And he thought, 'Gurnemanz he bade me, in truth, without thought of guile, To withhold my lips from question--If here I abide awhile Methinks it will then befall me as aforetime in Graharz land, 245 They will tell me, without my question, how here with this folk it stands.' Then e'en as he sat thus musing came a squire who a sword did bear, And its sheath was a thousand marks' worth, and its hilt was a ruby rare, And the blade, it might well work wonders--Then the host gave it to the knight, And he spake, 'I full oft have borne it in many a deadly fight 250 Ere God's Hand thus sorely smote me; now with this shalt thou be repaid If aught hath in care been lacking--Henceforth shalt thou bear this blade Whatever chance befall thee, and when thou its power hast tried Thou wilt know thou art fully armèd, whatever strife betide.' Ah! woe to the guest that asked not, I am sorrowful for his sake, 255 When his hand clasped the sword 'twas a token that his silence he well might break. For the host too my heart is heavy, thus tortured by nameless woe, And a question therefrom had freed him, yet to question his guest was slow. But now the feast was ended, who the vessels hither bore Again to their task they turn them, and they bear them forth once more. 260 The cars again they circle; each maid to her task was fain From last to first; the noblest she turned to the Grail again, To host and guest all-courteous the queen and her maidens bend, What they brought they once more would bear forth thro' the door at the high hall's end. And Parzival he gazed after, and lo! thro' the open door 265 Within an outer chamber, on a folding couch he saw The fairest of old men ancient whom ever his eyes had seen, Grey was he as mists of morning--Nor o'er rash is the tale, I ween, Who he was shalt thou know hereafter, when a fitting time shall be, The host, his Burg, and his kingdom, yea, all will I name to ye, 270 And all shall be clear and in order, no halting my tale shall know; Methinks that I then shall show ye the bowstring without the bow.