In _Parzival_ the stress is laid entirely on the sufferings of the King; the question has been modified in the interests of this theme, and here assumes the form “What aileth thee, mine uncle?” The blame bestowed upon the hero is solely on account of the prolonged sorrow his silence has inflicted on King and people; of a Land laid Waste, either through drought, or war, there is no mention. “Iuch solt’ iur wirt erbarmet hân, An dem Got wunder hât getân, Und het gevrâget sîner nôt, Ir lebet, und sît an saelden tôt.”[16] “Dô der trûrege vischaere Saz âne fröude und âne trôst War umb’ iren niht siufzens hât erlôst.”[17] The punishment falls on the hero who has failed to put the question, rather than on the land, which, indeed, appears to be in no way affected, either by the wound of the King, or the silence of the hero. The divergence from Chrétien’s version is here very marked, and, so far, seems to have been neglected by critics. The point is also of importance in view of the curious parallels which are otherwise to be found between this version and _Perlesvaus;_ here the two are in marked contradiction with one another. The question finally asked, the result is, as indicated in the prose version, the restoration of the King not merely to health, but also to youth— “Swaz der Frânzoys heizet flô’rî’ Der glast kom sinem velle bî, Parzival’s schoen’ was nu ein wint; Und Absalôn Dâvîdes kint, Von Askalûn Vergulaht Und al den schoene was geslaht, Und des man Gahmurete jach Dô man’n in zogen sach Ze Kanvoleis sô wünneclîch, Ir dechéines schoen’ was der gelîch, Die Anfortas ûz siecheit truoc. Got noch künste kan genuoc.”[18] GALAHAD. In the final form assumed by the story, that preserved in the _Queste_, the achievement of the task is not preceded by any failure on the part of the hero, and the advantages derived therefrom are personal and spiritual, though we are incidentally told that he heals the Fisher King’s father, and also the old King, Mordrains, whose life has been preternaturally prolonged. In the case of this latter it is to be noted that the mere fact of Galahad’s being the predestined winner suffices, and the healing takes place _before_ the Quest is definitely achieved. There is no Waste Land, and the wounding of the two Kings is entirely unconnected with Galahad. We find hints, in the story of Lambar, of a knowledge of the earlier form, but for all practical purposes it has disappeared from the story.[19] Analysing the above statements we find that the results may be grouped under certain definite headings: (_a_) There is a general consensus of evidence to the effect that the main object of the Quest is the restoration to health and vigour of a King suffering from infirmity caused by wounds, sickness, or old age; (_b_) and whose infirmity, for some mysterious and unexplained reason, reacts disastrously upon his kingdom, either depriving it of vegetation, or exposing it to the ravages of war.