For the young knight, rich in courage, heard a woman's voice make moan. (On the grass lay the dew of morning.) On a linden there sat alone A maiden, whose truth wrought her sorrow, for between her arms so white Embalmed did she lifeless hold him who living had been her knight. 400 Were there one who saw her sorrow and mourned not for her bitter woe Then false of heart must I hold him, one who true love might never know! Then he turned his steed towards her, tho' as yet unknown was she, (Tho' the child of his mother's sister)--As the wind that fleeteth free Is all earthly faith to her true love--Then Parzival greeting spake, 405 'Lady, methinks that sorrow I must bear for thy sorrow's sake, An thou needst in aught my service, would it free thee from further ill, Then look thou on me as thy servant, thy grief were I fain to still!' Then sadly her thanks she bade him, and asked him, 'Whence camest thou here? He were ill-advised who his journey should take thro' this woodland drear. 410 To them who know not its pathways great evil might here betide. Yea, oft have I seen and hearkened how men in this wood have died, For death was in strife their portion--Turn hence then, thou gallant knight, An thou lovest life--Yet tell me in what shelter didst pass the night?' 'But a mile from here stands a castle, there I thro' the night abode, 415 And naught have I seen like its riches, from thence in short space I rode.' Then the maiden she looked upon him, and she spake, 'Now, methinks, 'twere ill With falsehood to thus betray them who trust thee with right goodwill. From thy shield art thou here a stranger, and canst naught but woods have found, An here thou hast ta'en thy journey from planted and builded ground, 420 For thirty miles round have they never, for a dwelling, hewn wood or stone, Save but for one Burg, in this region that Burg it doth stand alone. 'Tis rich in all earthly riches, yet he who that castle fair Would seek, he may never find it, tho' many that quest shall dare. Unawares must they chance upon it, for I wot in no other wise 425 Shall that Burg and all that it holdeth be looked on by mortal eyes. Sir Knight, _thou_ hast never seen it; Monsalväsch I ween its name, Terre de Salväsch the kingdom where its lord the crown may claim, And Titurel once bequeathed it to his son King Frimutel,