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The High History of the Holy Graal

U >> Unkown >> The High History of the Holy Graal





XIV.

The damsel that held the Golden Circlet was in the midst of the
assembly of knights, and had set it in a right rich casket of
ivory with precious stones, right worshipfully. When the damsel
saw that the assembly was at an end, she made all the knights
stay, and prayed them they should speak judgment true, concealing
nought, who had best deserved of arms, and ought therefore of
right to have the Golden Circle. They said all, that of right
judgment the Knight of the Golden Arms and he of the Red Arms
ought to have the prize above all the others, but that of these
two, he of the Golden Arms ought to have the prize, for so well
did he the first day as that no knight might do better, and on
the last day likewise, and that if he of the Red Arms had put
forth his full strength on the last day, he would have done full
as well or better. The Circlet of Gold was brought to Messire
Gawain, but it was not known that it was he; and Messire Gawain
would fain that it had been given to my Lord King Arthur. The
knights departed from the assembly. The King and Messire Gawain
came back to the tent and brought the Golden Circlet, whereof the
damsels made great joy. Thereupon, behold you! the dwarf that
cometh back.

"Damsels, better is it to lodge knights such as these than
Messire Gawain the coward, the craven that had so much shame at
the assembly! You yourselves would have been sore blamed had you
lodged him. This knight hath won the Golden Circlet by force of
arms, and Messire Gawain nought but shame and reproach."

The damsel laugheth at this that the dwarf saith, and biddeth him
on his eyes and head, begone!


XV.

The King and Messire Gawain were disarmed.

"Sir," saith the damsel, "What will you do with the Golden
Circlet?"

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I will bear it to him that first
won it in sore peril of death, and delivered it to the Queen that
ought to have kept it safe, of whom it hath been reft by force."

The King and Messire Gawain lay the night in the tent. The
younger damsel cometh to the King.

"Sir, many feats of arms have you done at the assembly, as I have
been told, for love of me, and I am ready to reward you."

"Damsel, right great thanks. Your reward and your service love I
much, and your honour yet more, wherefore I would that you should
have all the honour that any damsel may have, for in damsel
without honour ought none to put his affiance. Our Lord God
grant you to preserve yours."

"Damsel," saith she to the other that sitteth before Messire
Gawain, "This Knight and Messire Gawain have taken counsel
together. There is neither solace nor comfort in them. Let us
leave them to go to sleep, and ill rest may they have, and Lord
God defend us ever hereafter from such guests."

"By my head," saith the eider damsel, "were it not for the Golden
Circlet that he is bound of right to deliver again to the Queen
that had it in charge, who is my Lady, they should not depart
from this land in such sort as they will. But, and Messire
Gawain still be nice as concerneth damsels, at least I now know
well that he is loyal in anotherwise, so as that he will not fail
of his word."


XVI.

With that the damsels departed, as did likewise the King and
Messire Gawain as soon as they saw the day. Nabigant, that was
wounded at the tournament, was borne away on a litter. Meliot of
Logres was in quest of Messire Gawain. He met the knights and
the harness that came from the assembly, and asked of many if
they could tell him tidings of King Arthur's nephew, Messire
Gawain, and the most part answer, "Yea, and right bad tidings
enough."

Then they ask him wherefore he demandeth.

"Lords," saith he, "His liege man am I, and he ought of right to
defend my land against all men, that Nabigant hath taken from me
without right nor reason, whom they are carrying from thence in a
litter, wherefore I am fain to beseech Messire Gawain that he
help me to recover my land."

"In faith, Sir Knight," say they, "We know not of what avail he
may be to others that may not help himself. Messire Gawain was
at the assembly, but we tell you for true, it was he that did
worst thereat."

"Alas," saith Meliot of Logres, "Then have I lost my land, and he
hath become even such an one as you tell me."

"You would readily believe us," say they, "had you seen him at
the assembly!"

Meliot turneth him back, right sorrowful.


XVII.

King Arthur and Messire Gawain depart from the tent, and come a
great pace as though they fain would escape thence to come nigher
the land where they would be, and great desire had they of the
coming of Lancelot. They rode until that they came one night to
the Waste Manor whither the brachet led Messire Gawain when he
found the dead knight that Lancelot had slain. They lodged there
the night, and found there knights and damsels of whom they were
known. The Lady of the Waste Manor sent for succour to her
knights, saying that she held there King Arthur that slew other
knights, and that his nephew Messire Gawain was also there
within, but dearly would she have loved that Lancelot had been
with them that slew her brother. Knights in plenty came to her
to do hurt to King Arthur and Messire Gawain, but she had at
least so much courtesy in her that she would not suffer any of
them to do them ill within her hold, albeit she kept seven of
their number, full of great hardiment, to guard the entrance of
the bridge, so that King Arthur and Messire Gawain might not
depart thence save only amidst the points of their spears.


XVIII.

This high history witnesseth us that Lancelot was departed from
the Waste City wherein he was much honoured, and rode until that
he came to a forest where he met Meliot of Logres, that was sore
dismayed of the tidings he had heard of Messire Gawain. Lancelot
asketh him whence he cometh, and he saith from seeking Messire
Gawain, of whom he had tidings whereof he was right sorrowful.

"How," saith Lancelot, "Is he then otherwise than well?"

"Yea," saith he, "As I have heard tell: for he wont to be good
knight and hath now become evil. He was at the assembly of
knights whereof I met the harness and the fellowships, and they
told me that never yet was such cowardize in any knight, but that
a knight who was with him did right well. But howsoever he may
have borne himself, right fain am I to find him, for, maugre what
any may say, I may scarce believe that he is so bad after all."

"Sir," saith Lancelot, "I will seek him for you, and you can come
along with me and it seemeth you good."

Meliot of Logres betaketh him back with Lancelot. They ride
until they happen by chance upon the Waste Manor where the King
and Messire Gawain were lodged; and they were armed, and were
minded to go forth from thence. But the seven knights guarded
the issue, all armed. The King and Messire Gawain saw that no
good would it do them to remain there within, wherefore they
passed over the bridge and came perforce to the place where the
seven knights were watching for them. Thereupon, they went
toward them all armed and struck among them, and the knights
received them on the points of their lances.


XIX.

Thereupon, behold you! Lancelot and the knight with him, whom
they had not been looking for. Lancelot espied the King and
Messire Gawain; then the knights cried out and struck among them
as a hawk striketh amongst larks, and made them scatter on one
side and the other. Lancelot hath caught one at his coming, and
smiteth him with his spear through the body, and Meliot of Logres
slayeth another. King Arthur knew Lancelot, and right glad was
he to see him safe and sound, as was Messire Gawain likewise.
Lancelot and Meliot of Logres made clear the passage for them.
The knights departed, for longer durst they not abide. The
damsel of the castle held a squire by the hand, that was right
passing comely. She knew Lancelot, and when she saw him she
called him.


XX.

"Lancelot, you slew this squire's brother, and, please God,
either he or another shall take vengeance thereof."

Lancelot holdeth his peace when he heareth the dame speak, and
departeth from the Waste Hold. Meliot of Logres knew Messire
Gawain and Messire Gawain him again, and great joy made they the
one of the other.

"Sir," saith Meliot, "I am come to lay plaint before you of
Nabigant of the Rock that challengeth me of the land whereof I am
your man, and saith that he will defend it against none but you
only. Sir, the day is full nigh, and if you come not to the day,
I shall have lost my quarrel, and you held me thereof in covenant
what time I became your man."

"Right fainly will I go," saith Messire Gawain.

He goeth his way thither accordingly by leave of the King and
Lancelot, and saith that he will return to them the speediest he
may.


XXI.

King Arthur and Lancelot go their way as fast as they may toward
the land that was King Fisherman's. Messire Gawain rideth until
he cometh to the land of Nabigant of the Rock. Meliot doeth
Nabigant to wit that Messire Gawain was come, and that he was
ready to uphold his right by him that was his champion. Nabigant
was whole of the wound he gat at the assembly, and held Messire
Gawain of full small account for the cowardize that he saw him
do, and bid his knights not meddle betwixt them two, for, and
Messire Gawain had been four knights he thought to vanquish them
all. He issueth forth of his castle all armed, and is come there
where Messire Gawain awaited him. Messire Gawain seeth him
coming, and so draweth on one side, and Nabigant, that was stark
outrageous, setteth his spear in rest and cometh toward Messire
Gawain without another word, and smiteth him on the shield so
that he maketh his spear fly all in pieces. And Messire Gawain
catcheth him right in the midst of his breast, and pierceth him
with his spear through the thick of his heart, and he falleth to
the ground dead; and the knights run upon Messire Gawain; but he
lightly delivereth himself of them, and Meliot of Logres
likewise. Messire Gawain entereth the castle by force, doing
battle against all the knights, and holdeth them in such a pass
as that he maketh them do homage to Meliot of Logres, and deliver
up to him the keys of the castle. He maketh them come to an
assembly from the whole of the land they had reft away from him,
and thereafter departeth and followeth after King Arthur. In the
forest, he overtaketh a damsel that was going on her way a great
pace.


XXII.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Lord God guide you, whither away
so fast?"

"Sir," saith she, "I am going to the greatest assembly of knights
you saw ever."

"What assembly?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir," saith she, "At the Palace Meadow, but the knight I am
seeking is he that won the Circlet of Gold at the Meadow of the
Tent. Fair Sir, can you give me any tidings of him?" saith she.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "What would you do herein?"

"Certes, Sir, I would right fain find him. My Lady, that kept
the Circlet of Gold for the son of the Widow Lady, that won it
aforetime, hath sent me to seek him."

"For what intent, damsel?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir, my Lady sendeth for him and beseecheth him by me, for the
sake of the Saviour of the World, that if he had ever pity of
dame or damsel, he will take vengeance on Nabigant that hath
slain her men and destroyed her land, for she hath been told how
he that won back the Golden Circlet ought of right to take
vengeance upon him."


XXIII.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Be not any longer troubled
hereof, for I tell you that the knight that won the Golden
Circlet by prize of arms hath killed Nabigant already."

"Sir," saith she, "How know you this?"

"I know the knight well," saith he, "And I saw him slay him, and
behold, here is the Circlet of Gold that I have as a token
hereof, for that he beareth it to him that hath won the Graal, to
the intent that your Lady may be quit of her charge."

Messire Gawain showeth her the Golden Circlet in the casket of
ivory, that he kept very nigh himself. Right joyful was the
damsel that the matter had thus fallen out, and goeth her way
back again to tell her Lady of her joy. Messire Gawain goeth on
his way toward the assembly, for well knoweth he that, and King
Arthur and Lancelot have heard the tidings, there will they be.
He goeth thitherward as fast as he may, and as straight, and
scarce hath he ridden away or ever he met a squire that seemed
right weary, and his hackney sore worn of the way. Messire
Gawain asked him whence he came, and the squire said to him.
"From the land of King Arthur, where is great war toward, for
that none knoweth not what hath become of him. Many folk go
about saying that he is dead, for never sithence that he departed
from Cardoil, and Messire Gawain and Lancelot with him, have no
tidings been heard of him; and he left the Queen at Cardoil to
take his place, and also on account of her son's death, and the
most part say that he is dead. Briant of the Isles and my Lord
Kay with him are burning his land, and carrying off plunder
before all the castles. Of all the Knights of the Table Round
are there now no more than five and thirty, and of these are ten
sore wounded, and they are in Cardoil, and there protect the land
the best they may."


XXIV.

When Messire Gawain heareth these tidings, they touch his heart
right sore, so that he goeth the straightest he may toward the
assembly, and the squire with him that was sore fordone. Messire
Gawain found King Arthur and Lancelot, and the knights were come
from all the kingdom to the piece of ground. For a knight was
come thither that had brought a white destrier and borne thither
a right rich crown of gold, and it was known throughout all the
lands that marched with this, that the knight that should do best
at the assembly should have the destrier and the crown, for the
Queen that ware it was dead, and it would behove him to guard and
defend the land whereof she had been Lady. On account of these
tidings had come thither great plenty of folk and of folk. King
Arthur and Messire Gawain and Lancelot set them of one side. The
story saith that at this assembly King Arthur bare the red shield
that the damsel gave him; Messire Gawain had his own, such as he
was wont to bear, and Lancelot a green shield that he bare for
the love of the knight that was slain for helping him in the
forest. They struck into the assembly like lions unchained, and
cast down three knights at their first onset. They searched the
fellowships on every side, smote down knights and overthrew
horses.


XXV.

King Arthur overtook no knight but he clave his shield to the
boss: all swerved aside and avoided his buffets. And Messire
Gawain and Lancelot are not idle on the other hand, but each held
well his place. But the more part had wonderment looking at the
King, for he holdeth him at bay like a lion when the staghounds
would attack him. The assembly lasted throughout on such wise,
and when it came to an end, the knights said and adjudged that
the Knight of the Red Shield had surpassed all other in doing
well. The knight that had brought the crown came to the King,
but knew him not a whit: "Sir," saith he, "You have by your good
deeds of arms won this crown of gold and this destrier, whereof
ought you to make great joy, so only you have so much valour in
you as that you may defend the land of the best earthly Queen
that is dead, and whether the King be alive or dead none knoweth,
wherefore great worship will it be to yourself and you may have
prowess to maintain the land, for right broad is it and right
rich and of high sovranty."


XXVI.

Saith King Arthur, "Whose was the land, and what was the name of
the Queen whose crown I see?"

"Sir, the King's name was Arthur, and the best king in the world
was he; but in his kingdom the more part say that he is dead.
And this crown was the crown of Queen Guenievre that is dead and
buried, whereof is sore sorrow. The knights that may not leave
Cardoil lest Briant of the Isles should seize the city, they sent
me to the kingdom of Logres and charged me with the crown and
destrier for that I have knowledge of the isles and foreign
lands; wherefore they prayed me I should go among the assemblies
of knights, that so I might hear tidings of my Lord King Arthur
and my Lord Gawain and Lancelot, and, so I might find them, that
I should tell them how the land hath fallen into this grievous
sorrow."

King Arthur heareth tidings whereof he is full sorrowful. He
draweth on one side, and the knights make the most grievous dole
in the world. Lancelot knoweth not what he may do, and saith
between his teeth that now hath his joy come to an end and his
knighthood is of no avail, for that he hath lost the high Queen,
the valiant, that heart and comfort gave him and encouragement to
do well. The tears ran down from his comely eyes right amidst
his face and through the ventail, and, had he durst make other
dole, yet greater would it have been. Of the mourning the King
made is there nought to speak, for this sorrow resembleth none
other. He holdeth the crown of gold, and looketh full oft at the
destrier for love of her, for he had given it her; and Messire
Gawain may not stint of making dole.


XXVII.

"Certes", saith he, "Now may I well say that the best Queen in
the world and of most understanding is dead, nor never hereafter
shall be none of equal worth."

"Sir," saith Lancelot to the King, "So it please you, and Messire
Gawain be willing, I will go back toward Cardoil, and help to
defend your land to the best I may, for sore is it discounselled,
until such time as you shall be come from the Graal."

"Certes," saith Messire Gawain to the King, "Lancelot hath spoken
well, so you grant him your consent."

"That do I with right good will," saith the Kind, "And I pray him
right heartily that he go thither and be guardian of my land and
the governance thereof, until such a time as God shall have
brought me back."

Lancelot taketh leave of the King and goeth his way back, all
sorrowing and full of discontent.



BRANCH XXII.

INCIPIT.

Of Lancelot the story is here silent, and so beginneth another
branch of the Graal in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.


TITLE I.

You may well understand that King Arthur is no whit joyful. He
maketh the white destrier go after him, and hath the crown of
gold full near himself. They ride until they come to the castle
that belonged to King Fisherman, and they found it as rich and
fair as you have heard told many a time. Perceval, that was
there within, made right great joy of their coming, as did all
the priests and ancient knights. Perceval leadeth King Arthur,
when he was disarmed, into the chapel where the Graal was, and
Messire Gawain maketh present to Perceval of the Golden Circlet,
and telleth him that the Queen sendeth it to him, and relateth
also how Nabigant had seized it, and moreover, how Nabigant was
dead. The King offereth the crown that had been Queen
Guenievre's. When Perceval knew that she was dead, he was right
sorrowful thereof in his heart, and wept and lamented her right
sweetly. He showeth them the tomb of King Fisherman, and telleth
them that none had set the tabernacle there above the coffin, but
only the commandment of Our Lord, and he showeth them a rich pall
that is upon the coffin, and telleth them that every day they see
a new one there not less rich than is this one. King Arthur
looketh at the sepulchre and saith that never tofore hath he
seen none so costly. A smell issueth therefrom full delicate and
sweet of savour. The King sojourneth in the castle and is highly
honoured, and beholdeth the richesse and the lordship and the
great abundance that is everywhere in the castle, insomuch that
therein is nought wanting that is needful for the bodies of noble
folk. Perceval had made set the bodies of the dead knights in a
charnel beside an old chapel in the forest, and the body of his
uncle that had slain himself so evilly. Behind the castle was a
river, as the history testifieth, whereby all good things came to
the castle, and this river was right fair and plenteous.
Josephus witnesseth us that it came from the Earthly Paradise and
compassed the castle around and ran on through the forest as far
as the house of a worshipful hermit, and there lost the course
and had peace in the earth. All along the valley thereof was
great plenty of everything continually, and nought was ever
lacking in the rich castle that Perceval had won. The castle, so
saith the history, had three names.


II.

One of the names was Eden, the second, Castle of Joy, and the
third, Castle of Souls. Now Josephus saith that none never
passed away therein but his soul went to Paradise. King Arthur
was one day at the castle windows with Messire Gawain. The King
seeth coming before him beyond the bridge a great procession of
folk one before another; and he that came before was all clad in
white, and bare a full great cross, and each of the others a
little one, and the more part came singing with sweet voices and
bear candles burning, and there was one behind that carried a
bell with the clapper and all at his neck.


"Ha, God," saith King Arthur, "What folk be these?"

"Sir," saith Perceval, "I know them all save the last. They be
hermits of this forest, that come to chant within yonder before
the Holy Graal, three days in the week."


III.

When the hermits came nigh the castle, the King went to meet
them, and the knights adore the crosses and bow their heads
before the good men. As soon as they were come into the holy
chapel, they took the bell from the last and smote thereon at the
altar, and then set it on the ground, and then began they the
service, most holy and most glorious. The history witnesseth us
that in the land of King Arthur at this time was there not a
single chalice. The Graal appeared at the sacring of the mass,
in five several manners that none ought not to tell, for the
secret things of the sacrament ought none to tell openly but he
unto whom God hath given it. King Arthur beheld all the changes,
the last whereof was the change into a chalice. And the hermit
that chanted the mass found a brief under the corporal and
declared the letters, to wit, that our Lord God would that in
such vessel should His body be sacrificed, and that it should be
set upon record. The history saith not that there were no
chalices elsewhere, but that in all Great Britain and in the
whole kingdom was none. King Arthur was right glad of this that
he had seen, and had in remembrance the name and the fashion of
the most holy chalice. Then he asked the hermit that bare the
bell, whence this thing came?

"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "I am the King for whom you
slew the giant, whereby you had the sword wherewith St John was
beheaded, that I see on this altar. I made baptize me before you
and all those of my kingdom, and turn to the New Law, and
thereafter I went to a hermitage by the sea, far from folk, where
I have been of a long space. I rose one night at matins and
looked under my hermitage and saw that a ship had taken haven
there. I went thither when the sea was retreated, and found
within the ship three priests and their clerks, that told me
their names and how they were called in baptism. All three were
named Gregory, and they came from the Land of Promise, and told
me that Solomon had cast three bells, one for the Saviour of the
World, and one for His sweet Mother, and one for the honour of
His saints, wherefore they had brought this hither by His
commandment into this kingdom for that we had none here. They
told me that and I should bear it into this castle, they would
take all my sins upon themselves, by Our Lord's pleasure, in such
sort as that I should be quit thereof. And I in like manner have
brought it hither by the commandment of God, who willeth that
this should be the pattern of all those that shall be fashioned
in the realm of this island where never aforetime have been
none."

"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain to the hermit, "I know you
right well for a worshipful man, for you held your covenant truly
with me."

King Arthur was right glad of this thing, as were all they that
were within. It seemed him that the noise thereof was like the
noise that he had heard sound ever since he had moved from
Cardoil. The hermits went their way each to his hermitage when
they had done the service.


IV.

One day, as the King sate at meat in the hall with Perceval and
Messire Gawain and the ancient knights, behold you therewithal
one of the three Damsels of the Car that cometh, and she was
smitten all through her right arm.

"Sir," saith she to Perceval, "Have mercy on your mother and your
sister and on us. Aristor of Moraine, that is cousin to the Lord
of the Moors that you slew, warreth upon your mother, and hath
carried off your sister by force into the castle of a vavasour of
his, and saith that he will take her to wife and will have all
her land that your mother ought to hold of right, maugre your
head. But never had knight custom so cruel as he, for when he
shall have espoused the damsel, whomsoever she may be, yet will
he never love her so well but that he shall cut off her head with
his own hand, and so thereafter go seek for another to slay in
like manner. Natheless in one matter hath he good custom, that
never will he do shame to none until such time as he hath
espoused her. Sir, I was with my Lady your sister when he maimed
me in this manner. Wherefore your mother sendeth you word and
prayeth you that you succour her, for you held her in covenant
that so you would do and she should have need thereof and you
should know it; for and you consent to her injury and loss, the
shame will be your own."

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