Perceval departeth from the knight and commendeth him to God. He hath
wandered so far one day and another that he is returned to his own most
holy castle, and findeth therein his mother and his sister that the
Damsel of the Car had brought thither. The Widow Lady had made bear
thither the body that lay in the coffin before the castle of Camelot in
the rich chapel that she had builded there. His sister brought the
cerecloth that she took in the Waste Chapel, and presented there where
the Graal was. Perceval made bring the coffin of the other knight that
was at the entrance of his castle within the chapel likewise, and place
it beside the coffin of his uncle, nor never thereafter might it be
removed. Josephus telleth us that Perceval was in this castle long
time, nor never once moved therefrom in quest of no adventure; rather
was his courage so attorned to the Saviour of the World and His sweet
Mother, that he and his sister and the damsel that was therein led a
holy life and a religious. Therein abode they even as it pleased God,
until that his mother passed away and his sister and all they that were
therein save he alone. The hermits that were nigh the castle buried
them and sang their masses, and came every day and took counsel of him
for the holiness they saw him do and the good life that he led there.
So one day whilst he was in the holy chapel where the hallows were,
forthwith, behold you, a Voice that cometh down therein: "Perceval,"
saith the Voice, "Not long shall you abide herein; wherefore it is
God's will that you dispart the hallows amongst the hermits of the
forest, there where these bodies shall be served and worshipped, and
the most Holy Graal shall appear herein no more, but within a brief
space shall you know well the place where it shall be."
When the Voice departed, all the coffins that were therein crashed so
passing loud that it seemed the master-hall had fallen. He crosseth
and blesseth him and commendeth him to God. On a day the hermits came
to him. He disparted the holy relics among them, and they builded
above them holy churches and houses of religion that are seen in the
lands and in the islands. Joseus the son of King Hermit, remained
therein with Perceval, for he well knew that he would be departing
thence betimes.