Perceval heard one day a bell sound loud and high without the manor
toward the sea. He came to the windows of the hall and saw the ship
come with the white sail and the Red Cross thereon, and within were the
fairest folk that ever he might behold, and they were all robed in such
manner as though they should sing mass. When the ship was anchored
under the hall they went to pray in the most holy chapel. They brought
the richest vessels of gold and silver that any might ever see, like as
it were coffins, and set therein one of the three bodies of knights
that had been brought into the chapel, and the body of King Fisherman,
and of the mother of Perceval. But no savour in the world smelleth so
sweet. Perceval took leave of Joseus and commended him to the Saviour
of the World, and took leave of the household, from whom he departed in
like manner. The worshipful men that were in the ship signed them of
the cross and blessed them likewise. The ship wherein Perceval was
drew far away, and a Voice that issued from the manor as she departed
commended them to God and to His sweet Mother. Josephus recordeth us
that Perceval departed in such wise, nor never thereafter did no
earthly man know what became of him, nor doth the history speak of him
more. But the history telleth us that Joseus abode in the castle that
had been King Fisherman's, and shut himself up therein so that none
might enter, and lived upon that the Lord God might send him. He dwelt
there long time after that Perceval had departed, and ended therein.
After his end, the dwelling began to fall. Natheless never was the
chapel wasted nor decayed, but was as whole thereafter as tofore and is
so still. The place was far from folk, and the place seemed withal to
be somewhat different. When it was fallen into decay, many folk of the
lands and islands that were nighest thereunto marvel them what may be
in this manor. They dare a many that they should go see what was
therein, and sundry folk went thither from all the lands, but none
durst never enter there again save two Welsh knights that had heard
tell of it. Full comely knights they were, young and joyous hearted.
So either pledged him to other that they would go thither by way of gay
adventure; but therein remained they of a long space after, and when
again they came forth they led the life of hermits, and clad them in
hair shirts, and went by the forest and so ate nought save roots only,
and led a right hard life; yet ever they made as though they were glad,
and if that any should ask whereof they rejoiced in such wise, "Go,"
said they to them that asked, "thither where we have been, and you
shall know the wherefore."
In such sort made they answer to the folk. These two knights died in
this holy life, nor were none other tidings never brought thence by
them. They of that land called them saints.
XXVIII. Here endeth the story of the most Holy Graal. Josephus, by
whom it is placed on record, giveth the benison of Our Lord to all that
hear and honour it. The Latin from whence this history was drawn into
Romance was taken in the Isle of Avalon, in a holy house of religion
that standeth at the head of the Moors Adventurous, there where King
Arthur and Queen Guenievre lie, according to the witness of the good
men religious that are therein, that have the whole history thereof,
true from the beginning even to the end. After this same history
beginneth the story how Briant of the Isles renounced King Arthur on
account of Lancelot whom he loved not, and how he assured King Claudas
that reft King Ban of Benoic of his land. This story telleth how he
conquered him and by what means, and how Galobrus of the Red Launde
came to King Arthur's court to help Lancelot, for that he was of his
lineage. This story is right long and right adventurous and weighty,
but the book will now forthwith be silent thereof until another time.