The High History of the Holy Graal

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"Sir," saith the vavasour, "Welcome may you be!"

"Good adventure may you have, Sir!" saith Perceval. He holdeth
Aristor's head in his hand by the hair, whereof the vavasour
marvelled much that he should carry a knight's head in such-wise.
Perceval cometh to the master-chamber of the hall, where his
sister was, that bewailed her right sore.

X.

"Damsel," saith he to his sister, "Weep not, for your wedding
hath failed. You may know it well by this token!"

He throweth the head of Aristor before her on the ground, then
saith unto her: "Behold here the head of him that was to take
you!"

The damsel heareth Perceval her brother that was armed, and
thereby she knoweth him again. She leapeth up and maketh him the
greatest joy that ever damsel made to knight. She knoweth not
what to do. So joyful is she, that all have pity on her that see
her of her weeping for the joy that she maketh of her brother.
The story saith that they sojourned therewithin and that the
vavasour showed them much honour. The damsel made cast the
knight's head into a river that ran round about the hold. The
vavasour was right glad of his death for the great felony that he
had in him, and for that needs must the damsel die in less than a
year and she had espoused him.

XI.

When Perceval had been therein as long as it pleased him, he
thanked the vavasour much of the honour he had done him and his
sister, and departed, he and his sister along with him on the
mule whereon she had been brought thither. Perceval rode so long
on his journeys that he is come to Camelot and findeth his mother
in great dole for her daughter that should be Queen, for she
thought surely that never should she see her more. Full
sorrowful was she moreover of her brother, the King Hermit that
had been killed in such-wise. Perceval cometh to the chamber
where his mother was lying and might not stint of making dole.
He taketh his sister by the hand and cometh before her. So soon
as she knoweth him she beginneth to weep for joy, and kisseth
them one after the other.

"Fair son," saith she, "Blessed be the hour that you were born
for by you all my great joy cometh back to me! Now well may I
depart, for I have lived long enow."

"Lady," saith he, "Your life ought to be an offence to none, for
to none hath it ever done ill, but, please God, you shall not end
in this place, but rather you shall end in the castle that was
your cousin's german, King Fisherman, there where is the most
Holy Graal and the sacred hallows are."

"Fair son," saith she, "You say well, and there would I fain be."

"Lady," saith he, "God will provide counsel and means whereby you
shall be there; and my sister, and she be minded to marry, will
we set in good place, where she may live worshipfully."

"Certes, fair brother," saith she, "None shall I never marry,
save God alone."

"Fair son," saith the Widow Lady, "The Damsel of the Car goeth to
seek you, and I shall end not until such time as she hath round
you."

"Lady," saith he, "In some place will she have tidings of me and
I of her."

"Fair son," saith the Lady, "The damsel is here within that the
felonous knight wounded through the arm, that carried of your
sister, but she is healed."

"Lady," saith he, "I am well avenged."

He telleth her all the adventures until the time when he
reconquered the castle that was his uncle's. He sojourned long
time with his mother in the castle, and saw that the land was all
assured and peaceable. He departed thence and took his leave,
for he had not yet achieved all that he had to do. His mother
remained long time, and his sister, at Camelot, and led a good
life and a holy. The lady made make a chapel right rich about
the sepulchre that lay between the forest and Camelot, and had it
adorned of rich vestments, and stablished a chaplain that should
sing mass there every day. Sithence then hath the place been so
builded up as that there is an abbey there and folk of religion,
and many bear witness that there it is still, right fair.
Perceval was departed from Camelot and entered into the great
forest, and so rode of a long while until he had left his
mother's castle far behind, and came toward evening to the hold
of a knight that was at the head of the forest. He harboured him
therein, and the knight showed him much honour and made him be
unarmed, and brought him a robe to do on. Perceval seeth that
the knight is a right simple man, and that he sigheth from time
to time.

XII.

"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you are not over joyous."

"Certes, Sir," saith the knight, "I have no right to be, for a
certain man slew mine own brother towards the Deep Forest not
long since, and no right have I to be glad, for a worshipful man
was he and a loyal."

"Fair Sir," saith Perceval, "Know you who slew him?"

"Fair Sir, it was one of Aristor's knights, for that he was
sitting upon a horse that had been Aristor's, and whereon another
knight had slain him, and a hermit had lent him to my brother for
that the Red Knight's lion had maimed his own."

Perceval was little glad of these tidings, for that he had sent
him that had been slain on account of the horse.

"Sir," saith Perceval, "Your brother had not deserved his death,
methinketh, for it was not he that slew the knight."

"No, Sir, I know it all of a truth, but another, that slew the
Red Knight of the Deep Forest."

Perceval was silent thereupon. He lay the night at the hostel
and was harboured right well, and on the morrow departed when he
had taken leave. He wandered until he came to a hermitage there
where he heard mass. After the service, the hermit came unto him
and said: "Sir," saith he, "In this forest are knights all armed
that are keeping watch for the knight that slew Aristor and the
Red Knight and his lion as well. Wherefore they meet no knight
in this forest but they are minded to slay him for the knight
that slew these twain."

"Sir," saith Perceval, "God keep me from meeting such folk as
would do me evil."

XIII.

With that he departed from the hermitage and took leave of the
hermit, and rideth until that he is come into the forest and
espieth the knight that sitteth on Aristor's horse for that he
hath slain the other knight. A second knight was with him. They
abide when they see Perceval.

"By my head," saith one of them, "This same shield bare he that
slew Aristor, as it was told us, and, like enough, it may be he."

They come toward him, full career. Perceval seeth them coming,
and forgetteth not his spurs, but rather cometh against them the
speediest he may. The two knights smote him upon the shield and
brake their spears. Perceval overtaketh him that sitteth on
Aristor's horse and thrusteth an ell's length of his spear
through his body and so overthroweth him dead.

XIV.

After that, he cometh to the other knight, that fain would have
fled, and smiteth off the shoulder close to his side, and he
fell dead by the side of the other. He taketh both twain of
their destriers, and knotteth the reins together and driveth them
before him as far as the house of the hermit, that had issued
forth of his hermitage. He delivered unto him the horse of
Aristor and the other of the knight that he had sent thither.

"Sir," saith Perceval, "Well I know that and you shall see any
knight that hath need of it and shall ask you, you will lend him
one of these horses, for great courtesy is it to aid a worshipful
man when one seeth him in misfortune."

"Sir," saith the hermit, "But now since, were here three knights.
So soon as they knew that the two were dead whose horses you had
delivered unto me, they departed, fleeing the speediest they
might. I praised them much of their going, and told them they
did well not to die on such occasion, for that the souls of
knights that die under arms are nigher to Hell than to Paradise."

XV.

Perceval, that never was without sore toil and travail so long as
he lived, departed from the hermitage and went with great
diligence right through the midst of the forest, and met a knight
that came a great gallop over against him. He knew Perceval by
the shield that he bare.

"Sir," saith he, "I come from the Castle of the Black Hermit,
there where you will find the Damsel of the Car as soon as you
arrive, wherefore she sendeth you word by me that you speed your
way and go to her to ask for the chess-board that was taken away
from before Messire Gawain, or otherwise never again will you
enter into the castle you have won. Sir," saith he, "Haste,
moreover, on account of a thing most pitiful that I heard in this
forest. I heard how a knight was leading a damsel against her
will, beating her with a great scourge. I passed by the launde
on the one side and he on the other, so that I espied him through
the underwood that was between us; but it seemed me that the
damsel was bemoaning her for the son of the Widow Lady that had
given her back her castle, and the knight said that for love of
him he would put her into the Serpent's pit. An old knight and a
priest went after the knight to pray him have mercy on the
damsel, but so cruel is he, that so far from doing so, he rather
waxed sore wroth for that they prayed it of him, and made cheer
and semblant as though he would have slain them."

The knight departed from Perceval and taketh leave and Perceval
goeth along the way that the knight had come, thinking that he
would go after the damsel for he supposeth certainly that it is
she to whom he gave back her castle, and would fain know what
knight it is that entreateth her in such fashion. He hath ridden
until he is come into the deepest of the forest and the thickest.
He bideth awhile and listeneth and heareth the voice of the
damsel, that was in a great valley where the Serpent's pit was,
wherein the knight was minded to set her. She cried right loud
for mercy, and wept, and the knight gave her great strokes of the
scourge to make her be still. Perceval had no will to tarry
longer, but rather cometh thither as fast as he may.

XVI.

So soon as the damsel seeth Perceval, she knoweth him again. She
claspeth her two hands together and saith, "Ha, Sir, for God's
sake have mercy! Already have you given me back the castle
whereof this knight would reave me."

The horse whereon Perceval sat, the knight knew him.

"Sir," saith he, "This horse was the horse of Messire the Red
Knight of the Deep Forest! Now at last know I that it was you
that slew him!"

"It may well be," saith Perceval, "And if that I slew him, good
right had I to do so, for he had cut off the head of a son of
mine uncle, the which head this damsel carried of a long time."

"By my head," saith the knight, "Sith that you slew him, you are
my mortal enemy!"

So he draweth off in the midst of the launde and Perceval
likewise, and then they come together as fast as their horses may
carry them, and either giveth other great buffets in the midst of
their breast with their spears the most they may. Perceval
smiteth the knight so passing hard that he overthroweth him to
the ground right over the croup of his horse, and in the fall
that he made, he to-brake him the master-bone of his leg so that
he might not move. And Perceval alighteth to the ground and
cometh where the knight lay. And he crieth him mercy that he
slay him not. And Perceval telleth him he need not fear death,
nor that he is minded to slay him in such plight as he is, but
that like as he was fain to make the damsel do he will make him
do. He maketh alight the other old knight and the priest, then
maketh the knight be carried to the Pit of the Serpent and the
worms, whereof was great store. The pit was dark and deep. When
that the knight was therein he might not live long for the worms
that were there. The damsel thanked Perceval much of this
goodness and of the other that he had done her. She departeth
and returneth again to her castle, and was assured therein on all
sides, nor never thereafter had she dread of no knight, for the
cruel justice that Perceval had done on this one.

XVII.

The son of the Widow Lady of his good knighthood knoweth not how
to live without travail. He well knoweth that when he hath been
at the Black Hermit's castle, he will in some measure have
achieved his task. But many another thing behoveth him to do
tofore, and little toil he thinketh it, whereof shall God be well
pleased. He hath ridden so far one day and another, that he came
into a land where he met knights stout and strong there where God
was neither believed in nor loved, but where rather they adored
false images and false Lord-Gods and devils that made themselves
manifest. He met a knight at the entrance of a forest.

"Ha, Sir!" saith he to Perceval, "Return you back! No need is
there for you to go further, for the folk of this island are not
well-believers in God. I may not pass through the land but by
truce only. The Queen of this land was sister of the King of
Oriande, that Lancelot killed in the battle and all his folk, and
seized his land, wherein all the folk were misbelievers. Now
throughout all the land they believe in the Saviour of the World.
Thereof is she passing sorrowful, and hateth all them that
believe in the New Law, insomuch as that she would not look upon
any that believed, and prayed to her gods that never might she
see none until such time as the New Law should be overthrown; and
God, that hath power to do this, blinded her forthwith. Now she
supposeth that the false gods wherein she believeth have done
this, and saith that when the New Law shall fall, she will have
her sight again by the renewal of these gods, and by their
virtue, nor, until this hour, hath she no desire to see. And I
tell you this," saith the knight, "because I would not that you
should go thither as yet, for that I misdoubt of your being
troubled thereby."

"Sir, Gramercy," saith Perceval, "But no knighthood is there so
fair as that which is undertaken to set forward the Law of God,
and for Him ought one to make better endeavour than for all
other. In like manner as He put His body in pain and travail for
us, so ought each to put his own for Him."

He departeth from the knight, and was right joyous of this that
he heard him say that Lancelot had won a kingdom wherein he had
done away the false Law. But and he knew the tidings that the
King had put him in prison, he would not have been glad at all,
for Lancelot was of his lineage and was therefore good knight,
and for this he loved him right well.

XVIII.

Perceval rideth until nightfall, and findeth a great castle
fortified with a great drawbridge, and there were tall ancient
towers within. He espied at the door a squire that had the
weight of a chain on his neck, and at the other end the chain was
fixed to a great bulk of iron. The chain was as long as the
length of the bridge. Then cometh he over against Perceval when
he seeth him coming.

"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you believe in God?"

"Fair friend, so do I, the best I may."

"Sir, for God's sake, enter not this castle!"

"Wherefore, fair friend?" saith Perceval.

"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. I am Christian, even as are
you, and I am thrall within there and guard this gate, as you
see. But it is the most cruel castle that I know, and it is
called the Raving Castle. There be three knights within there,
full young and comely, but so soon as they see a knight of the
New Law, forthwith are they out of their senses, and all raving
mad, so that nought may endure between them. Moreover, there is
within one of the fairest damsels that saw I ever. She guardeth
the knights so soon as they begin to rave, and so much they dread
her that they durst not disobey her commandment in aught that she
willeth, for many folk would they evilly entreat were it not for
her. And for that I am their thrall they put up with me, and I
have no fear of them, but many is the Christian knight that hath
come in hither that never hath issued hence."

"Fair sweet friend," saith Perceval, "I will enter in thither and
I may, for I should not know this day how to go elsewhither, and
true it is that greater power hath God than the devil."

He entereth into the castle and alighteth in the midst of the
courtyard.

XIX.

The damsel was at the windows of the hall, that was of passing
great beauty. She cometh down as soon as she may, and seeth
Perceval come in and the cross on his shield, and knoweth well
thereby that he is Christian.

"Ha, Sir, for God's sake," saith she, "Come not up above, for
there be three of the comeliest knights that ever were seen that
are playing at tables and at dice in a chamber, and they are
brothers-german. They will all go out of their senses so soon as
they shall see you!"

XX.

"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Please God, so shall they not, and
such a miracle is good to see, for it is only right that all they
who will not believe in God should be raving mad when they see
the things that come of Him."

Perceval goeth up into the hall, all armed, for all that the
damsel saith. She followeth him as fast as she may. The three
knights espied Perceval all armed and the cross on his shield,
and forthwith leapt up and were beside themselves. They rolled
their eyes and tore themselves and roared like devils. There
were axes and swords in the hall that they go to lay hold on, and
they are fain to leap upon Perceval, but no power have they to do
so, for such was the will of God. When they saw that they might
not come a-nigh him, they ran either on other and so slew
themselves between them, nor would they stint their fighting
together for the damsel. Perceval beheld the miracle of these
folks that were thus killed, and the damsel that made right great
dole thereof.

"Ha, damsel," saith he, "Weep not, but repent you of this false
belief, for they that are unwilling to believe in God shall die
like mad folks and devils!"

Perceval made the squires that were there within bear the bodies
out of the hall, and made them be cast into a running water, and
straightway slew all the other, for that they were not minded to
believe. The castle was all emptied of the misbelieving folk
save only the damsel and those that waited upon her, and the
Christian thrall that guarded the gate. Perceval set him forth
of the chain, then led him up into the hall and made him disarm
him. He found sundry right rich robes. The damsel, that was of
right great beauty, looked at him and saw that he was a full
comely knight, and well pleased she was with him. She honoured
him in right great sort, but she might not forget the three
knights that were her brothers, and made sore dole for them.

XXI.

"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Nought availeth it to make this dole,
but take comfort on some other manner."

Perceval looked at the hall from one end to the other and saw
that it was right rich, and the damsel, in whom was full great
beauty, stinted of making dole to look at Perceval. She seeth
that he is comely knight and gentle and tall and well furnished
of good conditions, wherefore he pleaseth her much, and forthwith
beginneth she to love him, and saith to herself that, so he would
leave his God for the god in whom she believed, right glad would
she be thereof, and would make him lord of her castle, for it
seemed her that better might she not bestow it, and sith that her
brothers are dead, there may be no bringing of them back, and
therefore better would it be to forget her dole. But little knew
she Perceval's thought, for had she known that which he thinketh,
she would have imagined not this; for, and had she been Christian
he might not have been drawn to love her in such sort as she
thinketh, sith that Josephus telleth us that never did he lose
his virginity for woman, but rather died virgin and chaste and
clean of his body. In this mind was she still, nor never might
she refrain her heart from him. Thinketh she rather that, and he
knew she was minded to love him, right joyous would he be
thereof, for that she is of so passing beauty. Perceval asketh
the damsel what she hath in her thought?

"Sir," saith she, "Nought think I but only good and you will."

"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Never, please God, shall there be
hindrance of me but that you renounce this evil Law and believe
in the good."

"Sir," saith she, "Do you renounce yours for love of me, and I
will do your commandment and your will."

XXII.

"Damsel," saith Perceval, "Nought availeth to tell me this. Were
you man like as you are woman, your end would have come with the
others. But, please God, your tribulation shall tend itself to
good."

"Sir," saith she, "So you are willing to promise me that you will
love me like as knight ought to love damsel, I am well inclined
to believe in your God."

"Damsel, I promise you as I am a Christian that so you are
willing to receive baptism, I will love you as he that firmly
believeth in God ought to love damsel."

"Sir," saith she, "I ask no more of you."

She biddeth send for a holy man, a hermit that was in the forest
appurtenant, and right gladly came he when he heard the tidings.
They held her up and baptized her, both her and her damsels with
her. Perceval held her at the font. Josephus witnesseth us in
this history that she had for name Celestre. And great joy made
she of her baptism, and her affections turned she unto good. The
hermit remained there with her, and taught her to understand the
firm believe, and did the service of Our Lord. The damsel was of
right good life and right holy, and ended thereafter in many good
works.

XXIII.

Perceval departed from the castle, and gave thanks to Our Lord
and praise, that He hath allowed him to conquer a castle so cruel
and to attorn it to the Law. He went his way a great pace, all
armed, until he came into a country wherein was great grief being
made, and the more part said that he was come that should destroy
their Law, for that already had he won their strongest castle.
He is come towards an ancient castle that was at the head of a
forest. He looketh and seeth at the entrance of the gateway a
full great throng of folk. He seeth a squire come forth thence,
and asketh him unto whom belongeth the castle.

"Sir," saith he, "It is Queen Jandree's, that hath made her be
brought before her gate with the folk you see yonder, for she
hath heard tell how the knights of the Raving Castle are dead,
and another knight that hath conquered the castle hath made the
damsel be baptized, wherefore much she marvelleth how this may
be. She is in much dread of losing her land, for her brother
Madeglant of Oriande is dead, so that she may no longer look to
none for succour, and she hath been told how the knight that
conquered the Raving Castle is the Best Knight of the World, and
that none may endure against him. For this doubtance and fear of
him she is minded to go to one of her own castles that is
somewhat stronger."

Perceval departeth from the squire and rideth until they that
were at the entrance of the gateway espied him. They saw the Red
Cross that he bare on his shield, and said to the Queen, "Lady, a
Christian knight is coming into this castle."

"Take heed," saith she, "that it be not he that is about to
overthrow our Law!"

Perceval cometh thither and alighteth, and cometh before the
Queen all armed. The Queen asketh what he seeketh.

XXIV.

"Lady," saith he, "Nought seek I save good only to yourself so
you hinder it not."

"You come," saith she, "from the Raving Castle, there where three
brothers are slain, whereof is great loss."

"Lady," saith he, "At that castle was I, and now fain would I
that your own were at the will of Jesus Christ, in like manner as
is that."

"By my head," saith she, "And your Lord hath so great power as is
said, so will it be."

"Lady, His virtue and His puissance are far greater than they
say."

"That would I fain know," saith she, "presently, and I am fain to
pray you that you depart not from me until that it hath been
proven."

Perceval granteth it gladly. She returned into her castle and
Perceval with her. When he was alighted he went up into the
hall. They that were within marvelled them much that she should
thus give consent, for never, sithence that she had been blind,
might she allow no knight of the New Law to be so nigh her, and
made slay all them that came into her power, nor might she never
see clear so long as she had one of them before her. Now is her
disposition altered in such sort as that she would fain she might
see clear him that hath come in, for she hath been told that he
is the comeliest knight of the world and well seemeth to be as
good as they witness of him.

XXV.

Perceval remained there gladly for that he saw the lady's cruelty
was somewhat slackened, and it seemed him that it would be great
joy and she were willing to turn to God, and they that are within
there, for well he knoweth that so she should hold to the New
Law, all they of the land would be of the same mind. When
Perceval had lain the night at the castle, the Lady on the morrow
sent for all the more powerful of her land, and came forth of her
chamber into the hall where Perceval was, seeing as clear as ever
she had seen aforetime.

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