Spake the host as his words were ended, (the tale he ill pleased must hear,) 'Ah! world, wherefore deal thus with us? since sorrow and grief and fear Far more than delight dost thou give us! Say, is this thy reward alone? 735 For ever the song that thou singest doth end in a mournful tone!' And he spake, 'O thou son of my sister, what rede may I give to thee? Since the knight thou hast slain in thy folly, thy flesh and thy blood was he! If thou, blood-guiltiness bearing, shalt dare before God to stand, For one blood were ye twain, to God's justice thy life shall repay thine hand. 740 Say, for Ither of Gaheviess fallen, what payment dost think to give? The crown he of knightly honour! God gave him, while he might live. All that decketh man's life; for all evil his true heart did truly mourn, True balsam was he of the faithful, to honour and glory born. And shame fled before his coming, and truth in his heart did dwell, 745 And for love of his lovely body many women shall hate thee well! For well did they love his coming, and to serve them he aye was fain, But their eyes that shone fair for his fairness he ne'er shall rejoice again! Now, may God show His mercy to thee whose hand hath such evil wrought, Herzeleide the queen, thy mother, thou too to her death hast brought--' 750 'Nay! Nay! not so, holy father! What sayest thou?' quoth Parzival, 'Of what dost thou here accuse me? Were I king o'er the wondrous Grail Not all Its countless riches would repay me if this be sooth, These words that thy lips have spoken! And yet if I, in very truth, Be son unto thy sister, then show that thou mean'st me well, 755 And say, without fear or falsehood, are these things true that thou dost tell?' Then the hermit he spake in answer, 'Ne'er learnt I to deceive, Thy mother she died of sorrow in the day thou her side didst leave, Such rewarding her love won for her! _Thou_ wast the beast that hung On her breast, the wingèd dragon that forth from her body sprung, 760 That spread its wings and left her: in a dream was it all foretold Ere yet the sorrowing mother the babe to her breast did hold!'