Parsifal's Page Read Online Free PDF Page A

never knew my father," Parsifal said. "He rode off to a faraway place called Damascus when I was a baby, and he got killed. My mother was very sad, so she moved to our home in the woods."
    Piers said, "To marry is when a man and a woman decide to love each other all the rest of their lives as they will never love anyone else."
    Parsifal nodded slowly. "So you think she did not mean for me to kiss every fair woman?"
    "That's right. You must never kiss any woman against her will, and you should never kiss any woman who is married to another man."
    Parsifal nodded thoughtfully. "So I should not have taken her ring either?"
    "No, you should not have!" Piers said emphatically. "Rings are exchanged only when two people get married."
    "There are many rules for knights," Parsifal said ruefully. "And how will I know which lady I am to marry?"
    This was the opening that Piers wanted. For the next two hours he told Parsifal everything he could think of about how men attract ladies, placing a heavy emphasis on polite conversation and table manners. As he wound up his discourse, he spent a few minutes describing courtly fashions for men, as his mother had described them, and ventured a hint that Parsifal's rough homespun clothes might be exchanged for others.
    Parsifal frowned. "My mother made these clothes," he said, and Piers abandoned that subject. The personality of this Lady Herzeloyde was still stamped strongly on her son. There would be time later for such matters.

    The next day, Piers and Parsifal came to a castle. It was not a large castle, but the pennants and escutcheons that hung from the battlements proclaimed it to be the residence of a knight and lord.
    Parsifal turned in his saddle. "Is this a great deed?" he asked.
    "Perhaps," Piers replied. "Knock at the gate and see what adventure awaits."
    Parsifal banged on the heavy wooden gate, and a few minutes later it was opened by a manservant in stunning green and gold livery. Even in Arthur's camp, Piers had not seen such splendid male raiment. He wished he had an outfit like that and was glad that he at least had his new hat.
    "How do you do?" Parsifal said. "I hope you are well today."
    Piers winced. He hadn't thought to tell Parsifal the proper form to use when announcing your arrival. Of course usually a squire did the actual announcing, but pressing a point, Piers decided that with no squire at hand it would be all right for a page.
    "Tell the lord of this manor," Piers proclaimed loudly, "that Sir ... that Parsifal, lately of King Arthur's court, has arrived and seeks shelter."
    Piers had barely finished speaking before an elderly man and a young lady came running from the central keep. Both were even more sumptuously dressed than the manservant. Piers wished his mother could see their clothes. "Sir Parsifal! Come in!" said the elderly man. "You are welcome in my castle, as is any knight of King Arthur's Round Table. I am Sir Gurnemains, and this is my daughter, the Lady Liase. I beg you to make as long stay with us as you like."
    Parsifal looked puzzled. "What is this round table?" he asked.
    Piers cringed again. He did wish that Parsifal would stop betraying his ignorance through his habit of asking every question that came into his head.
    "But did you not say...? Then where are you from?"
    "I've come over from the Other Side," Parsifal said. He waved his arm back at Piers. "This is the one who shouted. Ask him what he meant."
    Sir Gurnemains and Lady Liase looked at Piers, who said, "I apologize for being unclear. Sir ... I mean, er ... Parsifal is not yet a knight, but he has been sent out by King Arthur to do great deeds and to earn knighthood." He was afraid that Sir Gurnemains would be angry at having been led into a mistake, but Sir Gurnemains beamed.
    "Nothing could be better!" he said. "For I, Sir Gurnemains, am an instructor of knights!"

    Piers and Parsifal stayed at Sir Gurnemains's castle for three months, while Parsifal learned chivalry. Sir Gurnemains,