Book XVI · LOHENGRIN, part 7 of 14

¶To the priest then he spake, the heathen, 'If it bringeth me ease for woe I will swear whatsoe'er thou biddest--If reward in her love I know, Then gladly I'll do His bidding--Yea, brother, I here believe In the God of my love, and for her sake all other gods I'll leave, (For such sorrow as she hath brought me I never have known before,) 515 And it profiteth naught Sekundillé the love that to me she bore, And the honour that she hath done me--All that shall have passed away-- In the Name of the God of my father would I fain be baptized to-day!'

¶Then the priest laid his hands upon him, and the blessing baptismal gave, And he did on the chrisom vesture, and he won what his soul did crave, 520 For e'en as he was baptizèd they made ready the maiden mild, And for christening gift they gave him King Frimutel's lovely child.

¶From his eyes had the Grail been hidden ere baptismal waters bright Had passed o'er his head, but henceforward, 'twas unveiled to his wondering sight, And, e'en as the rite was over, on the Grail they this writing read; 525 'The Templar whom God henceforward to a strange folk should send as head, Must forbid all word or question of his country, or name, or race, If they willed he aright should help them, and they would in his sight find grace. For the day that they ask the question that folk must he leave straightway'-- Since the time that their king, Anfortas, so long in his anguish lay, 530 And the question o'er-long awaited, all questions but please them ill, The knights of the Grail, and no man doth question them with their will.

¶Then, baptized, Feirefis the Christian to Anfortas made urgent prayer, He should ride with him to his kingdom, and his riches with him should share; But, with courtesy, Anfortas to the knight and his prayer said 'Nay, 535 Naught shall hinder the willing service that to God I would give alway; 'Tis a goodly crown, the Grail crown, thro' pride was it lost to me, Henceforth do I choose as my portion a life of humility, And riches and love of women shall be strangers unto my heart-- Thou leadest with thee a fair wife, henceforth shall it be her part 540 With true love to reward thy service, as to women is fit and fair, But I for the love of mine Order henceforward mine arms will bear; For the Grail and Its service only I many a joust will ride, But I fight never more for women--thro' a woman did ill betide! Yet no hatred I bear to women, high courage and joy they give 545 Unto men, tho' I won but sorrow while I did in their service live.'

¶But yet, for the sake of his sister, Feirefis rested not to pray That Anfortas should journey with them, but ever he said them nay. Then he prayed Lohengrin should fare with him, but the mother, she willed it not; And King Parzival spake, 'In the service of the Grail hath he part and lot, 550 And my son, he is pledged to the Order, and a faithful heart and true Must he bear in the holy service--God grant him the will thereto!'

¶Then in joy and in fair diversion, till eleven days were o'er, Feirefis abode at Monsalväsch, on the twelfth would he ride once-more, He would lead his wife, this rich man, to his army that yet did wait 555 His coming, and Parzival sorrowed for the brother he won so late, And mourned sore when he heard the tidings--Then counsel he took straightway, And a goodly force of the Templars did he send with them on their way, Thro' the woodland paths should they guide them--Anfortas, the gallant knight, Himself fain would be their escort--sore wept many maidens bright. 560

¶And new pathways they needs must cut them to Karkobra's city fair-- Then Anfortas, he sent a message to him who was Burg-grave there; And he bade him, if aye of aforetime rich gifts from his hand he won To bethink him, that so this service of true heart by him be done; His brother-in-law with his lady, the king's sister, he now must guide 565 Thro' the wood Loehprisein, where the haven afar lieth wild and wide-- For now 'twas the hour of parting, nor further the knights must fare, But Anfortas, he spake to Kondrie, and he bade her the message bear. Then from Feirefis, the rich man, the Templars leave did pray, And the courteous knight and noble rode hence on his homeward way. 570

¶And the Burg-grave no whit delayed him, but he did e'en at Kondrie's word, And gave welcome fair and knightly to the folk and their noble lord. Nor might Feirefis grow weary of his stay, at the dawn of day, With many a knight as escort, they guided him on his way. But I know not how far he had ridden, nor the countries his eyes had seen 575 Ere he came once more to Ioflanz, and its meadow, so fair and green.

¶And some of the folk yet abode there--and Feirefis fain had known, In the self-same hour, the tidings of whither the host had flown; For each one had sought his country, and the road that full well he knew-- King Arthur to Camelot journeyed with many a hero true-- 580 Then he of Tribalibot hastened, and his army he sought once more, For his ships lay yet in the haven, and they grieved for their lord full sore And his coming brought joy and courage to many a hero bold-- The Burg-grave and his knights from Karkobra he rewarded with gifts and gold-- And strange news did they tell unto Kondrie, for messengers sought the host, 585 Sekundillé was dead; with the tidings they many a sea had crossed. Then first in her distant journey did Répanse de Schoie find joy, And in India's realm hereafter did she bear to the king a boy; And Prester John they called him, and he won to himself such fame That henceforward all kings of his country were known by no other name. 590 And Feirefis sent a writing thro' the kingdoms whose crown he bore, And the Christian Faith was honoured as it never had been of yore. (And Tribalibot was that country which as India here we know.) Then Feirefis spake to Kondrie, and he bade her his brother show (Who reigneth in far Monsalväsch) what had chanced unto him, the king, 595 And the death of Queen Sekundillé--and the tidings the maid did bring; And Anfortas was glad and joyful to think that his sister fair, Without or strife or conflict, the crown of those lands might bear.