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CHAP XXIV again. That knight should then be the Grail's king, in place of Anfortas. Since then a knight did come—I spoke of him to you. He might as well have stayed away for all the honour that he won or aid he brought us. He did not ask: My lord, what brought you to this pass? Stupidity forbade him."

The two made moan together. It was noon. The host said: "Let us take food now, and tend your horse." They went out; Parzival broke up some branches for his horse, while the host gathered a repast of herbs. Then they returned to the cell. "Dear nephew," said the hermit, "do not despise this food. At least, you will not find another host who would more gladly give you better."

"Sir, may God's favour pass me by, if ever a host's care was sweeter to me."

When they had eaten, they saw to the horse again, whose hungry plight grieved the old man because of the saddle with Anfortas's crest. Then Parzival spoke: "Lord and uncle mine, if I dare speak for shame, I should tell you all my unhappiness. My troth takes refuge in you. My misdeeds are so sore, that if you cast me off I shall go all my days unloosed from my remorse. Take pity with good counsel on a fool. He who rode to Munsalvaesch, and saw that pain, and asked no question, that was I, misfortune's child. Thus have I, sir, misdone."

"Nephew! Alas! We both may well lament—where were your five senses? Yet I will not refuse thee counsel. You must not grieve overmuch, but, in lament and laying grief aside, follow right measure. Would that I might refresh and hearten you, so that you would push on, and not despair of God. You might still cure your sorrow. God will not forsake you. I counsel thee from Him."

His host then told Parzival more about Anfortas's pains, and about the Grail people, then the story of his own life before he renounced knighthood, and also about Ither. "Ither was your kin. If your hand forgot this kinship, God will not. You must do penance for this deadly sin, and also for your mother's death. Repent of your misdeeds and think of death, so that your labour here below may bring peace to your soul above."

These two deadly sins of Parzival were done unwittingly VOL. I