Page:The Mediaeval Mind Vol 1.djvu/628

606 his host had taken their hell-journey, a man was made. God made from clay the worthy Adam. From Adam's flesh He took Eve, who brought us calamity when she listened not to her Creator, and destroyed our joy. Two sons were born to them. One of these in envious anger destroyed his grandmother's maidenhood, by sin."

"Sir, how could that be?"

"The earth was Adam's mother, and was a maiden. Adam was Cain's father, who slew Abel; and the blood fell on the pure earth; its maidenhood was sped. Thence arose hate among men and still endures. Nothing in the world is as pure as an innocent maid; God was himself a maiden's child, and took the image of the first maid's fruit. With Adam's seed came sorrow and joy; through him our lineage is from God, but through him, too, we carry sin, for which God took man's image, and so suffered, battling with troth against untroth. Turn to Him if you would not be lost. Plato, Sibyl the prophetess, foretold Him. With divine love His mighty hand plucked us from hell. The joyful news they tell of Him the True Lover is this: He is radiant light, and wavers not in His love. Men may have either His love or hate. The unrepentant sinner flees the divine faithfulness; he who does penance wins His clemency. God penetrates thought, which is hidden to the sun's rays and needs no castle's ward. Yet God's light passes its dark wall, comes stealing in, and noiselessly departs. No thought so quick but He discovers it before it leaves the heart. The pure in heart He chooses. Woe to the man who harbours evil. What help is there in human craft for him whose deeds put God to shame? You are lost if you act in His despite, who is prepared for either love or hate. Now change your heart; with goodness earn His thanks."

"Sir," says Parzival, "I am glad to be taught by you of Him who does not fail to reward both crime and virtue. With pain and struggle I have so borne my young life to this day that through keeping troth I have got sorrow."

Parzival still feels his innocence; perhaps the host is not so sure: "Prithee, be open with me. I would gladly hear your troubles and your sins. May be I can advise you."