We have already mentioned the fact that Parzival was a great-grandson of Titurel; his mother, fearing he would die young, like his father, were he to become a knight, brought him up in seclusion, telling him nothing about knights, fighting, or the world.  Straying in the forest one day this youth encountered a couple of knights, whom he mistook for angels, owing to their bright array, and offered to worship.  The knights, however, refused his homage, and good-naturedly advised him to hasten to Arthur’s court and learn to become a knight too.

Parzival now left his mother,—­who died of grief,—­went to court (meeting sundry adventures on the way), and there asked to be knighted.  He was told, however, he must first procure a horse and armor, whereupon he followed and slew an insolent knight who defied King Arthur.  But Parzival did not know how to remove the armor from his dead foe, until a passing knight obligingly showed him how it was done.

Parzival now spent a time of apprenticeship at court where he learned among other things, that a knight should never be unduly inquisitive, then went to the rescue of a persecuted and virtuous queen, whom he wooed and married.  He soon left her, however, to visit his mother, of whose death he was not aware.  On his way home Parzival came to a lake, where a richly dressed fisherman informed him he might find a night’s lodging in the castle on the hill, where he offered to conduct him.  Thus Parzival penetrated into the castle on Montsalvatch and was duly led into the banqueting hall.  Awed by the splendor of his surroundings, the young candidate for knighthood silently noted that his host seemed to be suffering from a secret wound, and perceived that all the other guests were oppressed by overwhelming sadness.  Then suddenly the doors opened wide, and a strange procession entered the hall, slowly circled around the table, and again passed out!  In this procession marched a servant bearing a bloody lance, at the sight of which all present groaned, then came maidens carrying the stand for the Holy Grail, which was reverently brought in by Titurel’s grand-daughter.  The vase was, however, closely veiled, and it was only after repeated entreaties from the knights present that the host unveiled it, uttering the while heart-rending groans.

All present were now served with the food they most desired, which they ate in silence, and then the knights marched out of the hall, gazing reproachfully at Parzival, who silently wondered what all this might mean.  His hunger sated, Parzival was conducted to luxurious sleeping apartments, but, when he was ready to leave on the morrow, all the castle seemed deserted, and it was only when he had crossed the drawbridge and it had been raised behind him, that a harsh voice was heard vehemently cursing him.  Shortly after, on learning that a sympathetic inquiry would have dispelled the gloom in the palace, he had just left, Parzival attempted to return, but the mysterious castle was no longer to be found.  Such was our hero’s remorse for his sin of omission that he continued the quest for years, doing meanwhile all manner of noble and heroic deeds.  In reward, he was knighted by Arthur himself, and bidden by Merlin occupy “the Siege Perilous” where his name suddenly appeared in letters of gold.