Chapter VI: Book XIV: Gramoflanz (2)

Quoth one of the squires to King Arthur, 'What my king did to
thee of ill,
That, Sire, shall he do no longer, for courteous shall he be
still.
But thou knowest well the old hatred, and 'twere better the
king should stay
Within his camp, I think me, than ride to thine host to-day. 670
Of the same mind is still the Duchess, that she counteth him
for her foe,
And maketh her plaint against him, as many a man doth know!'
'With but few folk shall he come hither,' quoth Arthur, 'the
while I'll pray
Of that high and noble lady that her anger she put away.
And an escort good I'll send him, Beau-corps, my sister's
son, 675
Shall meet him half-way, and his journey shall under my care
be done.
Nor as shame shall he look upon it, for brave men and true
I'll send'--
Then leave did they take of King Arthur, and their way to the
camp they wend.

Alone did they leave the monarch, and Bené and the pages
twain
Rode swiftly unto Rosche Sabbins, on the further side of the
plain. 680
'Twas the fairest day of his life-time, so thought the joyful
king,
When his squires and the maiden Bené such tidings to him
might bring.
And e'en as he hearkened to them his heart spake, in sooth
to-day
Good Fortune had thought upon him, and his sorrow was put
away!

Then he spake, 'He would come, right gladly,' and he chose to
him comrades three, 685
A prince of his land was each one who bare the king company.
Brandelidelein, his uncle, with his nephew was fain to ride,
Affinamus of Clitiers, and Count Bernard of Riviers rode
beside.
And each man he chose another who should be for such journey
meet,
And twelve in all might ye reckon who rode hence the king to
greet. 690
And many a squire went with them, and many a footman strong,
Well armèd, as should befit them, did unto the train belong.

Would ye know how the knights had robed them? Of silk was
their raiment bright,
And heavy with gold inwoven that shone in the morning light.
And the king, he went as to hawking, with his falconer by his
side-- 695
Now Arthur had well bethought him, and Beau-corps he bade to
ride,
And half-way to meet the monarch as escort both fit and
fair--
And over the stretch of the meadow, or a pool or a brook lay
there,
Where'er one might find the water rode the king as on pastime
bent,
Yet ever Love drew him onward, and on Love was his heart
intent. 700
And Beau-corps, he rode towards him, and in such wise the
king would greet
That I ween 'twas a joyful moment when the twain and their
folk did meet.

And more than fifty pages with Beau-corps should ride that
day,
And their faces were fair to look on, Dukes and Counts might
they be alway,
And kings' sons, too, rode among them--And the greeting was
good to see, 705
When from either side the children kissed each other, of true
heart free.

And Beau-corps was fair to look on, and the king asked, who
might he be?
And Bené, she straightway answered. 'The son of King Lot is
he,
And _Beau-corps_ the name men call him'--Then he thought, 'Of
a sooth, my heart,
Thou hast found her! For she shall be like him who so
knightly doth play his part, 710
For in truth shall she be his sister, she who sent me the
headgear rare
That of erst was in Sinzester fashioned, and the hawk on mine
hand I bear.
If she further will show me kindness then all earthly power
and pride
Would I count as naught, might I win her, tho' the earth were
twice as wide.
And surely she meaneth truly--For love of her came I here, 715
Hitherto hath she dealt so kindly that methinks I but little
fear;
She will show unto me such favour that my courage shall wax
full high!'
Then he clasped the hand of her brother that fair in his hand
did lie.

In the meanwhile within his army King Arthur in such wise
wrought
That the Duchess was fain to grant him the peace that his
lips had sought. 720
For rich was her consolation for her love by King Gramoflanz
slain,
For whose sake she had borne him hatred; and no more might
her lips complain,
For her anger had sunk to slumber, and she wakened to life
anew
'Neath Gawain's embrace so tender, and her wrath, it was
smitten thro'.

Then Arthur, the king of the Bretons, took many a lady
bright, 725
One hundred, both wife and maiden, who were lovely in all
men's sight,
In a tent apart he set them--Nor might her lot fairer be,
Itonjé, who sat beside them, since her king there she thought
to see.
And ever her heart was joyful, and yet in her soft eyes' glow
Ye might see that the gentle maiden thro' love must sore
sorrow know. 730
And many a knight and hero sat there, yet among them all
No face was so fair to look on as the fair face of Parzival.
To the tent-door up rode the monarch, and Gramoflanz, he ware
For garment a robe of wonder, in Gampfassâsch wroughten fair.
'Twas a rick silk, all gold embroidered, and woven with
golden thread, 735
And a shimmer of light from his vesture afar round the
monarch spread.

Then they who had hither ridden adown from their steeds they
spring,
And the squires, they press them forward to the tent before
their king,
And the chamberlains vie with each other, and they make thro'
the court a way
To the throne where the queen of the Bretons in her glory sat
that day. 740
Brandelidelein, his uncle, before the monarch went,
And the twain, Guinevere she kissed them, and bade welcome
within her tent.
And Count Bernard, and Affinamus a kiss from her lips must
take--
Then to Gramoflanz Arthur turned him, and thus to the king he
spake,
'Ere thou takest thy seat, bethink thee; if thou dost a
maiden love, 745
And thou seest her here, thou mayst kiss her, nor will I such
kiss reprove!'

It had told him which was his lady, the letter he read but
now
In the open field, and that letter, 'twas her brother's face
I trow!
The brother of her who from all men had hidden her love so
true--
And Gramoflanz' eyes beheld her, and straightway his love he
knew, 750
And his heart swelled high within him--Since Arthur had
willed their bliss,
And had bid him in men's sight greet her, on her sweet lips
the maid he kissed.

Brandelidelein, he sat him by the queen, fair Guinevere,
And King Gramoflanz, he was seated by the maid, who with many
a tear
Had dimmed the glow of her beauty; 'twas for his sake she
wept so sore, 755
Nor might he take vengeance on her, since guiltless this woe
she bore.
But softly he spake unto her, and he vowed to her service
true,
And she thanked him for this his coming, and their hearts
toward each other flew,
And further no word they spake there, but they gazed in each
other's eyes,
And their yea and their nay would I tell here, were I but in
Love's language wise. 760
To Brandelidelein quoth Arthur, 'Methinks thou enow hast told
Thy tale in the ears of my lady!' Then he led forth the hero
bold,
To a little tent he led him, apart on the grassy field;
Yet Gramoflanz came not with them, but, e'en as King Arthur
willed,
He abode in the tent with his comrades, and so fair were the
ladies bright, 765
That I deem well to look upon them but little would vex a
knight
And fair was their joy and their pastime, 'twould please many
a man, I trow,
Who to-day, after peril ended, would joy for his sorrow know.

Then wine to the queen and her ladies and to many a knight
they bare,
And, methinks, an enow they tasted, their faces waxed fresh
and fair. 770
To Brandelidelein and King Arthur the cup-bearers wine must
bring;
As they passed from the tent in this wise quoth Arthur, the
goodly king:

'Sir King, say, the conflict ended, if the strife in such
wise have run
That the king, the son of thy sister, shall have slain my
sister's son,
Yet would woo my niece, the maiden who maketh to him her moan 775
But now, as they sit together and their love for each other
own;
If she do as shall best beseem her, she will favour him never
more,
But will give him for payment hatred as shall vex the king
full sore
If her love he yet desireth--for where love is o'ercome by
hate
Then joy from true hearts is banished, and desire doth with
sorrow mate!' 780

Then out spake the King of Punturtois to Arthur of Brittany,
'Sir King, they are sons to our sisters betwixt whom this
hate shall be.
'Tis our part this strife to hinder, nor other shall be its
end
Save that they twain shall love each other, and from foe
shall be turned to friend.
'Twere best that thy niece, Itonjé, ere she yield to my
nephew's prayer, 785
Shall say, if in truth he love her he shall from this strife
forbear.
Thus an end shall be put to the combat, and the quarrel shall
turn to peace--
And thou, thou shalt pray the Duchess that her wrath 'gainst
my nephew cease!'

'Yea, that have I done,' quoth Arthur, 'my sister's son,
Gawain,
He holdeth such power o'er the lady, that, as courtesy doth
constrain, 790
For his sake and mine she forgiveth the ill that the king
hath done--
Now do thou thy part with thy nephew, that peace on his side
be won.'
Brandelidelein quoth straightway, 'I will do e'en as thou
dost say'--
And back to the tent and the feasting the monarchs they took
their way.

Then sat the King of Punturtois on one side of the gracious
queen, 795
And Parzival sat on the other, and so fair was his face, I
ween,
That never a man so goodly their eyes had beheld afore--
Then Arthur, the king, he rose up, and he gat him from out
the door,
And he sought Gawain, his nephew; then he, who a while must
hear
How his foemen had ridden hither, learnt that Arthur now drew
anear, 800
And before his tent dismounted--Then swift did Sir Gawain
spring,
And forth from the tent on the meadow he hastened to meet the
king.

Then counsel they took together, and the Duchess, she peace
would swear,
But not otherwise save that Gawain for her sake should this
strife forbear.
Then should Gramoflanz be forgiven, if _he_, too, would
forgive the ill 805
Once done by King Lot, her kinsman--so Arthur should speak
her will.

Then Arthur the wise and courteous, he brought the tale
again,
And King Gramoflanz, for his garland, henceforward must mourn
in vain.
And his hatred to Lot of Norway it passed as the snow flakes
melt
In the sun, 'neath the glance of Itonjé, and anger no more he
felt. 810
And the while he sat beside her he said to her bidding,
yea,--
Then they spake, Gawain came hither with his knights in brave
array,
And their names I may not tell ye, nor the land in which each
was born;
But here love had banished sorrow, and sadness was overworn.

Then the Duchess, Orgelusé, and her gallant men and true, 815
With part of the host of Klingsor, with Gawain nearer drew;
And the covering 'gainst wind and weather from the king's
tent they took away,
And thither came good Arnivé with Sangivé and Kondrie alway,
They came at King Arthur's bidding where men words of peace
would speak,
(He who counteth this but a small thing, at his will may a
greater seek.) 820
Then Iofreit, Gawain's comrade, by her white hand, within the
tent
Led the Duchess, fair and stately, and on this was she
courteous bent,
That the three queens should go before her--Brandelidelein
they kissed,
Then she followed, proud Orgelusé, nor the monarch her
greeting missed.
Then Gramoflanz stepped towards her, atonement he fain would
make, 825
From her sweet lips the kiss of forgiveness as token of peace
he'ld take;
And the lady was moved to weeping, for she thought of her
true love slain,
And the faith and the sorrow of women did her heart to such
woe constrain.

Then Gramoflanz and Sir Gawain with a kiss put an end to
strife;
And Arthur gave maid Itonjé to King Gramoflanz to wife, 830
For truly and long had he served her; and Bené was glad that
day--
And another for love's sake sorrowed, and his sorrow was put
away,
For Lischois, the Duke of Gowerzein, won fair Kondrie for his
own,
And, I ween, were her love not his portion his life little
joy had known.
To the Turkowit, brave Florant, as his wife King Arthur gave 835
Her who wedded King Lot aforetime, and her love a man well
might crave;
'Twas a gift such as love beseemeth, and the knight took it
joyfully--
For the king, he was aye free-handed, and he gave such gifts
readily!

To this end had he well bethought him, and counsel wise had
ta'en,
And soon as his speech was ended, the Duchess, she spake
again, 840
And she said that her love Sir Gawain had conquered with
valiant hand,
And henceforth he of right was master alike of her life and
land.
And many a knight who hearkened he thought her speech ill to
hear,
For they fought for her love, and had broken in her service
full many a spear.

Gawain, and they who rode with him, Arnivé, and the Duchess
fair, 845
And many a lovely lady prayed leave of the monarch there.
And Parzival, he went with them--Sangivé and maid Kondrie
They rode hence, but with King Arthur she abode still, fair
Itonjé.
And the wedding feast that was holden was a feast beyond
compare;
And Guinevere took Itonjé, and her true love, within her
care, 850
The gallant king who with knighthood full many a prize had
won,
And for love and desire of Itonjé full many brave deeds had
done.
And many they sought their lodging who for love's sake must
sorrow sore;
And how that night they had feasted, of that will we think no
more--
But they who for love did service, who knew of true love the
might, 855
They would that the day was ended, for fairer they deemed the
night.

Then King Gramoflanz sent this message (he bethought him in
his pride)
To his men, who, before Rosche-Sabbins, lay camped by the
water-side.
They should spare nor pains nor labour, but their tents
should they strike straightway,
And hither, with all his army, should they hasten ere break
of day. 860
And his marshal here must seek him a fitting place and fair--
'Each prince by himself be encamped, and ye shall for myself
prepare
Such goodly state and royal as well shall beseem a king,
Nor spare ye the cost'--'Twas nightfall ere this word to the
host they bring.

And many a man must sorrow who had learnt from a woman woe,-- 865
Whose love to the winds is scattered, and who ne'er doth
rewarding know
For his service, to grief he speedeth, and naught shall his
steps delay,
Save only the help of a woman o'ertaketh him on his way.

But Parzival, he bethought him of his wife so fair and sweet,
How pure she was, and how gentle--Did he ne'er another greet, 870
And offer for fair love service, and, wavering, love anew?
Nay, nay, he was far from such dealings, and naught of such
love he knew!
For a mighty faith so guarded his body alike and heart
That never a woman living might have in his love a part,
Save only his queen and lady, Kondwiramur, the flower 875
Of women, Love's fairest blossom, with none should she share
her power.

And he thought, 'Since to Love I wakened but ill hath Love
dealt with me,
Of Love was I born, how comes it that I must from her
presence flee?
Tho' my hand for the Grail be seeking yet desire it doth rend
my heart,
And I yearn for her sweet embraces; ah, too long have we
dwelt apart! 880
Shall I look with mine eyes on rejoicing while my heart seeth
naught but woe?
The twain fit but ill together, and no man thereby shall know
High courage, a knight befitting--Now Good Fortune direct my
way,
And show me what best beseemeth!' His harness before him lay,
And he thought, 'Since to me that lacketh with which others
are richly blest,-- 885
The love in whose sweet fulfilment many sad hearts have found
their rest--
Since this sorrow must be my portion I care not what else my
lot,
Little reck I what shall befall me, since my joy Heaven
willeth not!
And thou, for whose love I am yearning, were it so both with
me and thee,
That our hearts ever dreamed of parting, nor our love from
all doubt were free, 890
It might well be that with another joy and blessing again
were mine,
But thy love it so fast doth hold me, I may rest on no heart
but thine!
And for aye am I Sorrow's captive! Now Good Fortune bring joy
to all
Who find peace in fair Love's fulfilment, they are blessèd
whate'er befall--
May God give to this folk rejoicing! But I from their joy
must flee, 895
And wend lonely as of aforetime, since gladness is not for
me!'

Then he stretched out his hand to his harness, and as oft was
his wont of yore,
Unaided he girt it on him, and soon was he armed once more.
Now sorrow anew he seeketh--When he, who from joy would fly,
Had armed himself, his charger he saddled right speedily, 900
And his shield and spear were ready--O'er his loss did they
wail next morn,
For no eye looked on his departing, he rode thence ere the
day was born.

BOOK XV

FEIREFIS

ARGUMENT

Book XV. tells how Parzival met with a mighty heathen, with whom he fought fiercely, and how he was well-nigh vanquished. How he found the heathen to be his brother, Feirefis Angevin, and how the twain rode together to the court of King Arthur.

Of the welcome given to Feirefis by King Arthur and his knights; of his riches; and of the kings conquered by the two brothers.

How a feast of the Round Table was holden, and how Kondrie bare tidings of Parzival's election to the Grail Kingdom, and summoned him, his wife, and his son Lohengrin, to Monsalväsch; and how Parzival and Feirefis rode thither with Kondrie as their guide.