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.

Our version of the story explains that, just as he was about to sit
down in the Siege Perilous, the witch Kundrie arrived, and hotly
denounced him as an unfeeling wretch, a sufficient reminder to make
Parzival immediately renew his quest. Adequate penance having been
done at last, and the young knight having stood every test without
losing his purity, Parzival was finally allowed to atone for his
unconscious fault. Once more he arrived at the castle, once more
entered the banquet hall, and once more beheld the mystic procession.
Strengthened by silent prayer, Parzival then asked the momentous
question; whereupon Amfortas' wound was instantly healed, the aged
Titurel released from the pain of living, Kundrie baptized, and
Parzival unanimously hailed as future guardian of the Grail, an office
he humbly yet proudly assumed.

Another legend claims that his son Lohengrin, ordered by the Holy
Grail to go and defend Elsa of Brabant, received from his father a
magic horn, by means of which he was to announce his safe arrival at
his destination, and to summon