Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach
‘It is a long time since happiness deserted me. Thanks to its sail, a ship makes good headway: but a man who walks on that ship moves even faster. If you understand this little parable your fame will soar. You have it in your power to make us shout for joy and take joy to many lands where fear was felt for us. There was a time when I knew happiness. I was a woman who wore a crown, and my daughter too went crowned in great solemnity before the princes of her realm. We both enjoyed high station. Sir, I never plotted mischief to any man, but knew how to give people their due. Please God, I was seen and acknowledged, as of right, as true Queen of a people, since I never wronged anyone. Now let any fortunate woman who has standards of decent behaviour treat simple people well: she might easily fall into so wretched a state that a common serving-lad could show her an escape from the unhappiness that walled her in. I have watched and waited here a long time, my lord, during which none came, walking or riding, who either knew me or rid me from my cares.’
‘If I live, you shall be seen happy again, Ma’am,’ said my lord Gawan.
On that same day, Arthur the Briton and son of Arnive who was lamenting here, was due to arrive with a great company to honour the bonds of kinship.
And now Gawan saw many new banners marching towards him and squadrons of horses covering the field all along the way from Logroys and flaunting many a lance with gay colours. Gawan was glad of their coming. When a man waits for reinforcements any delay makes him secretly afraid that they will be of small use to him. Arthur shattered such doubts in Gawan, for oh! how they saw him coming on! Gawan shrank from being observed lest it be seen that his bright eyes had filled with tears – they could not have served as cisterns, for neither was watertight! The tears which Arthur had brought to view were tears of joy, for Arthur had reared him since childhood. Their mutual loyalty, firm and unfeigned, knew no defection – perfidy had never got through its guard.
Arnive nevertheless noticed that Gawan was in tears. ‘You must raise a shout of joy, my lord,’ she said, ‘this would cheer us all. You must be on your guard against sorrow. Here comes the Duchess’s army. This will soon console you.’
Arnive and Gawan saw many pavilions and banners being carried on to the meadow, yet among them only one escutcheon whose markings were recognizable to Arnive. She pronounced the name of Isajes, Utepandragun’s Marshal. But it was borne by another Briton, by Maurin of the Handsome Thighs, the Queen’s Marshal. Arnive was not to know that both Utepan-dragun and Isajes were dead, and that Maurin had acquired his father’s office, as was right and proper. The Great Household rode over the level meadow towards the landing-place. The Queen’s men-at-arms took quarters beside a clear and rapid brook well suited to the ladies. Here you could see numerous fine pavilions set up. At some distance away, many tent-rings were staked out for Arthur and for the knights who had come there. No question, they had left very broad tracks behind them on this sortie!
Gawan sent Bene down with a message to his host Plippalinot that he was to make fast the cogs and ferry-boats so that the army should be prevented from crossing that day.
Lady Bene received her first gift from Gawan’s luxurious Booth from his own hands – Swallow, still famed in England as a rare harp today! Bene went happily away, while Gawan ordered the Outer Gates to be barred. And now, in the hearing of young and old, he voiced a courteous plea.
‘Over there on the far side, an army has encamped, so mighty that I have never seen squadrons move in greater strength, either on land or sea. If they intend to attack us here I shall offer them battle with your aid.’
They promised to aid him, one and all. They then asked the Duchess if this army were hers.
‘I recognize neither men nor escutcheons, believe me,’ she replied. ‘Perhaps the man who harmed me once before has invaded my lands and fought below the walls of Logroys. But I fancy he will have found the defenders well able to give an account of themselves: my men would have been a match for them with their redoubts and barbicans. If the irascible King Gramoflanz has been fighting there he will have been seeking satisfaction for his Garland. Or whoever they are, they have had to face upraised lances signalling readiness to joust.’
Her words were absolutely true. Arthur had taken much more harm before he was past Logroys, in the course of which action no few Britons were brought down in regular joust. For their part, Arthur’s host paid back what they had got in the same coin, so that both sides had been hard pressed.
And now they of whom it has often been said that they would fight to keep their shirts, came on weary from fighting, tough warriors that they were. Losses had been sustained on both sides. Garel and Gaherjet, King Meljanz de Barbigœl and Jofreit fiz Idœl had been captured and taken into the castle before the bohort was concluded. From Logroys the Britons had taken Duke Friam de Vermendoys and Count Ritschart de Navers, too, who had broken but one lance, for no matter at whom he aimed it, that man came down under its masterful thrust! It was Arthur who had taken this famous stalwart prisoner with his own hand. Thereupon, without thought for the cost, charge had become so interlocked with charge that if lances had been trees a whole forest would have been cleared. Jousts beyond number sent the splinters flying. As far as they were concerned, the Britons gave a good account of themselves opposite the Duchess’s army. Arthur’s rear-guard had had to counter-attack, for their enemy had harassed them all day long, right up to where the mass of the army lay.
Truly, my lord Gawan ought to have informed the Duchess that an ally of his was in her territory! Then there would have been no fighting. But he did not wish to tell her or anyone before she could see it herself. He acted as it suited him and, with costly pavilions, prepared for his march to meet Arthur the Briton. Nobody went short because he was unknown to Gawan. Gawan’s generous hand lavished gifts on them with such a will, you would have thought he was tired of living! He made squires, knights and ladies see and take his gifts on such a liberal scale that all agreed true succour had come to them, and they rejoiced aloud.
The worthy knight now ordered sturdy sumpters to be fetched, handsome palfreys for the ladies, and armour for all the knights. A strong force of men-at-arms encased in steel stood ready there. My lord Gawan then did as follows: he took four noble knights aside, so that one became his Chamberlain, another his Butler and a third his Steward, while the fourth was to remember he was his Marshal. This is what Gawan did, and these four carried out his wishes.
Now let King Arthur quietly lie encamped there. Gawan withheld his greeting all day, though it was far from easy for him to refrain. Early next morning Arthur’s host rode off towards Joflanze with ear-splitting sound. He formed his rearguard so as to beat off an attack, but when they saw that there was to be no fighting, they wheeled and followed on his tracks.
Gawan then drew his Officers aside. He wished to delay no longer and commanded his Marshal to ride to the meadow at Joflanze. ‘I want my own camping-ground. You will see the great army encamped there. Matters have reached a point at which I must name their lord for you all to know who he is. He is my uncle Arthur, under whose roof and at whose court I was reared since childhood. Now equip my march to that field with such fine gear that its magnificence will be plain beyond all cavil, nor let it be known here within that Arthur has come for my sake.’
They did what he had commanded them. Plippalinot too went into action. In cogs, ferries, fast galleys and barges, squires and attendants with spirited companies both on horse and on foot, had to cross over with Gawan’s Marshal. With him they then wound their way along the Briton’s tracks.
Now rest assured that they were also bringing a pavilion which Iblis had sent Clinschor as a love-gift, from which the secret had first become known at large that they loved one another. No expense had been omitted to make that tent, and scissors had never cut a better, but for one that had belonged to Isenhart. This pavilion was set up on its own stretch of grass not far from Arthur, and I am told that many others were pitched around it in a spacious ring, making a magnific
The report reached Arthur’s inner court that Gawan’s Marshal had arrived and was setting up camp on the meadow, and that noble Gawan himself would be coming before the day was out. This became the common talk of all the Household.
And now honest, loyal Gawan formed his companies with his men and set out on his march with such pomp that I could tell you marvels of it. Many sumpters were loaded with field-chapels and clothes, while many marched under piles of armour, not to mention splendid shields, with helmets strapped on top. Beside these sumpter animals you could see handsome castilians pacing. Knights and ladies were riding at the rear in a tight press. The whole cavalcade was fully a short league in length.! Gawan did not forget to provide each comely lady with a handsome knight for company, and they were fools if their talk did not run on love. Florant the Turkoyt was chosen as companion to Sangive of Norway, keen Lischois rode beside sweet Cundrie, and Gawan’s sister Itonje was asked to ride at his side, while Arnive and the Duchess wished to make a pair for their part.
Matters had turned out thus. Gawan’s ring was sited in such a way that it had to be approached through the encampment of Arthur’s army. How they all gazed before this company had passed through them! For the sake of honour and courtesy, Gawan asked the first lady to halt at Arthur’s ring. His Marshal was then bidden to see to it that a second lady rode up close beside her, and then all the others halted all the way round in the same fashion, the mature and the immature, and beside each the knight who attended her and had undertaken to serve her. Thus Arthur’s ring was surrounded by ladies on all sides. Only now was thrice-fortunate Gawan received – and, if you ask me, affectionately!
Arnive, her daughter and the latter’s children have dismounted together with Gawan and also the Duchess of Logroys, the Duke of Gowerzin and Florant the Turkoyt. Arthur advanced from his Pavilion towards these illustrious persons and welcomed them in friendly fashion, as did also his Queen, who received Gawan and his companions with a wealth of loyal affection. Many kisses were exchanged between many comely ladies.
‘Who are these companions of yours?’ Arthur asked his nephew.
‘I must see my Lady kiss them, it would be a blunder were she not to, for their lineage entitles them to it.’ Queen Ginover kissed Florant the Turkoyt at once, and also the Duke of Gowerzin.
They went back into the Pavilion. It seemed to many that the broad meadow was full of ladies. Arthur did not act the lubber – he sprang lightly on to a castilian, rode all round the ring of comely ladies and the knights attending them and courteously welcomed them with his own lips there and then. It had been Gawan’s wish that they should all hold still in the saddle till he should ride away with them. Such was courtly usage in those days.
Arthur dismounted and went inside. He sat down beside his nephew and pressed him with questions as to who the five ladies were. My lord Gawan began with the eldest and addressed the Briton in these words.
‘If you ever knew Utepandragun, this is his wife Arnive. You were born of the two. Then this is my mother the Queen of Norway and these two are my sisters – are they not fresh and lovely girls?’
There was a new round of kissing. All who cared to look on saw laughter mingled with tears. It was joy that affected them so: their lips knew well how to convey both weeping and laughing under the impact of great pleasure!
‘Nephew, I make so bold as to ask who the lustrous fifth lady may be,’ Arthur said to Gawan.
‘She is the Duchess of Logroys,’ replied the courteous Gawan. ‘I am here as her liege. I have been told you made an incursion against her. Show me what you had from it, don’t be shy. You would make a good widow!’*
‘The Duchess has your maternal kinsman Gaherjet as her prisoner, and Garel, who did a knight’s work in countless charges. The fearless man was snatched from my side, for one of our charges had penetrated with its full impact right up to their barbican. – At them now! – What feats were performed by the noble Meljanz of Liz! He was taken captive up to the castle under a white banner to which a Black Arrow of Sable stained with Heart’s Blood had been added, in portrayal of a man’s suffering. The company riding beneath it as their battle-sign all shouted ‘Lirivoyn!’. The prize they had won so gloriously they took up to the castle. To my sorrow, my nephew Jofreit, too, was captured and led in. Yesterday I had command of the rearguard, that is how this hurt was inflicted on me.’
The King had much to say on his losses.
‘I declare you free of any dishonourable act,’ said the Duchess tactfully. ‘You never had my greeting or favour. You may have done me some harm without my having deserved it. Since you have come and attacked me, may God show you how to make amends. You have ridden out to the aid of a man who, had he fought with me, would have found me defenceless and thrust at me on the open side! If he wants to renew the contest it will be settled without swords!’
‘How would you consider it if we were to cover this meadow with yet more knights, since we are well able to do so?’ Gawan asked Arthur. ‘I am sure I can persuade the Duchess to free your men and order her knights along with supplies of new lances.’
‘You have my agreement,’ said Arthur.
And so the Duchess sent home to summon her worthy men. I do not imagine there can ever have been a more splendid concourse anywhere on earth.
Gawan asked leave to continue on his way to his encampment, and the King granted it. Those who had been seen to arrive with him, now accompanied him to their quarters. With all its chivalric splendour, his camp made a luxurious impression free of all taint of poverty.
No few rode into Gawan’s camp who had deeply regretted his long absence. As to Keie, he had now recovered from the joust beside the Plimizœl. He examined Gawan’s luxurious turn-out closely.
‘With my lord’s brother-in-law Lot we stood in no fear of rivalry or separate camp-rings,’ said Keie. He was still brooding on the fact that Gawan had not avenged him when his right arm had been broken. ‘God’s wonders never cease. – Who gave Gawan this gaggle of ladies?’ went on Keie, whose mockery of friends was scarcely seemly. A loyal-hearted man rejoices at a friend’s advancement; a disloyal man cries out in sorrow when something pleasant befalls his friend and he is there to see it. Gawan was blessed with both honour and fortune: if any man wants more, where are his thoughts leading him? Dastards are full of spite and envy. On the other hand, it gladdens a man of spirit when his friend’s honour stands firm and routs dishonour. Gawan, in whom treacherous spite was lacking, was ever-mindful of manly loyalty, so that there was nothing at all wrong with it when he was seen basking in Fortune’s favour.
You ask ‘How did the man of Norway care for his train of knights and ladies?’ Arthur and his retinue were given the opportunity of feasting their eyes on all the wealth of noble Lot’s son! But they are entitled to sleep, you know, after supper! I would never begrudge them their rest.
Before sunrise next morning an entire force of the Duchess’s knights rode up fully armed. Their crests were visible by the light of the moon from where Arthur and his men were encamped. Through these latter the knights now marched to the farther side where Gawan lay with his broad ring. A man who can command such support through the force of his brave right hand must be given high credit for it! Gawan asked his Marshal to show them where they should encamp, and following the latter’s instructions, the noble troop from Logroys pitched many rings of fine pavilions on their own. It was mid-morning before they were lodged. But now new cares are approaching.
Illustrious Arthur sent his envoys to the town of Rosche Sabins with this request to King Gramoflanz: ‘Since it is unalterable that he will not waive his duel with my nephew, my nephew will grant it him. Ask him to meet us soon, since he is known to be so high and mighty that he will not forgo it. Another would have stopped short of such presumptuousness!’* Arthur’s envoys went on their way.
My lord Gawan took Lischois and Florant and asked them quickly to show him Love’s soldiers from many lands who had served t
This done, Gawan left them and returned. What followed he did in great secrecy. He went into his wardrobe, cased his body in armour immediately in order to discover whether his wounds had so far healed that the scabs did not fret him. He wished to exercise his limbs, seeing that so many men and women would be witnessing his duel in a place where discerning knights could judge whether his dauntless hand had triumphed that day. He had asked a squire to bring him Gringuljete, and he now gave him the reins, for he wanted some brisk movement so that he and his charger should both be fit for battle.
No sallying-out of his was so little to my liking. My lord Gawan rode away from the army far out over the plain. May Good Fortune watch over him!
Beside the River Sabins he saw a knight motionless in the saddle whom we might well dub a flintstone of manly vigour. A hail-storm to knights, perfidy never got through to his heart. He was so feeble of body that he failed to carry what men call ‘Dishonour’ at all, not so much as a span nor even half a finger’s length! You may well have heard tell of this man before, since the story has now returned to its true stem.