Then Itonjé, she kissed the letter, and she held it unto her heart, And she quoth, 'Now, Sire, thou canst see here if he would in my love have part.' 580 In his hand Arthur took the letter, and within he found written fair The words of one who loveth, and his passion would fain declare. For Gramoflanz' hand had written the words that his lips would say, And Arthur, he saw by the letter that Love held o'er his heart such sway That ne'er had he known aforetime one who loved with so true a love-- 585 And the words that within were written Frau Minne might well approve. 'Now greeting to whom I owe greeting, whose greeting I fain would earn, To thee, O thou gracious maiden, whose heart toward my heart doth turn! Who with comfort would fain console me--Our love goeth hand-in-hand, And the solace thy love would bring me doth high o'er all solace stand; 590 And my joy in thy love is rooted, and my faith is to thee held fast, And sorrow and bitter anguish shall forth from my heart be cast. And thou bringest me help and counsel, so that never an evil thought Or a faithless deed, and shameful, shall against my fame be brought. But I look on thy truth and thy beauty with ever a steadfast mind, 595 As the Pole-star doth in the north pole the goal of its gazing find, And neither its post forsaketh; e'en so shall our true love be, And waver not, one from the other--So think thou, sweet maid, on me, How I mourned unto thee my sorrow, nor be weary of this my prayer-- And if one would part thee from me, for the hatred that he shall bear 600 Unto me, then shalt thou bethink thee how thy love shall reward us both, And think thou of woman's honour, nor be of thy favours loth; But still let me be thy servant, in thy service I fain would live, And, in all that I may, true service I will to my lady give!'