Book IV · KONDWIRAMUR, part 6 of 8

¶Now hear ye another story, how the Burgers would guard their wall. Strong stakes of wood sharp-pointed they made fast in tree-trunks tall; 430 (Sore pain thus was wrought the besiegers) and the trunks were made fast that day To a rope that by wheel was guided, so they guarded their walls alway. And all this had they done and tested ere Klamidé would storm the gate To avenge the fall of Kingron--There had come to their land of late Greek fire, for the ships had brought it that of food brought a goodly store, 435 And it burnt of the foe the weapons, and the engines of deadly war; And battering-ram or tortoise in vain 'gainst the walls were wheeled, No weapon had they for onslaught but was forced to the flame to yield!

¶Now Kingron the seneschal journeyed till he came on to Breton ground, In his hunting-house in Briziljan King Arthur at last he found, 440 And Karminöl did they call it--As 'fore Pelrapär he fought, So at Parzival's word his surety to the maid of Lalande he brought, And glad was fair Kunnewaaré that, faithful, he mourned her shame Whom men there knew as the Red Knight, and this knight at his bidding came.

¶And soon were the wondrous tidings amid the courtiers spread, 445 And he stood there before King Arthur, a gallant knight ill-sped. Then he spake unto him and his vassals in such wise as he needs must speak, And Kay was with terror smitten, and crimson it grew, his cheek, And he spake, 'Is it thou, O Kingron? Ah! many a Breton knight, Thou seneschal of Klamidé, thy hand hath o'erthrown in fight! 450 If thy captor ne'er look upon me with favour, thine office high Shall turn to thy good; we are rulers of the caldron, both thou and I, Of thy wisdom and skill do thou aid me, to win me the favour fair Of this maiden Kunnewaaré, and sweet cates for her board prepare!'

¶Nor they asked from him other ransom--Now leave we that tale and hear 455 What had passed since we left the story--So the host to the town drew near, To Pelrapär came the King Klamidé, and a bitter strife arose. The inner host strove with the outer, and in sooth were they gallant foes, Fresh strength had they won and courage, and bravely they held the field; And Parzival, lord of the country, in the vanguard he bare his shield. 460 And he swung aloft his weapon, thro' the helm clave the blade so keen, And the knights he o'erthrew before him found a bitter death I ween, For there, where the corslet opened, the Burgers they pierced them thro', In such wise would they take their vengeance--this wrought grief to the hero true, And Parzival, he forbade them, and they ceased at their lord's command, 465 But of living knights full twenty were captive unto their hand.

¶Yet Parzival well had marked it how the king and his bravest knights Sought not fame before the portals, but far out in the plain would fight; Then forth by a path untrodden the hero a circuit made, And swiftly he charged where the monarch his banner aloft displayed. 470 And, see! there a mighty slaughter the guard of the king befell, And the shields they were hewn in pieces, the Burgers they fought so well. And Parzival's shield had vanished 'fore the blows and the sword-blades keen; And tho' little his skill rejoiced them, yet all who the strife had seen, They spoke but to praise his valour--Galogandres the standard bare, 475 (Well he knew how to wake their courage!) but dead lay the hero there. And Klamidé himself stood in peril, and great stress on his army lay; Then he bade them withdraw, for the valour of the Burgers had won the day.

¶But Parzival, gallant hero, bade them treat their captives well Till the dawn of the third day's morning, and fear on his foemen fell. 480 Then the young host, proud and joyful, bade the knights on their oath go free-- 'Good friends, when the word I send ye, then wend your way back to me!' Their swords and their goodly harness as prisoners they needs must yield; Unarmed did they fare from the city to the host on the outer field.

¶'For sooth,' spake their comrades mocking, 'from wine must ye needs be red, 485 Poor souls, since within the city ye have hungered for lack of bread!' 'Nay! nay! ye may spare your pity,' so spake they, the heroes good, 'If ye lie here a whole year longer, within is such store of food, That by them might ye well be nourished! And the queen hath the fairest knight For her husband, that e'er won knighthood, or carried a shield in fight, 490 He may well be of lofty lineage, for he lacketh no knightly skill!' And the king needs must hear the tidings, and in sooth did they please him ill, And heralds he sent to the city, and he bade them this challenge bear To him whom the queen had wedded, 'If this knight the strife shall dare, And the queen doth hold him worthy herself, and her lands so wide, 495 To defend in single combat, then in peace may our hosts abide!'

¶And Parzival he was joyful at the message the heralds bare, And his heart was fain for the combat; and out spake the hero fair, 'Now I pledge me upon mine honour that no man within this wall Shall lift his hand for my peril, alone will I stand or fall!' 500 So betwixt the moat and the meadow a truce did they swear that day, And those smiths of battle armed them as meet for the coming fray.

¶On a gallant war-horse armèd sat the King of Brandigan, 'Twas hight Guverjorz--This charger with many a gallant man, And many a goodly present, from Gringorz his nephew, king 505 Of Ipotente did Count Narant from the north o'er the deep seas bring. And therewith were a thousand footmen, well armed save no shield had they; (If the tale speaketh true to the third year the king had made good their pay.) And Gringorz sent him knights five hundred, each one with his helm on head, And skilled were they all in battle; with Klamidé they hither sped. 510 And thus had the mighty army, alike both by sea and land, Encircled the town of Pelrapär, and great need must its folk withstand!

¶Forth rode Parzival from the city to the field that should aye declare If 'twas God's will his wife to leave him, the child of King Tampentäre. Proudly he rode, yet he spurred not his steed to its swiftest flight, 515 And 'twas armed for need, and its covering was a samite of red so bright, And the iron lay beneath it--And the hero himself shone fair In his harness red, red his corslet, and the shield that he proudly bare. And Klamidé began the conflict--A short spear of wood unwrought, With that would he fell his foeman, and the joust from afar he sought; 520 And Guverjorz sprang forth swiftly, and the joust it was ridden well By those heroes young and beardless, nor one from his saddle fell, And never a horse or a rider had foughten a better fight; And the steam rose in clouds from the chargers on which sat each gallant knight,