Legends of the Middle Ages by H.A. Guerber

Author:H.A. Guerber [Guerber, H.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781136214219
Google: hUjFBQAAQBAJ
Published: 2004-05-01T05:00:00+00:00

[Illustration: PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL.—Pixis.]

[Sidenote: Amfortas’s wound.] While she was living there, Frimoutel, weary of the dull life on Montsalvatch, went out into the world, and died of a lance wound when far away from home. Amfortas, his son, who was now crowned in obedience to the command of the Holy Grail, proved equally restless, and went out also in search of adventures. Like his father, he too was wounded by a poisoned lance; but, instead of dying, he lived to return to the Holy Grail. But since his wound had not been received in defense of the holy vessel, it never healed, and caused him untold suffering.

Titurel, seeing this suffering, prayed ardently for his grandson’s release from the pain which imbittered every moment of his life, and was finally informed by the glowing letters on the rim of the Holy Grail that a chosen hero would climb the mountain and inquire the cause of Amfortas’s pain. At this question the evil spell would be broken, Amfortas healed, and the newcomer appointed king and guardian of the Holy Grail.

This promise of ultimate cure saved Amfortas from utter despair, and all the Templars lived in constant anticipation of the coming hero, and of the question which would put an end to the torment which they daily witnessed.

[Sidenote: Parzival’s early life.] Parzival, in the mean while, was growing up in the forest, where he amused himself with a bow and arrow of his own manufacture. But when for the first time he killed a tiny bird, and saw it lying limp and helpless in his hand, he brought it tearfully to his mother and inquired what it meant. In answering him she, for the first time also, mentioned the name of God; and when he eagerly questioned her about the Creator, she said to him: “Brighter is God than e’en the brightest day; yet once he took the form and face of man.”

Thus brought up in complete ignorance, it is no wonder that when young Parzival encountered some knights in brilliant armor in the forest, he fell down and offered to worship them. Amused at the lad’s simplicity, the knights told him all about the gay world of chivalry beyond the forest, and advised him to ride to Arthur’s court, where, if worthy, he would receive the order of knighthood, and perchance be admitted to the Round Table. Beside himself with joy at hearing all these marvelous things, and eager to set out immediately, Parzival returned to his mother to relate what he had seen, and to implore her to give him a horse, that he might ride after the knights.

“‘I saw four men, dear mother mine;

Not brighter is the Lord divine.

They spoke to me of chivalry;

Through Arthur’s power of royalty,

In knightly honor well arrayed,

I shall receive the accolade.’”

WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, Parzival (Dippold’s tr.).

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