fair Queen Sekundillé (and gladly he did her will,

And were it for joy or for sorrow he hearkened her bidding still)

And, e’en as her true heart willed it, of her riches was he the lord,385

For her love, as his rightful guerdon, had he won him with shield and sword.

Then Gawain, he bade his people of the harness to have good care,

That naught should be moved from its station, shield, or helmet, or vesture fair.

And in sooth a gift too costly e’en the blazoned coat had been

If poor were the maid who a love-gift would give to her knight, I ween,390

So rich were the stones that decked it, the harness of pieces four—

And where wisdom with goodwill worketh, and of riches there be full store,

There love well can deck the loved one! And proud Feirefis, he strove

With such zeal for the honour of women, he well was repaid by Love!

And soon as he doffed his harness they gazed on the wondrous sight,395

And they who might speak of marvels said, in sooth, that this heathen knight,

Feirefis, was strange to look on! and wondrous marks he bore—

Quoth Gawain to Parzival, ‘Cousin, I ne’er saw his like before,

Now who may he be, thy comrade? For in sooth he is strange to see!’

Quoth Parzival, ‘Are we kinsmen, then thy kinsman this knight shall be,400

As Gamuret’s name may assure thee—Of Zassamank is he king,

There my father he won Belakané who this prince to the world did bring.’

Then Gawain, he kissed the heathen—Now the noble Feirefis

Was black and white all over, save his mouth was half red, I wis!

Then they brought to the twain fair raiment, and I wot well their cost was dear.405

(They were brought forth from Gawain’s chamber.) Then the ladies, they drew anear,

And the Duchess she bade Sangivé and Kondrie first kiss the knight

Ere she and Arnivé proffered in greeting their lips so bright.

And Feirefis gazed upon them, and, methinks, he was glad at heart

At the sight of their lovely faces, and in joy had he lot and part.410

Then Gawain spake to Parzival, ‘Cousin, thou hast found a new battle-field,

If aright I may read the token of thy helmet and splintered shield,

Sore strife shall have been your comrade, both thine and thy brother’s too!

Say, with whom did ye fight so fiercely?’ Then Parzival spake anew,

‘No fiercer fight have I foughten, my brother’s hand pressed me sore415

To defend me, no charm more potent than defence ‘gainst death’s stroke I bore.

As this stranger, whom yet I knew well, I smote, my sword brake in twain,

Yet no fear did he show, and ‘vantage he scorned of mischance to gain,

For afar did he cast his sword-blade, since he feared lest ‘gainst me he sin,

Yet naught did he know when he spared me that we twain were so near akin.420

But now have I won his friendship, and his love, and with right goodwill

Would I do to him faithful service as befitteth a brother still!’

Then Gawain spake, ‘They brought me tidings of a dauntless strife and bold,

In Chateau Merveil the country for six miles may ye well behold,

The pillar within the watch-tower showeth all that within that space425

Doth chance,—and he spake, King Arthur, that one who there strife did face,

Should be thou cousin mine of Kingrivals, now h............