And the knights from his grief had freed him, save they hope from the word must draw 25 That Trevrezent spake of aforetime, and that writ on the Grail he saw. And once more would they wait his coming whose joy there had waxen weak, And the hour that should bring them healing from the question his lips should speak.
Then the king of a wile bethought him, and fast would he close his eyes, And four days long so he held them, when the knights, in their 'customedwise, 30 Before the Grail would bear him, if he said them or yea, or nay; But his weakness so wrought upon him, as before the shrine he lay, That his eyelids he needs must open, and against his will must live, For the Grail held death far from him and fresh life must Its vision give.
And so was it with Anfortas till the day when Parzival 35 And Feirefis his brother, rode swift to Monsalväsch' hall; And the time was near when the planet, its course in high heaven run, Mars or Jupiter, glowing wrathful, its station had well-nigh won, And the spot whence it took its journey--Ah! then was an evil day That wrought ill to the wound of Anfortas, and the torment would have its way; 40 And maiden and knight must hearken as the palace rang with his cries, And the help that no man might give him he besought with despairing eyes, For past all aid was he wounded, and his knights could but share his grief-- Yet the tale saith he drew ever nearer who should bring him alone relief.
Then oft as the bitter anguish in its bondage the hero held, 45 The taint of the wound to banish, the hall was with sweetness filled, For before him they spread on the carpet Terebinth, and odours fair Of aromatic spices and sweet woods filled the scented air. Teriak and precious Ambra, and methinks that their smell was sweet-- Cardamom, Jeroffel, Muscat, lay broken beneath the feet 50 Where'er one set foot on the carpet; and e'en as each footstep fell Their perfume arose, and their freshness, of the venom o'ercame the smell. And his fire was of Lignum aloe, as methinks ye have heard afore-- Of the horny skin of the viper had they fashioned the pillars four That stood 'neath his couch--'Gainst the venom must his knights on the cushions strew 55 Powder of roots so precious, whose healing scent they knew. Well stuffed, but unsewed, was the covering against which the monarch leant, And the silk and the mattress 'neath it were of Palmât of Nouriente. And the couch itself was yet richer, with many a precious stone Was it decked, nor were others found there save the rarest of jewels alone; 60 And by Salamanders woven were the cords which the bed did bind, Yea even the fastening 'neath it--Yet no joy might Anfortas find. The couch on all sides was costly, (no man shall contend I ween That he in the days of his lifetime a richer shall e'er have seen,) 'Twas precious alone from the virtue of the jewels and their magic power, 65 Would ye learn their names, then hearken, for we know them unto this hour.