But alas! the castle had vanished; and our hero was forced to journey from place to place, seeking diligently, and meeting with many adventures on the way.
At times the longing to give up the quest and return home to his young wife was almost unendurable.

His thoughts were ever with her, and the poem relates that even a drop of blood fallen on the snow reminded, him most vividly of the dazzling complexion of Conduiramour, and of her sorrow when he departed.
"'Conduiramour, thine image is Here in the snow now dyed with red And in the blood on snowy bed.
Conduiramour, to them compare Thy forms of grace and beauty rare.'" WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.).
Although exposed to countless temptations, Parzival remained true to his wife as he rode from place to place, constantly seeking the Holy Grail.

His oft-reiterated questions concerning it caused him to be considered a madman or a fool by all he met.
In the course of his journeys, he encountered a lady in chains, led by a knight who seemed to take pleasure in torturing her.

Taught by Gurnemanz to rescue all ladies in distress, Parzival challenged and defeated this knight.

Then only did he discover that it was Sir Orilus, who had led his wife about in chains to punish her for accepting a kiss from a strange youth.