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  "work": {
    "slug": "high-history-of-the-holy-graal",
    "name": "High History of the Holy Graal"
  },
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      "slug": "grail-romances",
      "name": "Holy Grail Romances",
      "url": "/sources/grail-romances/"
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 19,
    "slug": "19-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-xviii",
    "title": "The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch XVIII",
    "of": 36,
    "words": 8478,
    "text": "## The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch XVIII\n\n\nTITLE I.\n\nHere the story is silent of Lancelot and Messire Gawain, and\nsaith that Perceval is in the Turning Castle, whereof Joseus\nrecounteth the truth, to wit, that Virgil founded it in the air\nby his wisdom in such fashion, when the philosophers went on the\nQuest of the Earthly Paradise, and it was prophesied that the\ncastle should not cease turning until such time as the Knight\nshould come thither that should have a head of gold, the look of\na lion, a heart of steel, the navel of a virgin maiden,\nconditions without wickedness, the valour of a man and faith and\nbelief of God; and that this knight should bear the shield of the\nGood Soldier that took down the Saviour of the World from hanging\non the rood. It was prophesied, moreover, that all they of the\ncastle and all other castles whereof this one was the guardian\nshould hold the old law until such time as the Good Knight should\ncome, by whom their souls should be saved and their death\nrespited. For, so soon as he should be come, they should run to\nbe baptized, and should firmly believe the new law. Wherefore\nwas the joy great in the castle for that their death should now\nbe respited, and that they should be released of all terror of\nthe knight that was their foe, whom they dreaded even to the\ndeath, and of the sin of the false law whereof they had\nheretofore been attaint.\n\nII.\n\nRight glad is Perceval when he seeth the people of the castle\nturn them to the holy faith of the Saviour, and the damsel saith\nto him, \"Sir, right well have you speeded thus far on your way;\nnought is there now to be done save to finish that which\nremaineth. For never may they that are within issue forth so\nlong as the Knight of the Dragon is on live. Here may you not\ntarry, for the longer you tarry, the more lands will be desolate\nand the more folk will he slay. Perceval taketh leave of them of\nthe castle, that make much joy of him, but sore misgiving have\nthey of him on account of the knight with whom he goeth to do\nbattle, and they say that if he shall conquer him, never yet\nbefell knight so fair adventure. They have heard mass before\nthat he departeth, and made rich offerings for him in honour of\nthe Saviour and His sweet Mother. The damsel goeth before, for\nthat she knew the place where the evil knight had his repair.\nThey ride until they come into the Island of Elephants. The\nKnight was alighted under an olive tree, and had but now since\nslain four knights that were of the castle of the Queen of the\nGolden Circlet. She was at the windows of her castle and saw her\nKnights dead, whereof made she great dole.\n\n\"Ha, God,\" saith she, \"Shall I never see none that may avenge me\nof this evildoer that slayeth my men and destroyeth my land on\nthis wise?\"\n\nShe looketh up and seeth Perceval come and the damsel.\n\n\"Sir Knight, and you have not force and help and valour in you\nmore than is in four knights, come not nigh this devil! Howbeit,\nand you feel that you may so do battle as to overcome and\nvanquish him, I will give you the Golden Circlet that is within,\nand will hold with the New Law that hath been of late\nestablished. For I see well by your shield that you are a\nChristian, and, so you may conquer him, then ought I at last to\nbe assured that your law availeth more than doth ours, and that\nGod was born of the Virgin.\"\n\nIII.\n\nRight joyous is Perceval of this that he heareth her say. He\ncrosseth and blesseth him, and commendeth him to God and His\nsweet Mother; and is pricked of wrath and hardiment like a lion.\nHe seeth the Knight of the Dragon mounted, and looketh at him in\nwonderment, for that he was so big that never had he seen any man\nso big of his body. He seeth the shield at his neck, that was\nright black and huge and hideous. He seeth the Dragon's head in\nthe midst thereof, that casteth out fire and flame in great\nplenty, so foul and hideous and horrible that all the field stank\nthereof. The damsel draweth her toward the castle and leaveth\nthe knight on the horsesaith.\n\nIV.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she to Perceval, \"On this level plot was slain your\nuncle's son whom here I leave, for I have brought him far enough.\nNow avenge him as best you may, I render and give him over to\nyou, for so much have I done herein as that none have right to\nblame me.\"\n\nWith that she departeth. The Knight of the Dragon removeth and\nseeth Perceval coming all alone, wherefore hath he great scorn of\nhim and deigneth not to take his spear, but rather cometh at him\nwith his drawn sword, that was right long and red as a burning\nbrand. Perceval seeth him coming and goeth against him, spear in\nrest, as hard as his horse may carry him, thinking to smite him\nthrough the breast. But the Knight setteth his shield between,\nand the flame that issued from the Dragon burnt the shaft thereof\neven to his hand. And the Knight smiteth him on the top of his\nhelmet, but Perceval covereth him of his shield, whereof had he\ngreat affiance that the sword of the foeman knight might not harm\nit. Josephus witnesseth us that Joseph of Abarimacie had made be\nsealed in the boss of the shield some of the blood of Our Lord\nand a piece of His garment.\n\nV.\n\nWhen the Knight seeth that he hath not hurt Perceval's shield,\ngreat marvel hath he thereof, for never aforetime had he smitten\nknight but he had dealt him his death-blow. He turneth the head\nof the Dragon towards Perceval's shield, but the flame that\nissued from the Dragon's head turned back again as it had been\nblown of the wind, so that it might not come nigh him. The\nKnight is right wroth thereof, and passeth beyond and cometh to\nthe bier of the dead knight and turneth his shield with the\ndragon's head against him. He scorcheth and burneth all to ashes\nthe bodies of the knight and the horses.\n\nSaith he to Perceval, \"Are you quit as for this knight's burial?\"\n\n\"Certes,\" saith Perceval, \"You say true, and much misliketh me\nthereof, but please God I shall amend it.\"\n\nVI.\n\nThe damsel that had brought the knight was at the windows of the\npalace beside the Queen. She crieth out. \"Perceval, fair sir,\"\nsaith the damsel,\"Now is the shame the greater and the harm the\ngreater, and you amend them not.\"\n\nRight sorrowful is Perceval of his cousin that is all burnt to a\ncinder, and he seeth the Knight that beareth the devil with him,\nbut knoweth not how he may do vengeance upon him. He cometh to\nhim sword-drawn, and dealeth him a great blow on the shield in\nsuch sort that he cleaveth it right to the midst thereof where\nthe dragon's head was, and the flame leapeth forth so burning hot\non his sword that it waxed red-hot like as was the Knight's\nsword.\n\nAnd the damsel crieth to him: \"Now is your sword of the like\npower as his; now shall it be seen what you will do! I have been\ntold of a truth that the Knight may not be vanquished save by one\nonly and at one blow, but how this is I may not tell, whereof\nirketh me.\"\n\nPerceval looketh and seeth that his sword is all in a flame of\nfire, whereof much he marvelleth. He smiteth the Knight so\npassing sore that he maketh his head stoop down over the fore\nsaddle-bow. The Knight righteth him again, sore wrath that he\nmay not put him to the worse. He smiteth him with his sword a\nblow so heavy that he cleaveth the habergeon and his right\nshoulder so that he cutteth and burneth the flesh to the bone.\nAs he draweth back his blow, Perceval catcheth him and striketh\nhim with such passing strength that he smiteth off his hand,\nsword and all. The Knight gave a great roar, and the Queen was\nright joyous thereof. The Knight natheless made no semblant that\nhe was yet conquered, but turneth back toward Perceval at a right\ngreat gallop and launched his flame against his shield, but it\navaileth him nought, for he might not harm it. Perceval seeth\nthe dragon's head, that was broad and long and horrible, and\naimeth with his sword and thrusteth it up to the hilt into his\ngullet as straight as ever he may, and the head of the dragon\nhurleth forth a cry so huge that forest and fell resound thereof\nas far as two leagues Welsh.\n\nVII.\n\nThe dragon's head turneth it toward his lord in great wrath, and\nscorcheth him and burneth him to dust, and thereafter departed up\ninto the sky like lightning. The Queen cometh to Perceval, and\nall the knights, and see that he is sore hurt in his right\nshoulder. And the damsel telleth him that never will he be\nhealed thereof save he setteth thereon of the dust of the knight\nthat is dead. And they lead him up to the castle with right\ngreat joy. Then they make him be disarmed, and have his wound\nwashed and tended and some of the knight's dust that was dead set\nthereon that it might have healing. She maketh send to all the\nknights of her land: \"Lords,\" saith she, \"See here the knight\nthat hath saved my land for me and protected your lives. You\nknow well how it hath been prophesied that the knight with head\nof gold should come, and through him should you be saved. And\nnow, behold, hath he come hither. The prophecy may not be\nbelied. I will that you do his commandment.\"\n\nAnd they said that so would they do right willingly. She\nbringeth him there where the Circlet of Gold is, and she herself\nsetteth it on his head. After that, she bringeth his sword and\ndelivereth it unto him, wherewith he had slain the giant devil,\nboth the knight that bare the devil, and the devil that the\nknight bare in his shield.\n\nVIII.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"May all they that will not go to be baptized,\nnor accept your New Law, be slain of this your sword, and hereof\nI make you the gift.\"\n\nShe herself made her be held up and baptized first, and all the\nother after. Josephus maketh record that in right baptism she\nhad for name Elysa, and a good life she led and right holy, and\nshe died a virgin. Her body still lieth in the kingdom of\nIreland, where she is highly honoured. Perceval was within the\ncastle until that he was heal. The tidings spread throughout the\nlands that the Knight of the Golden Circlet had slain the Knight\nof the Dragon, and great everywhere was the joy thereof. It was\nknown at the court of King Arthur, but much marvelled they that\nit was said the Knight of the Golden Circlet had slain him, for\nthey knew not who was the Knight of the Golden Circlet.\n\nIX.\n\nWhen Perceval was whole, he departed from the castle of the Queen\nof the Golden Circlet, all of whose land was at his commandment.\nThe Queen told him that she would keep the Golden Circlet until\nhe should will otherwise, and in such sort he left it there, for\nhe would not carry it with him, sith that he knew not whitherward\nhe might turn. The history telleth us that he rode on until one\nday he came to the Castle of Copper. Within the castle were a\nnumber of folk that worshipped the bull of copper and believed\nnot in any other God. The bull of copper was in the midst of the\ncastle upon four columns of copper, and bellowed so loud at all\nhours of the day that it was heard for a league all round about,\nand there was an evil spirit within that gave answers concerning\nwhatsoever any should ask of it.\n\nX.\n\nAt the entrance to the gateway of the castle were two men made of\ncopper by art of nicromancy, and they held two great mallets of\niron, and they busied themselves striking the one after the\nother, and so strongly they struck that nought mortal is there in\nthe world that might pass through amongst their blows but should\nbe all to-crushed thereby. And on the other side was the castle\nso fast enclosed about that nought might enter thereinto.\n\nXI.\n\nPerceval beholdeth the fortress of the castle, and the entrance\nthat was so perilous, whereof he marvelleth much. He passeth a\nbridge that was within the entry, and cometh nigh them that guard\nthe gate. A Voice began to cry aloud above the gate that he\nmight go forward safely, and that he need have no care for the\nmen of copper that guarded the gate nor be affrighted of their\nblows, for no power had they to harm such a knight as was he. He\ncomforteth himself much of that the Voice saith to him. He\ncometh anigh the serjeants of copper, and they cease to strike at\nonce, and hold their iron mallets quite still. And he entereth\ninto the castle, where he findeth within great plenty of folk\nthat all were misbelievers and of feeble belief. He seeth the\nbull of copper in the midst of the castle right big and horrible,\nthat was surrounded on all sides by folk that all did worship\nthereunto together round about.\n\nXII.\n\nThe bull bellowed so passing loud that right uneath was it to\nhear aught else within the castle besides. Perceval was\ntherewithin, but none was there that spake unto him, for, so\nintent were they upon adoring the bull that, and any had been\nminded to slay them what time they were yet worshipping the same,\nthey would have allowed him so to do, and would have thought that\nthey were saved thereby; and save this had they none other\nbelieve in the world. It was not of custom within there to be\narmed, for the entrance of the fortress was so strong that none\nmight enter but by their will and commandment, save it were the\npleasure of our Lord God. And the devil that had deceived them,\nand in whom they believed, gave them such great abundance\ntherewithin of everything they could desire, that nought in the\nworld was there whereof they lacked. When he perceived that they\nheld no discourse with him, he draweth himself on one side by a\ngreat hall, and so called them around him. The more part came\nthither, but some of them came not. The Voice warneth him that\nhe make them all pass through the entrance of the gateway there\nwhere the men with the iron mallets are, for there may he well\nprove which of them are willing to believe in God and which not.\nThe Good Knight draweth his sword and surroundeth them all and\nmaketh them all go in common before him, would they or nould\nthey. And they that would not go willingly and kindly might be\nsure that they should receive their death. He made them pass\nthrough the entrance there where the serjeants of copper were\nstriking great blows with their iron mallets. Of one thousand\nfive hundred that there were, scarce but thirteen were not all\nslain and brained of the iron mallets. But the thirteen had\nfirmly bound their belief in Our Lord, wherefore the serjeants\ntook no heed of them.\n\nXIII.\n\nThe evil spirit that was in the bull of copper issued forth\nthereof as it had been lightning from heaven, and the bull of\ncopper melted all in a heap so as that nought remained in that\nplace thereof. Then the thirteen that remained sent for a hermit\nof the forest and so made themselves be held up and baptized.\nAfter that, they took the bodies of the misbelievers and made\ncast them into a water that is called the River of Hell. This\nwater runneth into the sea, so say many that have seen it, and\nthere where it spendeth itself in the sea is it most foul and\nmost horrible, so that scarce may ship pass that is not wrecked.\n\nXIV.\n\nJosephus maketh record that the hermit that baptized the thirteen\nhad the name of Denis, and that the castle was named the Castle\nof the Trial. They lived within there until the New Law was\nassured and believed in throughout all the kingdoms, and a right\ngood life led they and a holy. Nor never might none enter with\nthem thereinto but was slain and crushed save he firmly believed\nin God. When the thirteen that were baptized in the castle\nissued forth thereof they scattered themselves on every side\namong strange forests, and made hermitages and buildings, and put\ntheir bodies to penance for the false law they had maintained and\nto win the love of the Saviour of the World.\n\nXV.\n\nPerceval, as you may hear, was soldier of Our Lord, and well did\nGod show him how He loved his knighthood, for the Good Knight had\nmuch pain and sore travail and pleased Him greatly. He was come\none day to the house of King Hermit that much desired to see him,\nand made much joy of him when he saw him, and rejoiced greatly of\nhis courage. Perceval relateth to him all the greater adventures\nthat have befallen him at many times and in many places sithence\nthat he departed from him, and King Hermit much marvelleth him of\nmany.\n\n\"Uncle,\" saith Perceval, \"I marvel me much of an adventure that\nbefell me at the outlet of a forest; for I saw a little white\nbeast that I found in the launde of the forest, and twelve hounds\nhad she in her belly, that bayed aloud and quested within her.\nAt last they issued forth of her and slew her beside the cross\nthat was at the outlet of the forest, but they might not eat of\nher flesh. A knight and a damsel, whereof one was at one end of\nthe launde and the other at the other, came thither and took the\nflesh and the blood, and set them in two vessels of gold. And\nthe hounds that were born of her fled away into the forest.\"\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" saith the Hermit, \"I know well that God loveth you\nsith that such things appear to you, for His valour and yours and\nfor the chastity that is in your body. The beast, that was\nkindly and gentle and sweet, signifieth Our Lord Jesus Christ,\nand the twelve dogs that yelped within her signify the people of\nthe Old Law that God created and made in His own likeness, and\nafter that He had made and created them He desired to prove how\nmuch they loved Him. He sent them forty years into the\nwilderness, where their garments never wasted, and sent them\nmanna from heaven that served them whatsoever they would to eat\nand to drink, and they were without evil and without trouble and\nwithout sickness, and such joy and pleasance had they as they\nwould. And they held one day their council, and the master of\nthem said that and God should wax wroth with them and withhold\nthis manna, they would have nought to eat, and that it might not\nlast always albeit that God sent it in so passing great plenty.\nWherefore they purposed to set aside great part thereof in store,\nso that if the Lord God should wax wroth they might take of that\nwhich was stored and so save themselves for a long space. They\nagreed among themselves and did thereafter as they had purposed\nand determined amongst them.\n\nXVI.\n\n\"God, that seeth and knoweth all things, knew well their thought.\nHe withdrew from them the manna from heaven that had come to them\nin such abundance, and which they had bestowed in caverns\nunderground, thinking to find there the manna they had set aside,\nbut it was changed by the will of God into efts and adders and\nworms and vermin, and when they saw that they had done evil, they\nscattered themselves over strange lands. Fair, sweet nephew,\"\nsaith the Hermit, \"These twelve hounds that bayed in the beast\nare the Jews that God had fed, and that were born in the Law that\nHe established, nor never would they believe on Him, nor love\nHim, but rather crucified Him and tore His Body after the\nshamefullest sort they might, but in no wise might they destroy\nHis flesh. The knight and damsel that set the pieces of flesh in\nvessels of gold signify the divinity of the Father, which would\nnot that His flesh should be minished. The hounds fled to the\nforest and became savage what time they had torn the beast to\npieces, so in like manner are the Jews that were and ever shall\nbe savage, subject to them of the New Law henceforth for ever.\"\n\nXVII.\n\n\"Fair uncle,\" saith Perceval, \"Good right and reason is it that\nthey should have shame and tribulation and evil reward sith that\nthey slew and crucified Him that had created and made them and\ndeigned to be born as a man in their Law. But two priests came\nafter, whereof the one kissed the cross and worshipped it right\nheartily and made great joy thereof, and the other did violence\nthereunto and bear it with a great rod, and wept right sore and\nmade the greatest dole in the world. With this last was I right\nsore wrath, and willingly would I have run upon him had he not\nbeen a priest.\"\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" saith the Hermit, \"He that beat it believed in God\nequally as well as he that adored, for that the holy flesh of the\nSaviour of the World was set thereon, that abhorred not the pains\nof death. One smiled and made great joy for that He redeemed His\nsouls from the pains of hell that would otherwise have been\ntherein for evermore; and for this made he yet greater joy, that\nhe knew He was God and Man everlastingly in His nature, for he\nthat hath not this in remembrance shall never believe aright.\nFair nephew, the other priest bear the cross and wept for the\npassing great anguish and torment and dolour that our Lord God\nsuffered thereon, for so sore was the anguish as might have\nmelted the rock, nor no tongue of man may tell the sorrow He felt\nupon the cross. And therefore did he bear it and revile it for\nthat He was crucified thereon, even as I might hate a spear or\nsword wherewith you had been slain. For nought else did he thus,\nand ever, so often as he remembereth the pain that God suffered\nthereon, cometh he to the cross in such manner as you saw. Both\ntwain are hermits and dwell in the forest, and he is named Jonas\nthat kissed and adored the cross, and he that beat and reviled it\nis named Alexis.\"\n\nXVIII.\n\nWillingly heareth Perceval this that his uncle telleth and\nrecordeth him. He relateth how he did battle with the devil-\nknight that bare in his shield the head of a dragon that cast\nforth fire and flame, and how the dragon burnt up his lord at the\nlast.\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" saith the hermit, \"Right glad am I of these\ntidings that you tell me, for I have been borne on hand that the\nKnight of the Golden Circlet had slain him.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"It may well be, but never at any time saw\nI knight so big and horrible.\"\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" saith the Hermit, \"None might overcome him save\nthe Good Knight only, for all true worshipful men behoveth do\nbattle with the Devil, nor never may he be worshipful man that\nfighteth not against him. And even as the devil withal that was\nfigured on his shield slew and burnt up his master, even so doth\none devil torment and molest other in the world to come; and\ngreater evil might not the Knight of the Devil do you than burn\nthe body o your uncle's son that he had killed, as I have heard\ntell. Power had he over his body, but, please God, not over his\nsoul to burn it.\"\n\n\"Fair uncle,\" saith Perceval, \"I went thither by a Turning\nCastle, where were archers of copper that shot bolts, and bears\nand lions chained at the entrance of the gateway. So soon as I\ndrew nigh and smote thereon with my sword the castle stopped\nstill.\"\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" said King Hermit, \"Nought had the Devil outwardly\nbesides this castle. It was the entrance to his fortress, nor\nwould they within ever have been converted save you had been\nthere.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"Right sorrowful am I of Messire Gawain and\nLancelot, for well I loved their fellowship, and great aid would\nthey have been in my need.\"\n\n\"Fair nephew, had they been chaste as are you, well might they\nhave entered on account of their good knighthood. For were they\nnot wanton, the two best knights in the world are they.\n\nXIX.\n\n\"Fair nephew, in the time of your knighthood have you much\nadvanced the Law of the Saviour, for you have destroyed the\nfalsest believe in the world, and this was of them that believed\non the bull of copper and the devil that was therein. If this\nfolk had remained, and had failed of you, never would it have\nbeen destroyed until the end of the world. Wherefore marvel not\nthat you have travail in serving God, but endure it willingly,\nfor never had worshipful man honour without pains. But now\nbehoveth you achieve another matter. All they of the land of\nKing Fisherman your uncle have abandoned the New Law, and\nreturned to that which God hath forbidden. But the most part do\nso rather perforce and for fear of the King that hath seized the\nland, who is my brother and your uncle, than on account of aught\nelse. Wherefore behoveth you set counsel therein, for this thing\nmay not be achieved by any earthly man save by you only. For the\ncastle and land should be yours of right, and sore mischief is it\nwhen one that cometh of lineage so high and so holy is traitor to\nGod, and disloyal to the world.\n\nXX.\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" saith the good man, \"The castle hath been much\nstrengthened, for there are now nine bridges newly made, and at\neach bridge are there three knights tall and strong and hardy,\nwhereof hath he much defence, and your uncle is there within that\nkeepeth the castle. But never sithence, none of the knights of\nKing Fisherman nor of his priests have there appeared, nor\nknoweth any what hath befallen them. The chapel wherein the most\nHoly Graal appeared is all emptied of its sacred hallows; the\nhermits that are by the forest are fain of your coming, for never\nsee they there a knight pass by that believeth in God. And so\nyou shall have achieved this enterprise, it is a thing whereof\nshall God be well pleased.\"\n\nXXI.\n\n\"Fair uncle,\" saith Perceval, \"Thither will I go, sith that you\ncommend it to me, for no reason is it that he should have the\ncastle that hath entered thereinto. Of better right ought my\nmother to have it, that was the next-born to King Fisherman, of\nwhose death am I right sorrowful.\"\n\n\"Fair nephew, you are right! for on your account fell he into\nlanguishment, and, had you then gone again, so say many, then\nwould he have been whole, but how this might have been I know not\nof a certainty. But methinketh our Lord God willed his\nlanguishment and death, for had it been His will, you would have\nmade the demand, but He willed otherwise, wherefore ought we to\ngive thanks and praise Him whatsoever He doth, for He hath\nforeseen of every man that which shall come to him. I have\nwithin here a white mule that is very old. Fair nephew, you will\ntake her with you. She will follow you right willingly, and a\nbanner shall you bear, for the power of God and His virtue shall\navail more than your own. Seven-and-twenty knights guard the\nnine bridges, all chosen and of approved great valour, and none\nought now to believe that a single knight may vanquish so many,\nsave the miracle of Our Lord and His virtue shall open a way for\nhim. So I pray and beseech you that you have God always in\nremembrance and His sweet Mother, and, so at any time you be put\nto the worse of your knighthood, mount upon the mule and take the\nbanner, and your enemies shall forthwith lose their force, for\nnought confoundeth any enemy so swiftly as doth the virtue and\npuissance of God. It is a thing well known that you are the Best\nKnight of the World, but set not affiance in your strength nor in\nyour knighthood as against so many knights, for against them may\nyou not endure.\"\n\nXXII.\n\nPerceval hearkeneth unto his uncle's discourse and his\nchastening, and layeth fast hold on all that he saith, wherewith\nis he pleased full well, for great affiance hath he in his words.\n\n\"Fair nephew,\" saith the Hermit, \"Two lions are there at the\nentry of the gateway, whereof the one is red and the other white.\nPut your trust in the white, for he is on God's side, and look at\nhim whensoever your force shall fail you, and he will look at you\nlikewise in such sort as that straightway you shall know his\nintent, by the will and pleasure of Our Saviour. Wherefore do\naccording as you shall see that he would, for no intent will he\nhave save good only, and to help you; nor may you not otherwise\nsucceed in winning past the nine bridges that are warded of the\ntwenty-seven knights. And God grant you may win past in such\nwise that you may save your body and set forward withal the Law\nof Our Lord that your uncle hath hindered all that he might.\"\n\nXXIII.\n\nPerceval departeth from the hermitage, and carrieth away the\nbanner, according to his uncle's counsel, and the white mule\nfolloweth after. He goeth his way toward the land that was the\nland of King Fisherman, and findeth a hermit that was issued\nforth of his hermitage and was going at a great pace through the\nforest. He abideth so soon as he beholdeth the cross on\nPerceval's shield.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"I well perceive that you are a Christian, of\nwhom not a single one have I seen this long time past. For the\nKing of Castle Mortal is driving us forth of this forest, for he\nhath renounced God and His sweet Mother, so that we durst not\nremain in His defence.\"\n\n\"By my faith,\" saith Perceval, \"But you shall! for God shall\nlead you forward, and I after. Are there more hermits in this\nforest?\" saith Perceval.\n\n\"Yea, Sir, there be twelve here that are waiting for me at a\ncross yonder before us, and we are minded to go to the kingdom of\nLogres and put our bodies to penance for God's sake, and to\nabandon our cells and chapels in this forest for dread of this\nfelon King that hath seized the land, for he willeth that none\nwho believeth in God should here abide.\"\n\nXXIV.\n\nPerceval is come with the hermit to the cross where the good men\nhad assembled them together, and findeth Joseus, the young man\nthat was King Pelles' son, of whom he maketh right great joy, and\nhe maketh the hermits turn back again with him, saying that he\nwill defend them and make them sate, by God's help, in the\nkingdom, and prayeth them right sweetly that they make prayer for\nhim to our Lord that He grant him to win back that which of right\nis his own. He is come forth of the forest and the hermits with\nhim. He draweth nigh to the castle of King Fisherman, and strong\nwas the defence at the entrance thereof. Some of the knights\nwell knew that Perceval would conquer him, for long since had it\nbeen prophesied that he who bare such shield should win the Graal\nof him that sold God for money.\n\nXXV.\n\nThe knights saw Perceval coming and the company of hermits with\nhim right seemly to behold, and much marvel had they thereof.\nAbout a couple of bowshots above the bridge was a chapel\nfashioned like the one at Camelot, wherein was a sepulchre, and\nnone knew who lay therein. Perceval abideth thereby and his\ncompany. He leaneth his shield and spear against the chapel, and\nmaketh fast his horse and mule by the reins. He beholdeth the\nsepulchre, that was fight fair, and forthwith the sepulchre\nopeneth and the joinings fall apart and the stone lifteth up in\nsuch wise that a man might see the knight that lay within, of\nwhom came forth a smell of so sweet savour that it seemed to the\ngood men that were looking on that it had been all embalmed.\nThey found a letter which testified that this knight was named\nJosephus. So soon as the hermits beheld the sepulchre open, they\nsaid to Perceval: \"Sir, now at last know we well that you are the\nGood Knight, the chaste, the holy.\"\n\nThe knights that warded the bridge heard the tidings that the\nsepulchre had opened at the coming of the knight, whereof were\nthey in the greater dismay, and well understood that it was he\nthat was first at the Graal. The tidings came to the King that\nheld the castle, and he bade his knights not be dismayed for\ndread of a single knight, for that he would have no force nor\npower against them, nor might it never befall but that one only\nof his own knights should be enough to conquer him.\n\nXXVI.\n\nPerceval was armed upon his horse. The hermits make the sign of\nthe cross over him, and bless him and commend him to God. And he\nholdeth his spear in rest and cometh toward the three knights\nthat guard the first bridge. They all set upon him at once and\nbreak their spears upon his shield. One of them he smiteth with\nsuch force that he maketh him topple over into the river that\nrunneth under the bridge, both him and his horse. Of him was he\nquit, for the river was wide and deep and swift. The others held\nout against him a much longer bout with sharp sword-play, but he\nvanquished them and smote them to pieces, and flung their bodies\ninto the water. They of the second bridge came forward, that\nwere right good knights, and many a tough bout had he of them and\nmany a felon onslaught. Joseus that was his uncle's son was\nthere, and said to the other hermits that right fainly would he\ngo help him, but that he deemed it might be sin, and they bade\nhim take no heed of that, for that great work of mercy would it\nbe to destroy the enemies of Our Lord. He doeth off his grey\ncape and fettleth him in his frock, and taketh one of them that\nwere doing battle with Perceval and trusseth him on his neck and\nso flingeth him into the river all armed, and Perceval slayeth\nthe other twain and hurleth them into the river in like manner as\nthe other.\n\nXXVII.\n\nBy the time he had won the two bridges he was full spent and\nweary, wherefore he bethinketh him of the lion, the manner\nwhereof his uncle had told him. Then looketh he toward the\nentrance of the gateway and seeth the white lion, that stood\nupright on his two hinder feet, for that he was fain to see him.\nPerceval looketh him full between the two eyes, and understandeth\nthat the lion is minded by the will of God to do him to wit that\nthe knights of the third bridge are so hardy and of such strength\nthat they may not be overcome of a single knight and our Lord God\nof his holy bounty open not the way, but that he must fain take\nthe mule and carry the banner if he would conquer them. Perceval\nunderstandeth the white lion's intent, and giveth God thanks\nthereof and draweth him back, and Joseus the young man likewise.\nAs soon as they look back, they see that the first bridge is\nalready lifted up behind them.\n\nXXVIII.\n\nPerceval cometh to where the white mule was, and she was starred\non the forehead with a red cross. He mounteth thereupon, and\ntaketh the banner and holdeth his sword drawn. So soon as the\nwhite lion seeth him coming, he unchaineth himself and runneth\nincontinent to the bridge that was lifted, right amidst the\nknights, and lowereth it forthwith. The King of Castle Mortal\nwas on the battlements of the greater fortress of the castle, and\ncrieth to the knights that warded the bridge, \"Lords,\" saith he,\n\"You are the most chosen knights of my land and the hardiest, but\nno hardiment is it to lift the bridges on account of a single\nknight whom you durst not abide body to body, whereof meseemeth\nit great cowardize and not hardiment. But the lion is hardier\nthan you all, that of his hardiment hath lowered the bridge.\nWherefore now know I well that had I set him to ward the first\nbridge, he would have warded it better than these that have\nallowed themselves to be slain.\"\n\nXXIX.\n\nThereupon, behold you Perceval come upon his white mule, sword\ndrawn all naked in his fist, and cometh toward them of the third\nbridge, whereof he smiteth the first so sore that he overthroweth\nhim into the water. Joseus the hermit cometh forward and would\nfain have seized the other twain, but they cry mercy of Perceval,\nand say that they will be at his will in all things, and so will\nbelieve on God and His sweet Mother and abandon their evil lord.\nAnd they of the fourth bridge say likewise. On such condition he\nalloweth them to live by the counsel of Joseus, and they cast\naway their arms and yield up the bridges at his will. Perceval\nthinketh within himself that God's virtue hath right great power,\nbut that knight who hath force and power ought well to approve\nhis prowess for God's sake. For of all that he shall do or\nsuffer for Him, shall God be well pleased. For, were all the\nworld against our Lord God, and He should grant to any single one\nthat should be His champion all His power and might, he would\nconquer them all in one hour of the day. But He willeth that a\nman should travail for Him, even as He Himself suffered travail\nfor His people.\n\nXXX.\n\nPerceval cometh again back and alighteth of the white mule and\ndelivereth the banner to Joseus, and then mounteth again on his\ndestrier and cometh back to them of the fifth bridge, and these\ndefend themselves right stoutly, for that hardy knights are they,\nand do battle against Perceval full sturdily. Joseus the hermit\ncometh thither and assaulteth them with passing great lustihood,\nthat had the Lord God not saved him they would have overthrown\nand slain him. Howbeit, he holdeth the banner and grappleth them\nwhen he may lay hold, and grippeth them so straight that they may\nnot help themselves. Perceval slayeth them and crusheth them and\nmaketh them topple over into the water that ran swiftly beneath\nthe bridge. When they of the sixth bridge saw that these were\nconquered, they cried mercy of Perceval and yielded themselves to\nhim and delivered up their swords to him, and they of the seventh\nbridge likewise. When the red lion saw that the seventh bridge\nwas Won, and that the knights of the two bridges had yielded\nthemselves up to Perceval, he leapt up with such fury that he\nburst his chain as had he been wood mad. He came to one of the\nknights and bit him and slew him, whereof the white lion was full\nwroth, and runneth upon the other lion and teareth him to pieces\nwith his claws and teeth.\n\nXXXI.\n\nStraightway thereafter he raiseth himself up on his two hinder\nfeet and looketh at Perceval, and Perceval at him. Perceval\nunderstandeth well the lion's intent, to wit, that they of the\nlast bridge are worse to conquer than the others, and that they\nmay not be conquered at all save by the will of God and by him\nthat is the lion. And the lion warned him that he go not against\nthem with the banner, holy though it were, nor receive them into\nmercy what surety soever they might make, for that they are\ntraitors, but that he must fain mount upon the white mule, for\nthat she is a beast on God's side, and that Joseus should bring\nthe banner and all the hermits go before, that are worshipful men\nand of good life, so as to dismay the traitor King, and so shall\nthe end and the conquest of the castle be brought nigh. Of all\nthis the lion made signs to Perceval, for speak he could not.\nGreat affiance hath Perceval in the lion's warning. He alighteth\nof his destrier and remounteth on the mule, and Joseus holdeth\nthe banner. The company of twelve hermits was there, right\nseemly and holy. They draw nigh the castle. The knights on the\nlast bridge see Perceval coming towards them and Joseus the\nhermit holding the banner, by whom they had seen their other\nfellows wrestled withal and put to the worse.\n\nXXXII.\n\nThe virtue of Our Lord and the dignity of the banner and the\ngoodness of the white mule and the holiness of the good hermits\nthat made their orisons to Our Lord so struck the knights that\nthey lost all power over themselves, but treason might not go\nforth of their hearts, wherefore right heavy were they of their\nkinsmen that they had seen slain before them. They bethought\nthem that and if by mercy they might escape thence, they would\nnever end until they had slain Perceval. They come to meet him\nand so cry him mercy passing sweetly in semblance, and say that\nthey will do his will for ever and ever, so only he will let them\ndepart safe and sound. Perceval looketh at the lion to know what\nhe shall do; he seeth that the lion thinketh them traitors and\ndisloyal, and that so they were destroyed and dead the King that\nwas in the castle would have lost his force; and that, so\nPerceval will run upon them, the lion will help him slay them.\nPerceval telleth the knights that never will he have mercy upon\nthem, and forthwith runneth upon them, sword drawn, and sorely it\nmisliked him that they defended not themselves, insomuch that he\nall but left to slay them for that no defence found he in them.\nBut the lion is so far from holding them in the like disdain,\nthat he runneth upon them and biteth and slayeth them, and then\ncasteth forth their limbs and bodies into the water. Perceval\nalloweth that this is well and seemly, and pleaseth him much of\nthat he seeth the lion do, nor never before had he seen any beast\nthat he might love and prize so highly as this one.\n\nXXXIII.\n\nThe King of Castle Mortal was on the battlements of the wall, and\nseeth how his knights are dead, and how the lion helpeth to slay\nthe last. He setteth himself on the highest place of the walls,\nthen lifteth the skirt of his habergeon and holdeth his sword all\nnaked, that was right keen and well-tempered, and so smiteth\nhimself right through the body, and falleth all adown the walls\ninto the water, that was swift and deep, in such sort that\nPerceval saw him, and all the good hermits likewise, that\nmarvelled much of a King that should slay himself in such manner;\nbut they say according to the judgment of the scripture, that by\nright of evil man should the end be evil. On such wise was the\nend of this King of whom I tell you. Josephus relateth us how\nnone ought to marvel that of three brothers, even though they be\nsons of the same father and mother, one brother should be evil;\nand the real marvel, saith he, is when one evil corrupteth not\nthe two that are good, for that wickedness is so hard and keen\nand beguiling, and goodness so kindly and simple and humble.\nCain and Abel were brothers-german, yet Cain slew his brother\nAbel, the one flesh betrayed the other. But great sorrow is it,\nsaith Josephus, when the flesh that ought to be one becometh\ntwain, and the one flesh goeth about by wickedness to deceive and\ndestroy the other. Josephus recordeth us by this evil king that\nwas so traitorous and false and yet was of the lineage of the\nGood Soldier Joseph of Abarimacie. This Joseph, as the scripture\nwitnesseth, was his uncle, and this evil king was brother-german\nof King Fisherman, and brother of the good King Pelles that had\nabandoned his land, in order that he might serve God, and brother\nof the Widow Lady that was Perceval's mother, the most loyal that\nwas ever in Great Britain. All these lineages were in the\nservice of Our Lord from the beginning of their lives unto the\nend, save only this evil King that perished so evilly as you have\nheard.\n\nXXXIV.\n\nYou have heard how the King that had seized the castle that had\nbeen King Fisherman's slew himself in such wise, and how his\nknights were discomfited. Perceval entered into the castle and\nthe worshipful hermits together with him. It seemed them when\nthey were come within into the master hall, that they heard chant\nin an inner chapel `Gloria in excelsis Deo', and right sweet\npraising of Our Lord. They found the hails right rich and seemly\nand fairly adorned within. They found the chapel open where the\nsacred hallows were wont to be. The holy hermits entered therein\nand made their orisons, and prayed the Saviour of the World that\nHe would swiftly restore to them the most Holy Graal and the\nsacred hallows that wont to be therewithin whereby they might be\ncomforted.\n\nXXXV.\n\nThe good men were there within with Perceval, that much loved\ntheir company. Josephus witnesseth us that the ancient knights\nthat were of the household of King Fisherman, and the priests and\ndamsels, departed so soon as the King that slew himself had\nseized the castle, for that they would not be at his court, and\nthe Lord God preserved them from him and made them go into such a\nplace as that they should be in safety. The Saviour of the World\nwell knew that the Good Knight had won the castle by his valour\nthat should have been his own of right, and sent back thither all\nthem that had served King Fisherman. Perceval made right great\njoy of them when he saw them, and they of him. They seemed well\nto be a folk that had come from some place where God and His\ncommandments were honoured, and so indeed had they.\n\nXXXVI.\n\nThe High History witnesseth us that when the conquest of the\ncastle was over, the Saviour of the World was right joyous and\nwell pleased thereof. The Graal presented itself again in the\nchapel, and the lance whereof the point bleedeth, and the sword\nwherewith St John was beheaded that Messire Gawain won, and the\nother holy relics whereof was right great plenty. For our Lord\nGod loved the place much. The hermits went back to their\nhermitages in the forest and served Our Lord as they had been\nwont. Joseus remained with Perceval at the castle as long as it\npleased him, but the Good Knight searched out the land there\nwhere the New Law had been abandoned and its maintenance\nneglected. He reft the lives of them that would not maintain it\nand believe. The country was supported by him and made safe, and\nthe Law of Our Lord exalted by his strength and valour. The\npriests and knights that repaired to the castle loved Perceval\nmuch, for, so far from his goodness minishing in ought, they saw\nfrom day to day how his valour and his faith in God increased and\nmultiplied. And he showed them the sepulchre of his uncle King\nFisherman in the chapel before the altar. The coffin was rich\nand the tabernacle costly and loaded of precious stones. And the\npriests and knights bear witness that as soon as the body was\nplaced in the coffin and they were departed thence, they found on\ntheir return that it was covered by the tabernacle all dight as\nrichly as it is now to be seen, nor might they know who had set\nit there save only the commandment of Our Lord. And they say\nthat every night was there a great brightness of light as of\ncandles there, and they knew not whence it should come save of\nGod. Perceval had won the castle by the command of God. The\nGraal was restored in the holy chapel, and the other hallows as\nyou have heard. The evil believe was done away from the kingdom,\nand all were assured again in the New Law by the valour of the\nGood Knight.",
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