Then joyful Gawain he rode hence; yet the lady she wept alway, And he mourned with her woe, and he prayed her the cause of her grief to say, And in God's Name to cease from weeping! Then she quoth, 'I must mourn, Sir Knight, Because of the hand that slew him, the knight of my love, in fight; For that deed to my heart brought sorrow, tho' I naught but delight had known 505 When Eidegast's love rejoiced me; yet was I not so o'erthrown But since then I might seek his mischief, whatever the cost might be, And many fierce jousts have been ridden that were aimed at his life by me. And here, methinks, canst thou aid me, and avenge me on him, my foe, And repay me for this sore sorrow that my heart doth for ever know.' 510 'For the winning his death I took gladly the service he proffered me, A king, who of earthly wishes the master and lord should be, Sir Knight, he was named Anfortas--As his love-pledge to me he sent That which standeth without thy portals, from Tabronit it came, that tent, And great I ween is its value--But alas! for that gallant king, 515 Such reward did he win in my service as all joy to an end must bring Where fain I my love had given, there must I fresh sorrow know, For bitter indeed was his guerdon!--As great, or e'en greater, woe Than the death of Eidegast brought me, was my lot thro' Anfortas' fate. Now say, how shall I, of all women most wretched, in this estate, 520 If my _heart_ yet be true, be other than of senses and mind distraught, Yea, at times have I been beside me when I on Anfortas thought; After Eidegast did I choose him, my avenger and love to be-- Now hearken and hear how Klingsor won that booth thou erewhile didst see: When it fell so the brave Anfortas, who this token had sent to me, 525 Was of love and of joy forsaken, then I feared lest I shamed should be; For Klingsor, such power he wieldeth by the force of his magic spell, That maiden or man to his purpose can he force as shall please him well. All gallant folk that he seeth, unharmed may they ne'er go free-- Thus my riches to him I proffered, if so be he sware peace with me. 530 And he that should brave the venture, and he that should win the prize, To _him_ I my love should offer; but if so be that in his eyes My love were a thing unworthy, the booth should be mine again.