Book XV · FEIREFIS, part 10 of 10

¶Nor seemed ill to the knight her tidings--Thro' joy must his eyelids know A rain of crystal tear-drops from a true heart's overflow. And he quoth, 'If thou speakest, Lady, the thing that indeed shall be, If God as his knight doth claim me, and they are elect with me, 800 My wife and my child, then I wot well, tho' a sinful man am I, God looketh with favour on me, and hath dealt with me wondrously! Of a sooth hast thou here repaid me for the grief thou on me hast brought, Yet I deem well thy wrath had spared me save that evil myself had wrought, Nor to bliss was I then predestined--but thou bringest such tidings fair 805 That my sorrow hath found an ending--And these arms do thy truth declare, For when by the sad Anfortas I sat in Monsalväsch' hall, Full many a shield I looked on that hung fair on the castle wall, And with turtle-doves all were blazoned, such as shine on thy robe to-day. But say, to the joy that awaits me, when and how may I take my way, 810 For I would not there were delaying?' Then she quoth, 'Lord and master dear, But one knight alone shall ride with thee; choose thou from these warriors here And trust thou to my skill and knowledge to guide thee upon thy way, For thy succour Anfortas waiteth, wouldst thou help him, make no delay!'

¶Then they heard, all they who sat there, how Kondrie had come again 815 And the tidings she bare; and teardrops fell soft like a summer's rain From the bright eyes of Orgelusé, since Parzival should speak The words that should heal Anfortas, nor that healing be long to seek. Then Arthur, the fame-desirous, spake to Kondrie in courtesy, 'Now, Lady, wilt ride to thy lodging? Say, how may we care for thee?' 820 And she quoth, 'Is she here, Arnivé, what lodging she shall prepare, That lodging shall well content me till hence with my lord I fare; If a captive she be no longer, then fain would I see them all, The queen, and the other ladies, whom Klingsor, in magic thrall, For many a year hath fettered'--Then they lifted her on her steed, 825 Two knights, and unto Arnivé did the faithful maiden speed.

¶Now the feast drew nigh to its ending--By his brother sat Parzival, And he prayed him to be his comrade, nor his words did unheeded fall, For Feirefis spake him ready to Monsalväsch' Burg to ride-- In the self-same hour upstood they, the guests, o'er the ring so wide, 830 And Feirefis prayed this favour from Gramoflanz, the king, If in sooth he should love his cousin of that love he would token bring; 'Both thou and Gawain, ye must help me, whether princes or kings they be, Or barons, or knights, none betake them from this field till my gifts they see. Myself had I shamed if I rode hence and never a gift should leave, 835 And the minstrel-folk they shall wait here till they gifts from my hand receive. And Arthur, this thing would I pray thee, seek that none of these knights disdain, Tho' lofty their birth, a token of friendship from me to gain; For the shame, on thyself shalt thou take it--one so rich shall they ne'er have known-- Give me messengers unto the haven that the presents to all be shown!' 840

¶Then they sware them unto the heathen that no man of them should depart From the field till four days were ended, and the heathen was glad at heart, And wise messengers Arthur gave him, who should forth to the haven fare-- Feirefis took him ink and parchment, and a letter he bade them bear, Nor the writing, I ween, lacked tokens of his hand from whom it came, 845 And seldom methinks a letter such goodly return might claim!

¶Then soon must the messengers ride hence--Parzival stood the host before, And in French did he tell the story from Trevrezent learnt of yore, How the Grail, throughout all ages, may never by man be known, Save by him whom God calleth to It, whose name God doth know alone. 850 And the tale shall be told in all lands; no conflict may win that prize, And 'tis vain on that Quest to spend them, since 'tis hidden from mortal eyes!'

¶And for Parzival and his brother the maidens must mourn that day, Farewell they were loth to bid them--Ere the heroes rode on their way Thro' the armies four they gat them, and they prayed leave from each and all, 855 And joyful, they took their journey, well armed 'gainst what might befall. And the third day hence to Ioflanz from the heathen's host they brought Great gifts, so rich and costly, men ne'er on such wealth had thought. Did a king take of them, his kingdom was rich for evermore-- And to each as beseemed his station the precious gifts they bore, 860 And the ladies, they had rich presents, from Triant and Nouriente-- How the others rode I know not, but the twain, they with Kondrie went!