Book XV · FEIREFIS, part 2 of 10

¶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 sore 115 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!