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The High History of the Holy Graal

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




"You say true," saith Messire Gawain. Thereupon is he armed, and
taketh leave of the lady and issueth forth of the fair hold and
setteth him in an ambush in the forest nigh thereby. Straightway
behold the jealous knight where he cometh, he and his dwarf. He
entereth into the hall. The lady cometh to meet him.

"Sir," saith she, "Welcome may you be!"

"And you," saith he, "Shame and evil adventure may you have, as
the most disloyal dame on live, for that this night have you
harboured in my hostel and in my bed him that most have I warned
you against!"

"Sir," saith she, "In your hostel did I harbour him, but never
hath your bed been shamed by me, nor never shall be!"

"You lie!" saith he, "like a false woman!"

He armeth himself all incontinent and maketh his horse be armed,
then maketh the lady go down and despoil her to her shirt, that
crieth him mercy right sweetly and weepeth. He mounteth his
horse and taketh his shield and his spear, and maketh the lady be
taken of the dwarf by her tresses and maketh her be led before
him into the forest. And he bideth above a pool where was a
spring, and maketh her enter into the water that flowed forth
full cold, and gathereth saplings in the forest for rods and
beginneth to smite and beat her across upon her back and her
breast in such sort that the stream from the spring was all
bloody therewithal. And she began to cry out right loud, until
at last Messire Gawain heareth her and draweth forth of the
ambush wherein he was, and cometh thitherward a great gallop.

"By my faith," saith the dwarf, "Look you here where Messire
Gawain cometh!"

"By my faith," saith the knight, "Now know I well that nought is
there here but treachery, and that the matter is well proven!"

By this time, Messire Gawain is come, and saith: "Avoid, Sir
knight! Wherefore slay you the best lady and most loyal that
ever have I seen? Never tofore have I found lady that hath done
me so much honour, and this ought you to be well pleased to know,
for neither in her bearing, nor in her speech, nor in herself
found I nought save all goodness only. Wherefore I pray you of
franchise and of love that you forbear your wrath and that you
set her forth of the water. And so will I swear on all the
sacred hallows in this chapel that never did I beseech her of
evil nor wantonness nor never had I no desire thereof."

The knight was full of great wrath when he saw that Messire
Gawain had not gone his way thence, and an anguish of jealousy
burneth him heart and body and overburdeneth him of folly and
outrage, and Messire Gawain that is still before him moveth him
to yet further transgression. Natheless, for the fear that he
hath of him he speaketh to him: "Messire Gawain," saith he, "I
will set her forth thence on one condition, that you joust at me
and I at you, and, so you conquer me, quit shall she be of
misdoing and of blame, but and if I shall conquer you, she shall
be held guilty herein. Such shall be the judgment in this
matter."

"I ask no better," saith Messire Gawain.


IV.

Thereupon, the knight biddeth the dwarf make set the lady forth
of the pool of the spring and make her sit in a launde whereas
they were to joust. The knight draweth him back the better to
take his career, and Messire Gawain cometh as fast as his horse
may carry him toward Marin the Jealous. And when Marin seeth him
coming, he avoideth his buffet and lowereth his spear and cometh
to his wife that was right sore distraught, and wept as she that
suffered blameless, and smote her through, out the body and slew
her, and then turneth him again so fast as his horse might carry
him toward his hold. Messire Gawain seeth the damsel dead and the
dwarf that fleeth full speed after his lord. He overtaketh him
and trampleth him under his horses feet so that he bursteth his
belly in the midst. Then goeth he toward the hold, for he
thinketh to enter therein. But he found the bridge shut up and
the gate barred. And Marin crieth out upon him.

"This shame and misadventure hath befallen me along of you, but
you shall pay for it yet and I may live."

Messire Gawain hath no mind to argue with him, but rather draweth
him back and cometh again to where the lady lay dead, and setteth
her on the neck of his horse all bleeding, and then beareth her
to a chapel that was without the entrance of the hold. Then he
alighted and laid her within the chapel as fairly as most he
might, as he that was sore grieved and wrathful thereof. After
that, he shut the door of the chapel again as he that was afeared
of the body for the wild beasts, and bethought him that one
should come thither to set her in her shroud and bury her after
that he was departed.


V.

Thereupon Messire Gawain departeth, sore an-angered, for it
seemed him that never had no thing tofore befallen him that
weighed so heavy on his heart. And he rideth thoughtful and
down-cast through the forest, and seeth a knight coming along the
way he came. And in strange fashion came he. He bestrode his
horse backwards in right outlandish guise, face to tail, and he
had his horse's reins right across his breast and the base of his
shield bore he topmost and the chief bottommost, and his spear
upside down and his habergeon and chausses of iron trussed about
his neck. He seeth Messire Gawain coming beside the forest, that
hath great wonderment of him when he seeth him. Natheless, when
they draw nigh, he turneth him not to look at Messire Gawain, but
crieth to him aloud: "Gentle knight, you that come there, for
God's sake do me no hurt, for I am the Knight Coward."

"By God," saith Messire Gawain, "You look not like a man to whom
any ought to do hurt!" And, but for the heaviness of his heart
and the sore wrath that he had, he would have laughed at his
bearing with a right good will.

"Sir Knight," saith Messire Gawain, "nought have you to be afeard
of from me!"

With that he draweth anigh and looketh on him in the face and the
Knight Coward on him. "Sir," saith he, "Welcome may you be!"

"And you likewise!" saith Messire Gawain. "And whose man are
you, Sir knight?"

"The Damsel's man of the Car."

"Thereof I love you the better," saith Messire Gawain.

"God be praised thereof," saith the Knight Coward, "For now shall
I have no fear of you."

"Nay, truly," saith Messire Gawain, "Thereof be well assured!"

The Knight Coward seeth Messire Gawain's shield and knoweth it.
"Ha, Sir," saith he, "Now know I well who you are. Now will I
alight and ride the right way and set my arms to rights. For you
are Messire Gawain, nor hath none the right to claim this shield
but only you."

The knight alighteth and setteth his armour to rights, and
prayeth Messire Gawain abide until he be armed. So he abideth
right willingly, and helpeth him withal. Thereupon behold you a
knight where he cometh a great gallop athwart the forest like a
tempest, and he had a shield party black and white. "Abide,
Messire Gawain!" saith he, "For on behalf of Marin the Jealous do
I defy you, that hath slain his wife on your account."

"Sir knight," saith Messire Gawain, "Thereof am I right heavy of
heart, for death had she not deserved."

"That availeth nor," saith the Party Knight, "For I hold you to
answer for the death. So I conquer you, the wrong is yours; but,
and you conquer me, my lord holdeth his blame and shame for known
and will hold you to forfeit and you allow me to escape hence on
live."

"To this will I not agree," saith Messire Gawain, "For God well
knoweth that no blame have I herein."

"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith the Knight Coward, "Fight him not as
having affiance in me, for of me will you have neither succour
nor help!"

"Heretofore," saith Messire Gawain, "have I achieved adventures
without you, and this also, and God help me, will I yet achieve."

They come together a full career and break their lances on their
shields, and Messire Gawain hurtleth against the horse and
passeth beyond and overthroweth him and his horse together. Then
draweth he his sword and runneth upon him. And the knight crieth
out: "Hold, Messire Gawain! Are you minded to slay me? I yield
me conquered, for no mind have I to die for another's folly, and
so I cry you mercy hereof."

Messire Gawain thinketh that he will do him no further harm, for
that of right behoveth him do his lord's bidding. Messire Gawain
holdeth his hands, and he doth him homage on behalf of his lord
for his hold and all of his land and becometh his man.


VI.

Thereupon the knight departeth and Messire Gawain remaineth
there.

"Sir," saith the Knight Coward to Messire Gawain, "I have no mind
to be so hardy as are you; for, so God help me, had he defied me
in such-wise as he defied you, should have fled away forthwith,
or elsewise I should hay fallen at his feet and cried him of
mercy."

"You wish for nought but peace," saith Messire Gawain.

"By S. James," saith the Coward, "Therein are you quite right,
for of war cometh nought but evil; nor never have I had no hurt
nor wound saw some branch of a tree or the like gave it me, and I
see your face all seamed and scarred in many places. So God help
me, of such hardiesse make I but small account, and every day I
pray God that He defend me. And so to God I commend you, for I
am going after my Damsel of the Car."

"Not thus shall you go," saith Messire Gawain, "save you tell me
first wherefore your Damsel of the Car beareth her arm slung to
her neck in such-wise."

"Sir, this may I well tell you. With this hand serve she of the
most Holy-Graal the knight that was in the hostel of King
Fisherman that would not ask whereof the Graal served; for that
she held therein the precious vessel whereinto the glorious blood
fell drop by drop from the point of the lance, so that none other
thing is she minded to hold therein until such time as she shall
come back to the holy place where it is. Sir," saith the Knight
Coward, "Now, so please you, may I well go hence, and see, here
is my spear that I give you, for nought is there that I have to
do therewithal."

Messire Gawain taketh it, for his own was broken short, and
departeth from the knight and commendeth him to God. And he
goeth his way a great pace, and Messire Gawain also goeth amidst
the forest, and full weary is he and forspent with travail. And
he rode until the sun was due to set. And he meeteth a knight
that was coming athwart the forest and came toward Messire Gawain
a great gallop like as he were smitten through the body, and
crieth over all the forest: "What is your name, Sir knight?"

"My name is Gawain."

"Ha, Messire Gawain," saith the other, "In your service am I
wounded thus!"

"How in my service?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir, I was minded to bury the damsel that you bare into the
chapel, and Marin the Jealous ran upon me and wounded me in many
places in such manner as you see. And I had already dug a grave
with my sword to bury the body when he seized it from me and
abandoned it to the wild beasts. Now go I hence yonder to the
chapel of a hermit that is in this forest to confess me, for well
know I that I have not long to live for that the wound lieth me
so nigh my heart. But I shall die the more easily now that I
have found you and shown you the hurt that hath been done me for
your sake."

"Certes," saith Messire Gawain, "this grieveth me."


VII.

Therewithal the knights depart asunder, and Messire Gawain rode
on until he found in the forest a castle right fair and rich, and
met an ancient knight that was issued forth of the castle for
disport, and held a bird on his fist. He saluteth Messire Gawain
and he him again, and he asked him what castle is this that he
seeth show so fair? And he telleth him it is the castle of the
Proud Maiden that never deigned ask a knight his name.

"And we, that are her men, durst not do it on her behalf. But
right well will you be lodged in the castle, for right courteous
is she otherwise and the fairest that ever any may know. Nor
never hath she had any lord, nor deigned to love no knight save
she heard tell that he was the best knight in the world. And I
will go to her with you of courtesy."

"Gramercy, Sir," saith Messire Gawain. They enter into the
castle both twain together, and alight at the mounting-stage
before the hall. The knight taketh Messire Gawain by the hand
and leadeth him up, and maketh disarm him, and bringeth him a
surcoat of scarlet purfled of vair and maketh him do it on. Then
leadeth he the lady of the castle to Messire Gawain, and he
riseth up to meet her.

"Lady," saith he "Welcome may you be!"

"And you, Sir, be welcome!" saith she, "Will you see my chapel?"

"Damsel," saith he, "At your pleasure."

And she leadeth him and taketh Messire Gawain by the hand, and he
looketh at the chapel and it well seemeth him that never before
had he come into none so fair nor so rich, and he seeth four
tombs within, the fairest that he had seen ever. And on the
right hand side of the chapel were three narrow openings in the
wall that were wrought all about with gold and precious stones,
and beyond the three openings he seeth great circlets of lighted
candles that were before three coffers of hallows that were
there, and the smell thereof was sweeter than balm.

"Sir knight," saith the damsel, "See you these tombs?"

"Yea, damsel," saith Messire Gawain.

"These three are made for the three best knights in the world and
the fourth for me. The one hath for name Messire Gawain and the
second Lancelot of the Lake. Each of them do I love for love's
sake, by my faith! And the third hath for name Perceval. Him
love I better than the other two. And within these three
openings are the hallows set for love of them. And behold what I
would do to them and their three heads were therein; and so I
might not do it to the three together, yet would I do it to two,
or even to one only."

She setteth her hand toward the openings and draweth forth a pin
that was fastened into the wall, and a cutting blade of steel
droppeth down, of steel sharper than any razor, and closeth up
the three openings.

"Even thus will I cut off their heads when they shall set them
into those three openings thinking to adore the hallows that are
beyond. Afterward will I make take the bodies and set them in
the three coffins, and do them be honoured and enshrouded right
richly, for joy of them in their life may I never have. And when
the end of my life shall be come as God will, even so will I make
set me in the fourth coffin, and so shall I have company of the
three good knights."

Messire Gawain heard the word, whereof he marvelled right sore,
and would right fain that the night were overpassed. They issue
forth of the chapel. The damsel maketh Messire Gawain be greatly
honoured that night, and there was great company of knights
within that served him and helped guard the castle. They show
Messire Gawain much worship, but they knew not that it was he,
nor did none ask him, for such was the custom of the castle. But
well she knew that he oftentimes passed to and fro amidst the
forest, and four of the knights that watched the forest and the
passers-by had she commanded that and if any of these three
knights should pass they should bring him to her without gainsay,
and she would increase the land of each for so doing.


VIII.

Messire Gawain was in the castle that night until the morrow, and
went to hear mass in the chapel or ever he removed thence.
Afterward, when he had heard mass and was armed, he took leave of
the damsel and issued forth of the castle as he that had no
desire to abide there longer. And he entereth into the forest
and rideth a long league Welsh and findeth two knights sitting by
a narrow path in the forest. And when they see him coming they
leap up on their horses all armed and come against Messire
Gawain, shields on sides and spears in fists.

"Bide, Sir knight!" say they, "And tell us your name without
leasing!"

"Lords," saith he, "Right willingly! never hath my name been
withholden when it hath been asked for. I am called Gawain, King
Arthur's nephew."

"Nay, then, Sir, welcome may you be! One other demand have we to
make of you. Will you come with us to the lady in the world who
most desireth you, and will make much joy of you at Castle
Orguelleux where she is?"

"Lord," saith Messire Gawain, "No leisure have I at this time,
for I have emprised my way else-whither."

"Sir," say they, "Needs must you come thither without fail, for
in such wise hath she commanded us that we shall take you thither
by force an you come not of your own good-will."

"I have told you plainly that thither will I not go," saith
Messire Gawain. With that, they leap forward and take him by the
bridle, thinking to lead him away by force. And Messire Gawain
hath shame thereof, and draweth his sword and smiteth one of them
in such wrath that he cutteth off his arm. And the other letteth
the bridle go and turneth him full speed; and his fellow with him
that was maimed. And away go they toward Castle Orguelleux and
the Proud Maiden of the castle and show her the mischief that
hath befallen them.

"Who hath mis-handled you thus?" saith she.

"Certes, lady, Messire Gawain."

"Where found you him?"

"Lady," say they, "In the forest, where he came toward us a full
gallop, and was minded to pass by the narrows of the way, when we
bade him abide and come to you. But come he would not. We
offered him force, and he smote my fellow's arm off."

She biddeth a horn be sounded incontinent, and the knights of the
castle arm, and she commandeth them follow Messire Gawain, and
saith that she will increase the land and the charge of him that
shall bring him to her. They were a good fifteen knights armed.
Just as they were about to issue out of the castle, behold you
forthwith two keepers of the forest where they come, both twain
of them smitten through the body. The damsel and the knights ask
who hath done this to them, and they say it was Messire Gawain
that did it, for that they would have brought him to the castle.

"Is he far away?" saith the damsel.

"Yea," say they, "Four great leagues Welsh."

"Wherefore the greater folly would it be to follow him," saith
one of the sixteen knights, "For nought should we increase
thereby save only our own shame and hurt, and my Lady hath lost
him through her own default, for well know we that he it was that
lay within, for that he beareth a shield sinople with a golden
eagle."

"Yea," saith the wounded knight, "Without fail."

"Is this then he?" saith the damsel. "I know him well now that I
have lost him by my pride and by my outrage; nor never more will
knight lie in my hostel sith that he will be estranged for that I
ask not his name. But it is too late! Herein have I failed of
this one for ever and ever save God bring him back to me, and
through this one shall I lose the other two!"


IX.

Herewithal cometh to a stay the pursuit of Messire Gawain, that
goeth his way and prayeth God that He send him true counsel of
that he hath emprised, and that He allow him to come into some
place where he may hear true witting of the hostel of King
Fisherman. And while he was thus thinking, he heareth a brachet
questing, and he cometh toward him a great pace. When he is come
anigh Messire Gawain he setteth his nose to the ground and
findeth a track of blood through a grassy way in the forest, and
when Messire Gawain was minded to leave the way where the track
of blood was, the brachet came over against him and quested.
Messire Gawain is minded not to abandon the track, wherefore he
followeth the brachet a great pace until he cometh to a marish in
the midst of the forest, and seeth there in the marish a house,
ancient and decayed. He passeth with the brachet over the
bridge, that was right feeble, and there was a great water under
it, and cometh to the hall, that was wasted and old. And the
brachet leaveth of his questing. Messire Gawain seeth in the
midst of house a knight that was stricken right through the
breast unto the heart and there lay dead. A damsel was issuing
forth of the chamber and bare the winding-sheet wherein to
enshroud him.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Good adventure may you have!"

The damsel that was weeping right tenderly, saith to him: "Sir, I
will answer you not."

She cometh toward the dead knight, thinking that his wounds
should have begun to bleed afresh, but they did not.

"Sir," saith she to Messire Gawain, "Welcome may you be!"

"Damsel," saith he. "God grant you greater joy than you have!"

And the damsel saith to the brachet: "It was not this one I sent
you back to fetch, but him that slew this knight."

"Know you then, damsel, who hath slain him?" saith Messire
Gawain.

"Yea," saith she, "well! Lancelot of the Lake slew him in this
forest, on whom God grant me vengeance, and on all them of King
Arthur's court, for sore mischief and great hurt have they
wrought us! But, please God, right well shall this knight yet be
avenged, for a right fair son hath he whose sister am I, and so
hath he many good friends withal."

"Damsel, to God I commend you!" saith Messire Gawain. With that,
he issueth forth of the Waste Manor and betaketh him back to the
way he had abandoned, and prayeth God grant he may find Lancelot
of the Lake.



BRANCH V.

INCIPIT.

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


TITLE I.

Messire Gawain goeth his way and evening draweth on; and on his
right hand was there a narrow pathway that seemed him to be
haunted of folk. Thitherward goeth he, for that he seeth the sun
waxeth low, and findeth in the thick of the forest a great
chapel, and without was a right fair manor. Before the chapel
was an orchard enclosed of a wooden fence that was scarce so high
as a tall man. A hermit that seemed him a right worshipful man
was leaning against the fence, and looked into the orchard and
made great cheer from time to time. He seeth Messire Gawain, and
cometh to meet him, and Messire Gawain alighteth.

"Sir," saith the hermit, "Welcome may you be."

"God grant you the joy of Paradise," saith Messire Gawain. The
hermit maketh his horse be stabled of a squire, and then taketh
him by the hand and maketh him sit beside him to look on the
orchard.

"Sir," saith the hermit, "Now may you see that whereof I was
making cheer."

Messire Gawain looketh therewithin and seeth two damsels and a
squire and a child that were guarding a lion.

"Sir," saith the hermit, "Here see my joy, which is this child.
Saw you ever so fair a child his age?"

"Never," saith Messire Gawain. They go into the orchard to sit,
for the evening was fair and calm. He maketh disarm him, and
thereupon the damsel bringeth him a surcoat of right rich silk
furred of ermine. And Messire Gawain looketh at the child that
rode upon the lion right fainly.

"Sir," saith the hermit, "None durst guard him or be master over
him save this child only, and yet the lad is not more than six
years of age. Sir, he is of right noble lineage, albeit he is
the son of the most cruel man and most felon that is. Marin the
Jealous is his father, that slew his wife on account of Messire
Gawain. Never sithence that his mother was dead would not the
lad be with his father, for well knoweth he that he slew her of
wrong. And I am his uncle, so I make him be tended here of these
damsels and these two squires, but no one thing is there that he
so much desireth to see as Messire Gawain. For after his
father's death ought he of right to be Messire Gawain's man. Sir,
if any tidings you know of him, tell us them."

"By my faith, Sir," saith he, "Tidings true can I give you. Lo,
there is his shield and his spear, and himself shall you have
this night for guest."

"Fair sir, are you he?" saith the hermit.

"So men call me," saith Messire Gawain, "And the lady saw I slain
in the forest, whereof was I sore an-angered."


II.

"Fair nephew," saith the hermit, "See here your desire. Come to
him and make him cheer."

The lad alighteth of the lion and smiteth him with a whip and
leadeth him to the den and maketh the door so that he may not
issue forth, and cometh to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain
receiveth him between his arms. "Sir," saith the child, "Welcome
may you be!"

"God give you growth of honour!" saith Messire Gawain. He
kisseth him and maketh cheer with him right sweetly.

"Sir," saith the hermit, "He will be of right your man, wherefore
ought you to counsel him and help him, for through you came his
mother by her death, and right sore need will he have of your
succour." The child kneeleth before him and holdeth up his
joined hands.

"Look, Sir," saith the hermit, "Is he not right pitiful? He
offereth you his homage."

And Messire Gawain setteth his hands within his own: "Certes,"
saith Messire Gawain, "Both your honour and your homage receive I
gladly, and my succour and my counsel shall you have so often as
you shall have need thereof. But fain would I know your name?"

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