Quotes from book
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach Original title Parzival (German)

Parzival is a medieval romance written by the knight-poet Wolfram von Eschenbach in Middle High German. The poem, commonly dated to the first quarter of the 13th century, centers on the Arthurian hero Parzival and his long quest for the Holy Grail following his initial failure to achieve it.


Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“How I wish I had your looks! If only you had some sense in you, God would have left you nothing to wish for.”

Ôwî wan wær dîn schœne mîn!
dir hete got den wunsch gegebn,
ob du mit witzen soldest lebn.
Bk. 3, st. 124, line 18; p. 74.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Alas that he asked no Question then! Even now I am cast down on his account! For when he was given the sword it was to prompt him to ask a Question!”

Ôwê daz er niht vrâgte dô!
des pin ich für in noch unvrô.
wan do erz enpfienc in sîne hant,
dô was er vrâgens mit ermant.
Bk. 5, st. 240, line 3; p. 127.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Mistress Love, you have one merit and no others: Mistress Affection keeps you company. Else would your rule be sadly wanting!”

Frou minne, ir habt ein êre,
und wênc decheine mêre.
frou liebe iu gît geselleschaft:
anders wær vil dürkel iwer kraft.
Bk. 6, st. 291, line 15; p. 152.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“To win a boar’s head one must sacrifice the hounds.”

Bk. 3, st. 150, line 22; p. 86.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Tear-filled eyes make sweet lips.”

Bk. 5, st. 272, line 12; p. 143.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“The Waleis…are even denser than Bavarian folk, though stout men with their weapons. Whoever is born in either land will blossom into a prodigy of tact and courtesy!”

Die sint tœrscher denne beiersch her,
unt doch bî manlîcher wer.
swer in den zwein landen wirt,
gefuoge ein wunder an im birt.
Bk. 3, st. 121, line 9; p. 72.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Trees have their sap from water. Water fecundates all things made that are called "creature". We see by means of water. Water gives many souls a splendour not to be outshone by the Angels.”

Von wazzer boume sint gesaft.
wazzer früht al die geschaft,
der man für crêatiure giht.
mit dem wazzere man gesiht.
wazzer gît maneger sêle schîn,
daz die engl niht liehter dorften sîn.
Bk. 16, section 817, line 25; p. 406.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Wherever you can win a lady's ring and greeting, take it – it will rid you of the dumps. Waste no time, but kiss and embrace her. It will bring you good fortune and raise your spirits, granted she be chaste and good.”

Swa du guotes wîbes vingerlîn
mügest erwerben unt ir gruoz,
daz nim: ez tuot dir kumbers buoz.
du solt zir kusse gâhen
und ir lîp vast umbevâhen:
daz gît gelücke und hôhen muot,
op si kiusche ist unde guot.
Bk. 3, st. 127, line 26; p. 75.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“You have heard the saying from before your time that if a man saved another from death that other would be his enemy ever after.”

Du hôrtst och vor dir sprechen ie,
swer dem andern half daz er genas,
daz er sîn vîent dâ nâch was.
Bk. 10, st. 525, line 2; p. 266.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Two hearts that are but one have shown their strength in fierce enmity.”

Hie hânt zwei herzen einvalt
Mit hazze erzeiget ir gewalt.
Bk. 14, st. 689, line 28; p. 345.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“You must never lose your sense of shame. If one is past all shame what is one fit for? One lives like a bird in moult, shedding good qualities like plumes all pointing down to Hell.”

Ir sult niemer iuch verschemn.
verschamter lîp, waz touc der mêr?
der wont in der mûze rêr,
dâ im werdekeit entrîset.
Bk. 3, st. 170, line 16; p. 95.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“If vacillation dwell with the heart the soul will rue it.”

Ist zwîvel herzen nâchgebûr,
das muoz der sêle warden sûr.
Bk. 1, st. 1, line 1; p. 15.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“A loyal-hearted man rejoices at a friend's advancement; a disloyal man cries out in sorrow when something pleasant befalls his friend and he is there to see it.”

Der getriwe ist friundes êren vrô:
der ungetriwe wâfenô
rüefet, swenne ein liep geschiht
sînem friunde und er daz siht.
Bk. 13, st. 675, line 17; p. 337.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Upon a green achmardi she bore the consummation of heart’s desire, its root and its blossoming – a thing called "The Gral", paradisal, transcending all earthly perfection! She whom the Gral suffered to carry itself had the name of Repanse de Schoye. Such was the nature of the Gral that she who had the care of it was required to be of perfect chastity and to have renounced all things false.”

Ûf einem grüenen achmardî
truoc si den wunsch von pardîs,
bêde wurzeln unde rîs.
daz was ein dinc, daz hiez der Grâl,
erden wunsches überwal.
Repanse de schoy si hiez,
die sich der grâl tragen liez.
der grâl was von sölher art:
wol muoser kiusche sîn bewart,
die sîn ze rehte solde pflegn:
die muose valsches sich bewegn.
Bk. 5, st. 235, line 20; p. 125.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“All that was ever told of Arthur, the man of the merry month of May, happened at Whitsun or at blossom-time in Spring.”

Artûs der meienbære man,
swaz man ie von dem gesprach,
zeinen pfinxten daz geschach,
odr in des meien bluomenzît.
Bk. 6, st. 281, line 16; p. 147.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Losers always meet with mockery, Heaven sides with the fortunate.”

Der schadehafte erwarp ie spot:
sælden pflihtær dem half got.
Bk. 6, st. 289, line 11; p. 151.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“Any brother of mine and I make one person, as do a good man and his good wife.”

Mîn bruodr und ich daz ist ein lîp,
als ist guot man unt des guot wîp.
Bk. 15, st. 740, line 29; p. 369.
Parzival

Wolfram von Eschenbach photo

“You must be rich and poor with discretion. A nobleman who squanders his property does not display a noble spirit, while if he hoards his wealth to excess it will bring dishonour.”

Ir sult bescheidenlîche
sîn arm unde rîche.
wan swâ der hêrre gar vertuot,
daz ist niht hêrlîcher muot:
sament er ab schaz ze sere,
daz sint och unêre.
Bk. 3, st. 171, line 7; p. 96.
Parzival

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