Category: Historical Novels

Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)

maiden and a wounded knight, how he succoured the knight and rode to Logrois. How he met with Orgelusé and wooed her, and how she repaid him with scorn. How the squire Malcréature mocked Sir Gawain, and how the knight Urian stole his charger. How Lischois Giwellius fought with...

Chapters

14. BOOK XVI

Now Anfortas and his Templars they suffered sore grief and pain, And their true love in bondage held him, since he prayed them for death in vain; And in sooth death had been his...

10. BOOK XIV

If now the gallant Gawain a knightly joust would ride, Tho' never I feared for his honour yet I fear what may now betide. And tho' dear be the other's safety yet never a doubt I...

12. BOOK XV

Now many were sorely angered that I told not this tale afore Since it wearied them naught in the hearing--Now my words I withhold no more, But I give ye to wit full truly, as my...

8. BOOK XIII

Then wrathful, I ween, was Arnivé that the messenger said her Nay, Nor told her aught of his errand, nor whither his journey lay. And in this wise she quoth to the porter, 'Now,...

2. BOOK X

Now the year of truce was ended, when the strife must needs be fought Which the Landgrave unto King Arthur at Plimizöl had brought. At Schamfanzon he challenged Gawain to meet h...

6. BOOK XII

Now he who his rest had broken, if rest he perchance might win, Methinks they who hear the story had counted it him for sin. For, e'en as the venture telleth, sore toil had the...

4. BOOK XI

Weary he closed his eyelids, and he slept in a slumber deep Till the light of the early morning must waken him from his sleep. And many a window saw he within that chamber wall,...

15. BOOK X

Meets with a lovely lady, whom he woos and is repulsed by her with mockery. Is insulted by a squire of hideous aspect, and his charger is stolen by the wounded knight.

26. BOOK XV

Page 135, line 22--'_His armour a knight displayed_.' The riches of Feirefis and his costly raiment are dwelt upon at such length that one suspects that the aim of the poet was...

22. Book VI. p. 176 and Note.

Page 87-88, lines 466-506--'_His doings, Sir Knight, I to thee will tell_.' This history of the magician Klingsor, as noted in Book X., is found in Wolfram only, and the indicat...

19. Book VII. p. 217 and Book XI. p. 43. This is the first full account

given of this prince, hitherto his fate has only been alluded to; we know nothing of this character, but it is quite evident from such passages as these, and Book VI. p. 171, th...

16. BOOK XI

Gawain, against the advice of the Chrêtien gives the incidents in Boatman, visits Château Merveil, the same order, but with some seats himself on the magic couch, difference in...

30. Book II. 'The Tourney.

Page 178, line 434--'_If he be a heathen_.' This inability of the unbaptized to behold the Grail, and the renewal of the power of the stone every Good Friday are the two most di...

24. Book IX. p. 258.

Page 104, line 38--'_Poinzacleins_.' Bartsch considers that the name of this river points to a French source, and indicates the sloping nature of its banks, the old French word...

27. BOOK XVI

Page 165, line 5, _and seq._--'_Then he spake to the knights of Monsalväsch_.' Those readers who are familiar with Wagner's _Parzival_ will see in this speech of Anfortas to the...

28. Book IX. p. 270), so Répanse-de-Schoie, who had been in the service of

Page 178, line 147--'_By the mouth of His saint, Sylvester_.' An allusion to a well-known story told of S. Sylvester; how when he was defending Christianity against a Jew, in th...

21. Book V. p. 136). On great occasions the principal guests seem to have

had ladies assigned to them as their table companions (cf. Book VI. p. 178). One would gather from this passage, and that in Book VI., that the lady of highest rank had the host...

18. BOOK XII

Gawain overthrows a knight whom Chrêtien. the Lady of Logrois brings to fight with him; crosses the Perilous Ford, and is challenged to single combat by a knight. Is rewarded by...

25. Book II. p. 44, are specially interesting as being almost the oldest

Page 124, line 675--'_Beau-corps_.' Cf. Book VI. p. 183. From the passage on p. 114 it would seem as if Gawain had other brothers, as in most stories of the cycle he has, but Wo...

13. Book XVI. tells of the sorrow of Anfortas and his knights; how he

prayed them to kill him, and how he would fain have withheld his eyes from the light of the Grail; of the coming of Parzival and Feirefis, and of the healing of Anfortas.

20. BOOK XIII

Page 74, line 39--'_One lived of yore named Sarant_.' Cf. note to Book I. '_Silk of Orient_.' Bartsch identifies the name of the skilful weaver with that of an Asiatic people, p...

9. BOOK XIV. tells how Parzival and Gawain met and, unknowing,

How the combat between Gawain and Gramoflanz was deferred till the morrow; and how Parzival was welcomed at the court of King Arthur, and admitted to the Brotherhood of the Roun...

5. BOOK XII

How Gawain fought with and overcame the Turkowit, and how he was urged by Orgelusé's mockery to the venture of the Perilous Ford. How he plucked a bough from a tree guarded by K...

23. BOOK XIV

Page 103, line 13--'_From Monsalväsch they came, the chargers_.' This fact that both Parzival and Gawain are riding Grail steeds is constantly insisted upon by Wolfram, and may...

7. Book XIII. tells of the goodly feast that was holden in Château

Merveil, and of the wedding of Gawain and Orgelusé. How Gawain's squire did his bidding; and how King Arthur and Queen Guinevere pledged themselves to ride to Ioflanz to behold...

17. Book VII. p. 217, and note (which also explains the allusion to 'the

Page 44, line 422--'_Dictam, the herb of healing_.' San Marte says that this herb is mentioned by Cicero, Virgil, and Pliny, as possessing the power of drawing arrow-shafts from...

29. Book V. p. 137.

Page 175, line 319--'_Garschiloie of Greenland_.' Cf. Book V. p. 144. Greenland here is not to be understood as the Greenland we know, but as part of Norway. The Grail maidens h...

11. Book XV. tells how Parzival met with a mighty heathen, with whom

he fought fiercely, and how he was well-nigh vanquished. How he found the heathen to be his brother, Feirefis Angevin, and how the twain rode together to the court of King Arthur.

1. Book X. relates how Gawain, after various adventures, fell in with a

maiden and a wounded knight, how he succoured the knight and rode to Logrois. How he met with Orgelusé and wooed her, and how she repaid him with scorn. How the squire Malcréatu...

3. Book XI. tells how Gawain would brave the venture of the Château

Marveil, and how the boatman and his daughter strove to withhold him. How Gawain came to the Castle, and of the Lit Merveil and its perils. How Gawain slew the lion, and ended t...