Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)

Name: Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)
Author: Wolfram, von Eschenbach

Wolfram, von Eschenbach

Perceval (Legendary character) -- Romances

Book XV. tells how Parzival met with a mighty heathen, with whom
        he
fought fiercely, and how he was well-nigh vanquished. How he
        found the
heathen to be his brother, Feirefis Angevin, and how the twain
        rode
together to the court of King Arthur.

Of the welcome given to Feirefis by King Arthur and his knights;
        of his
riches; and of the kings conquered by the two brothers.

How a feast of the Round Table was holden, and how Kondrie bare
        tidings
of Parzival's election to the Grail Kingdom, and summoned him,
        his
wife, and his son Lohengrin, to Monsalväsch; and how Parzival and
Feirefis rode thither with Kondrie as their guide.

                                BOOK XV

                                FEIREFIS

    Now many were sorely angered that I told not this tale afore
    Since it wearied them naught in the hearing--Now my words I
        withhold no more,
    But I give ye to wit full truly, as my mouth may the story
        tell,
    The end of this wondrous venture for methinks it shall please
        ye well.
    Ye shall know how the king, Anfortas, of his wound was made
        whole again--                                                  5
    Of the queen doth the venture tell us, who in far Pelrapär
        did reign;
    How she kept a pure heart and loyal till the day of her great
        reward,
    And earth's fairest crown was her guerdon at the hand of her
        faithful lord.
    Ye shall hear the tale of its winning, if my skill fail me
        not alway;
    Yet first must ye list the labour that Parzival wrought that
        day.                                                          10

    Now, tho' dauntless his hand had striven, but as children his
        foemen all,
    And ne'er would I risk my hero might I rule that which shall
        befall.
    I must sorrow sore for his peril, and fain would I speak him
        free,
    But now must I trust that Good Fortune the shield of his
        heart may be.
    For purity, and high courage, side by side in his heart they
        lay,                                                          15
    And ne'er had he cherished cowardice, nor shrunk from the
        knightly fray;
    And I deem this shall surely give him such strength he his
        life may hold,
    Since fierce strife draweth nigh unto him, and his foe is a
        hero bold.
    For he meeteth a prince of battles who dauntless to strife
        doth ride,
    And unbaptized was the foeman who rode here in his heathen
        pride.                                                        20

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)Wolfram, von Eschenbach

General

Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)

Wolfram, von Eschenbach

Perceval (Legendary character) -- Romances

Book XV. tells how Parzival met with a mighty heathen, with whom
        he
fought fiercely, and how he was well-nigh vanquished. How he
        found the
heathen to be his brother, Feirefis Angevin, and how the twain
        rode
together to the court of King Arthur.

Of the welcome given to Feirefis by King Arthur and his knights;
        of his
riches; and of the kings conquered by the two brothers.

How a feast of the Round Table was holden, and how Kondrie bare
        tidings
of Parzival's election to the Grail Kingdom, and summoned him,
        his
wife, and his son Lohengrin, to Monsalväsch; and how Parzival and
Feirefis rode thither with Kondrie as their guide.

                                BOOK XV

                                FEIREFIS

    Now many were sorely angered that I told not this tale afore
    Since it wearied them naught in the hearing--Now my words I
        withhold no more,
    But I give ye to wit full truly, as my mouth may the story
        tell,
    The end of this wondrous venture for methinks it shall please
        ye well.
    Ye shall know how the king, Anfortas, of his wound was made
        whole again--                                                  5
    Of the queen doth the venture tell us, who in far Pelrapär
        did reign;
    How she kept a pure heart and loyal till the day of her great
        reward,
    And earth's fairest crown was her guerdon at the hand of her
        faithful lord.
    Ye shall hear the tale of its winning, if my skill fail me
        not alway;
    Yet first must ye list the labour that Parzival wrought that
        day.                                                          10

    Now, tho' dauntless his hand had striven, but as children his
        foemen all,
    And ne'er would I risk my hero might I rule that which shall
        befall.
    I must sorrow sore for his peril, and fain would I speak him
        free,
    But now must I trust that Good Fortune the shield of his
        heart may be.
    For purity, and high courage, side by side in his heart they
        lay,                                                          15
    And ne'er had he cherished cowardice, nor shrunk from the
        knightly fray;
    And I deem this shall surely give him such strength he his
        life may hold,
    Since fierce strife draweth nigh unto him, and his foe is a
        hero bold.
    For he meeteth a prince of battles who dauntless to strife
        doth ride,
    And unbaptized was the foeman who rode here in his heathen
        pride.                                                        20

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)

Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)

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