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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| XXVII. | CHAPTER XXVII. |
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 | CHAPTER XXVII. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XXVII.
336
Now this Storye ginneth forth to telle,
Of Nasciens how that tho befelle,
that how the hond him hadde I-bore
thens As Calafer was forlore.
Of Nasciens how that tho befelle,
that how the hond him hadde I-bore
thens As Calafer was forlore.
thanne the hond Sire Nasciens Bar
Into A ful straunge Contre thar;
Whiche Contre was A Merveillous plas;
For An yl In the west Se it was,
that xiij Iornes it was of lengthe
thens As Nasciens was In þe presown of strengthe.
that yl was Of sweche a fame,
For ‘yl Torneawnt’ was the name;
For be Ryht Resown it is So,
for Oþer whiles it Torneth bothe to & fro;
but In As moche as that the Cause why
Of his Torneng nis not knowen verayly—
Of Alle tho þat there of don speken, Other Rede,
they ne knowen it not In word ne In dede,—
therfore Resoun & sckele it were
that this Storye Rehersed [it] here;
for, Of Eche thing that is Of dowte,
he it Reherseth Er he passe Owte,
and bringeth it to Clere vndirstondyng
to Every Mannes wit, bothe Old & ȝong,
As ȝe Scholen here In tyme Comeng
how this storie declareth Every thing.
Into this yl Sire Nasciens the hond bar,
& him In Swowneng be-left thar,
As man that hadde lost bothe wit & Memorie,
For þe wondirful sightes that he to fore sye;
For he ne wiste Certeinlye
Where he was, ne in what partye.
Into A ful straunge Contre thar;
Whiche Contre was A Merveillous plas;
For An yl In the west Se it was,
337
thens As Nasciens was In þe presown of strengthe.
that yl was Of sweche a fame,
For ‘yl Torneawnt’ was the name;
For be Ryht Resown it is So,
for Oþer whiles it Torneth bothe to & fro;
but In As moche as that the Cause why
Of his Torneng nis not knowen verayly—
Of Alle tho þat there of don speken, Other Rede,
they ne knowen it not In word ne In dede,—
therfore Resoun & sckele it were
that this Storye Rehersed [it] here;
for, Of Eche thing that is Of dowte,
he it Reherseth Er he passe Owte,
and bringeth it to Clere vndirstondyng
to Every Mannes wit, bothe Old & ȝong,
As ȝe Scholen here In tyme Comeng
how this storie declareth Every thing.
341
& him In Swowneng be-left thar,
As man that hadde lost bothe wit & Memorie,
For þe wondirful sightes that he to fore sye;
For he ne wiste Certeinlye
Where he was, ne in what partye.
Anon the hond thens departid thanne,
And Nasciens there lay as a ded Manne;
And whanne Of his Swowneng þere Awook,
he lift vp his Eyen, and Abowtes gan to look;
it Nas non nede him to Refreyne
Whethir he were Abascht Certeine,
but Evere his herte stedfast was
In his Creaunce, swich was his gras.
For Al the drede he hadde Suffred be-fore,
ȝit God him wolde Asayen wel more;
For him weren Comeng Many tormensse,
ȝit wolde he neuere to his God Offensse,
Nether for Ioye neȝer for ille,
but Euere In his Creawnce belefte Stille,
And Evere In his torment stedfast was
As was Iob In Every plas,
that In his lif hadde So moche Richesse,
So Moche welthe & worthynesse,
and ȝit suffred he with herte & Minde,—
As A Man that was to God ful kynde,—
poverte, Misseise, and Ek distresse,
Angwich, temptacions, & Siknesse,
And in poverte vppon a dong hil lay;
ȝit herde þere neuere Man Into this day
that neuere with his Mowth he seide Amys,
Ne Grochched Aȝens his Creatour I-wis.
And lik In the same Manere tho
Suffrede Nasciens bothe Angwisch & wo;
With goode wille & debonowre herte
Suffrede he many Angwisches smerte,
and neuere to his God made he grochchenge,
Nethir for tormentis ne non Othir thinge.
And thus to him Self he gan to Speke,
And to him self his herte gan breke,
And seide, “lord I thanket to the
Of alle the deseisse thow sendest Me,
For moche more, worthy I am to have,
My Sowle ȝif I scholde Ony wise save.”
And Nasciens there lay as a ded Manne;
And whanne Of his Swowneng þere Awook,
he lift vp his Eyen, and Abowtes gan to look;
it Nas non nede him to Refreyne
Whethir he were Abascht Certeine,
but Evere his herte stedfast was
In his Creaunce, swich was his gras.
For Al the drede he hadde Suffred be-fore,
ȝit God him wolde Asayen wel more;
For him weren Comeng Many tormensse,
ȝit wolde he neuere to his God Offensse,
Nether for Ioye neȝer for ille,
but Euere In his Creawnce belefte Stille,
And Evere In his torment stedfast was
As was Iob In Every plas,
that In his lif hadde So moche Richesse,
So Moche welthe & worthynesse,
and ȝit suffred he with herte & Minde,—
As A Man that was to God ful kynde,—
poverte, Misseise, and Ek distresse,
Angwich, temptacions, & Siknesse,
And in poverte vppon a dong hil lay;
ȝit herde þere neuere Man Into this day
that neuere with his Mowth he seide Amys,
Ne Grochched Aȝens his Creatour I-wis.
And lik In the same Manere tho
Suffrede Nasciens bothe Angwisch & wo;
With goode wille & debonowre herte
342
and neuere to his God made he grochchenge,
Nethir for tormentis ne non Othir thinge.
And thus to him Self he gan to Speke,
And to him self his herte gan breke,
And seide, “lord I thanket to the
Of alle the deseisse thow sendest Me,
For moche more, worthy I am to have,
My Sowle ȝif I scholde Ony wise save.”
And whanne to this yl he was I-browht
he loked Abowtes him, & Say Ryht nowht
but the Eir, the yl, and the See;
In ful gret Merveyl thanne was he;
for how that thedir he was I-gon,
In what Manere ne wiste he non;
And Abowtes him he loked pure faste,
& Al that yl was barein & ful waste,
and so stronge passeng hete there,
that he ne myht it Endure In non Manere.
thanne wiste he neuere In what partye
Of that yl how he myht this hete drie;
but Euere hadde In Remembraunce
Of his thedir Comeng, & Of that Chaunce,
and of Celidoine his ȝongest sone
þat with him In preson was done,
Which that was mochel In his Mynde,
That Gentyl Child, that was so kynde.
For-brosed weren his honden & Armes to;
his legges, his feet, wrowhten him moche wo;
his Reynes Oken, his Ribbes they gnowe,
So that Of tormentis he hadde I-nowe;
To the Erthe Anon he leide him thanne,
As A ful wery and A-brosed Manne
that a passing lust hadde forto Slepe,
hof that to his Angwisch took kepe.
he loked Abowtes him, & Say Ryht nowht
but the Eir, the yl, and the See;
In ful gret Merveyl thanne was he;
for how that thedir he was I-gon,
In what Manere ne wiste he non;
And Abowtes him he loked pure faste,
& Al that yl was barein & ful waste,
and so stronge passeng hete there,
that he ne myht it Endure In non Manere.
thanne wiste he neuere In what partye
Of that yl how he myht this hete drie;
but Euere hadde In Remembraunce
Of his thedir Comeng, & Of that Chaunce,
and of Celidoine his ȝongest sone
þat with him In preson was done,
Which that was mochel In his Mynde,
That Gentyl Child, that was so kynde.
For-brosed weren his honden & Armes to;
his legges, his feet, wrowhten him moche wo;
his Reynes Oken, his Ribbes they gnowe,
So that Of tormentis he hadde I-nowe;
To the Erthe Anon he leide him thanne,
As A ful wery and A-brosed Manne
that a passing lust hadde forto Slepe,
hof that to his Angwisch took kepe.
thanne down he him leide, As it is told,
In A partie Of the yl that was most Cold;
For ful hot somer it was with-Owten let,
the Nynthe day Of þe kalendes of Juignet.
thanne his Ryht hond he left vpe there,
and Made the signe of the Crois In good Manere,
In the Name Of the trenite,
On God & persones thre,
That it scholde ben his protectour
In alle degrees aȝens the fals deceyvour,
Whiche is the devel, In Alle wise,
Man to deseyven In dyvers Gyse,
that to goddis beleve hath Ony lust,
him forto tempten he desireth most.
343
For ful hot somer it was with-Owten let,
the Nynthe day Of þe kalendes of Juignet.
thanne his Ryht hond he left vpe there,
and Made the signe of the Crois In good Manere,
In the Name Of the trenite,
On God & persones thre,
That it scholde ben his protectour
In alle degrees aȝens the fals deceyvour,
Whiche is the devel, In Alle wise,
Man to deseyven In dyvers Gyse,
that to goddis beleve hath Ony lust,
him forto tempten he desireth most.
thanne thus this Nasciens to slepen be-gan,
as for Angwichs & a wery Man,
that to Slepen he hadde gret lust,
and there him down lay As he durst;
and the Mone Schon bothe fair & Cler
vppon Nasciens that Alone lay there,
that so ful wel & longe slept he tho
as A man that gret Nede hadde therto.
Thus slept Nasciens Al that Nyht
Til on the Morwen it was day lyht,
Where that In Avisioun him thowhte he sye
Merveillous thinges ful Sekerlye:
as for Angwichs & a wery Man,
that to Slepen he hadde gret lust,
and there him down lay As he durst;
and the Mone Schon bothe fair & Cler
vppon Nasciens that Alone lay there,
that so ful wel & longe slept he tho
as A man that gret Nede hadde therto.
Thus slept Nasciens Al that Nyht
Til on the Morwen it was day lyht,
Where that In Avisioun him thowhte he sye
Merveillous thinges ful Sekerlye:
him thowhte he sawh gret plente
White briddes Abowtes him to be.
And whanne that these briddes he gan beholde,
In his herte he Merveilled Manifolde,
for somme Of hem flowen wondir hye,
and somme wondir lowe Certeinlye,
and the tothir partye Of hem tho
From the Erthe ne myhte not go,
ne flen nowher from the grounde;
Where offen he Merveilled that stownde.
thanne Comen there tweyne of þe grettest of Alle,
and down to the Erthe Gonne they falle;
At his two feet they descendyd Adown there,
And Into the Eyr they him gonnen bere.
White briddes Abowtes him to be.
And whanne that these briddes he gan beholde,
In his herte he Merveilled Manifolde,
for somme Of hem flowen wondir hye,
and somme wondir lowe Certeinlye,
and the tothir partye Of hem tho
From the Erthe ne myhte not go,
ne flen nowher from the grounde;
344
thanne Comen there tweyne of þe grettest of Alle,
and down to the Erthe Gonne they falle;
At his two feet they descendyd Adown there,
And Into the Eyr they him gonnen bere.
thanne whanne he was In the Eir An hy,
they seiden, “Nasciens, fle forth boldly.”
they seiden, “Nasciens, fle forth boldly.”
thanne Nasciens him self be-gan to beholde;
tho hadde he wenges that lyhtly wolde folde
and Aplyen to his flyht thanne therto;
him thowhte he was ful Ioly tho;
Al whit him thowhte his wenges were,
and that lightliche he myht fleen there.
tho hadde he wenges that lyhtly wolde folde
and Aplyen to his flyht thanne therto;
him thowhte he was ful Ioly tho;
Al whit him thowhte his wenges were,
and that lightliche he myht fleen there.
thanne thus Sone him thowhte Anon
that these grete briddes weren Agon;
tho that Maden him forto fle so liht,
from him weren past Owt Of his siht.
that these grete briddes weren Agon;
tho that Maden him forto fle so liht,
from him weren past Owt Of his siht.
thanne to Nasciens Aȝen thei gonne Restore,
And to him these briddes Seiden thore,
And boden him ‘ȝeven hem Som Mete,
Swiche good As he Cowde Gete.’
thanne Answerid this Nasciens Aȝen tho,
“What Mete Welen ȝe that I gete ȝow to,
And I Wele fulfillen it to my power
What So Evere it be, Oþer fer other nere.”
And to him these briddes Seiden thore,
And boden him ‘ȝeven hem Som Mete,
Swiche good As he Cowde Gete.’
thanne Answerid this Nasciens Aȝen tho,
“What Mete Welen ȝe that I gete ȝow to,
And I Wele fulfillen it to my power
What So Evere it be, Oþer fer other nere.”
thanne Answerid the briddis Ageyn,
“that neuere fulfilled scholen we ben Certein,
Ne Neuere Replet with non Mete
that thow myht ȝeven vs forto Ete,
but thine Owne herte Only
vs on to Fede now Certeinly.”
Anon he drowgh Owt his Owne herte,
and the brid it ȝaf, and nold it not Asterte.
“that neuere fulfilled scholen we ben Certein,
Ne Neuere Replet with non Mete
that thow myht ȝeven vs forto Ete,
but thine Owne herte Only
vs on to Fede now Certeinly.”
Anon he drowgh Owt his Owne herte,
and the brid it ȝaf, and nold it not Asterte.
Anon the Brid Resceyved it Ioyfully,
& therwith flew ful fer An hy
With ful gret Ioye & melodye;
And thus he Seide In his langage,
As A brid for his kynde singeth In a kage:
“Now Am I fulfild,” seide this brid,
“Of this herte As it is be-tyd;
For now I have browht this thing with me
That non Wiht knoweth Certeinle;
For it is but A litel thing
that the grete lyown hath Offe knoweng,
Wheche alle Erthly bestes With Membre & body
Vndir him ther kepeth he Certeinly.
and Whanne he hath Ouercomen hem Everichon,
—thus thowghte Nasciens that he gan don—
And Alle vndir his feet put hem tho,
ȝit him thowhte he ne hadde not do,
but In to the hevene he wolde than fle
With that he hadde thanne Sekerle.
thanne him thowhte that his flyht took he,
and that Abouen Alle Mownteynes gan to fle,
Ek the wawes of the Se, and the depnesse,
And the hevene Entred with-Owten distresse.”
& therwith flew ful fer An hy
With ful gret Ioye & melodye;
345
As A brid for his kynde singeth In a kage:
“Now Am I fulfild,” seide this brid,
“Of this herte As it is be-tyd;
For now I have browht this thing with me
That non Wiht knoweth Certeinle;
For it is but A litel thing
that the grete lyown hath Offe knoweng,
Wheche alle Erthly bestes With Membre & body
Vndir him ther kepeth he Certeinly.
and Whanne he hath Ouercomen hem Everichon,
—thus thowghte Nasciens that he gan don—
And Alle vndir his feet put hem tho,
ȝit him thowhte he ne hadde not do,
but In to the hevene he wolde than fle
With that he hadde thanne Sekerle.
thanne him thowhte that his flyht took he,
and that Abouen Alle Mownteynes gan to fle,
Ek the wawes of the Se, and the depnesse,
And the hevene Entred with-Owten distresse.”
And thus him thowhte thanne Nascien,
That to him the Brid Seide Certein.
Thus sone his Avisiown gan to Enden tho,
And Al Anon wakenge he Abreide Also.
That to him the Brid Seide Certein.
Thus sone his Avisiown gan to Enden tho,
And Al Anon wakenge he Abreide Also.
Thanne wonderfully In his wakynge
he Felte the yl Anon Tremblynge
Aftyr the towr of the firmament;
thus him thowhte that tyme present.
thanne Merveilled Nasciens full wondirfully
Of Meving Of þe yl ful trewely;
and Ek Abascht Sore he was
Of that Merveil In that plas.
he Felte the yl Anon Tremblynge
Aftyr the towr of the firmament;
thus him thowhte that tyme present.
thanne Merveilled Nasciens full wondirfully
Of Meving Of þe yl ful trewely;
and Ek Abascht Sore he was
Of that Merveil In that plas.
thanne gan he to liften vpe his hed,
and loked Abowtes In that sted;
And As he gan loken bothe two and fro,
A wondirful bataille than herde he tho;
As him Semed, In the botme Of the Se
That ilke Batayle scholde be
So wondirful & so gret it was,
that him thowhte the yl In that plas
Scholde han Sonken In to the netheres[t] pyt
that Evere was Ordeyned, Oþer Mad ȝit;
For so Angwischhous was that stour,
So ful of tempest And Of doloure,
that for the grettest herted Erthly Man
In his herte scholde had drede than;
For there nas non partie Of that yl tho,
that It ne qwakede and schok Also
As dide Ony lef vppon A tre
that with the wynd Mevede sekerle:
be the depthe of the see and strenkthe it was,
And be strengthe of þe Ademawnt In þat plas;
For be Comanding Of the firmament
that yl thanne turnede it verament,
Of wheche One partye he was witholde,
it vnknowenge to alle men vndyr molde;
but the Ademawnt hadde but litel degre
Aȝens the Eyr, ful Sekerle;
For the Ademaunt hath no More strengthe
Aȝens the Eyr, In brede ne lengthe,
Thanne A lytel praty fownteyne
Aȝens Al the grete See In Certeyne.
So that be strengthe of þe Ademaunt Certeinle
Restreyneng of Mevyng of the yl ne Miht not be;
but of the firmament it hadde Alle his Myht,
The Mevyng Of the yl, I sey ȝow Ryht.
and loked Abowtes In that sted;
And As he gan loken bothe two and fro,
A wondirful bataille than herde he tho;
346
That ilke Batayle scholde be
So wondirful & so gret it was,
that him thowhte the yl In that plas
Scholde han Sonken In to the netheres[t] pyt
that Evere was Ordeyned, Oþer Mad ȝit;
For so Angwischhous was that stour,
So ful of tempest And Of doloure,
that for the grettest herted Erthly Man
In his herte scholde had drede than;
For there nas non partie Of that yl tho,
that It ne qwakede and schok Also
As dide Ony lef vppon A tre
that with the wynd Mevede sekerle:
be the depthe of the see and strenkthe it was,
And be strengthe of þe Ademawnt In þat plas;
For be Comanding Of the firmament
that yl thanne turnede it verament,
Of wheche One partye he was witholde,
it vnknowenge to alle men vndyr molde;
but the Ademawnt hadde but litel degre
Aȝens the Eyr, ful Sekerle;
For the Ademaunt hath no More strengthe
Aȝens the Eyr, In brede ne lengthe,
Thanne A lytel praty fownteyne
Aȝens Al the grete See In Certeyne.
So that be strengthe of þe Ademaunt Certeinle
Restreyneng of Mevyng of the yl ne Miht not be;
but of the firmament it hadde Alle his Myht,
The Mevyng Of the yl, I sey ȝow Ryht.
Now So gret was this Melle
betwene the Ademaunt & þe Eir sekerle,
that there the yl Into the Se gan lawnce,
Whiche thowhte hym thanne A wondir Chaunse,
So that the water Encresid so hye
Into the heyghthe of the yl Sekerlye,
So that him thowhte he hadde grettere Cold
thanne hete before tymes, be Manifold.
betwene the Ademaunt & þe Eir sekerle,
that there the yl Into the Se gan lawnce,
347
So that the water Encresid so hye
Into the heyghthe of the yl Sekerlye,
So that him thowhte he hadde grettere Cold
thanne hete before tymes, be Manifold.
and whanne the yl thus Remeved was
Ferre Into the See be this Cas,
Ful litel and litel it with-drowgh tho
Tyl the strengthe of the Ademant was Ago,
And til he was In his Owne stede Ageyn
bothe of heyghthe & brede In Certein.
Whanne Nasciens Felt & Sy al this thing,
Ful Mochel he hadde ther-off Merveillyng;
But he ne Cowde Aperceyven why
that the yl So mevede tho trewly.
Ferre Into the See be this Cas,
Ful litel and litel it with-drowgh tho
Tyl the strengthe of the Ademant was Ago,
And til he was In his Owne stede Ageyn
bothe of heyghthe & brede In Certein.
Whanne Nasciens Felt & Sy al this thing,
Ful Mochel he hadde ther-off Merveillyng;
But he ne Cowde Aperceyven why
that the yl So mevede tho trewly.
thanne Anon Nasciens vp-dressed him tho,
And the yl Aȝen gan tremblen Also;
Anon he beheld A-bowtes wel faste,
& þe ton hed of the yl down bowed Atte laste,
and the toþer hed gan to Rysen þere An hy;
thus thowhte him to his sihte Certeinly.
and ȝit this yl not ful litel it was,
For with-Inne it Self it hadde A gret spas,
For foureskore Miles it was Abowte,
and Sevene & fyfty in length with-Owten dowte;
but Rathere More that yl was there
thanne lasse In Ony other Manere;
For it is the Gyse Of this Storye,
In non Manere Of wyse forto lye.
And the yl Aȝen gan tremblen Also;
Anon he beheld A-bowtes wel faste,
& þe ton hed of the yl down bowed Atte laste,
and the toþer hed gan to Rysen þere An hy;
thus thowhte him to his sihte Certeinly.
and ȝit this yl not ful litel it was,
For with-Inne it Self it hadde A gret spas,
For foureskore Miles it was Abowte,
and Sevene & fyfty in length with-Owten dowte;
but Rathere More that yl was there
thanne lasse In Ony other Manere;
For it is the Gyse Of this Storye,
In non Manere Of wyse forto lye.
Ful plein this Storye putteth In Mynde,
that Al the Certeinte of Sank Ryal is hard to fynde
for ony Man that Evere of womman was born,
As I haue ȝow Often Rehersed beforn;
For that holy storye that to therthe Anexed was,
as Scheweth the Mowth Of trowþe In this plas,
Which is Jesus Crist, Goddis sone,
that for vs on the Roode was done;
For In him Neuere falsnesse was fownde,
Ne neuere non Errour In non stownde.
For ther Neuere was Creature so hardy
that dorste with-sein this holy story,
Whiche Crist him self with his Owne hond
It wrot vs forto don to vndirstond.
that Al the Certeinte of Sank Ryal is hard to fynde
for ony Man that Evere of womman was born,
As I haue ȝow Often Rehersed beforn;
For that holy storye that to therthe Anexed was,
as Scheweth the Mowth Of trowþe In this plas,
Which is Jesus Crist, Goddis sone,
348
For In him Neuere falsnesse was fownde,
Ne neuere non Errour In non stownde.
For ther Neuere was Creature so hardy
that dorste with-sein this holy story,
Whiche Crist him self with his Owne hond
It wrot vs forto don to vndirstond.
And therfore to more worschepe it scholde be take
thanne for Ony Othir Mannes Sake,
For we ne Radden neuere In non storye
that Crist him Self wrot Sekerly
to forn his passiown In Ony stede
but In two, As we don Rede,
Whanne to Moises he wrot the lawe,
and him it be-took be þe Olde dawe.
thanne for Ony Othir Mannes Sake,
For we ne Radden neuere In non storye
that Crist him Self wrot Sekerly
to forn his passiown In Ony stede
but In two, As we don Rede,
Whanne to Moises he wrot the lawe,
and him it be-took be þe Olde dawe.
the Secund was whanne þe Jewes certeinly
a womman hadden take In Avowtry;
For to proven On hire his dom Anon,
With hire to-fore Jesus Gonne they gon;
him forto tempten In this wise,
to him they hire browhte to haven I-wise.
thanne Crist to the Erthe Enclyned presente,
and wrot In the Erthe Er he furthere wente
With his fynger Evene Ryht there,
As Recordeth the Story thus here;
For Crist that tyme ful wel it wiste,
al here Entent, and Al here liste;
Only to Asayen what he wolde do,
the Iewes this womman browht him vnto.
thanne Crist to hem tho seide Ageyn,
“be-holdeth now here what this doth seyn;
Whiche that is Giltles Of ȝow Alle,
the Ferste ston on hire let falle.”
and In this Manere Crist told hem here Sawe
Forto fulfillen here Olde lawe
that Moises hem tawhte be tho dayes,—
As this holy Storye to vs here Seyes,—
‘ȝif that a womman do Ony Avowtrye
And with Ony Other man ligge Onlye
thanne be hire Owne husbonde,—
thus was the lawe In that londe,—
that Anon I-stoned scholde sche be,
Alle swiche that weren taken In Avowtre.
a womman hadden take In Avowtry;
For to proven On hire his dom Anon,
With hire to-fore Jesus Gonne they gon;
him forto tempten In this wise,
to him they hire browhte to haven I-wise.
thanne Crist to the Erthe Enclyned presente,
and wrot In the Erthe Er he furthere wente
With his fynger Evene Ryht there,
As Recordeth the Story thus here;
For Crist that tyme ful wel it wiste,
al here Entent, and Al here liste;
Only to Asayen what he wolde do,
the Iewes this womman browht him vnto.
thanne Crist to hem tho seide Ageyn,
“be-holdeth now here what this doth seyn;
Whiche that is Giltles Of ȝow Alle,
the Ferste ston on hire let falle.”
349
Forto fulfillen here Olde lawe
that Moises hem tawhte be tho dayes,—
As this holy Storye to vs here Seyes,—
‘ȝif that a womman do Ony Avowtrye
And with Ony Other man ligge Onlye
thanne be hire Owne husbonde,—
thus was the lawe In that londe,—
that Anon I-stoned scholde sche be,
Alle swiche that weren taken In Avowtre.
þerfore Crist wiste thanne ful wel
Alle here thowhtes Every del,
That to hym Comen they For tempteng,
and Elles Seker for non Other thing;
Therfore Schewed Crist hem In that degre
Alle here Owne Siynnes there Openle,
And Ek Schewed hem there In that Scripture
Alle the lignage Of man, I the Ensure;
how that of so gret fowlnesse & vilete
that Man was of Mad, there gonnen they se;
For tho wordis hadden this Mevynge
holiche as heire to Owre vndirstondynge.
For thus be-began this Scripture to Seye
Al Openly there to the Jewes Eye,
“har, Erthe! why Art thow so hardye & so fre
The Erthe to Acvsen In Ony degre?”
this is so mochel here forto seyne,
‘O thow Man that of filthe art Mad Certeine.
As of so foul dong & Slym of Clay,
that darst Owther be nyht Oþer day;
Why darst thow ben of sweche mevynge—
Whanne thi self hast forfeted in Alle thinge—
For to susteyne & to holde these dedis ille
Wheche In alle degrees thow dost fulfille?’
Alle here thowhtes Every del,
That to hym Comen they For tempteng,
and Elles Seker for non Other thing;
Therfore Schewed Crist hem In that degre
Alle here Owne Siynnes there Openle,
And Ek Schewed hem there In that Scripture
Alle the lignage Of man, I the Ensure;
how that of so gret fowlnesse & vilete
that Man was of Mad, there gonnen they se;
For tho wordis hadden this Mevynge
holiche as heire to Owre vndirstondynge.
For thus be-began this Scripture to Seye
Al Openly there to the Jewes Eye,
“har, Erthe! why Art thow so hardye & so fre
The Erthe to Acvsen In Ony degre?”
this is so mochel here forto seyne,
‘O thow Man that of filthe art Mad Certeine.
As of so foul dong & Slym of Clay,
that darst Owther be nyht Oþer day;
Why darst thow ben of sweche mevynge—
Whanne thi self hast forfeted in Alle thinge—
For to susteyne & to holde these dedis ille
Wheche In alle degrees thow dost fulfille?’
350
lo, in these two places ful sekerlye
We fynden that the sone of Marye—
To forn that he wente to his passion,
and that he vppon the Crois was don—
thus Wrot Al this storie doth Rede,
and now here In non Other stede.
We fynden that the sone of Marye—
To forn that he wente to his passion,
and that he vppon the Crois was don—
thus Wrot Al this storie doth Rede,
and now here In non Other stede.
but what Clerk is there So hardye,
that dar sein, Other proven Openlye,
That God, Sethen his vp-Rysinge,
In Ony plase Made Ony wrytynge
Sauf Only this blessid Storye
Of Seint Graal ful Sekerlye,
Whiche that is Clepid ‘the Sank Ryal’
Of kyng, lord, bacheler, boþe gret & small;
ho dar Sein the Contrarie Of this?—
Non Erthly man forsothe I-wis,—
Nethir be non devyn Awtorite
the Contrarie proven In non degre.
And ȝif he Conne Aleggen Ony Oþer wyse
In Ony degre As for his Repryse,
For A leseng it moste be taken Certeine,
Of Alle Swich that it don Sosteyne.
that dar sein, Other proven Openlye,
That God, Sethen his vp-Rysinge,
In Ony plase Made Ony wrytynge
Sauf Only this blessid Storye
Of Seint Graal ful Sekerlye,
Whiche that is Clepid ‘the Sank Ryal’
Of kyng, lord, bacheler, boþe gret & small;
ho dar Sein the Contrarie Of this?—
Non Erthly man forsothe I-wis,—
Nethir be non devyn Awtorite
the Contrarie proven In non degre.
And ȝif he Conne Aleggen Ony Oþer wyse
In Ony degre As for his Repryse,
For A leseng it moste be taken Certeine,
Of Alle Swich that it don Sosteyne.
thanne thus May I ful boldly Seyn:
that Oþerwise beleven, they lyen ful pleyn,
but that God with his Owne hond
this Storye doth vs forto vndirstond,
Sethen that he lefte the dedlich flesch here,
and In hevenly Maieste was Clothed withowten pere.
that Oþerwise beleven, they lyen ful pleyn,
but that God with his Owne hond
this Storye doth vs forto vndirstond,
Sethen that he lefte the dedlich flesch here,
and In hevenly Maieste was Clothed withowten pere.
| CHAPTER XXVII. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |