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. |
| 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. | CHAPTER LIV. HOW JOSEPH DIED, AND JOSEPHES ‘PASTE TO GOD IN A BLESID TYME.’ |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
 | CHAPTER LIV. HOW JOSEPH DIED, AND JOSEPHES ‘PASTE TO GOD IN A BLESID TYME.’ The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER LIV. HOW JOSEPH DIED, AND JOSEPHES ‘PASTE TO GOD IN A BLESID TYME.’
Thanne procedyth forth this storye,
and telleth how þat to Galafort Iosephes gan hye,
to speken with kyng Mordreyns verament
that often tymes hadde for hym sent,
whom ful gret desir he hadde to se,
As I ȝow seye ful Certeynle.
and telleth how þat to Galafort Iosephes gan hye,
to speken with kyng Mordreyns verament
that often tymes hadde for hym sent,
whom ful gret desir he hadde to se,
As I ȝow seye ful Certeynle.
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In this Mene while deyde Iosephe his fadyr dere,
and was Entered In a fair Manere
In Engelond, As seith this storye,
In an Abbey Of the Croys, As it Maketh Memorye.
wherfore Iosephes sore discomforted was,
For his fadyr was beryed In that plas,
For ful gret love was hem be-twene,
As Evere be-twene fadyr & sone Men Myhte sene.
And Iosephes Ryht ful feble was tho,
that vnnethis for Syknesse Myhte he go,
what for fastyng and for travaylle
Onnethis Myhte he gon Sawn faille;
And so Al deseysy & ful Syk he wente
To Sen kyng Mordreyns veramente,
In the same Abbey wheche he let Make,
and let It fownden for his Owne sake.
and was Entered In a fair Manere
In Engelond, As seith this storye,
In an Abbey Of the Croys, As it Maketh Memorye.
wherfore Iosephes sore discomforted was,
For his fadyr was beryed In that plas,
For ful gret love was hem be-twene,
As Evere be-twene fadyr & sone Men Myhte sene.
And Iosephes Ryht ful feble was tho,
that vnnethis for Syknesse Myhte he go,
what for fastyng and for travaylle
Onnethis Myhte he gon Sawn faille;
And so Al deseysy & ful Syk he wente
To Sen kyng Mordreyns veramente,
In the same Abbey wheche he let Make,
and let It fownden for his Owne sake.
whanne he was Comen In to that plas,
Evene there As kyng Mordreins was,
and hym hadde Salwed In fayr Manere,
thanne seide kyng Mordreyns to hym there,
“Sire, Ryht welcome forsothe ȝe be!
longe haue I desired ȝow to speken & se,
and with me here, sere, for to dwelle,
For Manye thinges I moste ȝow telle;
For trewly ful longe thinketh Me
that ȝe han been Owt Of this Contre;
and therfore wolde I weten ful fayn
how that It stont with ȝow Certayn.”
Evene there As kyng Mordreins was,
and hym hadde Salwed In fayr Manere,
thanne seide kyng Mordreyns to hym there,
“Sire, Ryht welcome forsothe ȝe be!
longe haue I desired ȝow to speken & se,
and with me here, sere, for to dwelle,
For Manye thinges I moste ȝow telle;
For trewly ful longe thinketh Me
that ȝe han been Owt Of this Contre;
and therfore wolde I weten ful fayn
how that It stont with ȝow Certayn.”
“Syre, I am Al heyl and sownd,
blessed be god, vppon this grownd,
For More Ioye Neuere I ne hadde
thanne I now haue, I May be gladde.”
“now where-Offen, good Sire, quod Mordreins þe kyng,
May I not knowen Of that thyng?”
“ȝis sire,” quod Iosephes, “certeynly,
I it schal ȝow tellen ful trewly:
Sire, I schal ȝow sein At this tyme,
hens schal I passen to-Morwen At pryme
Owt Of this world Into Anothir place:
thus hath sent me to seyne the kyng Of Grace.”
blessed be god, vppon this grownd,
For More Ioye Neuere I ne hadde
thanne I now haue, I May be gladde.”
“now where-Offen, good Sire, quod Mordreins þe kyng,
May I not knowen Of that thyng?”
“ȝis sire,” quod Iosephes, “certeynly,
I it schal ȝow tellen ful trewly:
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hens schal I passen to-Morwen At pryme
Owt Of this world Into Anothir place:
thus hath sent me to seyne the kyng Of Grace.”
And whanne kyng Mordreyns herde this,
Anon he wepte for deol Iwys,
& seide to Iosephes In this Manere,
“A! goode Iosephes, My Frend so dere,
Now I am here A-lone In this Contre,
and for-saken Alle myn Owne londis & fe
For the grete love that I In ȝow fond,
this, Iosephes, I preie ȝow vndirstond;
Now sethen that it Is So Nygh ȝoure tyme
that ȝe scholen hens passen to-Morwen At pryme,
with herte I ȝow preye ful Specyale
that Som Maner Of Tokene ȝe welen leven Me,
that I Of ȝow Myhte hauen som Manere Remembraunce,
what so Euere me be-happed In Ony Chaunce.”
“this schal I don, Sire,” quod Iosephes tho;
And thanne hym bethowhte how he myhte do.
thus sone Anon It Cam In his Mynde;
thanne seide he to Mordreyns that was so kynd,
“do bringen that scheld hider to Me,
that In to the Bataille I be-took the,
Whanne tho W Werredest vppon Tholomer,
and Of hym haddest the vittorye ther.”
Anon he wepte for deol Iwys,
& seide to Iosephes In this Manere,
“A! goode Iosephes, My Frend so dere,
Now I am here A-lone In this Contre,
and for-saken Alle myn Owne londis & fe
For the grete love that I In ȝow fond,
this, Iosephes, I preie ȝow vndirstond;
Now sethen that it Is So Nygh ȝoure tyme
that ȝe scholen hens passen to-Morwen At pryme,
with herte I ȝow preye ful Specyale
that Som Maner Of Tokene ȝe welen leven Me,
that I Of ȝow Myhte hauen som Manere Remembraunce,
what so Euere me be-happed In Ony Chaunce.”
“this schal I don, Sire,” quod Iosephes tho;
And thanne hym bethowhte how he myhte do.
thus sone Anon It Cam In his Mynde;
thanne seide he to Mordreyns that was so kynd,
“do bringen that scheld hider to Me,
that In to the Bataille I be-took the,
Whanne tho W Werredest vppon Tholomer,
and Of hym haddest the vittorye ther.”
kyng Mordreyns seide it scholde be do,
and bad A Man Anon therfore to go;
for that scheld faste by him it was,
and Every day he it kyste In that plas,
for the grete love he hadde therto,
Eche day twye or thries he kyste it so.
and bad A Man Anon therfore to go;
for that scheld faste by him it was,
and Every day he it kyste In that plas,
for the grete love he hadde therto,
Eche day twye or thries he kyste it so.
The same tyme the scheld Cam Iosephes before,
At his Nese he bledde wondyr sore,
and that stawnched it wolde not be
For non thing he Cowde ȝit se.
Anon thus sone he took this scheld
that kyng Mordreins bar In the feld,
and A Myddes the scheld, þere As he stood,
he Made a Croys with his Owne blood.
At his Nese he bledde wondyr sore,
and that stawnched it wolde not be
For non thing he Cowde ȝit se.
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that kyng Mordreins bar In the feld,
and A Myddes the scheld, þere As he stood,
he Made a Croys with his Owne blood.
and whanne that so he hadde I-don,
to kyng Mordreins he betook it Anon,
and seide there to Mordreyns the kyng,
“this schal I leven ȝow In Remembryng.
In this scheld A Crois I have Mad here
with myn Owne blood with-Owten dwere;
So that whanne ȝe taken this scheld On honde,
On Me to thenken scholen ȝe fonde;
For the Croys that I have Mad here
schal Evere lasten As fresch & fere
as it is this ilke same day;—
beleve wel, kyng Mordreyns, that I the say;—
and ȝif Ony knyht that so bold be,
Abowtes him it hangen In Ony degre,
that he ne schal ful sore Repente,
Tyl that A worthy knyht Come presente,
wheche the worthy Galaaz schal be hote,
The laste Of the lyne Of Nasciens Rote;
and he this scheld schal taken On honde,
And non but he; this thou vndirstonde;
For there schal neuere ben knyht so hardë
hit to Ocupyen, but Onlich he;
For lik as mo Merveilles be this scheld hast þou seye,
ȝit Mo schal galaaz werken Many weye;
and lik As this scheld passeth Alle Oþer scheldis,
So Galaaz schal passen In townes and feldis
Alle knyhtes Of Chevalrie In every dede,
So Merveillous & worthy In his Manhede.
and with that the kyng gan to se
bothe þe scheld an Cros ful verrayie;
to kyng Mordreins he betook it Anon,
and seide there to Mordreyns the kyng,
“this schal I leven ȝow In Remembryng.
In this scheld A Crois I have Mad here
with myn Owne blood with-Owten dwere;
So that whanne ȝe taken this scheld On honde,
On Me to thenken scholen ȝe fonde;
For the Croys that I have Mad here
schal Evere lasten As fresch & fere
as it is this ilke same day;—
beleve wel, kyng Mordreyns, that I the say;—
and ȝif Ony knyht that so bold be,
Abowtes him it hangen In Ony degre,
that he ne schal ful sore Repente,
Tyl that A worthy knyht Come presente,
wheche the worthy Galaaz schal be hote,
The laste Of the lyne Of Nasciens Rote;
and he this scheld schal taken On honde,
And non but he; this thou vndirstonde;
For there schal neuere ben knyht so hardë
hit to Ocupyen, but Onlich he;
For lik as mo Merveilles be this scheld hast þou seye,
ȝit Mo schal galaaz werken Many weye;
and lik As this scheld passeth Alle Oþer scheldis,
So Galaaz schal passen In townes and feldis
Alle knyhtes Of Chevalrie In every dede,
So Merveillous & worthy In his Manhede.
and with that the kyng gan to se
bothe þe scheld an Cros ful verrayie;
Thanne took the kyng this scheld On honde,
and Often to kyssen he gan it fonde.
and seide, “lord God, I-worschepid thou be,
that Grace Of Syhte hast graunted me
This Crois to Sen here with Myn Eye;
Now, goode lord Iesw, Gromessye.”
and thanne bespak kyng Mordreins
To Iosephes Er he wente theins,
“Sethen ȝe han me left this Ilke thing
ȝow forto haven In Remembryng,
Telleth me, Iosephes, I ȝow pray,
where that this scheld putten I may,
So that thike worthy knyht
It myht properly Comen to his syht.”
and Often to kyssen he gan it fonde.
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that Grace Of Syhte hast graunted me
This Crois to Sen here with Myn Eye;
Now, goode lord Iesw, Gromessye.”
and thanne bespak kyng Mordreins
To Iosephes Er he wente theins,
“Sethen ȝe han me left this Ilke thing
ȝow forto haven In Remembryng,
Telleth me, Iosephes, I ȝow pray,
where that this scheld putten I may,
So that thike worthy knyht
It myht properly Comen to his syht.”
Thanne Iosephes Seyde to hym tho,
“Sire kyng, ȝif Aftyr Me ȝe welen do,
loke where Nasciens Is beryed whanne he is ded,
and hange ȝe that scheld In thike same sted;
For thedir schal Comen that goode knyht
at the fyftenethe day, I sey ȝow Ryht,
Aftyr that he hath taken the Ordre of Chevalrye;
Ful faste thedirwardis he schal hym hye.”
thanne seide the kyng it scholde be do.
“Sire kyng, ȝif Aftyr Me ȝe welen do,
loke where Nasciens Is beryed whanne he is ded,
and hange ȝe that scheld In thike same sted;
For thedir schal Comen that goode knyht
at the fyftenethe day, I sey ȝow Ryht,
Aftyr that he hath taken the Ordre of Chevalrye;
Ful faste thedirwardis he schal hym hye.”
thanne seide the kyng it scholde be do.
and thus Iosephes there parted hym fro.
Vppon the Morwe Atte Owr Of pryme
he paste to God In A blesid tyme,
and was Entered In that same Abbey
There As kyng Mordreins bedered lay.
Vppon the Morwe Atte Owr Of pryme
he paste to God In A blesid tyme,
and was Entered In that same Abbey
There As kyng Mordreins bedered lay.
but thanne Comen Othir Men, and his Fadyr bore
Into A Nothir Contre besides thore;
For A gret Affamyne Amonges hem was.
his body they boren Into that plas,—
For this storye ful trewe it Is,
and also I-proved with-Owten Mys,—
that At the Entre Of that holy Man
Al that Famyne Secede Anon than;
and the lond becam ful Of blessidnesse,
Of Catel, Of good, and Of Al Richesse;
so that they seiden with-Owten Obstacle,
‘that God for that body wrowhte Miracle
the wheche they browhte Into that Contre;’
and In Abbey was buryed ful Solempne,
that thabbey of Glays that tyme was Cald,
whech Abbey of Glaystyngbery now men hald.
Into A Nothir Contre besides thore;
For A gret Affamyne Amonges hem was.
his body they boren Into that plas,—
For this storye ful trewe it Is,
and also I-proved with-Owten Mys,—
that At the Entre Of that holy Man
Al that Famyne Secede Anon than;
and the lond becam ful Of blessidnesse,
Of Catel, Of good, and Of Al Richesse;
324
‘that God for that body wrowhte Miracle
the wheche they browhte Into that Contre;’
and In Abbey was buryed ful Solempne,
that thabbey of Glays that tyme was Cald,
whech Abbey of Glaystyngbery now men hald.
Now Resteth here this storye,
and Of Aleyn the Sone Of bron Maketh Memorye.
and Of Aleyn the Sone Of bron Maketh Memorye.
| CHAPTER LIV. HOW JOSEPH DIED, AND JOSEPHES ‘PASTE TO GOD IN A BLESID TYME.’ The Legend of the Holy Grail | |