Meantime had his squires bethought them, and his steed to the palace brought, 585 Where the boughs of a mighty linden might shadow the outer court; And the Landgrave's folk they sought him, and together they took their way Without the walls; ere they parted this grace would Sir Gawain pray, Since his squires might no more fare with him, that the Landgrave with them in ward Should ride forthwith unto Beaurosch, 'There Scherules the Burg doth guard, 590 Thou shalt pray him that these fair children to Dianasdron he bring Where many a Breton dwelleth, and shall yield them unto the king Or to Guinevere, his Lady'--So sware him Kingrimursel, And, with kindly words and courteous, to Sir Gawain he bade 'Farewell.' Short the space ere both steed and rider were clad in their mail of might, 595 Kinsmen and squires, he kissed them, and alone rode that gallant knight, For, as this his oath had bade him, to the Grail must his pathway wend, And many a pain and peril must he know ere his task should end. BOOK IX TREVREZENT ARGUMENT Book IX. In the opening the spirit of adventure craves admission to the heart of the poet, who would fain learn from her tidings of Parzival. The venture telleth how the hero had ridden long in doubt and despair, and knew not the days of his wanderings. How he met again with Siguné and came to the forest of Monsalväsch, where he fought with a Knight of the Grail. How, on Good Friday, Parzival met with a pilgrim knight who reproached him for bearing arms at that Holy Tide, and bade him seek the hermit Trevrezent. How Parzival came to the hermit's cell, and spake of his wrath against God, of his sorrow for his wife, and of his search for the Grail. How Trevrezent told him wherein he had sinned, and showed him the way of salvation. How the hermit farther revealed to him the mysteries of the Grail, of the Bleeding Lance, and the knives of silver; how he told him of the wound of Anfortas, of the race of the Grail Kings, and how Parzival himself was nephew to Anfortas and Trevrezent. How Parzival confessed that it was he who came to the Grail Castle and failed to ask the question; how Trevrezent spake to him words of comfort and counsel, and absolved him from his sin; and how the two parted in sorrow. BOOK IX TREVREZENT