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. |
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| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. | CHAPTER XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
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| XXI. |
| XXII. |
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| XXIV. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
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| LVI. |
 | CHAPTER XVII. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XVII.
Thanne seide the kyng and Nascien tho,
‘That with Ioseph thanne wolde they go,
To seen where that they made here preiere:
Thus seiden the king & Nascien there.
Anon thanne Ioseph with-Owten lettenge
To the Arch hem browhte, & made non tarienge,
And schewede there to the kyng
In the Arch there ful precious thing:
And there the king beheld In that plas
The vestements that Ioseph Sacred with was
Bisschop of Cristes Owne hond;
And Also the Chayere he Say there stond,
Whiche Chaier he preisede wondirly faste,
And there-offen he seide thanne atte last,
‘That It was of Alle the Ryalest Sittyng than
That Evere Ordeyned was for Erthly man.’
‘That with Ioseph thanne wolde they go,
To seen where that they made here preiere:
Thus seiden the king & Nascien there.
215
To the Arch hem browhte, & made non tarienge,
And schewede there to the kyng
In the Arch there ful precious thing:
And there the king beheld In that plas
The vestements that Ioseph Sacred with was
Bisschop of Cristes Owne hond;
And Also the Chayere he Say there stond,
Whiche Chaier he preisede wondirly faste,
And there-offen he seide thanne atte last,
‘That It was of Alle the Ryalest Sittyng than
That Evere Ordeyned was for Erthly man.’
Thanne Ioseph schewed hem the holy disch Anon,
Where-Inne that Sank Ryal was I-don.
And whanne that Nasciens loked ther vppon,
Ful passeng gret Ioye hadde [he] Anon,
And seide, ‘Of Alle the sihtes þat Euere ȝit he say,
Liked him neuere non so moche In-to þat day;’
Ne neuere so Ioyful was he of siht,
As that tyme was Nascien, I the plyht.
Now hadde he holy his Entent:
That he desired to sen, was þere present.
“Now wot I wel that fulfild it is in me,
Sire, A thing that I now schal tellen the:
For whanne I was A ȝong Sqwyer,
An gret hert I chasede wilde wher.
Whanne I hadde lost the Noyse of myn howndes,
And Also Alle my men with-Inne fewe stowndes,
Thanne In gret thowht there I stod;
And þere was non man that with me bod,
Ne Abowhtes me non Man Saw I tho
That Ony word I myhte speken vnto.
And as thus I In this thowht was,
To me a vois Cam In that plas,
‘Seraphe! merveille thow not so,
For ȝit thi thowht ne may comen the to,
Tyl thow mo Merveilles schalt se with-al,
And Also thing that is Clepid seint Graal.’
And therfore now wot I ful well
That this [is] Seint Graal Everidel;
Now know I wel that my pensifnesse
Is fulfilled with Alle Goodnesse.”
Where-Inne that Sank Ryal was I-don.
And whanne that Nasciens loked ther vppon,
Ful passeng gret Ioye hadde [he] Anon,
And seide, ‘Of Alle the sihtes þat Euere ȝit he say,
Liked him neuere non so moche In-to þat day;’
Ne neuere so Ioyful was he of siht,
As that tyme was Nascien, I the plyht.
Now hadde he holy his Entent:
That he desired to sen, was þere present.
“Now wot I wel that fulfild it is in me,
Sire, A thing that I now schal tellen the:
For whanne I was A ȝong Sqwyer,
An gret hert I chasede wilde wher.
Whanne I hadde lost the Noyse of myn howndes,
And Also Alle my men with-Inne fewe stowndes,
Thanne In gret thowht there I stod;
And þere was non man that with me bod,
Ne Abowhtes me non Man Saw I tho
That Ony word I myhte speken vnto.
And as thus I In this thowht was,
To me a vois Cam In that plas,
‘Seraphe! merveille thow not so,
For ȝit thi thowht ne may comen the to,
216
And Also thing that is Clepid seint Graal.’
And therfore now wot I ful well
That this [is] Seint Graal Everidel;
Now know I wel that my pensifnesse
Is fulfilled with Alle Goodnesse.”
ȝit thowht More Sire Nasciens than,
And that tyme wrowhte As non wis man,
But there lefte he vp the plateyne Anon
That vppon this glorious vessel was don;
And whanne with-Inne he gan to looke,
He him withdrowh, & for drede he qwooke.
And thanne the kyng Axede him Anon,
“Sire Nascien, what han ȝe at the Arch don?”
“Sire,” quod he there Anon Ryht tho,
“He is a fool that don wele as I have do,
To knowen the Secrees of his Saviour,
Him forto Greven In ony Owr.”
“Why,” quod thanne kyng Mordreins tho,
“Haven ȝe now Iesu Crist I-Greved so?”
“Be my feyth, Sire,” quod Sire Nasciens,
“I knowe wel I have offendid ȝit Goddis presens,
For that I have sein so moche be Owtraye
That non Erthly Man ne Owhte to have saye.”
And that tyme wrowhte As non wis man,
But there lefte he vp the plateyne Anon
That vppon this glorious vessel was don;
And whanne with-Inne he gan to looke,
He him withdrowh, & for drede he qwooke.
And thanne the kyng Axede him Anon,
“Sire Nascien, what han ȝe at the Arch don?”
“Sire,” quod he there Anon Ryht tho,
“He is a fool that don wele as I have do,
To knowen the Secrees of his Saviour,
Him forto Greven In ony Owr.”
“Why,” quod thanne kyng Mordreins tho,
“Haven ȝe now Iesu Crist I-Greved so?”
“Be my feyth, Sire,” quod Sire Nasciens,
“I knowe wel I have offendid ȝit Goddis presens,
For that I have sein so moche be Owtraye
That non Erthly Man ne Owhte to have saye.”
Thanne Axede the kyng, Ioseph Anon,
How that this Cawse Mihte Gon;
And thanne Answerid Nasciens Agein,
“Come thens, Ioseph, now In Certein;
Beholde it Not, I preie now to the,
That semblawnce that was schewed to Me,
Where-thorwgh that I have now lost my sight
Be the Ordenaunce of God Almyht,
Whiche that I schal neuere Recoveren Aȝen
Til the spere-hed Owt of thin hype be clen,
Where-with the Aungel At Orcauz Cite
With that Spere there smot the.”
Thanne Ioseph tho him heeld ful stille,
Al holy to fulfillen tho Goddis wille.
How that this Cawse Mihte Gon;
And thanne Answerid Nasciens Agein,
“Come thens, Ioseph, now In Certein;
Beholde it Not, I preie now to the,
That semblawnce that was schewed to Me,
Where-thorwgh that I have now lost my sight
Be the Ordenaunce of God Almyht,
Whiche that I schal neuere Recoveren Aȝen
Til the spere-hed Owt of thin hype be clen,
Where-with the Aungel At Orcauz Cite
With that Spere there smot the.”
217
Al holy to fulfillen tho Goddis wille.
Thanne Anon Gan kyng Mordreyns
There faste Enqweren Of Sire Nasciens,
‘What Manere of thing that he had Seye;’
Hym it to schewen he preide Openlye.
Quod Nasciens, “I haue sein so moche thing
That þere-Offen to tellen it is non Endyng,
Ne non tonge kan It now discrie,
I sey to the, Sire Kyng, Certeinlie.
I have sein,” quod tho sire Nasciens,
“Of Alle Manere of wykkednesse the defens;
[Of alle Boldnesse] I have Seyn the begynneng,
Of Alle wittes the Fowndyng,
I have sein the begynneng of Religeown
And Of Alle Bowntes, bothe Al & som,
And the poyntes of Alle Gentrye,
And a Merveil Of alle Merveilles Certeinlye.”
There faste Enqweren Of Sire Nasciens,
‘What Manere of thing that he had Seye;’
Hym it to schewen he preide Openlye.
Quod Nasciens, “I haue sein so moche thing
That þere-Offen to tellen it is non Endyng,
Ne non tonge kan It now discrie,
I sey to the, Sire Kyng, Certeinlie.
I have sein,” quod tho sire Nasciens,
“Of Alle Manere of wykkednesse the defens;
[Of alle Boldnesse] I have Seyn the begynneng,
Of Alle wittes the Fowndyng,
I have sein the begynneng of Religeown
And Of Alle Bowntes, bothe Al & som,
And the poyntes of Alle Gentrye,
And a Merveil Of alle Merveilles Certeinlye.”
Aftir this word thanne Anon
They weren Abaschet thanne Everichon.
The kyng of him thanne Enqwered there
‘How his siht was lost, And In what Manere.’
And Sire Nasciens Answerid him Agein,
“I wot Neuere, Sire, for Certein,
But for that I lokede on þat swete thing
That but fewe owhten to don lyvyng,
The wheche a merveille of alle Merveilles is,
Sire king, I the Seye with-owten Mys.”
Thanne Enqwered [he] Of Nasciens Ageyn
What that Merveille scholde ben pleyn:
“Sire,” quod Nasciens, “ thow gest non other Of Me,
Siker, Sire, An Also In Certeinte,
For Erthly tonge Is there non On lyve
That Cowde tho Merveilles wel discryve.”
They weren Abaschet thanne Everichon.
The kyng of him thanne Enqwered there
‘How his siht was lost, And In what Manere.’
And Sire Nasciens Answerid him Agein,
“I wot Neuere, Sire, for Certein,
But for that I lokede on þat swete thing
That but fewe owhten to don lyvyng,
The wheche a merveille of alle Merveilles is,
Sire king, I the Seye with-owten Mys.”
Thanne Enqwered [he] Of Nasciens Ageyn
What that Merveille scholde ben pleyn:
“Sire,” quod Nasciens, “ thow gest non other Of Me,
Siker, Sire, An Also In Certeinte,
218
That Cowde tho Merveilles wel discryve.”
And whanne thus to-fore the Arch hadde þei ben,
Ioseph In gret thowht was, as they myhten sen;
And thus sone A vois there gan to Crye,
That Al the peple it herde Sekerlye,—
With in that Arch the vois it was,
That thus there Sownede In that plas,—
“My grete veniaunce & my gret discipline,
With my strengthe to ȝow it schal propine.”
Ioseph In gret thowht was, as they myhten sen;
And thus sone A vois there gan to Crye,
That Al the peple it herde Sekerlye,—
With in that Arch the vois it was,
That thus there Sownede In that plas,—
“My grete veniaunce & my gret discipline,
With my strengthe to ȝow it schal propine.”
And thus sone as this vois was gon,
An Aungel Owt Of the Arch þere isswed Anon,
And Al In whit I-Clothed was he,
In A ful fayr Robe Certeinle;
And In his hond he heeld that lawnce þer
Where-with that Iosep was smeten Er.
That lawnce, In sihte of Kyng and qwene,
The Awngel to Ioseph it bar bedene,
And there put it Into the same plase
There As to Fore tymes I-hurt he wase.
And whanne the Awngel drow owt þe lawnce Agein,
The hed thanne folwede In Certein;
And the Awngel took A boist with Oynement Anon,
And to that wownde gan he gon,
And it Anoynt ful Softely
With that Oynement ful tendirly;
And thanne the hed on the lawnce he putte Aȝen,
Where-from Ran down blood ful Clen;
Wheche blood the Awngel In the boist putte,
And there-Inne ful worthily he it schytte,
And with the same blood Anoynted Iosephs wounde
And Sire Nasciens Eyen, In that stownde.
Thus sone as Cleer his Eyen were
As Evere Ony tyme weren they Ere.
An Aungel Owt Of the Arch þere isswed Anon,
And Al In whit I-Clothed was he,
In A ful fayr Robe Certeinle;
And In his hond he heeld that lawnce þer
Where-with that Iosep was smeten Er.
That lawnce, In sihte of Kyng and qwene,
The Awngel to Ioseph it bar bedene,
And there put it Into the same plase
There As to Fore tymes I-hurt he wase.
And whanne the Awngel drow owt þe lawnce Agein,
The hed thanne folwede In Certein;
And the Awngel took A boist with Oynement Anon,
And to that wownde gan he gon,
And it Anoynt ful Softely
With that Oynement ful tendirly;
And thanne the hed on the lawnce he putte Aȝen,
Where-from Ran down blood ful Clen;
Wheche blood the Awngel In the boist putte,
And there-Inne ful worthily he it schytte,
And with the same blood Anoynted Iosephs wounde
And Sire Nasciens Eyen, In that stownde.
Thus sone as Cleer his Eyen were
As Evere Ony tyme weren they Ere.
219
Thanne Axede Nasciens to Ioseph In hye
‘What that lawnce Mihte Signefye.’
Thanne Ioseph him Answerid Ageyn:
“It signefieth, Nasciens, In Certein,
Of the grete merveilles that scholen befalle
Openly to ȝowre Syhtës Alle;
For sweche merveilles as ȝe scholen sen,
And sweche Merveilles as to ȝow schol schewed ben,
To Cristes verray knyhtes discouered schal be;
Whanne that tyme Cometh, this scholen ȝe se;
For Erthly knyhtes, hevenly scholen been,
That with ȝowre Eyen this scholen ȝe seen;
Of wheche schal Neuere Man tellen þe Certeinte
Tyl it be fallen In Eche degre.
And ȝif thow wilt here-Offen haven som knowyng,
Tak kepe of this lawnce atte begynneng,
And whanne this lawnce gynneth to blede
Dropes Of Blood In Ony stede,
Thanne Aftir Sone scholen ȝe sen there
Of the Merveilles that I Rehersed ȝowe Ere;
And Aftir that Merveille Is Agon,
Blood on the lawnce Schole ȝe neuere sen non;
Thanne Scholen ȝe sen of diuers Aventure
Riht Merveillous, I the Ensure,
Be the signeficacioun Of this lawnce,
That Al the Contre schal ben In dowtawnce;
And thanne scholen ȝe haven knowleching
Of Sank Ryal, & Many An Othir thinge.
For the Secretis of Seint Graal,
That Somme men it Clepin ‘sanc Ryal,’
There may non dedlych Man there Se
But I alone, As I telle the;
For so Mochel Of Bownte it is,
And there-Inne so mochel worthynes,
That it is likyng wondirly wel,
And to the world schal ben Every del,
As thike that is ful Of Bownte,
And of prowesses ful gret plente;
For he moste ben ful of Charite,
Of Religiown, & also of Chastite,
That wit the lawnce Smetyn schal be
As thow me here Sye to-Fore the,
And that schal there Neuere Man be non
But the Kyng, I telle it the Alon;
For he Schal be the laste Man
That there-with schal be smeten than,
Ryht In A wondir-ful Manere,
As Afterward ȝe scholen here;
But a Merveillous lawnce it schal be
Where-with he schal be smeten, as i telle the.
‘What that lawnce Mihte Signefye.’
Thanne Ioseph him Answerid Ageyn:
“It signefieth, Nasciens, In Certein,
Of the grete merveilles that scholen befalle
Openly to ȝowre Syhtës Alle;
For sweche merveilles as ȝe scholen sen,
And sweche Merveilles as to ȝow schol schewed ben,
To Cristes verray knyhtes discouered schal be;
Whanne that tyme Cometh, this scholen ȝe se;
For Erthly knyhtes, hevenly scholen been,
That with ȝowre Eyen this scholen ȝe seen;
Of wheche schal Neuere Man tellen þe Certeinte
Tyl it be fallen In Eche degre.
And ȝif thow wilt here-Offen haven som knowyng,
Tak kepe of this lawnce atte begynneng,
And whanne this lawnce gynneth to blede
Dropes Of Blood In Ony stede,
Thanne Aftir Sone scholen ȝe sen there
Of the Merveilles that I Rehersed ȝowe Ere;
And Aftir that Merveille Is Agon,
Blood on the lawnce Schole ȝe neuere sen non;
Thanne Scholen ȝe sen of diuers Aventure
Riht Merveillous, I the Ensure,
Be the signeficacioun Of this lawnce,
That Al the Contre schal ben In dowtawnce;
And thanne scholen ȝe haven knowleching
Of Sank Ryal, & Many An Othir thinge.
For the Secretis of Seint Graal,
That Somme men it Clepin ‘sanc Ryal,’
There may non dedlych Man there Se
But I alone, As I telle the;
For so Mochel Of Bownte it is,
And there-Inne so mochel worthynes,
That it is likyng wondirly wel,
And to the world schal ben Every del,
220
And of prowesses ful gret plente;
For he moste ben ful of Charite,
Of Religiown, & also of Chastite,
That wit the lawnce Smetyn schal be
As thow me here Sye to-Fore the,
And that schal there Neuere Man be non
But the Kyng, I telle it the Alon;
For he Schal be the laste Man
That there-with schal be smeten than,
Ryht In A wondir-ful Manere,
As Afterward ȝe scholen here;
But a Merveillous lawnce it schal be
Where-with he schal be smeten, as i telle the.
“For these Merveilles schal no Man se
But he be Ful of Alle Bownte;
Wheche schal ben the laste man
That Evere of this ligne schal be than.
And lik as to Nasciens ferst publisched was,
So schal he be the laste In Ony plas
That the Merveilles of the Sank Rial schal se.
Thus be þe Crwcified kyng it is certefied Me:
‘Therefore bothe begynneng And Endeng
Of My Merveilles they scholen haven knowleching;
And on hem to, my veniaunce shal I Caste,
That they two scholen knowen Me Atte laste,
And Of My strok Me witnesse to bere,
That I to the herte wasse stonge with A spere,
Thorw wheche strok & oþere, þe fals Iewes certeinli
On the Crois Me Slowen, hangeng On hy.’
& knowe thow wel, Ioseph, with-owten dowtaunce,
That as longe as thow hast born this lawnce,
So long scholen the Merveillez duren to thende
Into that londe where I schal the sende.”
But he be Ful of Alle Bownte;
Wheche schal ben the laste man
That Evere of this ligne schal be than.
And lik as to Nasciens ferst publisched was,
So schal he be the laste In Ony plas
That the Merveilles of the Sank Rial schal se.
Thus be þe Crwcified kyng it is certefied Me:
‘Therefore bothe begynneng And Endeng
Of My Merveilles they scholen haven knowleching;
And on hem to, my veniaunce shal I Caste,
That they two scholen knowen Me Atte laste,
And Of My strok Me witnesse to bere,
That I to the herte wasse stonge with A spere,
Thorw wheche strok & oþere, þe fals Iewes certeinli
On the Crois Me Slowen, hangeng On hy.’
& knowe thow wel, Ioseph, with-owten dowtaunce,
That as longe as thow hast born this lawnce,
So long scholen the Merveillez duren to thende
Into that londe where I schal the sende.”
Thanne the Aungel torned Aȝen Anon;
But Abasched weren they Everichon,
For they ne hadden not non Cler knowlichenge,
Sauf Only of Nasciens Certifienge.
Thanne Ioseph Rekened tho riht Anon
How longe seth þe lawnce was In him don,
So that it was xii dayes fully
That the lawnce hadde he born Certeinly.
But Abasched weren they Everichon,
221
Sauf Only of Nasciens Certifienge.
Thanne Ioseph Rekened tho riht Anon
How longe seth þe lawnce was In him don,
So that it was xii dayes fully
That the lawnce hadde he born Certeinly.
Thanne Anon wente kyng Mordreyns,
And to his paleys ladde alle Cristiens,
Sauf Only thre that leften Of that hep,
The wheche Abyde there with Joseph.
And to his paleys ladde alle Cristiens,
Sauf Only thre that leften Of that hep,
The wheche Abyde there with Joseph.
Thanne clepid the kyng, Joseph anon,
Or Ony Fote Furthere wolde he gon,
‘That of theke A-visiowns he wolde him Schewe,
That In his chambre he saw Al on Rewe,’
“The Nyht to-Fore I wente to Bataille,
What thing it was that Me Gan so to saille,
Neuertheles ȝit wot I of som what how it ferde,
But I wolde that Nascien of ȝowre mowth it herde.”
Or Ony Fote Furthere wolde he gon,
‘That of theke A-visiowns he wolde him Schewe,
That In his chambre he saw Al on Rewe,’
“The Nyht to-Fore I wente to Bataille,
What thing it was that Me Gan so to saille,
Neuertheles ȝit wot I of som what how it ferde,
But I wolde that Nascien of ȝowre mowth it herde.”
Thanne of these Merveilles Ioseph gan telle;
Aforn Mordreyns and Nasciens he gan to spelle:
“Sire king! ferst In thi Chombre there þou Sye
Thre Trees that weren wondirly hye,
Alle iij of on gretnesse, And of on lengthe,
And of on heythe, & of on strengthe;
And thike that hadde the Fowle bark vppon,
That signefied verray Goddis sone;
The tothere tweyne Signefied, I tellet the,
The Fadir And the holigost In Trenite;
And the peple that vndir the Tre was,
The begynneng of þe world it was;
The tweyne that partid from hem thanne,
Was Adam & Eve the ferste Manne,
That to helle wenten down Ryht
After here deth, I the plyht,
And Alle the Remnawnt þat fillen In tho:
So dyden they Tyl God on the Cros was do.
Aforn Mordreyns and Nasciens he gan to spelle:
“Sire king! ferst In thi Chombre there þou Sye
Thre Trees that weren wondirly hye,
Alle iij of on gretnesse, And of on lengthe,
And of on heythe, & of on strengthe;
And thike that hadde the Fowle bark vppon,
That signefied verray Goddis sone;
The tothere tweyne Signefied, I tellet the,
The Fadir And the holigost In Trenite;
And the peple that vndir the Tre was,
The begynneng of þe world it was;
The tweyne that partid from hem thanne,
Was Adam & Eve the ferste Manne,
That to helle wenten down Ryht
After here deth, I the plyht,
And Alle the Remnawnt þat fillen In tho:
So dyden they Tyl God on the Cros was do.
222
“And tho that the brawnches gonnen forto hewe,
It weren the Fals Iewes vppon A rewe,
That persched bothe his hondes & Feet,
And non hol stiche On him they leet.
And whanne the Tre Fyl A-down,
Alle the Bark there lefte In virown;
The body that was the Bark with-Inne,
In-to þe dich it fil, and nold not blynne,
Where alle the peple fil In be-fore,
And Elles hadden Al the peple be lore;
And whanne A while there hadde he been,
Owt of that diche he Cam Aȝen,
And Into his bark Aȝen tornede he sone,
For wel he wiste what was to done;
And so Cler be-Cam that Tre withal,
As Evere dyde ony berylle Othir Cristal.
It weren the Fals Iewes vppon A rewe,
That persched bothe his hondes & Feet,
And non hol stiche On him they leet.
And whanne the Tre Fyl A-down,
Alle the Bark there lefte In virown;
The body that was the Bark with-Inne,
In-to þe dich it fil, and nold not blynne,
Where alle the peple fil In be-fore,
And Elles hadden Al the peple be lore;
And whanne A while there hadde he been,
Owt of that diche he Cam Aȝen,
And Into his bark Aȝen tornede he sone,
For wel he wiste what was to done;
And so Cler be-Cam that Tre withal,
As Evere dyde ony berylle Othir Cristal.
“Of Alle this thing the Signefiawnce
I schal ȝow declaren with-Owten variaunce:
Whanne the holigost from the Body was gon,
The Body In the Sepulcre was leid Anon;
As A thing that ded tho was,
So lay the Body in that plas;
And therwhiles was the Sowle In helle,
The Fendes bost al forto felle;
And his beloved thanne Everichon,
Owt thens with him he browhte Anon;
And thanne whanne thus hadde he I-do,
Into the Sepulcre the spirit gan go,
Al so Clere And Al so Bryht
As Evere the Godhede was In Syht.
I schal ȝow declaren with-Owten variaunce:
Whanne the holigost from the Body was gon,
The Body In the Sepulcre was leid Anon;
As A thing that ded tho was,
So lay the Body in that plas;
And therwhiles was the Sowle In helle,
The Fendes bost al forto felle;
And his beloved thanne Everichon,
Owt thens with him he browhte Anon;
And thanne whanne thus hadde he I-do,
Into the Sepulcre the spirit gan go,
Al so Clere And Al so Bryht
As Evere the Godhede was In Syht.
“And the peple that heng vppon the brawnches,
Signefied the sowles where-offen he wolde not stawnche,
But hem forth Browhte Everichon,
And Of his welbeloved he left non On;
And the leves of that Tre don Signefie
The Membres of God, I sey the Certeynlye.
Signefied the sowles where-offen he wolde not stawnche,
But hem forth Browhte Everichon,
And Of his welbeloved he left non On;
And the leves of that Tre don Signefie
The Membres of God, I sey the Certeynlye.
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“And be these thre trees Vndirstonde thow wel
The blessed Trenite Everidel,
Fadir & Sone & holy gost,
iij. persones, & but On god Of Mihtes Most.
But on Godhed & but on deyete
Signefien tho persones thre;
So Is On god I thre persones,
And but on deyete In tho wones;
Ne nethir Of hem More thanne othere Is,
Nethir strengere ne feblere with-Owten Mys.”
The blessed Trenite Everidel,
Fadir & Sone & holy gost,
iij. persones, & but On god Of Mihtes Most.
But on Godhed & but on deyete
Signefien tho persones thre;
So Is On god I thre persones,
And but on deyete In tho wones;
Ne nethir Of hem More thanne othere Is,
Nethir strengere ne feblere with-Owten Mys.”
“Joseph,” seyde thanne the kyng Anon,
“These vndirstonde Ich wel Everichon;
But now Riht fain wolde I wete of the,
What þe Signifiaunce of theke thre wordis mown be.”
“Ful gladly Sire,” quod Joseph tho,
“Theke thre wordis I schal the undo;—
The Ferste that ‘Formere’ wreten Is there,
Betokeneth the Fadir In this Manere,
For he Formed Ferst Alle thing
From begynneng Into the Endyng.
And, For the persone of the sone Into Erthe Alyhte,
To saven Mankende thorwgh his Owne Mihte,
There-fore to þe sone belongeth the savacion of Man,
Thus Redely is it, As I the tellen Can;
And for the Cause that it is so,
He Calleth him ‘Saviour’ with-owten Mo.
And, for the holigost discendid Adown
At pentecost to the disciples In virown,
For to Clensen, And forto Maken Clene,
And hem Forto Enflawmen Al bedene;
And, for alle pvrifiments be-longen to þe holigost,
Therfore as ‘Clensere’ it signefiet, As it nedis Most.
Now the lettrure of these persones thre,
I haue declared, As ȝe Mown se,
That but On deyete And On pvsaunce
Hauen they thre with-Owten variaunce.”
“These vndirstonde Ich wel Everichon;
But now Riht fain wolde I wete of the,
What þe Signifiaunce of theke thre wordis mown be.”
“Ful gladly Sire,” quod Joseph tho,
“Theke thre wordis I schal the undo;—
The Ferste that ‘Formere’ wreten Is there,
Betokeneth the Fadir In this Manere,
For he Formed Ferst Alle thing
From begynneng Into the Endyng.
And, For the persone of the sone Into Erthe Alyhte,
To saven Mankende thorwgh his Owne Mihte,
There-fore to þe sone belongeth the savacion of Man,
Thus Redely is it, As I the tellen Can;
And for the Cause that it is so,
He Calleth him ‘Saviour’ with-owten Mo.
And, for the holigost discendid Adown
At pentecost to the disciples In virown,
For to Clensen, And forto Maken Clene,
And hem Forto Enflawmen Al bedene;
And, for alle pvrifiments be-longen to þe holigost,
Therfore as ‘Clensere’ it signefiet, As it nedis Most.
Now the lettrure of these persones thre,
I haue declared, As ȝe Mown se,
That but On deyete And On pvsaunce
Hauen they thre with-Owten variaunce.”
224
“Now vndirstonde I this Riht wel,
From gynneng to Endeng Everidel;
But of More,” quod the kyng,
“Thow most don me vndirstonding;
What that chambre doth signefie,
That with Min Eyen I saw so verralie,
That I wende Neuere to-forn theke day
Into Swich An hows non Man ne entren May.”
“A! Sire,” quod Ioseph thanne Anon,
“þat wele I declaren Er I hens gon;
For that I wolde with Al my myht
In stedfast beleve to bringen the ryht.
Thike Child that In the Chambre was,
And to-forn the Isswede In that plas
With-Owten Ony wal oþer dore brekynge,
Thus it is to thin & to oure Alther vndirstondinge;
It signefieth only Goddis Sone,
That In the Maydeins wombe dide wone,
Where as he In alihte, & Owt he cam
Be his Owne Miht as God & Man;
And lik as he owt of þat Chambre isswed to fore þe,
So dide he owt of the virgenite,
And neuere hire Maidenhot was put Away,
Nether to-forn ne After, As I the say.”
“Thanne telle me, Ioseph,” quod the kyng tho,
“What was that child that Into þe Chambre entred so!”
“Sire kyng, that Child was the holigost,
On God of Mihtes Most,
That Into that chambre Entred thanne,
In the savacioun of Alle kynde of Manne.
From gynneng to Endeng Everidel;
But of More,” quod the kyng,
“Thow most don me vndirstonding;
What that chambre doth signefie,
That with Min Eyen I saw so verralie,
That I wende Neuere to-forn theke day
Into Swich An hows non Man ne entren May.”
“A! Sire,” quod Ioseph thanne Anon,
“þat wele I declaren Er I hens gon;
For that I wolde with Al my myht
In stedfast beleve to bringen the ryht.
Thike Child that In the Chambre was,
And to-forn the Isswede In that plas
With-Owten Ony wal oþer dore brekynge,
Thus it is to thin & to oure Alther vndirstondinge;
It signefieth only Goddis Sone,
That In the Maydeins wombe dide wone,
Where as he In alihte, & Owt he cam
Be his Owne Miht as God & Man;
And lik as he owt of þat Chambre isswed to fore þe,
So dide he owt of the virgenite,
And neuere hire Maidenhot was put Away,
Nether to-forn ne After, As I the say.”
“Thanne telle me, Ioseph,” quod the kyng tho,
“What was that child that Into þe Chambre entred so!”
“Sire kyng, that Child was the holigost,
On God of Mihtes Most,
That Into that chambre Entred thanne,
In the savacioun of Alle kynde of Manne.
“There-fore sendeth the to Sein be Me
That highe lord God þat is In Maieste,
‘That thow schost Anon putten Away
Thike fals simylitude þat thow hast kept Mani day,
And that thow do hem brennen Anon Riht
Openly In Al the peplis siht;
That semblawnce that so longe þou hast had In kepinge,
Thow Schalt it don brenne Ouer Alle thinge.’
Where thow hast don fowl dedly Synne,
In tho pointes that thow hast Trespaced Inne,
The holigost wele þat it be declared Openly,
Thi Falsnesse And thin fowle foly,
That Alle the world it Mowen knowe,
Of thi meyne, bothe hyghe and lowe.”
That highe lord God þat is In Maieste,
‘That thow schost Anon putten Away
Thike fals simylitude þat thow hast kept Mani day,
And that thow do hem brennen Anon Riht
Openly In Al the peplis siht;
225
Thow Schalt it don brenne Ouer Alle thinge.’
Where thow hast don fowl dedly Synne,
In tho pointes that thow hast Trespaced Inne,
The holigost wele þat it be declared Openly,
Thi Falsnesse And thin fowle foly,
That Alle the world it Mowen knowe,
Of thi meyne, bothe hyghe and lowe.”
This Semblaunce that I have spoken of here,
Lesteneth to Me, and ȝe Mown lere;
What maner of semblaunce that worschepe he,
ȝe scholen Mown bothe heren and se.
He hadde don him Mad A fair ymage
In forme Of a woman of high parage,—
And A fairere ymage ne Mihte non ben
Of tre ne ston I-Man, As men Mihten sen,—
And with hire the king lay Euery oþer nyht;
And thereto In Ryal Robes sche was diht,
And In al so Riche & worthi Aray
As ony man Cowde devyne oþer say;
And a chambre for hire he let Ordeyne,
The most Merveillous that men herd of seyne,
That non Man Cowde knowen the openinge,
Nethir thentre ne Owt-Goyng.
Lesteneth to Me, and ȝe Mown lere;
What maner of semblaunce that worschepe he,
ȝe scholen Mown bothe heren and se.
He hadde don him Mad A fair ymage
In forme Of a woman of high parage,—
And A fairere ymage ne Mihte non ben
Of tre ne ston I-Man, As men Mihten sen,—
And with hire the king lay Euery oþer nyht;
And thereto In Ryal Robes sche was diht,
And In al so Riche & worthi Aray
As ony man Cowde devyne oþer say;
And a chambre for hire he let Ordeyne,
The most Merveillous that men herd of seyne,
That non Man Cowde knowen the openinge,
Nethir thentre ne Owt-Goyng.
Thanne Anon Clepid he forth Sire Nascien
And his qwene, to-Foren him to Comen then,
And seide ‘that he wolde hem Alle Schewe
His fals leveng, with-Inne A threwe,
That so longe he hadde kept And lad.’
And his qwene, to-Foren him to Comen then,
And seide ‘that he wolde hem Alle Schewe
His fals leveng, with-Inne A threwe,
That so longe he hadde kept And lad.’
Anon his Meyne he Comanded, & bad,
‘A gret Feer Forto Maken Anon
In his paleys, Amongis hem Echon;’
And whanne þat feer was brennenge briht,
Anon he Comaunded hem Owt of his Siht
And Owt of the Paleys Forto gon,
Alle his Meyne Everichon,
So that In his Compenye ne left not there
But Ioseph, & Nasciens, & his qweene in fere.
‘A gret Feer Forto Maken Anon
In his paleys, Amongis hem Echon;’
And whanne þat feer was brennenge briht,
Anon he Comaunded hem Owt of his Siht
And Owt of the Paleys Forto gon,
Alle his Meyne Everichon,
226
But Ioseph, & Nasciens, & his qweene in fere.
Thanne the kyng ladde hem forth Anon
To a sotyl hows was mad of Marbre ston,
And Alle of divers Colowres it was,
Ful seteli I-wrowht In that plas,
And the Schettynge was Mad so previly
That non Man Miht it knowen Apertly,
With a sotil barre with Inne I-wrowht,
That non man thentre ne knewe nowht.
And whanne the kyng it Opene scholde,
A sotyl Ernen keye In his hond gan holde,
The wheche the Iointours he gan vnschitte,
So wel of that For-knew he itte.
And thus thei Entreden Everichon
There that ymage was Riht Anon,
Where that disloyalte & synne he hadde I-do
With that ymage þat In the hows was so.
To a sotyl hows was mad of Marbre ston,
And Alle of divers Colowres it was,
Ful seteli I-wrowht In that plas,
And the Schettynge was Mad so previly
That non Man Miht it knowen Apertly,
With a sotil barre with Inne I-wrowht,
That non man thentre ne knewe nowht.
And whanne the kyng it Opene scholde,
A sotyl Ernen keye In his hond gan holde,
The wheche the Iointours he gan vnschitte,
So wel of that For-knew he itte.
And thus thei Entreden Everichon
There that ymage was Riht Anon,
Where that disloyalte & synne he hadde I-do
With that ymage þat In the hows was so.
And that ymage Took he there Anon Ryht,
And Into that Fyr he let it to ben dyht,
And alle the Riche Robes Also
That vppon thike ymage weren I-do,
Evene thus dide he In alle mennes Siht
Thike Ymage to don brennen ful briht.
“O,” quod the kyng, “goode lord God, moche is þi Miht,
That me Sendest grace nowe In thi Siht
My fals levenge forto Forsake,
And Only to thi servise me take!”
And there alle his Synne he forsook,
And Onlyche to goddis servise him took.
And Into that Fyr he let it to ben dyht,
And alle the Riche Robes Also
That vppon thike ymage weren I-do,
Evene thus dide he In alle mennes Siht
Thike Ymage to don brennen ful briht.
“O,” quod the kyng, “goode lord God, moche is þi Miht,
That me Sendest grace nowe In thi Siht
My fals levenge forto Forsake,
And Only to thi servise me take!”
And there alle his Synne he forsook,
And Onlyche to goddis servise him took.
Thanne merveilled Alle that Meyne
What theke semblawnce myht be,
For there-offen herden they Neuere speken be-fore
Of non Man that Evere ȝit was I-bore.
Alle this was thorwgh Iosephes techinge,
Him self and Al his Rem In good lif to bringe,
Thorwgh the Comandement of Oure lord;
Thus was the semblaunce brend at on word.
What theke semblawnce myht be,
For there-offen herden they Neuere speken be-fore
Of non Man that Evere ȝit was I-bore.
Alle this was thorwgh Iosephes techinge,
Him self and Al his Rem In good lif to bringe,
227
Thus was the semblaunce brend at on word.
And whanne Ioseph hadde Alle this I-do,
And thike ymage dide brenne þere Also,
And al the lond browht In good beleve,
From Sarras ward he gan to meve,
And took his leve at kyng and knyht,
At Nasciens, and Of that qweene so briht.
Thanne the kyng, the qwene, & Sire Nascien,
Cowndied Ioseph A gret weye then,
And Alle that weren In his Compenye
Forth with Ioseph thei gonnen hem Gye,
Wheche that A gret Meine it was,
That to Iosephe Seiden In thike plas,
‘That ȝif Ioseph wolde In here Compenie go,
From him departen wolde they neuere mo.’
And thike ymage dide brenne þere Also,
And al the lond browht In good beleve,
From Sarras ward he gan to meve,
And took his leve at kyng and knyht,
At Nasciens, and Of that qweene so briht.
Thanne the kyng, the qwene, & Sire Nascien,
Cowndied Ioseph A gret weye then,
And Alle that weren In his Compenye
Forth with Ioseph thei gonnen hem Gye,
Wheche that A gret Meine it was,
That to Iosephe Seiden In thike plas,
‘That ȝif Ioseph wolde In here Compenie go,
From him departen wolde they neuere mo.’
And Ioseph Resceived hem Everichon
That In his Compenye gonnen to gon,
So As be nombre it was I-Rekened to me
Two hundred & Sevene of theke Meyne.
And so of the kyng his leve there he took,
And Alle the Compenie that he not forsook,
& Charged þe kyng, ‘holi chirche to sosteyne,
And Neuere to his fals levenge to tornen Ageyne;
More-Ouer, to kepen Cristes lawes,
My techeng, And þerto Alle my sawes.’
That In his Compenye gonnen to gon,
So As be nombre it was I-Rekened to me
Two hundred & Sevene of theke Meyne.
And so of the kyng his leve there he took,
And Alle the Compenie that he not forsook,
& Charged þe kyng, ‘holi chirche to sosteyne,
And Neuere to his fals levenge to tornen Ageyne;
More-Ouer, to kepen Cristes lawes,
My techeng, And þerto Alle my sawes.’
Thus departed the kyng and they tho
With wepinges, syghenges, & Manion mo;
For hem thowghte forloren they were,
Whanne Iosephe departed from hem there,
As ȝe scholen heren here Aftirward,
What happes & Chaunses befillen hem hard.
And whanne that Ioseph forth wente,
Into what Contre he ne wiste veramente,
But As be Goddis Comandement
He it Fulfillede tho verayment.
With wepinges, syghenges, & Manion mo;
For hem thowghte forloren they were,
Whanne Iosephe departed from hem there,
As ȝe scholen heren here Aftirward,
What happes & Chaunses befillen hem hard.
And whanne that Ioseph forth wente,
Into what Contre he ne wiste veramente,
But As be Goddis Comandement
He it Fulfillede tho verayment.
| CHAPTER XVII. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |