But the women, they did as women, in forbidden ways they went, 255 And they wrought out the lust and the evil on which their desire was bent, And the shape of men was changèd, such rewarding their fault must win, And tho' firm stood the will of Adam yet sorely he mourned their sin-- Now the fair Queen Sekundillé, her body, her crown, and land, Feirefis had won as his guerdon by the power of his knightly hand, 260 And there, in her far-off kingdom (no lie is the tale I tell) Full many of this strange people since the days that are gone do dwell, And their faces are ill to look on, and the birth-marks are strange they bear. And once of the Grail men told her, and Anfortas' kingdom fair, That on earth was naught like to his riches, and a marvel she thought his land-- 265 (And the waters within her kingdom bare jewels instead of sand, And many a golden mountain shall rear its crest on high.) And the queen she thought, 'How may I win speech of his majesty, Who ruleth the Grail?' she bethought her, and rich presents she sent the king, Of jewels fair, and beside them, they should to his kingdom bring 270 Of this folk, so strange to look on, the twain of whom now I tell, Kondrie and the squire, her brother--and in this wise the chance befell (Much treasure beside she sent him whose cost might of none be told,) That Anfortas, the gentle monarch, who was courteous as he was bold, For the love he bare Orgelusé sent this squire unto her grace, 275 By the sin and the lust of women set apart from the human race!
Now this son of the herbs and the planets loud mocked at the gallant knight, Who, courteous, would wait his coming; no charger he rode of might, But a mare so feint and feeble and halting in every limb, And oft to the ground it stumbled 'neath its rider so harsh and grim. 280 I wot well e'en Dame Jeschuté rode a better steed that day When Parzival's hand avenged her, and her shaming was put away!
The squire he looked well upon Gawain, and thus in his wrath he spake, 'If thou be a _knight_, I think me, and my lady with thee wilt take Thou shalt sorely repent the journey--A fool thou in truth must be, 285 And such peril shall be thy guerdon as winneth great praise to thee, If so be that thou canst withstand it--Yet, if but a _servant_ thou, Of buffets and blows, I think me, full soon wilt thou have enow!'