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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| XXX. |
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| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. | CHAPTER XXXIV. |
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 | CHAPTER XXXIV. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
458
CHAPTER XXXIV.
459
Thanne passeth forth this storye with-Al
that is Cleped of Som Men “Seynt Graal,”
also the “Sank Ryal” I-Clepid it is
Of Mochel peple with Owten mys;
It telleth how that kyng Labelys Men,
Forth with hem Celidoyne ladden him then,
And to here pavilouns Anon hym browhte,
And there hym to slen thus they thowhte.
that is Cleped of Som Men “Seynt Graal,”
also the “Sank Ryal” I-Clepid it is
Of Mochel peple with Owten mys;
It telleth how that kyng Labelys Men,
Forth with hem Celidoyne ladden him then,
And to here pavilouns Anon hym browhte,
And there hym to slen thus they thowhte.
whanne that this tydynges was spred Abrod
thorwgh-owt the ost of here lord,
‘that he was becomen Cristene Man,’
Ful Mochel Sorwe Maden thei than;
As alle here kyn ded hadden be,
Swich sorwe they Made As they myhten se.
thorwgh-owt the ost of here lord,
‘that he was becomen Cristene Man,’
Ful Mochel Sorwe Maden thei than;
As alle here kyn ded hadden be,
Swich sorwe they Made As they myhten se.
thanne seiden they, “we haven that persone here
that vs hath browht In Al this dwere;
We scholene hym Caste forto Slen
From this Roche Er we gon hen,
And on hym we scholen Avenged be
for that he hath don, ful Sekerle.”
thanne Answerede som Oþere Anon,
“that ful ȝong he was to deth to gon;
but Oþer-wise Avenged wilen we be,
And ȝit hym Scholen we not Sle.”
that vs hath browht In Al this dwere;
We scholene hym Caste forto Slen
From this Roche Er we gon hen,
And on hym we scholen Avenged be
for that he hath don, ful Sekerle.”
thanne Answerede som Oþere Anon,
“that ful ȝong he was to deth to gon;
but Oþer-wise Avenged wilen we be,
And ȝit hym Scholen we not Sle.”
On Many tormentis they hem be-thouhte,
how that he Myhte to deth be browhte.
thanne spak A knyht, and seide ful wel,
that Any kynnesman was to kyng label,
“I schal ȝow Certefyen Anon Ryht
how that ȝe scholen to deth hym dyht,
And vppon hym to leyn non hond.
Lesteneth to Me, And vndirstond;
Taketh on of ȝowre Fesselis Anon,
the lest ȝe han Amonges Echon,
And thedir Inne lete ȝe the Child go;
And the lyown putteth hym vnto,
With-owten ony Othir thyng
that hym Mihte to londe bryng;
And ȝif he ne deye not so,
Ellis may þere neuere thing Cristen man slo;
And this schal I feithfully beleve,
for the trewthe scholen ȝe sone preve;
for whanne the lyown An hungred is,
And that his vyande doth he Mys,
thanne ful wildely schal he devoure
This child, hym with forto Socovre;
and thus Avenged on him scholen ȝe be,
As I haue ȝow Schewed ful Certeinle.”
how that he Myhte to deth be browhte.
thanne spak A knyht, and seide ful wel,
that Any kynnesman was to kyng label,
460
how that ȝe scholen to deth hym dyht,
And vppon hym to leyn non hond.
Lesteneth to Me, And vndirstond;
Taketh on of ȝowre Fesselis Anon,
the lest ȝe han Amonges Echon,
And thedir Inne lete ȝe the Child go;
And the lyown putteth hym vnto,
With-owten ony Othir thyng
that hym Mihte to londe bryng;
And ȝif he ne deye not so,
Ellis may þere neuere thing Cristen man slo;
And this schal I feithfully beleve,
for the trewthe scholen ȝe sone preve;
for whanne the lyown An hungred is,
And that his vyande doth he Mys,
thanne ful wildely schal he devoure
This child, hym with forto Socovre;
and thus Avenged on him scholen ȝe be,
As I haue ȝow Schewed ful Certeinle.”
thanne token they Celidoyne Anon,
& In A ful lytel bot was he don,
and the lyown was put hym to.
& In A ful lytel bot was he don,
and the lyown was put hym to.
Whanne Celidoyne Say it scholde be so,
that theke wilde beste with hym scholde be,
þat so wood an spetows was In Eche degre,
he left vp his hond thanne there Anon,
And þe Signe of the Crois he made hym vppon,
And him there be-took he to god Almyht,
that he hym Scholde save bothe day & Nyht.
that theke wilde beste with hym scholde be,
þat so wood an spetows was In Eche degre,
he left vp his hond thanne there Anon,
And þe Signe of the Crois he made hym vppon,
And him there be-took he to god Almyht,
that he hym Scholde save bothe day & Nyht.
So thanne they putten hym Into the Se.
thanne Celidoyne Aȝenward torned he,
and spak to that Compenye tho
that swich felonye hadde hym I-do,
“ȝe Men ful Cursed, and therto pervert,
Enemyes of Crist, Sore schal ȝow smert!
ȝe wenen to slen me In this Manere.
but oþer-wise, I troste be my lord so der,
I schal it Ascapen Ryht ful wel,
and ȝe scholen perschen Everydel,—
For there-offen sekir Mown ȝe be—
Anon As ȝe Entren In to the see;
For In Perse scholen ȝe neuere Comen Aȝeyn,
Whens kyng Label ȝow browhte, In Certeyn.”
thanne Celidoyne Aȝenward torned he,
and spak to that Compenye tho
that swich felonye hadde hym I-do,
“ȝe Men ful Cursed, and therto pervert,
Enemyes of Crist, Sore schal ȝow smert!
461
but oþer-wise, I troste be my lord so der,
I schal it Ascapen Ryht ful wel,
and ȝe scholen perschen Everydel,—
For there-offen sekir Mown ȝe be—
Anon As ȝe Entren In to the see;
For In Perse scholen ȝe neuere Comen Aȝeyn,
Whens kyng Label ȝow browhte, In Certeyn.”
Thus sone blew the wynd ful sore,
that fer Into the se the vessel wente thore,
So that with-Inne A lytel stownde
they ne Myhte hym se, that stoden vppon the grownde.
So that thre dayes to-gideris they were,
Celidoyne & the lyown In this Manere,
With-Owten harm, oþer ony deseisse,
So wel the lyown Celidoyne dide plese.
The fowrthe day it happed so,
A-middis the se, As he was tho,
The fayre schipe he sawh Anon,
Where-Inne this Ryal swerd was don;
So that it happede, As be grace,
that this bot Cam there this schipe wace;
and whanne this bot to þe schipebord was falle,
thanne beheld Selidoyne these lettres Alle,
and vndirstood hem there Everichon,
that so Into the Schip he hentrede Anon.
that fer Into the se the vessel wente thore,
So that with-Inne A lytel stownde
they ne Myhte hym se, that stoden vppon the grownde.
So that thre dayes to-gideris they were,
Celidoyne & the lyown In this Manere,
With-Owten harm, oþer ony deseisse,
So wel the lyown Celidoyne dide plese.
The fowrthe day it happed so,
A-middis the se, As he was tho,
The fayre schipe he sawh Anon,
Where-Inne this Ryal swerd was don;
So that it happede, As be grace,
that this bot Cam there this schipe wace;
and whanne this bot to þe schipebord was falle,
thanne beheld Selidoyne these lettres Alle,
and vndirstood hem there Everichon,
that so Into the Schip he hentrede Anon.
and whanne that he was the Schipe with-Inne,
he Sawh there Many A wondirful gynne;
for there fond he the bed, And the Crowne Also,
and the fowre branches that there-Onne weren do;
Alle these behelde he wondirly faste,
Til it drowh to Nyht than̄ Atte laste;
and so wel it liked hym this Syhte,
that he was Sory it drowh so Ny the Nyht:
So Atte laste Nyht was it tho,
that ouer Al the world the schadewe gan go.
he Sawh there Many A wondirful gynne;
for there fond he the bed, And the Crowne Also,
and the fowre branches that there-Onne weren do;
Alle these behelde he wondirly faste,
462
and so wel it liked hym this Syhte,
that he was Sory it drowh so Ny the Nyht:
So Atte laste Nyht was it tho,
that ouer Al the world the schadewe gan go.
Thanne Cam he to the Schippes boord ful sone,
and ouer Al the Se he looked Anone:
he ne Cowde Neyther sen bot ne lyown
Whiche weren put to his distrocciown;
Wherfore Sory was he tho,
For Mochel comfort þe beste dede hym to.
thanne loked he bothe vp & down
Al Abowtes the Se In-virown,
And non qwarter he ne Cowde Aspie
Nethir lyown ne bot, ful Sekerlye.
And whanne he sawh In Alle degre
that Nowher In the water he ne Cowde hem se,
Aȝen Into the Schipe he gan to lepe,
And there vppon A bord he fil On Slepe,
What for travaille and werynesse,
and that In the See he hadde distresse.
and ouer Al the Se he looked Anone:
he ne Cowde Neyther sen bot ne lyown
Whiche weren put to his distrocciown;
Wherfore Sory was he tho,
For Mochel comfort þe beste dede hym to.
thanne loked he bothe vp & down
Al Abowtes the Se In-virown,
And non qwarter he ne Cowde Aspie
Nethir lyown ne bot, ful Sekerlye.
And whanne he sawh In Alle degre
that Nowher In the water he ne Cowde hem se,
Aȝen Into the Schipe he gan to lepe,
And there vppon A bord he fil On Slepe,
What for travaille and werynesse,
and that In the See he hadde distresse.
Thus Al Nyht Slepte ȝonge Celydoyne
tyl on the Morwe day lyht Certayne:
and whanne the day gan forto sprynge,
Thanne happede Celidoyne In wakenenge,
and to the Schippis bord he cam Anone,
And Into the See he lookede thus sone;
thanne was he A-Ryved to forn An yl
Whiche was A wondir Merveillous straunge pyl.
tyl on the Morwe day lyht Certayne:
and whanne the day gan forto sprynge,
Thanne happede Celidoyne In wakenenge,
and to the Schippis bord he cam Anone,
And Into the See he lookede thus sone;
thanne was he A-Ryved to forn An yl
Whiche was A wondir Merveillous straunge pyl.
And As he Into that yle beheld there,
he Sawh A man In a Merveillous Manere
vppon that yl lay There Slepynge:
Where offen he hadde gret Merveillynge:
And whanne verayly he wiste it was A man,
Owt of that Schipe Anon wente he than,
And hym beheld wondirly Sore,
And Evere the longere More & More.
Atte laste so Nygh he gan to gon,
that he knew it was his fadir Anon
that hyhte Sire Nasciens be Name,
A worthy knyht, and of Noble fame;
Where-offen Anon gret Ioye he hadde,
that thorwgh God to his fadyr so was hadde.
And so be hym A-wook ful swetely,
And his Eyen he vpe Caste ful softely:
thanne whanne he sawh his sone it was,
Ful gret Ioye he Made In that plas;
And vp he stirte thanne riht Anon,
And abowtes his Nekke his Armes he leide son,
& him Clipte & kyste An hundred Sithe,
So Ioyful he was, so glad and So blithe,
that bothe for Ioye & pytë he wepte
vppon that yl there he hadde Slepte.
he Sawh A man In a Merveillous Manere
vppon that yl lay There Slepynge:
Where offen he hadde gret Merveillynge:
And whanne verayly he wiste it was A man,
Owt of that Schipe Anon wente he than,
And hym beheld wondirly Sore,
463
Atte laste so Nygh he gan to gon,
that he knew it was his fadir Anon
that hyhte Sire Nasciens be Name,
A worthy knyht, and of Noble fame;
Where-offen Anon gret Ioye he hadde,
that thorwgh God to his fadyr so was hadde.
And so be hym A-wook ful swetely,
And his Eyen he vpe Caste ful softely:
thanne whanne he sawh his sone it was,
Ful gret Ioye he Made In that plas;
And vp he stirte thanne riht Anon,
And abowtes his Nekke his Armes he leide son,
& him Clipte & kyste An hundred Sithe,
So Ioyful he was, so glad and So blithe,
that bothe for Ioye & pytë he wepte
vppon that yl there he hadde Slepte.
“Now, swete sone,” quod Nasciens tho,
“how to this yl Cowdest thou Go,
that from Alle the peple it is so fer,
and Nethir lond ne place Abowtes nowher?”
“lo, fadyr, In this Schip hider gan I gon,
that to forn ȝow lith be the roch of ston.”
thanne Nasciens be-held the schipe ful sore,
and knew wel he hadde I-seyn it be-fore.
“how to this yl Cowdest thou Go,
that from Alle the peple it is so fer,
and Nethir lond ne place Abowtes nowher?”
“lo, fadyr, In this Schip hider gan I gon,
that to forn ȝow lith be the roch of ston.”
thanne Nasciens be-held the schipe ful sore,
and knew wel he hadde I-seyn it be-fore.
Thanne gret Ioye Maden they there,
the Fadir to the sone In dyvers Manere,
And the Sone to the fadir, Aftyr his Myht;
there was gret Ioye I ȝow plyht.
So the fadir the Sone gan forto frayne,
And Axede of hym In Certeine
‘how he Askapede, and I what manere,
Owt of the presoun of Calafere.’
the Fadir to the sone In dyvers Manere,
And the Sone to the fadir, Aftyr his Myht;
there was gret Ioye I ȝow plyht.
So the fadir the Sone gan forto frayne,
And Axede of hym In Certeine
‘how he Askapede, and I what manere,
Owt of the presoun of Calafere.’
thanne tolde he his fadir Anon,
“how that he owt of presown gan gon,
and I-born In to An yl of the Se,
Wondirly fer from Eche Contre;
At wheche yl be tempest and be storm
Aryved kyng label me be-forn,
With a gret part of his Chevalrye
thedir weren they dreven Certeinlye.”
“how that he owt of presown gan gon,
and I-born In to An yl of the Se,
464
At wheche yl be tempest and be storm
Aryved kyng label me be-forn,
With a gret part of his Chevalrye
thedir weren they dreven Certeinlye.”
thanne tolde he his Fadir Also
Of kyng labelis Aviciouns, that cam him to
be the Revelacioun of the holy gost—
Whiche is lord of mihtes Most,—
be wheche Revelacion And declarenge
Kyng label Cam to Cristenynge.
Thanne tolde he his Fadir More Also,
what Aventures that hym Comen to,
Sethen to-gederis last they were
Ful harde In presoun with Calafere.
thanne blessede Nasciens the trenite,
that swich Comfort let hym tho þere se,
and thanked god Ouer Alle thyng
that hem hadde browht to so good Endyng.
Of kyng labelis Aviciouns, that cam him to
be the Revelacioun of the holy gost—
Whiche is lord of mihtes Most,—
be wheche Revelacion And declarenge
Kyng label Cam to Cristenynge.
Thanne tolde he his Fadir More Also,
what Aventures that hym Comen to,
Sethen to-gederis last they were
Ful harde In presoun with Calafere.
thanne blessede Nasciens the trenite,
that swich Comfort let hym tho þere se,
and thanked god Ouer Alle thyng
that hem hadde browht to so good Endyng.
thanne from this yl they wenten Anon,
And Into the Schipe they gonne to gon;
And they weren there-Into, þe owr Of Tyers.
thanne Cam there A wynd ful fyers,
And blew Into that schipe there Anon
that fer Into the See the schipe gan gon,
So that from the Roche the schipe gan pase,
passeng In-to þe Se A ful gret Spase.
thanne loked forth Nasciens Anon there
Forto weten where that they were,
And he ne Cowde nowher abowtes hym se
Nethire lond, neþer yl, In Non degre;
thanne thanked he god ful hyghly,
and seide his preyers ful devoutly;
So As he Cowde In his Manere,
ful devoutly his preyeres seide he there.
And Into the Schipe they gonne to gon;
And they weren there-Into, þe owr Of Tyers.
thanne Cam there A wynd ful fyers,
And blew Into that schipe there Anon
that fer Into the See the schipe gan gon,
So that from the Roche the schipe gan pase,
passeng In-to þe Se A ful gret Spase.
thanne loked forth Nasciens Anon there
Forto weten where that they were,
And he ne Cowde nowher abowtes hym se
Nethire lond, neþer yl, In Non degre;
thanne thanked he god ful hyghly,
and seide his preyers ful devoutly;
So As he Cowde In his Manere,
ful devoutly his preyeres seide he there.
Thus thre dayes the tempest lastede there,
and In drede of here deth In Eche Manere;
And Swich A storm Endurede vppon the se,
that Nygh here deth hem thowhte to be;
And they wayted Every Owr
Whanne þe schipe schold han sonke be þat stoure.
And so the fowrthe day at Nyht
the wedyr stawnched, thorwh goddis Myht,
And At the Cleryng of the day
the wedyr ful Milde and softe he say,
Where-offen Glad & Ioyful bothe they were,
Whanne they it syen In swich Manere;
for to forn tymes it ferde So
that to the deth they wenden han go.
465
And Swich A storm Endurede vppon the se,
that Nygh here deth hem thowhte to be;
And they wayted Every Owr
Whanne þe schipe schold han sonke be þat stoure.
And so the fowrthe day at Nyht
the wedyr stawnched, thorwh goddis Myht,
And At the Cleryng of the day
the wedyr ful Milde and softe he say,
Where-offen Glad & Ioyful bothe they were,
Whanne they it syen In swich Manere;
for to forn tymes it ferde So
that to the deth they wenden han go.
and whanne the day wax bothen lyht & Cler
that they myhten sen Every wher,
They syen A schip In the See
Towardis hem Cam ful gret Iorne;
thanne seide Celidoyne to his fadir “Certeinle
here Comen tydynges, what so they be;
God graunte Grace that they ben Goode,
that Comen to vs vppon this salt floode.’
So longe beheld they the Schipe tho
tyl Atte laste it Aproched hem to,
And so Nygh to-gederes gonne they be,
Tyl that Eyther with-Inne myhte Oþer se.
Nasciens to the schippes bord gan to gon,
And Into the tothir schipe beheld Anon,
And sawh where that kyng Mordrayn
Ful pensifly there sat In Certayn;
& Evere Abod he goddis grace,
for he ne wiste whedir to go, ne Into what place.
466
They syen A schip In the See
467
thanne seide Celidoyne to his fadir “Certeinle
here Comen tydynges, what so they be;
God graunte Grace that they ben Goode,
that Comen to vs vppon this salt floode.’
So longe beheld they the Schipe tho
tyl Atte laste it Aproched hem to,
And so Nygh to-gederes gonne they be,
Tyl that Eyther with-Inne myhte Oþer se.
Nasciens to the schippes bord gan to gon,
And Into the tothir schipe beheld Anon,
And sawh where that kyng Mordrayn
Ful pensifly there sat In Certayn;
& Evere Abod he goddis grace,
for he ne wiste whedir to go, ne Into what place.
And whanne Sire Nasciens kyng Mordrayns say,
ful lowde he Cryde In his lay,
and seide, “Sere, God Reste with ȝow!
Ryht welcome ȝe ben here to vs now.”
And the kyng owt of his thowht Abreide,
And to sire Nasciens he wolde han seide,
but for Ioye he wepte so sore
that on word ne myhte he speken thore;
but with-Owten ony word he gan to springe
Into Nasciens Schip, with-Owten lesynge,
and Abowtes Nasciens Nekke his Arm he Caste,
And An hundred Sithes he kiste him faste;
“A, Myn Owne brothir So leef and dere,
I am ful Ioyful I se ȝow here!
a, leve brothir, how haven ȝe fare
Sethen that I lefte ȝow In wo & Care,
and sethen we two departed Asondir
Where-As was tempest & ful gret thondyr?
and how that ȝe Comen In to this Contre,
Now, dere brother, telle ȝe Me.”
ful lowde he Cryde In his lay,
and seide, “Sere, God Reste with ȝow!
Ryht welcome ȝe ben here to vs now.”
And the kyng owt of his thowht Abreide,
And to sire Nasciens he wolde han seide,
but for Ioye he wepte so sore
that on word ne myhte he speken thore;
but with-Owten ony word he gan to springe
Into Nasciens Schip, with-Owten lesynge,
and Abowtes Nasciens Nekke his Arm he Caste,
And An hundred Sithes he kiste him faste;
“A, Myn Owne brothir So leef and dere,
I am ful Ioyful I se ȝow here!
a, leve brothir, how haven ȝe fare
Sethen that I lefte ȝow In wo & Care,
and sethen we two departed Asondir
Where-As was tempest & ful gret thondyr?
and how that ȝe Comen In to this Contre,
Now, dere brother, telle ȝe Me.”
Thanne Nasciens, that was so ful of Ioye
hym thowhte he ne hadde non Maner A-Noye,
Tolde kyng Mordrains of his Aventure,
how it be him Ferde, I the Enswre,
And how he was tempested bothe here & there,
And therto In the presown of Calafer,—
“For ȝowre baronage seide In Certayn
that with-owten dowte I hadde ȝow slayn,”—
And that Certein dayes in presown he was;
but Atte laste, thorwgh goddis Gras,
Fer Into the west was he browht,
But Into what place ne wiste he nowht,
but In An yl there he was,
fer from Every man In that plas;
For habitacioun was non there,
but wildernesse Abowtes Eches where,
So that it was the moste hydows place
that Evere Cristen man put In wase;
And ȝit was he Evere ful sory
that the Name he ne knew trewly:
and ȝit At Alle tymes thowhte hym tho
That the yl him tornede bothe two & fro,
bothe Every day and Every Nyht,
thus Openly it Tornede In his Syht.
468
Tolde kyng Mordrains of his Aventure,
how it be him Ferde, I the Enswre,
And how he was tempested bothe here & there,
And therto In the presown of Calafer,—
“For ȝowre baronage seide In Certayn
that with-owten dowte I hadde ȝow slayn,”—
And that Certein dayes in presown he was;
but Atte laste, thorwgh goddis Gras,
Fer Into the west was he browht,
But Into what place ne wiste he nowht,
but In An yl there he was,
fer from Every man In that plas;
For habitacioun was non there,
but wildernesse Abowtes Eches where,
So that it was the moste hydows place
that Evere Cristen man put In wase;
And ȝit was he Evere ful sory
that the Name he ne knew trewly:
and ȝit At Alle tymes thowhte hym tho
That the yl him tornede bothe two & fro,
bothe Every day and Every Nyht,
thus Openly it Tornede In his Syht.
And ȝit Aftir More he gan hym telle,
Of that Schip, how it befelle,
and how that there-Inne he entred was,
And how he fyl owt In that plas
but thorwh on word that he spak,
For In his Creaunce þere was a lak;
and tolde he him the Signefyaunce
Of Anothir Schip with-Owten variaunce,
and of An old Man that there-Inne was,
and how his wordes hym plesed In that plas,
So that on slepe fyl he there
be his wordis In dyvers Manere.
Of that Schip, how it befelle,
and how that there-Inne he entred was,
And how he fyl owt In that plas
but thorwh on word that he spak,
For In his Creaunce þere was a lak;
and tolde he him the Signefyaunce
Of Anothir Schip with-Owten variaunce,
and of An old Man that there-Inne was,
and how his wordes hym plesed In that plas,
So that on slepe fyl he there
be his wordis In dyvers Manere.
Sethen Aftyr he hym tolde
of þe Schipe & the Man so bolde,
that Nevere sethen he hym Sye,
Nethir fer ne faste Bye.
Thanne tolde him Nasciens ȝit wel More
of Mo trebulacions he hadde suffred before,
Where offen the kyng Merveillede tho,
And to Nasciens thanne spak he vnto.
469
that Nevere sethen he hym Sye,
Nethir fer ne faste Bye.
Thanne tolde him Nasciens ȝit wel More
of Mo trebulacions he hadde suffred before,
Where offen the kyng Merveillede tho,
And to Nasciens thanne spak he vnto.
“Sire kyng,” thanne quod Nasciens tho,
“Of this swerd scholen ȝe heren Merveilles Mo,
that for non Evel thing ne brosed he nowht,
but As goddis Scharpnesse it is in myn thowht.”
thanne Axede the kyng the swerd forto se,
That to hym was Merveillous In Al degre.
And whanne the kyng had it long beholde,
In his herte he Merveillede Mani folde,
And seide to Sire Nasciens there,
“this is the most merveille that euere sawh I Ere,
The Richeste and the fairest Also
That Into Ony place myhte be do.”
“Of this swerd scholen ȝe heren Merveilles Mo,
that for non Evel thing ne brosed he nowht,
but As goddis Scharpnesse it is in myn thowht.”
thanne Axede the kyng the swerd forto se,
That to hym was Merveillous In Al degre.
And whanne the kyng had it long beholde,
In his herte he Merveillede Mani folde,
And seide to Sire Nasciens there,
“this is the most merveille that euere sawh I Ere,
The Richeste and the fairest Also
That Into Ony place myhte be do.”
Thanne took the kyng this swerd on hond,
And stille there-with he gan to stonde;
In the ton hond the swerd, the toþer the pomel,
And hem departyd Every del.
And A wondir Aventure behappede tho,
that Aȝen to Gederis Anon gonnen they go;
And so faste to-gederis weren they Ioynt,
that Neuere sethenes In non poynt
Neuere departed Asonder they were
For non Man that lyf beere.
And stille there-with he gan to stonde;
In the ton hond the swerd, the toþer the pomel,
And hem departyd Every del.
And A wondir Aventure behappede tho,
that Aȝen to Gederis Anon gonnen they go;
And so faste to-gederis weren they Ioynt,
that Neuere sethenes In non poynt
Neuere departed Asonder they were
For non Man that lyf beere.
Now, be my trowthe, Ouer Alle thing
Many Merveilles werketh hevene kyng,
Whanne so lyhtly that it broken was,
And so lyhtly Al hol [becam] In that plas;
And so lyhtly Into þe schethe it Cam,
thens As kyng Mordrayns drowh it than
Many Merveilles werketh hevene kyng,
Whanne so lyhtly that it broken was,
And so lyhtly Al hol [becam] In that plas;
470
thens As kyng Mordrayns drowh it than
And whanne Alle this they hadden don,
A wondirful Scry they herden Anon,
As thowh it were A Manere of thondir,
Where-Offen Alle hadden they gret wondir,
“Owt of the schipe, Cristen Man, thou go,
lest gret Synne falle the vnto.”
Anon As the kyng this word herde,
Into his owne Schip he Aȝen ferde,
And So dide Celidoyne also;
But Nasciens behynde lefte tho.
A wondirful Scry they herden Anon,
As thowh it were A Manere of thondir,
Where-Offen Alle hadden they gret wondir,
“Owt of the schipe, Cristen Man, thou go,
lest gret Synne falle the vnto.”
Anon As the kyng this word herde,
Into his owne Schip he Aȝen ferde,
And So dide Celidoyne also;
But Nasciens behynde lefte tho.
they Nere So sone Into the schipe gon,
that A swerd to hym Cam Anon,
Al fer brennenge As hym thowhte,
—but he niste ho that it browhte—
that thorwh the left Scholdere it smot,
& gret wounde Made, so sore it bot;
So that In the Schipe he fyl Adown,
As thowgh it were In Manere of A swown.
thanne herde he there, him thouhte presente,
On that to hym Spak there veramente,
—but that he ne knew not his Menyng,
Neþer what it was to vndirstondyng;
but as him thowhte In this Manere
that the Menyng of the vois was there,—
“this veniance now is sent to the
For draweng of þe swerd, & were not worthë;
therfore Otterly I rede the
Anothir tyme that þou war be
to Erren Aȝens thy Creatour,
Thy Makere, and Ek thi saviour.”
the kyng Som-what this vndirstood,
and so dyde Sire Nasciens In his Mood,
but of that strok he was stoned so sore,
that plat down to the grownd fyl he thore;
thanne forth wente they hym forto A-wake,
and of his swowneng hym vt forto take.
that A swerd to hym Cam Anon,
Al fer brennenge As hym thowhte,
—but he niste ho that it browhte—
that thorwh the left Scholdere it smot,
& gret wounde Made, so sore it bot;
So that In the Schipe he fyl Adown,
As thowgh it were In Manere of A swown.
thanne herde he there, him thouhte presente,
On that to hym Spak there veramente,
—but that he ne knew not his Menyng,
Neþer what it was to vndirstondyng;
but as him thowhte In this Manere
that the Menyng of the vois was there,—
“this veniance now is sent to the
For draweng of þe swerd, & were not worthë;
therfore Otterly I rede the
Anothir tyme that þou war be
to Erren Aȝens thy Creatour,
Thy Makere, and Ek thi saviour.”
the kyng Som-what this vndirstood,
and so dyde Sire Nasciens In his Mood,
but of that strok he was stoned so sore,
that plat down to the grownd fyl he thore;
471
and of his swowneng hym vt forto take.
and whanne of his swowneng Awaked he was,
he loked Abowtes In that plas,
And say hem for hym wepin than;
thanne In his herte Merveillen he gan,
“A, why wepen ȝe so now for me?
For now Mowen ȝe wel knowen & se
that owre lord halt me A knyht
that he wele Chastise thorwh his Miht,
and maken Me knowliche of My sinne,
And of the wikkednesse þat I haue lyved Inne.
Wherfore, thankynges now I him do,
that this Chastisyng sente me vnto;
and As my fadir I worschepe hym Anon,
For he me Chastiseth As his sone.”
he loked Abowtes In that plas,
And say hem for hym wepin than;
thanne In his herte Merveillen he gan,
“A, why wepen ȝe so now for me?
For now Mowen ȝe wel knowen & se
that owre lord halt me A knyht
that he wele Chastise thorwh his Miht,
and maken Me knowliche of My sinne,
And of the wikkednesse þat I haue lyved Inne.
Wherfore, thankynges now I him do,
that this Chastisyng sente me vnto;
and As my fadir I worschepe hym Anon,
For he me Chastiseth As his sone.”
Whanne these wordis he hadde seid there,
but Evere he was of stedfast chere,
As A man ful of paciens & humilite,
As lik As desesed of the strok was he,
that Suffred Angwichs & mochel peyne,
and ȝet but litel ne wolde he seyne.
but Evere he was of stedfast chere,
As A man ful of paciens & humilite,
As lik As desesed of the strok was he,
that Suffred Angwichs & mochel peyne,
and ȝet but litel ne wolde he seyne.
Thus fowre dayes and fowre Nyht
In the Schipe they weren, I the plyht,
that wedir ne wynd ne was there non,
Forthere Into the se to gon.
In the Schipe they weren, I the plyht,
that wedir ne wynd ne was there non,
Forthere Into the se to gon.
But now leveth this Storye here, as ȝe mown se,
And torneth to the messengeris where so they be,
that Nasciens to seken they weren sent,
but Into what Contre, they Niste verament.
And torneth to the messengeris where so they be,
that Nasciens to seken they weren sent,
but Into what Contre, they Niste verament.
END OF VOL. I.
| CHAPTER XXXIV. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |