Then the knight he turned his spear-shaft, and he struck with so true a blow 710 That the lad and his sorry charger on the meadow he laid them low, And the hero was swift in his anger, and he smote with a will so good That there where the spear-shaft struck him there sprang forth bright drops of blood. Then Parzival sprang up swiftly and stood wrathful upon his feet And he grasped his javelin firmly--Where the helm and the visor meet 715 And betwixt the twain is an opening, there the javelin swiftly sped And thro' eye and neck it struck him, and the knight on the plain lay dead. Fierce foe had he been to falsehood; women's sighs, true hearts wounded sore, Were the fruit of his death, and with tear-drops must many an eye run o'er. And they whom his love made joyful their gladness asunder brake, 720 And their joy to the goal of sorrow o'er a rough road its way must take. Then Parzival in his folly turned the dead knight o'er and o'er, For fain would he loose his armour, yet was lacking the needful lore. He fingered both helm and corslet with his bare white hands alone, Yet the fastening he failed to loosen, nor with force might they be undone 725 Tho' oft and again he tried them, who in wisdom was all untaught. Then the horses they neighed so loudly that the sound on the breeze was brought To Iwanet's ear, and he heard them, by the city moat he stood, (To Queen Guinevere was he kinsman, and he did to her service good) He heard the cry of the horses, but naught of the riders saw, 730 As his true heart would give him counsel, Parzival did he seek once more. And Ither lay dead; and his slayer by his folly was vexed amain-- Then swiftly he sprang to aid him, and Parzival thanks must gain For the honour he here had won him o'er the hero of Cumberland: 'God reward thee, but give me counsel for skill here doth fail mine hand, 735 How best may I loose this armour which myself I were fain to wear?' 'Such lore I right well may teach thee,' quoth Iwanet the proud and fair, So the armour was reft from the dead man, 'fore Nantes on the grassy plain, And they did it upon the living, o'er whose dealings did folly reign.