'Now give to mine hand the bridle, for there 'neath the rocky wall Thy steed shall abide in safety, and we, ere the night shall fall, 440 Will gather of bough and herbage, since no better food may be, Yet I trust that both thou and thy charger fare not all too ill with me!' But Parzival deemed that surely 'twas unfitting a hermit old Should thus lead his steed, and the bridle he would fain from his hand withhold, 'Now courtesy sure forbids thee to strive 'gainst thine host's good-will, 445 Let not haste from the right path lead thee, but follow my counsel still.' In this wise spake the old man kindly, as he bade him, so did the knight, And the charger he led 'neath the hillside where but seldom did sun-rays light. In sooth 'twas a wondrous stable where the hermit the steed would stall, And thro' it, from heights o'erhanging, foamed ever a water-fall. 450 The snow lay beneath our hero, no weakling was he, I ween, Else the frost and the cold of his harness o'er-much for his strength had been. To a cavern the hermit led him where no breath of wind might blow, And a fire of coals had warmed it, and burned with a ruddy glow. And here might the guest refresh him by the fire and a taper's light, 455 (Well strewn was the ground with fuel,) then swiftly the gallant knight Laid from off him his heavy armour, and warmed his limbs so cold, And his skin in the light glowed ruddy, and his face might the host behold. He might well be of wandering weary, for never a trodden way Nor a roof save the stars of heaven had he known for many a day. 460 In the daylight the wood had he ridden, and his couch, it had been the ground: 'Twas well that he here a shelter, and a kindly host had found! Then his host cast a robe around him, and he took him by his right hand, And he led him into a cavern where his Missal did open stand. And as fitted the Holy Season the Altar was stripped and bare; 465 And the shrine--Parzival must know it, 'twas the spot where he once did swear With true hand, true oath and faithful, that ended Jeschuté's woe, And turnèd her tears to laughter, and taught her fresh joy to know!