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," |
 |
|
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. | CHAPTER 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 XXI. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XXI.
Now Of this Emperour let we now be,
And Aȝen to this kyng now torne we,
That into this Roche Is now I-browht,
And In what Maner ne Wot he nowht.
And there sit he In pensifnesse & In deseise,
& With him non thing þat may him plese;
And faste Abowtes he loked him there,
But hevene & the se he ne sawh nowhere
Ne non sustenance there ne was,
But Al disolat In that same plas;
Also, dwelling was there non,
But hydows & sterne that Roch of ston;
And On þat Rock was there non weye
But A path that to þe Cave wenten sothlye.
Thanne loked he vppon the tothir side;
He ne sawh non Comfort In that tyde,
But dirkenesse & hard Roche there.
Thanne set he him down with hevy Chere,
And be-gan to sighen ful sore,
To wepen & wringen ȝit wel more.
Thanne Anon thowghte he In his herte—
Whiche thowght him myhte not Asterte—
That Owre lord him hadde forgeten Clene,
That he there so Was browht In tene.
And Aȝen to this kyng now torne we,
That into this Roche Is now I-browht,
And In what Maner ne Wot he nowht.
And there sit he In pensifnesse & In deseise,
& With him non thing þat may him plese;
And faste Abowtes he loked him there,
But hevene & the se he ne sawh nowhere
Ne non sustenance there ne was,
But Al disolat In that same plas;
257
But hydows & sterne that Roch of ston;
And On þat Rock was there non weye
But A path that to þe Cave wenten sothlye.
Thanne loked he vppon the tothir side;
He ne sawh non Comfort In that tyde,
But dirkenesse & hard Roche there.
Thanne set he him down with hevy Chere,
And be-gan to sighen ful sore,
To wepen & wringen ȝit wel more.
Thanne Anon thowghte he In his herte—
Whiche thowght him myhte not Asterte—
That Owre lord him hadde forgeten Clene,
That he there so Was browht In tene.
And thus as he was In this morneng,
The water Of his Eyen Cam renneng:
Him thowghte þat the wawes of þe se,
A wondirful Noise Maden hee;
And as he lokede tho him Abowte,
He saw Come seilling A schipe wel stowte;
The wheche schipe was ful of Bewte,
And A wondir fair Man there-Inne to be,
That to-forn In the schipe him thowhte he was,
Sitteng Al-gate In that same plas;
And toward that Roche he drow ful faste,
Til that to the Roche he Cam Atte laste.
The schipe, Al Of Silver it was,
The Naylles Of gold In that plas;
And In Middis Of that schipe was there
A fair Crois In that Manere.
The water Of his Eyen Cam renneng:
Him thowghte þat the wawes of þe se,
A wondirful Noise Maden hee;
And as he lokede tho him Abowte,
He saw Come seilling A schipe wel stowte;
The wheche schipe was ful of Bewte,
And A wondir fair Man there-Inne to be,
That to-forn In the schipe him thowhte he was,
Sitteng Al-gate In that same plas;
And toward that Roche he drow ful faste,
Til that to the Roche he Cam Atte laste.
The schipe, Al Of Silver it was,
The Naylles Of gold In that plas;
And In Middis Of that schipe was there
A fair Crois In that Manere.
And whanne this schip to þe Roche gan Aplye,
Alle the swete savours him thowhte sekerly
That Evere weren groweng In Oni plas,
Him thowhte that In theke schipe tho was.
And whanne the Crois he gan to Aspie,
Anon In his herte he thowhte In hye,
That non wikked thing ne myhte be
In plas þere the Cros was Certeinle.
Owt of the schipe Cam this faire man tho,
And the kyng Aȝens him gan go:
“Sire,” he seide, “welcome ȝe be
Into this plase now Certeinle!”
And with that he knelid a-down,
“Welcome Sire, hidir, Of Renown!”
Thanne Axede this fair Man Certeinle,
“Sire, Of what Contre now be ȝe?”
Thanne Answerid the kyng, & seide tho,
“A Cristen Man, Sire, I am here, lo.”
Thanne Axede him this goode man tho,
‘In what Maner he gan thedir to go.’
Thanne Answerid the kyng Ageyn,
“Sire, I wot Neuere now In Certein.”
Alle the swete savours him thowhte sekerly
That Evere weren groweng In Oni plas,
Him thowhte that In theke schipe tho was.
And whanne the Crois he gan to Aspie,
Anon In his herte he thowhte In hye,
258
In plas þere the Cros was Certeinle.
Owt of the schipe Cam this faire man tho,
And the kyng Aȝens him gan go:
“Sire,” he seide, “welcome ȝe be
Into this plase now Certeinle!”
And with that he knelid a-down,
“Welcome Sire, hidir, Of Renown!”
Thanne Axede this fair Man Certeinle,
“Sire, Of what Contre now be ȝe?”
Thanne Answerid the kyng, & seide tho,
“A Cristen Man, Sire, I am here, lo.”
Thanne Axede him this goode man tho,
‘In what Maner he gan thedir to go.’
Thanne Answerid the kyng Ageyn,
“Sire, I wot Neuere now In Certein.”
Thanne the king Axede him ful snelle,
Whens þat he was, he Wold him telle.
Thanne Answerid the goodman him Agein,
“Sire, A Crafty Man I am Certein,
That nowher non swich Is, in non Contre,
So sotel A man As ȝe here now Se;
For sweche Craftes As I kan do,
Of Alle men In Erthe konnen it no mo.”
Thanne Axede the kyng Of him there,
‘What Maner thinges tho Craftes were.’
He seide, “that Owther fowl man Oþer fowl womman,
Into Grete bewte he cowde torne than;
Also A fool, A Wis man kan I Make;
A pore Man, gret Richesse to take;
And a low Man kan I Maken hye,
I seie the, Sire, Certeinlie.”
“Now Certes, Sire,” tho quod the kyng,
“This may wel ben A Wondirful werkyng:
Now, worthi Sire, And it ȝowre plesing wolde be,
ȝowre Name that ȝe wolden tellen me.”
“Sire, Gladly, Er I hennes wil gon,
My name to tellen the Anon,—
‘ On & Al Only ’ it is Mi Name,
Sire, I the seie with-owten blame.”
Whens þat he was, he Wold him telle.
Thanne Answerid the goodman him Agein,
“Sire, A Crafty Man I am Certein,
That nowher non swich Is, in non Contre,
So sotel A man As ȝe here now Se;
For sweche Craftes As I kan do,
Of Alle men In Erthe konnen it no mo.”
Thanne Axede the kyng Of him there,
‘What Maner thinges tho Craftes were.’
He seide, “that Owther fowl man Oþer fowl womman,
Into Grete bewte he cowde torne than;
Also A fool, A Wis man kan I Make;
A pore Man, gret Richesse to take;
And a low Man kan I Maken hye,
I seie the, Sire, Certeinlie.”
“Now Certes, Sire,” tho quod the kyng,
“This may wel ben A Wondirful werkyng:
Now, worthi Sire, And it ȝowre plesing wolde be,
ȝowre Name that ȝe wolden tellen me.”
259
My name to tellen the Anon,—
‘ On & Al Only ’ it is Mi Name,
Sire, I the seie with-owten blame.”
Thanne quod the king, “sire, Certeinly
That is a Fair Name, and A ful hy.
Sire,” quod the king with mylde vois,
“Me semeth, as be the signe Of þe Crois
That ȝe haven In ȝowre Compenie here,
That to Jesus Crist Affiawnce ȝe bere.”
“That is soth,” quod this good man tho,
“For with-Owten him non goodnesse May be do;
And ho þat the signe Of the Crois In his Compeni have,
From Alle perilles he may ben Save.
Therfore be war, I rede now to the,
That what peple so Evere thou se,
But ȝif the signe of þe Cros be hem Among,
With hem thow talke, I Rede, not long.”
Ful Mochel spak this goodman tho
To the kyng that In the Roche was I-do;
Sweche wordis Of Comfort to him he spak,
That Alle his hevynesse he gan to forsak;
Nethir Of Mete ne drinke he ne thowhte;
In so mochel Joye this good man him browhte.
That is a Fair Name, and A ful hy.
Sire,” quod the king with mylde vois,
“Me semeth, as be the signe Of þe Crois
That ȝe haven In ȝowre Compenie here,
That to Jesus Crist Affiawnce ȝe bere.”
“That is soth,” quod this good man tho,
“For with-Owten him non goodnesse May be do;
And ho þat the signe Of the Crois In his Compeni have,
From Alle perilles he may ben Save.
Therfore be war, I rede now to the,
That what peple so Evere thou se,
But ȝif the signe of þe Cros be hem Among,
With hem thow talke, I Rede, not long.”
Ful Mochel spak this goodman tho
To the kyng that In the Roche was I-do;
Sweche wordis Of Comfort to him he spak,
That Alle his hevynesse he gan to forsak;
Nethir Of Mete ne drinke he ne thowhte;
In so mochel Joye this good man him browhte.
Thanne Axede him the kyng tho,
‘In what Maner he scholde do,
And whethir he scholde þere long Abyde,
Owther thens to Gon with-In schort tyde.’
“Ne seist thow,” quod this good man Ageyn,
“That thow belevest In God Certeyn?”
“ȝe forsothe, Sire,” quod the Kyng,
“And that I do Ouer Alle thing,
Only & Al In him I beleve,
Of wheche schal non man me Repreve.”
‘In what Maner he scholde do,
And whethir he scholde þere long Abyde,
Owther thens to Gon with-In schort tyde.’
“Ne seist thow,” quod this good man Ageyn,
“That thow belevest In God Certeyn?”
“ȝe forsothe, Sire,” quod the Kyng,
“And that I do Ouer Alle thing,
Only & Al In him I beleve,
Of wheche schal non man me Repreve.”
“Sethen thanne that thow dost so,”
Quod the good man Aȝen to him tho,
“Ful Sekir thanne Mihtest þou be,
That he ne wel Not Forȝeten the,
Ne non that In him hath Remembraunce,
In what degre he be, Other In what stawnse,
In sekir, sere king, I telle it to the,
That God ne wil not forȝeten the;
And therto, what thing þat thow wilt Crave.
Sekir to be, thow myht it have.
Sire, tak thow al this for verite,
Al that Euere now I haue told to the;
For who that In God doth putten his Creaunce,
Him may not faille with-Owten variance,
That he ne schal haue, At his nede,
Of Alle thing that he wele him bede;
For man hath he In so gret Cherte,
Of non thing so moche, I telle it the.
Therefore man, On him to taken non thing I rede,
But swich thing As God him bede;
And ȝif A man In him Self to Moche thenke,
And with distorbilons Maketh his herte to swenke,
So myhte he fallen I[n] disperaunce;
Swich a thing myhte ben his Chaunce.”
“Now, good sire,” quod the King tho,
“May I thanne Only to God trosten vnto,
Of alle thing that me nedith to have,
Other what thing that I wele krave;
And that God wele thenken On Me,
Trowe ȝe, sere, that this wil be?”
“A, sire,” quod this goode man tho,
“Lo, now In disperaunce þou Art I-do,
That thenkest & seist As thow dost here,
In-to A fowl disperawnce þou fallest there.
Therefore I rede the, Ouer Alle thing,
That Into bettere Conseille þin herte þou bring,
And Ouer Alle thing I rede the,
Thin mynde thou sette vppon þe Trenite;
And have Minde how Salamon the kyng
To his Sone Evere ȝaf teching,
‘That Evere God to worschepe scholde he,
In what maner place that so Evere he be:
Thanne dar the dredyn Of non thing:’
Thus ȝaf Sampson to his son lerneng.”
Quod the good man Aȝen to him tho,
260
That he ne wel Not Forȝeten the,
Ne non that In him hath Remembraunce,
In what degre he be, Other In what stawnse,
In sekir, sere king, I telle it to the,
That God ne wil not forȝeten the;
And therto, what thing þat thow wilt Crave.
Sekir to be, thow myht it have.
Sire, tak thow al this for verite,
Al that Euere now I haue told to the;
For who that In God doth putten his Creaunce,
Him may not faille with-Owten variance,
That he ne schal haue, At his nede,
Of Alle thing that he wele him bede;
For man hath he In so gret Cherte,
Of non thing so moche, I telle it the.
Therefore man, On him to taken non thing I rede,
But swich thing As God him bede;
And ȝif A man In him Self to Moche thenke,
And with distorbilons Maketh his herte to swenke,
So myhte he fallen I[n] disperaunce;
Swich a thing myhte ben his Chaunce.”
“Now, good sire,” quod the King tho,
“May I thanne Only to God trosten vnto,
Of alle thing that me nedith to have,
Other what thing that I wele krave;
And that God wele thenken On Me,
Trowe ȝe, sere, that this wil be?”
“A, sire,” quod this goode man tho,
“Lo, now In disperaunce þou Art I-do,
That thenkest & seist As thow dost here,
In-to A fowl disperawnce þou fallest there.
Therefore I rede the, Ouer Alle thing,
That Into bettere Conseille þin herte þou bring,
And Ouer Alle thing I rede the,
Thin mynde thou sette vppon þe Trenite;
261
To his Sone Evere ȝaf teching,
‘That Evere God to worschepe scholde he,
In what maner place that so Evere he be:
Thanne dar the dredyn Of non thing:’
Thus ȝaf Sampson to his son lerneng.”
In the mene whille that this good Man
Of the Schipe to the kyng Spak than,
The kyng so Ioyful Of his worrdis was,
As he hem herkenid In that plas,
So that he fyl In a gret stodye tho,
And Merveilled how this thing myhte go,
And whethir It were In A dremenge,
Owther where that he was slepinge.
And thus A long tyme he him thowhte
In what maner that he thedir was browhte,
Of wheche he Cowde knowen non Certeinte
Of this Mater ȝit In non manere degre.
Of the Schipe to the kyng Spak than,
The kyng so Ioyful Of his worrdis was,
As he hem herkenid In that plas,
So that he fyl In a gret stodye tho,
And Merveilled how this thing myhte go,
And whethir It were In A dremenge,
Owther where that he was slepinge.
And thus A long tyme he him thowhte
In what maner that he thedir was browhte,
Of wheche he Cowde knowen non Certeinte
Of this Mater ȝit In non manere degre.
And whanne Owt of this thowht he gan to gon,
To his kende Memorie he Cam Anon,
And abowtes him he lokede wel faste,
But he ne Cowde weten how he Awey paste,
For Nethir Of Schipe ne Man he Say,
Whech that to him Aperid that day.
To his kende Memorie he Cam Anon,
And abowtes him he lokede wel faste,
But he ne Cowde weten how he Awey paste,
For Nethir Of Schipe ne Man he Say,
Whech that to him Aperid that day.
And whanne bothe Schipe & man was Agon,
Into A gret Morneng he fyl Anon;
But In his herte he thowghte ful Certeinlye
That thike man From God kam An hye;
For he wiste wel be the Signe of the Crois
That it was Only be goddis voys;
For And he hadde been A dedly man,
He Cowde not han Spoken As he dide than.
And Also he wiste Ful Sekerly,
He Cowde not han gon Awey so previly
ȝyf Erthlich Man he hadde I-ben,
Other wise he scholde han him seen;
Wherfore his herte was moche the more
On god In Al his werkis thore.
Into A gret Morneng he fyl Anon;
But In his herte he thowghte ful Certeinlye
That thike man From God kam An hye;
For he wiste wel be the Signe of the Crois
That it was Only be goddis voys;
For And he hadde been A dedly man,
He Cowde not han Spoken As he dide than.
And Also he wiste Ful Sekerly,
He Cowde not han gon Awey so previly
ȝyf Erthlich Man he hadde I-ben,
Other wise he scholde han him seen;
262
On god In Al his werkis thore.
Ful longe In this thowght þe kyng Abod;
Other whiles he sat, & Oþer whiles he stood.
He gan to loken vppon the lefte partye,
And thus Sone he gan to Aspie,
He Sawh where Cam a schip Anon
Toward the Roche Forto gon;
That Schipe was wondirly faire A-dyht,
As him thowhte to his Syht;
And þer nas non thing Abowte,
But Rialy keuered with-Inne & with-Owte:
Into the harde wawes Of the Se
That Schipe was keuered ful Certeinle;
But nethir Man ne womman Cowde he se,
That Schip to Governe In non degre.
And At the Roche it Aryved Anon
Also swithe as it Myhte gon.
Other whiles he sat, & Oþer whiles he stood.
He gan to loken vppon the lefte partye,
And thus Sone he gan to Aspie,
He Sawh where Cam a schip Anon
Toward the Roche Forto gon;
That Schipe was wondirly faire A-dyht,
As him thowhte to his Syht;
And þer nas non thing Abowte,
But Rialy keuered with-Inne & with-Owte:
Into the harde wawes Of the Se
That Schipe was keuered ful Certeinle;
But nethir Man ne womman Cowde he se,
That Schip to Governe In non degre.
And At the Roche it Aryved Anon
Also swithe as it Myhte gon.
And whanne the king gan this beholde,
He merueilled þer-offen Mani folde,
What thike Schipe Miht signefie,
That to the Roche so faste gan hie,
And what maner of thing it sowhte there,
That thedir Cam In swich Manere;
And Evere this Schipe he beheld there,
And of the Aray Alle the manere.
He merueilled þer-offen Mani folde,
What thike Schipe Miht signefie,
That to the Roche so faste gan hie,
And what maner of thing it sowhte there,
That thedir Cam In swich Manere;
And Evere this Schipe he beheld there,
And of the Aray Alle the manere.
Thanne sawh he there isswen Anon
The fairest womman that of feet myht gon:
Thanne the kyng Abaisched he was
Of thike Merveille In that plas;
Neuertheles ȝit he seide, “Welcome ȝe be
Faire womman, Into this Contre.”
Thanne Answerid sche Agein,
“And ȝe ben welcome, Sire, Certein,
As man that I most desire to se
Of Alle men levenge, I telle it the.
Eualach,” seide this lady tho,
“Al my lyve ȝit hider-to,
So gret lust I haue to speken with the,
And now Am I glad I may the se;
And now thow Art in this plase here,
With the to speken I schal haue leysere;
I schal the lede, and thow wilt gon with me,
Into þe fairest place that euer man May se.”
“Now Certes, dame,” quod the kyng,
“I merveille me mochel Of myn hider Comeng,
For I not ho that hedir me browhte,
Ne nethir sen him neuere I ne mowhte,
Ne neuere hennes ne wil I go,
That til Aȝen he me wil Comen to,
That me In to this place browhte;
Oþer wise cam It not In to My thowhte.”
“Be my trowthe, sire,” quod sche thanne,
“ȝit spekist thow As A trewe Manne,
For I the browhte Into this plase,
To speken with the, for I wolde han space;
And be me hens schalt thow go,
And be non Other, troste wel therto.
And ȝif thow wilt not forsaken my Compenye,
I schal the bringen to hygh seignourie,
And maken the Lord Ouer Al my lond,
Which that I holde In Min honde.”
The fairest womman that of feet myht gon:
Thanne the kyng Abaisched he was
Of thike Merveille In that plas;
Neuertheles ȝit he seide, “Welcome ȝe be
Faire womman, Into this Contre.”
Thanne Answerid sche Agein,
“And ȝe ben welcome, Sire, Certein,
As man that I most desire to se
Of Alle men levenge, I telle it the.
263
“Al my lyve ȝit hider-to,
So gret lust I haue to speken with the,
And now Am I glad I may the se;
And now thow Art in this plase here,
With the to speken I schal haue leysere;
I schal the lede, and thow wilt gon with me,
Into þe fairest place that euer man May se.”
“Now Certes, dame,” quod the kyng,
“I merveille me mochel Of myn hider Comeng,
For I not ho that hedir me browhte,
Ne nethir sen him neuere I ne mowhte,
Ne neuere hennes ne wil I go,
That til Aȝen he me wil Comen to,
That me In to this place browhte;
Oþer wise cam It not In to My thowhte.”
“Be my trowthe, sire,” quod sche thanne,
“ȝit spekist thow As A trewe Manne,
For I the browhte Into this plase,
To speken with the, for I wolde han space;
And be me hens schalt thow go,
And be non Other, troste wel therto.
And ȝif thow wilt not forsaken my Compenye,
I schal the bringen to hygh seignourie,
And maken the Lord Ouer Al my lond,
Which that I holde In Min honde.”
“Dame,” quod the Kyng to hire Agayn,
“Of this wolde I weten ful fayn,
What myht ȝe han forto do
Az now ȝe sein me vnto.”
“Be my feith,” quod sche, “Sire,” Again,
“Of that power I Am Certein,
To beren A body where þat my liking Is,
And thens him to fetten with-Owten Mis.”
“Of this wolde I weten ful fayn,
What myht ȝe han forto do
Az now ȝe sein me vnto.”
“Be my feith,” quod sche, “Sire,” Again,
“Of that power I Am Certein,
To beren A body where þat my liking Is,
And thens him to fetten with-Owten Mis.”
“Dame, I vndirstond thy talkyng;
But a man of a more wondirful werkyng
Have I herd Sein Certein there is,
That kan don moche more than this,
For he kan Maken of Fowle men faire;
Of Folis, wise men & debonaire;
And Pore Men, to ben Riche In Ech degre:
This Man A Maister, me thinketh, is he;
And this May non Man don, Certeinle,
But ȝif þe signe of þe holy Cros with him be.”
“A! Eualach,” quod this womman thanne,
“Thow Art A fool, & non wis Manne!
Thow Art desceiued In thy beleve;
And that Anon I wele the preve.
For As longe As thou holdest this Creaunce
Of wheche thow hast Mad variawnce,
In pes ne Reste Schat thow neuere be
Whiles that beleve Is In the;
For thou knowest not ȝit the Endyng
Of thi Sorewe, nether the begynneng;
For thi Brothir, Sire Seraphe,
In thi paleis lith in ful hard degre,
That it Asckapen neuere schal he,
But ȝif it the more wondir be.”
“A! dame,” quod the kyng Anon,
“How mown ȝe knowen swich thing be don?”
“For,” quod sche, “I knowe this As wel
As thi selven Everidel,
How thow were left Owt of thi bed,
& he A-bod stille In that sted.”
But a man of a more wondirful werkyng
264
That kan don moche more than this,
For he kan Maken of Fowle men faire;
Of Folis, wise men & debonaire;
And Pore Men, to ben Riche In Ech degre:
This Man A Maister, me thinketh, is he;
And this May non Man don, Certeinle,
But ȝif þe signe of þe holy Cros with him be.”
“A! Eualach,” quod this womman thanne,
“Thow Art A fool, & non wis Manne!
Thow Art desceiued In thy beleve;
And that Anon I wele the preve.
For As longe As thou holdest this Creaunce
Of wheche thow hast Mad variawnce,
In pes ne Reste Schat thow neuere be
Whiles that beleve Is In the;
For thou knowest not ȝit the Endyng
Of thi Sorewe, nether the begynneng;
For thi Brothir, Sire Seraphe,
In thi paleis lith in ful hard degre,
That it Asckapen neuere schal he,
But ȝif it the more wondir be.”
“A! dame,” quod the kyng Anon,
“How mown ȝe knowen swich thing be don?”
“For,” quod sche, “I knowe this As wel
As thi selven Everidel,
How thow were left Owt of thi bed,
& he A-bod stille In that sted.”
Thanne the kyng Abasched him sore
For þe wordes he herde thore,
And was Aferd lest his brother scholde die,
For tokenis that sche seide so Certeinlye.
Thanne King Eualach Anon with-Alle
Nygh In wanhope hadde I-falle,
And wende that God had him forgote,
So this womman Made him tho dote.
For þe wordes he herde thore,
And was Aferd lest his brother scholde die,
For tokenis that sche seide so Certeinlye.
Thanne King Eualach Anon with-Alle
Nygh In wanhope hadde I-falle,
And wende that God had him forgote,
So this womman Made him tho dote.
265
Thanne seide this womman to him tho:
“Eualach, and thow my wille wilt do,
I schal the setten Aȝen In-to thi lond,
And Al welthes bringen Into thin hond.
For wete thow, Eualach, In Certein,
Owt of this plase gost þou not heyn,
But ȝif it be Onlich by me,
Owt of this plase schalt þou neuere fle;
And here schalt thow Enfamyned be,
And many mo wondris ȝit schalt þou se;
For ȝif thow longe here Abyde,
Thy wittes schalt þou lesen þis tyde.
And ȝif that thou wilt gon with me,
A gret lord schal I Maken the;
And ȝif thow wilt here lengere dwelle,
Thow schalt be lost, bothe flesch & felle.”
“Eualach, and thow my wille wilt do,
I schal the setten Aȝen In-to thi lond,
And Al welthes bringen Into thin hond.
For wete thow, Eualach, In Certein,
Owt of this plase gost þou not heyn,
But ȝif it be Onlich by me,
Owt of this plase schalt þou neuere fle;
And here schalt thow Enfamyned be,
And many mo wondris ȝit schalt þou se;
For ȝif thow longe here Abyde,
Thy wittes schalt þou lesen þis tyde.
And ȝif that thou wilt gon with me,
A gret lord schal I Maken the;
And ȝif thow wilt here lengere dwelle,
Thow schalt be lost, bothe flesch & felle.”
| CHAPTER XXI. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |