And she quoth,'From henceforth, my cousin, mine anger will I forswear, For too much of thy joy lieth forfeit since the question thou didst forbear! 150 And I would not too sorely grieve thee--Alas I that thou didst withhold The word that had brought thee honour, and the tale of his griefs had told Who sat there as thine host beside thee--nor thine host alone was he, Anfortas, for joy and blessing his presence had brought to thee! And thy question great bliss had brought thee, and thy silence had wrought thee woe, 155 And thy spirit shall fail, and heart-sorrow as thy comrade thou well shalt know. And yet had it been far from thee, nor, a stranger, had sought thy side, Hadst thou asked of that Burg the marvels, and what ill did its host betide!' 'Yea, I did there as one who wrongeth himself; yet my cousin dear I prithee here give me counsel, since in sooth are we kinsmen near. 160 And tell me, how fares it with thee? I would sorrow for this thy woe Were my sorrow not all too heavy! Greater grief man may never know!' Then she quoth, 'May His Mercy help thee, Who knoweth of all men's woe, Perchance it may yet befall thee that His finger a way shall show That shall lead thee once more to Monsalväsch, and thine heart's bliss afresh shall spring. 165 'Tis but short space since Kondrie left me, and I would I could tidings bring Of whither she went, but I asked not if she rode to the Burg again, Or passed elsewhere; but when she cometh by that streamlet she draweth rein, Where, from cleft in the high rock riven, the waters flow fresh and clear. It may be, if thou follow swiftly, that she rideth as yet anear, 170 And, perchance, thou shalt overtake her.' Then the knight he made no delay But farewell did he bid to the maiden; and he followed the woodland way, And fresh were the tracks before him, but such pathway the mule must choose Thro' the depths of the dusky thicket that its traces he soon must lose. As the Grail he had lost of aforetime, so he lost It again to-day, 175 And joy and delight fled with It--Yea, had he but found the way, And reached once again Monsalväsch, for better than erst of old Had he known how to ask the question--thus in sooth is the venture told.