HOW THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL WAS BEGUN
The dish from which our Lord Jesu Christ ate the paschal lamb at His
last supper with His disciples men call the Holy Grail. Therein also
Joseph of Arimathea caught the last drops of sacred blood, and after
the passion of our Lord that gentle knight, the which took down the
body off the holy cross, at that time departed from Jerusalem with a
great party of his kindred, bearing the Holy Grail with them.
It befell that they came first to a city that was called Sarras, and at
the last they crossed to Britain, and through them all the heathen
people of this land were turned to the Christian faith.
Ever as years went by the Holy Grail became more precious, and the
possession of it ever more a sacred trust. But after a long while it
was lost from the world through men's sinfulness, and only those of
pure heart and life might from time to time see it.
Merlin, before he was put under the stone, had foreseen that by them
which should be fellows of the Round Table the truth of the Holy Grail
would be well known, and in the good days of King Arthur the longing
grew to be worthy of the vision of this sign of the Lord's presence
among men. Moreover a holy hermit had said that, when the Siege
Perilous was filled, the achieving of the Holy Grail should be near.
After Galahad drew the sword out of the stone the King and all estates
went thoughtful home unto Camelot, and so to even-song in the great
minster. After that they went to supper, and every knight sat in his
own place at the Round Table. Then anon they heard cracking and crying
of thunder that should, as it seemed to them, shake the place all to
pieces. In the midst of this blast entered a sunbeam more clear by
seven times than ever they saw day, and all they were alighted of the
grace of the Holy Ghost.
Then began every knight to behold other, and either saw other by their
seeming fairer than ever they looked afore. There was no knight might
speak one word, and so they looked every man on his fellows, as if they
were dumb. Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail, covered
with white samite, but there was none might see it, or who bare it.
And there was all the hall filled full with good odours, and every
knight was nourished in his soul. When the Holy Grail had been borne
through the hall, then it departed suddenly, so that they wist not what
became of it.
Then had they all breath to speak, and the King yielded thankings unto
God for His good grace that He had sent them. "Now," said Sir Gawaine,
"we have been richly blessed this day, but one thing beguiled us,--we
might not see the Holy Grail, it was so preciously covered. Wherefore
I will make here avow, that to-morn, without longer abiding, I shall
labour in the quest of the Holy Grail a twelvemonth and a day, or more
if need be, and shall not return unto the court till I have seen it
more openly than it hath been seen here; and if I may not speed, I
shall return again at the end of the time as he that may not be against
the will of our Lord Jesu Christ."
When they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say so, the most part of
them arose, and made such avows as Sir Gawaine had made. Anon as King
Arthur heard this he was greatly grieved, for he wist well that they
might not gainsay their avows, and he should be bereft of the fairest
fellowship and the truest knighthood that ever were seen together in
any realm of the world. For, when they departed from hence, they
should never all meet again in this world, and many of his true
fellowship of noble knights should die in the quest.
When the Queen also and all the court wist these tidings, they had such
sorrow and heaviness that there might no tongue tell it. Many of the
ladies would have gone with the knights that they loved, had not an old
man in religious clothing said on high that none in this quest should
lead wife with him. Moreover he warned the knights plainly that he
that was not clean of his sins should not see the mysteries of our Lord
Jesu Christ. Then they went to rest themselves, and in honour of the
highness of Galahad he was led into King Arthur's chamber, and there
rested in his own bed.
As soon as it was day the King arose, for he had no rest all that night
for sorrow. Then the King and the Queen went unto the minster, and all
the knights, armed fully save their shields and their helms, followed
them to hear the service.
Then after the service was done, the King would wit how many had taken
the quest of the Holy Grail, and found by tale there were an hundred
and fifty, all knights of the Round Table. Then they put on their
helms, and so mounted upon their horses, and rode through the streets
of Camelot. And there was weeping of rich and poor, and the King
turned away, and might not speak for weeping.
Within a while they came to a city and a castle called Vagon. The lord
of that castle was a good old man and set open the gates, and made them
all the good cheer that he might. On the morrow they were all accorded
that they should ride every each from other. Then they departed with
weeping and mourning cheer, and every knight took the way that him best
liked.