Book IX · TREVREZENT, part 9 of 16

¶And he quoth, 'Sir Knight, at Monsalväsch a king reigned in days of yore, 685 His name all men know as Anfortas, and I weep for him evermore. Yea, and thou too shalt mourn his sorrow, for bitter the woe, I ween, And the torment of heart and body that his guerdon from pride hath been. For his youth and his worldly riches they led him an evil road, And he sought for Frau Minne's favour in paths where no peace abode.' 690

¶'But the Grail all such ways forbiddeth, and both knight alike and squire Who serve the Grail must guard them from the lust of untamed desire. By meekness their pride must be conquered, if they look for a heavenly prize, And the brotherhood holdeth hidden the Grail from all stranger eyes: By their warlike skill and prowess the folk from the lands around, 695 They keep afar, and none knoweth where the Grail and Its Burg are found Save those whom the Grail shall summon within Monsalväsch' wall-- Yet one, uncalled, rode thither and evil did then befall, For foolish he was, and witless, and sin-laden from thence did fare, Since he asked not his host of his sorrow and the woe that he saw him bear. 700 No man would I blame, yet this man, I ween, for his sins must pay, Since he asked not the longed-for question which all sorrow had put away. (Sore laden his host with suffering, earth knoweth no greater pain.) And before him King Lähelein came there, and rode to the Lake Brimbane. Libbèals, the gallant hero, a joust there was fain to ride, 705 And Lähelein lifeless left him, on the grass by the water-side, (Prienlaskors, methinks, was his birthplace) and his slayer then led away His charger, so men knew the evil thus wrought by his hand that day.'

¶'And I think me, Sir Knight, thou art Lähelein? For thou gavest unto my care A steed that such token showeth as the steeds of the Grail Knights bear! 710 For the white dove I see on its housing, from Monsalväsch it surely came? Such arms did Anfortas give them while joy yet was his and fame. Their shields bare of old the token, Titurel gave it to his son Frimutel, and such shield bare that hero when his death in a joust he won. For his wife did he love so dearly no woman was loved so well 715 By man, yet in truth and honour,--and the same men of thee shall tell If thou wakenest anew old customs, and thy wife from thine heart dost love-- Hold thou fast to such fair example lest thy steps from the right path rove! And in sooth thou art wondrous like him who once o'er the Grail did reign, Say, what is thy race? whence art thou? and tell me I pray thy name!' 720

¶Each gazed for a space on the other, and thus quoth Parzival, 'Son am I to a king and hero who through knightly courage fell, In a joust was he slain--Now I pray thee, Sir Hermit, of this thy grace, That thou, in thy prayers henceforward, wilt give to his name a place. Know, Gamuret, did they call him, and he came from fair Anjou-- 725 Sir Host I am not Lähelein; if ever such sin I knew 'Twas in my days of folly, yet in truth have I done the same, Here I make of my guilt confession, and my sin unto thee I name, For the prince who once fell a victim unto my sinful hand Was he whom men called 'the Red Knight,' Prince Ither of Cumberland. 730 On the greensward I lifeless stretched him, and as at my feet he lay, Harness, and horse, and weapons, as my booty I bare away!'

¶Spake the host as his words were ended, (the tale he ill pleased must hear,) 'Ah! world, wherefore deal thus with us? since sorrow and grief and fear Far more than delight dost thou give us! Say, is this thy reward alone? 735 For ever the song that thou singest doth end in a mournful tone!' And he spake, 'O thou son of my sister, what rede may I give to thee? Since the knight thou hast slain in thy folly, thy flesh and thy blood was he! If thou, blood-guiltiness bearing, shalt dare before God to stand, For one blood were ye twain, to God's justice thy life shall repay thine hand. 740 Say, for Ither of Gaheviess fallen, what payment dost think to give? The crown he of knightly honour! God gave him, while he might live. All that decketh man's life; for all evil his true heart did truly mourn, True balsam was he of the faithful, to honour and glory born. And shame fled before his coming, and truth in his heart did dwell, 745 And for love of his lovely body many women shall hate thee well! For well did they love his coming, and to serve them he aye was fain, But their eyes that shone fair for his fairness he ne'er shall rejoice again! Now, may God show His mercy to thee whose hand hath such evil wrought, Herzeleide the queen, thy mother, thou too to her death hast brought--' 750 'Nay! Nay! not so, holy father! What sayest thou?' quoth Parzival, 'Of what dost thou here accuse me? Were I king o'er the wondrous Grail Not all Its countless riches would repay me if this be sooth, These words that thy lips have spoken! And yet if I, in very truth, Be son unto thy sister, then show that thou mean'st me well, 755 And say, without fear or falsehood, are these things true that thou dost tell?'

¶Then the hermit he spake in answer, 'Ne'er learnt I to deceive, Thy mother she died of sorrow in the day thou her side didst leave, Such rewarding her love won for her! Thou wast the beast that hung On her breast, the wingèd dragon that forth from her body sprung, 760 That spread its wings and left her: in a dream was it all foretold Ere yet the sorrowing mother the babe to her breast did hold!'

¶'And two other sisters had I, Schoisianè she was one; She bare a child--Woe is me, her death thro' this birth she won! Duke Kiot of Katelangen was her husband, and since that day 765 All wordly joy and honour he putteth from him away. Siguné, their little daughter, was left to thy mother's care: And sorrow for Schoisianè in my heart do I ever bear! So true was her heart and faithful, an ark 'gainst the flood of sin. A maiden, my other sister, her pure life doth honour win, 770 For the Grail she ever tendeth--Repanse de Schoie, her name, Tho' none from Its place may move It whose heart showeth taint of shame, In her hands is It light as a feather--And brother unto us twain Is Anfortas, by right of heirship he king o'er the Grail doth reign; And he knoweth not joy, but sorrow, yet one hope I ween is his, 775 That his pain shall at last be turnèd to delight and to endless bliss. And wondrous the tale of his sorrow, as, nephew, I'll tell to thee, And if true be thine heart and faithful his grief shall thy sorrow be!'