'Ope the portal!' 'To whom? Who art thou?' 'In thine heart would I find a place!' 'Nay! if such be thy prayer, methinketh, too narrow shall be the space!' 'What of that? If it do but hold me, none too close shall my presence be, Nor shalt thou bewail my coming, such marvels I'll tell to thee!' Is it thou, then, O Dame Adventure? Ah! tell me of Parzival, 5 What doeth he now my hero? whom Kondrie, to find the Grail Hath driven, with words sharp-pointed, and sore wept the maidens fair That the path of his far wayfarings the knight from their side must bear. So he passed from the court of King Arthur, where shall he abide to-day? Ah! hasten the tale to tell us, where now shall his footsteps stray? 10 Say, if fame to himself he winneth, or be ever of joy bereft, Shall his honour as fair and spotless as of old so to-day be left? His renown is it broad as aforetime, or waxeth it small and thin? Ah! tell us, nor stay the story, of the deeds that his hand shall win. Hath he seen once again Monsalväsch, and Anfortas, the mournful king, 15 Whose heart was with sorrow laden? Of thy pity swift comfort bring, And say if his woe be ended--Speak, speak for we tidings pray Of him whom alike we serve here, dwells Parzival there to-day? Declare unto me his doings, how fares it with Gamuret's son, And the child of fair Herzeleide, is the tale of his wanderings done? 20 Since he rode from the court of King Arthur has joy been his lot, or woe? He hath striven, but rides he ever thro' the wide world nor rest doth know? Or loveth he now, outwearied, to linger o'er-long at ease? I were fain to know all his doings, so speak thou, as thou shalt please! And this hath the venture told me--He hath ridden many a land, 25 And hath sailèd many a water; and ever, before his hand, Were he man of the land or kinsman who would joust with him, he fell, Nor abode his mighty onslaught, and all men of his praises tell. And ever when in the balance the fame of his foe must lie, 'Twas outweighed by his fame, and his glory uprose to the stars on high, 30 And all others paled before it--In many a mighty strife With sword and lance was he victor, and guarded full well his life. And they who would fame win from him, for such thinking they paid full dear-- The sword that Anfortas gave him, as ye once in this tale did hear, Sprang asunder onewhile, yet 'twas welded afresh in the