A bishop sang Mass for Gawain, and the folk they stood thick around, And many a knight and lady on horseback might there be found, Without the tent of King Arthur, ere the Mass to an end they sing-- While the priest did his holy office, beside him there stood the king; 430 When he spake the Benediction, then Gawain armed himself for fight, And greaves of iron, well wroughten, they did on his limbs of might. Then uprose a voice of wailing from the women, and one and all The host rode forth to the meadow; and lo! there did strife befall, And they heard the clash of the sword-blades, and they saw the fire-sparks fly 435 From the helmets as there the foemen their blows with fierce strength did ply. King Gramoflanz oft had boasted he would scorn with _one_ man to fight, He thought here that _six_ were his foemen, and each one a valiant knight Yet none but Parzival faced him, and he fought in such gallant wise, That he taught to the king a lesson which men e'en to-day may prize; 440 That in his own praise his own lips should speak never more this tale, He could fight and could conquer _two_ men, since o'er _one_ he might not prevail. From left and from right came the armies, o'er the grassy plain so wide, And, each one their station keeping, they halted on either side, And they looked on the mighty combat, on one side the chargers stood, 445 And afoot on the ground they battled with sword-blades, the heroes good. And sharp and sore was the conflict, and steadfast the twain did stand, And their swords on high they tossed them, and oft did the blades change hands.