Nor with sword he ere this had striven--From afar did he aim his stroke, And so swift his joust, in the meeting the gear of both chargers broke, 290 And their girths were burst asunder, and each steed to its knees was brought, And the heroes who yet bestrode them of their swords must they needs take thought; In their scabbards did they find them--And already did Kingron bear Wounds in arm and breast, and I wot me that loss was his portion there. For this joust brought him loss of the glory that methinks had been his alway 295 Till he met with this knight, and their meeting, of his pride was the dying day. And valiant did men account him, six knights had he prostrate laid Who rode in one field against him, yet here was he well repaid By Parzival's right hand valiant, and Kingron the seneschal Thought strange was indeed his peril, for _stones_ surely on him fell 300 Cast forth from a mighty engine--Other arms wrought his overthrow, For a sword clave clean thro' his helmet, and Parzival laid him low, And he knelt with one knee upon him, and he bade him forthwith to give What he ne'er to a foe had given, his pledge, an he fain would live. But he thought not to be his captor who had vanquished him here in field, 305 But he bade him ride hence to Graharz and his pledge to its lord to yield. 'Nay, Sir Knight, thou hadst better slay me, 'twas I who slew his son, 'Twas my hand of life that robbed him, Schenteflur--Thou from God hast won Great honour, yea, men shall praise thee for the strength that thou here hast shown, Of a sooth art thou here the victor, and Good Fortune shall be thine own.' 310 Quoth Parzival, 'Yet another is the choice I will give to thee, Yield thou to the queen whom thy master in his wrath wronged so grievously!' 'Nay! Then were I lost of a surety, for I wot with their sword-blades keen My body they'ld hew in pieces, small as dust in the sun is seen! Such sorrow of heart, I think me, and grief thro' my hand they win, 315 Full many a gallant hero who dwelleth those walls within.'