von Eschenbach Wolfram

“ She who for love endures it, she 'scapeth Hell thereby,
And, in the kingdom of Heaven, receiveth a hundredfold
For all she has borne for love's sake, new joys for her sorrows old!50
Not one have I known in my lifetime, I count it a bitter truth,
Neither a man nor a maiden, who the joy and the pride of youth,
And all earth's riches and honour, will leave as a worthless thing
If weighed with the glory of Heaven, and the service of Heaven's King!
But Queen Herzeleide only, she left her fair estate, 55
In her youth of all joy bereavèd, with sorrow afar to mate. ”

“ Quoth Gawain, 'Yet for this thou shalt tell me, or if thou still say me, Nay,
And I learn not from thee the story yet the truth will I know alway!'
Then the host he spake out truly, 'Sir Knight, I must sorely rue,
The question thou here dost ask me—Thou goest to strife anew, 70
Arm thee well, and a shield I'll lend thee—In "Terre Merveil" thou art,
And the "Lit Merveil" shall be here—And ne'er hath a knightly heart
Withstood all the many dangers that in Château Merveil shall be!
Turn aside, ere thy death o'ertake thee, for life should be dear to thee! ”

“ Then the knight who so sore was beaten came swiftly, Sir Antanor, 505
For, fain to behold the Waleis, his feet sped the king before,
And he asked, 'Art thou he who avenged me, and the lady of fair Lalande?
Now vanished shall be Kay's honour, for it falleth unto thine hand,
And an end hast thou made of his threatening, and the days of his strife are o'er,
For his arm it is weak, and his vengeance I fear for it never more!'510
And so fair was the knight and radiant, that all men beheld his face
As an angel from heaven, that wingless, abideth on earth a space. ”

“ Perchance I shall yet o'ertake him, he shall answer to me, I trow,
For the deed he hath done, and his reason for vengeance on thee I'll know!' 70
But the wounded knight spake, 'Not so, for true are the words I say,
And no child's play shall be this journey, great perils beset the way.'
With the band from the maiden's tresses Gawain the wound did bind,
And spake o'er it spells of healing, and he bade them their comfort find
In God, since He cares for all men—With blood was their pathway red, 75
And crimson the grass besprinkled as a stag had its life-blood shed ”

“ When the knight gat him unto his mother, who her son in her arms did fold.
Spake the woman, as woman grieving: 'Wilt thou tarry with me no more,
King Gandein's son? Woe is me! yet my womb this burden bore
And the son of my husband art thou. Is the eye of God waxed blind, 155
Or His ear grown deaf in the hearing, that my prayer doth no credence find?
Is fresh sorrow to be my portion? I have buried my heart's desire,
And the light of mine eyes; will He rob me, who have suffered a grief so dire,
Who judgeth with righteous judgment? ”

“ Naught shall hinder the willing service that to God I would give alway;
'Tis a goodly crown, the Grail crown, thro' pride was it lost to me,
Henceforth do I choose as my portion a life of humility,
And riches and love of women shall be strangers unto my heart—
Thou leadest with thee a fair wife, henceforth shall it be her part 540
With true love to reward thy service, as to women is fit and fair,
But I for the love of mine Order henceforward mine arms will bear;
For the Grail and Its service only I many a joust will ride,
But I fight never more for women—thro' a woman did ill betide! ”

“ Heavy-hearted that he, my cousin, serveth no more for true love's meed!'
He hath won him another heart-grief as his brother's death is told,
And he spake aloud in his sorrow, 'Now mine anchor hath found its hold
And its haven in bitter rueing,' and the badge did he lay aside, 535
And his grief taught him bitter anguish, and aloud the hero cried,
'Galoes of Anjou! henceforward shall never a man deny
That on earth ne'er was born thine equal for manhood and courtesy,
And the fruit of a free hand knightly from thine heart did it bloom amain. ”

“ But the eye of each flashed triumph as the coming foe he saw,
And the heart of each knight waxed joyful, as they nearer to battle draw.
Yet sorrow, I ween, was nigh them, true hearts, from all falsehood free, 75
And each bare the heart of the other, and should comrade and stranger be!
Nor may I asunder part them, the paynim and Christian knight,
Hatred they show to each other, tho' no cause have they here for fight.
And methinks this of joy shall rob them, who, as true women, share their pain
Who risk their lives for a woman! May they part, ere one here be slain! ”

“ For the land that as king had crowned me must I leave, and yet more, I ween,
The fairest of wives, and the sweetest, that ever a man hath seen.
For no lovelier form I think me on earth of mankind was born,
And I yearn for her tender greeting, and full sore for her love I mourn!
And yet know I a deeper sorrow and I strive for a higher prize, 145
For the day when the Burg of Monsalväsch, and the Grail shall rejoice my eyes!
Now, Siguné, dear my cousin, thou wast all too wroth with me,
For heavy indeed my sorrow, yet thou fain wouldst my foeman be!' ”

“ As a knight in strife may win him—Now, I prithee, tell thou to me
Thy name, and thy race, that my journey may here not unfruitful be!
Quoth the son of fair Herzeleide, 'Thro' fear shall I tell my name? 195
For thou askest of me such favour as a victor alone may claim!'
Spake the heathen prince from Thasmé, 'Then that shame shall be mine, I ween,
For first will I speak my title, and the name that mine own hath been;
"Feirefis Angevin" all men call me, and such riches are mine, I trow,
That the folk of full many a kingdom 'neath my sceptre as vassals bow!' 200 ”

“ Had I touched with bare hand her vesture I were blest to eternity!
An I vantage take of her slumbers to myself untrue I seem,
Methinks we were both dishonoured did I waken her from her dream,
For a woman's sleep is holy, and all men shall own its sway.'
Thus the Waleis, who ne'er had feared him, lay still till the dawn of day.380
Thus he whom men called the Red Knight, a maiden he left the queen,
Yet surely she deemed in the morning his wife she o'er night had been,
And for love of her lord her tresses she bound with the morning light
As matrons are wont to bind them. ”

“ When true love unto true love answereth, undarkened by thought of guile,
And it vexeth them not that love turneth the key on their heart awhile,
For they fear not nor think of wavering, then high as the heaven above 495
O'er the earth, o'er the love that changeth, is such true and steadfast love.
Yet, gladly as I would free him, to Frau Minne Gawain must bow,
And his joy shall awhile be darkened—Small profit my words, I trow,
And the wisdom I fain had taught him, for no man may love withstand,
And love alone giveth wisdom, and nerveth with strength the hand! ”

“ Than the heritage thou hast won thee, and the crown of an evil fame!
And could I but think thy mother had wrought here a deed of shame 680
I had said that his child thou wert not! Yet her faith it but wrought her woe,
And of her naught but good be spoken! And thy father, as all men know,
In his manhood was true and steadfast, and in many a distant land
He won for him meed of honour, and his praise o'er all men did stand.
For great heart and little falsehood as a roof did defend his breast,685
A dam 'gainst the flood of evil, and a home for his love to rest. ”