'One day as the king rode lonely, in search of some venture high 795 (Sore trouble it brought upon us,) with love's payment for victory, For love's burden lay heavy on him, in a joust was he wounded sore With a poisoned spear, so that healing may be wrought on him nevermore. For thine uncle, the King Anfortas, he was smitten thro' the thigh By a heathen who with him battled, for he jousted right skilfully. 800 He came from the land of Ethnisé, where forth from fair Paradise Flow the streams of the River Tigris, and he thought him, that heathen wise, He should win the Grail, and should hold It--On his spear had he graven his name, From afar sought he deeds of knighthood, over sea and land he came. The fame of the Grail drew him thither, and evil for us his strife, 805 His hand joy hath driven from us and clouded with grief our life!' 'But thine uncle had battled bravely and men praised his name that day-- With the spear-shaft yet fast in his body he wended his homeward way. And weeping arose and wailing as he came once again to his own, And dead on the field lay his foeman, nor did we for his death make moan!' 810 'When the king came, all pale and bloodless, and feeble of strength and limb, Then a leech stretched his hand to the spear-wound, and the iron he found fast within, With the hilt, wrought of reed, and hollow, and the twain from the wound he drew. Then I fell on my knees, and I vowed me to God, with a heart so true, That henceforward the pride of knighthood, and its fame, would I know no more, 815 If but God would behold my brother and would succour his need so sore. Then flesh, wine, and bread I forswore there, and all food that by blood might live, That lust might no longer move me my life I to God would give, And I tell thee, O son of my sister, that the wailing arose anew When my weapons I put from off me and ungirded my sword so true, 820 And they spake, 'Who shall guard our mysteries? who shall watch o'er the wondrous Grail?' And tears fell from the eyes of the maidens, but their weeping might naught avail!