Parzival

by Wolfram von Eschenbach

  I am entitled to comment on ladies as my eyes discern them. But where my remarks are well intentioned they need the restraint of your good breeding. Now let honest decent people hear this tale! I am not concerned with the dishonest, who with threadbare penitence have forfeited paradise, so that their souls are doomed to suffer Wrath.

  Gawan rode up to the courtyard outside the Palace to keep the rendezvous arranged for him by the King, who was to dishonour himself by his treatment of him. The knight who conducted him to court led him in to where the handsome Princess Antikonie was seated. If feminine repute is to be had in the market, Antikonie had bought a great store; she had no truck with falsity and so was praised for her modest ways. Alas that the wise man of Veldeke‡ died so soon – he could have praised her better!

  While Gawan took stock of the maiden, the messenger approached her and passed the King’s message in full, after which the Princess did not forbear to say ‘My lord, come here. You shall be my tutor in decorum. Now command and instruct me. For if I am to entertain you it must be just as you say. Since my brother has commended you to me so favourably I will receive you with a kiss, if protocol allows it. Now bid me kiss you or no, as you judge fit.’ And she rose most courteously at his coming.

  ‘Madam,’ replied Gawan, ‘your lips are so apt for kissing that I must be welcomed with a kiss.’ Her mouth was hot, full and red. Gawan presented his own to it, and a kiss was given and taken such as is not customary between strangers.

  The noble guest now sat down beside the well-tutored maiden. There was no want of conversation on either side, both charming and sincere. They found ever-new ways of framing them – he his entreaties, she her denials, so that Gawan grew deeply distressed and implored her to be kind. The girl answered as I shall tell you.

  ‘If in other ways you are a gentleman you will consider this enough. To please my brother I have treated you so well that Ampflise did not treat Gahmuret better, short of sharing a couch. (My integrity would bring the scale down hard were she and I to be weighed.) For, sir, I do not know who you are. Yet after so short a time you seek my love.’

  ‘My flair for genealogy tells me and I shall tell it you, madam, that I am my father’s sister’s brother’s son. If you are inclined to have mercy on me do not hold back on grounds of birth: mine is so well up to yours as to be equal, making a perfect match.’

  No sooner had a maid poured out for them than she was gone. Other ladies who had remained sitting there remembered they had things to do and went. The knight who had brought Gawan in had also left. Seeing the whole company gone Gawan reflected that a very small eagle may take the great ostrich.

  He thrust his hand beneath her cloak and I fancy stroked her soft thigh – this only sharpened his torment. The man and the maid were so hard-pressed by desire that if malevolent eyes had not espied it a thing would have been done that both were intent on. Look, their bitter grief is approaching them! A knight, hoary with age, entered suddenly. Recognizing Gawan, he named him and gave the alarm.

  ‘Out and alas, was it not enough for you to slay my lord without having to ravish his daughter here?’

  Men have always heeded the alarm, and custom was honoured there and then.

  ‘Madam, what shall we do?’ Gawan asked the young lady. ‘Neither of us has any weapons to speak of. If only I had my sword!’

  ‘Let us take refuge up in that turret outside my room and there defend ourselves,’ replied the noble young lady. ‘Perhaps matters will take a better turn.’

  Knights ran here, merchants there. She soon heard the rabble coming from the town. She took her friend Gawan to the turret, where he was soon to suffer much hardship. She implored the crowd to desist, but, what with the din and uproar, none took notice. Set on coming to blows they pressed towards the door before which Gawan had taken his stand and was now denying them entry. From the wall he tore a great bolt that was used to bar the turret, and at every flourish his bad neighbours and their men fell back. The Princess ran this way and that in search of some weapon to use against the treacherous throng, till, at last, spotless maid, she found a set of chessmen and a board, huge and beautifully inlaid. This she brought Gawan to fight with. It was hung up by an iron ring, which Gawan gripped as he took it. On this square shield much chess had been played, but now it was badly hacked away.

  Hear about the lady, too. The pieces were large and heavy. Yet king or rook, she hurled them at the enemy. And it is narrated that whoever was hit by her throws was toppled, despite himself. The puissant Princess acquitted herself there like a true knight, she was seen fighting at Gawan’s side with such spirit that the huckstresses at Dollenstein* never fought better of a Shrovetide, except that they do it as a frolic and exert themselves without cause. If one were asked to judge of their modesty, women who begrime themselves with armour forget their nature, unless loyal affection inspires them. In Schanpfanzun, Antikonie was made to know sorrow, and her pride was humbled. As she fought, she shed copious tears. But she gave clear proof that affection between lovers is steadfast.

  But what was Gawan doing? When he had the leisure to look closely at this maiden, her mouth, eyes, nose, – I doubt if you ever saw hare on spit more neatly shaped than she, here and there, ‘twixt hips and breast (her form was made to kindle love’s desire), nor did you ever see ant more finely jointed where her girdle rested – the sight inspired manly courage in her companion. She stood firm with Gawan in their predicament. The surety specified was his very life, there was no other stipulation. When he caught sight ot the maiden he thought little of his enemies’ attacks, and many lost their lives as a result.

  But now King Vergulaht arrived and saw the warlike force doing battle with Gawan. Short of wishing to deceive you I cannot gloss over the fact that he is about to disgrace himself in respect of his noble guest, who is making such a stout defence here. Lord and host though he was, the sovereign did a deed that makes me sorry for King Gandin of Anjou – that his most noble lady daughter* should have borne a son who commanded a treacherous company, his own, to wage fierce war I

  Gawan had to pause till the King was armed. This done, Vergulaht advanced to battle. Gawan was forced to give ground, but did so without dishonour. He was pressed back under the turret-door.

  But look I Here comes the very man who had challenged him to single combat in Arthur’s presence! The Landgrave King-rimursel dug his nails through skin and scalp, he wrung his hands at Gawan’s plight, since it was his word that had been pledged mat Gawan should be immune from any bar one man. Were they young or old, he drove them all back from the turret, which the King had ordered to be pulled down.

  Kingrimursel shouted up to where he could see Gawan. ‘Stout knight, grant me a safe passage to join you there! I mean to share your hardships as your comrade in this extremity! If I fail to preserve your life, the King must kill me first I’ Gawan gave him a safe-conduct, and the Landgrave ran up to join him. At this, the besiegers grew uncertain, for Kingrimursel was Burgrave there. Old and young, they fought in gingerly fashion, so that Gawan, followed by Kingrimursel, ran out into the open – the one was as gallant as the other.

  The King exhorted his men. ‘For how long are we going to suffer at the hands of these two men? My cousin here has taken it upon himself to save this man who has done me a wrong he should more fittingly avenge, had he the courage I’

  Prompted by loyal feelings certain men among them chose a spokesman to the King.

  ‘Sire, if we may speak out, there are many here who would not lift a hand against the Landgrave. May God lead you to courses we can better accept from you. Were you to slay your guest, public esteem would turn against you, you would heap shame upon yourself. Then, as to the other man in breach of whose safe-conduct you unleash this quarrel, he is your kinsman! You should refrain. You will be execrated. Now give us a truce for as long as the day lasts and let it continue overnight. You will still be able to put into execution any conclusions you have arrived at, whether it bring honour or obloquy. Fre
e of all guile, my lady Antikonie stands there beside him all in tears. If this does not move you, seeing that one mother bore you, then consider, Sire, as a man of discretion, it was yourself sent him in to the girl. Even if none had granted him a safe-escort, his life should be spared for her sake.’

  The King allowed a truce till he had taken further counsel as to how to avenge his father. (Yet Gawan was innocent; another man had done the deed. For it was proud Ehkunat who had run him through with his lance when he was leading Jofreit fiz Idœl towards Barbigœl after capturing him beside Gawan. It was all because of Ehkunat that the present crisis had arisen.)

  When the truce had been agreed, the men quickly left the scene of battle and returned to their quarters. Princess Antikonie clasped her cousin tight and showered kisses on his lips for rescuing Gawan and saving himself from a shameful deed. ‘You are my true cousin – it is not in you to do amiss because of anyone!’

  If you care to listen I shall now acquaint you with something I mentioned earlier, namely that ‘a clear mind has been muddied’. A curse on the assault that Vergulaht made at Schan-pfanzun, for such leanings were not inborn in him through his father or his mother. The good youth endured torments of shame whilst his sister the Princess upbraided him. It was thus that the noble young lady was heard appealing to him.

  ‘Lord Vergulaht, had it pleased God that I should be a man and wear sword and follow the calling of the shield, you would have lost your urge to fight here. But I was an unarmed girl, except that I did bear shield, one with an honourable device, which I shall name if you will deign to hear it: Seemliness and Modesty, coupled with Steadfastness. This I interposed to guard my knight, whom you had sent up to me. I had no other protection. Although you are now mending your ways, you treated me very badly, if we women are to be paid due respect. I have always heard it said that whenever it chanced that a man sought refuge with a woman, the gallant pursuers, if bred to truly manly ways, should call off their attack. Lord Vergulaht, the flight of your guest to me in fear for his very life will bring deep disgrace to your name!’

  Next to speak was Kingrimursel. ‘When on the meadow at Plimizœl I gave Lord Gawan safe-conduct to your country, I placed my trust in you. Your word was pledge that were he to venture this far I on your behalf should guarantee that one man and no other should engage him. My lord – and I call my peers to witness – your actions have diminished me I We reject this infamy! If you do not know how to treat your great lords with due consideration, we shall diminish the Crown! If you have any decency you must own that your kin extends to me. Though I were your kinsman only through some furtive armour, rash man, you would have gone too far! After all, I am a knight in whom no falseness has been found to this day! May I earn the distinction so to the! – I trust to God it may be so, for which I send my hopes of Paradise into His presence to plead! Indeed, wherever it is rumoured that Arthur’s nephew had come to Schanpfanzun under my escort, and people – be they of France or Britain, Burgundy, Galicia or Punturteis – hear of Gawan’s peril, any renown I have will perish instantly. His desperate battle will cramp my fame, broadcast my infamy. This would cut my happiness at the root and put my honour to pawn!’

  After this speech one of the King’s men stood forward that went by the name of Liddamus. Kyot himself names him so.* Now Kyot laschantiure was the name of one whose art compelled him to tell what shall gladden no few. Kyot is that noted Provençal who saw this Tale of Parzival written in the heathenish tongue,* and what he retold in French I shall not be too dull to recount in German.

  ‘What is this man, who slew my lord’s father and so nearly dishonoured him, doing in his Palace?’ asked Prince Liddamus. ‘If my lord is a true nobleman he will avenge it here with his own hand and so let one death requite the other. I deem the penalties equal.’

  Now see the pass to which Gawan has corne! Now indeed did he know its dangers!

  ‘Men who are so quick with their threats should hasten to battle,’ said Kingrimursel. ‘Whether you attack at close range or in the open, you are easily fought off. Lord Liddamus, I fancy I shall save this man from you, and that even if he had done you unimaginable wrong you would leave it unavenged! Your tongue has run away with you. One is justified in believing that you were never seen at the front, but on the contrary were so averse to battle that you were the first to flee. You have the further accomplishment that when your comrades were pressing on to engage, you always drew off like a woman! The crown of any king who relied on your advice would sit askew. I myself would have faced the brave warrior Gawan in the duelling-ring. I had resolved that our combat should take place here, had my lord the King been pleased to allow it. But now he bears my hostility with the load of his own misdeeds. I had hoped better things of him. Lord Gawan, give me your hand on it that you will be ready to account for yourself in single combat a year hence if it so happens that my lord will spare your life here -I will give you battle then. I challenged you beside the Plimizœl. Let our combat be at Barbigœl in the presence of King Meljanz. I shall have cares enough to wind a wreath of them till the time set to meet you in the ring. There your manly right hand shall acquaint me with care’s true nature.’

  Gallant Gawan complied with this request and gave his polite assurance. And at once Duke Liddamus spoke up again and delivered himself of a shrewd speech in the hearing of all. He said – for speak he had to – ‘Wherever I go to war and either engage in battle or seek flight when things turn against me, my lord Landgrave, you pronounce as you can best judge of me whether I am a craven among cravens or cover myself with glory! Even though I shall never receive your pay, I stand very well with myself. If you are going to play Lord Turnus,’ the mighty Liddamus went on, ‘then let me be Lord Tranzes,* and censure me, if you know why, and do not get above yourself! Though you may rank highest among my peers the Princes, I too am a sovereign lord: I hold many fortresses throughout Galicia right over towards Vedrun.† Whatever harm you or any Briton sought to inflict on me there, I should not bring one fowl to coop for fear of you. A knight has arrived here from Britain whom you have challenged to a duel. Now avenge your lord and kinsman, but leave me out of your quarrel! If someone has slain your uncle, whose vassal you were, settle it with him! I did not harm him, nor do I imagine any will say I did. I am duly reconciled to his loss: his heir duly wears his crown and is exalted enough to be my overlord. Queen Flurdamurs bore him. His father was Kingrisin and his grandfather King Gandin, and, to be even more precise, his maternal uncles were Gahmuret and Galoes. Unless I were plotting to harm him I could honourably take my lands in fee from him. Let them fight who wish, though I do like to hear the outcome. Let proud ladies reward those who win battle-honours – for my part I will not be deluded by love of anyone into exposing myself to undue harassment. Why should I play Wolfhart?‡ My path to battle is moated, my keenness for prey hooded. Though you should never forgive me for it, I would rather do as Rumolt* did, who offered advice to King Gunther when he was leaving Worms for Hunland – he asked him to toast long slices and twirl them in the cauldron!’†

  ‘You speak as many of us have been accustomed to hear from you all your days. You are advising me to do what I myself am set on, and you claim you would do what a cook advised the Nibelungs, who blithely set out for where vengeance was wreaked on them for what had been done to Sivrit. I shall teach Gawan direst revenge, else he must slay me!’

  ‘I quite agree,’ said Liddamus. ‘But even if I were to be given here all that his uncle King Arthur possesses, and the Indians, too, as they have it in their lands, and if it were made over to me without condition, I would give it up rather than fight. Now you keep the glory men accord you. Myself, I am no Segramors who has to be bound lest he fight. Yet I am well received by the King as I am. Sibeche* never drew sword and was always among those who sought flight: nevertheless people had to come to him cap in hand. Though he never hacked sword through helmet he received many great gifts and mighty fiefs from Ermenrich. My skin will never be shredded for your
sake, Lord Kingrimursel, such is my firm resolve in your direction.’

  ‘Have done with your wrangling!’ said King Vergulaht. ‘It displeases me in both of you that you are so free with your tongues. I am too near for you to raise your voices in this fashion, it beseems neither me nor you!’

  This all took place in the Palace, to which his sister had come. At her side stood Gawan and many another worthy man.

  ‘Now take your companion with you,’ the King told her, ‘and the Landgrave, too. Those who wish me well, come with me and help me weigh up what is best to be done.’

  ‘Add your plighted word to the scales!’ said his sister.

  The King now goes to council. The Princess has taken her cousin and her guest, with Anxiety as third. She clasped hands decorously with Gawan and led him to where she had in mind. ‘If you had not escaped, every land would have suffered loss,’ was what she said to him. The son of noble Lot was walking hand in hand with her, and well might he be glad to do so! And soon she and the two men entered her chamber. Yet thanks to the ministrations of her chamberlains the room remained empty of all others but for the bevy of radiant young ladies in attendance there. Here the Princess courteously entertained Gawan, for whom she cherished tenderest feelings. The Landgrave was with them meanwhile, but did not come between them. Nevertheless, I am told the noble maiden was in great fear for Gawan’s life. And so the two were with the Princess in her boudoir till day gave way to night and it was time for supper.

  Slender-waisted young ladies served wine, mulberry and clary, and for fine dishes pheasant, partridges, choice fish and wastel-bread. Gawan and Kingrimursel had emerged from great peril, and since it was the Princess’s pleasure they fell to accordingly, as did others who wanted anything. Antikonie herself carved for them, an honour which embarrassed these gentlemen. Of all the kneeling cup-bearers there not one broke his points, for you see they were young ladies in what we still regard as their flower. I should not be surprised had they already changed their state, as a new-moulted falcon his plumes – I would not rule out this notion.