From left and from right came the armies, o'er the grassy plain so wide,And, each one their station keeping, they halted on either side,And they looked on the mighty combat, on one side the chargers stood,445And afoot on the ground they battled with sword-blades, the heroes good.And sharp and sore was the conflict, and steadfast the twain did stand,And their swords on high they tossed them, and oft did the blades change hands.Now Gramoflanz reaped sore payment for the garland from off his tree,To the kinsman of his fair lady should the strife none too easy be.450His kinship with fair Itonjé had stood Parzival in good stead,If right might have claimed a hearing, yet was not his strife ill-sped.And they who much fame had won them, again for fair fame would fight;And one strove for the sake of his kinsman, and one for his lady bright,For he did but Frau Minne's bidding, as was meet for her vassal true—455Now uprode the gallant Gawain, and e'en as he nearer drewThe conflict was nigh its ending, and the Waleis should victor be;And, bareheaded, unto the battle, there hastened those heroes three,Brandelidelein of Punturtois, and Count Bernard of Riviers,And the third knight who rode beside them was Affinamus of Clitiers.460From the army over against them came King Arthur beside Gawain,To the two knights, with battle wearied, they rode o'er the grassy plain;And all the five they thought them 'twas time that the strife should end,And Gramoflanz must confess here that no longer he might contend,And his own mouth proclaimed him vanquished, and his foeman had won the day—465And the folk who had seen the combat might never his word gainsay!Then out spake King Lot's son gaily, 'Sir King, I will speak to theeTo-day, as yestreen thou spakest when rest thou didst bid tome"Go rest thee to-day, for 'tis needful," he who conflict did here demand,He will own thou art all too feeble this day to resist mine hand.470AloneI might well have faced thee, but thou with buttwowilt fight!To-morrow I'll dare the venture, and may God show forth the right!'Then the king he rode to his army, but first must he pledge his wordHe would meet Gawain on the morrow, and face him with spear and sword.To Parzival quoth King Arthur, 'Nephew, thou late didst pray,475Of thy manhood, to fight this combat for Gawain, and he said thee Nay,And therein didst thou sore lament thee, and yet thou this fight hast foughtFor him who did strait forbid thee! Of our will hast thou asked us naught.From our court, as a thief, hast thou stolen, or else had we held thine handAfar from this strife, I wot well thou didst fight not atourcommand!480Yet Gawain, he shall not be wrathful, tho' great praise be for this thy meed.'—Quoth Gawain, 'Nay, it nothing grieves me, my cousin's gallant deed,To-morrow is all too early if this combat I needs must face,An the king would withdraw his challenge I would count it to him for grace.'To the camp rode the mighty army, there were many ladies fair,485And many a knight in armour, and costly the arms they bare.And I ween that never an army was so richly decked before,For the knights of the good Round Table, and the men of the Duchess woreFair surcoats richly blazoned, of silk from Zinidunt,And bright was their outer garments, and brought from far Pelpiunt.490But the heroes in either army spake ever of Parzival,And their lips, in such wise they praised him, that his friends it rejoiced them well.And the men of Gramoflanz spake thus, that never the sun had shoneOn a knight who fought so bravely, or such gallant deeds had done;And whatever feats of knighthood had been wrought on either side,495Yet he, o'er all other heroes, the victor should still abide.Yet they knew not of whom they spake thus, nay, neither his race or name,Tho' the army it rang with his praises, and no mouth but declared his fame.Then Gramoflanz did they counsel, King Arthur he well might prayTo take good heed to his army that no knight from his ranks should stray500For combat, as e'en that morning, but to send unto himoneknight,The son of King Lot, Sir Gawain, for withhimhad he come to fight.And straightway he sent the message by two courtly lads and wise,And he spake, 'Now look well for the maiden who is fairest in all men's eyes,Look well by whom Bené sitteth; and so ye play well your part,505Ye shall see in what wise she bear her, if joyful, or sad at heart.Ye shall prove these her ways in secret, in her eyes ye right well may seeIf yet for a friend she mourneth; and this too your task shall be,Ye shall give to my friend, fair Bené, this letter and golden ring,She knoweth for whom is the token—Now see that ye do this thing!'510In the other camp, the meanwhile, did Itonjé the tidings hearThat her gallant brother, Gawain, and he whom her soul held dear,The fairest knight that a maiden within her heart might hold,Would fight, the one with the other, and their hand might no man withhold.Then her maiden shame it yielded to the flood of her grief so sore,515And none shall rejoice at her sorrow, for the pain undeserved she bore.Then her mother and Queen Arnivé they led the maid asideTo a tent so small and silken, and Arnivé her grief would chide,And she bade her cease her weeping—There was naught that the maid might say,But to speak aloud the secret she hid in her heart alway;520Then out quoth the royal maiden, 'Of my brother shall he be slainWho is lord of my heart and my true love! Let his hand from such deed refrain!'To a noble youth spake Arnivé, 'Now get thee unto my son,And bid him come hither quickly, with him would I speak alone.'Then the lad he brought King Arthur—Now this was Arnivé's mind,525If she told unto him the story perchance he might counsel find,And by him should that strife be hindered, for which the maiden fairSo sorely wept, and such sorrow and anguish of heart must bear.Now they came to the camp of King Arthur, who Gramoflanz' message bore,By the silken tent they dismounted; there sat Bené before the door,530And within spake the maid to King Arthur, 'If my brother shall slay my kingTo pleasure his faithless Duchess, doth he deem that shall honour bring?He might know of himself it were ill-done—He hath wronged him no whit I ween,That he doeth tometrue service, his safety might well have been!If my brother be yet in his senses he doth of our true love know,535How pure it is, and how faithful, and this venture should work him woe.A bitter death shall it bring me, the hand that my love doth kill—Sir King, thou shalt mourn my sorrow, and I think not that such thy will,'Spake the fair maid unto King Arthur, 'Forget not that thou shalt beMine uncle, and stay this combat which worketh such ill to me!'540Quoth Arthur aloud in his wisdom, 'Alas, thou fair niece of mine,That thus young thou canst love so dearly, for sorrow shall sure be thine,As sorrow befell thy sister, Surdamur, for her love so trueTo the Emperor of Greece—Sweet maiden, thy will might I surely do,And hinder this strife, if I knew well that ye twain were but one in heart—540Yet King Irot's son, he is valiant, and courage in him hath part,And this combat he'll fight, full surely, an Love stay not his hand so bold—Did he ne'er, in a joyful moment, thy fair face and sweet lips behold?'And she spake, 'Nay, we love, but neither as yet hath the other seen,Tho' of true love many a token from his hand hath my portion been.550And tokens true have I sent him, that no doubt should betwixt us lie—No falsehood my king's heart ruleth, but he loveth me steadfastly!'Then the maiden Bené saw them, and knew them, the squires twainWho came to the court of King Arthur from Gramoflanz' kingly train,And she spake, 'Here should no man linger, will ye that I bid them go,555The folk, from our tent? It were ill-done, methinks, that all men should knowHow sorely my lady sorroweth for the sake of her love so dear;Methinks it might lightly happen that too many the tale should hear!'Then forth from the tent went Bené, and in secret unto her careThe squire gave the folded letter, and the golden ring he bare,560And they, too, had heard the wailing of the maid, and they knew full wellWhy she sorrowed, and this their errand they fain to the king would tell.And they asked of the maiden Bené if she their friend would be?And she spake, 'Stand without the circle till I bid ye to come to me!'Then Bené, the gentle maiden, she told them within the tent565That without two squires were waiting, from Gramoflanz hither sent,And fain would they speak with King Arthur—'But unfitting it seemeth meThat we call them unto our counsels, and that witnesses they should be.On my lady must I avenge me, if thus they shall see her weep,I bade them await my bidding, and without there their station keep!'570Quoth Arthur, 'Are they the pages whom I saw behind me ride?Of noble birth shall the twain be, methinks, it might well betideThat so wise are they both and courteous they might give us counsel good,Methinks of their king's love either would treat in a fitting mood?'Quoth Bené, 'Nay, that I know not, but Sire, of thy grace, this ring575And the letter which now I bring thee, they bare hither from their king.As but now I left the pavilion, of the pages, one gave it me.Now see, Lady, do thou take it, for methinks it is meant for thee!'Then Itonjé, she kissed the letter, and she held it unto her heart,And she quoth, 'Now, Sire, thou canst see here if he would in my love have part.'580In his hand Arthur took the letter, and within he found written fairThe words of one who loveth, and his passion would fain declare.For Gramoflanz' hand had written the words that his lips would say,And Arthur, he saw by the letter that Love held o'er his heart such swayThat ne'er had he known aforetime one who loved with so true a love—585And the words that within were written Frau Minne might well approve.'Now greeting to whom I owe greeting, whose greeting I fain would earn,To thee, O thou gracious maiden, whose heart toward my heart doth turn!Who with comfort would fain console me—Our love goeth hand-in-hand,And the solace thy love would bring me doth high o'er all solace stand;590And my joy in thy love is rooted, and my faith is to thee held fast,And sorrow and bitter anguish shall forth from my heart be cast.And thou bringest me help and counsel, so that never an evil thoughtOr a faithless deed, and shameful, shall against my fame be brought.But I look on thy truth and thy beauty with ever a steadfast mind,595As the Pole-star doth in the north pole the goal of its gazing find,And neither its post forsaketh; e'en so shall our true love be,And waver not, one from the other—So think thou, sweet maid, on me,How I mourned unto thee my sorrow, nor be weary of this my prayer—And if one would part thee from me, for the hatred that he shall bear600Unto me, then shalt thou bethink thee how thy love shall reward us both,And think thou of woman's honour, nor be of thy favours loth;But still let me be thy servant, in thy service I fain would live,And, in all that I may, true service I will to my lady give!'Quoth Arthur, 'Fair niece, thou saidst truly, he greeteth thee without guile605Such tale doth this letter tell me that never, at any while,Have I found of true love such marvel! His grief shalt thou put away,As he too shall cure thy sorrow, so do thou thy weeping stay,And trust unto me, this combat shall be hindered—Yet say thou here,Thou wert captive, how hath it chanced then that ye hold each other dear?610Thou shalt give him thy fair love's payment, that he do thee service true.'—Spake Itonjé, 'See, here she standeth who us twain together drew,Our love, it had else been hidden—If thou will that I now may seeHim whom my heart desireth she will summon him unto me!'Quoth Arthur, 'Now, show her to me; if I may, I this thing will guide615That your will shall be done, and hereafter ye twain shall in joy abide!'Quoth Itonjé, ''Twas none but Bené; and two of his squires are here,If thou wilt, do this thing, (for I think me my life shall to thee be dear,)Thou shalt see that the king cometh hither, that he looketh upon my faceIn whom all my joy is hidden, and my life shall be in his grace!'620Then Arthur, the wise and courteous, would speak with the squires without,He greeted them as he saw them, and boldly the one spake out,'Sire, King Gramoflanz, he prays thee, for thine honour as knight and king,That the oath sworn 'twixt him and Gawain thou wilt to fulfilment bring.And further, Sire, he prays thee that none other with him shall fight,625So great is thine host, must he faceall, methinks it would scarce be right!ButGawainshalt thou send against him, for he willeth no other foe,And Gawain alone hath he challenged, as thyself thou shalt surely know!'Quoth King Arthur unto the pages, 'I will free us from blame alway,And sorely it grieved my nephew that he fought not the strife to-day.630And the knight who fought with your monarch, to victory was he born,The son of Gamuret is he—Three armies are here this morn,And from many a land came they hither, but never a man hath seenIn combat so brave a hero, and glorious his deeds have been.He is Parzival, my kinsman, ye shall see him, the fair of face,—635For the faith and the need of Gawain will I do to the king this grace.'Then King Arthur and maiden Bené, with the squires they rode here and there,And in sooth those squires they looked on full many a lady fair,And they saw on the jewelled helmets many proud crests and knightly wave,And few for such sight shall vex them, for he who is rich as brave640Full many a friend he findeth! They 'lighted not from their steed,And the bravest men of the armies that lay camped on the flowery meadKing Arthur would show unto them, they might gaze on them at their will,Knights, ladies, and gentle maidens, of beauty they saw their fill!In three portions it lay, the army, and two spaces there were between—645Then away from the camp rode King Arthur, far out on the plain so green,And he quoth, 'Now sweet maiden Bené, her plaint didst thou hear alway,Itonjé, the child of my sister, her weeping she will not stay.These my comrades who ride beside me, if they will, they may well believeOf her beauty their king hath robbed her, so sorely the maid doth grieve!650Now help me, ye twain, and thou, Bené, that the king he shall hither ride,E'en to-day, tho' the strife to-morrow he may, if he will, abide.I will bring Gawain to meet him on the plain, as he prayed but now—If he cometh to-day to mine army 'gainst the morn is he armed I trow,For Love such a shield shall give him that his foeman may ill withstand655The courage that Love doth kindle, and that nerveth anew the hand.And his princes shall he bring with him, for here would I do as bestDoth lie in my power that the Duchess shall hearken to my behest,And peace shall be sealed between them—Now strive ye, my comrades dear,With skill for such happy ending, 'twill be to your honour here.660And further I make my mourning, wherein shall have been my sinThat I wrought 'gainst your king that he beareth, in such measure, against my kin,Both love alike and hatred? Methinks, he doth hold us light!Another king, mine equal, had thought more of this my right.Doth he think to repay with hatredherbrother, who loves him well?665If his heart such thought shall teach him, then he knoweth not true Love's spell!'Quoth one of the squires to King Arthur, 'What my king did to thee of ill,That, Sire, shall he do no longer, for courteous shall he be still.But thou knowest well the old hatred, and 'twere better the king should stayWithin his camp, I think me, than ride to thine host to-day.670Of the same mind is still the Duchess, that she counteth him for her foe,And maketh her plaint against him, as many a man doth know!''With but few folk shall he come hither,' quoth Arthur, 'the while I'll prayOf that high and noble lady that her anger she put away.And an escort good I'll send him, Beau-corps, my sister's son,675Shall meet him half-way, and his journey shall under my care be done.Nor as shame shall he look upon it, for brave men and true I'll send'—Then leave did they take of King Arthur, and their way to the camp they wend.Alone did they leave the monarch, and Bené and the pages twainRode swiftly unto Rosche Sabbins, on the further side of the plain.680'Twas the fairest day of his life-time, so thought the joyful king,When his squires and the maiden Bené such tidings to him might bring.And e'en as he hearkened to them his heart spake, in sooth to-dayGood Fortune had thought upon him, and his sorrow was put away!Then he spake, 'He would come, right gladly,' and he chose to him comrades three,685A prince of his land was each one who bare the king company.Brandelidelein, his uncle, with his nephew was fain to ride,Affinamus of Clitiers, and Count Bernard of Riviers rode beside.And each man he chose another who should be for such journey meet,And twelve in all might ye reckon who rode hence the king to greet.690And many a squire went with them, and many a footman strong,Well armèd, as should befit them, did unto the train belong.Would ye know how the knights had robed them? Of silk was their raiment bright,And heavy with gold inwoven that shone in the morning light.And the king, he went as to hawking, with his falconer by his side—695Now Arthur had well bethought him, and Beau-corps he bade to ride,And half-way to meet the monarch as escort both fit and fair—And over the stretch of the meadow, or a pool or a brook lay there,Where'er one might find the water rode the king as on pastime bent,Yet ever Love drew him onward, and on Love was his heart intent.700And Beau-corps, he rode towards him, and in such wise the king would greetThat I ween 'twas a joyful moment when the twain and their folk did meet.And more than fifty pages with Beau-corps should ride that day,And their faces were fair to look on, Dukes and Counts might they be alway,And kings' sons, too, rode among them—And the greeting was good to see,705When from either side the children kissed each other, of true heart free.And Beau-corps was fair to look on, and the king asked, who might he be?And Bené, she straightway answered. 'The son of King Lot is he,AndBeau-corpsthe name men call him'—Then he thought, 'Of a sooth, my heart,Thou hast found her! For she shall be like him who so knightly doth play his part,710For in truth shall she be his sister, she who sent me the headgear rareThat of erst was in Sinzester fashioned, and the hawk on mine hand I bear.If she further will show me kindness then all earthly power and prideWould I count as naught, might I win her, tho' the earth were twice as wide.And surely she meaneth truly—For love of her came I here,715Hitherto hath she dealt so kindly that methinks I but little fear;She will show unto me such favour that my courage shall wax full high!'Then he clasped the hand of her brother that fair in his hand did lie.In the meanwhile within his army King Arthur in such wise wroughtThat the Duchess was fain to grant him the peace that his lips had sought.720For rich was her consolation for her love by King Gramoflanz slain,For whose sake she had borne him hatred; and no more might her lips complain,For her anger had sunk to slumber, and she wakened to life anew'Neath Gawain's embrace so tender, and her wrath, it was smitten thro'.Then Arthur, the king of the Bretons, took many a lady bright,725One hundred, both wife and maiden, who were lovely in all men's sight,In a tent apart he set them—Nor might her lot fairer be,Itonjé, who sat beside them, since her king there she thought to see.And ever her heart was joyful, and yet in her soft eyes' glowYe might see that the gentle maiden thro' love must sore sorrow know.730And many a knight and hero sat there, yet among them allNo face was so fair to look on as the fair face of Parzival.To the tent-door up rode the monarch, and Gramoflanz, he wareFor garment a robe of wonder, in Gampfassâsch wroughten fair.'Twas a rick silk, all gold embroidered, and woven with golden thread,735And a shimmer of light from his vesture afar round the monarch spread.Then they who had hither ridden adown from their steeds they spring,And the squires, they press them forward to the tent before their king,And the chamberlains vie with each other, and they make thro' the court a wayTo the throne where the queen of the Bretons in her glory sat that day.740Brandelidelein, his uncle, before the monarch went,And the twain, Guinevere she kissed them, and bade welcome within her tent.And Count Bernard, and Affinamus a kiss from her lips must take—Then to Gramoflanz Arthur turned him, and thus to the king he spake,'Ere thou takest thy seat, bethink thee; if thou dost a maiden love,745And thou seest her here, thou mayst kiss her, nor will I such kiss reprove!'It had told him which was his lady, the letter he read but nowIn the open field, and that letter, 'twas her brother's face I trow!The brother of her who from all men had hidden her love so true—And Gramoflanz' eyes beheld her, and straightway his love he knew,750And his heart swelled high within him—Since Arthur had willed their bliss,And had bid him in men's sight greet her, on her sweet lips the maid he kissed.Brandelidelein, he sat him by the queen, fair Guinevere,And King Gramoflanz, he was seated by the maid, who with many a tearHad dimmed the glow of her beauty; 'twas for his sake she wept so sore,755Nor might he take vengeance on her, since guiltless this woe she bore.But softly he spake unto her, and he vowed to her service true,And she thanked him for this his coming, and their hearts toward each other flew,And further no word they spake there, but they gazed in each other's eyes,And their yea and their nay would I tell here, were I but in Love's language wise.760To Brandelidelein quoth Arthur, 'Methinks thou enow hast toldThy tale in the ears of my lady!' Then he led forth the hero bold,To a little tent he led him, apart on the grassy field;Yet Gramoflanz came not with them, but, e'en as King Arthur willed,He abode in the tent with his comrades, and so fair were the ladies bright,765That I deem well to look upon them but little would vex a knightAnd fair was their joy and their pastime, 'twould please many a man, I trow,Who to-day, after peril ended, would joy for his sorrow know.Then wine to the queen and her ladies and to many a knight they bare,And, methinks, an enow they tasted, their faces waxed fresh and fair.770To Brandelidelein and King Arthur the cup-bearers wine must bring;As they passed from the tent in this wise quoth Arthur, the goodly king:'Sir King, say, the conflict ended, if the strife in such wise have runThat the king, the son of thy sister, shall have slain my sister's son,Yet would woo my niece, the maiden who maketh to him her moan775But now, as they sit together and their love for each other own;If she do as shall best beseem her, she will favour him never more,But will give him for payment hatred as shall vex the king full soreIf her love he yet desireth—for where love is o'ercome by hateThen joy from true hearts is banished, and desire doth with sorrow mate!'780Then out spake the King of Punturtois to Arthur of Brittany,'Sir King, they are sons to our sisters betwixt whom this hate shall be.'Tis our part this strife to hinder, nor other shall be its endSave that they twain shall love each other, and from foe shall be turned to friend.'Twere best that thy niece, Itonjé, ere she yield to my nephew's prayer,785Shall say, if in truth he love her he shall from this strife forbear.Thus an end shall be put to the combat, and the quarrel shall turn to peace—And thou, thou shalt pray the Duchess that her wrath 'gainst my nephew cease!''Yea, that have I done,' quoth Arthur, 'my sister's son, Gawain,He holdeth such power o'er the lady, that, as courtesy doth constrain,790For his sake and mine she forgiveth the ill that the king hath done—Now do thou thy part with thy nephew, that peace on his side be won.'Brandelidelein quoth straightway, 'I will do e'en as thou dost say'—And back to the tent and the feasting the monarchs they took their way.Then sat the King of Punturtois on one side of the gracious queen,795And Parzival sat on the other, and so fair was his face, I ween,That never a man so goodly their eyes had beheld afore—Then Arthur, the king, he rose up, and he gat him from out the door,And he sought Gawain, his nephew; then he, who a while must hearHow his foemen had ridden hither, learnt that Arthur now drew anear,800And before his tent dismounted—Then swift did Sir Gawain spring,And forth from the tent on the meadow he hastened to meet the king.Then counsel they took together, and the Duchess, she peace would swear,But not otherwise save that Gawain for her sake should this strife forbear.Then should Gramoflanz be forgiven, ifhe, too, would forgive the ill805Once done by King Lot, her kinsman—so Arthur should speak her will.Then Arthur the wise and courteous, he brought the tale again,And King Gramoflanz, for his garland, henceforward must mourn in vain.And his hatred to Lot of Norway it passed as the snow flakes meltIn the sun, 'neath the glance of Itonjé, and anger no more he felt.810And the while he sat beside her he said to her bidding, yea,—Then they spake, Gawain came hither with his knights in brave array,And their names I may not tell ye, nor the land in which each was born;But here love had banished sorrow, and sadness was overworn.Then the Duchess, Orgelusé, and her gallant men and true,815With part of the host of Klingsor, with Gawain nearer drew;And the covering 'gainst wind and weather from the king's tent they took away,And thither came good Arnivé with Sangivé and Kondrie alway,They came at King Arthur's bidding where men words of peace would speak,(He who counteth this but a small thing, at his will may a greater seek.)820Then Iofreit, Gawain's comrade, by her white hand, within the tentLed the Duchess, fair and stately, and on this was she courteous bent,That the three queens should go before her—Brandelidelein they kissed,Then she followed, proud Orgelusé, nor the monarch her greeting missed.Then Gramoflanz stepped towards her, atonement he fain would make,825From her sweet lips the kiss of forgiveness as token of peace he'ld take;And the lady was moved to weeping, for she thought of her true love slain,And the faith and the sorrow of women did her heart to such woe constrain.Then Gramoflanz and Sir Gawain with a kiss put an end to strife;And Arthur gave maid Itonjé to King Gramoflanz to wife,830For truly and long had he served her; and Bené was glad that day—And another for love's sake sorrowed, and his sorrow was put away,For Lischois, the Duke of Gowerzein, won fair Kondrie for his own,And, I ween, were her love not his portion his life little joy had known.To the Turkowit, brave Florant, as his wife King Arthur gave835Her who wedded King Lot aforetime, and her love a man well might crave;'Twas a gift such as love beseemeth, and the knight took it joyfully—For the king, he was aye free-handed, and he gave such gifts readily!To this end had he well bethought him, and counsel wise had ta'en,And soon as his speech was ended, the Duchess, she spake again,840And she said that her love Sir Gawain had conquered with valiant hand,And henceforth he of right was master alike of her life and land.And many a knight who hearkened he thought her speech ill to hear,For they fought for her love, and had broken in her service full many a spear.Gawain, and they who rode with him, Arnivé, and the Duchess fair,845And many a lovely lady prayed leave of the monarch there.And Parzival, he went with them—Sangivé and maid KondrieThey rode hence, but with King Arthur she abode still, fair Itonjé.And the wedding feast that was holden was a feast beyond compare;And Guinevere took Itonjé, and her true love, within her care,850The gallant king who with knighthood full many a prize had won,And for love and desire of Itonjé full many brave deeds had done.And many they sought their lodging who for love's sake must sorrow sore;And how that night they had feasted, of that will we think no more—But they who for love did service, who knew of true love the might,855They would that the day was ended, for fairer they deemed the night.Then King Gramoflanz sent this message (he bethought him in his pride)To his men, who, before Rosche-Sabbins, lay camped by the water-side.They should spare nor pains nor labour, but their tents should they strike straightway,And hither, with all his army, should they hasten ere break of day.860And his marshal here must seek him a fitting place and fair—'Each prince by himself be encamped, and ye shall for myself prepareSuch goodly state and royal as well shall beseem a king,Nor spare ye the cost'—'Twas nightfall ere this word to the host they bring.And many a man must sorrow who had learnt from a woman woe,—865Whose love to the winds is scattered, and who ne'er doth rewarding knowFor his service, to grief he speedeth, and naught shall his steps delay,Save only the help of a woman o'ertaketh him on his way.But Parzival, he bethought him of his wife so fair and sweet,How pure she was, and how gentle—Did he ne'er another greet,870And offer for fair love service, and, wavering, love anew?Nay, nay, he was far from such dealings, and naught of such love he knew!For a mighty faith so guarded his body alike and heartThat never a woman living might have in his love a part,Save only his queen and lady, Kondwiramur, the flower875Of women, Love's fairest blossom, with none should she share her power.
From left and from right came the armies, o'er the grassy plain so wide,And, each one their station keeping, they halted on either side,And they looked on the mighty combat, on one side the chargers stood,445And afoot on the ground they battled with sword-blades, the heroes good.And sharp and sore was the conflict, and steadfast the twain did stand,And their swords on high they tossed them, and oft did the blades change hands.
Now Gramoflanz reaped sore payment for the garland from off his tree,To the kinsman of his fair lady should the strife none too easy be.450His kinship with fair Itonjé had stood Parzival in good stead,If right might have claimed a hearing, yet was not his strife ill-sped.And they who much fame had won them, again for fair fame would fight;And one strove for the sake of his kinsman, and one for his lady bright,For he did but Frau Minne's bidding, as was meet for her vassal true—455Now uprode the gallant Gawain, and e'en as he nearer drewThe conflict was nigh its ending, and the Waleis should victor be;And, bareheaded, unto the battle, there hastened those heroes three,Brandelidelein of Punturtois, and Count Bernard of Riviers,And the third knight who rode beside them was Affinamus of Clitiers.460From the army over against them came King Arthur beside Gawain,To the two knights, with battle wearied, they rode o'er the grassy plain;And all the five they thought them 'twas time that the strife should end,And Gramoflanz must confess here that no longer he might contend,And his own mouth proclaimed him vanquished, and his foeman had won the day—465And the folk who had seen the combat might never his word gainsay!
Then out spake King Lot's son gaily, 'Sir King, I will speak to theeTo-day, as yestreen thou spakest when rest thou didst bid tome"Go rest thee to-day, for 'tis needful," he who conflict did here demand,He will own thou art all too feeble this day to resist mine hand.470AloneI might well have faced thee, but thou with buttwowilt fight!To-morrow I'll dare the venture, and may God show forth the right!'Then the king he rode to his army, but first must he pledge his wordHe would meet Gawain on the morrow, and face him with spear and sword.
To Parzival quoth King Arthur, 'Nephew, thou late didst pray,475Of thy manhood, to fight this combat for Gawain, and he said thee Nay,And therein didst thou sore lament thee, and yet thou this fight hast foughtFor him who did strait forbid thee! Of our will hast thou asked us naught.From our court, as a thief, hast thou stolen, or else had we held thine handAfar from this strife, I wot well thou didst fight not atourcommand!480Yet Gawain, he shall not be wrathful, tho' great praise be for this thy meed.'—Quoth Gawain, 'Nay, it nothing grieves me, my cousin's gallant deed,To-morrow is all too early if this combat I needs must face,An the king would withdraw his challenge I would count it to him for grace.'
To the camp rode the mighty army, there were many ladies fair,485And many a knight in armour, and costly the arms they bare.And I ween that never an army was so richly decked before,For the knights of the good Round Table, and the men of the Duchess woreFair surcoats richly blazoned, of silk from Zinidunt,And bright was their outer garments, and brought from far Pelpiunt.490But the heroes in either army spake ever of Parzival,And their lips, in such wise they praised him, that his friends it rejoiced them well.And the men of Gramoflanz spake thus, that never the sun had shoneOn a knight who fought so bravely, or such gallant deeds had done;And whatever feats of knighthood had been wrought on either side,495Yet he, o'er all other heroes, the victor should still abide.Yet they knew not of whom they spake thus, nay, neither his race or name,Tho' the army it rang with his praises, and no mouth but declared his fame.
Then Gramoflanz did they counsel, King Arthur he well might prayTo take good heed to his army that no knight from his ranks should stray500For combat, as e'en that morning, but to send unto himoneknight,The son of King Lot, Sir Gawain, for withhimhad he come to fight.And straightway he sent the message by two courtly lads and wise,And he spake, 'Now look well for the maiden who is fairest in all men's eyes,Look well by whom Bené sitteth; and so ye play well your part,505Ye shall see in what wise she bear her, if joyful, or sad at heart.Ye shall prove these her ways in secret, in her eyes ye right well may seeIf yet for a friend she mourneth; and this too your task shall be,Ye shall give to my friend, fair Bené, this letter and golden ring,She knoweth for whom is the token—Now see that ye do this thing!'510
In the other camp, the meanwhile, did Itonjé the tidings hearThat her gallant brother, Gawain, and he whom her soul held dear,The fairest knight that a maiden within her heart might hold,Would fight, the one with the other, and their hand might no man withhold.Then her maiden shame it yielded to the flood of her grief so sore,515And none shall rejoice at her sorrow, for the pain undeserved she bore.
Then her mother and Queen Arnivé they led the maid asideTo a tent so small and silken, and Arnivé her grief would chide,And she bade her cease her weeping—There was naught that the maid might say,But to speak aloud the secret she hid in her heart alway;520Then out quoth the royal maiden, 'Of my brother shall he be slainWho is lord of my heart and my true love! Let his hand from such deed refrain!'
To a noble youth spake Arnivé, 'Now get thee unto my son,And bid him come hither quickly, with him would I speak alone.'Then the lad he brought King Arthur—Now this was Arnivé's mind,525If she told unto him the story perchance he might counsel find,And by him should that strife be hindered, for which the maiden fairSo sorely wept, and such sorrow and anguish of heart must bear.
Now they came to the camp of King Arthur, who Gramoflanz' message bore,By the silken tent they dismounted; there sat Bené before the door,530And within spake the maid to King Arthur, 'If my brother shall slay my kingTo pleasure his faithless Duchess, doth he deem that shall honour bring?He might know of himself it were ill-done—He hath wronged him no whit I ween,That he doeth tometrue service, his safety might well have been!If my brother be yet in his senses he doth of our true love know,535How pure it is, and how faithful, and this venture should work him woe.A bitter death shall it bring me, the hand that my love doth kill—Sir King, thou shalt mourn my sorrow, and I think not that such thy will,'Spake the fair maid unto King Arthur, 'Forget not that thou shalt beMine uncle, and stay this combat which worketh such ill to me!'540
Quoth Arthur aloud in his wisdom, 'Alas, thou fair niece of mine,That thus young thou canst love so dearly, for sorrow shall sure be thine,As sorrow befell thy sister, Surdamur, for her love so trueTo the Emperor of Greece—Sweet maiden, thy will might I surely do,And hinder this strife, if I knew well that ye twain were but one in heart—540Yet King Irot's son, he is valiant, and courage in him hath part,And this combat he'll fight, full surely, an Love stay not his hand so bold—Did he ne'er, in a joyful moment, thy fair face and sweet lips behold?'
And she spake, 'Nay, we love, but neither as yet hath the other seen,Tho' of true love many a token from his hand hath my portion been.550And tokens true have I sent him, that no doubt should betwixt us lie—No falsehood my king's heart ruleth, but he loveth me steadfastly!'
Then the maiden Bené saw them, and knew them, the squires twainWho came to the court of King Arthur from Gramoflanz' kingly train,And she spake, 'Here should no man linger, will ye that I bid them go,555The folk, from our tent? It were ill-done, methinks, that all men should knowHow sorely my lady sorroweth for the sake of her love so dear;Methinks it might lightly happen that too many the tale should hear!'Then forth from the tent went Bené, and in secret unto her careThe squire gave the folded letter, and the golden ring he bare,560And they, too, had heard the wailing of the maid, and they knew full wellWhy she sorrowed, and this their errand they fain to the king would tell.And they asked of the maiden Bené if she their friend would be?And she spake, 'Stand without the circle till I bid ye to come to me!'
Then Bené, the gentle maiden, she told them within the tent565That without two squires were waiting, from Gramoflanz hither sent,And fain would they speak with King Arthur—'But unfitting it seemeth meThat we call them unto our counsels, and that witnesses they should be.On my lady must I avenge me, if thus they shall see her weep,I bade them await my bidding, and without there their station keep!'570
Quoth Arthur, 'Are they the pages whom I saw behind me ride?Of noble birth shall the twain be, methinks, it might well betideThat so wise are they both and courteous they might give us counsel good,Methinks of their king's love either would treat in a fitting mood?'Quoth Bené, 'Nay, that I know not, but Sire, of thy grace, this ring575And the letter which now I bring thee, they bare hither from their king.As but now I left the pavilion, of the pages, one gave it me.Now see, Lady, do thou take it, for methinks it is meant for thee!'
Then Itonjé, she kissed the letter, and she held it unto her heart,And she quoth, 'Now, Sire, thou canst see here if he would in my love have part.'580In his hand Arthur took the letter, and within he found written fairThe words of one who loveth, and his passion would fain declare.For Gramoflanz' hand had written the words that his lips would say,And Arthur, he saw by the letter that Love held o'er his heart such swayThat ne'er had he known aforetime one who loved with so true a love—585And the words that within were written Frau Minne might well approve.
'Now greeting to whom I owe greeting, whose greeting I fain would earn,To thee, O thou gracious maiden, whose heart toward my heart doth turn!Who with comfort would fain console me—Our love goeth hand-in-hand,And the solace thy love would bring me doth high o'er all solace stand;590And my joy in thy love is rooted, and my faith is to thee held fast,And sorrow and bitter anguish shall forth from my heart be cast.And thou bringest me help and counsel, so that never an evil thoughtOr a faithless deed, and shameful, shall against my fame be brought.But I look on thy truth and thy beauty with ever a steadfast mind,595As the Pole-star doth in the north pole the goal of its gazing find,And neither its post forsaketh; e'en so shall our true love be,And waver not, one from the other—So think thou, sweet maid, on me,How I mourned unto thee my sorrow, nor be weary of this my prayer—And if one would part thee from me, for the hatred that he shall bear600Unto me, then shalt thou bethink thee how thy love shall reward us both,And think thou of woman's honour, nor be of thy favours loth;But still let me be thy servant, in thy service I fain would live,And, in all that I may, true service I will to my lady give!'
Quoth Arthur, 'Fair niece, thou saidst truly, he greeteth thee without guile605Such tale doth this letter tell me that never, at any while,Have I found of true love such marvel! His grief shalt thou put away,As he too shall cure thy sorrow, so do thou thy weeping stay,And trust unto me, this combat shall be hindered—Yet say thou here,Thou wert captive, how hath it chanced then that ye hold each other dear?610Thou shalt give him thy fair love's payment, that he do thee service true.'—Spake Itonjé, 'See, here she standeth who us twain together drew,Our love, it had else been hidden—If thou will that I now may seeHim whom my heart desireth she will summon him unto me!'
Quoth Arthur, 'Now, show her to me; if I may, I this thing will guide615That your will shall be done, and hereafter ye twain shall in joy abide!'Quoth Itonjé, ''Twas none but Bené; and two of his squires are here,If thou wilt, do this thing, (for I think me my life shall to thee be dear,)Thou shalt see that the king cometh hither, that he looketh upon my faceIn whom all my joy is hidden, and my life shall be in his grace!'620
Then Arthur, the wise and courteous, would speak with the squires without,He greeted them as he saw them, and boldly the one spake out,'Sire, King Gramoflanz, he prays thee, for thine honour as knight and king,That the oath sworn 'twixt him and Gawain thou wilt to fulfilment bring.And further, Sire, he prays thee that none other with him shall fight,625So great is thine host, must he faceall, methinks it would scarce be right!ButGawainshalt thou send against him, for he willeth no other foe,And Gawain alone hath he challenged, as thyself thou shalt surely know!'
Quoth King Arthur unto the pages, 'I will free us from blame alway,And sorely it grieved my nephew that he fought not the strife to-day.630And the knight who fought with your monarch, to victory was he born,The son of Gamuret is he—Three armies are here this morn,And from many a land came they hither, but never a man hath seenIn combat so brave a hero, and glorious his deeds have been.He is Parzival, my kinsman, ye shall see him, the fair of face,—635For the faith and the need of Gawain will I do to the king this grace.'
Then King Arthur and maiden Bené, with the squires they rode here and there,And in sooth those squires they looked on full many a lady fair,And they saw on the jewelled helmets many proud crests and knightly wave,And few for such sight shall vex them, for he who is rich as brave640Full many a friend he findeth! They 'lighted not from their steed,And the bravest men of the armies that lay camped on the flowery meadKing Arthur would show unto them, they might gaze on them at their will,Knights, ladies, and gentle maidens, of beauty they saw their fill!
In three portions it lay, the army, and two spaces there were between—645Then away from the camp rode King Arthur, far out on the plain so green,And he quoth, 'Now sweet maiden Bené, her plaint didst thou hear alway,Itonjé, the child of my sister, her weeping she will not stay.These my comrades who ride beside me, if they will, they may well believeOf her beauty their king hath robbed her, so sorely the maid doth grieve!650Now help me, ye twain, and thou, Bené, that the king he shall hither ride,E'en to-day, tho' the strife to-morrow he may, if he will, abide.I will bring Gawain to meet him on the plain, as he prayed but now—If he cometh to-day to mine army 'gainst the morn is he armed I trow,For Love such a shield shall give him that his foeman may ill withstand655The courage that Love doth kindle, and that nerveth anew the hand.And his princes shall he bring with him, for here would I do as bestDoth lie in my power that the Duchess shall hearken to my behest,And peace shall be sealed between them—Now strive ye, my comrades dear,With skill for such happy ending, 'twill be to your honour here.660And further I make my mourning, wherein shall have been my sinThat I wrought 'gainst your king that he beareth, in such measure, against my kin,Both love alike and hatred? Methinks, he doth hold us light!Another king, mine equal, had thought more of this my right.Doth he think to repay with hatredherbrother, who loves him well?665If his heart such thought shall teach him, then he knoweth not true Love's spell!'
Quoth one of the squires to King Arthur, 'What my king did to thee of ill,That, Sire, shall he do no longer, for courteous shall he be still.But thou knowest well the old hatred, and 'twere better the king should stayWithin his camp, I think me, than ride to thine host to-day.670Of the same mind is still the Duchess, that she counteth him for her foe,And maketh her plaint against him, as many a man doth know!''With but few folk shall he come hither,' quoth Arthur, 'the while I'll prayOf that high and noble lady that her anger she put away.And an escort good I'll send him, Beau-corps, my sister's son,675Shall meet him half-way, and his journey shall under my care be done.Nor as shame shall he look upon it, for brave men and true I'll send'—Then leave did they take of King Arthur, and their way to the camp they wend.
Alone did they leave the monarch, and Bené and the pages twainRode swiftly unto Rosche Sabbins, on the further side of the plain.680'Twas the fairest day of his life-time, so thought the joyful king,When his squires and the maiden Bené such tidings to him might bring.And e'en as he hearkened to them his heart spake, in sooth to-dayGood Fortune had thought upon him, and his sorrow was put away!
Then he spake, 'He would come, right gladly,' and he chose to him comrades three,685A prince of his land was each one who bare the king company.Brandelidelein, his uncle, with his nephew was fain to ride,Affinamus of Clitiers, and Count Bernard of Riviers rode beside.And each man he chose another who should be for such journey meet,And twelve in all might ye reckon who rode hence the king to greet.690And many a squire went with them, and many a footman strong,Well armèd, as should befit them, did unto the train belong.
Would ye know how the knights had robed them? Of silk was their raiment bright,And heavy with gold inwoven that shone in the morning light.And the king, he went as to hawking, with his falconer by his side—695Now Arthur had well bethought him, and Beau-corps he bade to ride,And half-way to meet the monarch as escort both fit and fair—And over the stretch of the meadow, or a pool or a brook lay there,Where'er one might find the water rode the king as on pastime bent,Yet ever Love drew him onward, and on Love was his heart intent.700And Beau-corps, he rode towards him, and in such wise the king would greetThat I ween 'twas a joyful moment when the twain and their folk did meet.
And more than fifty pages with Beau-corps should ride that day,And their faces were fair to look on, Dukes and Counts might they be alway,And kings' sons, too, rode among them—And the greeting was good to see,705When from either side the children kissed each other, of true heart free.
And Beau-corps was fair to look on, and the king asked, who might he be?And Bené, she straightway answered. 'The son of King Lot is he,AndBeau-corpsthe name men call him'—Then he thought, 'Of a sooth, my heart,Thou hast found her! For she shall be like him who so knightly doth play his part,710For in truth shall she be his sister, she who sent me the headgear rareThat of erst was in Sinzester fashioned, and the hawk on mine hand I bear.If she further will show me kindness then all earthly power and prideWould I count as naught, might I win her, tho' the earth were twice as wide.And surely she meaneth truly—For love of her came I here,715Hitherto hath she dealt so kindly that methinks I but little fear;She will show unto me such favour that my courage shall wax full high!'Then he clasped the hand of her brother that fair in his hand did lie.
In the meanwhile within his army King Arthur in such wise wroughtThat the Duchess was fain to grant him the peace that his lips had sought.720For rich was her consolation for her love by King Gramoflanz slain,For whose sake she had borne him hatred; and no more might her lips complain,For her anger had sunk to slumber, and she wakened to life anew'Neath Gawain's embrace so tender, and her wrath, it was smitten thro'.
Then Arthur, the king of the Bretons, took many a lady bright,725One hundred, both wife and maiden, who were lovely in all men's sight,In a tent apart he set them—Nor might her lot fairer be,Itonjé, who sat beside them, since her king there she thought to see.And ever her heart was joyful, and yet in her soft eyes' glowYe might see that the gentle maiden thro' love must sore sorrow know.730And many a knight and hero sat there, yet among them allNo face was so fair to look on as the fair face of Parzival.To the tent-door up rode the monarch, and Gramoflanz, he wareFor garment a robe of wonder, in Gampfassâsch wroughten fair.'Twas a rick silk, all gold embroidered, and woven with golden thread,735And a shimmer of light from his vesture afar round the monarch spread.
Then they who had hither ridden adown from their steeds they spring,And the squires, they press them forward to the tent before their king,And the chamberlains vie with each other, and they make thro' the court a wayTo the throne where the queen of the Bretons in her glory sat that day.740Brandelidelein, his uncle, before the monarch went,And the twain, Guinevere she kissed them, and bade welcome within her tent.And Count Bernard, and Affinamus a kiss from her lips must take—Then to Gramoflanz Arthur turned him, and thus to the king he spake,'Ere thou takest thy seat, bethink thee; if thou dost a maiden love,745And thou seest her here, thou mayst kiss her, nor will I such kiss reprove!'
It had told him which was his lady, the letter he read but nowIn the open field, and that letter, 'twas her brother's face I trow!The brother of her who from all men had hidden her love so true—And Gramoflanz' eyes beheld her, and straightway his love he knew,750And his heart swelled high within him—Since Arthur had willed their bliss,And had bid him in men's sight greet her, on her sweet lips the maid he kissed.
Brandelidelein, he sat him by the queen, fair Guinevere,And King Gramoflanz, he was seated by the maid, who with many a tearHad dimmed the glow of her beauty; 'twas for his sake she wept so sore,755Nor might he take vengeance on her, since guiltless this woe she bore.But softly he spake unto her, and he vowed to her service true,And she thanked him for this his coming, and their hearts toward each other flew,And further no word they spake there, but they gazed in each other's eyes,And their yea and their nay would I tell here, were I but in Love's language wise.760To Brandelidelein quoth Arthur, 'Methinks thou enow hast toldThy tale in the ears of my lady!' Then he led forth the hero bold,To a little tent he led him, apart on the grassy field;Yet Gramoflanz came not with them, but, e'en as King Arthur willed,He abode in the tent with his comrades, and so fair were the ladies bright,765That I deem well to look upon them but little would vex a knightAnd fair was their joy and their pastime, 'twould please many a man, I trow,Who to-day, after peril ended, would joy for his sorrow know.
Then wine to the queen and her ladies and to many a knight they bare,And, methinks, an enow they tasted, their faces waxed fresh and fair.770To Brandelidelein and King Arthur the cup-bearers wine must bring;As they passed from the tent in this wise quoth Arthur, the goodly king:
'Sir King, say, the conflict ended, if the strife in such wise have runThat the king, the son of thy sister, shall have slain my sister's son,Yet would woo my niece, the maiden who maketh to him her moan775But now, as they sit together and their love for each other own;If she do as shall best beseem her, she will favour him never more,But will give him for payment hatred as shall vex the king full soreIf her love he yet desireth—for where love is o'ercome by hateThen joy from true hearts is banished, and desire doth with sorrow mate!'780
Then out spake the King of Punturtois to Arthur of Brittany,'Sir King, they are sons to our sisters betwixt whom this hate shall be.'Tis our part this strife to hinder, nor other shall be its endSave that they twain shall love each other, and from foe shall be turned to friend.'Twere best that thy niece, Itonjé, ere she yield to my nephew's prayer,785Shall say, if in truth he love her he shall from this strife forbear.Thus an end shall be put to the combat, and the quarrel shall turn to peace—And thou, thou shalt pray the Duchess that her wrath 'gainst my nephew cease!'
'Yea, that have I done,' quoth Arthur, 'my sister's son, Gawain,He holdeth such power o'er the lady, that, as courtesy doth constrain,790For his sake and mine she forgiveth the ill that the king hath done—Now do thou thy part with thy nephew, that peace on his side be won.'Brandelidelein quoth straightway, 'I will do e'en as thou dost say'—And back to the tent and the feasting the monarchs they took their way.
Then sat the King of Punturtois on one side of the gracious queen,795And Parzival sat on the other, and so fair was his face, I ween,That never a man so goodly their eyes had beheld afore—Then Arthur, the king, he rose up, and he gat him from out the door,And he sought Gawain, his nephew; then he, who a while must hearHow his foemen had ridden hither, learnt that Arthur now drew anear,800And before his tent dismounted—Then swift did Sir Gawain spring,And forth from the tent on the meadow he hastened to meet the king.
Then counsel they took together, and the Duchess, she peace would swear,But not otherwise save that Gawain for her sake should this strife forbear.Then should Gramoflanz be forgiven, ifhe, too, would forgive the ill805Once done by King Lot, her kinsman—so Arthur should speak her will.
Then Arthur the wise and courteous, he brought the tale again,And King Gramoflanz, for his garland, henceforward must mourn in vain.And his hatred to Lot of Norway it passed as the snow flakes meltIn the sun, 'neath the glance of Itonjé, and anger no more he felt.810And the while he sat beside her he said to her bidding, yea,—Then they spake, Gawain came hither with his knights in brave array,And their names I may not tell ye, nor the land in which each was born;But here love had banished sorrow, and sadness was overworn.
Then the Duchess, Orgelusé, and her gallant men and true,815With part of the host of Klingsor, with Gawain nearer drew;And the covering 'gainst wind and weather from the king's tent they took away,And thither came good Arnivé with Sangivé and Kondrie alway,They came at King Arthur's bidding where men words of peace would speak,(He who counteth this but a small thing, at his will may a greater seek.)820Then Iofreit, Gawain's comrade, by her white hand, within the tentLed the Duchess, fair and stately, and on this was she courteous bent,That the three queens should go before her—Brandelidelein they kissed,Then she followed, proud Orgelusé, nor the monarch her greeting missed.Then Gramoflanz stepped towards her, atonement he fain would make,825From her sweet lips the kiss of forgiveness as token of peace he'ld take;And the lady was moved to weeping, for she thought of her true love slain,And the faith and the sorrow of women did her heart to such woe constrain.
Then Gramoflanz and Sir Gawain with a kiss put an end to strife;And Arthur gave maid Itonjé to King Gramoflanz to wife,830For truly and long had he served her; and Bené was glad that day—And another for love's sake sorrowed, and his sorrow was put away,For Lischois, the Duke of Gowerzein, won fair Kondrie for his own,And, I ween, were her love not his portion his life little joy had known.To the Turkowit, brave Florant, as his wife King Arthur gave835Her who wedded King Lot aforetime, and her love a man well might crave;'Twas a gift such as love beseemeth, and the knight took it joyfully—For the king, he was aye free-handed, and he gave such gifts readily!
To this end had he well bethought him, and counsel wise had ta'en,And soon as his speech was ended, the Duchess, she spake again,840And she said that her love Sir Gawain had conquered with valiant hand,And henceforth he of right was master alike of her life and land.And many a knight who hearkened he thought her speech ill to hear,For they fought for her love, and had broken in her service full many a spear.
Gawain, and they who rode with him, Arnivé, and the Duchess fair,845And many a lovely lady prayed leave of the monarch there.And Parzival, he went with them—Sangivé and maid KondrieThey rode hence, but with King Arthur she abode still, fair Itonjé.And the wedding feast that was holden was a feast beyond compare;And Guinevere took Itonjé, and her true love, within her care,850The gallant king who with knighthood full many a prize had won,And for love and desire of Itonjé full many brave deeds had done.And many they sought their lodging who for love's sake must sorrow sore;And how that night they had feasted, of that will we think no more—But they who for love did service, who knew of true love the might,855They would that the day was ended, for fairer they deemed the night.
Then King Gramoflanz sent this message (he bethought him in his pride)To his men, who, before Rosche-Sabbins, lay camped by the water-side.They should spare nor pains nor labour, but their tents should they strike straightway,And hither, with all his army, should they hasten ere break of day.860And his marshal here must seek him a fitting place and fair—'Each prince by himself be encamped, and ye shall for myself prepareSuch goodly state and royal as well shall beseem a king,Nor spare ye the cost'—'Twas nightfall ere this word to the host they bring.
And many a man must sorrow who had learnt from a woman woe,—865Whose love to the winds is scattered, and who ne'er doth rewarding knowFor his service, to grief he speedeth, and naught shall his steps delay,Save only the help of a woman o'ertaketh him on his way.
But Parzival, he bethought him of his wife so fair and sweet,How pure she was, and how gentle—Did he ne'er another greet,870And offer for fair love service, and, wavering, love anew?Nay, nay, he was far from such dealings, and naught of such love he knew!For a mighty faith so guarded his body alike and heartThat never a woman living might have in his love a part,Save only his queen and lady, Kondwiramur, the flower875Of women, Love's fairest blossom, with none should she share her power.