'Now hearken, the Grail's elect ones, say who doth their service claim? On the Grail, in a mystic writing, appeareth each chosen name, If a man it shall be, or a maiden, whom God calls to this journey blest. 655 And the message no man effaceth, till all know the high behest, But when all shall the name have read there, as it came, doth the writing go: As children the Grail doth call them, 'neath its shadow they wax and grow. And blessèd shall be the mother whose child doth the summons hear, Rich and poor alike rejoiceth when the messenger draweth near, 660 And the Grail son or daughter claimeth! They are gathered from every land, And ever from shame and sorrow are they sheltered, that holy band. In Heaven is their rewarding, if so be that they needs must die, Then bliss and desire's fulfilment are waiting them all on high!' 'They who took no part in the conflict, when Lucifer would fight 665 With the Three-in-One, those angels were cast forth from Heaven's height. To the earth they came at God's bidding, and that wondrous stone did tend, Nor was It less pure for their service, yet their task found at last an end. I know not if God forgave them, or if they yet deeper fell, This one thing I know of a surety, what God doeth, He doeth well! 670 But ever since then to this service nor maiden nor knight shall fail, For God calleth them all as shall please Him!--and so standeth it with the Grail!' Quoth Parzival, 'So, since knighthood may conquer, with spear and shield, Both the fame of _this_ life, and the blessing which Paradise shall yield, Since my soul ever longed for knighthood, and I fought where'er strife might be, 675 And my right hand hath neared full often the guerdon of victory, If God be the God of battles, if He know how a man should fight, Let Him name me as one of His servants, of the Grail let Him make me knight! They shall own that I fear no danger, nor from strife would I turn aside!' But the hermit made answer gently, 'First must thou beware of pride, 680 For lightly may youth mislead thee; and the grace of humility Mayst thou lose, and the proud God doth punish, as full surely is known to me!' And tears filled his eyes to o'erflowing, and his sad thoughts awhile did turn To a story of old, and our hero he bade from its lesson learn.