Now Anfortas, before his sickness, in many a distant land 465 Had won him fair fame, for Love's sake, by the deeds of his knightly hand. And the thoughts of his heart were gentle, and generous he was and free, And his right hand had won full often the guerdon of victory; So they sat in the wondrous presence of the Grail, three heroes true, The best of their day, and the bravest that sword-blade in battle drew. 470 An ye will, they enough had eaten--They, courteous, the tables bare From the hall, and as serving-maidens, low bent they, those maidens fair. And Feirefis Angevin saw them as forth from the hall they passed, And in sorrow and deeper anguish I ween was the hero cast. And she who his heart held captive, she bare from the hall the Grail, 475 And leave did they crave of their monarch, nor his will to their will should fail. How the queen, herself, she passed hence; how men did their task begin; Of the bedding soft they brought him who for love's pain no rest might win; How one and all, the Templars, with kindness would put away His grief, 'twere too long to tell ye--speak we now of the dawning day. 480 In the light of the early morning came his brother, Parzival, With the noble knight Anfortas, and in this wise the tale they tell; This knight who to love was captive, proud Zassamank's lord and king, They prayed, of true heart, to follow, and they would to the Temple bring, And before the Grail they led him--And there had they bidden stand 485 The wisest men of the Templars--knights and servants, a goodly band, Were there ere the heathen entered: the Font was a ruby rare, And it stood on a rounded pillar that of Jasper was fashioned fair, And of old Titurel, he gave it, and the cost was great I ween-- Then Parzival spake to his brother, 'This maid wouldst thou have for queen, 490 Then the gods thou hast served henceforward thou shalt for her sake forswear, And ever thine arms, as a true knight, 'gainst the foes of the true God bear, And, faithful, still do His bidding'--'Yea, aught that may win my love,' Quoth the heathen, 'I'll do right gladly, and my deeds shall my truth approve.' Now the Font, toward the Grail had they turned it, filled with water, nor hot nor cold, 495 And a priest by its side did wait them, and grey-haired he was, and old; He had plunged 'neath baptismal waters full many a paynim child,