And he quoth, 'Sir Knight, at Monsalväsch a king reigned in days of yore, 685 His name all men know as Anfortas, and I weep for him evermore. Yea, and thou too shalt mourn his sorrow, for bitter the woe, I ween, And the torment of heart and body that his guerdon from pride hath been. For his youth and his worldly riches they led him an evil road, And he sought for Frau Minne's favour in paths where no peace abode.' 690 'But the Grail all such ways forbiddeth, and both knight alike and squire Who serve the Grail must guard them from the lust of untamed desire. By meekness their pride must be conquered, if they look for a heavenly prize, And the brotherhood holdeth hidden the Grail from all stranger eyes: By their warlike skill and prowess the folk from the lands around, 695 They keep afar, and none knoweth where the Grail and Its Burg are found Save those whom the Grail shall summon within Monsalväsch' wall-- Yet _one_, uncalled, rode thither and evil did then befall, For foolish he was, and witless, and sin-laden from thence did fare, Since he asked not his host of his sorrow and the woe that he saw him bear. 700 No man would I blame, yet _this_ man, I ween, for his sins must pay, Since he asked not the longed-for question which all sorrow had put away. (Sore laden his host with suffering, earth knoweth no greater pain.) And before him King Lähelein came there, and rode to the Lake Brimbane. Libbèals, the gallant hero, a joust there was fain to ride, 705 And Lähelein lifeless left him, on the grass by the water-side, (Prienlaskors, methinks, was his birthplace) and his slayer then led away His charger, so men knew the evil thus wrought by his hand that day.'