And love ne'er had failed the heathen, and his heart was for combat fain, For the love of Queen Sekundillé fresh honour he thought to gain; Tribalibot's land she gave him, and she was his shield in strife-- So bravely he fought, how think ye that the Christian might guard his life? 110 On love let his thoughts be steadfast, else sure is he here undone, And he hath from the hand of the heathen in this combat his death-blow won. O thou Grail, by thy lofty virtue such fate from thy knight withhold! Kondwiramur, thine husband in such deadly stress behold! Here he standeth, of both the servant, in such danger and peril sore 115 That as naught ye may count the ventures he hath dared for your sake of yore! Then on high flashed the sword of the heathen, and many such blow had slain, To his knee Parzival was beaten--Now see how they fought, the twain, If twain ye will still account them, yet in sooth shall they be but one, For my brother and I are one body, e'en as husband and wife are one! 120 The heathen wrought woe to the Christian--Of Asbestos, I ween, his shield, That wondrous wood that never to flame or decay shall yield; I' sooth, right well she loved him who gave him a gift so fair, Turquoise, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Ruby, rich jewels beyond compare Decked with shining lines its surface, on the boss shone a precious stone, 125 Antrax, afar they call it, as Carbuncle it here is known. And as token of love, for his guarding, Sekundillé the queen would give That wondrous beast, Ecidemon--in her favour he fain would live, And e'en as she willed he bare it, as his badge, did that gallant knight-- Here with purity faith joined issue, and truth with high truth would fight. 130 For love's sake upon the issue of this combat each risked his life, Each had pledged his hand to the winning of honour and fame in strife; And the Christian, in God he trusted since the day that he rode away From the hermit, whose faithful counsel had bidden him trust alway In Him who could turn his sorrow into bliss without thought of bale-- 135 To Him should he pray for succour, whose succour should never fail.