'Nay, 'twas otherwise,' quoth the heathen; 'Now learn how I came to thee, I led such a mighty army, they who guardians of Troy would be, 550 And they who its walls besiegèd, the road to my hosts must yield-- If both armies yet lived, and lusted to face me on open field, Then ne'er might they win the victory, but shame and defeat must know From me and my host, of a surety their force would I overthrow!-- And many a fight had I foughten, and knightly deeds had done, 555 Till as guerdon at length the favour of Queen Sekundill' I won. And e'en as her wish so my will is, and her love to my life is guide, She bade me to give with a free hand, and brave knights to keep at my side, And this must I do to please her; and I did even as she would, 'Neath my shield have I won as vassals full many a warrior good, 560 And her love it hath been my guerdon--An Ecidemon I bear On my shield, even as she bade me, at her will I this token wear. Since then, came I e'er in peril, if but on my love I thought She hath helped me, yea, Jupiter never such succour in need hath brought!'
Quoth Arthur, 'Thy gallant father, Gamuret, he hath left thee heir 565 To the heart that on woman's service thus loveth afar to fare. Of such service I too can tell thee, for but seldom hath greater deeds Been done for a woman's honour, or to win of her love the meed, Than were done for the sake of the Duchess who sitteth beside us here. For her love many gallant heroes have splintered full many a spear, 570 Yea, the spear-shafts were e'en as a forest! And many have paid the cost Of her service in bitter sorrow, and in joy and high courage lost!'
And then the tale he told him of the fame that Gawain had found, And the knights of the host of Klingsor, and the heroes who sat around, And of Parzival, his brother, how he fought fierce combats twain, 575 For the sake of Gramoflanz' garland, on Ioflanz' grassy plain; 'And what other have been his ventures, who never himself doth spare As thro' the wide world he rideth, that shall he himself declare; For he seeketh a lofty guerdon, and he rideth to find the Grail. And here shall it be my pleasure that ye twain, without lack or fail, 580 Shall tell me the lands and the peoples against whom ye shall both have fought.' Quoth the heathen, 'I'll name the princes whom I here as my captives brought':