And last of those maids a maiden, o'er the others was she the queen, 185 So fair her face that they thought them 'twas the morning's dawn, I ween! And they saw her clad in raiment of Pfellel of Araby, And she bare aloft on a cushion of verdant Achmardi Root and blossom of Paradise garden, that thing which men call 'The Grail,' The crown of all earthly wishes, fair fulness that ne'er shall fail! 190 Repanse de Schoie did they call her, in whose hands the Grail might lie, By the Grail Itself elected was she to this office high. And they who would here do service, those maids must be pure of heart, And true in life, nor falsehood shall have in their dealings part. And lights both rare and costly before the Grail they bore 195 Six glasses tall, transparent--and wondrous balsam's store Burnt within with a strange sweet perfume; with measured steps they came, And the queen bowed low with the maidens who bare the balsam's flame. Then this maiden free from falsehood, the Grail on the Jacinth laid, And Parzival looked upon her, and thought of the royal maid 200 Elect to such high office, whose mantle he needs must wear. Then the seven courteous turned them to the eighteen maidens fair, And the noblest they placed in the centre, and twelve on either side They stood, but the crownèd maiden no beauty with hers had vied! And as many knights as were seated around that palace hall, 205 So to each four was there a server, with golden beaker tall, And a page so fair to look on who bare a napkin white-- Riches enow, I trow me, had ye seen in the hall that night! And they bare there a hundred tables, at each table four knights would eat, And swiftly they spread them over with coverings fair and meet. 210 The host himself took water, and heavy at heart was he, And Parzival, too, he washed him, for so should the custom be. A silken towel, bright coloured, a count's son would proffer fair, Swift to the guest he gat him, and knelt low before him there. And wherever there stood a table there four squires were ready dight 215 To serve the four who sat there, and their service they knew aright, For twain would carve, low kneeling, and twain to the knights would bear Of food and drink as needful, and thus for their wants would care.