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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| XVI. | CHAPTER XVI. |
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| XXXI. |
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| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
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 | CHAPTER XVI. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XVI.
197
Thus Iosephes and his Compenie,
In Sarras weren they Sekerlye,
Worthily I-served Of that Qweene
That Sarracinte was Clepid be-dene.
And As thus In talkinge they were,
To Sarracinte goode tydinges told he þere,
‘That to Orcauz hire lord was Come,
And with him A ful gret throme;’
And tolde hire of the white knyht,
How graciously he bar him In fyht;
But No man Cowde tellen what he was,
Of Alle hem that weren In that plas;
And ȝit the king wolde han wist ful fayn
What he hadde ben In Certain,
And Merveilled Sore Alle that Nyht,
& lay and thowhte Of that white knyht;
And so dide Also Sire Seraphe,
For he ne wiste where becomen was he,
And seiden ‘that Glad scholden thei neuere be,
Til of him they knewen som Certeinte.’
And thus Al that Niht Spoken they two
Of the white knyht, and Of no Mo,
Wheche he lovede Ouer Alle thing,
And be him gat he Conqwering;
And thus leften they not Of talkyng
Til bothe weren Fallen in sleping,
For Wery of fyhteng Alle they Were,
And Al here Compeni þat with hem was there.
In Sarras weren they Sekerlye,
Worthily I-served Of that Qweene
That Sarracinte was Clepid be-dene.
And As thus In talkinge they were,
To Sarracinte goode tydinges told he þere,
‘That to Orcauz hire lord was Come,
And with him A ful gret throme;’
And tolde hire of the white knyht,
How graciously he bar him In fyht;
But No man Cowde tellen what he was,
Of Alle hem that weren In that plas;
And ȝit the king wolde han wist ful fayn
What he hadde ben In Certain,
And Merveilled Sore Alle that Nyht,
& lay and thowhte Of that white knyht;
And so dide Also Sire Seraphe,
For he ne wiste where becomen was he,
And seiden ‘that Glad scholden thei neuere be,
Til of him they knewen som Certeinte.’
And thus Al that Niht Spoken they two
Of the white knyht, and Of no Mo,
Wheche he lovede Ouer Alle thing,
And be him gat he Conqwering;
And thus leften they not Of talkyng
Til bothe weren Fallen in sleping,
For Wery of fyhteng Alle they Were,
And Al here Compeni þat with hem was there.
198
Erly on the Morwe, whanne þe kyng Aros,
Streyht Into Orcauz thanne he Gos
For to speken With tholome the kyng,
And to knowen & sen of his governyng.
And whanne Tholome Eualach Say Com,
To his Feet he Fil Anon þere A-down,
For ful gret drede hadde Tholome
That kyng Eualach Wolde don him sle.
Thanne king Eualach took him be the honde,
And made him vp-Riht forto stonde,
Be Encheson that A kyng he was,
And Most Of worschepe In that plas.
Thanne Anon kyng Tholome
Clepid forth [his] knihtes & his Meyne,
And bad hem down fallen to here lord,
And him Worschepen with on Acord.
Streyht Into Orcauz thanne he Gos
For to speken With tholome the kyng,
And to knowen & sen of his governyng.
And whanne Tholome Eualach Say Com,
To his Feet he Fil Anon þere A-down,
For ful gret drede hadde Tholome
That kyng Eualach Wolde don him sle.
Thanne king Eualach took him be the honde,
And made him vp-Riht forto stonde,
Be Encheson that A kyng he was,
And Most Of worschepe In that plas.
Thanne Anon kyng Tholome
Clepid forth [his] knihtes & his Meyne,
And bad hem down fallen to here lord,
And him Worschepen with on Acord.
Whanne they hadden thus Alle I-do,
Kyng Eualach from hem gan to go,
And toward Sarras gan forto Ryde,
He & his Meyne be his Side,
And with hym Sire Seraphe he ladde,
That Manye A gret wounde there hadde;
And thanne seide Sire Seraphë,
‘That hom Into his Owne Contre wolde he,
Where that he Scholde more Esed ben
Thanne In Sarras, As he tho Cowde sen.’
Thanne seide king Eualach to him tho,
“Sire, with me to Sarras Scholen ȝe go,
And there grete Merveilles scholen ȝe se,
Of the moste wondirful Man that may be,
That tolde me how that it schold be-falle
Of my bataille, begynneng and Alle.”
And thanne Answerid Sire Seraphe,
‘That gladliche theke Man wold he se.’
So that bothe Sire Seraphe & þe kyng,
To Sarras Comen with Owten lettyng;
And Alle the tothere Meyne,
Eche tornede to his Contre,
As the king hem ȝaf license
Forto gon from his precense.
Kyng Eualach from hem gan to go,
And toward Sarras gan forto Ryde,
He & his Meyne be his Side,
And with hym Sire Seraphe he ladde,
That Manye A gret wounde there hadde;
And thanne seide Sire Seraphë,
‘That hom Into his Owne Contre wolde he,
Where that he Scholde more Esed ben
Thanne In Sarras, As he tho Cowde sen.’
Thanne seide king Eualach to him tho,
“Sire, with me to Sarras Scholen ȝe go,
And there grete Merveilles scholen ȝe se,
Of the moste wondirful Man that may be,
That tolde me how that it schold be-falle
Of my bataille, begynneng and Alle.”
And thanne Answerid Sire Seraphe,
‘That gladliche theke Man wold he se.’
199
To Sarras Comen with Owten lettyng;
And Alle the tothere Meyne,
Eche tornede to his Contre,
As the king hem ȝaf license
Forto gon from his precense.
And whanne the king to Sarras was Gone,
With gret Ioye þe Qweene him Mette Anone,
And Also hire dere brother Sire Seraphe,
Of hym gret Ioye Made tho sche,
And so dide Al that Cite tho,
Gret Ioye Made Of hem two;
For they Supposed In Certein,
To that Cite Neuere to have Comen Ageyn.
And Anon As the kyng On-horsed was,
After the Cristenmen he Axede In þat plas;
And the qwene, that wolde not vndirstonde;
But ȝit Anon the kyng Sente his sonde
To Seken thanne Iosephe & his Meyne,
“For, dame, it Is Al trewe that he tolde me.”
And whanne the qweene him herde so sayn,
Thanne In herte was sche bothe Ioyful & fayn,
And sente to seken Iosephe anon
Also faste As they myhten gon.
And Anon As Evere the king saw Iosepe,
Ryht Anon to him he gan forto lepe,
And seide ‘that he was the beste welcomed Man
Thanne Evere was Oni prophete,’ he seide than.
And be him he made him to sittin A-down;
And thanne to Seraphe seide he this Resown,—
That Sik vppon A Cowche he lay,
As was hurt vppon the Formere day,—
“I sey to ȝow now, brother Sire Seraphe,
That be this Man I have Conqwest & my degre,
Whiche that I wele that ȝe knowe,
And Al my peple vppon A rowe.”
“Nay, sire,” quod Iosephe thanne,
“It Miht neuere Comen be Erthly Manne,
But be him In whom thow hast Creaunce;
He hath the sent Al this good Chaunce.”
Thanne Axede Sire Seraphe Anon thanne,
“What Manere of powere hath that Manne
That he is of so gret powste;
I preie the, Belamy, telle thow me.”
With gret Ioye þe Qweene him Mette Anone,
And Also hire dere brother Sire Seraphe,
Of hym gret Ioye Made tho sche,
And so dide Al that Cite tho,
Gret Ioye Made Of hem two;
For they Supposed In Certein,
To that Cite Neuere to have Comen Ageyn.
And Anon As the kyng On-horsed was,
After the Cristenmen he Axede In þat plas;
And the qwene, that wolde not vndirstonde;
But ȝit Anon the kyng Sente his sonde
To Seken thanne Iosephe & his Meyne,
“For, dame, it Is Al trewe that he tolde me.”
And whanne the qweene him herde so sayn,
Thanne In herte was sche bothe Ioyful & fayn,
And sente to seken Iosephe anon
Also faste As they myhten gon.
And Anon As Evere the king saw Iosepe,
Ryht Anon to him he gan forto lepe,
And seide ‘that he was the beste welcomed Man
Thanne Evere was Oni prophete,’ he seide than.
And be him he made him to sittin A-down;
And thanne to Seraphe seide he this Resown,—
That Sik vppon A Cowche he lay,
As was hurt vppon the Formere day,—
200
That be this Man I have Conqwest & my degre,
Whiche that I wele that ȝe knowe,
And Al my peple vppon A rowe.”
“Nay, sire,” quod Iosephe thanne,
“It Miht neuere Comen be Erthly Manne,
But be him In whom thow hast Creaunce;
He hath the sent Al this good Chaunce.”
Thanne Axede Sire Seraphe Anon thanne,
“What Manere of powere hath that Manne
That he is of so gret powste;
I preie the, Belamy, telle thow me.”
Thanne Answerid tho Iosephe Ageyn:
“I Schal þe Sein, Seraphe, In Certeyn;
And what he sente the to seyne by me,
I schal the now tellen, Sire Seraphë.
This lord that kyng Of Cristene Is,
Be his Mowth he seide to Me I-wis,
That he was the Same Man
That from Sevene knyhtes deliuered þe than
Whanne atte the prikke of deth þou were I-browht:
Seraphe, thorwh thy Myht wos it Nowht.
And ȝif thow Supposist that Al thi Chevalrye
Come of thy self,—Nay, Certeinlye.
And ȝif thow beleve now so,
Al it is Folye þat thow dost do.
But knowe thow wel, Sire, for Certeine,
That whanne Eualach the saw In sorwe and peine,
And there he Made his preiere Anon
To þat lord of whom he bar signe vppon,
“That, as his dere broþer, the In bataille scholde defende
From peril of deth, & to þe victorie to sende.”
And whanne Iosephes thus tho hadde I-seid,
Thanne Seraphe, that vppon A Cowche was leid,
Of his wordis ful sore Abasched he was,
Of wheche no man knew tho in that plas.
And Seide thanne Anon king Eualach tho,
“Certes, dere brother, It was Ryht So.”
“I Schal þe Sein, Seraphe, In Certeyn;
And what he sente the to seyne by me,
I schal the now tellen, Sire Seraphë.
This lord that kyng Of Cristene Is,
Be his Mowth he seide to Me I-wis,
That he was the Same Man
That from Sevene knyhtes deliuered þe than
Whanne atte the prikke of deth þou were I-browht:
Seraphe, thorwh thy Myht wos it Nowht.
And ȝif thow Supposist that Al thi Chevalrye
Come of thy self,—Nay, Certeinlye.
And ȝif thow beleve now so,
Al it is Folye þat thow dost do.
But knowe thow wel, Sire, for Certeine,
That whanne Eualach the saw In sorwe and peine,
And there he Made his preiere Anon
To þat lord of whom he bar signe vppon,
“That, as his dere broþer, the In bataille scholde defende
From peril of deth, & to þe victorie to sende.”
And whanne Iosephes thus tho hadde I-seid,
Thanne Seraphe, that vppon A Cowche was leid,
Of his wordis ful sore Abasched he was,
Of wheche no man knew tho in that plas.
201
“Certes, dere brother, It was Ryht So.”
Thanne Axede Iosephes the Signe Anon
Of þe Cros þat he hadde In his scheld doon;
And whanne this scheld was vndon,
The signe of the Crois they behelden Anon;
And there anon it semed there In Al here siht
A wondirful Red Cros, & Merveillously dyht;
And vppon that Crois hem thowhte they sie
A man In manere on þat cros was Crucifie.
In the Mene whille þat this Sihte was,
happed A man to comen Into that plas;
And Iosephes him Clepide there Anon,
For his Arm Ny from his body was gon;
“Certes,” quod Iosephe, “this lord is of so gret powere,
That thin sore putte to him here,
As heil & sownd thanne schalt thow be
As euer is Oni Man In Cristiente.”
And this Man dide Anon As he him bad,
And Riht Anon there his hele he had.
Thanne alle the hurte men þat weren present
Seiden it was don be Enchauntement;
And his Arm be-Cam As hol Anon
As was fisch that bar A bon.
Of þe Cros þat he hadde In his scheld doon;
And whanne this scheld was vndon,
The signe of the Crois they behelden Anon;
And there anon it semed there In Al here siht
A wondirful Red Cros, & Merveillously dyht;
And vppon that Crois hem thowhte they sie
A man In manere on þat cros was Crucifie.
In the Mene whille þat this Sihte was,
happed A man to comen Into that plas;
And Iosephes him Clepide there Anon,
For his Arm Ny from his body was gon;
“Certes,” quod Iosephe, “this lord is of so gret powere,
That thin sore putte to him here,
As heil & sownd thanne schalt thow be
As euer is Oni Man In Cristiente.”
And this Man dide Anon As he him bad,
And Riht Anon there his hele he had.
Thanne alle the hurte men þat weren present
Seiden it was don be Enchauntement;
And his Arm be-Cam As hol Anon
As was fisch that bar A bon.
ȝit a grettere Merveille was in that plas,
Of the Cros that In the Scheld tho was:
It vansched Awey there tho sodeinly
That neuere man ne wiste whedir ne whi,
So that it was neuere More Sein
In that Scheld Aftir Certein.
Of this thing Alle Sore abasched they were
That in theke plase þat tyme weren there.
Of the Cros that In the Scheld tho was:
It vansched Awey there tho sodeinly
That neuere man ne wiste whedir ne whi,
So that it was neuere More Sein
In that Scheld Aftir Certein.
Of this thing Alle Sore abasched they were
That in theke plase þat tyme weren there.
And whanne Seraphe this gan beholde,
Non lengere thanne Abiden he wolde,
But Anon Cristened he wolde be,
& On him to beleve, In Eche degre,
That hath so moche strengthe & power,
Sike Men Forto keveren there.
And he him there dressed vppe al so skeet,
And fyl adown Anon to Iosephes Feet;
There Axede he Ioseph, for charite,
Anon A Cristene man that he Mihte be.
“In the name of þe Fadir, sone, & holigost,
Whiche that Is lord of Mihtës Most,
I the cristene,” quod Ioseph thanne,
“And loke þat thou be true cristenne Manne.”
In his Cristendom, his Name chonched he,
And Clepid him ‘Nasciens,’ that men myhte se.
Non lengere thanne Abiden he wolde,
202
& On him to beleve, In Eche degre,
That hath so moche strengthe & power,
Sike Men Forto keveren there.
And he him there dressed vppe al so skeet,
And fyl adown Anon to Iosephes Feet;
There Axede he Ioseph, for charite,
Anon A Cristene man that he Mihte be.
“In the name of þe Fadir, sone, & holigost,
Whiche that Is lord of Mihtës Most,
I the cristene,” quod Ioseph thanne,
“And loke þat thou be true cristenne Manne.”
In his Cristendom, his Name chonched he,
And Clepid him ‘Nasciens,’ that men myhte se.
And Anon As he tho Cristened was,
Swich A Clerte On him fil In þat plas,
Seenge to hem that stood Abowte,
Of diuers meine a ful gret Rowte,
And hem besemede ful verrayly
That alle his Clothes weren taken Awey;
Hem thowhte they sien A brennenge brond of fer
Into his Mowth how it Entrede ther.
Thanne herden they there A wondir vois anon,
That thus to hem seide þere Everichon:
“The last of þe ferst hath taken Away
Alle filthhedis this ilke day.
Be his Owne stedfaste Creavnce
Him is be-happed this ilke Chaunce.”
And whanne this vois tho was past,
Thanne vppe him Stirte Seraphe In hast;
And Felt him Self As heyl & qwerte,
And as hol A man In body & herte.
Swich A Clerte On him fil In þat plas,
Seenge to hem that stood Abowte,
Of diuers meine a ful gret Rowte,
And hem besemede ful verrayly
That alle his Clothes weren taken Awey;
Hem thowhte they sien A brennenge brond of fer
Into his Mowth how it Entrede ther.
Thanne herden they there A wondir vois anon,
That thus to hem seide þere Everichon:
“The last of þe ferst hath taken Away
Alle filthhedis this ilke day.
Be his Owne stedfaste Creavnce
Him is be-happed this ilke Chaunce.”
And whanne this vois tho was past,
Thanne vppe him Stirte Seraphe In hast;
And Felt him Self As heyl & qwerte,
And as hol A man In body & herte.
And Anon fulfillid there he was
With the holi gost tho In that plas;
And thanne be-spak sire Nasciens:
“The holi gost is in my presens,
That Me Certefyeth Of Myn Creavnce,
& how that I schal leven with-owten variaunce;
That to Owre mete ne gon not we
With hondes vnwaschen In non degre;
And him there worschepen scholen we thanne,
That Most Worthy Lord that becam Manne.”
With the holi gost tho In that plas;
And thanne be-spak sire Nasciens:
“The holi gost is in my presens,
203
& how that I schal leven with-owten variaunce;
That to Owre mete ne gon not we
With hondes vnwaschen In non degre;
And him there worschepen scholen we thanne,
That Most Worthy Lord that becam Manne.”
And behold what God Schewed to Eualach tho
For the grete Affiaunce he hadde him vnto,
That Tholome theke same Owr
Owt of this world was past with dolowr.
And thus him Schewed the holy gost
That Evere Is lord Of Myhtes Most.
So longe thanne there Spak Sire Nasciens,
Of goddis Myht and of his presens,
That king Eualach Ran Cristened to be;
And Also that Man In the same degre
Whiche that his Arm was ny Offe go,
To Cristendom faste Ran he tho.
And Anon As that they Cristened were,
Here Names In here Forehed were wreten þere;
Eualach to ‘Mordraynes’ Torned was,
And the hurt Man to ‘Clamacides;’
Thus bothe here Names I-torned they were
Be strengthe and vertw Of baptism there,
As banarers Of that hye kyng
The wheche hem browhte to baptising.
For the grete Affiaunce he hadde him vnto,
That Tholome theke same Owr
Owt of this world was past with dolowr.
And thus him Schewed the holy gost
That Evere Is lord Of Myhtes Most.
So longe thanne there Spak Sire Nasciens,
Of goddis Myht and of his presens,
That king Eualach Ran Cristened to be;
And Also that Man In the same degre
Whiche that his Arm was ny Offe go,
To Cristendom faste Ran he tho.
And Anon As that they Cristened were,
Here Names In here Forehed were wreten þere;
Eualach to ‘Mordraynes’ Torned was,
And the hurt Man to ‘Clamacides;’
Thus bothe here Names I-torned they were
Be strengthe and vertw Of baptism there,
As banarers Of that hye kyng
The wheche hem browhte to baptising.
Thanne seide Sire Mordrains to his qwene,
‘That sche scholde Comen, Cristened to bene;’
Thanne Answerid [sche] to hire lord Anon,
“That it Were Nethir Skele ne Reson:
For on body, twyes baptised forto be,
Sire, it were non Resoun, So thinketh Me.”
Thanne Axede hire the kyng Anon
How that this Cause Mihte thus gon.
“Sire,” sche seide thanne, “Certeinlye
xxvij wynter Agon it is fullye
That I Crestened womman haue be,
Sire kyng, forsothe As I telle the.”
And the kyng Axede here how it was.
Anon sche him tolde Al the Cas:
Evene As sche to Iosephe tolde,
Sche him Rehersid þere Manifolde,
And seid the holy man that hire Cristened þere,
Here Name Nolde chonge In non Manere,
“But seid to Me In his talkyng,
‘Thy Name ‘ful of faith’ Is signefieng.’.”
And whanne that they thus Cristened were,
Alle the Remnaunt that weren there
Comen Alle ful faste Rennenge
Forto Resceyven there baptisenge;
And Iosephes took A basyn with water Anon,
And Amongs hem Faste he gan to gon;
There Anon he Made hem Alle knelynge,
And there ȝaf he to hem Baptisenge,
And vppon here hedis water threw he Abowte,
Vppon that Meyne In theke grete Rowte,
Where As was v hundred thowsend & Mo,
In that same plase Cristened be tho
In the Name of the fadir & Sone & holigost,
Wheche that Is lord of Myhtës Most.
‘That sche scholde Comen, Cristened to bene;’
Thanne Answerid [sche] to hire lord Anon,
“That it Were Nethir Skele ne Reson:
For on body, twyes baptised forto be,
Sire, it were non Resoun, So thinketh Me.”
Thanne Axede hire the kyng Anon
How that this Cause Mihte thus gon.
“Sire,” sche seide thanne, “Certeinlye
xxvij wynter Agon it is fullye
204
Sire kyng, forsothe As I telle the.”
And the kyng Axede here how it was.
Anon sche him tolde Al the Cas:
Evene As sche to Iosephe tolde,
Sche him Rehersid þere Manifolde,
And seid the holy man that hire Cristened þere,
Here Name Nolde chonge In non Manere,
“But seid to Me In his talkyng,
‘Thy Name ‘ful of faith’ Is signefieng.’.”
And whanne that they thus Cristened were,
Alle the Remnaunt that weren there
Comen Alle ful faste Rennenge
Forto Resceyven there baptisenge;
And Iosephes took A basyn with water Anon,
And Amongs hem Faste he gan to gon;
There Anon he Made hem Alle knelynge,
And there ȝaf he to hem Baptisenge,
And vppon here hedis water threw he Abowte,
Vppon that Meyne In theke grete Rowte,
Where As was v hundred thowsend & Mo,
In that same plase Cristened be tho
In the Name of the fadir & Sone & holigost,
Wheche that Is lord of Myhtës Most.
Thanne On the Morwe Nasciens wolde gon
Into Furthere Contres Anon,
And Ioseph with him wolde he have,
The Contre to saunctefie & to save.
But Ioseph him tho Answerid Anon,
“That Owt of Sarras wold he not gon
Til the ymages weren broken Echone,
And the temples Sanctified er he þens wold gone,
As Oure lord him Comaunded be his mowth presente;”
& so he dide, Er he thens wente.
Into Furthere Contres Anon,
And Ioseph with him wolde he have,
The Contre to saunctefie & to save.
But Ioseph him tho Answerid Anon,
“That Owt of Sarras wold he not gon
Til the ymages weren broken Echone,
And the temples Sanctified er he þens wold gone,
As Oure lord him Comaunded be his mowth presente;”
& so he dide, Er he thens wente.
205
And whanne Alle this peple thus hadde he wonne,
And Goddis ful Creaunce there begonne,
Thanne Abowtes In Virown Al that Contre
The peple to torne, thanne so labowred he.
Whanne that Sarras to Cristendom was browht,
Ful mochel Ioye was In his thowht.
And Goddis ful Creaunce there begonne,
Thanne Abowtes In Virown Al that Contre
The peple to torne, thanne so labowred he.
Whanne that Sarras to Cristendom was browht,
Ful mochel Ioye was In his thowht.
Thanne Alle tho gan he with him take
That Owt of Ierusalem weren his Make,
Except Only persones thanne thre—
That he lefte with the Arche forto be,
And that holy disch that was there-Inne,
It savely to kepen from More Oþer Mynne;—
Whiche On of hem ‘Enacore’ gonne they Calle,
The tother ‘Manasses,’ As tho gan falle;
The thridde was clepid ‘Lwcan,’
Thike same Tyme of Every man,
That Ioseph took the Arch In kepinge
To his purpos, As to A man of best levenge.
That Owt of Ierusalem weren his Make,
Except Only persones thanne thre—
That he lefte with the Arche forto be,
And that holy disch that was there-Inne,
It savely to kepen from More Oþer Mynne;—
Whiche On of hem ‘Enacore’ gonne they Calle,
The tother ‘Manasses,’ As tho gan falle;
The thridde was clepid ‘Lwcan,’
Thike same Tyme of Every man,
That Ioseph took the Arch In kepinge
To his purpos, As to A man of best levenge.
And thus these thre leften there
To kepen this holy Arch In this Manere;
And Alle the tothere gonnen forth to gon,
Cristes Name to sanctefien Anon,
And the peple to ȝeven baptiseng;
And this was alle here labowreng.
But of hem At theke time was non there
But that the holigost in hem spak Every where,
And Alle Maner of langage thanne dide hem have;
Where-thorwh the peple that they myhten save.
And with-owten Iosephe and his sone
Weren lxxij that to-gederis dide wone.
To kepen this holy Arch In this Manere;
And Alle the tothere gonnen forth to gon,
Cristes Name to sanctefien Anon,
And the peple to ȝeven baptiseng;
And this was alle here labowreng.
But of hem At theke time was non there
But that the holigost in hem spak Every where,
And Alle Maner of langage thanne dide hem have;
Where-thorwh the peple that they myhten save.
And with-owten Iosephe and his sone
Weren lxxij that to-gederis dide wone.
Thanne Iosephe to Orcauz gan to gon,
And there Into the temple he Entred Anon,
And In ful gret thowht there was he,
But Evere his herte was vppon the Trenite.
And his letherne Gyrdel tho took he anon,
And to An ymage there Gan he to gon,
That stood In the temple vppon the chief Awter,
And him Anon Coniowred there.
And the devel there Anon forth Ryht
Owt of the ymage isswed In Al here siht.
And whanne that Owt of the ymage he was gon,
Ioseph thanne took his Girdel Anon,
And Abowte his Nekke he Made it fast,
And it drowgh to-Fore the king In hast;
So In þat Manere he drow it thorwgh the Cite
That Al the peple there him Mihte thanne se.
And there Into the temple he Entred Anon,
And In ful gret thowht there was he,
But Evere his herte was vppon the Trenite.
And his letherne Gyrdel tho took he anon,
And to An ymage there Gan he to gon,
206
And him Anon Coniowred there.
And the devel there Anon forth Ryht
Owt of the ymage isswed In Al here siht.
And whanne that Owt of the ymage he was gon,
Ioseph thanne took his Girdel Anon,
And Abowte his Nekke he Made it fast,
And it drowgh to-Fore the king In hast;
So In þat Manere he drow it thorwgh the Cite
That Al the peple there him Mihte thanne se.
Thanne Axede him Nasciens Anon Riht there,
“Whi that so sore Iustefyed he were?”
Thanne Iosephe to him Sone Agein:
“In time Comeng thow schalt weten Certein.”
Thanne Axed Iosephe of þe devel A-forn hem Alle þere,
‘Why he hadde so ferd with kyng Tholomere,’
“And whi thow Madist him so to fallen A-down
Atte the wyndowe of þe towr to his Confucioun?”
Thanne spak the devel to Ioseph tho Certeinle:
“Goddes Seriawnt, A while that þou wost lesen Me,
And I schal to the tellen Anon Ryht
Of kyng Tholomer, þat þou clepist A knyht.”
Thanne Iosephe his Girdil tho gan to vndon
From the schrewes Nekke there Anon,
And so wente he forth there Al Abowte.
And Ioseph him Comanded Among Al that Rowte
‘That Openly the sothe to tellen there,
How it So happed Of kyng Tholomere.’
Thanne Answerid that schrewe sone him Ageyn,
And seide, “Ioseph, I knowe it wel for Certeyn
What Merveilles that God hath for the wrowht;
[OMITTED]
For In Sarras there God wrowhte fore the,
The Man that was Mayned, þere hol forto be;
Thorwh Signe of the Crois that he towched there,
Anon was he Mad bothe hol & Fere;
Also there Cristenedest thow kyng Eualach,
That Alle Oure lawe there gan he Forsak;
And so I supposed thow wost han don here,
To Cristendom han browht kyng Tholomere.
And for I suppesid that thow wost don so,
In liknesse of Man I gan to hym go,
And told him there a newe tyding,
‘That on the Morwe, Sire Eualach the kyng
Wolde him don bothe hangen & drawe,
And him to bringe Owt of his lif dawe.’
Thanne whanne thus I hadde hym told,
Anon his herte gan to wexen ful cold,
And he me preide him forto helpe.
There thus Of My Self I gan to ȝelpe,
For I tolde him, ‘Certeinle
I Cowde him helpe in Al degre;
And Owt of þat Castel Forto gon,
I him Wolde helpe Riht Anon.’
Thanne torned I Me In semblaunce of a Grifown,
Owt of that towr him to helpen A-down;
And vppon my bak I Made him Sitten there,
Til that he Owt of that Cite were;
And whanne On My bak I-set was he,
I let him falle, & to-breste on pecis thre.”
“Whi that so sore Iustefyed he were?”
Thanne Iosephe to him Sone Agein:
“In time Comeng thow schalt weten Certein.”
Thanne Axed Iosephe of þe devel A-forn hem Alle þere,
‘Why he hadde so ferd with kyng Tholomere,’
“And whi thow Madist him so to fallen A-down
Atte the wyndowe of þe towr to his Confucioun?”
Thanne spak the devel to Ioseph tho Certeinle:
“Goddes Seriawnt, A while that þou wost lesen Me,
And I schal to the tellen Anon Ryht
Of kyng Tholomer, þat þou clepist A knyht.”
Thanne Iosephe his Girdil tho gan to vndon
From the schrewes Nekke there Anon,
And so wente he forth there Al Abowte.
And Ioseph him Comanded Among Al that Rowte
‘That Openly the sothe to tellen there,
How it So happed Of kyng Tholomere.’
Thanne Answerid that schrewe sone him Ageyn,
And seide, “Ioseph, I knowe it wel for Certeyn
What Merveilles that God hath for the wrowht;
[OMITTED]
For In Sarras there God wrowhte fore the,
The Man that was Mayned, þere hol forto be;
207
Anon was he Mad bothe hol & Fere;
Also there Cristenedest thow kyng Eualach,
That Alle Oure lawe there gan he Forsak;
And so I supposed thow wost han don here,
To Cristendom han browht kyng Tholomere.
And for I suppesid that thow wost don so,
In liknesse of Man I gan to hym go,
And told him there a newe tyding,
‘That on the Morwe, Sire Eualach the kyng
Wolde him don bothe hangen & drawe,
And him to bringe Owt of his lif dawe.’
Thanne whanne thus I hadde hym told,
Anon his herte gan to wexen ful cold,
And he me preide him forto helpe.
There thus Of My Self I gan to ȝelpe,
For I tolde him, ‘Certeinle
I Cowde him helpe in Al degre;
And Owt of þat Castel Forto gon,
I him Wolde helpe Riht Anon.’
Thanne torned I Me In semblaunce of a Grifown,
Owt of that towr him to helpen A-down;
And vppon my bak I Made him Sitten there,
Til that he Owt of that Cite were;
And whanne On My bak I-set was he,
I let him falle, & to-breste on pecis thre.”
Thanne Ioseph Aȝen took þat schrewe Anon Riht,
And bond him Aȝen In Alle Mennes Siht,
And him so ladde thorwgh Al the Cite
That al the peple him Mihte there Se,
And seide, “ȝe Caytives, now, Everichon,
Here Is ȝoure god that ȝe beleven vppon.”
Thanne Axede him Ioseph In that plas,
In what Manere that he Clepid was.
Thanne the schrewe Answerid him Ageyn,
“Aselabas, My name is Clepid In Certein;
And, Ioseph, I telle the what is Myn Offis:
Men thorwgh false tales to bringen In to vis;
And thorwh my fals tydynge
Thus bringe I hem to schort Endenge.”
And whanne the peple herden Al this Ado,
On him there wondrede Mani-on tho;
To Cristeneng Alle ronnen they Riht faste,
As longe as that It Myhte laste;
And Iosephe was Euere Redy Anon,
And there hem Baptised Everichon.
Thanne Iosephe Coniowred the devel Anon,
And Owt Of his bondes let him gon,
That he Scholde Neuere Noyen Man ne womman
That the signe Of the holy Cros hadde vppon.
And bond him Aȝen In Alle Mennes Siht,
And him so ladde thorwgh Al the Cite
That al the peple him Mihte there Se,
And seide, “ȝe Caytives, now, Everichon,
Here Is ȝoure god that ȝe beleven vppon.”
Thanne Axede him Ioseph In that plas,
In what Manere that he Clepid was.
Thanne the schrewe Answerid him Ageyn,
“Aselabas, My name is Clepid In Certein;
208
Men thorwgh false tales to bringen In to vis;
And thorwh my fals tydynge
Thus bringe I hem to schort Endenge.”
And whanne the peple herden Al this Ado,
On him there wondrede Mani-on tho;
To Cristeneng Alle ronnen they Riht faste,
As longe as that It Myhte laste;
And Iosephe was Euere Redy Anon,
And there hem Baptised Everichon.
Thanne Iosephe Coniowred the devel Anon,
And Owt Of his bondes let him gon,
That he Scholde Neuere Noyen Man ne womman
That the signe Of the holy Cros hadde vppon.
Thanne Anon the kyng let the banes Crye
Thorwhe Al his lond ful Certeinlye,
That Al his lond Cristendom Scholde take,
Only For Iesus Cristes Sake;
And alle tho that wolde not Cristened ben,
Anon Owt his lond that [they] Scholde fleen,
And neuere thedir Inne to Retornen Agein;
This was this Comandement Certein.
And whanne this cry was thus don,
To Cristeneng wente there Mani On;
But Mochel peple ȝit tho there were
That Owt of theke Cite fledden there;
For thé ne wolden not Chongen here lay,
Mochel of that peple thens wente that day.
And whanne Ioseph beheld al this,
Ful mochel mone he Made I-wis.
Thanne spak the devel to Ioseph tho,
“Behold what Venyaunce I wil now do,
For tho that Cristened wold not han had,
Owt At the ȝates the devel hem lad,
Of whom deyden sodeinly Manion
[As Owt of þe ȝates they wolde han gon;]
And somme the devel hurte wondir sore,
And Owt of here wittes ȝit Mani More.
Alle the Remnaunt that Asckapen Mihte,
Ronnen to Ioseph there Anon Ryhte,
There that the Miscreawntes Cristened be.
And whanne this Merveille Iosephe sawh he,
Thedirward faste wente he Anon—
Also Faste he hyede As he myht gon.—
And aboven the dede bodyes saw he þere Sitte
The devel that Owt of þe Cite Made hem flytte.
“A! thow Cursid gost,” quod Ioseph tho,
“Whi hast thow this veniaunce thus do?
And to this, ho that Comanded the,
Telle me, thow devel, er thow hens fle.”
Thanne the devel Answerid him Agein,
“Be Cristes Comaundement In Certein.”
“Tho[u] lyest Falsly,” quod Ioseph tho,
“His Comaundement was it Nevere so.”
And Ioseph to him ward faste gan gon,
Him forto han taken & bownden Anon;
In his Girdel, as he to-foren was,
Forto han bownden him In that plas.
And as Ioseph loked him tho Abowte,
In his herte he hadde gret dowte;
An Aungel to-Form him Sawh he there
With a merveillews contenaunce In þis manere,
For his vesage As brenneng Fyr it was
To him there semeng, neþer more ne las.
Ful sore abascht was he þer-offen tho,
That he ne wiste what he myhte do,
And wondred what it schold signefie,
Thaungel that loked so vegerowslye.
And in this Mene whille of thinkenge,
Thaungel with a spere he dide him stinge;
In tho to the hipe, to the harde bon,
This Angel him stang there Anon,
And there lefte he the spere and þe hed
Stille In his hype In that Sted:
“Lo, Iosephe, this is to Signefie
For hem thou leftest Oncristened Sekerlye;
Therfore this thy mark Schal be,
& it Contenuwe schal with the.”
Thanne thaungel thens gan to gon,
And Ioseph drowgh ow[t] þe spere schaft anon;
But the hed In his hype lefte þere stille,
For that was only goddis wille;
But it Greved him but litel thing,
For it was only Goddis warneng;
But the blood Cowde he staunchen In non wise,
But every day newe it gan forto Reprise,
As longe as with-Inne was the hed,
Thus it bledde In Every sted.
But thaungel bad him non Merveille have:
“That God wold han saved, wile he save,”
As in tyme Comeng ȝe scholen here
In this same storie, and ȝe welen lere.
Thorwhe Al his lond ful Certeinlye,
That Al his lond Cristendom Scholde take,
Only For Iesus Cristes Sake;
And alle tho that wolde not Cristened ben,
Anon Owt his lond that [they] Scholde fleen,
And neuere thedir Inne to Retornen Agein;
This was this Comandement Certein.
And whanne this cry was thus don,
To Cristeneng wente there Mani On;
But Mochel peple ȝit tho there were
That Owt of theke Cite fledden there;
For thé ne wolden not Chongen here lay,
Mochel of that peple thens wente that day.
And whanne Ioseph beheld al this,
Ful mochel mone he Made I-wis.
Thanne spak the devel to Ioseph tho,
“Behold what Venyaunce I wil now do,
For tho that Cristened wold not han had,
Owt At the ȝates the devel hem lad,
Of whom deyden sodeinly Manion
[As Owt of þe ȝates they wolde han gon;]
209
And Owt of here wittes ȝit Mani More.
Alle the Remnaunt that Asckapen Mihte,
Ronnen to Ioseph there Anon Ryhte,
There that the Miscreawntes Cristened be.
And whanne this Merveille Iosephe sawh he,
Thedirward faste wente he Anon—
Also Faste he hyede As he myht gon.—
And aboven the dede bodyes saw he þere Sitte
The devel that Owt of þe Cite Made hem flytte.
“A! thow Cursid gost,” quod Ioseph tho,
“Whi hast thow this veniaunce thus do?
And to this, ho that Comanded the,
Telle me, thow devel, er thow hens fle.”
Thanne the devel Answerid him Agein,
“Be Cristes Comaundement In Certein.”
“Tho[u] lyest Falsly,” quod Ioseph tho,
“His Comaundement was it Nevere so.”
And Ioseph to him ward faste gan gon,
Him forto han taken & bownden Anon;
In his Girdel, as he to-foren was,
Forto han bownden him In that plas.
And as Ioseph loked him tho Abowte,
In his herte he hadde gret dowte;
An Aungel to-Form him Sawh he there
With a merveillews contenaunce In þis manere,
For his vesage As brenneng Fyr it was
To him there semeng, neþer more ne las.
Ful sore abascht was he þer-offen tho,
That he ne wiste what he myhte do,
And wondred what it schold signefie,
Thaungel that loked so vegerowslye.
And in this Mene whille of thinkenge,
Thaungel with a spere he dide him stinge;
In tho to the hipe, to the harde bon,
This Angel him stang there Anon,
210
Stille In his hype In that Sted:
“Lo, Iosephe, this is to Signefie
For hem thou leftest Oncristened Sekerlye;
Therfore this thy mark Schal be,
& it Contenuwe schal with the.”
Thanne thaungel thens gan to gon,
And Ioseph drowgh ow[t] þe spere schaft anon;
But the hed In his hype lefte þere stille,
For that was only goddis wille;
But it Greved him but litel thing,
For it was only Goddis warneng;
But the blood Cowde he staunchen In non wise,
But every day newe it gan forto Reprise,
As longe as with-Inne was the hed,
Thus it bledde In Every sted.
But thaungel bad him non Merveille have:
“That God wold han saved, wile he save,”
As in tyme Comeng ȝe scholen here
In this same storie, and ȝe welen lere.
Thanne Ioseph walked forth Anon,
And his Menie with him Everichon;
And of his wounde hadde he non gret dolowr,
But he was in gret drede of Oure saviour.
Thanne here-Offen Merveilled gretly the kyng,
What that this be In to Signefieng.
Thanne seide Iosephe to him Anon there,
“Of this, Merveille ȝe not In non Manere;
Sire, it is, I telle the now Ryht,
The peple to bringe Owt of the develes Miht.”
Thanne whanne þe peple him so herde speken þere,
Ful Ioyful they weren that Cristened were;
And alle that vncristened weren to,
To Cristendom faste gonne they go.
Thus Ioseph wrowhte at Orcau[z] Cite;
Sekerlych there baptised he gret Meyne;
And his felawes there weren with hem,
That they browhten owt of Ierusalem.
So that Crist there so faire for him wrowhte,
That alle the peple of Orcaus to Cristendom he browhte,
And with-Inne thre dayes Everichon.
Thus Goddis wille fulfild he Anon,
So that lefte there nethir gret ne smal
That to goddis lawe [ne] weren torned al.
And what be the holy wordis that he þere spak,
And be the holi gost with-Owten lak,
Mochel peple of the Contre tornede he,
Goode Men & Cristened Forto be:
And alle the ymages that In the temples were,
He dide brenne & to-brast Every where:
Al thus wrowhte Ioseph In that Contre,
In the temples and to the peiple, where-so went he;
And Into the Contre of Nascien,
He made hem alle tho Cristene Men.
And his Menie with him Everichon;
And of his wounde hadde he non gret dolowr,
But he was in gret drede of Oure saviour.
Thanne here-Offen Merveilled gretly the kyng,
What that this be In to Signefieng.
Thanne seide Iosephe to him Anon there,
“Of this, Merveille ȝe not In non Manere;
Sire, it is, I telle the now Ryht,
The peple to bringe Owt of the develes Miht.”
Thanne whanne þe peple him so herde speken þere,
Ful Ioyful they weren that Cristened were;
And alle that vncristened weren to,
To Cristendom faste gonne they go.
Thus Ioseph wrowhte at Orcau[z] Cite;
Sekerlych there baptised he gret Meyne;
211
That they browhten owt of Ierusalem.
So that Crist there so faire for him wrowhte,
That alle the peple of Orcaus to Cristendom he browhte,
And with-Inne thre dayes Everichon.
Thus Goddis wille fulfild he Anon,
So that lefte there nethir gret ne smal
That to goddis lawe [ne] weren torned al.
And what be the holy wordis that he þere spak,
And be the holi gost with-Owten lak,
Mochel peple of the Contre tornede he,
Goode Men & Cristened Forto be:
And alle the ymages that In the temples were,
He dide brenne & to-brast Every where:
Al thus wrowhte Ioseph In that Contre,
In the temples and to the peiple, where-so went he;
And Into the Contre of Nascien,
He made hem alle tho Cristene Men.
And thanne Aȝen to sarras Ioseph gan to go,
And Nasciens with him tho Cam Also;
For Ioiful In herte was he thanne,
For he Converted there Manie A manne,
And fulfilled goddis Comandement,
The wheche was holy his Entent.
Thanne Ioseph of his feleschepe þere ches ful sone,
And bisschopee hem Ordred there Anone,
And sente hem Abowte Into Eche Contre,
Goddis lawe forto prechen ful openle.
Somme of hem dwelde In Nasciens lond,
And somme In Mordrayns, As I vndirstond,
Whiche was a lord of gret Seignourie,
And Mochel peple hadde In his baillye;
So that Ioseph ches Owt thre & thrytty,
And Sixtene with him left pleynly.
The wheche xxxiij, bischopes gan he to Make
In forme lik As god him Ordre Gan take;
And Also the xvj that with him were,
Bisschopes he Made anon Riht there;
And Al Abowtes the Contre they wente,
Only to fulfillen goddis Entente.
And Nasciens with him tho Cam Also;
For Ioiful In herte was he thanne,
For he Converted there Manie A manne,
And fulfilled goddis Comandement,
The wheche was holy his Entent.
Thanne Ioseph of his feleschepe þere ches ful sone,
And bisschopee hem Ordred there Anone,
And sente hem Abowte Into Eche Contre,
Goddis lawe forto prechen ful openle.
Somme of hem dwelde In Nasciens lond,
And somme In Mordrayns, As I vndirstond,
Whiche was a lord of gret Seignourie,
And Mochel peple hadde In his baillye;
So that Ioseph ches Owt thre & thrytty,
And Sixtene with him left pleynly.
212
In forme lik As god him Ordre Gan take;
And Also the xvj that with him were,
Bisschopes he Made anon Riht there;
And Al Abowtes the Contre they wente,
Only to fulfillen goddis Entente.
And whanne Alle the Contre was Cristened abowte,
And in Euery Cite A bisschope with-Owten dowte,
And deliuered hem from the develis chaunce,
And hem fullich browhte Into Goddis Creawnce,
Be supportacion Of these goode Men,
Kyng Mordrayns And Of Sire Nascien,
Thens wente thanne Iosephe Ryht Anon,
And his Meyne with him gan to gon
To seken where these holy Ermytes lyen,
And Of here good lyvenge forto Aspien,
Where-Offen they preiden Oure lord, of grace,
Therto forto haven bothe lif and spase,
And that here Names he Mihte knowe
Er he thens paste Ony throwe.
Thanne fonde he there A lytel lyveret
Where-Inne that these names weren set;
And the Meritez that god gan for hem do,
In that litel leveret he fond Ryht tho.
The Ferste liueret thus gan it sein:
‘Here lith Salustes In certein,
Wheche that was Goddis trewe Seriawnt,
Of whom the lif Of him Makeþ semblawnt,
That xxxvi wynter hermyt hadde he be,
And that neuere worldly viaunde sawh he
That Euere was mad with mannis hond,’—
Thus this liueret doth vs to vndirstond—
‘But Erbes & Rotes that In Erthe were;
Thus lyved he xxxvi ful ȝere.’
And in Euery Cite A bisschope with-Owten dowte,
And deliuered hem from the develis chaunce,
And hem fullich browhte Into Goddis Creawnce,
Be supportacion Of these goode Men,
Kyng Mordrayns And Of Sire Nascien,
Thens wente thanne Iosephe Ryht Anon,
And his Meyne with him gan to gon
To seken where these holy Ermytes lyen,
And Of here good lyvenge forto Aspien,
Where-Offen they preiden Oure lord, of grace,
Therto forto haven bothe lif and spase,
And that here Names he Mihte knowe
Er he thens paste Ony throwe.
Thanne fonde he there A lytel lyveret
Where-Inne that these names weren set;
And the Meritez that god gan for hem do,
In that litel leveret he fond Ryht tho.
The Ferste liueret thus gan it sein:
‘Here lith Salustes In certein,
Wheche that was Goddis trewe Seriawnt,
Of whom the lif Of him Makeþ semblawnt,
That xxxvi wynter hermyt hadde he be,
And that neuere worldly viaunde sawh he
That Euere was mad with mannis hond,’—
Thus this liueret doth vs to vndirstond—
‘But Erbes & Rotes that In Erthe were;
Thus lyved he xxxvi ful ȝere.’
213
And furthermore I-wreten þere was:
‘Here lith Ermonies In this plas;’
And thus his lif gan for to telle,
‘That xxx wynter & viij Monthes snelle
Sethen that ferst Ermyt becam he’—
As In this liueret here mown ȝe se—
‘That Neuere Othir clothing he hadde
But swich as ferst to his Ermitage he ladde,
Nethir In hosinge, nethir I schon,
Ne non Othir thing On him to doon.
Othir viaunde hadde he non verament,
But Everiday swich As God him Sente;’—
And of Tasse he was born;
The toþer In bedlem, þat I Rehersed beforn.
‘Here lith Ermonies In this plas;’
And thus his lif gan for to telle,
‘That xxx wynter & viij Monthes snelle
Sethen that ferst Ermyt becam he’—
As In this liueret here mown ȝe se—
‘That Neuere Othir clothing he hadde
But swich as ferst to his Ermitage he ladde,
Nethir In hosinge, nethir I schon,
Ne non Othir thing On him to doon.
Othir viaunde hadde he non verament,
But Everiday swich As God him Sente;’—
And of Tasse he was born;
The toþer In bedlem, þat I Rehersed beforn.
And whanne Iosephe gan this to vndirstonde,
Vpe hem took he with his honde,
And bar hem Into the Cite of Sarras,
Where-offen Many a man Glad þere was.
Thanne Nascien preide Ioseph tho,
That with him to Orbery wolde he Go,
And that On Of hem that he myhte have,—
Holy hermoine thermit he gan to Crave,—
Where that worthily his Body beried he,
And a Ryal Chirche Mad there be;
And In Sarras Cite ful Certeinly
He let Reren a Chirche ful solempnely,
And In eche of these Chirches two
Twelfe prestes he dide there do,
For the bisschope Of nethir plase there
Mihte not Suffisen, so moche peple were.
The Ermyt At Sarras, the Eldest they gonne Calle,
And the ȝongest at Orbery, thus seiden thei Alle.
Thus thanne Joseph worscheped there
Bothe Citez with holy bodyes in fere,
Where as they grete Myracles do
Everi day dureng ȝit hidirto.
Thus the Contre Of Sarras & Nascien
Weren Clene becomen Cristene men.
Vpe hem took he with his honde,
And bar hem Into the Cite of Sarras,
Where-offen Many a man Glad þere was.
Thanne Nascien preide Ioseph tho,
That with him to Orbery wolde he Go,
And that On Of hem that he myhte have,—
Holy hermoine thermit he gan to Crave,—
Where that worthily his Body beried he,
And a Ryal Chirche Mad there be;
And In Sarras Cite ful Certeinly
He let Reren a Chirche ful solempnely,
And In eche of these Chirches two
Twelfe prestes he dide there do,
For the bisschope Of nethir plase there
Mihte not Suffisen, so moche peple were.
The Ermyt At Sarras, the Eldest they gonne Calle,
And the ȝongest at Orbery, thus seiden thei Alle.
214
Bothe Citez with holy bodyes in fere,
Where as they grete Myracles do
Everi day dureng ȝit hidirto.
Thus the Contre Of Sarras & Nascien
Weren Clene becomen Cristene men.
| CHAPTER XVI. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |