'Nay! nay! thou gallant hero, thirty-fold doth thy glory grow Thro' the valour thine hand hath shown here, since in strife thou hast laid me low. What higher fame dost thou look for? Kondwiramur sure shall say That Good Fortune hath smiled upon thee, whilst _I_ am Misfortune's prey; 550 Thy land hast thou now delivered--As when one a leaking boat Doth free from the load of water, that it light o'er the waves may float, So lightened am I of honour! Manly honour and joy I trow Are waxen thin and faded, what profit to slay me _now_? From children and children's children mine heritage shall be shame, 555 To do more here methinks were needless--For joy thou hast won and fame, And a living death is my portion, since for ever from her I part, Who fast in love's magic fetters hath held me both mind and heart, Little good it forsooth hath brought me, ah! most wretched henceforth am I, And this land and its lovely lady for aye in thy power shall lie!' 560 Now he who was here the victor on Gurnemanz' counsel thought, How mercy should well beseem him who with manhood had valiant fought, And he thought him the rede to follow; and thus to the king he spake, 'I free thee not, to the father of Liassé submission make!' 'Nay, Sir Knight, I have wrought him evil, 'twas thro' me that his son was slain, 565 An ill-fate wouldst thou bring upon me! The hand of thy queen to gain, With Schenteflur I battled, and in sooth had I died that day, Save that Kingron came to my succour, and his hand did the hero slay. For Gurnemanz of Graharz had sent him to Brobarz' land At the head of a gallant army; 'twas a fair and knightly band, 570 Nine hundred knights who fought well, and rode upon mail-clad steeds, And fifteen hundred footmen all armed for valiant deeds, For naught but shields should fail them--Too great their might I thought, But the seed of such goodly harvest once more their country sought. Yet now hath my loss been greater! Of my heroes but few are left, 575 What more would thine hand take from me, who of gladness am now bereft?'