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
Nor seemed ill to the knight her tidings--Thro' joy must his
eyelids know
A rain of crystal tear-drops from a true heart's overflow.
And he quoth, 'If thou speakest, Lady, the thing that indeed
shall be,
If God as his knight doth claim me, and they are elect with
me, 800
My wife and my child, then I wot well, tho' a sinful man am
I,
God looketh with favour on me, and hath dealt with me
wondrously!
Of a sooth hast thou here repaid me for the grief thou on me
hast brought,
Yet I deem well thy wrath had spared me save that evil myself
had wrought,
Nor to bliss was I then predestined--but thou bringest such
tidings fair 805
That my sorrow hath found an ending--And these arms do thy
truth declare,
For when by the sad Anfortas I sat in Monsalväsch' hall,
Full many a shield I looked on that hung fair on the castle
wall,
And with turtle-doves all were blazoned, such as shine on thy
robe to-day.
But say, to the joy that awaits me, when and how may I take
my way, 810
For I would not there were delaying?' Then she quoth, 'Lord
and master dear,
But _one_ knight alone shall ride with thee; choose thou from
these warriors here
And trust thou to my skill and knowledge to guide thee upon
thy way,
For thy succour Anfortas waiteth, wouldst thou help him, make
no delay!'
Then they heard, all they who sat there, how Kondrie had come
again 815
And the tidings she bare; and teardrops fell soft like a
summer's rain
From the bright eyes of Orgelusé, since Parzival should speak
The words that should heal Anfortas, nor that healing be long
to seek.
Then Arthur, the fame-desirous, spake to Kondrie in courtesy,
'Now, Lady, wilt ride to thy lodging? Say, how may we care
for thee?' 820
And she quoth, 'Is she here, Arnivé, what lodging she shall
prepare,
That lodging shall well content me till hence with my lord I
fare;
If a captive she be no longer, then fain would I see them
all,
The queen, and the other ladies, whom Klingsor, in magic
thrall,
For many a year hath fettered'--Then they lifted her on her
steed, 825
Two knights, and unto Arnivé did the faithful maiden speed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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