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The High History of the Holy Graal

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




The King sent Kay the Seneschal to see. He looked straitly
thereat within and without and thereafter returned to the King.
"Sir," saith he, "Never beheld I car so rich, and there be three
harts withal that draw the car, the tallest and fattest one might
ever see. But and you will be guided by me, you will take the
foremost, for he is scarce so far, and so might you bid make
right good collops thereof."

"Avoid there, Kay!" saith the King. "Foul churlishness have you
spoken! I would not such a deed were done for another such
kingdom as is this of Logres!"

"Sir," saith the damsel, "He that hath been wont to do
churlishness doth right grudgingly withdraw himself therefrom.
Messire Kay may say whatsoever him pleaseth, but well know I that
you will pay no heed to his talk. Sir," saith the damsel,
"Command that the shield be hung on this column and that the
brachet be put in the Queen's chamber with the maidens. We will
go on our way, for here have we been long enough."

Messire Ywain laid hold on the shield and took it off the
damsel's neck by leave of the King, and hung it on the column in
the midst of the hall, and one of the Queen's maidens taketh the
brachet and carrieth him to the Queen's chamber. And the damsel
taketh her leave and turneth again, and the King commendeth her
to God. When the King eaten in hall, the Queen with the King and
the knights go to lean at the windows to look at the three
damsels and the three white harts that draw the car, and the more
part said that the damsel afoot that went after the two that were
mounted should have the most misease. The bald damsel went
before, and set not her hat on her head until such time as
behoved her enter into the forest; and the knights that were at
the windows might see them no longer. Then set she her hat again
upon her head. The King, the Queen, and the knights when they
might see them no more, came down from the windows, and certain
of them said that never until this time had they seen bald-headed
damsel save this one only.


II.

Hereupon the story is silent of King Arthur, and turneth again to
speak of the three damsels and the car that was drawn by the
three white harts. They are entered into the forest and ride on
right busily. When they had left the castle some seven leagues
Welsh behind them, they saw a knight coming toward them on the
way they had to go. The knight sat on a tall horse, lean and
bony. His habergeon was all rusty and his shield pierced in more
than a dozen places, and the colour thereon was so fretted away
that none might make out the cognizance thereof. And a right
thick spear bore he in his hand. When he came anigh the damsel,
he saluted her right nobly.

"Fair welcome, damsel, to you and your company."

"Sir," saith she, "God grant you joy and good adventure!"

"Damsel," saith the knight, "Whence come you?"

"Sir, from a court high-plenary that King Arthur holdeth at
Pannenoisance. Go you thither, sir knight," saith the damsel,
"to see the King and the Queen and the knights that are there?"

"Nay, not so!" saith he. "Many a time have I seen them, but
right glad am I of King Arthur that he hath again taken up his
well-doing, for many a time hath he been accustomed thereof."

"Whitherward have you now emprised your way?" saith the damsel.

"To the land of King Fisherman, and God allow me."

"Sir," saith she, "Tell me your name and bide awhile beside me."

The knight draweth bridle and the damsels and the car come to a
stay. "Damsel," saith he, "Well behoveth me tell you my name.
Messire Gawain am I called, King Arthur's nephew."

"What? are you Messire Gawain? my heart well told me as much."

"Yea, damsel," saith he, "Gawain am I."

"God be praised thereof, for so good knight as are you may well
go see the rich King Fisherman. Now am I fain to pray you of the
valour that is in you and the courtesy, that you return with me
and convoy me beyond a certain castle that is in this forest
whereof is some small peril."

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Willingly, at your pleasure."

He returneth with the damsel through the midst of the forest that
was tall and leafy and little haunted of folk. The damsel
relateth to him the adventure of the heads that she carried and
that were in the car, like as she did at the court of King
Arthur, and of the shield and the brachet she had left there, but
much it misliked Messire Gawain of the damsel that was afoot
behind them. "Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Wherefore doth
not this damsel that goeth afoot mount upon the car?"

"Sir," saith she, "This shall she not, for behoveth her go not
otherwise than afoot. But and you be so good knight as men say,
betimes will she have done her penance."

"How so?" saith Gawain.

"I will tell you," saith she. "And it shall so be that God bring
you to the hostel of rich King Fisherman, and the most Holy Graal
appear before you and you demand unto whom is served thereof,
then will she have done her penance, and I, that am bald, shall
receive again my hair. And so you also make not demand thereof,
then will it behove us suffer sore annoy until such time as the
Good knight shall come and shall have achieved the Graal. For on
account of him that first was there and made not the demand, are
all the lands in sorrow and warfare, and the good King Fisherman
is yet in languishment."

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "God grant me courage and will
herein that I may come to do this thing according to your wish,
whereof may I win worship both of God and of the world."


III.

Messire Gawain and the damsels go on their way a great pace
through the high forest, green and leafy, where the birds are
singing, and enter into the most hideous forest and most horrible
that any might ever see, and seemed it that no greenery never
there had been, so bare and dry were all the branches and all the
trees black and burnt as it had been by fire, and the ground all
parched and black atop with no green, and full of great cracks.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Right loathly is this forest and
right hideous. Goeth it on far like this?"

"Sir." saith she, "For nine leagues Welsh goeth it on the same,
but we shall pass not through the whole thereof."

Messire Gawain looketh from time to time on the damsel that
cometh arbor, and sore it irketh him that he may not amend her
estate. They ride on until that they come to a great valley and
Messire Gawain looketh along the bottom and seeth appear a black
castle that was enclosed within a girdle of wall, foul and
evilseeming. The nigher he draweth to the castle the more
hideous it seemeth him, and he seeth great halls appear that were
right foully mis-shapen, and the forest about it he seeth to be
like as he had found it behind. He seeth a water come down from
the head of a mountain, foul and horrible and black, that went
amidst the castle roaring so loud that it seemed to be thunder.
Messire Gawain seeth the entrance of the gateway foul and
horrible like as it had been hell, and within the castle heard he
great outcries and lamentations, and the most part heard he
saying: "Ha, God! What hath become of the Good Knight, and when
will he come?"

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "What is this castle here that is
so foul and hideous, wherein is such dolour suffered and such
weary longing for the coming of the Good Knight?"

"Sir, this is the castle of the Black Hermit. Wherefore am I
fain to pray you that you meddle not herein for nought that they
within may do to me, for otherwise it may well be that your death
is at hand, for against them will you have no might nor power."

They come anigh the castle as it were a couple of bow-shots, and
behold, through the gateway come knights armed on black horses
and their arms all black and their shields and spears, and there
were a hundred and fifty and two, right parlous to behold. And
they come a great gallop toward the damsel, and toward the car,
and take the hundred and fifty-two heads, each one his own, and
set them upon their spears and so enter into the castle again
with great joy. Messire Gawain seeth the insolence that the
knights have wrought, and right great shame hath he of himself
that he hath not moved withal.

"Messire Gawain," saith the damsel, "Now may you know how little
would your force have availed you herein."

"Damsel, an evil castle is this where folk are robbed on such
wise."

"Sir, never may this mischief be amended, nor this outrage be
done away, nor the evil-doer therein be stricken down, nor they
that cry and lament within the prison there be set free until
such time as the Good Knight shall come for whom are they
yearning as you have heard but now."

"Damsel, right glad may the knight be that by his valour and his
hardiment shall destroy so many evil folk!"

"Sir, therefore is he the Best Knight in the world, and he is yet
young enough of age, but right sorrowful am I at heart that I
know not true tidings of him; for better will have I to see him
than any man on live."

"Damsel, so also have I," saith Messire Gawain, "For then by your
leave would I turn me again."

"Not so, sir, but and you shall come beyond the castle, then
will I teach you the way whereby you ought to go."


IV.

With that they go toward the castle all together. Just as they
were about to pass beyond the castle wall, behold you where a
knight cometh forth of a privy postern of the castle, and he was
sitting upon a tall horse, his spear in his fist, and at his neck
had he a red shield whereon was figured a golden eagle. "Sir
knight," saith he to Messire Gawain, "I pray you bide."

"What is your pleasure?"

"You must needs joust with me," saith he "and conquer this
shield, or otherwise I shall conquer you. And full precious is
the shield, insomuch as that great pains ought you to take to
have it and conquer it, for it belonged to the best knight of his
faith that was ever, and the most puissant and the wisest."

"Who, then, was he?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Judas Machabee was he, and he it was that first wrought how by
one bird to take another."

"You say true," saith Messire Gawain; "A good knight was he."

"Therefore right joyful may you be," saith he, "and you may
conquer the same, for your own is the poorest and most battered
that ever saw I borne by knight. For hardly may a man know the
colour thereof."

"Thereby may you well see," saith the damsel to the knight, "that
his own shield hath not been idle, nor hath the horse whereon he
sitteth been stabled so well as yours."

"Damsel," saith the knight, "No need is here of long pleading.
Needs must he joust with me, for him do I defy."

Saith Messire Gawain, "I hear well that you say."

He draweth him back and taketh his career and the knight
likewise, and they come together as fast as their horses may
carry them, spear in rest. The knight smiteth Messire Gawain on
the shield whereof he had no great defence, and passeth beyond,
and in the by-pass the knight to-brake his spear; and Messire
Gawain smiteth him with his spear in the midst of his breast and
beareth him to the ground over the croup of his horse, all pinned
upon his spear, whereof he had a good full hand's breadth in his
breast. He draweth his spear back to him, and when the knight
felt himself unpinned, he leaped to his feet and came straight to
his horse and would fain set his foot in the stirrup when the
damsel of the car crieth out: "Messire Gawain, hinder the knight!
for and he were mounted again, too sore travail would it be to
conquer him!"

When the knight heard name Messire Gawain, he draweth him back:
"How?" saith he; "Is this then the good Gawain, King Arthur's
nephew?"

"Yea," saith the damsel, "He it is without fail!"

"Sir," saith the knight to Messire Gawain, "Are you he?"

"Yea," saith he, "Gawain I am!"

"Sir, so please you," saith he, "I hold me conquered, and right
sorry am I that I knew you not or ever I had ado with you."

He taketh the shield from his neck and holdeth it to him. "Sir,"
saith he, "Take the shield that belonged to the best knight that
was in his time of his faith, for none know I of whom it shall be
better employed than of you. And of this shield were vanquished
all they that be in prison in this castle." Messire Gawain
taketh the shield that was right fair and rich.

"Sir," saith the knight, "Now give me yours, for you will not
bear two shields."

"You say true," saith Messire Gawain.

He taketh the guige from his neck and would have given him the
shield, when the damsel afoot: "Hold, sir knight, you that are
named Messire Gawain! What would you do? And he bear your
shield into the castle there, they of the castle will hold you
recreant and conquered, and will come forth thence and carry you
into the castle by force, and there will you be cast into his
grievous prison; for no shield is borne thereinto save of a
vanquished knight only."

"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "No good you wish me,
according to that this damsel saith."

"Sir," saith the knight, "I cry you mercy, and a second time I
hold me conquered, and right glad should I have been might I have
borne your shield within yonder, and right great worship should I
have had thereof, for never yet hath entered there the shield of
knight so good. And now ought I to be right well pleased of your
coming, sith that you have set me free of the sorest trouble that
ever knight had."

"What is the trouble?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir," saith he, "I will tell you. Heretofore many a time hath
there been a passing by of knights both of hardy and of coward,
and it was my business to contend and joust with them and do
battle, and I made them present of the shield as did I you. The
more part found I hardy and well able to defend themselves, that
wounded me in many places, but never was knight so felled me to
the ground nor dealt me so sore a buffet as have you. And sith
that you are carrying away the shield and I am conquered, never
here-after shall knight that passeth before this castle have no
dread of me nor of no knight that is herein."

"By my head," saith Messire Gawain, "Now am I gladder of my
conquest than I was before."

"Sir," saith the knight, "By your leave will I go my way, for,
and I may hide not my shame in the castle, needs must I show it
openly abroad."

"God grant you do well!" saith Messire Gawain.

"Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of the Car, "give me your
shield that the knight would fain have carried off."

"Willingly, damsel," saith he. The damsel that went afoot taketh
the shield and setteth it in the car. Howbeit, the knight that
was conquered mounted again upon his horse, and entered again
into the castle, and when he was come thereinto, arose a noise
and great outcry so loud that all the forest and all the valley
began to resound thereof. "Messire Gawain," saith the Damsel of
the Car, "the knight is shamed and there cast in prison another
time. Now haste, Messire Gawain! for now may you go!"

With that they all set forward again upon their way together, and
leave the castle an English league behind. "Damsel," saith
Messire Gawain, "When it shall please you, I shall have your
leave to go."

"Sir," saith she, "God be guard of your body, and right great
thanks of your convoy."

"Lady," saith he, "My service is always ready at your command."

"Sir," saith the damsel, "Gramercy, and your own way see you
there by yonder great cross at the entrance of yonder forest.
And beyond that, will you find the fairest forest and most
delightsome when you shall have passed through this that sore is
wearisome."

Messire Gawain turneth him to go, and the damsel afoot crieth out
to him: "Sir, not so heedful are you as I supposed."

Messire Gawain turneth his horse's head as he that was startled:
"Wherefore say you so, damsel?" saith he.

"For this," saith she, "That you have never asked of my Damsel
wherefore she carrieth her arm slung at her neck in this golden
stole, nor what may be the rich pillow whereon the arm lieth.
And no greater heed will you take at the court of the rich King
Fisherman."

"Sweet, my friend," saith the Damsel of the Car, "blame not
Messire Gawain only, but King Arthur before him and all the
knights that were in the court. For not one of them all that
were there was so heedful as to ask me. Go your ways, Messire
Gawain, for in vain would you now demand it, for I will tell you
not, nor shall you never know it save only by the most coward
knight in the world, that is mine own knight and goeth to seek me
and knoweth not where to find me."

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "I durst not press you further."

With that the Damsel departeth, and Messire Gawain setteth him
forward again on the way that she had taught him.



BRANCH III.

INCIPIT.

Here beginneth another branch of the Graal in the name of the
Father, and in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy
Ghost.


TITLE I

Here is the story silent of the three damsels and the Car and
saith that Messire Gawain hath passed throughout the evil forest
and is entered into the forest passing fair, the broad, the high,
the plenteous of venison. And he rideth a great pace, but sore
abashed is he of that the damsel had said to him, and misdoubteth
him but he shall have blame thereof in many places. He rode hard
the day long till that it was evensong and the sun was about to
set. And he looketh before him and seeth the house of a hermit
and the chapel in the thick of the forest; and a spring flowed
forth in front of the chapel right clear and fresh, and above it
was a tree full broad and tall that threw a shadow over the
spring. A damsel sate under the tree and held a mule by the
reins and at the saddle-bow had she the head of a knight hanging.
And Messire Gawain cometh thitherward and alighteth.

"Damsel," saith he, "God give you good adventure!"

"Sir," saith she, "And you always."

When she was risen up over against him, "Damsel," saith he, "For
whom are you a-waiting here?"

"Sir," saith she, "I am waiting for the hermit of this holy
chapel, that is gone into the forest, and I would fain ask him
tidings of a knight."

"Think you he will tell you them and he knoweth any?"

"Yea, sir, I think so, according to that I have been told."

Therewithal behold you the hermit that was coming, and saluteth
the damsel and Messire Gawain and openeth the door of the house
and setteth the two steeds within and striketh off the bridles
and giveth them green-meat first and barley after, and fain would
he have taken off the saddles when Messire Gawain leapeth before:
"Sir," saith he, "Do not so! This business is not for you!"

"Hermit though I be," saith he, "yet well know I how to deal
withal, for at the court of King Uther Pendragon have I been
squire and knight two-score years, and a score or mort have I
been in this hermitage."

And Messire Gawain looketh at him in wonderment. "Sir," saith he,
"Meseemeth you are not of more than forty years."

"That know I well of a truth," saith the hermit, and Messire
Gawain taketh off the saddles and bethinketh him more of the
damsel's mule than of his own horse. And the hermit taketh
Messire Gawain by the hand and the damsel and leadeth them into
the chapel. And the place was right fair.

"Sir," saith the hermit to Messire Gawain, "You will disarm you
not," saith he, "for this forest is passing adventurous, and no
worshipful man behoveth be disgarnished."

He goeth for his spear and for his shield and setteth them within
the chapel. He setteth before them such meat as he hath, and
when they have eaten giveth them to drink of the spring.

"Sir," saith the damsel, "Of a knight that I go seek am I come to
ask you tidings."

"Who is the knight?" saith the hermit.

"Sir, he is the Chaste Knight of most holy lineage. He hath a
heart of gold, the look of a lion, the navel of a virgin maid, a
heart of steel, the body of an elephant, and without wickedness
are all his conditions."

"Damsel," saith the hermit, "Nought will I tell you concerning
him, for I know not of a certainty where he is, save this, that
he hath lain in this chapel twice, not once only, within this
twelvemonth."

"Sir," saith she, "Will you tell me no more of him, nor none
other witting?"

"In no wise," saith the hermit.

"And you, Messire Gawain?" saith she.

"Damsel," saith he, "As fainly would I see him as you, but none
find I that may tell me tidings of him."

"And the damsel of the Car, Sir, have you seen her?"

"Yea, lady," saith he, "It is but just now sithence that I left
her."

"Carried she still her arm slung at her neck?"

"Yea," saith Messire Gawain, "in such wise she carried it."

"Of a long while," saith the damsel, "hath she borne it thus."

"Sir," saith the hermit, "how are you named?"

"Sir," saith he, "Gawain am I called, King Arthur's nephew."

"Thereof I love you the better," saith the hermit.

"Sir," saith the damsel, "You are of kindred to the worst King
that is."

"Of what King speak you?" saith Messire Gawain.

"I speak," saith she, "of King Arthur, through whom is all the
world made worser, for he began doing well and now hath become
evil. For hatred of him hate I a knight that found me nigh S.
Augustine's Chapel, and yet was he the comeliest knight that saw
I ever. He slew a knight within the bar right hardily. I asked
him for the head of the knight and he went back for the same and
set himself in sore peril. He brought it me, and I made him
great joy, but when he told me his name was Arthur I had no
fainness of the bounty he had done me, for that he had the name
of that evil King."


II.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "You may say your pleasure. I
tell you that King Arthur hath held the richest court that he
hath held ever, and these evil conditions whereof you blame him
is he minded to put away for evermore, and more will he do of
good and more of largesse than was ever known aforetime so long
as he shall live; nor know I none other knight that beareth his
name."

"You are right," saith the damsel, "to come to his rescue, for
that he is your uncle, but your rescue will scarce avail him and
he deliver not himself."

"Sir," saith the hermit to Messire Gawain, "The damsel will say
her pleasure. May God defend King Arthur, for his father made me
knight. Now am I priest, and in this hermitage ever sithence
that I came hither have I served King Fisherman by the will of
Our Lord and His commandment, and all they that serve him do well
partake of his reward, for the place of his most holy service is
a refuge so sweet that unto him that hath been there a year, it
seemeth to have been but a month for the holiness of the place
and of himself, and for the sweetness of his castle wherein have
I oftentimes done service in the chapel where the Holy Graal
appeareth. Therefore is it that I and all that serve him are so
youthful of seeming."

"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "By what way may a man go to his
castle?"

"Sir," saith the hermit, "None may teach you the way, save the
will of God lead you therein. And would you fain go thither?"

"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "It is the most wish that I have."

"Sir," saith the hermit, "Now God give you grace and courage to
ask the question that the others to whom the Graal hath appeared
would ask not, whereof have many mischances sithence befallen
much people."


III.

With that, they left of talking, and the hermit led Messire
Gawain into his house to rest, and the damsel abode still in the
chapel. On the morrow when dawn appeared, Messire Gawain that
had lain all armed, arose and found his saddle ready and the
damsel, and the bridles set on, and cometh to the chapel and
findeth the hermit that was apparelled to sing mass, and seeth
the damsel kneeling before an image of Our Lady, and she prayed
God and the sweet Lady that they would counsel her that whereof
she had need, and wept right tenderly so that the tears ran down
her face. And when she had prayed of a long space she ariseth,
and Messire Gawain biddeth her God give her good day, and she
returneth his salute.

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

"Sir," saith she, "I have right, for now am I nigh unto my
desolation, sith that I may not find the Good Knight. Now must I
needs go to the castle of the Black Hermit, and bear thither the
head that hangeth at my saddle-bow, for otherwise shall I not be
able to pass through the forest but my body should there be cast
in prison or shamed, and this shall be the quittance for my
passing. Then will I seek the Damsel of the Car and so shall I
go in safer through the forest."

With that the hermit had begun the mass and Messire Gawain and
the damsel heard it. When mass was sung, Messire Gawain took
leave of the hermit and the damsel also. And Messire Gawain
goeth one way and the damsel the other, and either biddeth other
to God.


IV.

Hereupon the story is now silent of the damsel, and saith that
Messire Gawain goeth through the high forest and rideth a great
pace, and prayeth God right sweetly that He will set him in such
way as that thereby he may go to the land of the rich King
Fisherman. And he rideth until the hour of noon, and cometh into
the fulness of the forest and seeth under a tree a squire
alighted of a horse of the chase. Messire Gawain saluteth him,
and the squire saith: "Sir, right welcome may you be!"

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