The Legend of the Holy Grail its Sources, Character and Development, by Dorothy Kempe. The introduction to, and Part V of, Herry Lovelich's verse "History of the Holy Grail," |
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| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. | CHAPTER XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
 | CHAPTER XVIII. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
228
CHAPTER XVIII.
Now goth forth Ioseph & his Compenye
Be Goddis Comandement Certeinlye,
But Alle here Iornes devisen I ne kan,—
It were to moche for Ony On Man—
Nethir here herebegage, ne here vyaunde;
But nothing hem lakked, I vndirstonde.
Be Goddis Comandement Certeinlye,
But Alle here Iornes devisen I ne kan,—
It were to moche for Ony On Man—
Nethir here herebegage, ne here vyaunde;
But nothing hem lakked, I vndirstonde.
Now from Ioseph A while let vs twynne
And of kyng Mordreins we Moste be-gynne,
And of the Compenie that Is in Sarras Cite,
That Ioseph there lefte of his Meyne.
Thus begynneth this storie forto telle
What Aventure king Mordreins Aftir befelle.
And of kyng Mordreins we Moste be-gynne,
And of the Compenie that Is in Sarras Cite,
That Ioseph there lefte of his Meyne.
Thus begynneth this storie forto telle
What Aventure king Mordreins Aftir befelle.
In bedde as he lay vppon A Nyht,
In his slepe was there wondirly afryht;
And there A gret dreme Cam him vppon,
As after scholen ȝe heren Everichon.
In this wonderful dreme riht longe he lay,
Til that it was ny liht of the day,
And with his Eyen So sore he wepte,
And Evere he lay & faste Slepte,
In Sighenges and In Storbelings sore,
Al Evere thus he ferde More & More;
So that þe qwene, that by him lay,
To hire herte it was a ful gret fray;
But Sche myhte not Enqweren for non thing
Of him what Amownted this Metyng,
For sche dorste not Aȝens his wille
Hym there-Offen freyne, for good ne ylle;
For he was bothe feers & Crwel,
Therfore sche ne dorste him Aȝen neuere a del.
In his slepe was there wondirly afryht;
229
As after scholen ȝe heren Everichon.
In this wonderful dreme riht longe he lay,
Til that it was ny liht of the day,
And with his Eyen So sore he wepte,
And Evere he lay & faste Slepte,
In Sighenges and In Storbelings sore,
Al Evere thus he ferde More & More;
So that þe qwene, that by him lay,
To hire herte it was a ful gret fray;
But Sche myhte not Enqweren for non thing
Of him what Amownted this Metyng,
For sche dorste not Aȝens his wille
Hym there-Offen freyne, for good ne ylle;
For he was bothe feers & Crwel,
Therfore sche ne dorste him Aȝen neuere a del.
Thus Abod the kyng In this trowble Owt riht
Til it was passed middes of the nyht;
And thanne In a softe Sleepe fil he,
For werinesse of travaille he hadde Inne be;
And thus In dremeng thowhte he,
‘That he was In Sarras, þat faire Cite,
And there In his Cowrt that was so Riche
And so worthi, that non was liche.
To that Cowrt him thowghte comen there
Manye lordis & ladyes Of gret powere,
That weren Arayed & Rialy dyht,—
So Ryal Saw he Neuere In his siht;
And to Mete Seten they Alle,
As to kyng, lordes, & ladyes, don befalle.
Him thowhte At his mete þere that he sat;
His mowht he opened, A morsel puttyng In þere-at;
Him thowghte A thondir blast gan gon,
That Morsel owt of his hand it smot Anon;
An the Crowne that was vppon his hed,
To the Erthe it Caste In that sted;
And whanne he stowpede the Crowne to take,
A boistous wynd there gan to wake;
Hym thowghte he was born Into A straunge place
A fer wey thennes, & þere was a long space.
And ȝit him thowhte there wel More,
That A liown & A lioness to him Comen thore;
Everi day the lyown mete to him browghte,
And the lionesse Awey it Cawhte,
Sauf scarsly half his lyvenge
That the liown dide him bringe.
And Atte laste him thowghte Agein,
That non lengere he wolde it soffren in sertein;
And with his fist smot so the lyonesse
That sche dide him no More distresse.
Til it was passed middes of the nyht;
And thanne In a softe Sleepe fil he,
For werinesse of travaille he hadde Inne be;
And thus In dremeng thowhte he,
‘That he was In Sarras, þat faire Cite,
And there In his Cowrt that was so Riche
And so worthi, that non was liche.
To that Cowrt him thowghte comen there
Manye lordis & ladyes Of gret powere,
That weren Arayed & Rialy dyht,—
So Ryal Saw he Neuere In his siht;
And to Mete Seten they Alle,
As to kyng, lordes, & ladyes, don befalle.
Him thowhte At his mete þere that he sat;
His mowht he opened, A morsel puttyng In þere-at;
Him thowghte A thondir blast gan gon,
That Morsel owt of his hand it smot Anon;
An the Crowne that was vppon his hed,
To the Erthe it Caste In that sted;
230
A boistous wynd there gan to wake;
Hym thowghte he was born Into A straunge place
A fer wey thennes, & þere was a long space.
And ȝit him thowhte there wel More,
That A liown & A lioness to him Comen thore;
Everi day the lyown mete to him browghte,
And the lionesse Awey it Cawhte,
Sauf scarsly half his lyvenge
That the liown dide him bringe.
And Atte laste him thowghte Agein,
That non lengere he wolde it soffren in sertein;
And with his fist smot so the lyonesse
That sche dide him no More distresse.
‘Thanne him thowghte his Crowne he fond;
And vp he took it þere In his hond,
And set it Aȝen vppon his hed;
Thus thowghte him there In that sted.
But it was Chonged thanne wondirly,
The stones of that Crowne Certeinly;
For the stones weren so preciowse to his eye,
That neuere non So precious stones he sye.
And vp he took it þere In his hond,
And set it Aȝen vppon his hed;
Thus thowghte him there In that sted.
But it was Chonged thanne wondirly,
The stones of that Crowne Certeinly;
For the stones weren so preciowse to his eye,
That neuere non So precious stones he sye.
‘And whanne on his hed it was set Aȝein,
Thanne Cam his Nevew, Nasciens sone, Certein;
Him thowhte that An Egle him there bar
Ryht Fer with-Inne the Se thar;
Ful fer Into a stravnge contre
His Nevew him thowghte þere bar he;
And there the Egle lefte him a-down
Ryht fer Into a strawnge Regiown.
And whanne he was there set In þat plase,
The peple that In the Contre wase,
To him alle they knelid a down
In that plase Abowtes In-virown;
And whanne thus alle they hadden don,
To him so Enclyned Everichon,
And gret Ioie of him they made,
And of him weren they wondir glade.
Thanne Cam his Nevew, Nasciens sone, Certein;
Him thowhte that An Egle him there bar
Ryht Fer with-Inne the Se thar;
Ful fer Into a stravnge contre
His Nevew him thowghte þere bar he;
And there the Egle lefte him a-down
Ryht fer Into a strawnge Regiown.
And whanne he was there set In þat plase,
The peple that In the Contre wase,
To him alle they knelid a down
In that plase Abowtes In-virown;
And whanne thus alle they hadden don,
To him so Enclyned Everichon,
231
And of him weren they wondir glade.
‘Thanne thowghte him that veraillye
That he Sawgh with his bodilich Eye
A gret Flood Owt of his body Gon;
Of wheche flood becomen there Nyne Anon,
Where-Offen the viij Reveres were
Of on clernesse, of on depthe & bred, him þowghte þere;
But the laste flood that there was,
Most deppest, Most Trowblest, semed In that plas;
The water was as fowl As Ony chanel,
Riht hydows Therto, & ful stordy Ech del;
Thus Evene ferd it Atte the begynneng:
But in the Middis was thanne Anothir thing,
For the water Also Cler was there
As ony preciouse stones Owghere,
Not-with-stonding it was boystows & scharpe
As here to-Foren ȝe herden Me Carpe;
And ȝit In the Ende was it in A-nothir Manere,—
ȝif ȝe welen lestene ȝe scholen here;—
For it was More Cleer An hundred fold
Thanne here to-fore ȝe han herd me told,
And More Fairere thanne In the Middes it was,
And as swete to drinken In ony plas;
And so delicious it was to drinke,
That More delicious Cowde non Man thenke;
In wheche Ende the Cowrs was so softe,
þat there-offen was non Noise on lofte.
ȝit more him thowghte þat he Sawgh tho
A Fair Man that From the hevene gan go;
And as he lokede, him thowghte, An hy
In his hondis he Sawgh the verray Crucyfi;
And to a lake he Gan to Gon;
His hondes & Feet he weesch there-Inne Anon;
And thre of the floodis wheche þat were
Departid from the Nynthe there;
Into Alle thre he Entrede, wete þou wel,
Hondes, feet, and body he weesch Eche del.’
That he Sawgh with his bodilich Eye
A gret Flood Owt of his body Gon;
Of wheche flood becomen there Nyne Anon,
Where-Offen the viij Reveres were
Of on clernesse, of on depthe & bred, him þowghte þere;
But the laste flood that there was,
Most deppest, Most Trowblest, semed In that plas;
The water was as fowl As Ony chanel,
Riht hydows Therto, & ful stordy Ech del;
Thus Evene ferd it Atte the begynneng:
But in the Middis was thanne Anothir thing,
For the water Also Cler was there
As ony preciouse stones Owghere,
Not-with-stonding it was boystows & scharpe
As here to-Foren ȝe herden Me Carpe;
And ȝit In the Ende was it in A-nothir Manere,—
ȝif ȝe welen lestene ȝe scholen here;—
For it was More Cleer An hundred fold
Thanne here to-fore ȝe han herd me told,
And More Fairere thanne In the Middes it was,
And as swete to drinken In ony plas;
And so delicious it was to drinke,
That More delicious Cowde non Man thenke;
In wheche Ende the Cowrs was so softe,
þat there-offen was non Noise on lofte.
ȝit more him thowghte þat he Sawgh tho
A Fair Man that From the hevene gan go;
And as he lokede, him thowghte, An hy
In his hondis he Sawgh the verray Crucyfi;
And to a lake he Gan to Gon;
His hondes & Feet he weesch there-Inne Anon;
And thre of the floodis wheche þat were
Departid from the Nynthe there;
232
Hondes, feet, and body he weesch Eche del.’
This Avicioun & this dremenge
Sawgh the kyng In his Slepinge,
Wheche that lasted Ny to the day,
Lik As this Storye vs now doth say.
Thanne A-wook this kyng Anon,
And Remembred him of these viciouns Echon,
Where-offen Abasched ful sore he was,
Of that wonderful A[nd] merveillous Cas.
Sawgh the kyng In his Slepinge,
Wheche that lasted Ny to the day,
Lik As this Storye vs now doth say.
Thanne A-wook this kyng Anon,
And Remembred him of these viciouns Echon,
Where-offen Abasched ful sore he was,
Of that wonderful A[nd] merveillous Cas.
And the qweene that beheeld his fare,
In hire herte hadde sche ful gret Care,
How sche Myhte Owght knowen of the lif
Why that hire lord was so thanne pensyf.
Anon As sche myhte parceyven the day,
Vpe sche Ros, And to hire brother took the way,
Sore wepinge & sore Syghenge,
With gret sorwe & lawmentinge,
And so Cam to Nasciens hire brotheris bed,
And down be him sat In thike sted.
Anon Ryht vpe this Nasciens Rawghte,
His Soster there In his armes he Cawghte,
And hire A-Freyned with Al his herte,
‘Why that sche hadde So manye peynes smerte.’
Thanne tolde sche him of hire lord the kyng
That Al Niht hadde ben In sweche Morneng,
And the Cause for why sche ne wiste,
“Therfore, dere brothir, as I the tryste,
Lest he myhte falle In som dispeireng,
Now, swete dere brothir, for Ony thing
That ȝe wolden of him Enqwere
For what Cawse he hadde Al his fere,
And for Iesus love hevene kyng,
For whom we hauen taken Cristeneng,
That ȝe wolden streyht to him gon,
And a boone Axen Of hym þere Anon,
‘That he wolde graunten ȝow ȝowre Askyng,
What so Evere it be, of Alle thing,’
And whanne þat he hath graunted to ȝow þat boone,
Thanne that ȝe wolden Axen him ful sone
‘Why that he Ferde So that Nyht,
& why In his sleepe he was so afryht;’
For I ne desire so sore non thing
As there Offen to haven som knoweng.”
In hire herte hadde sche ful gret Care,
How sche Myhte Owght knowen of the lif
Why that hire lord was so thanne pensyf.
Anon As sche myhte parceyven the day,
Vpe sche Ros, And to hire brother took the way,
Sore wepinge & sore Syghenge,
With gret sorwe & lawmentinge,
And so Cam to Nasciens hire brotheris bed,
And down be him sat In thike sted.
Anon Ryht vpe this Nasciens Rawghte,
His Soster there In his armes he Cawghte,
And hire A-Freyned with Al his herte,
‘Why that sche hadde So manye peynes smerte.’
Thanne tolde sche him of hire lord the kyng
That Al Niht hadde ben In sweche Morneng,
And the Cause for why sche ne wiste,
“Therfore, dere brothir, as I the tryste,
Lest he myhte falle In som dispeireng,
Now, swete dere brothir, for Ony thing
That ȝe wolden of him Enqwere
For what Cawse he hadde Al his fere,
And for Iesus love hevene kyng,
For whom we hauen taken Cristeneng,
That ȝe wolden streyht to him gon,
And a boone Axen Of hym þere Anon,
233
What so Evere it be, of Alle thing,’
And whanne þat he hath graunted to ȝow þat boone,
Thanne that ȝe wolden Axen him ful sone
‘Why that he Ferde So that Nyht,
& why In his sleepe he was so afryht;’
For I ne desire so sore non thing
As there Offen to haven som knoweng.”
Thanne Ros him vpe this Nasciens Anon,
And to the kynges chambre gan to gon;
And be that tyme he comen thedir was,
The kyng was Resen in that plas;
And Nasciens him grette þere Anon riht,
And seide, “Sire! as thow art bothe kyng & knyht,
One bone, sire kyng, þat thow grawnte me
With-Owten lettynge Owthir Adversite.”
Thanne þe king Answerid him Agein,
“Dere brothe[r], ȝe knowen wel In Certein,
That nothing wheche Is In Myn bandown
That Al Redy schal been at ȝowre peticiown.”
And whanne Naciens vndirstood al this,
That be his Creawnse he wolde not Mis,
But fulfillen his bone Al hol & pleyn,
Thanne to him thus seide he In Certein,
‘No more for his boone wolde he Crave,
But knowliching of his pensifnesse to have;
Why Al that Nyht he ferde tho so,
This wolde I wete Er that I go.’
And whanne the kyng herde him thus seye,
Thanne wiste he wel his qweene gan him be-wreye,
So that Anon Ryht to Sire Nasciens
He tolde his trowblynge with-owten Offens,
And told him clene his Aviciowun,
And of his Nevew Al & som;
“But ȝit neuertheles not for than
I ne have not ȝow told how it began;
For of this ȝifte that ȝe han Axed me,
Riht ful vntrewe to ȝow have I be;
For I swor to ȝow with-Inne þe viij day,
Whanne ȝe token for me that iornay,
I scholde ȝow so worthily qwiten Ageyn
Thal al ȝoure baronage scholde it knowen Certein.
Where-offen vntrewe to ȝow I am,
And thus this pensifnesse On me it Cam.
Fortheremore, As by my qweene I lay,
I bethowghte me how Mani A day
That I hadde leyn In fowl sinne,
The fowlest þat Man Myhte leven Inne;
And myn Consciense me gan to Repreve
Of myn fals levenge & Of myn beleve.
And as I lay thus, & me be-thowghte
ȝif to Ony Man I hadde behyght Owghte;
And I ne Cowde not thenken, sauf Only to þe,
To whom that I haue so longe vntrewe be;
And for wheche thing is most myn hevynesse
That bringeth myn herte In al this distresse.
For there nis now no man lyvenge
That I am so moche bownden to In Alle thinge,
Ne that so moche that I haue trespaced vnto,
As to ȝowre persone now that I have I-do.
And what this vntrowthe it is to mene,
I schal ȝow tellen ful wel & Clene.
And to the kynges chambre gan to gon;
And be that tyme he comen thedir was,
The kyng was Resen in that plas;
And Nasciens him grette þere Anon riht,
And seide, “Sire! as thow art bothe kyng & knyht,
One bone, sire kyng, þat thow grawnte me
With-Owten lettynge Owthir Adversite.”
Thanne þe king Answerid him Agein,
“Dere brothe[r], ȝe knowen wel In Certein,
That nothing wheche Is In Myn bandown
That Al Redy schal been at ȝowre peticiown.”
And whanne Naciens vndirstood al this,
That be his Creawnse he wolde not Mis,
But fulfillen his bone Al hol & pleyn,
Thanne to him thus seide he In Certein,
‘No more for his boone wolde he Crave,
But knowliching of his pensifnesse to have;
Why Al that Nyht he ferde tho so,
This wolde I wete Er that I go.’
And whanne the kyng herde him thus seye,
Thanne wiste he wel his qweene gan him be-wreye,
So that Anon Ryht to Sire Nasciens
He tolde his trowblynge with-owten Offens,
And told him clene his Aviciowun,
And of his Nevew Al & som;
“But ȝit neuertheles not for than
I ne have not ȝow told how it began;
234
Riht ful vntrewe to ȝow have I be;
For I swor to ȝow with-Inne þe viij day,
Whanne ȝe token for me that iornay,
I scholde ȝow so worthily qwiten Ageyn
Thal al ȝoure baronage scholde it knowen Certein.
Where-offen vntrewe to ȝow I am,
And thus this pensifnesse On me it Cam.
Fortheremore, As by my qweene I lay,
I bethowghte me how Mani A day
That I hadde leyn In fowl sinne,
The fowlest þat Man Myhte leven Inne;
And myn Consciense me gan to Repreve
Of myn fals levenge & Of myn beleve.
And as I lay thus, & me be-thowghte
ȝif to Ony Man I hadde behyght Owghte;
And I ne Cowde not thenken, sauf Only to þe,
To whom that I haue so longe vntrewe be;
And for wheche thing is most myn hevynesse
That bringeth myn herte In al this distresse.
For there nis now no man lyvenge
That I am so moche bownden to In Alle thinge,
Ne that so moche that I haue trespaced vnto,
As to ȝowre persone now that I have I-do.
And what this vntrowthe it is to mene,
I schal ȝow tellen ful wel & Clene.
It is ful trewe, As ȝe don vndirstonde,
Whanne I was discomfyt be myn Enemyes honde
At Tarabel, As ȝe wel knowe,
Where as ȝe Comen with-Inne A throwe
Aȝens Myn Enemyes to socowren there,
Of whom þat I hadde Riht gret Fere,
Whanne to the Castel of Come þat I was gon,—
That tyme Oþer Socour hadde I non;—
Thanne Comen ȝe prekynge with ȝowre Meyne
In Socowringe, fortheringe, & helpinge of me;
Thanne behyghte I ȝow tho In Certein,
‘That ȝif euere to Sarras I Myhte Rekeueren Agein
In worschepe & In prosperite;
With-Innen .viij. dayes aftir Certeinle,
I scholde ȝow so worthily Gwerdone thanne,
That bettere gwerdoned nas neuere Manne;’
Where-offen the schame is Fallen On Me
Only, Sire, & not vppon the.
And for Cawse of this grete thowght,
Into this Avicioun thus was I browght,
As I have told ȝow, bothe Crope & Roote;
But the signefiawnce, how to knowen, I ne woote;
Now sethen that Ioseph is hennes gon,
Man me to declaren now know I non;
For, And he were here now present,
He cowde me declaren Al the hole Entent;”
And for this Cause was he in gret thowht,
To what Ende this viciown scholde be browht.
Whanne I was discomfyt be myn Enemyes honde
At Tarabel, As ȝe wel knowe,
Where as ȝe Comen with-Inne A throwe
Aȝens Myn Enemyes to socowren there,
Of whom þat I hadde Riht gret Fere,
Whanne to the Castel of Come þat I was gon,—
That tyme Oþer Socour hadde I non;—
Thanne Comen ȝe prekynge with ȝowre Meyne
In Socowringe, fortheringe, & helpinge of me;
235
‘That ȝif euere to Sarras I Myhte Rekeueren Agein
In worschepe & In prosperite;
With-Innen .viij. dayes aftir Certeinle,
I scholde ȝow so worthily Gwerdone thanne,
That bettere gwerdoned nas neuere Manne;’
Where-offen the schame is Fallen On Me
Only, Sire, & not vppon the.
And for Cawse of this grete thowght,
Into this Avicioun thus was I browght,
As I have told ȝow, bothe Crope & Roote;
But the signefiawnce, how to knowen, I ne woote;
Now sethen that Ioseph is hennes gon,
Man me to declaren now know I non;
For, And he were here now present,
He cowde me declaren Al the hole Entent;”
And for this Cause was he in gret thowht,
To what Ende this viciown scholde be browht.
And thanne be-spak tho Sire Nasciens,
That thike tyme was In the kynges presens,
“For, sire, this viciown May Signefie
That ȝe scholen In-to Anothir Seignorie;
But ȝe neten whanne, ne what day,
That this sodeynly behappen ȝow May.
For, lik As ȝe han chonged ȝoure lif,
So scholen ȝe ȝowre Regne with-owten strif;
For Every Evel wil & wikked Cownsaille,
Eche man Owghte Forsaken Sawn faille,
And Ellis diden we Contrariously
To Owre newe feith ful Sekerly,
Into hos Creaunse we han vs bownde
Bothe body and Sowle In this stownde.
Where-fore, As of ȝoure Aviciown, now semeth me,
To non Evel may it torne In non degre.
But I rede ȝow that ȝe now do,
Counseil Of holy Chirche to Clepen ȝow to,
Wheche that Ioseph left In his stede,
Good Counseil there-Offen ȝow now to hede.
For ȝe knowen wel be vndirstondyng,
That Ioseph Comanded ȝow Ouer Alle thing
‘Holy Chirche to kepen an Susteyne,
And In Every nede to hem scholde ȝe Compleyne,
That Nedy were to sowle oþer to body;’
Thus Comanded he ȝow, ȝe weten wel sothly.”
That thike tyme was In the kynges presens,
“For, sire, this viciown May Signefie
That ȝe scholen In-to Anothir Seignorie;
But ȝe neten whanne, ne what day,
That this sodeynly behappen ȝow May.
For, lik As ȝe han chonged ȝoure lif,
So scholen ȝe ȝowre Regne with-owten strif;
For Every Evel wil & wikked Cownsaille,
Eche man Owghte Forsaken Sawn faille,
And Ellis diden we Contrariously
To Owre newe feith ful Sekerly,
Into hos Creaunse we han vs bownde
Bothe body and Sowle In this stownde.
Where-fore, As of ȝoure Aviciown, now semeth me,
To non Evel may it torne In non degre.
But I rede ȝow that ȝe now do,
Counseil Of holy Chirche to Clepen ȝow to,
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Good Counseil there-Offen ȝow now to hede.
For ȝe knowen wel be vndirstondyng,
That Ioseph Comanded ȝow Ouer Alle thing
‘Holy Chirche to kepen an Susteyne,
And In Every nede to hem scholde ȝe Compleyne,
That Nedy were to sowle oþer to body;’
Thus Comanded he ȝow, ȝe weten wel sothly.”
And whanne Nasciens this wordis had seid þo,
Anon bothe to-Gederis thanne gonnen they go
To the paleys Anon Of Spiritwelte—
As to-forn Rehersid han ȝe herd Me—
That Enstablyscht & Ordeyned weren Echone,
Holy Goddis Servise there-Inne to done;
So that there herden they goddis Servise,
And Afterward that Glorious Sacrifise,
As Ioseph hem Comaunded before,
In what maner to Swen Cristes lore,
And Every day for the More part Comowned to be;
Thus Comanded Ioseph tho Certeynle.
And whanne this Servise was Al I-don,
To-forn him he Comanded to Comen Anon
Alle the provostis of holy Chirche,
And of hem took Counseil how he scholde wirche,
And told hem Clerly Al his Avicioun,
How that he dremede, Al and som.
But Of hem was there not On tho
That theke Avisiown Cowde him vndo;
For they Seyden him Certeinly,
‘That there ne Cowde non Man but God Only
That Avicioon to declaren In Ony place,
Sawfe Only God thorgh his grete grace.’
And whanne the kyng & Nasciens herden of this,
Anon thens they wenten with Owten Mys.
Anon bothe to-Gederis thanne gonnen they go
To the paleys Anon Of Spiritwelte—
As to-forn Rehersid han ȝe herd Me—
That Enstablyscht & Ordeyned weren Echone,
Holy Goddis Servise there-Inne to done;
So that there herden they goddis Servise,
And Afterward that Glorious Sacrifise,
As Ioseph hem Comaunded before,
In what maner to Swen Cristes lore,
And Every day for the More part Comowned to be;
Thus Comanded Ioseph tho Certeynle.
And whanne this Servise was Al I-don,
To-forn him he Comanded to Comen Anon
Alle the provostis of holy Chirche,
And of hem took Counseil how he scholde wirche,
And told hem Clerly Al his Avicioun,
How that he dremede, Al and som.
But Of hem was there not On tho
That theke Avisiown Cowde him vndo;
For they Seyden him Certeinly,
‘That there ne Cowde non Man but God Only
That Avicioon to declaren In Ony place,
Sawfe Only God thorgh his grete grace.’
And whanne the kyng & Nasciens herden of this,
Anon thens they wenten with Owten Mys.
Thanne wente the kyng & Nasciens forth bothe
More hevyere thanne Er they weren forsothe,
And [seide] that neuere In Ese they scholde bene
Tyl here-Offen they hadden vndirstonding clene;
And thus pensif to the paleys Aȝen gonne they gone,
They two togederis, right Alle alone;
And there they Rested hem bothe that stownde
To-Gederis On A Cowche vppon the grownde,
And non More Feleschepe but they two.
More hevyere thanne Er they weren forsothe,
237
Tyl here-Offen they hadden vndirstonding clene;
And thus pensif to the paleys Aȝen gonne they gone,
They two togederis, right Alle alone;
And there they Rested hem bothe that stownde
To-Gederis On A Cowche vppon the grownde,
And non More Feleschepe but they two.
Thanne felten they Anon Merveilles Mo,
How that Al the paleys Clene Alto-schook,
Sawfe þe Sovereyn vowtis, As they Gonne look;
And thanne loked they furthermore;
Hem thowghte Al to-scheverid it was thore.
And In Every Chene hem thowghte they sye
Ful of brenneng brondis ful wittirlye.
Thanne so hydows A noise there be-gan,
As it was semeng to hem bothe than
That the Endeng of þe world hadde be come,
And that it hadde ben the day of dome;
So that Alle the wyndowes & walles to-brook,
So Merveillously tho this Noise Ontook.
Also hem thowghte the paleis schold han down falle,
And there Sonken Into the Ottrest walle.
And Amongs Alle this Merveillous thing,
There Cam On hem the wondrest dirkeneng,
That hem thowghte here sighte was gon Certein,
And that it neuere to Recouerin Ageyn.
How that Al the paleys Clene Alto-schook,
Sawfe þe Sovereyn vowtis, As they Gonne look;
And thanne loked they furthermore;
Hem thowghte Al to-scheverid it was thore.
And In Every Chene hem thowghte they sye
Ful of brenneng brondis ful wittirlye.
Thanne so hydows A noise there be-gan,
As it was semeng to hem bothe than
That the Endeng of þe world hadde be come,
And that it hadde ben the day of dome;
So that Alle the wyndowes & walles to-brook,
So Merveillously tho this Noise Ontook.
Also hem thowghte the paleis schold han down falle,
And there Sonken Into the Ottrest walle.
And Amongs Alle this Merveillous thing,
There Cam On hem the wondrest dirkeneng,
That hem thowghte here sighte was gon Certein,
And that it neuere to Recouerin Ageyn.
And non Men Of that Cite Certeinly
Theke Merveilles sien, neþer herden, but they
That with-Inne the paleis were;
And herden they, ne sien, no more there
But Onliche Of that gret thondringe,
Where-Offen they hadden gret Merveillenge.
And Othir thinges syen they nowht;
But, As hem semede In here thowht,
A fewe sparkelis At the Openynge
Of the Paleys wyndowes, they Syen Comenge;
And ȝit they Abaschten ful sore of this,
What it Myhte Amow[n]ten, with-Owten Mis.
Theke Merveilles sien, neþer herden, but they
That with-Inne the paleis were;
And herden they, ne sien, no more there
But Onliche Of that gret thondringe,
Where-Offen they hadden gret Merveillenge.
And Othir thinges syen they nowht;
But, As hem semede In here thowht,
A fewe sparkelis At the Openynge
Of the Paleys wyndowes, they Syen Comenge;
238
What it Myhte Amow[n]ten, with-Owten Mis.
And As the kyng & Nasciens lien In this trawunce
ȝit herden they A more wondirful Chawnce.
Hem thowghte they herde the Sown of An horn
That neuere they herden there beforn;
And the sown was so wondirful & so hy,
That ouer al the world they supposed trewly
The Noise Of that horn myht hauen ben herde,
So wondirfully that noise tho þere Ferde.
ȝit herden they A more wondirful Chawnce.
Hem thowghte they herde the Sown of An horn
That neuere they herden there beforn;
And the sown was so wondirful & so hy,
That ouer al the world they supposed trewly
The Noise Of that horn myht hauen ben herde,
So wondirfully that noise tho þere Ferde.
Thanne Anon A vois there Gan to Crie,
“Here is begynneng of drede Certeinlye.”
And whanne this Nois they herde thus seyn,
Evene plat A down they fillen ful pleyn,
Lik bothe dede As they hadde þere been;
Non lif In hem non Mihte Seen.
Thanne was the prophecie fulfild tho
That be Olde dayes was knowen to Mo,
Wheche þat seith, ‘Two scholen liggen In a bed,
On be taken, þe toþer leven stille In that sted.’
“Here is begynneng of drede Certeinlye.”
And whanne this Nois they herde thus seyn,
Evene plat A down they fillen ful pleyn,
Lik bothe dede As they hadde þere been;
Non lif In hem non Mihte Seen.
Thanne was the prophecie fulfild tho
That be Olde dayes was knowen to Mo,
Wheche þat seith, ‘Two scholen liggen In a bed,
On be taken, þe toþer leven stille In that sted.’
Thus sone the kyng Owt of his bed was bore
Seventene Iornes, be Goddis Myht thore.
And it was wel the thridde Oure of the day
Whanne to the kyng was Al this Affray;
And whanne the holy gost hym left ful sone,
It was the hy Owre Of None.
Seventene Iornes, be Goddis Myht thore.
And it was wel the thridde Oure of the day
Whanne to the kyng was Al this Affray;
And whanne the holy gost hym left ful sone,
It was the hy Owre Of None.
But of him talketh now non lengere this storie;
But to the qweene & Nascien Mosten we hye,
That bothe weren beleft In sarras,
As woful peple In that same plas.
But to the qweene & Nascien Mosten we hye,
That bothe weren beleft In sarras,
As woful peple In that same plas.
| CHAPTER XVIII. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |