The legend of Perceval - or Parzival as he is called in the version told by Medieval German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach - and his quest for the Holy Grail, has always been one of my favorite stories. What impressed me most, perhaps, is Parzival's refusal to accept his failure at his first confrontation with the ailing King of the Grail - in Wolfram's version, he actually ends up finding the Grail again, after searching for it for many many years, separated from his beloved wife and friends and all earthly comforts. What the wife thought about this, I do not know... but she does get to become Queen of the Grail eventually, so perhaps she doesn't mind so much.
The picture is another A2 size watercolour done sometime in the mid-eighties - unfortunately the date is cut off from the photo, but it must have been around the time that I did the Caras Galadhon and Cirith Ninniach illustrations, if I remember correctly it was the next one I did after Caras Galadhon - which would date it to sometime around 1985. The scene depicts Parzival's first encounter with Amfortas, the ailing King of the Grail - Parzival has got lost in the woods and is seeking a place to spend the night, and he sees a fisherman on a lake, clad in rich scarlet robes and with a peacock feather in his hat. He asks him for the nearest dwelling, and Amfortas sends him to his castle, Mont Sauvage, the castle of the Grail, which only choosen people can find.

I couldn't find an English translation of Wolfram's epic poem, so this is my attempt to translate the relevant passage from Dieter Kühn's translation from medieval into modern German:

"Do you want to know where he came that day? In the evening, he came to a lake, where fishing boats were moored -those fishermen owned that lake. When they saw him on his horse, they were so close to the shore that they could hear what he was saying. He noticed one person in those boats particularly: he had such rich clothing, if he had been the lord of the entire world, it could not have been more splendid. His hat was made from peacock-feathers. He asked the fisherman to tell him, in the name of God and according to the customs of courtly education, where he might find an abode for the night.
The answer of that man full of sorrow was: "Sir, I would not know where you might find any habitation within thirty miles - there is nothing here but earth and water. But one house only lies close by, and I will recommend you this one. Where else would you go today? Over there behind that rocky ledge, take to the right; when you reach the fosse in front of the castle, you will have to stop. Ask that the bridge might be lowered for you, and the gate opened."
He accepted this suggestion, took his farewell and went away instantly. The fisherman called after him: "If you find the place, I myself will take care of you tonight. Do not forget your thanks. But be careful: Many paths could lead you astray in that place; close to that ledge, it is easy to loose one's way. I will hope that this will not happen to you!"

And so Parzival rode away; he cantered swiftly down the path, which he found alright, until he came to the fosse. The bridge was pulled up. The castle was by no means insufficiently fortified - it stood, as if it had been carved. Only if you had wings, and were borne by the wind, you could have taken that castle. Many towers, numerous halls he saw, and their fortifications were a marvel. If all armies in the world would besiege this castle, for thirty years, it would not matter to them at all!
A page kindly asked him what he wished, and whence he came at that hour. He answered: "The fisherman has sent me here ahead of him. I thanked him, because I was hoping for a place for the night. He asks that the bridge be lowered for me, and told me to ride up here."
"Sir, in this case you are welcome. If the fisherman himself has recommended it, you shall be our guest of honour, to please him who sent you here."

From: Wolfram von Eschenbach: "Parzival", chapter 225-227

© 2002, 2003, 2004 Asni

all artwork © Asni

last updated: 16 February, 2004