Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach

Translated by Jessie L. Weston

9 chapters · about 8 h

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The opening

BOOK I GAMURET

GAMURET

If unfaith in the heart find dwelling, then the soul it shall reap but woe; And shaming alike and honour are his who such doubt shall show, For it standeth in evil contrast with a true man’s dauntless might, As one seeth the magpie’s plumage, which at one while is black and white. And yet he may win to blessing; since I wot well that in his heart, Hell’s darkness, and light of Heaven, alike have their lot and part But he who is false and unsteadfast, he is black as the darkest night, And the soul that hath never wavered stainless its hue and white!

This my parable so fleeting too swift for the dull shall be, Ere yet they may seize its meaning from before their face ’twill flee, As a hare that a sound hath startled: yea, metal behind the glass, And a blind man’s dream yield visions that as swift from the eye do pass, For naught shall they have that endureth! And at one while ’tis bright and sad, And know of a truth that its glory but for short space shall make ye glad. And what man shall think to grip me, where no hair for his grasp shall grow, In the palm of mine hand? The mystery of a close clasp he sure doth know!

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About this edition

The words
Jessie L. Weston's English translation, copied word for word.
Left out
  • The source library's header, footer and license, in 3 places
  • Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 5 places
  • Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 2 places
  • A preface, foreword or afterword, in 3 places
  • The book heading "BOOK I" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "GAMURET" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • Other material that isn't the author's, in 7 places
  • The book heading "BOOK II" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "HERZELEIDE" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK III" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "GURNEMANZ" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK IV" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "KONDWIRAMUR" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK V" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "ANFORTAS" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK VI" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "ARTHUR" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK VII" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "OBILOT" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK VIII" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "ANTIKONIE" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "BOOK IX" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)
  • The book heading "TREVREZENT" printed again above the poem's first stanza (the same words as the chapter heading)

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