Book XVI · LOHENGRIN, part 3 of 14

¶No choice was there for the Templars since the writing upon the Grail Had named unto them their ruler, and Parzival did they hail Their king and their lord henceforward; and I ween ye in vain would seek Would ye find two men as wealthy, if of riches I here may speak, 160 As Parzival and his brother, Feirefis Angevin-- And many a proffered service the host and his guest did win.

¶I know not how many stages queen Kondwiramur had made On her journey towards Monsalväsch, nor, joyful, her steps delayed, For already the truth had been told her, and a messenger tidings bare, 165 And she knew that her grief was ended and her gladness had blossomed fair. And led by her uncle, Kiot, and by many a hero bold, Had she come unto Terre de Salväsch and the wood where they fought of old; Where in joust Segramor had fallen, and her lord did her likeness know In the threefold blood-drops mystic, on the white of the drifted snow. 170 And there should Parzival seek her, and tho' toilsome and rough the way Yet never a gladder journey had he ridden than he rode that day!

¶Then a Templar tidings brought him, 'E'en as doth her rank beseem Full many a knight so courteous rideth hither beside the queen.' Then Parzival bethought him, with the knights of the Holy Grail 175 To Trevrezent did he ride first, and he told him the wondrous tale; From his heart was the hermit joyful that it thus with Anfortas stood, Nor death was his lot, but the question brought rest to the hero good. And he quoth, 'Yea, God's power is mighty--Who doth at His Council sit? Who hath known of His strength the limit? What Angel hath fathomed it? 180 God is Man, and the Word of His Father; God is Father at once and Son, And I wot thro' His Spirit's working may succour and aid be won!'

¶Then Trevrezent quoth to his nephew, 'Greater marvel I ne'er may see Than that thou by thy wrath hast won blessing, and th' Eternal Trinity Hath given thee thy desiring! Yet aforetime in sooth I lied, 185 For I thought from the Grail to bring thee, and the truth I from thee would hide. Do thou for my sin give me pardon, henceforth I thy hand obey, O my king, and son of my sister!--Methinks that I once did say That the spirits cast forth from Heaven thereafter the Grail did tend By God's will, and besought His favour, till their penance at last did end. 190 But God to Himself is faithful, and ne'er doth He changing know, Nor to them whom I named as forgiven did He ever forgiveness show. For they who refuse His service, He Himself will, I ween, refuse, And I wot they are lost for ever, and that fate they themselves did choose. And I mourned for thy fruitless labour, for ne'er did the story stand 195 That the Grail might by man be conquered, and I fain had withheld thine hand; But with thee hath the chance been other, and thy prize shall the highest be, But since God's Hand doth give It to thee, turn thine heart to humility.'

¶Quoth Parzival to his uncle, 'I would see her I ne'er might see For well-nigh five years--When together we dwelt she was dear to me, 200 And no whit less dear shall she now be! Yet thy counsel I fain would hear So long as death fail to part us, thou didst help me in need so drear! Now I ride to my wife, since she cometh to meet me upon my way, By Plimizöl's banks doth she wait me, and leave I from thee would pray.'

¶And the good man bade 'God speed him,' and he rode thro' the dusky night, 205 And his men knew the woodland pathways--In the early morning light He found that which brought him gladness; full many a tent stood fair, From out the kingdom of Brobarz many banners were planted there, With many a shield beneath them--there lay princes from out his land, And Parzival fain would ask them where the tent of the queen might stand? 210 If her camp lay apart from the others? Then they showed him where she should be, And a goodly ring around her of tents did the hero see. And Duke Kiot of Katelangen, he had risen ere dawn of day, And he looked on the band of riders who came by the woodland way.

¶And tho' grey was the light of the morning, yet, as the host nearer drew, 215 Kiot saw the Dove on their armour, and the arms of the Grail he knew; And the old man sighed as he thought him of Schoysiané, his lovely bride, How he won her in bliss at Monsalväsch, and how she untimely died. Towards Parzival he stepped him, and he bade him a greeting fair; By a page he bade the queen's Marshal a lodging meet prepare 220 For the knights who had there drawn bridle--in sooth 'twas a gallant band-- Then to the queen's dressing-chamber he led Parzival by the hand, ('Twas a small tent made of buckram,) and there, in the waxing light, His harness they take from off him ere he pass to his lady's sight.

¶And the queen she knew naught of his coming--her twin sons beside her lay, 225 Lohengrin and Kardeiss; and their father, methinks he was glad that day! There he found them slumbering sweetly, in a tent both high and wide, And many a lovely lady lay sleeping on either side. Then Kiot, he drew the covering from the queen, and he bade her wake, And look, and laugh, and be joyful, and her love to her arms to take; 230 And she looked up and saw her husband; and naught but her smock she bare, The covering she wrapt around her, and sprang swift on the carpet fair, Kondwiramur, the lovely lady--and Parzival held her tight, And they say that they kissed each other, the queen and her faithful knight. 'Thou joy of my heart! Good Fortune hath sent thee again to me,' 235 She quoth, and she bade him welcome, 'Now in sooth I should wrathful be, Yet have I no heart for anger! Ah! blest be the dawn and the day That this dear embrace hath brought me, which all sorrow must drive away. For now at last have I found thee, whom my heart hath desired so long, And grief in my heart is vanquished, and sighing is turned to song.' 240