Now hear ye what chanced unto him; he came at the close of day To a water fair, and upon it many boats at anchor lay, And the fishers were lords of the water; to the shore did they lie so near That e'en as they saw him riding his question they well might hear. 20 And one he saw in a vessel all clad in such royal pride Scarce richer had been his vesture were he lord of the world so wide; Of peacock's plumes his head-gear--Then the knight to the Fisher spake And he prayed him for knighthood's bidding, and he prayed him for God's dear sake, To help him unto a shelter where he might thro' the night hours rest. 25 And the Fisher sad he answered in this wise the stranger guest; And he quoth, 'Nay, Sir Knight, I know not for full thirty miles around, By land alike or water, where dwelling may yet be found Save one house, I would bid thee seek it, for it lieth in sooth anear, Thro' the livelong day wert thou riding none other thou findest here. 30 Ride there to the high cliff's ending, then turn thee to thy right hand Until to the moat thou comest, and thy charger perforce must stand; Then bid thou the castle warder to let the drawbridge fall And open to thee the portals, then ride thou unto the hall.' Then he did as the Fisher bade him, and leave would he courteous pray, 35 But he quoth, 'I myself will thine host be, an thou fail not to find the way, Be thy thanks then as is our tendance--As thou ridest around the hill Have a care lest the wood mislead thee, such mischance would but please me ill.' Then Parzival turned his bridle, and gaily he took his way, Nor missed he the path till before him the moat of the castle lay; 40 And the drawbridge was raised, and the fortress it lacked not for strength I trow, As a turner with skill had wrought them stood the turrets in goodly row. But with wings, or on winds of heaven uplifted, might ye have won To that Burg, an a foeman stormed it little harm he methinks had done. And so strong were the towers and the palace that its folk they had held the hall 45 And mocked at the foe, if all armies thirty years long beset the wall.