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    "endpoint": "/api/sources/grail-romances/high-history-of-the-holy-graal/36-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-xxxv.json"
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  "work": {
    "slug": "high-history-of-the-holy-graal",
    "name": "High History of the Holy Graal"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "grail-romances",
      "name": "Holy Grail Romances",
      "url": "/sources/grail-romances/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 36,
    "slug": "36-the-high-history-of-the-holy-graal-branch-xxxv",
    "title": "The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch XXXV",
    "of": 36,
    "words": 9810,
    "text": "## The High History of the Holy Graal: Branch XXXV\n\n\nTITLE I.\n\nHerewithal is the story silent of Briant and talketh of Perceval,\nthat the ship beareth away right swiftly; but so long hath he\nheld battle therein that every one hath he slain of them that\nwere in the ship save only the pilot that steereth her, for him\nhath he in covenant that he will believe in God and renounce his\nevil Law. Perceval is far from land so that he seeth nought but\nsea only, and the ship speedeth onward, and God guideth him, as\none that believeth in Him and loveth Him and serveth Him of a\ngood heart. The ship ran on by night and by day as it pleased\nGod, until that they saw a castle and an island of the sea. He\nasked his pilot if he knew what castle it was.\n\n\"Certes,\" saith he, \"Not I, for so far have we run that I know\nnot neither the sea nor the stars.\"\n\nThey come nigh the castle, and saw four that sounded bells at the\nfour corners of the town, right sweetly, and they that sounded\nthem were clad in white garments. They are come thither.\n\nII.\n\nSo soon as the ship had taken haven under the castle, the sea\nwithdraweth itself back, so that the ship is left on dry land.\nNone were therein save Perceval, his horse, and the pilot. They\nissued forth of the ship and went by the side of the sea toward\nthe castle, and therein were the fairest halls and the fairest\nmansions that any might see ever. He Looketh underneath a tree\nthat was tall and broad and seeth the fairest fountain and the\nclearest that any may devise, and it was all surrounded of rich\npillars, and the gravel thereof seemed to be gold and precious\nstones. Above this fountain were two men sitting, their beards\nand hair whiter than driven snow, albeit they seemed young of\nvisage. So soon as they saw Perceval they dressed them to meet\nhim, and bowed down and worshipped the shield that he bare at his\nneck, and kissed the cross and then the boss wherein were the\nhallows.\n\n\"Sir,\" say they, \"Marvel not of this that we do, for well knew we\nthe knight that bare this shield tofore you. Many a time we saw\nhim or ever God were crucified.\"\n\nPerceval marvelleth much of this that they say, for they talk of\na time that is long agone.\n\nIII.\n\n\"Lords, know ye then how he was named?\"\n\nSay they, \"Joseph of Abarimacie, but no cross was there on the\nshield before the death of Jesus Christ. But he had it set\nthereon after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the sake of the\nSaviour that he loved so well.\"\n\nPerceval took off the shield from his neck, and one of the\nworshipful men setteth upon it as it were a posy of herbs that\nwas blooming with the fairest flowers in the world. Perceval\nlooketh beyond the fountain and seeth in a right fair place a\nround vessel like as it were ivory, and it was so large that\nthere was a knight within, all armed. He looketh thereinto and\nseeth the knight, and speaketh unto him many times, but never the\nmore willeth the knight to answer him. Perceval looketh at him\nin wonderment, and cometh back to the good men and asketh them\nwho is this knight, and they tell him that he may know not as\nyet. They lead him to a great hall and bear his shield before\nhim, whereof they make right great joy, and show thereunto great\nworship. He seeth the hall right rich, for hall so rich and so\nfair had he seen never. It was hung about with right rich cloths\nof silk, and in the midst of the hall was imaged the Saviour of\nthe World so as He is in His majesty, with the apostles about\nHim, and within were great galleries that were full of folk and\nseemed to be of great holiness, and so were they, for had they\nnot been good men they might not there have remained.\n\nIV.\n\n\"Sir,\" say the two Masters to Perceval, \"This house that you see\nhere so rich, is the hall royal.\"\n\n\"By my faith,\" saith Perceval, \"So ought it well to be, for never\nsaw I none so much of worth.\"\n\nHe Looketh all around, and seeth the richest tables of gold and\nivory that he saw ever. One of the Masters clappeth his hands\nthrice, and three and thirty men come into the hall all in a\ncompany. They were clad in white garments, and not one of them\nbut had a red cross in the midst of his breast, and they seemed\nto be all of an age. As soon as they enter into the hall they do\nworship to God Our Lord and set out their cups. Then went they\nto wash at a great laver of gold, and then went to sit at the\ntables. The Masters made Perceval sit at the most master-table\nwith themselves. They were served thereat right gloriously, and\nPerceval looked about him more gladlier than he ate.\n\nV.\n\nAnd while he was thus looking, he seeth a chain of gold come down\nabove him loaded with precious stones, and in the midst thereof\nwas a crown of gold. The chain descended a great length and held\non to nought save to the will of Our Lord only. As soon as the\nMasters saw it descending they opened a great wide pit that was\nin the midst of the hall, so that one could see the hole all\nopenly. As soon as the entrance of this pit was discovered,\nthere issued thence the greatest cry and most dolorous that any\nheard ever, and when the worshipful men hear it, they stretched\nout their hands towards Our Lord and all began to weep. Perceval\nheareth this dolour, and marvelleth much what it may be. He\nseeth that the chain of gold descendeth thither and is there\nstayed until they have well-nigh eaten, and then draweth itself\nagain into the air and so goeth again aloft. But Perceval\nknoweth not what became thereof, and the Master covereth the pit\nagain, that was right grisly to see, and pitiful to hear were the\nvoices that issued therefrom.\n\nVI.\n\nThe Good Men rose from the tables when they had eaten, and gave\nthanks right sweetly to Our Lord; and then returned thither\nwhence they had come.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the Master to Perceval, \"The chain of gold that you\nhave seen is right precious and the crown of gold likewise. But\nnever may you issue forth from hence save you promise to return\nso soon as you shall see the ship and the sail crossed of a red\ncross; otherwise may you not depart hence.\"\n\n\"Tell me,\" saith he, \"of the chain of gold and the crown, what it\nmay be?\"\n\n\"We will tell you not,\" saith one of the Masters, \"Save you\npromise that which I tell you.\"\n\n\"Certes, Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"I promise you faithfully, that so\nsoon as I shall have done that I have to do for my lady my mother\nand one other, that I will return hither, so I be on live and I\nsee your ship so marked as you say.\"\n\n\"Yea, be you faithful to the end herein, and you shall have the\ncrown of gold upon your head so soon as you return, and so shall\nyou be seated in the throne, and shall be king of an island that\nis near to this, right plenteous of all things good, for nought\nis there in the world that is there lacking that is needful for\nman's body. King Hermit was the king thereof that thus hath\ngarnished it, and for that he approved himself so well in this\nkingdom, and that they who are in the island consented thereto,\nis he chosen to be king of a greater realm. Now they desire that\nanother worshipful man be sent them for king, that shall do for\nthem as much good as did he, but take you good heed, sith that\nyou will be king therein, that the island be well garnished; for,\nand you garnish it not well, you will be put into the Poverty-\nstricken Island, the crying whereof you have but now since heard,\nand the crown thereof will again be reft from you. For they that\nhave been kings of the Plenteous Island and have not well\napproved them, are among the folk that you saw in the Poverty-\nstricken Island, lacking in all things good. And so I tell you\nthat King Hermit, whom you will succeed, hath sent thither a\ngreat part of his folk. There are the heads sealed in silver,\nand the heads sealed in lead, and the bodies whereunto these\nheads belonged; I tell you that you must make come thither the\nhead both of the King and of the Queen. But of the other I tell\nyou that they are in the Poverty-stricken Island. But we know\nnot whether they shall ever issue forth thence.\"\n\nVII.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"Tell me of the knight that is all armed\nin the ivory vessel, who he is, and what is the name of this\ncastle?\"\n\n\"You may not know,\" saith the Master, \"until your return. But\ntell me tidings of the most Holy Graal, that you reconquered, is\nit still in the holy chapel that was King Fisherman's?\"\n\n\"Yea, Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"And the sword wherewith S. John was\nbeheaded, and other hallows in great plenty.\"\n\n\"I saw the Graal,\" saith the Master, \"or ever Joseph, that was\nuncle to King Fisherman, collected therein the blood or Jesus\nChrist. Know that well am I acquainted with all your lineage,\nand of what folk you were born. For your good knighthood and for\nyour good cleanness and for your good valour came you in hither,\nfor such was Our Lord's will, and take heed that you be ready\nwhen place shall be, and time shall come, and you shall see the\nship apparelled.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"Most willingly shall I return, nor never\nwould I have sought to depart but for my lady my mother, and for\nmy sister, for never have I seen no place that so much hath\npleased me.\"\n\nHe was right well harboured the night within, and in the morning,\nor ever he departed, heard a holy mass in a holy chapel the\nfairest that he had seen ever. The Master cometh to him after\nthe mass and bringeth him a shield as white as snow. Afterwards,\nhe saith, \"You will leave me your shield within for token of your\ncoming and will bear this.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"I will do your pleasure.\"\n\nHe hath taken leave, and so departeth from the rich mansion, and\nfindeth the ship all apparelled, and heareth sound the bells at\nhis forth-going the same as at his coming. He entereth into the\nship and the sail is set. He leaveth the land far behind, and\nthe pilot steereth the ship and Our Lord God guideth and leadeth\nhim. The ship runneth a great speed, for far enough had she to\nrun, but God made her speed as He would, for He knew the passing\ngreat goodness and worth of the knight that was within.\n\nVIII.\n\nGod hath guided and led the ship by day and by night until that\nshe arrived at an island where was a castle right ancient, but it\nseemed not to be over-rich, rather it showed as had it been of\ngreat lordship in days of yore. They cast anchor, and Perceval\nis come toward the castle and entereth in all armed. He seeth\nthe castle large, and the dwelling chambers fallen down and the\nhouse-place roofless, and he seeth a lady sitting before the\nsteps of an old hall. She rose up as soon as she saw him, but\nshe was right poorly clad. It seemed well by her body and her\ncheer and her bearing that she was a gentlewoman, and he seeth\nthat two damsels come with her that are young of age and are as\npoorly clad as is the lady.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she to Perceval, \"Welcome may you be. No knight\nhave I seen enter this castle of a long time.\"\n\n\"Lady,\" saith Perceval, \"God grant you joy and honour!\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Need have we thereof, for none scarce have I\nhad this long while past.\"\n\nShe leadeth him into a great ancient hall that was right poorly\ngarnished.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Here will you harbour you the night, and you\nwould take in good part that we may do and you knew the plight of\nthis castle.\"\n\nShe maketh him be unarmed of a servant that was there within, and\nthe damsels come before him and serve him right sweetly. The\nlady bringeth him a mantle to do on.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Within are no better garments wherewith to\nshow you honour than this.\"\n\nPerceval looketh on the damsels and hath great pity of them, for\nso well shapen were they of limb and body as that nature might\nnot have better fashioned them, and all the beauty that may be in\nwoman's body was in them, and all the sweetness and simpleness.\n\nIX.\n\n\"Lady,\" saith Perceval, \"Is this castle, then, not yours?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"So much is all that remaineth unto me of all\nmy land, and you see there my daughters of whom is it right sore\npity, for nought have they but what you see, albeit gentlewomen\nare they and of high lineage, but their kinsfolk are too far\naway, and a knight that is right cruel hath reft us of our land\nsithence that my lord was dead, and holdeth a son of mine in his\nprison, whereof I am right sorrowful, for he is one of the\ncomeliest knights in the world. He had not been knight more than\nfour years when he took him, and now may I aid neither myself nor\nother, but I have heard tell that there is a knight in the land\nof Wales that was the son of Alain li Gros of the Valleys of\nCamelot, and he is the Best Knight in the World, and this Alain\nwas brother of Calobrutus, whose wife was I, and of whom I had my\nson and these two daughters. This know I well, that and the Good\nKnight that is so near akin to them were by any adventure to come\ninto this island, I should have my son again, and my daughters\nthat are disherited would have their lands again freely, and so\nshould I be brought out of sore pain and poverty. I am of\nanother lineage that is full far away, for King Ban of Benoic\nthat is dead was mine uncle, but he hath a son that is a right\ngood knight as I have been told, so that and one of these two\nshould come nigh me in any of these islands right joyous should I\nbe thereof.\"\n\nX.\n\nPerceval heareth that the two damsels are his uncle's daughters,\nand hath great pity thereof.\n\n\"Lady,\" saith he, \"How is he named that is in prison?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Galobruns, and he that holdeth him in prison\nis named Gohaz of the Castle of the Whale.\"\n\n\"Is his castle near this, Lady?\" saith he.\n\n\"Sir, there is but an arm of the sea to cross, and in all these\nislands of the sea is there none that hath any puissance but he\nonly, and so assured is he that no dread hath he of any. For\nnone that is in this land durst offend against him. Sir, one\nthing hath he bid me do, whereof I am sore grieved, that and I\nsend him not one of my daughters, he hath sworn his oath that he\nwill reave me of my castle.\"\n\n\"Lady,\" saith Perceval, \"An oath is not always kept. To the two\ndamsels, please God, shall he do no shame, and right heavy am I\nof that he hath done already, for they were daughters of mine\nuncle. Alain li Gros was my father and Galobrutus my uncle, and\nmany another good man that now is dead.\"\n\nXI.\n\nWhen the damsels heard this, they kneeled down before him, and\nbegan to weep for joy and kiss his hands, and pray him for God's\nsake have mercy on them and on their brother. And he saith that\nhe will not depart from their land until he hath done all he may.\nHe remaineth the night in the castle and his mariner likewise.\nThe lady made great joy of Perceval, and did him all the honour\nshe might. When the morrow came they showed him the land of the\nKing that had reft them of their land, but the lady could not\ntell him where her son was in prison. He departeth and cometh\nback to his ship when he hath taken leave of the lady and the\ndamsels, and right glad was he to know that the damsels were so\nnigh to him of kin. So he prayeth God grant him that he may be\nable to give them back their land and bring them out of the\npoverty wherein they are. He roweth until that he is come under\na rock, wherein was a cave at top round and narrow and secure\nlike as it were a little house. Perceval looketh on that side,\nand seeth a man sitting within. He maketh the ship draw nigh the\nrock, then looketh and seeth the cutting of a way that went\nupwards through the rock. He is come forth of the ship and goeth\nup the little path until he cometh into the little house. He\nfindeth within one of the comeliest knights in the world. He had\na ring at his feet and a collar on his neck with a chain whereof\nthe other end was fixed by a staple into a great ledge of the\nrock. He rose up over against Perceval as soon as he saw him.\n\n\"Sir Knight,\" saith Perceval, \"You are well made fast.\"\n\n\"Sir, that irketh me,\" saith the knight, \"Better should I like\nmyself elsewhere than here.\"\n\n\"You would be right,\" saith Perceval, \"For you are in right evil\nplight in the midst of this sea. Have you aught within to eat or\nto drink?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"The daughter of the Sick Knight that dwelleth\nin the island hard by, sendeth me every day in a boat as much\nmeat as I may eat, for she hath great pity of me. The King that\nhath imprisoned me here hath reft her castles like as he hath\nthose of my lady my mother.\"\n\n\"May none remove you hence?\"\n\n\"Sir, in no wise, save he that set me here, for he keepeth with\nhim the key of the lock, and he told me when he departed hence\nthat never more should I issue forth.\"\n\n\"By my head,\" saith Perceval, \"but you shall! And you were the\nson of Galobrutus, you were the son of mine uncle,\" saith\nPerceval, \"and I of yours, so that it would be a reproach to me\nfor evermore and I left you in this prison.\"\n\nXII.\n\nWhen Galobruns heareth that he is his uncle's son, great joy hath\nhe thereof. He would have fallen at his feet, but Perceval would\nnot, and said to him, \"Now be well assured, for I will seek your\ndeliverance.\"\n\nHe cometh down from the rock, and so entereth the ship and roweth\nof a long space. He looketh before him and seeth a right rich\nisland and a right plenteous, and on the other side he seeth in a\nlittle islet a knight that is mounted up in a tall tree that was\nright broad with many boughs. There was a damsel with him, that\nhad climbed up also for dread of a serpent, great and evil-\nfavoured that had issued from a hole in a mountain. The damsel\nseeth Perceval's ship coming, and crieth out to him.\n\n\"Ha, Sir,\" saith she, \"Come to help this King that is up above,\nand me that am a damsel!\"\n\n\"Whereof are you afeard, damsel?\" saith Perceval.\n\n\"Of a great serpent, Sir,\" saith she, \"that hath made us climb\nup, whereof ought I not to be sorry, for this King hath carried\nme off from my father's house, and would have done me shame of my\nbody and this serpent had not run upon him.\"\n\n\"And what is the King's name, damsel?\" saith Perceval.\n\n\"Sir, he is called Gohaz of the Castle of the Whale. This great\nland is his own that is so plenteous, and other lands enow that\nhe hath reft of my father and of other.\"\n\nThe King had great shame of this that the damsel told him, and\nmade answer never a word. Perceval understandeth that it was he\nthat held his cousin in prison, and is issued from the ship\nforthwith, sword drawn. The serpent seeth him, and cometh toward\nhim, jaws yawning, and casteth forth fire and flame in great\nplenty. Perceval thrusteth his sword right through the gullet.\n\n\"Now may you come down,\" saith he to the King.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"The key of a chain wherewith a certain knight\nis bound hath fallen, and the serpent seized it.\"\n\nPerceval rendeth open the throat and findeth the key forthwith,\nall red-hot with the fire of the serpent. The King cometh down,\nthat hath no dread of aught, but cometh, rather, as he ought, to\nthank Perceval of the goodness he had done him, and Perceval\nseizeth him between his arms and beareth him away to the ship.\n\nXIII.\n\n\"Sir Knight,\" saith Gohaz, \"Take heed what you do, for I am King\nof this land.\"\n\n\"Therefore,\" saith Perceval, \"I do it. For, had it been another\nI should do it not.\"\n\n\"Ha, Sir,\" saith the damsel, \"Leave me not here to get forth as I\nmay, but help me until that I shall be in the house of my father,\nthe Sick Knight, that is sore grieved on my account.\"\n\nPerceval understandeth that it is the damsel of whom Galobruns\nspake such praise. He goeth to bring her down from the tree,\nthen bringeth her into the ship, and so goeth back toward the\nrock where his cousin was.\n\n\"Sir Knight,\" saith Gohaz, \"Where will you put me?\"\n\n\"I will put you,\" saith he, \"as an enemy, there, where you have\nput the son of mine uncle in prison; so shall I avenge me of you,\nand he also at his will.\"\n\nWhen the King heard this, he was glad thereof not a whit, and the\ndamsel was loath not a whit, whom he had thus disherited. They\nrow until they come to the rock. Perceval issueth forth of the\nship, and bringeth Gohaz up maugre his head. Galobruns seeth him\ncoming and maketh great joy thereof, and Perceval saith to him:\n\"Behold here your mortal enemy! Now do your will of him!\"\n\nHe taketh the key and so looseth him of the irons wherein he was\nimprisoned.\n\nXIV.\n\n\"Galobruns,\" saith Perceval, \"Now may you do your pleasure of\nyour enemy?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"Right gladly!\"\n\nHe maketh fast the irons on his feet that he had upon his own,\nand afterward setteth the collar on his neck.\n\n\"Now let him be here,\" saith he, \"in such sort and in such prison\nas he put me; for well I know that he will be succoured of none.\"\n\nAfter that, he flingeth the key into the sea as far as he might,\nand so seemed it to Galobruns that he well avenged himself in\nsuch wise, and better than if he had killed him. Perceval\nalloweth him everything therein at his will. They enter into the\nship and leave Gohaz all sorrowing on the rock, that never\nthereafter are nor drank. And Perceval bringeth his cousin and\nthe damsel, and they row until that they come into their land,\nand Perceval maketh send for all the folk of King Gohaz and\nmaketh all the more powerful do sure homage to Galobruns and his\nsisters in such sort that the land was all at their will. He\nsojourned there so long as it pleased him, and then departed and\ntook leave of the damsel and Galobruns, that thanked him much for\nthe lands that he had again through him.\n\nXV.\n\nPerceval hath rowed until that he is come nigh a castle that was\nburning fiercely with a great flame, and seeth a hermitage upon\nthe sea hard by. He seeth the hermit at the door of the chapel,\nand asketh him what the castle is that hath caught fire thus.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the hermit, \"I will tell you. Joseus, the son of\nKing Pelles, slew his mother there. Never sithence hath the\ncastle stinted of burning, and I tell you that of this castle and\none other will be kindled the fire that shall burn up the world\nand put it to an end.\"\n\nPerceval marvelleth much, and knew well that it was the castle of\nKing Hermit his uncle. He departeth thence in great haste, and\npasseth three kingdoms and saileth by the wastes and deserts on\none side and the other of the sea, for the ship ran somewhat\na-nigh the land. He looketh and seeth on an island twelve\nhermits sitting on the seashore. The sea was calm and\nuntroubled, and he made cast the anchor so as to keep the ship\nsteady. Then he saluteth the hermits, and they all bow down\nto him in answer. He asketh them where have they their repair,\nand they tell him that they have not far away twelve chapels and\ntwelve houses that surround a grave-yard wherein lie twelve dead\nknights that we keep watch over. They were all brothers-german,\nand right worshipful men, and none thereof lived more than twelve\nyears knight save one only, and none of them was there but won\nmuch land and broad kingdoms from the misbelievers, and they all\ndied in arms; and the name of the eldest was Alain li Gros, and\nhe came into this country from the Valleys of Camelot to avenge\nhis brother Alibans of the Waste City that the Giant King had\nslain, and he took vengeance on him thereof, but he died\nthereafter of a wound that the Giant had given him.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith one of the hermits, \"I was at his death, but nought\nwas there he so longed after as a son of his, and he said that\nhis name was Perceval. He was the last of the brothers that\ndied.\"\n\nXVI.\n\nWhen Perceval heard this he had pity thereof, and issued forth of\nthe ship and came to land, and his mariner with him. He prayed\nthe hermits that they would lead him to the graveyard where the\nknights lay, and gladly did they so. Perceval is come thither\nand seeth the coffins right rich and fair, and the chapels full\nfairly dight, and every coffin lay over against the altar in each\nchapel.\n\n\"Lords, which coffin is that of the Lord of Camelot?\"\n\n\"This, the highest,\" say the hermits, \"and the most rich, for\nthat he was eldest of all the brethren.\"\n\nPerceval kneeleth down before it, then embraceth the coffin and\nprayeth right sweetly for the soul of his father, and in like\nmanner he went to all the other coffins. He harboured the night\nwith the hermits, and told them that Alain li Gros was his father\nand all the other his uncles. Right joyous were the hermits for\nthat he was come thither, and the morrow, or ever he departed, he\nheard mass in the chapel of his father and in the others where he\nmight. He entered into the ship and sped full swift, and so far\nhath the ship run that he draweth nigh the islands of Great\nBritain. He arriveth at the head of a forest under the Red Tower\nwhereof he had slain the lord, there where Meliot delivered\nMessire Gawain. He is issued forth of the ship and leadeth forth\nhis horse and is armed, and commendeth the pilot to God. He\nmounteth on his destrier, all armed, and goeth amidst the land\nthat was well-nigh void of people, for he himself had slain the\ngreater part thereof, albeit he knew it not. He rideth so long,\nright amidst the country, that he cometh toward evensong to a\nhold that was in a great forest, and he bethought him that he\nwould go into the hermitage, and he cometh straight into the\nhold, and seeth a knight lying in the entrance of the gate on a\nstraw mattress, and a damsel sate at the bed's head, of passing\ngreat beauty, and held his head on her lap.\n\nXVII.\n\nThe knight reviled her from time to time, and said that he would\nmake cut of her head and he had not that he desired to have, for\nthat he was sick. Perceval looked at the lady that held him and\nserved him full sweetly, and deemed her to be a good lady and a\nloyal. The Sick Knight called to Perceval.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"Are you come in hither to harbour?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"So please you, I will harbour here.\"\n\n\"Then blame me not,\" saith the knight, \"of that you shall see me\ndo unto my wife.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"Sith that she is yours, you have a right\nto do your pleasure, but in all things ought one to be heedful on\none's way.\"\n\nThe knight made him be carried back into the dwelling, for that\nhe had been in the air as long as pleased him, and commanded his\nwife that she do much honour to the knight that is come to lodge\nwithin.\n\n\"But take heed,\" saith he, \"that you be not seen at the table,\nbut eat, as you are wont, at the squire's table, for, until such\ntime as I have the golden cup I desire, I will not forego my\ndespite against you.\"\n\nXVIII.\n\nPerceval unarmed him. The lady had brought him a surcoat of\nscarlet for him to do on, and he asked her wherefore her lord\nreviled her and rebuked her in such sort, and she told him all\nthe story how Lancelot had married her to him, and how her lord\never sithence had dishonoured her.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Now hath he fallen into misease, sithence\nthen, and he hath a brother as sick as he is, and therefore hath\nGohaz of the Castle of the Whale reft him of his land, whereof is\nhe right sorry, and my lord hath never been heal since that he\nheard thereof. And well you know that such folk wax wroth of a\nlittle, and are overjoyed when they have a little thing that\npleaseth them, for they live always in desire of somewhat. My\nlord hath heard tell of a cup of gold that a damsel beareth, that\nis right rich and of greater worth than aught he hath seen this\nlong time, and a knight goeth with the damsel that beareth the\ncup, and saith that none may have it save he be the Best Knight\nin the World. My lord hath told me many times, sithence he heard\ntidings thereof, that never shall the despite he hath toward me\nbe forgone, until that he shall have the cup. But he is so angry\nwithal with his brother that hath lost his land, that I aby it\nright dear, for I do all his will and yet may I have no fair\ntreatment of him. Howbeit, for no ill that he may do, nor no\nchurlishness that he may say, will I be against him in nought\nthat he hath set his mind on. For I would have him, and I had\nhim, blessed be Lancelot through whom it was so. As much as I\nloved him in health, so much love I him in his sickness, and more\nyet, for I desire to deserve that God shall bring him to a better\nmind.\"\n\nXIX.\n\n\"Lady,\" saith Perceval, \"Great praise ought you to have of this\nthat you say; but you may well tell him of a truth that the sick\nKing his brother hath all his land freely and his daughter, for I\nwas at the reconquering thereof, and know the knight well that\ngave it back unto him. But of the golden cup can I give you no\nwitting\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"The damsel is to bear it to an assembly of\nknights that is to be held hard by this, under the White Tower.\nThere hath she to give it to the best knight, and him that shall\ndo best at the assembly, and the knight that followeth the damsel\nis bound to carry it whither he that shall win it may command,\nand if he would fain it should be given to another rather than to\nhimself.\"\n\n\"Lady,\" saith Perceval, \"Well meseemeth that he who shall win the\ncup by prize of arms will be right courteous and he send it to\nyou, and God grant that he that hath it may do you such bounty as\nyou desire.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Methinketh well, so Lancelot were there,\neither he or Messire Gawain, that, and they won it, so they\nremembered them of me, and knew how needful it were to me, they\nwould promise me the cup.\"\n\n\"Lady,\" saith Perceval, \"By one of these Ywain ought you well to\nhave it, for greater prize now long since have they won.\"\n\nShe goeth to her lord and saith to him: \"Sir,\" saith she, \"Now\nmay you be more joyous than is your wont, for that your brother\nhath his land again all quit. For the knight that is within was\nat the reconquering.\"\n\nThe Sick Knight heard her and had great joy thereof.\n\n\"Go!\" saith he to his wife, \"and do great honour to the knight,\nbut take heed you sit not otherwise than you are wont.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"I will not.\"\n\nXX.\n\nThe damsel maketh Perceval sit at meat. When he had washen, he\nthought that the lady should have come to sit beside him, but she\nwould not disobey her lord's commandment. When Perceval was set\nat the table and he had been served of the first meats, thereupon\nthe lady went to sit with the squires. Perceval was much shamed\nthat she should sit below, but he was not minded to speak, for\nshe had told him somewhat of her lord's manner. Howbeit, he lay\nthe night in the hold, and, on the morrow when he had taken\nleave, he departed, and bethought him in his courage that the\nknight would do good chivalry and great aims that should do this\nsick knight his desire as concerning the cup, in such sort as\nthat his wife should be freed of the annoy that she is in, for\nthat all knights that knew thereof ought to have pity of her.\nPerceval goeth his way as he that hath great desire to accomplish\nthat he hath to do, and to see the token of his going again to\nthe castle where the chain of gold appeared to him, for never yet\nsaw he dwelling that pleased him so much. He hath ridden so far\nthat he is come into the joyless forest of the Black Hermit, that\nis so loathly and horrible that no leaves nor greenery are there\nby winter nor by summer, nor was song of bird never heard\ntherein, but all the land is gruesome and burnt, and wide are the\ncracks therein. He hath scarce gone thereinto or ever he hath\novertaken the Damsel of the Car, that made full great joy of him.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Bald was I the first time I saw you; now may\nyou see that I have my hair.\"\n\n\"Certes, yea!\" saith Perceval, \"And, as methinketh, hair passing\nbeautiful.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"I was wont to carry my arm at my neck in a\nscarf of gold and silk, for that I thought the service I did you\nin the hostel of King Fisherman your uncle. had been ill\nbestowed; but now well I see that it was not; wherefore now carry\nI the one arm in the same manner as the other; and the damsel\nthat wont to go a-foot now goeth a-horseback; and blessed be you\nthat have so approved you in goodness by the good manner of your\nheart, and by your likeness to the first of your lineage, whom\nyou resemble in all good conditions. Sir,\" saith she, \"I durst\nnot come nigh the castle, for there be archers there that shoot\nso sore that none may endure their strokes, and hereof will they\nstint not, they say, until such time as you be come thither. But\nwell know I wherefore they will cease then, for they will come to\nshut you up within to slay and to destroy. Natheless all they\nthat are within will have no power, nor will they do you evil,\nsave only the lord of the castle; but he will do battle against\nyou right gladly.\"\n\nXXI.\n\nPerceval goeth toward the castle of the Black Hermit, and the\nDamsel of the Car after. The archers draw and shoot stoutly.\nPerceval goeth forward a great gallop, but they know him not on\naccount of the white shield. They think rather that it is one of\nthe other knights, and they lodge many arrows in his shield. He\ncame nigh a drawbridge over a moat right broad and foul and\nhorrible, and the bridge was lowered so soon as he came, and all\nthe archers left of shooting. Then knew they well that it was\nPerceval who came. The door was opened to receive him, for they\nof the gate and they of the castle within thought to have power\nto slay him. But so soon as they saw him, they lost their will\nthereof and were all amared and without strength, and said that\nthey would set this business on their lord that was strong enough\nand puissant enough to slay one man. Perceval entered all armed\ninto a great hall, and found it filled all around with a great\nthrong of folk that was right foul to look on. He that was\ncalled the Black Hermit was full tall and Seemed to be of noble\nlordship, and he was in the midst of the hall, all armed.\n\n\"Sir,\" say his men, \"And you have not defence of yourself, never\nno counsel nor aid may you have of us!\"\n\nXXII.\n\n\"We are yours to guard, to protect, and oftentimes have we\ndefended you; now defend us in this sore need.\"\n\nThe Black Hermit sate upon a tall black horse, and was right\nrichly armed. So soon as Perceval espieth him, he cometh with\nsuch a rush against him that he maketh all the hall resound, and\nthe Black Hermit cometh in like sort. They mell together with\nsuch force that the Black Hermit breaketh his spear upon\nPerceval, but Perceval smiteth him so passing stoutly on the left\nside upon the shield, that he beareth him to the ground beside\nhis horse, so that in the fall he made he to-frushed two of the\ngreat ribs in the overturn. And when they that were therein saw\nhim fall, they opened the trap-door of a great pit that was in\nthe midst of the hall. So soon as they had opened it, the\nfoulest stench that any smelt ever issued thereout. They take\ntheir lord and cast him into this abysm and this filth. After\nthat, they come to Perceval, and so yield the castle and put them\nat his mercy in everything. Thereupon, behold you, the Damsel of\nthe Car that cometh. They deliver up to her the heads sealed in\ngold, both the head of the King and of the Queen, and she\ndeparteth forthwith, for well knoweth she that Perceval will\nachieve that he hath to do without her. She departeth from the\ncastle and goeth the speediest she may toward the Valleys of\nCamelot. And all they of the castle that had been the Black\nHermit's are obedient to Perceval to do his will, and they have\nhim in covenant that never more shall knights be harassed there\nin such sort as they had been theretofore, but rather that they\nshould receive gladly any knights that should pass that way, like\nas in other places. Perceval departed from the castle rejoicing\nfor that he had drawn them to the believe of Our Lord, and every\nday was His service done therein in holy wise, like as it is done\nin other places.\n\nXXIII.\n\nHereof ought the good knight to be loved that by the goodness of\nhis heart and the loyalty of his knighthood hath achieved all the\nemprises he undertook, without reproach and without blame.\nPerceval hath ridden until he hath overtaken the damsel that\ncarried the rich cup of gold and the knight that was along with\nher. Perceval saluteth him, and the knight maketh answer, may he\nbe blessed of God and of His sweet Mother.\n\n\"Fair Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"Is this damsel of your company?\"\n\nSaith the knight, \"Rather am I of hers. But we are going to an\nassembly of knights that is to be under the White Tower to the\nintent to prove which knight is most worth, and to him that shall\nhave the prize of the assembly shall be delivered this golden\ncup.\"\n\n\"By my head,\" saith Perceval, \"That will be fair to see!\"\n\nHe departeth from the knight and the damsel, and goeth his way a\ngreat pace amidst the meadows under the White Tower, whither the\nknights were coming from all parts, and many of them were already\narmed to issue forth. So soon as it was known that the damsel\nwith the cup was come thither, the fellowships assembled on all\nsides, and great was the clashing of arms. Perceval hurleth into\nthe assembly in such sort that many a knight he smiteth down and\noverthroweth at his coming, and he giveth so many blows and so\nmany receiveth that all they that behold marvel much how he may\nabide. The assembly lasted until evensong, and when it came to\nan end the damsel came to the knights and prayed and required\nthat they would declare to her by right judgment of arms which\nhad done the best. The more part said that he of the white\nshield had surpassed them all in arms, and all agreed thereto.\nThe damsel was right glad, for well she knew that they spake\ntruth. She cometh to Perceval; \"Sir,\" saith she, \"I present you\nthis cup of gold for your good chivalry, and therefore is it meet\nand right you should know whence the cup cometh. The elder\nDamsel of the Tent where the evil custom was wont to be, sent it\nto Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain made much joy thereof. And\nit came to pass on such wise that Brundans, the son of the sister\nof Briant of the Isles, slew Meliot of Logres, the most courteous\nknight and the most valiant that was in the realm of Logres, and\nthereof was Messire Gawain so sorrowful that he knew not how to\ncontain himself. For Meliot had twice rescued him from death,\nand King Arthur once. He was liegeman of Messire Gawain.\nWherefore he prayeth and beseecheth you on his behalf that you\nreceive not the cup save you undertake to avenge him. For he was\nloved of all the court, albeit he had haunted it but little.\nBrundans slew him in treason when Meliot was unawares of him.\"\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith Perceval, \"Were there no cup at all, yet\nnatheless should I be fain to do the will of Messire Gawain, for\nnever might I love the man that had deserved his hatred.\" He\ntaketh the cup in his hand. \"Damsel,\" saith he, \"I thank you\nmuch hereof, and God grant I may reward you for the same.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"Brundans is a right proud knight, and beareth\na shield party of vert and argent. He is minded never to change\nhis cognisance, for that his father bore the same.\"\n\nPerceval called the knight that was of the damsel's company. \"I\nbeseech you,\" saith he, \"of guerdon and of service, that you bear\nthis cup for me to the hold of the Sick Knight, and tell his wife\nthat the Knight of the White Shield that was harboured there\nwithin hath sent it her by you.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the knight, \"This will I do gladly to fulfil your\nwill.\"\n\nHe taketh the cup to furnish out the conditions of the message,\nand so departeth forthwith.\n\nXXIV.\n\nPerceval lay the night in the castle of the White Tower, and\ndeparted thence on the morrow as he that would fain do somewhat\nwhereof he might deserve well of Messire Gawain. Many a time had\nhe heard tell of Meliot of Logres and of his chivalry and of his\ngreat valour. He was entered into a forest, and had heard mass\nof a hermit, from whom he had departed. He came to the Castle\nPerilous that was hard by there where Meliot lay sick, lay\nwounded, when Lancelot brought him the sword and the cloth\nwherewith he touched his wounds. He entered into the castle and\nalighted. The damsel of the castle, that made great dole, came\nto meet Perceval. \"Damsel,\" saith he, \"Wherefore are you so\nsorrowful?\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith she, \"For a knight that I tended and healed\nherewithin, whom Brundans hath killed in treason, and God thereof\ngrant us vengeance yet, for so courteous knight saw I never.\"\n\nWhile she was speaking in this manner, forthwith behold you a\ndamsel that cometh.\n\n\"Ha, Sir,\" saith she to Perceval, \"Mount you again and come to\naid us, for none other knight find I in this land nor in this\nforest but only you all alone!\"\n\n\"What need have you of my aid?\" saith Perceval.\n\n\"A knight is carrying off my lady by force, that was going to the\ncourt of King Arthur.\"\n\n\"Who is your lady?\" saith Perceval.\n\n\"Sir, she is the younger Damsel of the Tent where Messire Gawain\noverthrew the evil customs. For God's sake, hasten you, for he\nrevileth her sore for her love of the King and of Messire\nGawain.\"\n\nPerceval remounteth forthwith and issueth forth of the castle on\nthe spur. The damsel bringeth him on as fast as the knight can\ngo. They had not ridden far before they came a-nigh, and\nPerceval heard the damsel crying aloud for mercy, and the knight\nsaid that mercy upon her he would not have, and so smote her on\nthe head and neck with the fiat of his sword.\n\nXXV.\n\nPerceval espied the knight and saw that the cognisance of his\nshield was such as that which had been set forth to him.\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"Too churlishly are you entreating this damsel!\nWhat wrong hath she done you?\"\n\n\"What is it to you of me and of her?\"\n\n\"I say it\" saith Perceval, \"for that no knight ought to do\nchurlishly to damsel.\"\n\n\"He will not stint for you yet!\" saith Brundans. He raiseth his\nsword and dealeth the damsel a buffet with the fiat so passing\nheavy that it maketh her stoop withal so that the blood rayeth\nout at mouth and nose.\n\n\"By my head,\" saith Perceval, \"On this buffet I defy thee, for\nthe death of Meliot and for the shame you have done this damsel.\"\n\n\"Neither you nor none other may brag that you have heart to\nattack me, but you shall aby it right dear!\"\n\n\"That shall you see presently,\" saith Perceval and so draweth\nback the better to let drive at him, and moveth towards him as\nfast as his horse may run, and smiteth him so passing sore that\nhe pierceth his shield and bursteth his habergeon and then\nthrusteth his spear into his body with such force that he\noverthroweth him all in a heap, him and his horse, in such sort\nthat he breaketh both legs in the fall.\n\nThen he alighteth over him, lowereth his coif, unlaceth the\nventail, and smiteth off his head.\n\n\"Damsel,\" saith he, \"Take it, I present it to you. And, sith\nthat you are going to King Arthur's court, I pray and beseech you\nthat you carry it thither and so salute him first for me, and\ntell Messire Gawain and Lancelot that this is the last present I\nlook ever to make them, for I think never to see them more.\nHowbeit, wheresoever I may be, I shall be their well-wisher, nor\nmay I never withdraw me of my love, and I would fain I might make\nthem the same present of the heads of all their enemies, but that\nI may do nought against God's will.\"\n\nThe damsel giveth him thanks for that he hath delivered her from\nthe hands of the knight, and saith that she shall praise him much\nthereof to the King and Messire Gawain. She goeth her way and\ncarrieth off the head, and Perceval biddeth her to God. He\nreturned back to Castle Perilous, and the damsel made great joy\nthereof when she understood that he had slain Brundans. Perceval\nlay there that night, and departed on the morrow after that he\nhad heard mass. When he came forth of the castle he met the\nknight by whom he had sent the cup to the Sick Knight's wife.\nPerceval asketh how it is with him.\n\n\"Sir, saith he, \"I have carried out your message right well, for\nnever was a thing received with such good will. The Sick Knight\nhath forgone his grudge against his wife. She eateth at his\ntable, and the household do her commandment.\"\n\n\"This liketh me right well,\" saith Perceval, \"and I thank you of\ndoing this errand.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith the knight, \"No thing is there I would not do for\nyou, for that you made my brother Knight Hardy there where you\nfirst saw him Knight Coward.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith Perceval, \"Good knight was your brother and a right\ngood end he made, but a little it forthinketh me that he might\nhave still been living had he abided in his cowardize.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" saith he, \"Better is he dead, sith that he died with\nhonour, than that he should live with shame. Yet glad was I not\nof his death, for a hardy knight he was, and yet more would have\nbeen, had he lived longer.\"\n\nXXVI.\n\nPerceval departeth from the knight and commendeth him to God. He\nhath wandered so far one day and another that he is returned to\nhis own most holy castle, and findeth therein his mother and his\nsister that the Damsel of the Car had brought thither. The Widow\nLady had made bear thither the body that lay in the coffin before\nthe castle of Camelot in the rich chapel that she had builded\nthere. His sister brought the cerecloth that she took in the\nWaste Chapel, and presented there where the Graal was. Perceval\nmade bring the coffin of the other knight that was at the\nentrance of his castle within the chapel likewise, and place it\nbeside the coffin of his uncle, nor never thereafter might it be\nremoved. Josephus telleth us that Perceval was in this castle\nlong time, nor never once moved therefrom in quest of no\nadventure; rather was his courage so attorned to the Saviour of\nthe World and His sweet Mother, that he and his sister and the\ndamsel that was therein led a holy life and a religious. Therein\nabode they even as it pleased God, until that his mother passed\naway and his sister and all they that were therein save he alone.\nThe hermits that were nigh the castle buried them and sang their\nmasses, and came every day and took counsel of him for the\nholiness they saw him do and the good life that he led there. So\none day whilst he was in the holy chapel where the hallows were,\nforthwith, behold you, a Voice that cometh down therein:\n\"Perceval,\" saith the Voice, \"Not long shall you abide herein;\nwherefore it is God's will that you dispart the hallows amongst\nthe hermits of the forest, there where these bodies shall be\nserved and worshipped, and the most Holy Graal shall appear\nherein no more, but within a brief space shall you know well the\nplace where it shall be.\"\n\nWhen the Voice departed, all the coffins that were therein\ncrashed so passing loud that it seemed the master-hall had\nfallen. He crosseth and blesseth him and commendeth him to God.\nOn a day the hermits came to him. He disparted the holy relics\namong them, and they builded above them holy churches and houses\nof religion that are seen in the lands and in the islands.\nJoseus the son of King Hermit, remained therein with Perceval,\nfor he well knew that he would be departing thence betimes.\n\nXXVII.\n\nPerceval heard one day a bell sound loud and high without the\nmanor toward the sea. He came to the windows of the hall and saw\nthe ship come with the white sail and the Red Cross thereon, and\nwithin were the fairest folk that ever he might behold, and they\nwere all robed in such manner as though they should sing mass.\nWhen the ship was anchored under the hall they went to pray in\nthe most holy chapel. They brought the richest vessels of gold\nand silver that any might ever see, like as it were coffins, and\nset therein one of the three bodies of knights that had been\nbrought into the chapel, and the body of King Fisherman, and of\nthe mother of Perceval. But no savour in the world smelleth so\nsweet. Perceval took leave of Joseus and commended him to the\nSaviour of the World, and took leave of the household, from whom\nhe departed in like manner. The worshipful men that were in the\nship signed them of the cross and blessed them likewise. The\nship wherein Perceval was drew far away, and a Voice that issued\nfrom the manor as she departed commended them to God and to His\nsweet Mother. Josephus recordeth us that Perceval departed in\nsuch wise, nor never thereafter did no earthly man know what\nbecame of him, nor doth the history speak of him more. But the\nhistory telleth us that Joseus abode in the castle that had been\nKing Fisherman's, and shut himself up therein so that none might\nenter, and lived upon that the Lord God might send him. He dwelt\nthere long time after that Perceval had departed, and ended\ntherein. After his end, the dwelling began to fall. Natheless\nnever was the chapel wasted nor decayed, but was as whole\nthereafter as tofore and is so still. The place was far from\nfolk, and the place seemed withal to be somewhat different. When\nit was fallen into decay, many folk of the lands and islands that\nwere nighest thereunto marvel them what may be in this manor.\nThey dare a many that they should go see what was therein, and\nsundry folk went thither from all the lands, but none durst never\nenter there again save two Welsh knights that had heard tell of\nit. Full comely knights they were, young and joyous hearted. So\neither pledged him to other that they would go thither by way of\ngay adventure; but therein remained they of a long space after,\nand when again they came forth they led the life of hermits, and\nclad them in hair shirts, and went by the forest and so ate\nnought save roots only, and led a right hard life; yet ever they\nmade as though they were glad, and if that any should ask whereof\nthey rejoiced in such wise, \"Go,\" said they to them that asked,\n\"thither where we have been, and you shall know the wherefore.\"\n\nIn such sort made they answer to the folk. These two knights\ndied in this holy life, nor were none other tidings never brought\nthence by them. They of that land called them saints.\n\nXXVIII.\n\nHere endeth the story of the most Holy Graal. Josephus, by whom\nit is placed on record, giveth the benison of Our Lord to all\nthat hear and honour it. The Latin from whence this history was\ndrawn into Romance was taken in the Isle of Avalon, in a holy\nhouse of religion that standeth at the head of the Moors\nAdventurous, there where King Arthur and Queen Guenievre lie,\naccording to the witness of the good men religious that are\ntherein, that have the whole history thereof, true from the\nbeginning even to the end. After this same history beginneth the\nstory how Briant of the Isles renounced King Arthur on account of\nLancelot whom he loved not, and how he assured King Claudas that\nreft King Ban of Benoic of his land. This story telleth how he\nconquered him and by what means, and how Galobrus of the Red\nLaunde came to King Arthur's court to help Lancelot, for that he\nwas of his lineage. This story is right long and right\nadventurous and weighty, but the book will now forthwith be\nsilent thereof until another time.\n\nTHE AUTHOR'S CONCLUSION\n\nFor the Lord of Neele made the Lord of Cambrein this book be\nwritten, that never tofore was treated in Romance but one single\ntime besides this; and the book that was made tofore this is so\nancient that only with great pains may one make out the letter.\nAnd let Messire Johan de Neele well understand that he ought to\nhold this story dear, nor ought he tell nought thereof to ill-\nunderstanding folk, for a good thing that is squandered upon bad\nfolk is never remembered by them for good.\n\nEXPLICIT THE ROMANCE OF PERCEVAL THE NEPHEW OF KING FISHERMAN.\n\n[End of \"The High History of the Holy Graal\"]",
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