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. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. | CHAPTER 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 XXIV. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XXIV.
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There is no break in the English MS, but it goes straight on with the new subject of Celidoyne in prison, p. 309. The copier of it must have left out a column or page of his original.
299
Thanne thowghte the kyng al In his herte
Of Manie trebulacions & of peynes smerte;
that the day was past, & wax to Eve,
thanne the kyng ful sore gan him Meve.
Of Manie trebulacions & of peynes smerte;
that the day was past, & wax to Eve,
thanne the kyng ful sore gan him Meve.
Anon thanne lokede he fer Into the See;
A fair schipe fast seillyng Comen sawgh he,
therto so Richely arayed him thowhte it was,
but he nyste Of his Comeng what was þe cas,
for so Riche A schipe, him thowghte, sawgh he neuere non
To fore tymes On non water nethir Seylen ne gon.
A fair schipe fast seillyng Comen sawgh he,
therto so Richely arayed him thowhte it was,
but he nyste Of his Comeng what was þe cas,
for so Riche A schipe, him thowghte, sawgh he neuere non
To fore tymes On non water nethir Seylen ne gon.
and whanne the Schipe Aproched him ny,
Anon Into þat Schipe he lokede An hy,
and Sawgh where that hengen scheldes two;
In þe forcastel Of the Schipe they weren I-do,
Where-Inne was A towr ful Rialy I-dyht,
As semed þat tyme to the kyng In Syht;
On wheche towr, As I vndirstonde,
bothe scheldes to-gederis diden they honge;
Of wheche the ton scheld was his,
the tother Nasciens wit-Owten Mys:
thus him thowghte wondirly Sore,
but Evere he Merveilled how they Comen thore.
Anon Into þat Schipe he lokede An hy,
and Sawgh where that hengen scheldes two;
In þe forcastel Of the Schipe they weren I-do,
Where-Inne was A towr ful Rialy I-dyht,
As semed þat tyme to the kyng In Syht;
On wheche towr, As I vndirstonde,
bothe scheldes to-gederis diden they honge;
Of wheche the ton scheld was his,
the tother Nasciens wit-Owten Mys:
thus him thowghte wondirly Sore,
but Evere he Merveilled how they Comen thore.
And whiles that he stood In this thowght,
to þe Roche this Schip Anon was browght:
and as it was to that Roche Comenge,
Of An hors he herde A wonderful Neyenge,
and so bonchede & ferde with his feet
that it thowghte the schipe to bersten In þat fleet.
Anon the kyng gan to herkene this Neyeng,
and Merveilled ful Mochel of that thing;
For that hors he knew there Anon
whanne he him herd so taken vppon,
And wiste wel that it was the same hors
that from kyng Tholome he gat At Orcaus,
Whiche that In the bataille he wan there;
And the same hors he wende it were,
what be Neyenge and Other fare,
The same hors he wende hadde ben thare.
And thus wondred he mochel In his thowght,
how hors & scheldes thedir weren browght.
to þe Roche this Schip Anon was browght:
and as it was to that Roche Comenge,
Of An hors he herde A wonderful Neyenge,
and so bonchede & ferde with his feet
that it thowghte the schipe to bersten In þat fleet.
Anon the kyng gan to herkene this Neyeng,
and Merveilled ful Mochel of that thing;
For that hors he knew there Anon
whanne he him herd so taken vppon,
300
that from kyng Tholome he gat At Orcaus,
Whiche that In the bataille he wan there;
And the same hors he wende it were,
what be Neyenge and Other fare,
The same hors he wende hadde ben thare.
And thus wondred he mochel In his thowght,
how hors & scheldes thedir weren browght.
thanne to the Roche it Aplyede Anon;
and tho to the schipward the kyng gan gon,
To beholden what peple and what Meyne
In that Schipe that he Cowde se.
and whanne that he gan there-Inne to beholde,
he Sawgh Mochel peple, & Mani-folde.
and tho to the schipward the kyng gan gon,
To beholden what peple and what Meyne
In that Schipe that he Cowde se.
and whanne that he gan there-Inne to beholde,
he Sawgh Mochel peple, & Mani-folde.
And Owt Of that schipe there isswed Anon
As In Maner Of a knyht, and to him gan gon;
and whanne that he gan the kyng to Aprochen Ny,
the kyng him beheld ful witterly;
hym thowghte that be his persone & figure
an hygh Old knyght of his, I the Ensure,
that Brothir to his steward schold han be,
that Slayn was at Orcaws ful sekerle.
As In Maner Of a knyht, and to him gan gon;
and whanne that he gan the kyng to Aprochen Ny,
the kyng him beheld ful witterly;
hym thowghte that be his persone & figure
an hygh Old knyght of his, I the Ensure,
that Brothir to his steward schold han be,
that Slayn was at Orcaws ful sekerle.
and whanne this knyht to the kyng gan gon,
he him grette with hevy Chere Anon;
and the kyng Ran to him ful faste,
and thanne him Axede atte laste,
‘Why that so Sore Abasched he was;
he scholde him tellen Al the Cas.’
“A, sire,” Anon quod this kniht tho,
“For the hevy tydinges ȝow Comen vnto!”
“Sey me,” quod the kyng, “what May it be,
Belamy, I preie the that thow telle it to me.”
“Certes, Sire,” quod this knyht Anon,
“the beste friend þat ȝe hadden is now Agon,
the wheche is Nasciens, ȝowre brother dere,
that In this Schipe he lith ded here.”
he him grette with hevy Chere Anon;
and the kyng Ran to him ful faste,
and thanne him Axede atte laste,
‘Why that so Sore Abasched he was;
he scholde him tellen Al the Cas.’
“A, sire,” Anon quod this kniht tho,
“For the hevy tydinges ȝow Comen vnto!”
“Sey me,” quod the kyng, “what May it be,
Belamy, I preie the that thow telle it to me.”
“Certes, Sire,” quod this knyht Anon,
“the beste friend þat ȝe hadden is now Agon,
the wheche is Nasciens, ȝowre brother dere,
that In this Schipe he lith ded here.”
301
and whanne the kyng herde him thus telle,
Anon In swowneng to the Erthe he felle;
and Whanne þat he of his swowneng a-Wook,
Abowtes him faste he gan to look,
and axede his brothir forto Se,
if that Sekerly he ded there be;
And Evere Criede lik a wood man;
So for his brother ferde he than.
The knyht to the kyng gan him dresse,
that him hadde browht In this distresse,
and the kyng took þere be the left hond,
to þe schipward to leden he gan to fond;
So that the kyng Niste what he dede,
So ful of sorewe he was In that stede.
Anon In swowneng to the Erthe he felle;
and Whanne þat he of his swowneng a-Wook,
Abowtes him faste he gan to look,
and axede his brothir forto Se,
if that Sekerly he ded there be;
And Evere Criede lik a wood man;
So for his brother ferde he than.
The knyht to the kyng gan him dresse,
that him hadde browht In this distresse,
and the kyng took þere be the left hond,
to þe schipward to leden he gan to fond;
So that the kyng Niste what he dede,
So ful of sorewe he was In that stede.
and whanne the kyng þe schipe was with-Inne,
he Ran to the bere, & nolde not blynne,
and the Cloth anon vp he Caste,—
to beholden that body hadde he gret haste;—
There Anon thanne Sawgh he there
his brother Nasciens, As that it were,
be face, semblawnce, & body Also,
as whanne on lyve þat he dide go.
thanne Anon fyl he down In swowneng there,
hardere thanne euere to-fore dide he Ere,
that Neuere to Asckapen wende þan he,
but Certein ded forto han be.
he Ran to the bere, & nolde not blynne,
and the Cloth anon vp he Caste,—
to beholden that body hadde he gret haste;—
There Anon thanne Sawgh he there
his brother Nasciens, As that it were,
be face, semblawnce, & body Also,
as whanne on lyve þat he dide go.
thanne Anon fyl he down In swowneng there,
hardere thanne euere to-fore dide he Ere,
that Neuere to Asckapen wende þan he,
but Certein ded forto han be.
Whanne he was waked of his Swowneng,
Of this hadde he gret Merveilleng,
And thowhte to axen of this knyht there
how this myhte happen, & In what Manere.
and whanne he loked Abowtes him tho;
Ful fer from the Roche thanne was he tho;
thanne for sorwe he fyl down Anon
In swowneng, ded as Ony ston;
to-fore that bere so lay he there
ded In swowneng In this Manere.
Of this hadde he gret Merveilleng,
And thowhte to axen of this knyht there
how this myhte happen, & In what Manere.
and whanne he loked Abowtes him tho;
Ful fer from the Roche thanne was he tho;
thanne for sorwe he fyl down Anon
In swowneng, ded as Ony ston;
to-fore that bere so lay he there
ded In swowneng In this Manere.
302
and whanne of his swowneng þat he Wok,
Anon vp his Riht hond he took,
And the Signe of the Crois he Made Anon;
thanne thus sone Alle weren they Agon,
that nethir bere, hors, ne Man,
In that schipe cowde he Se than.
and thanne gan he to wepen ful sore,
And Morneng & wringeng he made wel More,
“A! Merciful God In Maiestie,
Now Wot I wel that I have Greved the.”
Anon vp his Riht hond he took,
And the Signe of the Crois he Made Anon;
thanne thus sone Alle weren they Agon,
that nethir bere, hors, ne Man,
In that schipe cowde he Se than.
and thanne gan he to wepen ful sore,
And Morneng & wringeng he made wel More,
“A! Merciful God In Maiestie,
Now Wot I wel that I have Greved the.”
and Whanne he hadde thus I-Spoke,
Forth Into the See he gan to loke;
there sawgh he to-forn hym Comen Anon
the goode man that In the Schipe gan gon,
wheche that him Comforted Often Sithe,
and with his goode wordis Made him blithe.
and whanne he sawgh him In that Manere,
Wel ful he was Of Sorwe & Fere:
“A, sire!” quod he, “I am deserved Sekerly
Of that ȝe boden me to kepen trewly;
For ful Certeinly ȝe tolden Me Ere,
that the devel In this Manere
Me scholde Owt taken be þe left hond,
As thow didst me to vndirstond.”
Forth Into the See he gan to loke;
there sawgh he to-forn hym Comen Anon
the goode man that In the Schipe gan gon,
wheche that him Comforted Often Sithe,
and with his goode wordis Made him blithe.
and whanne he sawgh him In that Manere,
Wel ful he was Of Sorwe & Fere:
“A, sire!” quod he, “I am deserved Sekerly
Of that ȝe boden me to kepen trewly;
For ful Certeinly ȝe tolden Me Ere,
that the devel In this Manere
Me scholde Owt taken be þe left hond,
As thow didst me to vndirstond.”
anon gan he for to wepen tho:
And whanne this good man say him do so,
he seide, “Sire kyng, wepe thow no More;
he hath the tempted Often tymes sore,
but here-Aftir the behoveth Eft-sone
To taken good keepe that Is to done.”
And whanne this good man say him do so,
he seide, “Sire kyng, wepe thow no More;
he hath the tempted Often tymes sore,
but here-Aftir the behoveth Eft-sone
To taken good keepe that Is to done.”
Thanne seide the kyng to this good man tho,
“Now, goode sire, telle me what I schal do;
and as thow knowest Alle thing,
So wisse me Of begynneng & Endeng,
And how that I schal Governen Me;
For Goddis love, Sire, this preie I the.”
thanne this good [man] seide to him Aȝe,
“ȝit manie spitful Merveilles schalt þou se;
and Eten Ne drynken schalt þou neuere Mor
til thy brothir Nasciens Come the before,
As Cristen Man, and qwyk levenge;
Now take þou this for newe tydynge
And whanne thou sixt him In that degre,
thanne After, thy leveraunce Sone schal be.
“Now, goode sire, telle me what I schal do;
and as thow knowest Alle thing,
So wisse me Of begynneng & Endeng,
And how that I schal Governen Me;
For Goddis love, Sire, this preie I the.”
303
“ȝit manie spitful Merveilles schalt þou se;
and Eten Ne drynken schalt þou neuere Mor
til thy brothir Nasciens Come the before,
As Cristen Man, and qwyk levenge;
Now take þou this for newe tydynge
And whanne thou sixt him In that degre,
thanne After, thy leveraunce Sone schal be.
“For wete þou wel ful Certeinle,
It was the devel that was with the,
that told the how that Nasciens was ded,
and that ȝaf the Swich Conceyl & Red;
For he is Redy, In feld & In town,
Goddis schep to don distrocciown.
It was the devel that was with the,
that told the how that Nasciens was ded,
and that ȝaf the Swich Conceyl & Red;
For he is Redy, In feld & In town,
Goddis schep to don distrocciown.
“and the devel it was Also
that In thin Avisiown Cam þe to;
the Mete that þe lyown þe browghte,
be it Awey bar, & lefte the Nowghte.
and ȝit I wele that þou knowe More Also,
that it was the devel that Cam the to
In liknesse Of A womman,
and sweche wordes to þe spak than;
Also the devel ful Sekir was he
that Owt of the Roche he browhte þe.
that In thin Avisiown Cam þe to;
the Mete that þe lyown þe browghte,
be it Awey bar, & lefte the Nowghte.
and ȝit I wele that þou knowe More Also,
that it was the devel that Cam the to
In liknesse Of A womman,
and sweche wordes to þe spak than;
Also the devel ful Sekir was he
that Owt of the Roche he browhte þe.
“Therfore hens forward I warne the,
that bothe wisere & warere þat thou be;
For swich thinges here-After schalt þou se,
that to Endeles deth wolden bringen the,
ȝif thou the bettir wit ne have,
thy body [&] thi sowle forto save.’
that bothe wisere & warere þat thou be;
For swich thinges here-After schalt þou se,
that to Endeles deth wolden bringen the,
ȝif thou the bettir wit ne have,
thy body [&] thi sowle forto save.’
and non More to hym he gan to Say,
but with that word he partid A-way,
that he ne wiste where he becom
Owt of his syhte, bothe Al & som.
and thus in the Schipe Alone lefte he,
Floteringe Amyddes the hye Se.
the wynd him blew, now here, & now there;
thus Nyht and day he ferde In fere,
that Resting plase ne fond he non,
til On the Morwe it was passed noon.
but with that word he partid A-way,
that he ne wiste where he becom
Owt of his syhte, bothe Al & som.
and thus in the Schipe Alone lefte he,
Floteringe Amyddes the hye Se.
304
thus Nyht and day he ferde In fere,
that Resting plase ne fond he non,
til On the Morwe it was passed noon.
thanne the kynge vpe him dressed tho,
And to-ward the forschipe he gan to go,
and loke ful fer Into the See;
A man there Comeng him thowghte say he,
that Of leveng Schold he be bothe good and hye, [OMITTED]
And to-ward the forschipe he gan to go,
and loke ful fer Into the See;
A man there Comeng him thowghte say he,
that Of leveng Schold he be bothe good and hye, [OMITTED]
| CHAPTER XXIV. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |