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to the city of Sarras.

Then took they out of the ship the table of silver, and Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort took it before, and Sir Galahad came behind, and right so they went to the city. And at the gate of the city they saw an old man, a cripple.

"And Sir Launfal said, 'I behold in thee

An image of Him who died on the tree.

Thou also hast had thy crown of thorns,

Thou also hast had the world's buffets and scorns;

And to thy life were not denied

The wounds in thy hands and feet and side.

Mild Mary's son, acknowledge me;

Behold, through Him I give to thee!'"

-LOWELL'S HOLY GRAIL.

Then Galahad called him, and bade him help to bear this heavy thing. "Truly," said the old man, "it is ten years since I could not go but with crutches." "Care thou not,"

said Sir Galahad, "but arise up, and show thy good will.” Then the old man rose up, and assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was; and he ran to the table, and took one part with Sir Galahad.

When they came to the city, it chanced that the king was just dead, and all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be their king. Right so, as they were in council, there came a voice among them, and bade them choose the youngest knight of those three to be their king. So they made Sir Galahad king, by all the assent of the city. And when he was made king, he commanded to make a chest of gold and of precious stones, to hold the holy vessel. And every day the three companions would come before it, and make their prayers.

Now, at the year's end, and the same day of the year that Sir Galahad received the crown, he got up early, and, with his fellows, came to where the holy vessel was; and they saw one kneeling before it that had about him a great fellowship of angels; and he called Sir Galahad, and said, "Come, thou servant of the Lord, and thou shalt see what thou hast much desired to see. And Sir Galahad's mortal flesh trembled right hard when he began to behold the spiritual things. Then said the good man, "Now wottest thou who I am?" "Nay," said "I am Joseph of Arimathea, whom our Lord

Sir Galahad.

hath sent here to thee, to bear thee fellowship." Then Sit Galahad held up his hands toward heaven, and said, "Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it might please thee." And when he had said these words, Sir Galahad went to Sir Perceval and to Sir Bohort, and kissed them, and commended them to God. And then he kneeled down before the table, and made his prayers, and suddenly his soul departed, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to heaven, so as the two fellows could well behold it. Also they saw come from heaven a hand, but they saw not the body; and the hand came right to the vessel and bare it up to heaven.

"At once I saw him far on the great sea,

In silver-shining armor s'arry-clear;
And o'er his head the holy vessel hung
Clothed in white samite or a luminous cloud.
And o'er his head the holy vessel hung
Redder than any rose, a joy to me,

For now I knew the veil had been withdrawn.
Then in a moment when they blazed again
Opening, I saw the least of little stars

Down on the waste, and straight beyond the star

I saw the spiritual city and all her spires

And gateways in a glory like one pearl,

No larger, tho' the goal of all the saints,

Strike from the sea; and from the star there shot

A rose-red sparkle to the city, and there
Dwelt, and I knew it was the Holy Grail,

Which never eyes on earth again shall see."

-THE HOLY GRAIL.

Since then was there never one so hardy as to say that he had seen the Sangreal on earth any more.

The king listened to the various recitals of his knights, and commended all save Sir Gawain, who had no desire to see.

"But if indeed there came a sign from heaven,

Blessed are Bors, Launcelot, and Perceval,

For these have seen according to their sight.

For every fiery prophet in old times,

And all the sacred madness of the bard,

When God made music thro' them, could but speak

His music by the framework and the chord,

And as ye saw it ye have spoken truth."

LIBRARY

OF THE
UNIVERSITY

OF

-THE HOLY GRAIL

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Sir Ag'ri-vain's Treason-Plot of Sir Mod'red.

Sir Ag'ri-vain's Treason.

WHEN Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort saw Sir Galahad dead, they made as much sorrow as ever did two men. And if they had not been good men they might have fallen into despair. As soon as Sir Galahad was buried, Sir Perceval retired to a hermitage out of the city and took a religious clothing, and Sir Bohort was always with him. Thus a year and two months lived Sir Perceval in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed out of this world, and Sir Bohort buried him by his sister and Sir Galahad. Then Sir Bohort armed himself and departed from Sarras, and entered into a ship, and sailed to the kingdom of Loegria, and in due time arrived safe at Camelot, where the king was. Then was there great joy made of him in the whole court, for they feared he had been dead. Then the king made great clerks to come before him, that they should chronicle of the high adventures of the good knights. And Sir Bohort told him of the adventures that had befallen him and his two fellows, Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad. And Sir Launcelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he had seen. All this was made in great books, and put up in the church at Salisbury.

So King Arthur and Queen Guinevere made great joy of the remnant that were come home, and chiefly of Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort. Then Sir Launcelot began to resort unto Queen Guinevere again, and forgot the promise that he made in the quest; so that many in the court spoke of it, and in especial Sir ( 174 )

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