Feirefis stepped toward his hostess, and he kissed her e'en as she bade, 325 And a kiss did she give Anfortas, for she joyed that his woe was stayed. Feirefis by the hand must lead her where her husband's aunt she found, Répanse de Schoie, and she kissed her, and the maidens who stood around, And her lips that were red aforetime thro' kissing grew yet more red, (And sorely I ween doth it grieve me, that this labour, I, in her stead, 330 Might not here have taken on me, for weary in sooth was she;) Then her maids by the hand they take her, and they lead her in courteously. And the knights, in the hall they waited, that with countless tapers bright Was decked, on the walls they sparkled, and burnt with a steady light, For a solemn feast they made ready, when the Grail should be shown to all; 335 For it was not on every feast-day, that they bare It thro' the hall, But on high festivals only--When nearer their aid should draw, On that even when joy forsook them, and the bleeding spear they saw, 'Twas then, that the Grail might help them, that It thus thro' the hall was borne-- Yet Parzival asked no question, and left them of joy forlorn-- 340 But now, in joy and gladness, might they look on the Grail again, For at last was their mourning ended, and their sorrow was pierced and slain! When the queen her riding garment had put off, and decked her hair, She came in such garb as beseemed her, in the light of the tapers fair; And Feirefis stepped to meet her, and he took her by the hand, 345 And no man gainsaid his fellow, that in this, or in other land, None might speak of a fairer woman! And rich was the garb she wore, A silk by a skilled hand woven, such as Sarant had wrought of yore, And with cunning and skill had fashioned in Thasmé, the paynim town-- Feirefis Angevin, he led her thro' the palace hall adown, 350 And the three great fires they burnt there with Lignum aloe sweet; And more there were by forty, both carpets alike and seats, Than the time when Parzival sat there and looked on the wondrous Grail, But one seat above all was costly, nor the host to his place should fail. And Feirefis, and Anfortas, they should sit there beside the king-- 355 And, courteous, they did them service, who the Grail to the hall should bring.