Book VI · ARTHUR, part 11 of 12

¶'Tho' all men to me were strangers, yet hither I came to know 885 What ventures of gallant knighthood a Christian land might show; And of all Heaven's gifts the highest, I ween, shall thy portion be, And Christendom winneth honour thro' the praise it doth give to thee. And thine is a noble bearing, and fair is thy form and face, And in thee beauty mates with manhood, and strength doth thy youth embrace!' 890 (Both rich and wise was the heathen, and of wisdom she token gave, In the French tongue her speech was holden.) Then out spake the hero brave, And he quoth, 'God reward thee, Lady, who thinkest to comfort me, Yet sorrow it fast doth bind me, and the cause would I tell to thee, For the shame that has here befallen think not I shall lightly bear, 895 And here many sin against me, who give to my plaint no ear, The while I must list their mocking!--No joy shall my portion be Or long or short be my wanderings, till the Grail once again I see! For my soul's unrest constrains me, and it driveth me on my way, Nor so long as my life endureth shall my feet from their wanderings stay!' 900

¶'If a courteous and knightly bearing but bringeth rewarding still In shame, and in this world's mocking, then methinks I was counselled ill! For 'twas Gurnemanz who bade me of questions rash beware, And from words and ways unfitting a courteous knight forbear. Here standeth full many a hero, I pray ye give counsel true, 905 By your courtesy and knighthood, that your grace I may win anew. Here hath judgment been passed upon me with bitter words and strong-- Who withholdeth from me his favour, I deem not he doth me wrong; If perchance, in the days hereafter, fame and honour my lot shall be Then according to those my dealings, I pray ye to deal with me; 910 But now must I haste far from ye--An oath have ye sworn me here While I stood in the strength of mine honour; of that oath do I hold ye clear Till the day I have won me payment for my fresh joy waxed wan and pale; And my heart shall be home of sorrow, nor tears to mine eyes shall fail, For the day that at far Monsalväsch my labour I left undone, 915 And myself from all joy I severed, and woe for my guerdon won. Ah God! they were fair, those maidens! and ne'er was there wonder tale That men told, but as naught its marvels to those of the wondrous Grail! Yet torment so sore, and sighing, are the lot of Its king, alas! Small good hath my coming done thee, thou hapless Anfortas!' 920

¶Nor longer the knight might linger, but part they must alway, So turned he unto King Arthur, and leave he fain would pray Of him, his knights, and ladies, with their favour would he depart, And none, I ween, but sorrowed that he rode hence sad at heart.

¶Hand in hand King Arthur sware him, if henceforth his land should bear 925 Such woe as Klamidé brought him, then the shame he with him would share, And he spake that full sore it grieved him that crowns and kingdoms twain, With the riches that were their portion, Lähelein from the knight had ta'en. And service both true and faithful many sware unto him that day, Ere yet from the court of King Arthur, sorrow-driven, he passed away. 930

¶Then the fair maid Kunnewaaré, she took the hero bold, And hence by the hand she led him, and in this wise the tale is told, Sir Gawain he turned and kissed him, and he spake out in manly wise To the hero strong and gallant: 'Now thou ridest in warlike guise, And thy feet shall be swift to battle--God guide thee upon thy way, 935 And give me such strength to serve thee as my heart shall be fain alway.'

¶But Parzival cried, 'Woe is me! Who is He, this mighty God? Had He power, then methinks our portion had ne'er been this shame abhorred! Small power shall be His! I served Him from the day I first knew His grace, Henceforth I renounce His service; doth He hate me, His hate I'll face! 940 And, friend, in thine hour of peril, as thy shield may a wife's love stand, Dost thou know her for pure and holy, then the thought of her guide thine hand, And her love from all evil guard thee,--as I wish, may it be to thee, For little I wot of the future, if thy face I again may see!'

¶And their parting it brought them sorrow, for comrades in ill were they. 945 With the maiden Kunnewaaré, to her tent must he take his way. And she bade them bring his harness; with her hands so soft and white, She bound the armour on him who had served her as faithful knight. And she spake, ''Tis my right to do this, since it is thro' thy deed alone That Brandigan's gallant monarch now claimeth me as his own. 950 For otherwise thy valour but bringeth me grief and pain, Art thou not against sorrow armèd, then thy loss shall outweigh my gain!'

¶For battle decked was his charger, and his sorrow must wake to life, And fair was the knight to look on; and the harness he bare for strife Knew never a flaw, but was costly, and as sunshine 'twas white and fair, 955 And radiant with gold and jewels the corslet and coat he ware, But the helmet alone was lacking--ere he bound it upon his head, In the self-same hour he kissed her, Kunnewaaré, the gracious maid. And this of the twain was told me, that the parting was sore to see 'Twixt those two who loved each other in all honour and loyalty. 960

¶So hence let him ride, our hero, and what ventures a man may tell He shall measure them not with the ventures that to Gamuret's son befell. Yet hear ye awhile of his doings, where he journeyed and whence would ride-- He who loveth not deeds of knighthood, if counsel he take of pride For awhile will forget his doings--On thee, Kondwiramur, 965 On thy fair face and lovely body, thy lover thought evermore. What ventures he dared in thy service as knightly the Grail he sought! Nor tarried he in the seeking but onward his way he fought, The child of fair Herzeleide, and knew not that he was heir To the glories that he rode seeking, to the Grail and Its palace fair! 970