To Parzival quoth King Arthur, 'Nephew, thou late didst pray, 475 Of thy manhood, to fight this combat for Gawain, and he said thee Nay, And therein didst thou sore lament thee, and yet thou this fight hast fought For him who did strait forbid thee! Of our will hast thou asked us naught. From our court, as a thief, hast thou stolen, or else had we held thine hand Afar from this strife, I wot well thou didst fight not at _our_ command! 480 Yet Gawain, he shall not be wrathful, tho' great praise be for this thy meed.'-- Quoth Gawain, 'Nay, it nothing grieves me, my cousin's gallant deed, To-morrow is all too early if this combat I needs must face, An the king would withdraw his challenge I would count it to him for grace.' To the camp rode the mighty army, there were many ladies fair, 485 And many a knight in armour, and costly the arms they bare. And I ween that never an army was so richly decked before, For the knights of the good Round Table, and the men of the Duchess wore Fair surcoats richly blazoned, of silk from Zinidunt, And bright was their outer garments, and brought from far Pelpiunt. 490 But the heroes in either army spake ever of Parzival, And their lips, in such wise they praised him, that his friends it rejoiced them well. And the men of Gramoflanz spake thus, that never the sun had shone On a knight who fought so bravely, or such gallant deeds had done; And whatever feats of knighthood had been wrought on either side, 495 Yet he, o'er all other heroes, the victor should still abide. Yet they knew not of whom they spake thus, nay, neither his race or name, Tho' the army it rang with his praises, and no mouth but declared his fame.