Book 9 Trevrezent

‘Ope the portal!’ ‘To whom? Who art thou?’ ‘In thine heart would I find a place!’

‘Nay¹! if such be thy prayer, methinketh, too narrow shall be the space!’

‘What of that? If it do but hold me, none too close shall my presence be,

Nor shalt thou bewail my coming, such marvels² I’ll tell to thee!’

Is it thou, then, O Dame⁴ Adventure? Ah! tell me of Parzival,5

What doeth he now my hero? whom Kondrie, to find the Grail

Hath driven, with words sharp-pointed, and sore wept the maidens⁶ fair

That the path of his far wayfarings the knight⁷ from their side must bear.

So he passed from the court of King Arthur, where shall he abide⁸ to-day?

Ah! hasten the tale to tell us, where now shall his footsteps stray?10

Say, if fame to himself he winneth, or be ever of joy bereft⁹,

Shall his honour as fair and spotless as of old so to-day be left?

His renown¹⁰ is it broad as aforetime, or waxeth it small and thin?

Ah! tell us, nor stay the story, of the deeds that his hand shall win.

Hath he seen once again Monsalv?sch, and Anfortas, the mournful king,15

Whose heart was with sorrow laden¹¹? Of thy pity swift comfort bring,

And say if his woe¹² be ended—Speak, speak for we tidings pray

Of him whom alike we serve here, dwells Parzival there to-day?

Declare unto me his doings, how fares it with Gamuret’s son,

And the child of fair Herzeleide, is the tale of his wanderings done?20

Since he rode from the court of King Arthur has joy been his lot, or woe?

He hath striven, but rides he ever thro’ the wide world nor rest doth know?

Or loveth he now, outwearied, to linger o’er-long at ease?

I were fain to know all his doings, so speak thou, as thou shalt please!

And this hath the venture told me—He hath ridden many a land,25

And hath sailèd many a water; and ever, before his hand,

Were he man of the land or kinsman¹³ who would joust¹⁴ with him, he fell,

Nor abode¹⁵ his mighty¹⁶ onslaught, and all men of his praises tell.

And ever when in the balance the fame of his foe¹⁷ must lie,

’Twas outweighed¹⁸ by his fame, and his glory uprose to the stars on high,30

And all others paled before it—In many a mighty strife¹⁹

With sword and lance was he victor, and guarded full well his life.

And they who would fame win from him, for such thinking they paid full dear—

The sword that Anfortas gave him, as ye once in this tale did hear,

Sprang asunder²⁰ onewhile, yet ’twas welded afresh in the mystic spring35

By Karnant, and much fame and honour the blade to its lord did bring!

Who believeth me not, he sinneth, for now doth the venture tell

How adown a woodland pathway, on his way rode Sir Parzival,

(But the hour of his riding I wot not, if in waxing or waning²¹ light,)

When a hermitage, newly builded, uprose to his wondering sight,40

And a stream flowed swift beneath it, for ’twas built o’er the brooklet’s wave

Then in search of some worthy²⁵ venture to its door rode the hero brave,

Nor knew that of grace ’twas the portal, and his footsteps of God were led.

But the dweller²⁶ therein was a maiden⁵, and the days of her joy were sped,

For the love of God had she offered her youth, and the joys of earth,45

And the root of her old-time sorrow brought ever fresh grief to birth.

For he found here Schionatulander, and Siguné, his faithful love,

Dead and buried he lay, the hero, and the maid wept his tomb above.

Tho’ but seldom Siguné the Duchess might hearken the Holy Mass,

All her life was a prayer, in God’s service her nights as her days she’ld pass.50

And her lips, erst so red and glowing, had faded as life-joys fade,

And alone would she mourn such sorrow as never had mourned a maid.

Thus denial of love’s fulfilling made Love, with her love, to die,

And dead, as she living loved him, did she cherish him tenderly.

And in sooth had she once his wife been, then ne’er had Lunete braved55

Her wrath²⁹, and had given such counsel, as she once to her lady gave.

And today may we look upon women, who never a willing ear

Had turned to Lunete, and such wisdom but little had brooked³⁰ to hear.

For this do I know, that a woman who, for love of her lord alone,

And thro’ virtue³¹ of gentle breeding, doth never strange service own,60

But aye, while her husband liveth, shall be to him wife as true,

Heaven giveth in her such blessing³³ as bloometh for ever new!

And never shall prayer or fasting robe her with a robe as fair!

And I, if the time were fitting, this word naught³⁴ but truth would swear.

Be he dead, she may do as best please her, but if faithful she still abide,65

Then far fairer such faith than the circlet she beareth at feasting tide!

Shall I joy compare with the sorrow that her faith to Siguné brought?

Nay, ’twere better I speak not of it—O’er rough stones, and a road unwrought

Rode Parzival to the window (he deemed well he rode too near).

He would ask of the woodland pathway, and the goal of its windings³⁶ hear.70

And he thought him, perchance, the hermit²² might tell of the unknown way,

‘Doth one dwell here?’ the voice of a maiden it was that made answer,‘Yea!’

As he knew ’twas the voice of a woman, swift turned he his steed aside

On the greensward beside the pathway, for he deemed he too near did ride,

And sooner had he dismounted had he known that a maiden dwelt75

Within such a lowly dwelling³⁸, and shame, as was meet, he felt.

Then his horse and his shield, all splintered, he bound to a fallen tree,

And he loosed his sword from beside him, for a courteous³⁹ knight was he.

Then he stepped him unto the window, and asked of the place and road,

And the cell of all joy was empty, and bare, as ‘seemed grief’s abode.80

He spake, would she come to the window? and the maiden from prayer arose,

She was tall as a virgin⁴⁰ lily, and pale as a faded rose,

And he deemed not as yet that he knew her—A shirt woven rough of hair,

Next her skin, ‘neath a flowing garment of grey, did the maiden wear,

And sorrow was her heart’s treasure, and fallen her courage high,85

And the guerdon she won for her service must be paid her in many a sigh!

Then the maiden she stepped to the window and the knight did she courteous greet,

In her hand did she hold her psalter, and her voice it was low and sweet.

And Parzival saw on her white hand the gleam of a ring of gold,

For truly she bare the token she won from true love of old.90

And the stone set within the circlet was a garnet, whose slumbering⁴² light

Flashed red mid⁴³ the dusky shadows, as mid ashes the sparks glow bright.

And the band that her head encircled was black as a mourning band—

Then she spake, ‘Sir Knight, ‘neath the window a bench shalt thou see to stand,

Thou canst sit there, an it so please thee, and thy journey will brook²⁴ delay,95

God reward thee for this thy greeting Who hath led thee to me this day!’

Then the hero did as she bade him, and he sat ‘neath the window small,

And he prayed her, ‘Sit thou within there!’ ‘Nay! ne’er did such chance befall

That here by a man I sat me!’ Then he asked her, what did she here?

That, so far from the home of men-folk, thou dost dwell in this desert drear100

Seemeth me all too great a wonder, say, Lady, how shalt thou live,

Since no man abideth by thee who succour or food can give?’

Then she quoth, ”Tis the Grail that doth feed me, and It feedeth me well I ween,

From Its marvels the sorceress Kondrie, (of her own will the task hath been,)

Doth bring me each Sabbath vigil what serveth me for the week.’105

A little space she kept silence, then further the maid did speak:

‘An it otherwise were with me as I would, I need little care

For the food, since the Grail doth feed me I never too ill shall fare!’

But he deemed that she lied unto him, and with false words would speak him

fair, And, mocking, he spake,‘Now, who gave thee that ring which I see thee wear?110

For ever ’twas told unto me that hermit, or man, or maid,

Must forswear all love!’—‘Now I think me, if in truth thou these words hast said,

For false maiden thou sure dost hold me! Yet if falsehood I ever learn,

And thou shalt be near to witness, ’twere time then with wrath to burn!

God knoweth, ill ways I hated, and falsehood I never knew;115

This troth plight⁴⁴ that here thou seest I had from a lover true,

Tho’ never was love’s fulfilment our portion while he might live,

’Twas the heart of maiden bade me the love of a maiden give.

And he lieth in death beside me, and his token I ever wear

Since the day that Duke Orilus slew⁴⁵ him—and grief for his sake I bear—’120

‘And true love will I truly give him, thro’ my sorrow-laden days,

Such love as I sware unto him, when he, whom, all knights⁴⁷ must praise,

With sword, and shield, and helmet, and prowess of knightly⁴⁸ deed

Sought my love, and in true love’s service won death for his glory’s meed!

Yet tho’ ever a spotless maiden, my husband he, in God’s sight,125

Shall be, and if thoughts God counteth as deeds then is woven aright

The bond that shall ever bind⁴⁹ us, true husband and wife as true,

For his death wrought³⁵ my life such sorrow as waxeth for ever new.

And this ring shall, I ween, be my witness when I stand in the sight of God

Of a marriage vow⁵⁰ and the tear-drops that bedew it are tears of blood.’130

‘Yea, ’tis I indeed, and none other, and the hero who here doth lie

Is my knight, Schionatulander, and the maid of his love am I!’

Then he knew ’twas the maid Siguné, and her sorrow it wrought him pain,

And he lifted his helmet’s visor ere he spake to the maid again.

And she saw his head uncovered, and she saw his face gleam white135

Thro’ the rust⁵¹ of the iron harness, and she spake to the gallant⁵² knight:

‘Is it thou, Parzival, my kinsman? Dost thou seek for the Grail to-day?

Or its mighty power hast thou proven? Say, whither dost wend thy way?’

Then he spake to the noble maiden, ‘Alas⁵⁴! for my joy is fled,

And the Grail hath but wrought me sorrow, and mischance in fair fortune’s stead.140

For the land that as king had crowned me must I leave, and yet more, I ween,

The fairest of wives, and the sweetest, that ever a man hath seen.

For no lovelier form I think me on earth of mankind was born,

And I yearn⁵⁵ for her tender greeting, and full sore for her love I mourn!

And yet know I a deeper sorrow and I strive for a higher prize,145

For the day when the Burg of Monsalv?sch, and the Grail shall rejoice my eyes!

Now, Siguné, dear my cousin, thou wast all too wroth with me,

For heavy indeed my sorrow, yet thou fain wouldst my foeman be!’

And she quoth,‘From henceforth, my cousin, mine anger will I forswear,

For too much of thy joy lieth forfeit⁵⁷ since the question thou didst forbear!150

And I would not too sorely grieve thee—Alas I that thou didst withhold⁵⁸

The word that had brought thee honour, and the tale of his griefs had told

Who sat there as thine host beside thee—nor thine host alone was he,

Anfortas, for joy and blessing his presence had brought to thee!

And thy question great bliss⁵⁹ had brought thee, and thy silence had wrought thee woe,155

And thy spirit shall fail, and heart-sorrow as thy comrade thou well shalt know.

And yet had it been far from thee, nor, a stranger, had sought thy side,

Hadst thou asked of that Burg the marvels, and what ill did its host betide!’

‘Yea, I did there as one who wrongeth himself; yet my cousin dear

I prithee here give me counsel, since in sooth are we kinsmen⁶⁰ near.160

And tell me, how fares it with thee? I would sorrow for this thy woe

Were my sorrow not all too heavy! Greater grief man may never know!’

Then she quoth, ‘May His Mercy help thee, Who knoweth of all men’s woe,

Perchance it may yet befall thee that His finger a way shall show

That shall lead thee once more to Monsalv?sch, and thine heart’s bliss afresh shall spring.165

’Tis but short space since Kondrie left me, and I would I could tidings bring

Of whither she went, but I asked not if she rode to the Burg again,

Or passed elsewhere; but when she cometh by that streamlet she draweth rein²⁷,

Where, from cleft⁶¹ in the high rock riven, the waters flow fresh and clear.

It may be, if thou follow swiftly, that she rideth as yet anear,170

And, perchance, thou shalt overtake her.’ Then the knight he made no delay

But farewell did he bid to the maiden; and he followed the woodland way,

And fresh were the tracks before him, but such pathway the mule⁶² must choose

Thro’ the depths of the dusky thicket⁶³ that its traces he soon must lose.

As the Grail he had lost of aforetime, so he lost It again to-day,175

And joy and delight fled with It—Yea, had he but found the way,

And reached once again Monsalv?sch, for better than erst of old

Had he known how to ask the question—thus in sooth is the venture told.

So now let him ride, but whither? Lo, a knight with uncovered head,

And blazoned⁶⁴ coat o’er his shining harness, full swiftly towards him sped!180

And to Parzival thus quoth he, ‘Sir Knight, I must deem it ill

That thus thro’ the woods of my monarch⁶⁵ thou takest thy way at will!

Begone! or receive such token thou shalt wish thyself far from here!

Monsalv?sch doth never brook it that men ride thus its walls anear,

And here must thou strive in battle, and win here a victor’s fame,185

Or such penance⁶⁶ be thine, as without there, in the open, men Death shall name!’

And he bare in his hand a helmet, and its bands were of silken sheen,

Sharp-pointed his spear, and the spear-shaft was of wood new and strong I ween!

And wrathful he bound his helmet on his head, not in vain should be

His threat, for his blows should enforce it! Now ready for joust was he;190

But many a spear as goodly had splintered ‘fore Parzival,

And he thought, ‘Now, it well had chanced me, that death to my lot should fall

If I rode thro’ the corn upstanding—then reason had he for wrath,

But now hath he none, since I ride here on naught but a woodland path,

And I tread here but fern and heather! An mine hand shall not lose its skill195

I will leave him such pledge for my journey as, I think me, shall please him ill!’

Then they rode at full speed their chargers, and they urged them with spur and rein,

As the bolt from the bow of the archer⁶⁷ so swift flew those heroes twain,

And the first joust they rode unwounded; but many a knightly fray⁶⁸

Unscathed had Parzival ridden, and e’en so should it chance to-day.200

(Unto skill and the lust⁶⁹ of battle must his father’s son be heir.)

His lance-point upon the fastening of his foeman’s helm struck fair,

And it smote⁷⁰ him where men in jousting⁷¹ their shield are wont⁷² to hold,

And down from his gallant charger did he bear him, the Templar bold.

And the knight of the Grail fell headlong down the side of a rocky dell,205

Tho’ couch he had found, I think me, he slumbered⁷³ not over well.

But the victor’s steed sped onward⁷⁴, and in vain would he check its flight

Ere it fell, and well-nigh in falling had borne to his death the knight.

A cedar⁷⁵ o’erhung the chasm⁷⁶, its bough⁷⁷ Parzival gripped fast,

(Nor think ye scorn of my hero, that, as chanceth a thief at last,210

He hung, for none spake his judgment⁷⁸, he hung there by his own hand)

His feet, for a foothold seeking, on the rock found at last their stand:

Far out of his reach, beneath him, his gallant steed lay dead,

Up the further side of the valley the Templar for safety fled.

Think ye that he much might pride him on his token from Parzival?215

Far better at home in Monsalv?sch had he fared with the wondrous⁷⁹ Grail!

To the plain once more climbed our hero, there the steed of the Templar stood,

For down to the ground hung the bridle⁸⁰ and fettered⁸¹ the war-horse good.

As the knight in his flight forgat it so it stood where its master fell,

Swift Parzival sprang to the saddle, such booty might please him well.220

Of a truth his spear had he shattered, yet more than he lost he won—

Nor L?helein, nor Kingrisein a better joust e’er had run!

Nor King Gramoflanz nor Count Laskoit (the son he of Gurnemanz).

Onward he rode, yet wandering, nor further befell mischance,

Nor strife, from the knights of Monsalv?sch, yet one grief must vex⁸² his soul,225

He found not the Grail—Ever further he rode, further fled the goal!

Now he who my song will hearken, he shall hear that which yet befell,

Tho’ the tale of the weeks I know not, that had flown since Sir Parzival

Had met with the maid, and had ridden on venture as aye before—

One morning the ground was snow-clad, and tho’ thin was the cloak it bore230

Yet so thick it was that men, seeing, had deemed it the time of frost;

As he rode thro’ the depths of a woodland by a knight was his pathway crossed,

And old was the knight, and grey bearded, yet his face it was bright and fair,

And his lady who walked beside him like mien⁸³ to her lord did bear.

And each on their naked body wore a garment of horse-hair grey,235

For penance and pilgrimage minded they wended afoot their way.

And their children, two gentle maidens, such as men’s eyes are fain to see,

In like garments they followed barefoot, e’en as pilgrims are wont to be.

Then our hero the old knight greeted as he passed on his lowly way,

And good was the rede, and holy, that he heard from his lips that day.240

And a prince of the land he seemed him—By each maiden a brachet ran,

And with humble⁸⁴ mien and reverent⁸⁵ paced master alike and man.

For both knight and squire⁸⁶ they followed on this holy pilgrimage,

And some, they were young and beardless, and some were bent⁸⁷ low with age.

But Parzival, our hero, he was clad in far other wise,245

In fair raiment, rich and costly⁸⁸, he rode in right knightly guise⁸⁹,

And proudly he ware⁴⁶ his harness, and unlike were the twain I ween,

The old man in his robe of penance and the knight in his armour⁹⁰’s sheen!

Then swiftly he turned his bridle and held by the pathway side,

For fain would he know of their journey, and friendly the knight replied.250

But a sorrow the old man deemed it that one to this Holy Tide

Should have failèd to give due honour, but in warlike gear should ride.

For better would it befit him unarmèd this day to greet,

Or like them to walk barefooted, and in garb⁹¹ for a sinner meet!

Quoth Parzival, ‘Nay, I know not what the time of the year may be,255

Or how men the tale may reckon of the weeks as they swiftly flee,

How the days shall be named I know not, long have I forgot such lore⁹²!

Of old time I served a master, and God was the name He bore.

But He bare unto me no favour, and for guerdon He mocking gave,

Tho’ ne’er had my heart turned from Him—Men said, ‘If from God ye crave260

For succour, He sure will give it;’ but I deem well they spake a lie,

For He who they said would help me, did help unto me deny!’

Quoth the grey-haired knight, ‘Dost thou mean Him who was once of a Maiden born?

Dost believe that a Man for men’s sake He died on the cross this morn,

And this day for His sake we hallow? Then such garb becomes thee ill!265

For to-day all men call Good Friday, and the world it rejoiceth still

O’er the day that her chains were riven; tho’ she mourneth her Saviour⁹⁴’s pain.

Speak, knowest thou of faith more faithful than the faith God hath kept with men,

Since He hung on the cross for men’s sake? Such woe as He bare for thee,

Sir Knight, sure must work thee sorrow, since baptized thou shalt surely be!270

For our sin His life was forfeit, or else had mankind been lost,

And Hell as his prey⁹⁵ had held us, and Hell’s torments⁹⁷ had paid sin’s cost.

Sir Knight, if thou be not heathen, thou shalt honour this Holy Day—

So do thou as here I counsel, ride thou on this woodland way,

For near here a hermit dwelleth, as thy speech, so his rede shall be,275

And if ruth for ill deed thou showest of thy sin will he speak thee free!’

Then out quoth the old man’s daughter, ‘Nay, father, but speak not so,

For too chill and cold is the morning, thou shalt bid him no further go.

Far better to bid him warm him his steel-clad limbs, for strong

And fair shall he be to look on, and the way is both cold and long.280

Methinks were he thrice as mighty he would freeze ere his goal he reach,

And here hast thou tent for shelter, and viands⁹⁸ for all and each.

Came King Arthur and all his vassals⁹⁹ thou wouldst still have enough I trow,

So do thou as host so kindly¹⁰⁰, and good-will to this young knight show!’

Quoth the grey-haired sire, ‘My daughters, Sir Knight, here give counsel good,285

Each year, with tent of pilgrim, I wend thro’ this lonely wood.

If warm or cold be the season I care not, as year by year

The time of our dear Lord’s Passion draweth once more anear,

He rewardeth His servant’s service—Sir Knight, what I, for His sake,

Brought here, as my guest, right willing, I pray thee from me to take!’290

And kindly they spake, the maidens, and they bade the knight to stay,

And with gracious mien they prayed naught might drive him from them away.

And tho’ cold was the frost and bitter, and it wrought not as summer’s heat,

Yet Parzival saw their lips glow so red, and soft, and sweet.

(Tho’ they wept for the death of the Saviour, such sorrow became them well.)295

And here, had I cause for vengeance¹⁰¹, an such happy chance befell,

I never would speak them guiltless, but a kiss should their penance be,

Nor against their will would I take it, of good-will should they give it me!

For women shall aye be women, and tho’ brave be the knight, and strong,

Yet I ween is he oft the vanquished¹⁰³, nor the strife it endureth long!300

With sweet words, and ways so gentle, they ever the knight would pray,

Children alike and parents, and fain would they have him stay:

Yet he thought, ‘It were best I leave them, for e’en if I turn aside

All too fair methinks are these maidens, ’twere unfitting that I should ride

While they by my side walk barefoot—And ’tis better that we should part,305

Since ever I bear Him hatred¹⁰⁴ Whom they worship with lowly heart,

And they look for His aid, Who ever hath turnèd His face from me,

Nor from sorrow hath He withheld¹⁰⁵ me, but hath wrought with me heavily!’

‘Knight and Lady,’ he quoth, ‘I think me ’twere better I leave should pray,

May good fortune be yours, and blessing, and fulness of joy alway,310

And may you, ye gentle maidens, find reward in your courtesy,

Since so well ye had thought to serve me, fair leave would I pray from ye!’

He greeted them, low they bowed them, and greeted the knight again,

Nor might they withhold their sorrow, for parting aye bringeth pain!

So the son of Herzeleide rode onward, well taught was he315

In all manly¹⁰⁶ skill and courage, in mercy and purity;

And his mother had aye bequeathed him her faithful heart and true—

Yet ever his soul waxed sadder, and there sprang up thoughts anew

Of the might of the Maker¹⁰⁷ of all things, Who hath made this earth of naught,

How He dealeth with all creation, and still on His power he thought320

‘How might it yet be if God sent me that which brought to an end my woe?

If ever a knight He favoured, if ever a knight might know

His payment for service done Him—if He thinketh His aid they earn

Who dauntless shall wield¹⁰⁸ their weapons, and ne’er from a foeman turn,

Let Him aid me, who bear unstainèd shield and sword as befits a man,325

If to-day be His Day of Redemption, let Him help me, if help He can.’

Backward he turned his bridle on the road he had ridden before,

And the knight and his children stood there, and mourned for the parting sore.

And the maidens, true and gentle, gazed after the passing knight,

And his heart spake, he fain had seen them once more those maidens bright.330

Then he spake, ‘Is God’s power so mighty that He guideth upon their way

The steed alike and the rider, then His hand may I praise to-day!

If God sendeth help from heaven, then let Him my charger show

The goal which shall bless my journey, so shall I the token know.

Now, go thou as God shall lead thee!’ and bridle and bit he laid335

Free on the neck of his charger and spurred it adown the glade¹⁰⁹.

Towards Fontaine-Sauvage the road led, and the chapel¹¹⁰ where once he sware

The oath that should clear Jeschuté—A holy man dwelt there,

And Trevrezent men called him, and ever on Monday morn

Poor was his fare, and no richer it waxed as the week wore on.340

Nor wine nor bread he tasted, nor food that with blood was red,

Fish nor flesh, but his life so holy on the herb of the ground was fed.

And ever his thoughts, God-guided, were turning to Heaven’s land,

And by fasting the wiles¹¹¹ of the Devil he deemed he might best withstand.

And to Parzival the mystery of the Grail should he now reveal—345

And he, who of this hath asked me, and since silence my lips must seal

Was wroth with me as his foeman, his anger might naught avail,

Since I did but as Kiot bade me, for he would I should hide the tale,

And tell unto none the secret, till the venture so far were sped

That the hidden should be made open, and the marvel³ of men be read.350

For Kiot of old, the master whom men spake of in days of yore,

Far off in Toledo’s city, found in Arabic writ¹¹² the lore

By men cast aside and forgotten, the tale of the wondrous Grail;

But first must he learn the letters, nor black art might there avail.

By the grace of baptismal waters, by the light of our Holy Faith,355

He read the tale, else ’twere hidden; for never, the story saith,

Might heathen skill have shown us the virtue that hidden lies

In this mighty Grail, or Its marvels have opened to Christian¹¹³ eyes.

’Twas a heathen, Flegetanis, who had won for his wisdom fame,

And saw many a wondrous vision, (from Israel’s race he came,360

And the blood of the kings of old-time, of Solomon did he share,)

He wrote in the days long vanished, ere we as a shield might bear

The cross of our Holy Baptism ‘gainst the craft and the wiles of Hell,

And he was the first of earth’s children the lore of the Grail to tell.

By his father’s side a heathen, a calf¹¹⁴ he for God did hold,365

How wrought the devil such folly¹¹⁵, on a folk so wise, of old?

And the Highest Who knoweth all wonders, why stretched He not forth⁵⁶ His Hand

To the light of His truth to turn them? For who may His power withstand!

And the heathen, Flegetanis, could read in the heavens high

How the stars roll on their courses, how they circle the silent sky,370

And the time when their wandering endeth—and the life and the lot of men

He read in the stars, and strange secrets he saw, and he spake again

Low, with bated breath and fearful, of the thing that is called the Grail,

In a cluster of stars was it written, the name, nor their lore shall fail.

And he quoth thus, ‘A host of angels this marvel to earth once bore,375

But too pure for earth’s sin and sorrow the heaven they sought once more,

And the sons of baptized men hold It, and guard It with humble heart,

And the best of mankind shall those knights be who have in such service part’

Then Kiot my master read this, the tale Flegetanis told,

And he sought for the name of the people, in Latin books of old,380

Who of God were accounted worthy for this wondrous Grail to care,

Who were true and pure in their dealings and a lowly heart might bear.

And in Britain, and France, and Ireland thro’ the chronicles he sought

Till at length, in the land of Anjou, the story to light was brought.

There, in true and faithful record, was it written of Mazadan,385

And the heroes, the sons of his body, and further the story ran,

How Titurel, the grandsire, left his kingdom to Frimutel,

And at length to his son, Anfortas, the Grail and Its heirdom fell:

That his sister was Herzeleide, and with Gamuret she wed²³

And bare him for son the hero whose wanderings ye now have read.390

For he rideth upon a journey that shall lead him a road unknown,

Tho’ the grey knight but now had wended his way from the fountain lone²⁸.

And he knew again the meadow, tho’ now the snow lay white

On the ground that erst was blooming with flowers of springtide bright.

’Twas before the rocky hillside where his hand must wipe away395

The stain from Jeschuté‘s honour, and her husband’s wrath allay¹¹⁶.

Yet still the road led onward, to Fontaine-Sauvage, the name

Of the goal that should end his journey and his hermit host he came.

Then out spake the holy hermit, ‘Alas, why doest thou so,

Sir Knight? at this Holy Season ’tis ill thus armed to go.400

Dost thou bear perchance this harness thro’ strife and danger dared?

Or hast thou unharmèd ridden, and in peace on thy way hast fared?

Other robe had beseemed thee better! List not to the voice of pride,

But draw thy rein here beside me, and with me for a space abide.

Not all too ill shalt thou fare here, thou canst warm thee beside my fire.405

Dost thou seek here for knightly venture, and dost guerdon of love desire,

If the power of true Love constrain¹¹⁷ thee, then love Him who Love may claim!

As this day to His Love beareth witness, be His service to-day thine aim,

And serve for the love of fair women, if it please thee, another day;

But now get thee from off thy charger, and awhile from thy wanderings stay.’410

Then Parzival, e’en as he bade him, sprang lightly unto the ground;

Humbly¹¹⁸ he stood before him, as he told how he folk had found

Who had told of the hermit’s dwelling, and the counsel he wisely gave,

And he spake, ‘I am one who hath sinnèd, and rede at thy lips I crave⁹³!’

As he spake the hermit answered,‘Right gladly I’ll counsel thee,415

But, say, what folk hast thou met with? Who showed thee thy way to me?

‘In the wood I met with an old man grey-headed, and fair he spake,

And kindly, I ween, were his people, he bade me this road to take,

On his track my steed came hither.’ Then answered the hermit old,

”Twas Kahenis, and his praises shall ever by men be told.420

A prince of the land of Punturtois, and his sister Kareis’ king

Hath taken to wife—Fairer maidens no mother to earth did bring

Than those maidens twain, his daughters, who met thee upon thy road,

Of a royal house, yet yearly he seeketh this poor abode!’

Then Parzival spake to the hermit, ‘Now say, when thou saw’st me here,425

Didst thou shrink from my warlike coming, didst thou feel no touch of fear?’

Quoth the hermit,‘Sir Knight, believe me, far oftener for stag or bear

Have I feared than I feared a man’s face, in sooth shalt thou be aware

I fear me for no man living! Both cunning and skill have I,

And tho’ I were loath¹¹⁹ to vaunt me, yet I ne’er to this life did fly430

For fear, as beseems a maiden! For never my heart did quail¹²⁰

When I faced as a knight my foeman, and ne’er did my courage fail,

In the days when such things became me, in the days when I too might fight,

I was armèd as thou art armèd, like thee did I ride, a knight!

And I strove for high love’s rewarding, and many an evil thought435

With the pure mind within me battled, and ever my way I wrought

To win from a woman favour! All that was in time of yore,

And my body, by fasting wasted, remembereth those days no more.’

‘Now give to mine hand the bridle, for there ‘neath the rocky wall

Thy steed shall abide in safety, and we, ere the night shall fall,440

Will gather of bough and herbage, since no better food may be,

Yet I trust that both thou and thy charger fare not all too ill with me!’

But Parzival deemed that surely ’twas unfitting a hermit old

Should thus lead his steed, and the bridle he would fain from his hand withhold,

‘Now courtesy sure forbids thee to strive ‘gainst thine host’s good-will,445

Let not haste from the right path lead thee, but follow my counsel still.’

In this wise spake the old man kindly, as he bade him, so did the knight,

And the charger he led ‘neath the hillside where but seldom did sun-rays light.

In sooth ’twas a wondrous stable where the hermit the steed would stall,

And thro’ it, from heights o’erhanging, foamed¹²¹ ever a water-fall.450

The snow lay beneath our hero, no weakling was he, I ween,

Else the frost and the cold of his harness o’er-much for his strength had been.

To a cavern¹²² the hermit led him where no breath of wind might blow,

And a fire of coals had warmed it, and burned with a ruddy glow.

And here might the guest refresh him by the fire and a taper’s light,455

(Well strewn was the ground with fuel,) then swiftly the gallant knight

Laid from off him his heavy armour, and warmed his limbs so cold,

And his skin in the light glowed ruddy, and his face might the host behold¹²³.

He might well be of wandering weary, for never a trodden way

Nor a roof save the stars of heaven had he known for many a day.460

In the daylight the wood had he ridden, and his couch, it had been the ground:

’Twas well that he here a shelter, and a kindly host had found!

Then his host cast a robe around him, and he took him by his right hand,

And he led him into a cavern where his Missal did open stand.

And as fitted the Holy Season the Altar was stripped and bare;465

And the shrine¹²⁴—Parzival must know it, ’twas the spot where he once did swear

With true hand, true oath and faithful, that ended Jeschuté‘s woe,

And turnèd her tears to laughter, and taught her fresh joy to know!

Quoth Parzival, ‘Well I know it this chapel and shrine! Of yore,

As hither my wanderings led me, an oath on that shrine I swore;470

And a spear, with fair colours blazoned, that did here by the altar stand

I bare hence, and in sooth, I think me, right well did it serve my hand!

Men say it much honour brought me, yet I wot not if it be so,

For in thoughts of my wife had I lost me, and naught of the thing I know.

Yet, unwitting, two jousts¹²⁵ had I ridden, and two foemen I overthrew,475

In those days all men gave me honour, nor sorrow nor shame I knew.

Now, alas! is my sorrow greater than ever to man befell!

Say, when did I bear the spear hence? The days of my wanderings tell!’

‘It was Taurian,’ quoth the hermit, ‘who his spear in my care did leave,

And much did he mourn its losing, and I with the knight must grieve.480

And four years and a half and three days shall have passed since we lost the spear,

Sir Knight, an my word thou doubtest, behold! it is written here!’

Then he showed unto him in the Psalter how the time it had come and gone,

And the weeks and the years he read him that silent and swift had flown.

And he spake, ‘Now first do I learn them, the days that I aimless stray,485

And the weeks and the years that have vanished, since my joy hath been reft away.’

And he spake, ‘Now indeed me-seemeth that my bliss it was but a dream,

For heavy the load of sorrow that so long hath my portion been!’

‘And, Sir Host, I yet more would tell thee, where cloister¹²⁶ or church shall be

And men unto God give honour, there no eye hath looked on me,490

And naught but strife have I sought me, tho’ the time as thou sayst be long,

For I against God bear hatred, and my wrath ever waxeth strong.

For my sorrow and shame hath He cherished, and He watched them greater grow

Till too high they waxed, and my gladness, yet living, He buried low!

And I think were God fain to help me other anchor my joy had found495

Than this, which so deep hath sunk it, and with sorrow hath closed it round.

A man’s heart is mine, and sore wounded, it acheth, and acheth still,

Yet once was it glad and joyous¹²⁷, and free from all thought of ill!

Ere sorrow her crown of sorrow, thorn-woven, with stern hand pressed

On the honour my hand had won me o’er many a foeman’s crest¹²⁸!500

And I do well to lay it on Him, the burden of this my shame,

Who can help if He will, nor withholdeth the aid that men fain would claim,

But me alone, hath He helped not, whate’er men of Him may speak,

But ever He turneth from me, and His wrath on my head doth wreak¹²⁹!’

Then the hermit beheld¹³⁰ him sighing, ‘Sir Knight, thou shalt put away505

Such madness, and trust God better, for His help will He never stay.

And His aid to us here be given, yea, alike unto me and thee.

But’ twere best thou shouldst sit beside me, and tell here thy tale to me,

And make to me free confession¹³¹—How first did this woe begin?

What foe shall have worked such folly that God should thine hatred win?510

Yet first would I pray thee, courteous, to hearken the word I say,

For fain would I speak Him guiltless, ere yet thou thy plaint shall lay

‘Gainst Him, Who denieth never unto sinful man His aid,

But ever hath answered truly, who truly to Him hath prayed.’

‘Tho’ a layman¹³² I was yet ever in books might I read and learn515

How men, for His help so faithful, should ne’er from His service turn.

Since aid He begrudged¹³³ us never, lest our soul unto Hell should fall,

And as God Himself shall be faithful, be thou faithful whate’er befall;

For false ways He ever hateth—and thankful we aye should be

When we think of the deed, so gracious, once wrought of His love so free!520

For our sake the Lord of Heaven in the likeness¹³⁵ of man was made,

And Truth is His name, and His nature, nor from Truth shall He e’er have strayed.

And this shalt thou know most surely, God breaketh His faith with none.

Teach thy thoughts ne’er from Him to waver, since Himself and His ways are One!’

‘Wouldst thou force thy God with thine anger? He who heareth that thou hast sworn525

Hatred against thy Maker, he shall hold thee of wit forlorn!

Of Lucifer now bethink thee, and of those who must share his fall,

Bethink thee, the angel nature was free from all taint¹³⁶ of gall⁵³,

Say, whence sprang that root of evil which spurred them to endless strife,

And won its reward in Hell’s torments, and the death of an outcast life?530

Ashtaroth, Belcimon, and Belat, Rhadamant, yea, and many more!

Pride and anger the host of Heaven with Hell’s colours have painted o’er!’

‘When Lucifer and his angels thus sped on their downward way,

To fill their place, a wonder God wrought from the earth and clay:

The son of His hands was Adam, and from flesh of Adam, Eve535

He brought, and for Eve’s transgression¹³⁷, I ween, all the world doth grieve.

For she hearkened not her Creator, and she robbed us of our bliss.

And two sons sprang forth from her body, and the elder he wrought amiss,

Since envy so worked upon him that from wrath there sprang disgrace,

And of maidenhood¹³⁸ did he rob her who was mother of all his race!540

Here many a one doth question, an the tale be to him unknown,

How might such a thing have chancèd? It came but by sin alone!’

Quoth Parzival, ‘Now, I think me that never such thing might be,

And ’twere better thou shouldst keep silence, than tell such a tale to me!

For who should have borne the father, whose son, as thou sayest, reft545

Maidenhood from his father’s mother? Such riddle¹³⁹ were better left!’

But the hermit again made answer, ‘Now thy doubt will I put away,

O’er my falsehood thou canst bemoan¹⁴⁰ thee if the thing be not truth I say,

For the Earth was Adam’s mother, of the Earth was Adam fed,

And I ween, tho’ a man she bare here, yet still was the Earth a maid.550

And here will I read the riddle, he who robbed her of maidenhood

Was Cain the son of Adam, who in wrath shed his brother’s blood:

For as on the Earth, so stainless¹⁴¹, the blood of the guiltless fell,

Her maidenhood fled for ever! And true is the tale I tell.

For wrath of man and envy, thro’ Cain did they wake to life,555

And ever from that day forward thro’ his sin there ariseth strife.’

‘Nor on earth shall aught be purer than a maiden undefiled,

Think how pure must be a maiden, since God was a Maiden’s Child!

Two men have been born of maidens, and God hath the likeness ta’en

Of the son of the first Earth-Maiden, since to help us He aye was fain.560

Thus grief alike and gladness from the seed of Adam spring,

Since He willed to be Son of Adam, Whose praises the angels sing.

And yet have we sin as our birthright, and sin’s pain must we ever bear,

Nor its power may we flee! Yet pity He feeleth for our despair,

Whose Strength is aye linked with Mercy, and with Mercy goes hand in hand,565

And for man, as a Man, He suffered, and did falsehood by truth withstand.’

‘No longer be wroth with thy Maker! If thou wouldst not thy soul were lost—

And here for thy sin do penance, nor longer thus rashly boast,

For he who, with words untamèd, is fain to avenge¹⁴² his wrong,

His own mouth shall, I ween, speak his judgment ere ever the time be long.570

Learn faith from the men of old-time, whose rede ever waxeth new,

For Plato alike and the Sibyls in their day spake words so true,

And long years ere the time had ripened¹⁴³ His coming they did foretell¹⁴⁴

Who made for our sin’s Atonement, and drew us from depths of Hell.

God’s Hand from those torments took us, and God’s Love lifted us on high,575

But they who His love disdainèd, they yet in Hell’s clutches lie!’

‘From the lips of the whole world’s Lover came a message of love and peace,

(For He is a Light all-lightening, and never His faith doth cease,)

And he to whom love He showeth, findeth aye in that Love his bliss,

Yet twofold I ween is the message, and His token some read amiss;580

For the world may buy, as it pleaseth, God’s Wrath or His Love so great.

Say, which of the twain wilt¹⁴⁶ thou choose here, shall thy guerdon be Love or Hate?

For the sinner without repentance¹⁴⁷, he flieth God’s faith and Face,

But he who his sin confesseth, doth find in His presence grace!’

‘From the shrine of his heart, who shall keep Him? Tho’ hidden the thought within,585

And secret, and thro’ its darkness no sunbeam its way may win,

(For thought is a secret chamber¹⁴⁹, fast locked, tho’ no lock it bear,)

Yet, tho’ against man it be closèd, God’s light ever shineth there.

He pierceth the wall of darkness, and silent and swift His spring,

As no sound betrayed His coming, as no footstep was heard to ring,590

So silent His way He goeth—And swift as our thoughts have flown,

Ere God passed of our heart the threshold, our thoughts unto Him were known!

And the pure in heart He chooseth; he who doth an ill deed begin,

Since God knoweth the thoughts of all men, full sorely shall rue³² his sin.

And the man who by deeds God’s favour doth forfeit, what shall he gain?595

Tho’ the world count him honour-worthy, his soul seeketh rest in vain.

And where wilt thou seek for shelter if God as thy foeman stand,

Who of wrath or of love giveth payment, as men serve Him, with equal hand?

Thou art lost if thy God be against thee—If thou wouldst His favour earn,

Then away from thy wrath and thy folly thy thoughts to His goodness turn!’600

Quoth Parzival, ‘Here I thank thee, from my heart, that such faithful rede

Thou hast given of him who withholdeth from no man his rightful meed,

But evil, as good, requiteth—Yet my youth hath been full of care,

And my faith hath but brought me sorrow, and ill to this day I fare!’

Then the hermit he looked on the Waleis, ‘If a secret be not thy grief,605

Right willing thy woe I’ll hearken, I may bring thee perchance relief;

Of some counsel may I bethink me such as yet to thyself dost fail!’

Quoth Parzival, ‘Of my sorrows the chiefest is for the Grail,

And then for my wife—none fairer e’er hung on a mother’s breast,

For the twain is my heart yet yearning¹⁵⁰, with desire that ne’er findeth rest.’610

Quoth his host, ‘Well, Sir Knight, thou speakest, such sorrow is good to bear;

If thus for the wife of thy bosom¹⁵¹ thy heart knoweth grief and care,

And Death find thee a faithful husband, tho’ Hell vex thee with torments dire¹⁵²

Yet thy pains shall be swiftly ended, God will draw thee from out Hell-fire.

But if for the Grail thou grievest, then much must I mourn thy woe,615

O! foolish man, since fruitless thy labours, for thou shalt know

That none win the Grail save those only whose names are in Heaven known,

They who to the Grail do service, they are chosen of God alone;

And mine eyes have surely seen this, and sooth is the word I say!’

Quoth Parzival, ‘Thou hast been there?’ ‘Sir Knight,’ quoth the hermit, ‘Yea!’620

But never a word spake our hero of the marvels himself had seen,

But he asked of his host the story, and what men by ‘The Grail’ should mean?

Spake the hermit, ‘Full well do I know this, that many a knightly hand

Serveth the Grail at Monsalv?sch, and from thence, throughout all the land,

On many a distant journey these gallant Templars fare,625

Whether sorrow or joy befall them, for their sins they this penance bear!’

‘And this brotherhood¹⁵³ so gallant, dost thou know what to them shall give

Their life, and their strength and their valour—then know, by a stone they live,

And that stone is both pure and precious—Its name hast thou never heard?

Men call it Lapis Exilis—by its magic the wondrous bird,630

The Ph?nix, becometh ashes, and yet doth such virtue flow

From the stone, that afresh it riseth renewed from the ashes glow,

And the plumes¹⁵⁴ that erewhile it moulted spring forth yet more fair and bright—

And tho’ faint be the man and feeble, yet the day that his failing sight

Beholdeth the stone, he dies not, nor can, till eight days be gone,635

Nor his countenance¹⁵⁵ wax less youthful—If one daily behold that stone,

(If a man it shall be, or a maiden ’tis the same,) for a hundred years,

If they look on its power, their hair groweth not grey, and their face appears

The same as when first they saw it, nor their flesh nor their bone shall fail

But young they abide for ever—And this stone all men call the Grail.’640

‘And Its holiest power, and the highest shall I ween be renewed to-day,

For ever upon Good Friday a messenger takes her way.

From the height of the highest Heaven a Dove on her flight doth wing,

And a Host, so white and holy, she unto the stone doth bring.

And she layeth It down upon It; and white as the Host the Dove645

That, her errand done, swift wingeth her way to the Heaven above.

Thus ever upon Good Friday doth it chance as I tell to thee:

And the stone from the Host receiveth all good that on earth may be

Of food or of drink, the earth beareth as the fulness of Paradise.

All wild things in wood or in water, and all that ‘neath Heaven flies,650

To that brotherhood are they given, a pledge of God’s favour fair,

For His servants He ever feedeth and the Grail for their needs doth care!’

‘Now hearken, the Grail’s elect ones, say who doth their service claim?

On the Grail, in a mystic writing, appeareth each chosen name,

If a man it shall be, or a maiden, whom God calls to this journey blest.655

And the message no man effaceth, till all know the high behest,

But when all shall the name have read there, as it came, doth the writing go:

As children the Grail doth call them, ‘neath its shadow they wax and grow.

And blessèd shall be the mother whose child doth the summons hear,

Rich and poor alike rejoiceth when the messenger draweth near,660

And the Grail son or daughter claimeth! They are gathered from every land,

And ever from shame and sorrow are they sheltered, that holy band.

In Heaven is their rewarding, if so be that they needs must die,

Then bliss and desire’s fulfilment are waiting them all on high!’

‘They who took no part in the conflict, when Lucifer would fight665

With the Three-in-One, those angels were cast forth from Heaven’s height.

To the earth they came at God’s bidding, and that wondrous stone did tend,

Nor was It less pure for their service, yet their task found at last an end.

I know not if God forgave them, or if they yet deeper fell,

This one thing I know of a surety, what God doeth, He doeth well!670

But ever since then to this service nor maiden nor knight shall fail,

For God calleth them all as shall please Him!—and so standeth it with the Grail!’

Quoth Parzival, ‘So, since knighthood may conquer, with spear and shield,

Both the fame of this life, and the blessing which Paradise shall yield,

Since my soul ever longed for knighthood, and I fought where’er strife might be,675

And my right hand hath neared full often the guerdon of victory,

If God be the God of battles, if He know how a man should fight,

Let Him name me as one of His servants, of the Grail let Him make me knight!

They shall own that I fear no danger, nor from strife would I turn aside!’

But the hermit made answer gently, ‘First must thou beware of pride,680

For lightly may youth mislead thee; and the grace of humility¹⁵⁶

Mayst thou lose, and the proud God doth punish, as full surely is known to me!’

And tears filled his eyes to o’erflowing, and his sad thoughts awhile did turn

To a story of old, and our hero he bade from its lesson learn.

And he quoth, ‘Sir Knight, at Monsalv?sch a king reigned¹⁵⁸ in days of yore,685

His name all men know as Anfortas, and I weep for him evermore.

Yea, and thou too shalt mourn his sorrow, for bitter the woe, I ween,

And the torment⁹⁶ of heart and body that his guerdon from pride hath been.

For his youth and his worldly riches they led him an evil road,

And he sought for Frau Minne’s favour in paths where no peace abode.’690

‘But the Grail all such ways forbiddeth, and both knight alike and squire

Who serve the Grail must guard them from the lust of untamed desire.

By meekness¹⁵⁹ their pride must be conquered, if they look for a heavenly prize,

And the brotherhood holdeth hidden the Grail from all stranger eyes:

By their warlike skill and prowess the folk from the lands around,695

They keep afar, and none knoweth where the Grail and Its Burg are found

Save those whom the Grail shall summon within Monsalv?sch’ wall—

Yet one, uncalled, rode thither¹⁶⁰ and evil did then befall,

For foolish he was, and witless, and sin-laden from thence did fare,

Since he asked not his host of his sorrow and the woe that he saw him bear.700

No man would I blame, yet this man, I ween, for his sins must pay,

Since he asked not the longed-for question which all sorrow had put away.

(Sore laden his host with suffering, earth knoweth no greater pain.)

And before him King L?helein came there, and rode to the Lake Brimbane.

Libbèals, the gallant hero, a joust there was fain to ride,705

And L?helein lifeless left him, on the grass by the water-side,

(Prienlaskors, methinks, was his birthplace) and his slayer¹⁶¹ then led away

His charger, so men knew the evil thus wrought by his hand that day.’

‘And I think me, Sir Knight, thou art L?helein? For thou gavest unto my care

A steed that such token showeth as the steeds of the Grail Knights bear!710

For the white dove I see on its housing, from Monsalv?sch it surely came?

Such arms did Anfortas give them while joy yet was his and fame.

Their shields bare of old the token, Titurel gave it to his son

Frimutel, and such shield bare that hero when his death in a joust he won.

For his wife did he love so dearly no woman was loved so well715

By man, yet in truth and honour,—and the same men of thee shall tell

If thou wakenest anew old customs, and thy wife from thine heart dost love—

Hold thou fast to such fair example lest thy steps from the right path rove!

And in sooth thou art wondrous like him who once o’er the Grail did reign¹⁵⁷,

Say, what is thy race? whence art thou? and tell me I pray thy name!’720

Each gazed for a space on the other, and thus quoth Parzival,

‘Son am I to a king and hero who through knightly courage fell,

In a joust was he slain¹⁶²—Now I pray thee, Sir Hermit, of this thy grace,

That thou, in thy prayers henceforward, wilt give to his name a place.

Know, Gamuret, did they call him, and he came from fair Anjou—725

Sir Host I am not L?helein; if ever such sin I knew

’Twas in my days of folly, yet in truth have I done the same,

Here I make of my guilt¹⁰² confession, and my sin unto thee I name,

For the prince who once fell a victim unto my sinful hand

Was he whom men called ‘the Red Knight,’ Prince Ither of Cumberland.730

On the greensward I lifeless stretched him, and as at my feet he lay,

Harness, and horse, and weapons, as my booty I bare away!’

Spake the host as his words were ended, (the tale he ill pleased must hear,)

‘Ah! world, wherefore deal thus with us? since sorrow and grief and fear

Far more than delight dost thou give us! Say, is this thy reward alone?735

For ever the song that thou singest doth end in a mournful tone!’

And he spake, ‘O thou son of my sister, what rede may I give to thee?

Since the knight thou hast slain in thy folly, thy flesh and thy blood was he!

If thou, blood-guiltiness bearing, shalt dare before God to stand,

For one blood were ye twain, to God’s justice thy life shall repay thine hand.740

Say, for Ither of Gaheviess fallen, what payment dost think to give?

The crown he of knightly honour! God gave him, while he might live.

All that decketh man’s life; for all evil his true heart did truly mourn,

True balsam was he of the faithful, to honour and glory born.

And shame fled before his coming, and truth in his heart did dwell,745

And for love of his lovely body many women shall hate thee well!

For well did they love his coming, and to serve them he aye was fain,

But their eyes that shone fair for his fairness he ne’er shall rejoice again!

Now, may God show His mercy to thee whose hand hath such evil wrought,

Herzeleide the queen, thy mother, thou too to her death hast brought—’750

‘Nay! Nay! not so, holy father! What sayest thou?’ quoth Parzival,

‘Of what dost thou here accuse me? Were I king o’er the wondrous Grail

Not all Its countless¹⁶³ riches would repay me if this be sooth,

These words that thy lips have spoken! And yet if I, in very truth,

Be son unto thy sister, then show that thou mean’st me well,755

And say, without fear or falsehood, are these things true that thou dost tell?’

Then the hermit he spake in answer, ‘Ne’er learnt I to deceive,

Thy mother she died of sorrow in the day thou her side didst leave,

Such rewarding her love won for her! Thou wast the beast that hung

On her breast, the wingèd dragon that forth from her body sprung,760

That spread its wings and left her: in a dream was it all foretold¹⁶⁴

Ere yet the sorrowing mother the babe to her breast did hold!’

‘And two other sisters had I, Schoisianè she was one;

She bare a child—Woe is me, her death thro’ this birth she won!

Duke Kiot of Katelangen was her husband, and since that day765

All wordly joy and honour he putteth from him away.

Siguné, their little daughter, was left to thy mother’s care:

And sorrow for Schoisianè in my heart do I ever bear!

So true was her heart and faithful, an ark ‘gainst the flood of sin.

A maiden, my other sister, her pure life doth honour win,770

For the Grail she ever tendeth—Repanse de Schoie, her name,

Tho’ none from Its place may move It whose heart showeth taint of shame,

In her hands is It light as a feather—And brother unto us twain

Is Anfortas, by right of heirship¹⁶⁵ he king o’er the Grail doth reign;

And he knoweth not joy, but sorrow, yet one hope I ween is his,775

That his pain shall at last be turnèd to delight and to endless bliss.

And wondrous the tale of his sorrow, as, nephew, I’ll tell to thee,

And if true be thine heart and faithful his grief shall thy sorrow be!’

‘When he died, Frimutel, our father, they chose them his eldest¹⁶⁶ son

As Lord of the Grail and Its knighthood, thus Anfortas his kingdom won,780

And of riches and crown was he worthy, and we were but children still—

When he came to the years of manhood, when love joyeth to work her will

On the heart, and his lips were fringèd with the down of early youth,

Frau Minne laid stress upon him who for torment hath little ruth.

But if love the Grail King seeketh other than he find writ,785

’Tis a sin, and in sorrow and sighing full sore shall he pay for it!’

‘And my lord and brother chose him a lady for service fair,

Noble and true he deemed her, I say not what name she bare;

Well he fought in that lady’s honour, and cowardice¹⁶⁷ from him fled,

And his hand many a shield-rim shattered, by love’s fire was he venture led.790

So high stood his fame that no hero in knightly lands afar

Could he brook to be thought his equal, so mighty his deeds of war,

And his battle-cry was “Amor,” yet it seemeth unto me

Not all too well such cry suiteth with a life of humility.’

‘One day as the king rode lonely, in search of some venture high795

(Sore trouble it brought upon us,) with love’s payment for victory,

For love’s burden lay heavy on him, in a joust was he wounded sore

With a poisoned spear, so that healing may be wrought on him nevermore.

For thine uncle, the King Anfortas, he was smitten¹⁶⁸ thro’ the thigh¹⁶⁹

By a heathen who with him battled, for he jousted¹⁷⁰ right skilfully¹⁷¹.800

He came from the land of Ethnisé, where forth from fair Paradise

Flow the streams of the River Tigris, and he thought him, that heathen wise,

He should win the Grail, and should hold It—On his spear had he graven his name,

From afar sought he deeds of knighthood, over sea and land he came.

The fame of the Grail drew him thither, and evil for us his strife,805

His hand joy hath driven from us and clouded with grief our life!’

‘But thine uncle had battled bravely and men praised his name that day—

With the spear-shaft yet fast in his body he wended his homeward way.

And weeping arose and wailing¹⁷² as he came once again to his own,

And dead on the field lay his foeman, nor did we for his death make moan!’810

‘When the king came, all pale and bloodless, and feeble of strength and limb,

Then a leech¹⁷³ stretched his hand to the spear-wound, and the iron he found fast within,

With the hilt, wrought of reed, and hollow, and the twain from the wound he drew.

Then I fell on my knees, and I vowed¹⁷⁴ me to God, with a heart so true,

That henceforward the pride of knighthood, and its fame, would I know no more,815

If but God would behold my brother and would succour his need so sore.

Then flesh, wine, and bread I forswore there, and all food that by blood might live,

That lust might no longer move me my life I to God would give,

And I tell thee, O son of my sister, that the wailing arose anew

When my weapons I put from off me and ungirded my sword so true,820

And they spake, ‘Who shall guard our mysteries? who shall watch o’er the wondrous Grail?’

And tears fell from the eyes of the maidens, but their weeping might naught avail!

‘To the Grail, then, they bare Anfortas, if Its virtue might bring relief;

But, alas! when his eyes beheld It yet heavier waxed his grief

As the life sprang afresh within him, and he knew that he might not die;825

And he liveth, while here I hide me in this life of humility,

And the power of the Grail, and Its glory, with their monarch have waxen weak.

For the venom¹⁷⁵, his wound that poisoned, tho’ the leeches¹⁷⁶ their books did seek

Yet found they nor help nor healing—Yea, all that their skill might learn

‘Gainst the poison of Aspis, Elkontius, of Liseis, and Ecidemon,830

All spells ‘gainst the worm empoisoned, ‘gainst Jecis or Meàtris;

Or all that a wise man knoweth of roots or of herbs; I wis

Naught was there in all might help him; nor rede I a longer tale

Since God willeth not his healing what man’s skill may aught avail?’

‘Then we sent to the mystic waters, in a far-off land they rise,835

Pison, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates, the rivers of Paradise,

And so near they flow that the perfumes which breathe from its scented¹⁷⁷ air

Shall yet to their streams be wafted—If their waters perchance might bear

Some plant from the wondrous garden that might succour us in our woe,

But vain thought, and fruitless labour, fresh sorrow our heart did know!’840

‘Nor here did we end our labour, for again for the bough we sought

Which the Sibyl unto ?neas as a shield ‘gainst Hell’s dangers brought.

‘Gainst the smoke and the fire of Phlegethon, and the rivers that flow in Hell

Would it guard, and for long we sought it, for we thought, if such chance befell

That the spear in Hell-fire was welded, and the poison from Hell did spring845

That thus of our joy had robbed us, then this bough might salvation¹⁷⁸ bring!’

‘But Hell, it knew naught of the poison! There liveth a wondrous bird

Who loveth too well her fledglings—Of the Pelican’s love we heard,

How she teareth her breast and feedeth her young with the quickening food

Of her own life-blood, and then dieth—So we took of that bird the blood,850

Since we thought that her love might help us, and we laid it upon the sore

As best we could—Yet, I wot well, no virtue for us it bore!’

‘A strange beast, the Unicorn¹⁷⁹, liveth, and it doth in such honour keep

The heart of a spotless maiden that it oft at her knee will sleep.

And the heart of that beast we took us, and we took us the red-fire stone855

That lies ‘neath its horn, if the king’s wound might its healing virtue own.

And we laid on the wound the carbuncle, and we put it the wound within,

Yet still was the sore empoisoned nor aid from the stone might win!’

‘And sore with the king we sorrowed—Then a magic herb we found,

(Men say, from the blood of a dragon it springeth from out the ground,)860

With the stars, and the wind, and the heaven, close-bound, doth it win its power,

Lest perchance, by the flight of the dragon, when the stars bring the circling hour,

And the moon draweth near to her changing, (for sorer then grows the pain,)

The herb might our grief have aided—Yet its magic we sought in vain!’

‘Then the knights of the Grail knelt lowly, and for help to the Grail they prayed,865

And, behold! the mystic writing, and a promise it brought of aid,

For a knight should come to the castle, and so soon as he asked the king

Of the woe that so sorely pained him his question should healing bring.

But let them beware, man or maiden, or child, should they warn the knight

Of his task, he no healing bringeth, greater waxeth the sorrow’s might.870

And the writing it ran, ‘Ye shall mark this, forewarning shall bring but ill,

And in the first night of his coming must the healer his task fulfil,

Or the question shall lose its virtue; but if at the chosen hour

He shall speak, his shall be the kingdom, and the evil hath lost its power.

So the hand of the Highest sendeth to Anfortas the end of woe,875

Yet King shall he be no longer tho’ healing and bliss he know.’

‘Thus we read in the Grail that our sorrow should come to an end that day

That the knight should come who the meaning of the grief that he saw should pray—

Then salve of Nard we took us, and Teriak, and the wound we dressed,

And we burnt wood of Lignum Aloe for so might the king find rest.880

Yet ever he suffereth sorely—Then fled I unto this place,

And my life little gladness knoweth till my brother hath gotten grace.

And the knight, he hath come, and hath left us, and ill for us all that day,

(But now did I speak of his coming,) sorrow-laden he rode away,

For he saw his host’s woe and asked not, ‘What aileth thee here, mine host?’885

Since his folly such words forbade him great bliss shall he there have lost!’

Then awhile did they mourn together till the mid-day hour drew near,

And the host spake, ‘We must be seeking for food, and thine horse, I fear,

As yet shall be lacking fodder¹⁸⁰; nor know I how we shall feed

If not God in His goodness show us the herbs that shall serve our need,890

My kitchen but seldom smoketh! Forgive thou the lack to-day,

And abide here, so long as shall please thee, if thy journey shall brook delay.

Of plants and of herbs would I teach thee much lore, if so be the grass

Were not hidden by snow—God grant us that this cold may be soon o’erpast—

Now break we yew-boughs for thy charger, far better its fare hath been895

Erewhile ‘neath the roof of Monsalv?sch than shall here be its lot I ween!

Yet never a host shall ye meet with who rider alike and steed

Would as gladly bid share of his substance as I, had I all ye need!’

Then the twain they went forth on their errand—Parzival for his steed had care,

While the hermit for roots was seeking since no better might be their fare;900

And the host his rule forgat not, he ate naught, whate’er he found,

Till the ninth hour, but ever hung them, as he drew them from out the ground,

On the nearest shrub¹⁸¹, and there left them; many days he but ill might fare

For God’s honour, since oft he lost them, the shrubs¹⁸² which his roots did bear.

Nor grudged¹³⁴ they aught of their labour: then they knelt by the streamlet’s flow,905

And the roots and the herbs they washed there, and no laughter their lips might know.

Then their hands they washed, and the yew-boughs Parzival together bound

And bare them unto his charger ere the cavern again he found;

Then the twain by the fireside sat them, nor further might food be brought,

Nor on roast nor on boiled they fed them, nor found in their kitchen aught.910

Yet so true was the love and the honour Parzival to the hermit bare

That he deemed he enough had eaten, and no better had been his fare

With Gurnemanz of Graharz, or e’en in Monsalv?sch hall,

When the maidens passed fair before him and the Grail fed them each and all.

Then his kindly host quoth, ‘Nephew, despise not this food, for know915

Lightly thou shalt not find one who shall favour and kindness show,

Of true heart, without fear of evil, as fain would I show to thee.’

And Parzival quoth, ‘May God’s favour henceforward ne’er light on me

If food ever better pleased me, or I ate with a better will

What a host ever set before me, such fare doth content me still.’920

Their hands they need not wash them for such food as before them lay,

’Twas no fish, that their eyes had harmèd as men oft are wont to say.

And were I or hawk¹⁸³ or falcon¹⁸⁴ I had lent me to the chase,

Nor stooped to the lure¹⁸⁵ unwilling¹⁸⁶, nor fled from my master’s face,

But an they no better fed me than at noontide they fed, these twain,925

I had spread my wings right swiftly, nor come to their call again!

Why mock at this folk so faithful? ’Twas ever my way of old—

Yet ye know why, forsaking¹⁸⁷ riches, they chose to them want and cold,

And the lack of all things joyful¹⁸⁸, such sorrow and grief of heart

They bare of true heart, God-fearing, nor had they in falsehood part;930

And thus from the hand of the Highest they won payment for grief and woe,

And alike should the twain God’s favour, as of old, so hereafter know.

Then up stood they again, and they gat them, Parzival and the holy man,

To the steed in its rocky stable, and full sadly the host began

As he spake to the noble charger, ‘Woe is me for thy scanty¹⁹⁰ fare,935

For the sake of the saddle upon thee and the token I see thee bear!’

When their care for the horse was ended, then sorrow sprang forth anew,

Quoth Parzival, ‘Host and uncle, my folly I needs must rue,

And fain would I tell the story if for shame I the word may speak;

Forgive me, I pray, of thy kindness, since in thee do I comfort seek,940

For sorely, I ween, have I sinnèd; if thou canst no comfort find

No peace may be mine, but for ever the chains of remorse¹⁹¹ shall bind.

Of true heart shalt thou mourn my folly—He who to Monsalv?sch rode,

He who saw Anfortas’ sorrow, he who spake not the healing word,

’Twas I, child and heir of misfortune, ’twas I, Parzival, alone,945

Ill have I wrought, and I know not how I may for such ill atone¹⁴⁵!’

Spake the hermit, ‘Alas! my nephew, thou speakest the words of woe,

Vanished our joy, and sorrow henceforth must we grasp and know,

Since folly of bliss betrayed thee: senses five did God give to thee,

And methinks, in the hour of thy testing, their counsel should better be.950

Why guarded they not thine honour, and thy love as a man to men,

In the hour that thou satst by Anfortas? Of a truth hadst thou spoken then!’

‘Nor would I deny thee counsel; mourn not for thy fault too sore,

Thou shalt, in a fitting measure, bewail thee, and grief give o’er.

For strange are the ways, and fitful, of mankind, oft is youth too wise955

And old age turneth back to folly, and darkened are wisdom’s eyes,

And the fruit of a life lieth forfeit, while green youth doth wax old and fade—

Not in this wise true worth shall be rooted, and payment in praise be paid.

Thine youth would I see fresh blooming, and thine heart waxing strong and bold,

While thou winnest anew thine honour, nor dost homage¹⁹² from God withhold.960

For thus might it chance unto thee to win for thyself such fame

As shall make amends¹⁹³ for thy sorrow, and God thee, as His knight, shall claim!’

‘Thro’ my mouth would God teach thee wisdom; now say, didst thou see the spear,

In that wondrous Burg of Monsalv?sch? As ever the time draws near

When Saturn¹⁹⁴ his journey endeth—(that time by the wound we know,965

And yet by another token, by the fall of the summer snow)

Then sorely the frost doth pain him, thy king and uncle dear,

And deep in the wound empoisoned once more do they plunge¹⁹⁵ the spear,

One woe shall help the other, the spear cure the frost’s sharp pain,

And crimson¹⁹⁶ it grows with his life-blood ere men draw it forth again!’970

‘When the stars return in their orbit, then the wailing it waxeth sore,

When they stand in opposition¹⁹⁷, or each to the other draw.

And the moon, in its waxing and waning, it causeth him bitter pain—

In the time that I erst have told thee then the king little rest may gain;

His flesh thro’ the frost it groweth colder than e’en the snow,975

But men know that the spear sharp-pointed doth with fiery¹⁹⁸ venom glow,

And upon the wound they lay it, and the frost from his flesh so cold

It draweth, and lo! as crystals of glass to the spear doth hold,

And as ice to the iron it clingeth, and none looseth it from the blade.

Then Trebuchet the smith bethought him, in his wisdom two knives he made,980

Of silver fair he wrought them, and sharp was the edge and keen—

(A spell on the king’s sword written had taught him such skill I ween,)

Tho’ no flame on earth can kindle¹⁹⁹ Asbestos, as men do tell,

And never a fire may harm it, if these crystals upon it fell

Then the flame would leap and kindle and burn with a fiery glow985

Till th’ Asbestos lay in ashes, such power doth this poison know!’

‘The king, he rideth never, nor yet may he walk, or lie,

And he sitteth not, but, reclining, in tears his sad days pass by.

And the moon’s changes work him evil—To a lake they call Brimbane

They bear him full oft for fishing that the breezes may soothe²⁰⁰ his pain.990

This he calleth his day for hunting, tho’ what booty shall be his share,

And he vex himself to gain it, for his host ’twould be meagre fare!

And from this there sprang the story that he should but a Fisher be,

Tho little he recked the fable²⁰¹, no merchant I ween was he

Of salmon²⁰² or aye of lamprey, he had chosen far other game995

Were he freed from the load of sorrow and the burden of bitter pain.’

Quoth Parzival, ‘So I found him; the king’s skiff at anchor lay,

And for pastime, e’en as a fisher, the even he wore away;

And many a mile had I ridden that day, since from Pelrap?r

When the sun stood high in the heaven, at noontide I forth must fare;1000

And at even I much bethought me where my shelter that night might be,

Then my uncle did fair entreat²⁰³ me, and my host for a space was he.’

‘A perilous²⁰⁴ way didst thou ride there,’ spake the host, ‘one that well they guard

Those Templars, nor strength nor cunning brings a traveller thro’ their ward³⁷,

For danger full oft besets²⁰⁵ him, and oft he his life shall lose,1005

Life against life is their penance, all quarter these knights refuse.’

‘Yet scatheless²⁰⁷ I passed that woodland in the day that I found the king

By the lake,’ quoth the knight, ‘and at even his palace with grief did ring,

And sure, as they mourned, I think me, no folk ever mourned before!

In the hall rose the voice of wailing as a squire sprang within the door,1010

And a spear in his hand he carried, and to each of the walls he stept,

Red with blood was the spear, as they saw it, the people they mourned and wept.’

Then answered the host, ‘Far sorer than before was the monarch’s pain,

In this wise did he learn the tidings that Saturn drew near again,

And the star with a sharp frost cometh, and it helpeth no whit⁴¹ to lay1015

The spear on the sore as aforetime, in the wound must it plunge alway!

When that star standeth high in heaven the wound shall its coming know

Afore, tho’ the earth shall heed²⁰⁸ not, nor token of frost shall show.

But the cold it came, and the snow-flakes fell thick in the following night

Tho’ the season was spring, and the winter was vanquished by summer’s might.1020

As the frost to the king brought sorrow and pain, so his people true

Were of joy bereft, as the moment of his anguish²⁰⁹ thus nearer drew.’

And Trevrezent quoth, ‘In sorrow that folk hath both lot and part,

When the spear thro’ the king’s wound pierceth, it pierceth each faithful heart.

And their love to their lord, and their sorrow, such tears from their eyelids²¹⁰ drew1025

That, methinks, in those bitter waters had they been baptized anew.’

Spake Parzival unto the hermit, ‘Five-and-twenty they were, the maids

I saw stand before the monarch, and courteous their part they played.’

And the host spake, ‘By God’s high counsel such maidens alone avail

For the care of this wondrous mystery, and do service before the Grail.1030

And the Grail, It chooseth strictly²¹¹, and Its knights must be chaste²¹² and pure,—

When the star standeth high in the heaven then grief must that folk endure,

And the young they mourn as the aged²¹³, and God’s wrath it lasts for aye,

And ne’er to their supplication²¹⁴ doth He hearken and answer “Yea.”’

‘And, nephew, this thing would I tell thee, and my word shalt thou well believe,1035

They who to the Grail do service, they take, and again they give.

For they take to them tittle children, noble of birth and race—

If a land be without a ruler, and its people shall seek God’s Face

And crave of His Hand a monarch, then He hearkeneth to their prayer,

And a knight, from the Grail host chosen, as king to that land doth fare.1040

And well shall he rule that people, and happy shall be that land,

For the blessing of God goeth with him and God’s wisdom doth guide his hand.’

‘God sendeth the men in secret, but the maidens in light of day

Are given unto their husbands; thus none spake to his wooing, Nay,

When King Kastis wooed Herzeleide, but joyful our sister gave,1045

Yet ne’er might her love rejoice him for Death dug at his feet a grave.

But in life had he given thy mother both Norgals and fair Waleis,

Those kingdoms twain and their cities, Kingrivals and Kanvoleis.

’Twas a fair gift, and known of all men—Then they rode on their homeward way,

But Death met them upon their journey, and he made of the king his prey,1050

And over both Waleis and Norgals Herzeleide, as queen, did reign,

Till Gamuret’s right hand valiant²¹⁵ won the maid, and her kingdoms twain.’

‘Thus the Grail Its maidens giveth, in the day, and the sight of men,

But It sendeth Its knights in the silence and their children It claims again,—

To the host of the Grail are they counted, Grail servants they all shall be,1055

So the will of God standeth written on the Grail for all men to see.’

‘He who would to the Grail do service, he shall women’s love forswear:

A wife shall none have save the Grail king, and his wife a pure heart must bear,

And those others whom God’s Hand sendeth, as king, to a kingless land—

But little I recked such counsel, to love’s service I vowed my hand,1060

As the pride of my youth constrained²¹⁶ me, and the beauty of woman’s eyes,

And I rode full oft in her service, and I battled for knighthood’s prize.

Fain was I for wild adventure, on jousting no more I thought,

So fair shone the love-light on me ever fiercer the strife I sought.

And thro’ far-off lands and distant, in the service of love I fared,1065

And to win sweet love’s rewarding right valiant the deeds I dared.

If heathen my foe or Christian, what mattered it unto me?

The fiercer the strife that beset²⁰⁶ me, the fairer my prize should be!’

‘And thus, for the love of woman, in three parts of the earth I fought,

In Europe, and far-off Asia, and in Afric’ I honour sought.1070

If for gallant jousting I lusted²¹⁷ I fought before Gaurivon;

By the mystic Mount of Fay-Morgan I many a joust have run.

And I fought by the Mount Agremontin, where are fiery men and fierce,

Yet the other side they burn not tho’ their spears thro’ the shield can pierce.

In Rohas I sought for ventures, and Slavs were my foemen then,1075

With lances they came against me and I trow they were gallant men!’

‘From Seville I took my journey, and I sailed o’er the tideless sea

Unto Sicily, since thro’ Friant and Aquilea should my journey be.

Alas! alas! woe is me, for I met with thy father there,

I found him, and looked upon him, ere I from Seville must fare.1080

For e’en as I came to the city he there for a space abode,

And my heart shall be sore for his journey, since thence to Bagdad he rode,

And there, as thyself hast spoken, in a knightly joust he fell,

And for ever my heart must mourn him, and my tongue of his praises tell!’

‘A rich man shall be my brother, nor silver nor gold would spare1085

When in secret I forth from Monsalv?sch at his will and his word did fare;

For I took me his royal signet, and to Karkobra I came,

Where Plimiz?l to the wide sea floweth, and the land, Barbig?l, they name.

And the Burg-grave he knew the token, ere I rode from the town again

Of horses and squires²¹⁸, as failed me, he raised me a gallant train,1090

And we rode thence to wild adventures, and to many a knightly deed,

For nothing had he begrudged me of aught that might serve my need.

Alone came I unto the city, and there at my journey’s end

Did I leave those who had fared thence with me, and alone to Monsalv?sch wend.’

‘Now hearken to me, my nephew, when thy father first saw my face1095

Of old in Seville’s fair city, there did he such likeness trace

To his wife, fair Herzeleide, that he would me as brother claim,

Tho’ never before had he seen me, and secret I held my name.

And in sooth was I fair to look on, as ever a man might be,

And my face by no beard was hidden; and sweetly he spake to me,1100

When he sought me within my dwelling—Yet many an oath I swore

And many a word of denial, yet ever he pressed me more

Till in secret at last I told him, his kinsman was I in truth,

And greatly did he rejoice him when he knew that his words were sooth!’

‘A jewel he gave unto me, and I gave to him at his will;1105

Thou sawest my shrine, green shall grass be, yet that shineth greener still,

’Twas wrought from the stone he gave me—and a better gift he gave,

For his nephew as squire he left me, Prince Ither, the true and brave.

His heart such lore had taught him that falsehood his face did flee,

The King of Cumberland was he, who, thou sayest, was slain by thee.1110

Then no longer might we delay us, but we parted, alas! for aye.

He rode to the land of Baruch, unto Rohas I took my way.

‘In Celli three weeks I battled, and I deemed ’twas enough for fame,

From Rohas I took my journey and unto Gandein I came,

(’Twas that town from which first thy grandsire, his name of Gandein did take,)1115

And many a deed did Ither, and men of his prowess spake.

And the town lieth near the river, where Graien and Drave they meet,

And the waters I ween are golden,—there Ither found guerdon sweet,

For thine aunt, Lamire, she loved him, she was queen of that fair land,

Gandein of Anjou, her father, he gave it unto her hand.1120

And Lamire was her name, but her country shall be Styria to this day—

And many a land must he traverse who seeketh for knightly fray.’

‘It grieveth me sore for my red squire, men honoured me for his sake,

And Ither was thy near kinsman tho’ of that thou small heed didst take!

Yet God He hath not forgotten, and thy deed shall He count for sin,1125

And I wot thou shalt first do penance ere thou to His peace shalt win.

And, weeping, this truth I tell thee, two mortal sins shall lie

On thine heart, thou hast slain thy kinsman, and thy mother, thro’ thee, must die.

And in sooth shalt thou sore bewail her; in the day thou didst leave her side,

So great was her love, and faithful, that for grief at thy loss she died.1130

Now do thou as here I rede thee, repent¹⁴⁸ thee and pay sin’s cost,

That thy conflict on earth well ended thy soul be not ever lost.’

Then the host he quoth full kindly, ‘Nephew, now say the word,

Whence hast thou yon gallant charger? Not yet I the tale have heard!’

‘In a joust, Sir Host, did I win it, when I rode from Siguné‘s cell1135

In a gallop²¹⁹ I smote the rider and he from the saddle fell,

And the steed was mine, I rode hence,—from Monsalv?sch he came, the knight.’

Quoth the host, ‘Is the man yet living who thus with thee did fight?’

‘Yea, I saw him fly before me, and beside me stood his steed.’

‘Nay, if thou in such wise dost bear thee thou art scant¹⁸⁹ of wit indeed!1140

The Grail-knights dost thou rob, and thinkest their friendship thereby²²⁰ to win?’

‘Nay, my uncle, in strife I won it, and he who shall count it sin

Let him ask how the thing hath chanced thus, ’twas a fair fight we fought, we twain,

Nor was it for naught that I took it, for first had my steed been slain!’

Quoth Parzival, ‘Who was the maiden who the Grail in her hands did bear,1145

Her mantle²²¹, that eve, she lent me?’—Quoth the hermit, ‘That lady fair

Is thine aunt, if her robe she lent thee of the loan shalt thou not be vain,

For surely she deemed that hereafter thou shouldst there as monarch reign.

And the Grail, and herself, yea and I too, should honour thee as our lord:

And a gift didst thou take from thine uncle, for he gave thee, I ween, a sword,1150

And sin hast thou won in the wearing, since thy lips, which to speak are fain,

There spake not the mystic question which had loosened his sorrow’s chain,

And that sin shalt thou count to the other, for ’tis time that we lay us down.

Nor couches nor cushions had they, but they laid them upon the ground,

And for bedding the rushes served them—too humble, I ween, such bed1155

For men of a race so noble, yet they deemed they were not ill-sped.

Then twice seven days he abode there, with the hermit his lot did share,

And the herb of the ground was his portion—yet he sought not for better fare,

Right gladly he bare such hardness that should bring to him food so sweet,

For as priest did his host absolve²²² him, and as knight gave him counsel meet!1160

Quoth Parzival to the hermit, ‘Say who shall he be, who lay

Before the Grail? grey was he, yet his face it was as the day!’

Spake the host, ‘Titurel thou sawest, and he shall grandsire be

To thy mother, first king and ruler of the Grail and Its knights was he.

But a sickness hath fallen on him, and he lieth, nor findeth cure,1165

Yet his face on the Grail yet looketh, by Its power shall his life endure!

Nor his countenance changeth colour, and his counsel shall aye be wise—

In his youth he rode far and jousted, and won to him valour’s prize.’

‘An thou wouldst that thy life be adornèd with true worth as thy crown of fame,

Then ne’er mayst thou hate a woman, but shall honour, as knight, her name,1170

For women and priests, thou knowest, unarmèd shall be their hand,

Yet the blessing of God watcheth o’er them, and as shield round the priest doth stand;

For the priest, he careth for thee, that thine end may be free from ill,

So treat thou no priest as a foeman, but serve him with right good will.

For naught on the earth thou seest that is like to his office high,1175

For he speaketh that word unto us which our peace and our life did buy;

And his hand hath been blest for the holding of the pledge on the altar laid,

To assure us of sin’s forgiveness, and the price for our pardon paid.

And a priest who from sin doth guard him, and who to his Lord shall give

Pure heart and pure hand for His service, say, what man shall holier live?’1180

Now this day was their day of parting—Trevrezent to our hero spake,

‘Leave thou here thy sins behind thee, God shall me for thy surety take,

And do thou as I have shown thee, be steadfast²²³ and true of heart!’

Think ye with what grief and sorrow the twain did asunder part.

1 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

2 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

3 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

4 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

5 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

6 maidens   

处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens. 花儿移栽往往并不成功，少女们换了环境也是如此。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

8 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

9 bereft   

adj.被剥夺的

参考例句：

• The place seemed to be utterly bereft of human life.这个地方似乎根本没有人烟。
• She was bereft of happiness.她失去了幸福。

10 renown   

n.声誉，名望

参考例句：

• His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。
• She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

11 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

12 woe   

n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌

参考例句：

• Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
• A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸，自认福是福。

13 kinsman   

n.男亲属

参考例句：

• Tracing back our genealogies,I found he was a kinsman of mine.转弯抹角算起来他算是我的一个亲戚。
• A near friend is better than a far dwelling kinsman.近友胜过远亲。

14 joust   

v.马上长枪比武，竞争

参考例句：

• Knights joust and frolic.骑士们骑马比武，嬉戏作乐。
• This a joust for the fate of the kingdom!一场决定王国命运的战斗。

15 abode   

n.住处，住所

参考例句：

• It was ten months before my father discovered his abode.父亲花了十个月的功夫，才好不容易打听到他的住处。
• Welcome to our humble abode!欢迎光临寒舍！

16 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

17 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

18 outweighed   

v.在重量上超过( outweigh的过去式和过去分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过

参考例句：

• This boxer outweighed by his opponent 20 pounds. 这个拳击选手体重比他的对手重20磅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She outweighed me by ten pounds, and sometimes she knocked me down. 她的体重超过我十磅，有时竟把我撞倒。 来自百科语句

19 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

20 asunder   

adj.分离的，化为碎片

参考例句：

• The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗帘被拉向两边。
• Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠诚都被扯得粉碎了。

21 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

22 hermit   

n.隐士，修道者；隐居

参考例句：

• He became a hermit after he was dismissed from office.他被解职后成了隐士。
• Chinese ancient landscape poetry was in natural connections with hermit culture.中国古代山水诗与隐士文化有着天然联系。

23 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

24 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

25 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

26 dweller   

n.居住者，住客

参考例句：

• Both city and town dweller should pay tax.城镇居民都需要纳税。
• The city dweller never experiences anxieties of this sort.城市居民从未经历过这种担忧。

27 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

28 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

29 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

30 brooked   

容忍，忍受（brook的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The tone in his voice brooked no argument. 他的声音里透露着一种不容争辩的语调。
• He gave her a look that brooked no further arguments. 他看了她一眼，表示不容再争论。

31 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

32 rue   

n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔

参考例句：

• You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
• You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

33 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

34 naught   

n.无，零 [=nought]

参考例句：

• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
• I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。

35 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

36 windings   

（道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手）

参考例句：

• The time harmonics can be considered as voltages of higher frequencies applied to the windings. 时间谐波可以看作是施加在绕组上的较高频率的电压。
• All the vales in their manifold windings shaded by the most delightful forests. 所有的幽谷，都笼罩在繁茂的垂枝下。

37 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

38 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

39 courteous   

adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的

参考例句：

• Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
• He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。

40 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

41 whit   

n.一点，丝毫

参考例句：

• There's not a whit of truth in the statement.这声明里没有丝毫的真实性。
• He did not seem a whit concerned.他看来毫不在乎。

42 slumbering   

微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• It was quiet. All the other inhabitants of the slums were slumbering. 贫民窟里的人已经睡眠静了。
• Then soft music filled the air and soothed the slumbering heroes. 接着，空中响起了柔和的乐声，抚慰着安睡的英雄。

43 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

44 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

45 slew   

v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多

参考例句：

• He slewed the car against the side of the building.他的车滑到了大楼的一侧，抵住了。
• They dealt with a slew of other issues.他们处理了大量的其他问题。

46 ware   

n.(常用复数)商品，货物

参考例句：

• The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware.这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。
• Good ware will never want a chapman.好货不须叫卖。

47 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

48 knightly   

adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地

参考例句：

• He composed heroic songs and began to write many a tale of enchantment and knightly adventure. 他谱写英雄短歌并着手编写不少记叙巫术和骑士历险的故事。
• If you wear knight costumes, you will certainly have a knightly manner. 身着骑士装，令您具有骑士风度。

49 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。

50 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

51 rust   

n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退

参考例句：

• She scraped the rust off the kitchen knife.她擦掉了菜刀上的锈。
• The rain will rust the iron roof.雨水会使铁皮屋顶生锈。

52 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

53 gall   

v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难

参考例句：

• It galled him to have to ask for a loan.必须向人借钱使他感到难堪。
• No gall,no glory.没有磨难，何来荣耀。

54 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

55 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

56 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

57 forfeit   

vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物

参考例句：

• If you continue to tell lies,you will forfeit the good opinion of everyone.你如果继续撒谎，就会失掉大家对你的好感。
• Please pay for the forfeit before you borrow book.在你借书之前请先付清罚款。

58 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

59 bliss   

n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福

参考例句：

• It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。
• He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴，因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。

60 kinsmen   

n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kinsmen are less kind than friends. 投亲不如访友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• One deeply grateful is better than kinsmen or firends. 受恩深处胜亲朋。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

61 cleft   

n.裂缝；adj.裂开的

参考例句：

• I hid the message in a cleft in the rock.我把情报藏在石块的裂缝里。
• He was cleft from his brother during the war.在战争期间，他与他的哥哥分离。

62 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

63 thicket   

n.灌木丛，树林

参考例句：

• A thicket makes good cover for animals to hide in.丛林是动物的良好隐蔽处。
• We were now at the margin of the thicket.我们现在已经来到了丛林的边缘。

64 blazoned   

v.广布( blazon的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布；夸示；装饰

参考例句：

• The villages were blazoned with autumnal color. 山谷到处点缀着秋色。 来自辞典例句
• The "National Enquirer" blazoned forth that we astronomers had really discovered another civilization. 《国民询问者》甚至宣称，我们天文学家已真正发现了其它星球上的文明。 来自辞典例句

65 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

66 penance   

n.（赎罪的）惩罪

参考例句：

• They had confessed their sins and done their penance.他们已经告罪并做了补赎。
• She knelt at her mother's feet in penance.她忏悔地跪在母亲脚下。

67 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

68 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

69 lust   

n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望

参考例句：

• He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。
• Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念，就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。

70 smote   

v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Figuratively, he could not kiss the hand that smote him. 打个比方说，他是不能认敌为友。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• \"Whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully.\" 珠儿会毫不留情地将这些\"儿童\"踩倒，再连根拔起。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

71 jousting   

（骑士）骑马用长矛比武( joust的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The players happily jousting inside the castle walls didn't see the moat outside widening. 玩家在城墙上幸福地战斗的时候，没有注意到护城河已经开始扩张了。

72 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

73 slumbered   

微睡，睡眠（slumber的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The baby slumbered in his cradle. 婴儿安睡在摇篮中。
• At that time my virtue slumbered; my evil, kept awake by ambition. 就在那时，我的善的一面睡着了，我的邪恶面因野心勃勃而清醒着。

74 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

75 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

76 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。

77 bough   

n.大树枝，主枝

参考例句：

• I rested my fishing rod against a pine bough.我把钓鱼竿靠在一棵松树的大树枝上。
• Every bough was swinging in the wind.每条树枝都在风里摇摆。

78 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

79 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

80 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

81 fettered   

v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it. 我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Many people are fettered by lack of self-confidence. 许多人都因缺乏自信心而缩手缩脚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

82 vex   

vt.使烦恼，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Everything about her vexed him.有关她的一切都令他困惑。
• It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back.一想到别人在背后说我闲话，我就很恼火。

83 mien   

n.风采；态度

参考例句：

• He was a Vietnam veteran with a haunted mien.他是个越战老兵，举止总有些惶然。
• It was impossible to tell from his mien whether he was offended.从他的神态中难以看出他是否生气了。

84 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

85 reverent   

adj.恭敬的，虔诚的

参考例句：

• He gave reverent attention to the teacher.他恭敬地听老师讲课。
• She said the word artist with a gentle,understanding,reverent smile.她说作家一词时面带高雅，理解和虔诚的微笑。

86 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

87 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

88 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

89 guise   

n.外表，伪装的姿态

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors.他们假装成视察员进了学校。
• The thief came into the house under the guise of a repairman.那小偷扮成个修理匠进了屋子。

90 armour   

（=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队

参考例句：

• His body was encased in shining armour.他全身披着明晃晃的甲胄。
• Bulletproof cars sheathed in armour.防弹车护有装甲。

91 garb   

n.服装，装束

参考例句：

• He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。
• Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。

92 lore   

n.传说；学问，经验，知识

参考例句：

• I will seek and question him of his lore.我倒要找上他，向他讨教他的渊博的学问。
• Early peoples passed on plant and animal lore through legend.早期人类通过传说传递有关植物和动物的知识。

93 crave   

vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求

参考例句：

• Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
• You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。

94 saviour   

n.拯救者，救星

参考例句：

• I saw myself as the saviour of my country.我幻想自己为国家的救星。
• The people clearly saw her as their saviour.人们显然把她看成了救星。

95 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

96 torment   

n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠

参考例句：

• He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
• Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。

97 torments   

（肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人]

参考例句：

• He released me from my torments. 他解除了我的痛苦。
• He suffered torments from his aching teeth. 他牙痛得难受。

98 viands   

n.食品，食物

参考例句：

• Greek slaves supplied them with exquisite viands at the slightest nod.只要他们轻轻点点头希腊奴隶就会供奉给他们精美的食品。
• The family sat down to table,and a frugal meal of cold viands was deposited beforethem.一家老少，都围着桌子坐下，几样简单的冷食，摆在他们面前。

99 vassals   

n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属

参考例句：

• He was indeed at this time having the Central Office cleared of all but his vassals. 的确，他这时正在对中央事务所进行全面清洗（他的亲信除外）。 来自辞典例句
• The lowly vassals suffering all humiliates in both physical and mental aspects. 地位低下的奴仆，他们在身体上和精神上受尽屈辱。 来自互联网

100 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

101 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

102 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

103 vanquished   

v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制

参考例句：

• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I vanquished her coldness with my assiduity. 我对她关心照顾从而消除了她的冷淡。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

104 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

105 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

106 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

107 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

108 wield   

vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)

参考例句：

• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
• People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

109 glade   

n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地

参考例句：

• In the midst of a glade were several huts.林中的空地中间有几间小木屋。
• The family had their lunch in the glade.全家在林中的空地上吃了午饭。

110 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

111 wiles   

n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All her wiles were to persuade them to buy the goods. 她花言巧语想打动他们买这些货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The woman used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. 那女人用尽了自己的诱骗本领勾引着他尾随而去。 来自《用法词典》

112 writ   

n.命令状，书面命令

参考例句：

• This is a copy of a writ I received this morning.这是今早我收到的书面命令副本。
• You shouldn't treat the newspapers as if they were Holy Writ. 你不应该把报上说的话奉若神明。

113 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

114 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

115 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

116 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

117 constrain   

vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制

参考例句：

• She tried to constrain herself from a cough in class.上课时她竭力忍住不咳嗽。
• The study will examine the factors which constrain local economic growth.这项研究将考查抑制当地经济发展的因素。

118 humbly   

adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地

参考例句：

• We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
• "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。

119 loath   

adj.不愿意的；勉强的

参考例句：

• The little girl was loath to leave her mother.那小女孩不愿离开她的母亲。
• They react on this one problem very slow and very loath.他们在这一问题上反应很慢，很不情愿。

120 quail   

n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖

参考例句：

• Cowards always quail before the enemy.在敌人面前，胆小鬼们总是畏缩不前的。
• Quail eggs are very high in cholesterol.鹌鹑蛋胆固醇含量高。

121 foamed   

泡沫的

参考例句：

• The beer foamed up and overflowed the glass. 啤酒冒着泡沫，溢出了玻璃杯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The man foamed and stormed. 那人大发脾气，暴跳如雷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

122 cavern   

n.洞穴，大山洞

参考例句：

• The cavern walls echoed his cries.大山洞的四壁回响着他的喊声。
• It suddenly began to shower,and we took refuge in the cavern.天突然下起雨来，我们在一个山洞里避雨。

123 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

124 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

125 jousts   

（骑士）骑着马用长矛打斗( joust的名词复数 )； 格斗，竞争

参考例句：

• The oil company jousts with Esso for lead position in UK sales. 这家石油公司和埃索公司角逐英国市场销量的榜首位置。 来自柯林斯例句
• There were notable jousts with the Secretary of Commerce. 和商业部长之间明显存在竞争。 来自柯林斯例句

126 cloister   

n.修道院；v.隐退，使与世隔绝

参考例句：

• They went out into the stil,shadowy cloister garden.他们出了房间，走到那个寂静阴沉的修道院的园子里去。
• The ancient cloister was a structure of red brick picked out with white stone.古老的修道院是一座白石衬托着的红砖建筑物。

127 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

128 crest   

n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖

参考例句：

• The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
• He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

129 wreak   

v.发泄；报复

参考例句：

• She had a burning desire to wreak revenge.她复仇心切。
• Timid people always wreak their peevishness on the gentle.怯懦的人总是把满腹牢骚向温和的人发泄。

130 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

131 confession   

n.自白，供认，承认

参考例句：

• Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
• The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

132 layman   

n.俗人，门外汉，凡人

参考例句：

• These technical terms are difficult for the layman to understand.这些专门术语是外行人难以理解的。
• He is a layman in politics.他对政治是个门外汉。

133 begrudged   

嫉妒( begrudge的过去式和过去分词 )； 勉强做； 不乐意地付出； 吝惜

参考例句：

• She begrudged her friend the award. 她嫉妒她的朋友获奖。
• Joey, you talk as if I begrudged it to you. 乔艾，你这话竟象是我小气，舍不得给你似的。

134 grudged   

怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The mean man grudged the food his horse ate. 那个吝啬鬼舍不得喂马。
• He grudged the food his horse ate. 他吝惜马料。

135 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

136 taint   

n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染

参考例句：

• Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
• Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。

137 transgression   

n.违背；犯规；罪过

参考例句：

• The price can make an action look more like a transaction than a transgression.罚款让一个行为看起来更像是一笔交易而不是一次违法行为。
• The areas of transgression are indicated by wide spacing of the thickness contours.那幢摩天大楼高耸入云。

138 maidenhood   

n. 处女性, 处女时代

参考例句：

139 riddle   

n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜

参考例句：

• The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
• Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。

140 bemoan   

v.悲叹，哀泣，痛哭；惋惜，不满于

参考例句：

• Purists bemoan the corruption of the language.主张语文纯正的人哀叹语言趋于不纯。
• Don't bemoan anything or anyone that you need to leave behind.不要再去抱怨那些你本该忘记的人或事。

141 stainless   

adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的

参考例句：

• I have a set of stainless knives and forks.我有一套不锈钢刀叉。
• Before the recent political scandal,her reputation had been stainless.在最近的政治丑闻之前，她的名声是无懈可击的。

142 avenge   

v.为...复仇，为...报仇

参考例句：

• He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
• He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。

143 ripened   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They're collecting the ripened reddish berries. 他们正采集熟了的淡红草莓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The branches bent low with ripened fruits. 成熟的果实压弯了树枝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

144 foretell   

v.预言，预告，预示

参考例句：

• Willow trees breaking out into buds foretell the coming of spring.柳枝绽青报春来。
• The outcome of the war is hard to foretell.战争胜负难以预卜。

145 atone   

v.赎罪，补偿

参考例句：

• He promised to atone for his crime.他承诺要赎自己的罪。
• Blood must atone for blood.血债要用血来还。

146 wilt   

v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱

参考例句：

• Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
• Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。

147 repentance   

n.懊悔

参考例句：

• He shows no repentance for what he has done.他对他的所作所为一点也不懊悔。
• Christ is inviting sinners to repentance.基督正在敦请有罪的人悔悟。

148 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

149 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

150 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

151 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

152 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

153 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

154 plumes   

羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物

参考例句：

• The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
• The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。

155 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

156 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

157 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

158 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

159 meekness   

n.温顺，柔和

参考例句：

• Amy sewed with outward meekness and inward rebellion till dusk. 阿密阳奉阴违地一直缝到黄昏。 来自辞典例句
• 'I am pretty well, I thank you,' answered Mr. Lorry, with meekness; 'how are you?' “很好，谢谢，”罗瑞先生回答，态度温驯，“你好么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

160 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

161 slayer   

n. 杀人者，凶手

参考例句：

• The young man was Oedipus, who thus unknowingly became the slayer of his own father. 这位青年就是俄狄浦斯。他在不明真相的情况下杀死了自己的父亲。
• May I depend on you to stand by me and my daughters, then, deer-slayer? 如此说来，我可以指望你照料我和女儿了，杀鹿人？

162 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

163 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

164 foretold   

v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She foretold that the man would die soon. 她预言那人快要死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold. 这样注定：他，为了信守一个盟誓／就非得拿牺牲一个喜悦作代价。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

165 heirship   

n.继承权

参考例句：

• There was a dispute about the rightful heirship to the throne.对于王位的合法继承权有过一场争论。
• Her uncle cozened her out of her heirship.她叔叔诱使她放弃了继承权。

166 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

167 cowardice   

n.胆小，怯懦

参考例句：

• His cowardice reflects on his character.他的胆怯对他的性格带来不良影响。
• His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice.他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。

168 smitten   

猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• From the moment they met, he was completely smitten by her. 从一见面的那一刻起，他就完全被她迷住了。
• It was easy to see why she was smitten with him. 她很容易看出为何她为他倾倒。

169 thigh   

n.大腿；股骨

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了，疼得很。
• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。

170 jousted   

（骑士）骑马用长矛比武( joust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

171 skilfully   

adv. (美skillfully)熟练地

参考例句：

• Hall skilfully weaves the historical research into a gripping narrative. 霍尔巧妙地把历史研究揉进了扣人心弦的故事叙述。
• Enthusiasm alone won't do. You've got to work skilfully. 不能光靠傻劲儿，得找窍门。

172 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

173 leech   

n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人

参考例句：

• A leech is a small blood-sucking worm and usually lives in water.水蛭是一种小型吸血虫，通常生活在水中。
• One-side love like a greedy leech absorbed my time and my mirth.单相思如同一只贪婪的水蛭，吸走了我的时间和欢笑。

174 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

175 venom   

n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨

参考例句：

• The snake injects the venom immediately after biting its prey.毒蛇咬住猎物之后马上注入毒液。
• In fact,some components of the venom may benefit human health.事实上，毒液的某些成分可能有益于人类健康。

176 leeches   

n.水蛭( leech的名词复数 )；蚂蟥；榨取他人脂膏者；医生

参考例句：

• The usurers are leeches;they have drained us dry. 高利贷者是吸血鬼，他们吸干了我们的血汗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Does it run in the genes to live as leeches? 你们家是不是遗传的，都以欺压别人为生？ 来自电影对白

177 scented   

adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词)

参考例句：

• I let my lungs fill with the scented air. 我呼吸着芬芳的空气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The police dog scented about till he found the trail. 警犬嗅来嗅去，终于找到了踪迹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

178 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

179 unicorn   

n.(传说中的)独角兽

参考例句：

• The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
• I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。

180 fodder   

n.草料；炮灰

参考例句：

• Grass mowed and cured for use as fodder.割下来晒干用作饲料的草。
• Guaranteed salt intake, no matter which normal fodder.不管是那一种正常的草料，保证盐的摄取。

181 shrub   

n.灌木，灌木丛

参考例句：

• There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。
• Moving a shrub is best done in early spring.移植灌木最好是在初春的时候。

182 shrubs   

灌木( shrub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gardener spent a complete morning in trimming those two shrubs. 园丁花了整个上午的时间修剪那两处灌木林。
• These shrubs will need more light to produce flowering shoots. 这些灌木需要更多的光照才能抽出开花的新枝。

183 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

184 falcon   

n.隼，猎鹰

参考例句：

• The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
• The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。

185 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

186 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

187 forsaking   

放弃( forsake的现在分词 )； 弃绝； 抛弃； 摒弃

参考例句：

• I will not be cowed into forsaking my beliefs. 我不会因为被恐吓而放弃自己的信仰。
• At fourteen he ran away, forsaking his home and friends. 他十四岁出走，离开了家乡和朋友。

188 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

189 scant   

adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略

参考例句：

• Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
• Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。

190 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

191 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

192 homage   

n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬

参考例句：

• We pay homage to the genius of Shakespeare.我们对莎士比亚的天才表示敬仰。
• The soldiers swore to pay their homage to the Queen.士兵们宣誓效忠于女王陛下。

193 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

194 Saturn   

n.农神，土星

参考例句：

• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings.天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。
• These comparisons suggested that Saturn is made of lighter materials.这些比较告诉我们，土星由较轻的物质构成。

195 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

196 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

197 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

198 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

199 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

200 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

201 fable   

n.寓言；童话；神话

参考例句：

• The fable is given on the next page. 这篇寓言登在下一页上。
• He had some motive in telling this fable. 他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

202 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

203 entreat   

v.恳求，恳请

参考例句：

• Charles Darnay felt it hopeless entreat him further,and his pride was touched besides.查尔斯-达尔内感到再恳求他已是枉然，自尊心也受到了伤害。
• I entreat you to contribute generously to the building fund.我恳求您慷慨捐助建设基金。

204 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

205 besets   

v.困扰( beset的第三人称单数 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌

参考例句：

206 beset   

v.镶嵌；困扰，包围

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。

207 scatheless   

adj.无损伤的，平安的

参考例句：

208 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

209 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

210 eyelids   

n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色

参考例句：

• She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了，眼睑开始往下垂。
• Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

211 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

212 chaste   

adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的

参考例句：

• Comparatively speaking,I like chaste poetry better.相比较而言，我更喜欢朴实无华的诗。
• Tess was a chaste young girl.苔丝是一个善良的少女。

213 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

214 supplication   

n.恳求，祈愿，哀求

参考例句：

• She knelt in supplication. 她跪地祷求。
• The supplication touched him home. 这个请求深深地打动了他。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

215 valiant   

adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人

参考例句：

• He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
• Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

216 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

217 lusted   

贪求（lust的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He had even lusted for Halina, already woven a net in readiness to ensnare her. 他甚至贪恋海莉娜，已经编织了一个罗网，在引诱她落进去。
• Men feared him and women lusted after the handsome warrior. 男人们害怕他，女人们纷纷追求这个英俊的勇士。

218 squires   

n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The family history was typical of the Catholic squires of England. 这个家族的历史，在英格兰信天主教的乡绅中是很典型的。 来自辞典例句
• By 1696, with Tory squires and Amsterdam burghers complaining about excessive taxes. 到1696年，托利党的乡绅们和阿姆斯特丹的市民都对苛捐杂税怨声载道。 来自辞典例句

219 gallop   

v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展

参考例句：

• They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
• The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。

220 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

221 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

222 absolve   

v.赦免，解除（责任等）

参考例句：

• I absolve you,on the ground of invincible ignorance.鉴于你不可救药的无知，我原谅你。
• They agree to absolve you from your obligation.他们同意免除你的责任。

223 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。