Book XII · EIDEGAST, part 7 of 8

¶'For the winning his death I took gladly the service he proffered me, A king, who of earthly wishes the master and lord should be, Sir Knight, he was named Anfortas--As his love-pledge to me he sent That which standeth without thy portals, from Tabronit it came, that tent, And great I ween is its value--But alas! for that gallant king, 515 Such reward did he win in my service as all joy to an end must bring Where fain I my love had given, there must I fresh sorrow know, For bitter indeed was his guerdon!--As great, or e'en greater, woe Than the death of Eidegast brought me, was my lot thro' Anfortas' fate. Now say, how shall I, of all women most wretched, in this estate, 520 If my heart yet be true, be other than of senses and mind distraught, Yea, at times have I been beside me when I on Anfortas thought; After Eidegast did I choose him, my avenger and love to be-- Now hearken and hear how Klingsor won that booth thou erewhile didst see: When it fell so the brave Anfortas, who this token had sent to me, 525 Was of love and of joy forsaken, then I feared lest I shamed should be; For Klingsor, such power he wieldeth by the force of his magic spell, That maiden or man to his purpose can he force as shall please him well. All gallant folk that he seeth, unharmed may they ne'er go free-- Thus my riches to him I proffered, if so be he sware peace with me. 530 And he that should brave the venture, and he that should win the prize, To him I my love should offer; but if so be that in his eyes My love were a thing unworthy, the booth should be mine again. But now hast thou done my bidding, and it falleth unto us twain; And 'twas sworn in the ears of many, for thereby I hoped to lure 535 My foe (yet in this I failèd) for the strife he might ne'er endure.'

¶'Now courtly and wise is Klingsor; for his honour it pleased him well That many a deed of knighthood, at my will, in his land befell, By the hand of my valiant servants, with many a thrust and blow. All the week, every day as it passes, and the weeks into years do grow, 540 My troops in their changing order beset him by night and day, For at great cost my snares so cunning for Gramoflanz did I lay. And many have striven with him, yet must him as victor own; Yet I still for his life am thirsting, and at last shall he be o'erthrown. And some were too rich for my payment, and but for my love would serve, 545 Then I bid them for that do me service, but reward did they ne'er deserve.'

¶'And never a man beheld me but his service I swiftly won, Save one, and he bare red armour; to my folk he much ill had done, For hither he rode from Logrois, and he there did my knights o'erthrow In such wise that they fell before him, and it pleased me but ill I trow. 550 And, between Logrois and thy meadow, five knights they followed fair, And he cast them to earth, and their chargers the boatman from thence must bear. Then as he my knights had vanquished, I myself did the hero pray For my love and my land to serve me, but naught would that red knight say, Save he had a wife who was fairer, and should aye to his heart be dear. 555 Then wroth was I at his answer, and the name of his wife would hear: "Wouldst thou know the name of my chosen?--She reigneth at Pelrapär, And Parzival all men call me, and naught for thy love I care, Other sorrow the Grail doth give me!" Then in anger he rode away; Now, I prithee, here give me counsel, if evil I did that day, 560 When I, by heart-sorrow driven, proffered love to that gallant knight? Should I count my fair fame dishonoured?' Quoth Gawain to that lady bright, 'A gallant knight is he, truly, who thus thy desire hath crossed, Had he to thy bidding hearkened no fame thou thro' him hadst lost!'

¶Then Gawain, the courteous hero, and the lady his rein beside, 565 Gazed lovingly on each other--and so far on their way did ride, That they drew anear to the castle, where the venture erewhile befell, And they who looked forth might see them---'Now, Lady, 'twould please me well If thou do this thing that I ask thee, from all men my name withhold, Which the knight who once stole my charger aloud in thine hearing told. 570 But do this that I say, if any shall pray thee to tell my name, Say, "I know not the name of my true knight, none spake it when here he came."' Then she quoth, 'I will keep it secret, since thou wouldst not 'twere spoken here.' And the knight and the lovely lady they rode to the Burg anear.

¶Now the knights they had heard of the coming of one who, with valiant hand, 575 Faced the venture, and slew the lion, and the Turkowit dared withstand, Yea, and had in fair joust o'erthrown him; and now on the flowery plain, The meadow of strife, rode the hero, and they looked on the knight Gawain, From the battlements could they see him; and the forces together draw; And with ringing blast of trumpet they pass thro' the castle door, 580 And rich banners on high were tossing, and their steeds o'er the plain they flew, And he deemed that they came for battle, so swift they towards him drew. As Gawain from afar might see them to the lady he spake again, 'Do they come here with thought of battle?' But she quoth, 'They are Klingsor's men, From afar have they seen thy coming, and they ride their new lord to greet, 585 With joy would they bid thee welcome! Refuse not this honour meet, Since 'tis gladness that doth constrain them.' There, too, in a vessel fair Plippalinòt came to meet them, and his daughter with him did bear; And swift o'er the flowery meadow the maiden towards them stept, And joyful she hailed the hero for whom she aforetime wept. 590

¶Then Gawain gave her courteous greeting, and stirrup and foot she kissed, And she turned her to Orgelusé, nor the lady her welcome missed. And she prayed him to 'light from his charger the while that she held the rein, And then to the ship she led them, the lady and knight Gawain; And there, in the place of honour, a carpet and cushions lay, 595 And the Duchess by Gawain sat her, as the maiden the twain did pray. And her office the maid forgat not, she disarmèd the hero there, And in sooth it is said that the mantle she did for his robing bear Which had served him that night for cover, when he did 'neath her rooftree lie, And now was the hour for its wearing and it wrapped him right royally. 600 So clad was Gawain in her mantle, and his own robe beneath he wore, And the harness he laid from off him on one side the maiden bore.