READINGS
Following is a selection of key passages from the whole range of the Arthuriad. While these should not be seen as an alternative to reading the full texts (most of which can be obtained online or in book form), they give a taste of the mysteries that can be sought out by the seeker.
1: The Wisdom of Merlin
Merlin…approached the king, and said to him; “For what reason am I and my mother introduced into your presence?”
“My magicians,” answered Vortigern, “advised me to seek out a man that had no father, with whose blood my building is to be sprinkled, in order to make it stand.”
“Order your magicians,” said Merlin, “to come before me, and I will convict them of a lie.”
The king was surprised at his words, and presently ordered the magicians to come, and sit down before Merlin, who spoke to them after this manner: “Because you are ignorant what it is that hinders the foundation of the tower, you have recommended the shedding of my blood for cement to it…But tell me now, what is there under the foundation…?”
The magicians at this began to be afraid, and made him no answer. Then said Merlin…“Command your workmen to dig into the ground, and you will find a pond which causes the foundations to sink.”
This accordingly was done, and then presently they found a pond deep under ground, which had made it (the tower) give way. Merlin after this went again to the magicians, and said, “Tell me…what is there under the pond?” But they were silent. Then said he again to the king, “Command the pond to be drained, and at the bottom you will see two hollow stones, and in them two dragons asleep.”
The king made no scruple of believing him, since he had found truer what he said about the pond, and therefore ordered it to be drained: which done, he found as Merlin had said; and now was possessed with the greatest admiration of him. Nor were the rest there present less amazed at his wisdom, thinking it to be no less than divine inspiration…303
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As Vortigern…was sitting upon the bank of the drained pond, the two dragons, one of which was white, the other red, came forth and, approaching one another, began a terrible fight, and cast forth fire with their breath. But the white dragon had the advantage, and made the other fly to the end of the lake…After this battle of the dragons, the king demanded Merlin…to tell him what it portended. Upon which, bursting into tears, delivered what his prophetical spirit suggested to him…
“Woe to the red dragon, for his banishment hasteneth on. His lurking holes shall be seized by the white dragon, which signifies the Saxons…but the red dragon denotes the British nation, which shall be oppressed by the white…(But) at last the oppressed shall prevail, and oppose the cruelty of foreigners. For a boar of Cornwall shall give his assistance, and trample their necks under his feet…Then shall misfortune hasten upon the white one, and the buildings of his gardens be pulled down…”304
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King (Arthur) sat in a study, and bade his men fetch his horse as fast as ever they might. Right so came by him Merlin like a child of fourteen years of age, and saluted the king, and asked him why he was so pensive. I may well be pensive, said the king, for I have seen the marvellest sight that ever I saw. That know I well, said Merlin, as well as thyself, and of all thy thoughts, but thou art a fool to take thought, for it will not amend thee. Also I know what thou art, and who was thy father, and of whom thou were begotten…That is false, said King Arthur, how shouldst thou know it, for thou art not so old of years to know my father? Yes, said Merlin, I know it better than ye or any man living. I will not believe thee, said Arthur, and was wroth with the child. So departed Merlin, and came again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age, whereof the king was right glad for he seemed to be right wise.
Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said Arthur, for many things. Also here was a child, and told me many things that meseemeth he should not know…Yes, said the old man, the child told you truth, and more would he have told you an ye would have suffered him…What are ye, said Arthur, that tell me these tidings? I am Merlin, as I was he in the child’s likeness. Ah, said King Arthur, ye are a marvelous man…305
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As they rode, Arthur said, I have no sword. No force, said Merlin, hereby is a sword that shall be yours, and I may. So they ride till they came to a lake, the which was a fair and broad, and in the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is that sword that I spake of. With that they saw a damosel going upon the lake. What damosel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of the Lake, said Merlin; and within that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place as any on earth, and richly beseen; and this damosel will come to you anon, and then speak ye fair to her that she will give you that sword. Anon withal came the damosel to Arthur, and saluted him, and he her again. Damosel, said Arthur, what sword is that, which yonder the arm holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword…Well! said the damosel, go ye in yonder barge, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbard with you…Sir Arthur and Merlin…went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the hand held, Sir Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him, and the arm and the hand went under the water…Then Sir Arthur looked upon the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether like you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me like better the sword, said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten of the swords, for whilst ye have the scabbard upon you, you shall never lose no blood, be ye ever so sore wounded, therefore keep well the scabbard always with you.306
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Taliesin had come to see Merlin the prophet who had sent for him to find out what wind or rainstorm was coming up, for both together were growing near and the clouds were thickening. He (Merlin) drew the following illustrations under the guidance of (the goddess) Minerva…
Out of nothing the Creator of the world produced four elements that they might be the prior cause as well as the material for creating all things when they were joined together in harmony: the heaven which he adorned with stars and which stands on high and embraces everything like the shell surrounding a nut; then he made the air, fit for forming sounds, through the medium of which day and night present the stars; the sea which girds the land in four circles, and with its mighty refulgence so strikes the air as to generate the winds which are said to be four in number; as a foundation, he placed the earth, standing by its own strength and not lightly moved, which is divided into five parts, whereof the middle one is not habitable because of the heat, and the two furthest are shunned because of their cold. To the last two he gave a moderate temperature and these are inhabited by men and birds and herds of wild beasts. He added clouds to the sky so that they might furnish sudden showers to make the fruits of the trees and of the ground grow with their gentle sprinkling. With the help of the sun these are filled like water skins from the rivers by a hidden law, and then, rising through the upper air, they pour out the water they have taken up, driven by the force of the winds…307
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And then Merlin came to Perceval and to Blayse his master, and he took leave of them and told them that Our Lord did not wish that he should show himself to people, yet that he would not be able to die before the end of the world; “but then I shall enjoy the eternal joy, and I wish to make a lodging outside your palace and to dwell there and I will prophesy whatever Our Lord commands me. And all those who will see my lodging will name it the esplumoir (or molting cage) of Merlin…”308
2: The Round Table
Hearken unto me with favor and keep silence and I will tell you a tale both noble and true of the prince-like men of the Round Table who excelled in chivalry and were noble chieftains in their deeds; they were wise men at arms, valiant in action, holding shame always in dread; kind men and courteous they were, learned in courtly manners…Hearken now to me and hear (their) story.309
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Arthur never heard speak of a knight in praise, but he caused him to be numbered of his household…Because of these noble lords about his hall, of whom each knight pain himself to be the hardiest champion, and none would count him the least praiseworthy, Arthur made the Round Table…It was ordained of Arthur that when his fair fellowship sat to meat their chairs should be high alike, their service equal, and none before or after his comrade. Thus no man could boast that he was exalted above his fellow, for all alike were gathered round the board, and none was alien at the breaking of Arthur’s bread.310
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First he was found faultless in his five wits.
Then he failed not in his five fingers.
And all his trust on earth was in the five wounds
Suffered by Christ on the cross…
So that when the knight was placed in the melée,
His thought was ever upon them above all other things.
And so it was that all his strength he found
In the five joys that the fair Queen of Heaven had in her child.
And for this cause that the knight had made to be painted
Her image in comely fashioned on the greater half of his shield,
So that when he looked upon it, his valor never failed him.
Now the fifth five that this knight excelled in were
Frankness, and fellowship above all others,
His cleaness and courtesy never were crooked,
And compassion, that surpasseth all else.
These five pure virtues were fixed in this knight
More firmly than in any other.311
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Fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed forward into the mist. And on leaving the mist he came into a large orchard; and in orchard he saw an open space, wherein was a tent of red satin; and the door of the tent was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of the tent; and on the branch of the apple-tree hung a huge hunting horn…and there was no-one in the tent save one maiden sitting in a golden chair, and another chair was opposite to her, empty. And Geraint went in…and sat down therein.312
3: The Love of Fair Women
And thus it passed on from Candlemas until after Easter, that the month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May, in like wise every lusty heart that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May…for like as winter rasure doth alway arase and deface green summer so fareth it by unstable love in man and woman. For in many persons is there no stability, for we may see all day, for a little blast of winter’s rasure, and none shall we deface and lay apart true love for little or naught, that cost much thing; this is no wisdom nor stability, but is feebleness of nature and great disworship, whomsoever useth this…
The old love was not so; men and women could love together seven years, and no licours lusts were between them, and then was love, truth, and faithfulness; and lo, in likewise was used love in King Arthur’s days.313
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At length, Tristan said in a low voice, “Tell me, fair lady, what is it troubles thee?”
Iseult replied in the Breton language: “L’amer torments me; l’amer lies heavy on my heart; l’amer is pain and grief to me.”
And Tristan knew not what to think, for in the Breton tongue, the word l’amer has three meanings. There is l’amer, bitterness; there is la mer, the sea; there is l’amer, which means love. Of these three meanings there was one which he dared not think of; he set Love, their common lord and master, their mutual comfort and desire, and spoke only of the other two.314
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She, who loves lightly, may make her lover pray for long, so that she may hide how often her feet have trodden the pathway with another friend. But the honest dame, when she has once given her heart to a friend, will not deny his wish because of pride. The rather she will find her pride in humbleness, and love him again with the same love he has set on her. So they will be glad together, and since none will have knowledge or hearing of the matter, they will rejoice in their youth.315
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Then Tristan rose and spake, Alack,
Sweet love Iseult wake up anon,
We have been trapped and spied upon!
The King knows all that we have wrought
Goes now to fetch his lords from court;
In company he will us take,
To judge and burn us at the stake.
Sweet heart, I must depart from thee;
Thy life is in no jeopardy…
To far off lands in bitter woe,
For thy love’s sake I fain must go.
Leave all my joy, become a stranger,
Renounce delight and follow danger…316
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In her chamber, Iseult lay sleepless…suddenly, through the open window where the moonbeams moved, came the voice of a nightingale. Iseult listened to the loud bird-throat that charmed the night, and the tones rose plaintively and such that there exists no cruel heart, no murderer’s heart that would not have been touched. The Queen wondered: “Whence comes this melody?” Suddenly she understood “it is Tristan! Thus in the wood of Morois, he used to imitate song-birds for my delight. He is leaving; this is his last adieu. How he laments, like the nightingale when he takes leave at summer’s end, in very sadness. Friend, never again will I hear your voice!”317
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Just as the wise master teaches young children, my lady the queen teaches and instructs every living being. From her flows all the good in the world, she is its source and origin. Nobody can take leave of her and go away disheartened, for she knows what each person wants and the way to please each according to his desires.318
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In the evening…(Peredur) entered a valley, and at the head of a valley he came to a hermit’s cell, and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he spent the night. And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted upon the bird. And Peredur stood, and compared the blackness of the raven and the whiteness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the hair of the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her skin which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots upon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow appeared to be…319
4: Wisdom of the Grail
The High Book of the Grail begins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one substance and that substance is God, and from God comes the noble story of the Grail; and all those who hear it must be attentive and forget all their baseness, for those who hear it with their hearts will find it most profitable, because of the worthy men and good knights whose deeds you will hear recalled.320
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Joseph went to the Grail and knelt before it weeping, and he said, “Oh Lord, you wanted to consort with us because of your love for us and to save your creatures, who wished to obey you and follow your will. I saw you dead, as truly I saw you living, and after death I saw you alive and speaking to me in the tower in which I was held. There, Lord, you commanded me, when you brought me this Grail, that whenever I wanted to know your secrets, I should come before this precious Grail, which contains your glorious blood. Therefore, I ask you to advise me on the matter, for my people are starving.”
Then the voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to Joseph: “Joseph, do not be dismayed; you are not to blame in this matter.”
“Then, Sir, let me remove those who have sinned from my company.”
“You cannot do that, Joseph; but I command you to take the Grail of my blood and to test those sinners with it. Remember that I was sold and betrayed by someone who ate with me. The person who did this thing was ashamed and left, and was never again my disciple.
“No one shall take his place until you are sitting there. Summon Bron, your brother-in-law; who is a good man. Get him to go down to the water to catch a fish and bring the first one he catches to you. Place it on that table, with the Grail, and cover it with a napkin. Then call together all your people and tell them that they shall see why they have been so afflicted. And when you have taken your seat where I sat at the Last Supper, seat Bron on your right and you will see that Bron will not take that place. The empty place signifies the seat of Judas, who left when he saw that he had betrayed me. That place may not be filled until Enygeus has her husband Bron’s child, and when the child is born he shall be assigned that place. When you have done all this, call your people and tell them, if they believe in God the Father of all the World, and in the Son and Holy Ghost, and in all the Commandments and teachings I gave them when I spoke to them through you of the three virtues that are one, if they have upheld all these well, let them come and take their seats by the grace of Our Lord.”321
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When Titurel was fifty years old, an angel appeared to him and said that the rest of his life should be denoted to the service of the Grail. The angel led him into a wilderness, Foreis Salvasch, which was overgrown with many exotic plants and trees. Strange birds filled the air with song, and hidden in the earth were countless precious stones. In the center of the forest was Mount Salvasch, which had always been concealed and protected from fallen humanity, whether Christian, Jew, or heathen. The mountain and everything on it was protected from all evil. Titurel found encamped there workers from all the nations of the earth to assist him in his work. The Grail could be seen hovering over the mountain, held by the invisible hands of angels. Titurel built a great castle on the mountain, from where he did battle against the heathens, until no one dare enter the land of Salvaterre.
Titurel resolved to build a temple for the Grail, using only the purest of materials. He asked advice from those learned in the properties of precious stones, as once taught by Pythagoras and Hercules. They told him of the firestone abestus, which sends forth a fire that does not burn; and the water-stone elitropia, whose water is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. These were chosen as the basic materials of the temple. Everywhere precious stones and metals were used; only the chairs, lest they should be cold, were made of wood.
Titurel cleared away part of the summit that consisted of a single piece of onyx, and polished its surface until it glowed like the moon. One morning he found engraved in the stone the ground plan for the temple. Recognizing the Grail as the source of inspiration, he arranged for construction to begin.
The work took thirty years to complete. During this time the Grail supplied the workers with all their needs; it sent forth the precious substances from which the temple was built, as well as food and drink. These gifts more than outweighed those given by God to Solomon for the temple in Jerusalem.322
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The king and all the estates went home unto Camelot, and so went to evensong to the great Minster, and so after upon that to supper, and every knights sat in his own place as they were toforehand. Then anon they heard cracking and crying of thunder, that them thought the place should all to-drive. In the midst of this blast entered a sunbeam more clearer by seven times than ever they saw day, and all they were alighted of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Then began every knight to behold other, and either saw other, by their seeming, fairer than ever they saw afore. Not for them there was no knight might speak one word a great while, and so they looked every man on other as they had been dumb. Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail covered with white samite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it. And there was all the hall filled with good odours, and every knight had such meats and drinks as he best loved in this world. And when the Holy Grail had been born through the hall, then the holy vessel departed suddenly, that they wist not where it became…323
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The Grail appeared at the consecration in five forms, but they should not be revealed, for the secrets of the sacrament none should tell save he whom God has granted grace. But King Arthur saw all of the transubstantiations, and last appeared the chalice; and the hermit who was conducting the mass, found a memorandum upon the consecration cloth, and the letters declared that God wanted his body to be sacrificed in such a vessel in remembrance of him. The story does not say that it was the only chalice anywhere, but in all of Britain and the neighboring cities and kingdoms, there was none.324
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Then Balin was brought unto a chamber and unarmed; and they would have had Balin leave his sword behind him. “Nay,” said Balin, “that do I not, for it is the custom of my country for a knight always to keep his weapon with him.” Then they gave him leave to wear his sword, and so he went unto the castle, and was set among knights of worship.
Soon Balin asked, “Is there not a knight in this court whose name is Garlon?”
“Yonder he goeth,” said a knight, “he with the black face; he is the marvellest knight now living, for he goeth invisible.”
“Ah well,” said Balin, “is that he?” Then Balin thought him long: If I slay him here I shall not escape, and if I leave him now, I may never meet with him again and much harm he will do, if he lives. Therewith Garlon espied that Balin beheld him, and he came and smote Balin on the face with the back of his hand, and said, “Knight, why beholdest me so? For shame therefore, eat thy meat and do what thou came for.”
“This is not the first despite that thou hast done me,” said Balin, “therefore I will do what I came for,” and he rose up, fiercely and clave Garlon’s head to the shoulders.
Anon all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balin, and King Pellam himself arose up fiercely, and said, “Knight, hast thou slain my brother? Thou shalt die therefore.”
“Well,” said Balin, “do it yourself.”
“Yes,” said King Pellam, “no man shall have ado with thee but myself.” Then King Pellam caught in his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly at Balin; but Balin put the sword betwixt his head and the stroke, and therewith his sword broke. And when Balin was weaponless he ran into a chamber to seek some weapon, and so from chamber to chamber, and no weapon he could find, and always King Pellam after him. And at the last he entered into a chamber that was marvelously well arrayed and richly, and a bed with cloth of gold. And thereby stood a table of gold with four pillars of silver that bare up the table, and upon the table stood a marvelous spear strangely wrought. And when Balin saw that spear, he got it in his hand and turned him to King Pellam, and smote him passingly sore with that spear, that King Pellam fell down in a swoon, and therewith the castle roof and walls brake and fell to the earth, and Balin fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And so the most part of the castle was fallen down through that dolorous stroke, and lay upon Pellam and Balin three days.325
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King Arthur rode into the forest and came upon the chapel of St. Augustine, where a hermit was about to sing the mass. The king tied his horse to a tree and decided to enter the chapel. But, to his mortification, he was unable to enter, although there was no one there to stop him and the door was open. The king looked at the hermit and saw at his right hand the fairest child he had ever seen; he was dressed in a white robe and wore a golden crown leaded with precious stones that shone in the light. On the hermit’s left side was a lady so fair that her beauty was beyond compare. When the holy hermit had said his confession and approached the altar, the lady took her son and went to sit on a jeweled chair to the right of the altar. She placed her son upon her knees and, kissing him sweetly, said, “Sir, you are my father and my son and my lord, and guardian of me and of all the world.” King Arthur marveled that she should call the child her father and her son.
At the moment the mass was begun, the king saw a light come through the window and shine upon the altar; it was brighter than any ray from the sun, moon, or stars. The king was angered that he could not enter the chapel to hear the hermit sing the mass and the beautiful responses that seemed like the singing of angels. When the holy gospel was read, the lady took her child and offered him into the hands of the hermit. The hermit set the child upon the altar and began the sacrament.
King Arthur went down on his knees and began to pray. As he looked toward the altar, it seemed that the hermit held between his hands a man who was bleeding from his side and in his palms and feet, and was crowned with thorns. As he looked at the man, the king had pity in his heart and tears in his eyes. He looked again at the altar and saw that the figure of the man had changed into the child he had seen before.
When the mass was sung, the voice of a holy angel sang Ite, missa, est. The son took the mother by the hand and vanished from the chapel; the flame that came though the window went away with them.326
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Lancelot kept on till he reached a chamber of which the door was closed and locked. He put his hand on the door and tried to open it, but in vain; he even made a great effort, but he could nothing to effect an entrance, then he listened, and heard a voice chanting so sweetly that it seemed to be the voice rather of some heavenly, than of a mortal creature…(then he) saw the door of the chamber open, and through it there shone as bright a light as if the sun were lodged therein…When he saw this, he was very happy, and felt such a desire to see whence this brightness came, that he forgot all else. So he approached the chamber door and was about to enter in, when a voice said to him: “Flee, Lancelot, do not enter, for you must not do so. If you go in, despite this prohibition, you shall repent of it.”327
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While Sir Gawain lay on the couch with the knight near him, the palace began to shake; there was terrible thunder and lightning but no rain.
Sir Gawain was dismayed, but he was so tired that he could not lift his head, and his brain was so confused with the thunder claps that he did not know if it were day or night.
Then a sweet, soft breeze swept through the hall, and there came the sound of many sweet voices singing, “Glory, and praise, and honor unto the king of heaven!” And the sweetest of perfumes filled the hall.
The voices sounded so beautiful to Sir Gawain that he thought they were not of this earth. When he opened his eyes and saw nothing, he knew they were no earthly voices. He wanted to rise but could not do so since he had lost the power to move.
Then he saw coming from a chamber the damsel who had previously borne the Holy Vessel before the table. In front of her came two tapers and two censers. When she came to the middle of the palace she laid the Holy Grail on a table of silver. Sir Gawain saw ten censers giving forth perfume and all the sweet voices began to sing, “Blessed be the father of heaven.”
When the song had lasted a long time, the damsel took the vessel and carried it into the chamber she had come from. The voices were silent and all the windows opened and then closed, and the hall grew so dark that Sir Gawain could see nothing. He became aware that he felt healthy and whole again and that the wound in his right shoulder was healed. He arose joyfully and went to seek the knight who had fought with him, but could not find him.
Then he heard the sound of people approaching and felt them lay hold of him and carry him from the hall and bind him to a cart in the middle of the court. With that he fell asleep.
Sir Gawain awoke in the morning to find he was lying in a vile cart and his shield was bound onto the shaft in front of him and his horse was tied behind the cart, while in the shaft was a thin and meager horse. He felt deeply shamed to find himself in such a sad state, and he wished he were dead.328
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The four who bore spear and salver drew near and laid the spear upon the table and the salver beneath it. Then Gawain saw a great marvel, for the spear shed three drops of blood into the salver that was beneath. The old man, the host, took them away. The maiden placed a beautiful vessel containing bread on the table. The old man broke it into three and ate.
Gawain could no longer contain himself and said, “My host, please tell me what this great company and these marvels mean.” As he spoke, all the people, knights and ladies alike, sprang, from their seats with the sound of great rejoicing. The host bade them to be seated and make no sound.
“Sir Gawain,” he said, “This marvel is from God and may not be known to all. But since you asked, sweet kinsman and dear guest, I may not withhold the truth. It is the Grail that you behold. You have won the world’s praise for your manhood and your courage in achieving this difficult Quest. I will say no more of the Grail except that great happiness has come from your question. Many who had little hope of deliverance are now set free from the sorrow they have borne. We all had great confidence that Perceval would learn the secret of the Grail, but he departed as a coward who ventured nothing and asked nothing. Therefore, his Quest was a failure and he did not learn what he should have learned. He could have freed many from hardship who live and yet are dead. This misfortune befell because of the strife of kinsmen, when one brother fought the other, for his land. For that treason the wrath of God was visited on him and all his kin, and all were lost.
“That was a woeful fate, for the living were driven out, but the dead must abide in the semblance of life and suffer bitter sorrow. Yet they had hope that with God’s grace they should come to the end of their grief, in such a manner as I shall tell you.
“A man could end their sorrow by demanding to know the truth of these marvels; thus would their penance be fulfilled and they would again be joyful. Both the dead and the living now give thanks to God and to you, for because of you they are now released. This spear and this food nourish me and no one else, for I was guiltless of the deed, so God did not condemn me. I am dead but I do not bear the semblance of death, and these my people are also dead. Although all knowledge is not ours, yet we have plenty of riches and know no lack. But these maidens are not dead, and they have no other penance except that they are where I am. It is by the command of God that they nourish me once a year. Know this—that the adventures you have seen have come from the Grail, and your Quest has ended the penance.”
He gave Gawain the sword, saying he was well armed because, however much he used it in strife, it would never break. He bade him wear it all his days. Thus he ended his tale and told Gawain he might now end his Quest. And concerning the maidens, it was because of their unstained purity that God had entrusted them with the service of the Grail. Now that their task was ended, they were sad at heart, for they knew never again would the Grail be so openly seen, now that Sir Gawain had learned its secrets. It was by the grace of God that mortal eyes could behold it, and its mysteries henceforth no tongue would tell.
When the day began to dawn and the old man had finished his tale, he vanished, and with him went the Grail and all the company. All that remained in the hall were the three knights and the maidens.329
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And therewithal seemed to them that there came a man, and four angels from heaven, clothed in likeness of a bishop, with a cross in his hand; and these four angels bare him up in a chair, and set him down before the table of silver whereupon the Sangreal was; and it seemed that he had in midst of his forehead letters which said: “See ye here Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom, the same which Our Lord succored in the city of Sarras in the spiritual place.” Then the knights marveled, for that bishop was dead more than three hundred year before. “O knights,” said he, “marvel not, for I was sometime an earthly man.” With that they heard the chamber door open, and there they saw angels; and two bare candles of wax, and the third a towel, and fourth a spear which bled marvelously, that three drops fell within a box which he held with his other hand. And they set the candles upon the table, and the third the towel upon the vessel, and the fourth the holy spear even upright upon the vessel. And then the bishop made as though he would have gone to the sacring of the mass. And at the lifting up there came a figure in likeness of a child, and his visage was as red and as bright as any fire, and smote himself into the bread, so that they all saw it that the bread was formed of a fleshly man; and then he put it into the Holy Vessel again. And then he went to Galahad and kissed him, and bade him go and kiss his fellows: and so he did anon. “Now,” said he, “servants of Jesu Christ, ye shall be fed afore this table with sweet meats that never knights tasted.” And when he had said, he vanished away. And they set them at the table in great dread, and made their prayers.
Then looked they and saw a man come out of the Holy Vessel, that had all the signs of the passion of Jesu Christ, bleeding all openly, and said: “My knights, and my servants, and my true children, which be come out of deadly life into spiritual life, I will now no longer hide me from you, but ye shall see now a part of my secrets and of my hidden things: now hold and receive the high meat which ye have so much desired.” Then took he himself the Holy Vessel and came to Galahad; and he kneeled down, and there he received his Savior, and after him so received all his fellows; and they thought it so sweet that it was marvelous to tell. Then said he to Galahad: “Son, wettest thou what I hold betwixt my hands?” “Nay,” said he, “but if ye will tell me.” “This is,” said he, “the holy dish wherein I ate the lamb on Sheer-Thursday. And now hast thou seen that thou most desired to see, but yet hast thou not seen it so openly as thou shalt see it in the city of Sarras in the spiritual place. Therefore thou must go hence and bear with thee this Holy Vessel; for this night it shall depart from the realm of Logris, that it shall never be seen more here. And therefore go ye three to-morrow unto the sea, where ye shall find your ship ready, and no more with you but Sir Percivale and Sir Bors. Also I will that ye take with you of the blood of this spear for to anoint the Maimed King, both his legs and all his body, and he shall have his health.”
And Galahad went anon to the spear which lay upon the table, and touched the blood with his fingers, and came after to the Maimed King and anointed his legs. And therewith he started upon his feet out of his bed as an whole man, and thanked Our Lord that He had healed him. That same night about midnight came a voice among them which said: “My sons and not my chief sons, my friends and not my warriors, go ye hence where ye hope best to do and as I bade you.”
“Ah, thanked be Thou, Lord, that Thou wilt vouchsafe to call us, Thy sinners. Now may we well prove that we have not lost our pains.”
And anon in all haste they took their harness and departed.330
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Right so departed Galahad, Percivale and Bors; and so they rode three days, and then they found the ship whereof the tale speaketh of tofore. And when they came to the board they found in the midst the table of silver which they had left with the Maimed King, and the Sangreal which was covered with red samite. Then were they glad to have such things in the fellowship; and so they entered and made great reverence thereto; and Galahad fell in his prayers long time to Our Lord, that at what time he asked, that he should pass out of this world. So much he prayed till a voice said to him: “Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and when thou askest the death of thy body thou shalt have it, and then shalt thou find the life of the soul.” Percivale heard this, and prayed him, of fellowship that was between them, to tell him wherefore he asked such things. “That shall I tell you,” said Galahad, “the other day when we saw a part of the adventures of the Sangreal I was in such a joy of heart, that I trow never man was that was earthly. And therefore I wot well, when my body is dead my soul shall be in great joy to see the blessed Trinity every day, and the majesty of Our Lord, Jesu Christ.”
So long were they in the ship that Galahad laid him down and slept a great while; and when he awaked he looked afore him and saw the city of Sarras. And as they would have landed they saw the ship wherein Percivale had put his sister in. “Truly,” said Percivale, “in the name of God, well hath my sister held her covenant.” Then took they out of the ship the table of silver, and he took it to Percivale and to Bors, to go tofore, and Galahad came behind. And right so they went to the city, and at the gate of the city they saw an old man crooked. Then Galahad called him and bade him help to bear this heavy thing.
“Truly,” said the old man, “it is ten years ago that I might not go but with crutches.”
“Care thou not,” said Galahad, “and arise up and shew thy good will.” And so he assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was. Then ran he to the table, and took one part against Galahad. And anon arose there great noise in the city, that a cripple was made whole by knights marvelous that entered into the gates of the city.
Then the three knights went to the water, and brought up into the palace Percivale’s sister, and buried her as richly as a king’s daughter ought to be. And when the king of the city, which was called Estorause, saw the fellowship, he asked them of whence they were, and what thing it was that they had brought upon the table of silver. And they told him the truth of the Sangreal, and the power which God had sent there. Then the king was a tyrant, and was come of the line of Pagans, and took them and put them in prison in a deep hole.
But as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the Sangreal, through whose grace they were always fulfilled while that they were in prison. So at the year’s end it befell that this King of Estorause lay sick, and felt that he should die. Then he sent for the three knights, and they came afore him; and he cried them mercy for that he had done to them, and they forgave it him goodly; and he died anon. When the king was dead all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be their king. Right so as they were in counsel there came a voice among them, and bade them choose the youngest knight of them three to be their king: “For he shall well maintain you and all yours.” So they made Galahad king by all the assent of the holy city. And after he let make above the table of silver a chest of gold and of precious stones that held the Holy Vessel. And every day early the three fellows would come afore it, and make their prayers to it.
Now at the year’s end, after Galahad had borne the crown of gold, he arose up early along with his fellows, and came to the palace, and saw to-fore them the Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his knees in likeness of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of angels, as it had been Jesu Christ himself and then he arose and began a mass of Our Lady. And when he came to the sacrament of the mass, and had done, anon he called himself and said to him: “Come forth the servant of Jesu Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired to see.” Then Galahad began to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh began to behold spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward heaven and said: “Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been my desire many a day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it might please thee, Lord.” And therewith the good man took Our Lord’s body betwixt his hands, and proffered it to Galahad, and he received it right gladly and meekly. “Now wettest thou what I am?” said the good man. “Nay,” said Galahad. “I am Joseph of Arimathea, the which Our Lord hath sent here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and know thou why he hath sent me more than any other? For thou hast resembled me in two things; in that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, and in that thou hast been a clean maiden, as I have been and am.”
And when he had said these words Galahad went to Percivale and kissed him, and commended him to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed him, and commended him to God, and said: “Fair lord, salute me to my lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him remember of this unstable world.” And therewith he kneeled down to fore the table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his soul departed to Jesu Christ, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to heaven, that the two fellows might well behold it. Also the two fellows saw come from heaven an hand, but they saw not the body. And then it came right to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so bare it up to heaven. Since when was there never man so heard to say that he has seen the Sangreal.331
…
Now at the year’s end, and the self day after Galahad had born the crown of gold, he arose early, and came to the palace, and saw to-fore them the Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his knees in likeness of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of angels, as it had been Jesu Christ himself; and then he arose and began the Mass of Our Lady. And when he came to the sacrament of the Mass, and had done, anon he called Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the servant of Jesu Christ and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired to see. And then he (Galahad) began to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh beheld the spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward heaven and said: Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been my desire many a day. Now, blessed Lord, would I no longer live, if it might please thee, Lord. And therewithal the good man took Our Lord’s body betwixt his hands, and proffered it to Galahad, and he received it right gladly and meekly…
And Galahad went to Percivale and kissed him, and commended him to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed him, and commended him to God, and said: remember me to my lord, Sir Lancelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him remember of this unstable world. And therewith he kneeled down to-fore the table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his soul departed to Jesu Christ, and a great multitude of angels bore his soul up to heaven, that the two fellows might well behold it.332
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History tells us that Joseus stayed in a castle that had been the King Fisherman’s and shut himself in and lived upon whatever the Lord God might send him. He dwelled there long after Perceval had departed, and he died there. After his death, the dwelling began to fall into ruin, but the chapel remained as it always was, and is still so today. The place was far from people and seemed to be different. When it had fallen into decay, people wondered what was in the manor.
Various people went there but none dare enter it except two Welsh knights. They were handsome knights, young and light-hearted. Each promised the other to enter as an adventure. They remained within for a long time and when they came out they led the life of hermits and wore hair shirts and lived in the forest and ate nothing but roots and led a hard life. Yet they seemed glad, and if they were asked why they rejoiced, they would say, “Go into the place where we have been and you shall know why.” These two knights died without saying anything more, and they were called saints.333
303. History of the Kings of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth: Trans. J. A Giles in Old English Chronicles, G . Bell, 1910.
304. Ibid.
305. Malory, T. Le Morte d’Arthur, ed. J. Matthews (Cassell, 2000).
306. Ibid.
307. Geoffrey of Monmouth. Vita Merlini, trans. J. J. Parry (U of Illinois, 1925).
308. The Romance of Perceval in Prose, trans. D. Skeels (Washington UP, 1966).
309. Morte Arthure, trans. J. L. Weston in Romance, Vision and Satire (David Nutt, 1912).
310. Wace, The Roman du Brut, trans. E. Mason in Arthurian Chronicles (Dent, 1912).
311. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, trans. E. J. B. Kirtlan (Kelly, 1912).
312. Gereint, Son of Erbin, trans. C. Guest, Mabinogion (Dent, 1937).
313. Malory, T. Le Morte d’Arthur, ed. J. Matthews (Cassell, 2000).
314. Tristan of Thomas, trans. D. L. Sayers in Tristan in Brittany (Benn, 1929).
315. Marie de France, “Lay of Gugemar,” trans. E. Mason in Medieval French Romances (Dent, n.d.).
316. Tristan of Thomas, trans. D. L. Sayers in Tristan in Brittany (Benn, 1929).
317. de Troyes, C. “Yvain,” trans. W. W. Comfort in Arthurian Romances (Dent, 1914).
318. Bedier, J. The Romance of Tristan and Iseult, trans. Hilaire Belloc.
319. de Troyes, C. Perceval: The Story of the Grail, trans. N. Bryant (D. S. Brewer, 1982).
320. “Peredur” in The Mabinogion, trans. J. Gantz (Penguin Books, 1985).
321. Perlesvaus, trans. N. Bryant (D. S. Brewer, 1978).
322. de Boron, R. The History of the Holy Grail, trans. M. Schlauch (Allen and Unwin, 1928).
323. von Scharfenberg, A. Der Jüngere Titurel, trans J. and D. Meeks in The Golden Blade.
324. Malory, T. Le Morte d’Arthur, ed. J. Matthews (Cassell, 2000).
325. Perlesvaus, trans. S. Evans (Temple Classics, 1898).
326. Malory, T. Le Morte d’Arthur, ed. J. Matthews (Cassell, 2000), book II, ch. 14 and 15.
327. Ibid.
328. de Troyes, C. Perceval, trans R. S. and L. H. Loomis (Random House, 1947).
329. Perlesvaus, trans. S. Evans (Temple Classics, 1898).
330. Malory, T. Le Morte d’Arthur, ed. J. Matthews (Cassell, 2000), book II, ch. 14 and 15.
331. Ibid.
332. Perlesvaus, trans. S. Evans (Temple Classics, 1898).
333. Machen, A. The Secret Glory (Alfred Knopf, 1922).