Whereat the wild witch Kundry raised herself
From where she lay along the bosky woods,
And hoarsely broke in:  “Yea, his noble sire
Was Gamuret, in battle slain and lost
A month before his child had seen the light. 
And so to save her son from such a death,
The lonely mother reared him in the woods,
And taught him nothing of the spear and sword,
But kept him ever as a guileless child.”

Then spake the lad:  “And once I saw a host
Of men pass by the borders of the wood,
A-glitter in the sun, and riding fast
On splendid creatures, prancing as they went. 
Oh, I would fain have been like these fair men. 
But, laughing gaily, on they galloped fast
And I ran after them to be like them,
And join the glittering host and see the world. 
But though I ran, they faded from my sight
Yet have I followed, over hill and dale. 
Day after day I follow on their track,
And here I am as now you see me here. 
My bow has done me service on the way
Against wild beasts and savage-seeming men.”

And Kundry added:  “Yea, the fiery boy
Has sent a terror into many hearts—­
The wicked always fear the nobly good.” 
Then asked the boy in sweetest innocence: 
“And who are wicked, tell me, and who good?”

And Kundry spake:  “Thy mother, she was good. 
She grieved for thee, but now she grieves no more. 
For as I lately rode along that way
Coming with haste from far Arabia,
I saw her dying, and she spake to me,
And sent her blessing to her darling boy.”

At which the boy with sudden childish rage: 
“My mother dead! and sent a grace by thee,—­
Thou liest, woman!  Take thy false words back!”
And still impetuous and unreasoning,
Fighting the facts of life in rebel mood
(A child of sudden temper, guileless heart),
He seized her, struggling with a furious might
To make her unsay what her lips had told. 
Perhaps he might have harmed her in his wrath,
Had not the aged Gurnemanz come near,
And drawn him back, with the sharp-spoken words: 
“Impetuous child, restrain thy violence! 
This woman harms thee not.  She speaks the truth! 
Kundry has seen it, for she never lies.”

And at the word, the lad grew calm again,
And silent stood with still and stony stare,
Until his heart broke out in woe afresh
(A guileless child, not knowing strong control),
And he was seized with trembling, and he swooned.

Then Kundry, bearing naught of hate or spite,
Ran to a pebbly brook that flowed near by,
And brought cold water in an ancient horn,
Sprinkled the lad, and gave him some to drink.

And Gurnemanz, with kindly look at her,
Spake out:  “Thy deed is worthy of the Grail,—­
A cup of water fails not of reward;
And sin is conquered by the deeds of good.”