JOURNEY TO ARTHUR'S COURT.
When Queen Herzeleide had to from home with her little son on the
death of her husband, she retired to a small house she in an
out-of-the-way district, and herself to the education of her
boy. She spoke to him of deeds, for she lest,
when he was up, he should her to adventures, and
should die in some or feud. Notwithstanding this, young
Percival up a bold, youth, of all danger.
One day, as he was home from hunting, he met some riding
through the in full armour. One of them asked him a
question, which Percival answered at random. Then, going up to the
knight, he asked what those were that he and his
companions wore, and why they had spurs. The was amused,
and answered the lad's questions very kindly, adding, "If you want to
know more of and knighthood, you must go to King Arthur's
court, and there, if you are worthy, you may be a knight
yourself."
Percival not what he had and seen. He no more
for hunting, and his days and nights in of swords,
knighthood, and battle. Herzeleide asked her son what him, and
when she learnt the of his sorrow, her was with
terror lest, his father's spirit, Percival might meet
with his father's fate. At length she gave way to the lad's entreaties,
and let him go, but with a heart.
Percival the with his mother very much; but and hope
were in his heart, and of the of meeting again soon
thrust the of into the background.
Lost in such reflections, he came to a in which some were
pitched. In one of these he saw a on which a woman lay
asleep. She was dressed; her with stones,
as did also the on her arms, neck, and fingers. He thought,
as he a flower, so he might also a from the rosy
lips of the sleeping beauty; but, as he did so, she awoke, and was very
angry.
"Don't be angry," he said, himself at her feet. "I have often
kissed my mother when I have her asleep, and you are more
beautiful than my mother."
The lady at him in astonishment, and to his boyish
confidences about going to Arthur's court, being a knight, and
doing great thereafter. Suddenly a at no great
distance.
"That is my husband," the lady; "quick, boy, away as fast as
you can, or we are undone."
"Oh, I am not afraid," he said. "Look at my quiver; it is full; I
could you as well as myself. Let me have one of your bracelets
as a that you are not angry with me."
As he spoke, he the off her arm, left the tent,
mounted his horse, and away.
Shortly after this Lord Orilus, the lady's husband, appeared, and with
him many knights. When he from her what had happened, he fell
into a passion, and that he would the "impudent varlet" if
he catch him. But though he set out at once in pursuit, he could
see nothing of the youth.
Meanwhile Percival his journey. That night he slept in the
forest, and on his way next at an easy pace. As he was
passing under a rock, he saw a by a that gushed
out of it. She as she over a man, head
lay in her lap. Percival spoke to her, and to her by
saying that he would the death of the man, for murdered
he was sure he was. He then told her his name, and she said that she
was his Sigune, and that the man was her old playfellow
Tchionatulander, who had met his end in trying to a wish
of hers-a wish she had no sooner to than she repented.
She had a dog, and had wanted to have it again. That was the cause
of all her sorrow.
"He was a hero," she continued, "and one of the of King
Arthur's Round Table. Your mother him of her wasted
lands. He the hosts, their leader, wild Lahelin,
and his ally, Orilus, Lord of Cumberland, from his horse, so that
he only by the help of his who him off the field.
When he promised to me the dog, he Orilus to single
combat King Arthur and his knights, the prize of victory to be
the that Lord Orilus had caught, and kept, when it ran away from
me. The challenge was accepted, but the time of meeting was put off for
a while, Orilus was from an wound. Meanwhile
the Lady Jeschute, for the life of her husband, sent me back
the dog. Tchionatulander and I the as settled, so we
set out together to go to the of the Holy Grail, where we
were to be married. As luck would have it, we met Orilus and his
wife, and in of all the of Jeschute and myself, the
two and fought. Orilus from the stunning
fall; but my dear love-oh that I had died instead! It was my fault,
all my fault."
"Be comforted, cousin," said Percival, "I will go to King Arthur, I
will tell him your story, and ask him to make me a knight, and to take
care of you. Then I will go and out Orilus, and your
wrongs."
He then took of Sigune, and on his way. Coming to a broad
river he questioned the as to where he should King
Arthur's court. The man answered that he must go to Nantes, a good bit
on the other of the river; so Percival gave him the gold bracelet
he had taken from the lady's arm, and asked him to set him across. This
the man did, and put him in the right road.
Arrived at Nantes, the person he met was a red-haired clad
in red armour, and a steed. Percival spoke to him
courteously, and asked for the of his and armour, that he
might go in fashion to the king and ask for at his
hands. But the laughed, and said, "A in a fool's
cap were the very thing to my message of defiance."
"Here," he continued, "take this cup to the king as a token, tell him
that I challenge him and all his Round Table to combat. You see
that I cannot you my and armour, as I need them myself, but
after the you will be able to and choose the armour
and of the slain."
Indignant at the knight's refusal, Percival on in silence. As he
went the of the borough, the people all
laughed at his appearance, the very boys pointed and at him, and
in good truth he looked enough. The of his striped
cap in the breeze, his many-coloured jacket and leather hose
were very shabby, and his sorry with fatigue. At length a
squire named Iwanet took his part, away the boys, and them
for their to a stranger. The hero thanked the man,
and him to take him to King Arthur to he was the of
a message. Iwanet at once with Percival's request, and took
him to the palace. On entering the open where the king was seated
with his at the Round Table, the man to
his in amazement, saying:
"Are there so many Arthurs? My mother only told me of one."
The as he that there was only one Arthur,
and that he was the was to turn grey, and
who the on his head.
Percival now walked up the hall, and to the king the
message of the red knight, adding that he the king would use his
power and give him the red knight's and armour, for he liked them
well.
"The boy would have the bear-skin the has the
bear," said Arthur laughing; "but," he added, "I will give you the
things you ask for, if you can of them."
"Thank you, sire," answered Percival, "I shall need your gift if I am
to a knight;" so saying, he bowed, and took his leave.
When he returned to the red knight, he told him all that had occurred,
and asked him for the and the king had him. The
knight upon this him so on the with the end
of his lance, that he from his nag. He soon recovered, however,
and the so with his that he killed him
on the spot. He then to take off his armour, but in vain.
Fortunately Iwanet to pass that way, and the lad's
difficulty offered to help him. Percival was soon in the full
suit of armour, which he on above his other as
they had been by his mother. This done, he thanked the for
his timely assistance, the red knight's charger, and away,
he not whither.
After he had a long way he came to the of Gurnemann, an
elderly man and a warrior. The old asked the to come
in and the night under his roof, and Percival the
invitation with pleasure. He was so taken with his host's kindly
manner, that the was over he to tell him of
his mother and all his since he had left her. Gurnemann
persuaded the to with him for some time, and to teach
him how to a true and hero.
"Do not always have your mother's name upon your lips," he would say,
"for it childish. Preserve her teaching in your
heart, and you will her more than by talking of her continually.
A should be modest, love one only, not play at love with
many women. He should help the oppressed, and to all.
When he has an enemy he should mercy; and when he is
conquered he should not for life. To death is a hero's
glory, and such death is than a life."
With these and other of the old man to fit the
youth for knighthood. At the same time he gave him clothes,
telling him it was no to his mother to to wear the
curious with which she had provided him. Time passed on, and
Percival proved such an that Gurnemann as proud of him
as if he had been his own son.
At last he told the that the time had come for him to go out into
the world and his in of and right, for
Queen Konduiramur was hard pressed in her capital, Belripar, by the
wild Klamide and his Kingram. Percival was nothing
loth, and at once prepared to go and help the queen.
Arrived at Belripar, which on the sea at the mouth of a great
river, he himself across the stream, his good at
his side. Though from the walls, he gained
admittance on the him by Gurnemann, and was
conducted into the queen's presence. She him kindly, and he at
once offered her his services. She him to have nothing to do
with so unlucky a as hers; but he was not to be to
abandon her. It almost as though he had good in
his train, for a days later some ships with provisions
managed to the blockade, and when Percival a on the
enemy soon after, he and took the Kingram,
whom he set free on condition that he at once set out to tell King
Arthur of his at the hands of the red knight. The same fate
befel Klamide himself not long afterwards.
Peace was now restored. The people were all to the hero
who had them from Klamide, and were to that he was
about to the queen.
The wedding took place with great and ceremony. In the of
all his Percival had only one sorrow, and that was that his
mother was not there to his joy. He told Konduiramur what he
felt, and she with him that he ought to go and his mother
to Belripar. So Percival his good and away.
QUEST OF THE GRAIL.
He in which direction to go to his mother, but not the that
led to her house; so it was not that he his way several
times. One day he came to a great which he had before.
He saw a man seated in a boat, fishing. The man was dressed, but
pale and sad. Percival asked if he food and anywhere
about for himself and his horse, and was told that if he went
straight on, and did not his way, he would come to a castle, where
he would be received. He started in the direction by
the fisherman, and the at nightfall, after a long and
toilsome search. There he met with so much and consideration,
garments being provided for him "by Queen Repanse's orders," that
he was with amazement. When he was taken into
the hall, which was lighted. Four hundred were
seated on softly-cushioned seats at small tables, each of which was
laid for four. They all sat and silent, as though in expectation.
When Percival entered, they rose and bowed, and a of passed
over each countenance.
The master of the house, who much the Percival had
seen on the lake, sat in an arm-chair near the fire, in sables,
and was from some disease.
The that in the was at length by the
host, who Percival, in a low, weak voice, to beside
him, telling him that he had been long expected, and, at the same time,
giving him a of workmanship. The was
filled with astonishment. A now entered the of a
lance with blood, with which he walked the room in
silence. Percival would much have liked to ask the meaning of this
strange ceremony, and also how his had come to be expected, but
he he should be curious. While thus
thinking, the door opened again, and a number of blue-eyed
maidens came in, two and two, with a with
pearls, an stand, and other articles. Last of all came
Queen Repanse a vessel, was more than the
human upon.
"The Grail," Percival by one voice after another.
He to question some one; but too much by the
strangeness and of all he saw.
The withdrew, and the and pages of the came
forward. Then from the an supply of the
costliest and wines, which they set their masters. The
lord of the castle, however, only ate of one dish, and but a small
quantity of that. Percival the great hall. What could
this and mean?
When the was at an end, the lord of the himself to
his feet, on two servants. He looked at his guest, and
then retired with a sigh. Servants now came to Percival to
his sleeping apartment. Before the they opened the door of
a room in which a old man slept on a low couch. His still
handsome was in a of white curls. His sleep was
uneasy, and his as though he were trying to speak. The
servants closed the door again, and Percival to his chamber.
When he entered the room he looked about him, and at once aware
of a picture on the tapestry, that his
attention. It was the picture of a battle, in which the most prominent
figure, a like the lord of the in appearance,
was to the ground, by a of the same as the
broken that had been the hall. Much as he desired
to know the meaning of this, he to ask no questions till the
following morning, though the told him that his had
been long expected, and was looked for at his hands; and
they away, deeply.
His sleep was by dreams, and he next morning
unrefreshed. He his own and his bed; but no
one came to help him. He got up and dressed. All the doors in the
castle were locked those that out to the ramparts, where his
horse and at the drawbridge. No sooner had he
crossed the than it was up him, and a voice called
out from the battlements:
"Accursed of God, that to do a great work, and hast
not done it. Go, and return no more. Walk way till it leads
thee to hell."
The hero turned, and looked at the castle: a with a fiendish
grin at him for a moment over the battlements, and then
disappeared. Percival put to his horse, and away. He
journeyed all day long through bleak, country, and at
nightfall a cell. He dismounted, his horse,
and entered the room. A woman on the praying. She
wore a penitent's robe, and her long neglected about her
face and neck. Startled by his entrance, she rose slowly to her feet
and looked at him.
"What, you?" she said, "Herzeleide's son! What do you want of
me? Tchionatulander's is embalmed, and I have it in this
chest. Here I must and pray, and do till the All-Merciful
sets me free."
"Good heavens!" said the hero to himself, "it is Sigune; but how
changed!"
The woman at him for some time in silence, then she went
on, "Wretched man, do you not know that you are for ever. You were
permitted to look upon the Grail, yet, of your own will you put
aside the opportunity of the from his pain. Do
not longer this with your presence. Go, flee,
till the overtake you."
She him like an angry prophetess. A of dread, such
as he had before, took of him, and he staggered
out of her presence and into the night. He walked on and on, leading
his horse, till at length he on the ground, and from
his in a and sleep.
The sun was high in the when he awoke. His was
grazing near him, so he and on without or caring
where he went. As came on, a farmer met him, and offered him a
night's lodging, which he accepted. Next day, when he
resumed his journey, he was able to think more of all that had
occurred; and came to the that he ought to return to the
castle, and try to the he had unconsciously. But
he not the way to it. He asked every one he met to him
the way to the where the Grail was to be seen: but every
one took him for a or a madman. As he on sadly, he met a
knight leading a woman in chains. He at once the beautiful
lady from he had the when she was asleep. She looked
at him in entreaty, so he himself to help her. He
desired the to let the woman go, but was answered with a
scornful laugh. Upon this the began, and for some
time. At last Percival was victorious. As he was about to his
fallen and foe, he Sir Gurnemann's teaching, and
refrained. Leaving the man on the ground, he to the lady,
and her from her chains. By this time the had
regained his senses, and Percival let him go after making him to
treat the lady for the with all courtesy, and to go to King
Arthur's and say that he had been by the red knight.
Before they parted, Percival learned that his was Sir Orilus,
and that the lady was his wife, whom, since that in the
tent, he had out of jealousy. Percival solemnly
swore that the meeting had been and accidental, and thus he
brought about a reconciliation.
The hero his search for the Grail, but all in vain. He
followed out the in summer's and winter's storm, yet never
seemed to nearer the goal. One day he met Sir Gawain, King Arthur's
nephew, who asked him to come to with him, and see the king,
and be a of the Round Table. Percival at once consented,
hoping, as he did so, to learn something from Arthur about the holy
Grail.
Sir Gawain sent a on to the red knight's to his
uncle, so the king came out to meet them, by his and
many of the townsfolks, for all were to see the of
whose powers so much had been and of so little was known. On
the day, in the open field, Percival from Arthur's
hand the of knighthood, and was a of the Round
Table.
Whilst the were yet the new knight's name and
deeds, a woman into the presence on a nag. She
threw her on the king, and a hideous
countenance, brown, yellow, and grey, like a leaf, and her
eyes like out of their sockets.
"It is the Kundrie, the messenger of the Sangreal," many
voices.
"It is she," said the woman, "and she comes to upon King
Arthur and his Round Table if they the man I shall name to
remain in their midst. Percival is of the you have
shown him. He was to the dignity, and has wickedly
neglected to end the pains of the upon earth. Woe
unto him! Woe Arthur and his heroes, if the presence of
the be not at once removed."
Every was now on the prophetess, and now upon Sir Percival,
who, horror-stricken at what had occurred, out of the
assemblage, and, his horse, away. Amongst all the heroes
of the Round Table there was only one who took his part, and that was
Gawain. He said it was a to let the flower of thus
depart on the word of a hawk-nosed witch. Upon this Kundrie got into a
great rage, and said:
"Thou wretch, the upon too. Go, if dare,
and Klinschor's magic castle, where grandmother, mother,
and sister, and other ladies under the spell of enchantment;
free them if canst!"
Gawain turned, and away without a word. He his horse, and
set out in of Percival.
KLINSCHOR'S ENCHANTED CASTLE.
Wherever the hero went, he people who told him they had met the
red knight, and again he came up with men who had with him
and he had conquered. So the days and passed on, and he
still to Percival until he all of him in
the East. At last he of him again, and him, heard
more of his great deeds, but himself he not find.
Sir Gawain the over carefully, and up his mind that
the best way to Percival, would be to out the Grail, for
which he also sought.
As he along, he met a Percival had wounded. Gawain
offered him help; but Kingrimursel, as the man was called, too
sore about his to be able to accept any kindness, and at once
challenged Gawain to him when his were healed. Before the
hero had gone much he met a woman him forget
both the challenge and the Grail, and the red knight. And
indeed she was a lady of most beauty; her dark fell
down her in curls, and her like stars. Gawain
approached her, and entered into with her. Finding her as
wise and as she was fair, he told her that he loved her; but she
only laughed at him. He persisted, so she said that if he would find
favour in her sight, he must go into the garden hard by, and out
her white palfrey.
He to the garden gate, and an man within,
he asked him where he should the lady's palfrey. The man his
head sadly as he answered:
"Ah my friend, take care. That lady is the Duchess Orgueilleuse, a
witch who has the death of many a knight, and for whose
sake the great King Amfortas the in which he was wounded
by the spear. Throw off her while yet you can. Look,
there is your horse. Mount, and away."
The was vain: a waste of words. It was as though the
haughty had a spell over Sir Gawain. He was powerless in
her hands. He her the palfrey, and not noticing the
supercilious way in which she all help from him in mounting,
followed her with through many lands. Many a battle
had he to for her sweet sake, and every now and then, he could
not help that it was she who on the fight, when
otherwise there would have been none. Yet he was always victorious, and
never from his to the lady of his love, who was now
pleased to allow him to her.
At length they a hill-top from which they had an view
over a wide valley. Opposite, there was a on the top of
a high rock, and by a pine-tree. Orgueilleuse
pointed to it, and said that it to Gramoflans, her mortal
enemy, and the man who had her lover. "Now," she continued, "if
you will me a of the magic tree yonder, and conquer
Gramoflans, who will at once challenge you to single-combat, I will-be
your-your wife."
The would have the of himself for such a
prize, so he set to his without a moment's hesitation, and
rode away in the direction of the castle. He the valley, swam
over a moat, and the tree. He a small branch, and
tried to it into a wreath, but as he did so, he a voice
call in angry tones:
"What are you doing there, youth? How you touch my magic
tree! I know you well, you are Sir Gawain, a of the Round Table.
Your father my father long ago, and I to have vengeance.
Meet me, therefore, in eight days time Klinschor's magic castle.
There shall twelve hundred of my see me my father's
death. You may as many men, or more, if you like." So saying, the
speaker his upon the hero and re-entered his castle.
Gawain the to his lady, who it calmly. She did
not waste her in thanks, but her way in silence; he
accompanying her she to go. After a time, they came in
sight of two castles, one of which, the said, was
Logreis, her father's residence, and the other was
Klinschor's magic castle, in which the great magician, Klinschor, kept
the and he had stolen, in close and
laden with chains. She herself, she added, had only her
freedom by the all the gold she had from her
father. Scarcely had she these words, when a warrior
appeared, and called to Gawain to himself. Orgueilleuse
withdrew, Gawain of her promise. A minutes later, having
overthrown his adversary, the got into the ferry-boat, that had
just returned from setting the on the other of the water,
and across. That night he with the ferryman, who told him
all the of the place, and particularly of the great doings of a
valiant in red armour.
[Illustration: GAWAIN BREAKS THE SPELL IN KLINSCHOR'S CASTLE.]
As came on, Gawain to the window, and looked out. He saw
the of the magician's castle, at each of which a sad
female appeared. The were a medley. Their ages
seemed to range from early to old age. Sir Gawain turned
wrathfully from the sight, saying that he would the caitiff
knight, and set the ladies free; but the him
beware what he did, for Klinschor was not only very strong, but was
learned in the black art. Sir Gawain, however, was not to be dissuaded
from the emprise.
He his early next morning, and set out for the magic
castle, the towers of which rose dark and mysterious-looking before
him. He was into the by a porter, who opened
the door for him without making any difficulty. The seemed
totally deserted. Not a was to be anywhere, nor
any woman. He from room to room in astonishment. At last
he came to a room in which a was spread, and as he
felt tired, he he would and for a little; but, to
his surprise, the as he advanced, and he could
not in. Rendered by this he upon the bed,
and next was by a perfect of arrows, lances,
javelins, and stones. From these he himself as well as he
could. Had he not been in full armour, he would have
been slain, and as it was he many a wound.
The terrible of as as it had begun. A
stillness as of death set in. The was at length by the
heavy of a peasant, who entered the room a great in
his hand, and by a lion. The man was of size, and his
voice was and gruff.
"Quiet, Leo," he said, "I am going to that fellow's before
I you his carcase. What!" he in amazement, "still
alive, and in full armour! Nay then, go at him yourself, good Leo." So
saying, he away as fast as his would him.
The lion upon the hero, and to tear him with its claws;
but almost with a of and
pain, for Gawain had cut off one of its fore-paws. The hero now jumped
out of bed, and the lion with such good will that he
finally killed it; but the by the struggle
was so great that he on its carcase.
When he came to himself again he a number of over
him, and calling him their deliverer. Amongst them were his
grandmother, his mother, and his sister Itonie. The spell was broken,
and Klinschor had fled. As soon as Gawain had a little from
his fatigue, he sent to tell Arthur what had happened, and
to ask him to come and the that was to take place
between him and Gramoflans.
Arthur came, and Sir Gawain that his cup of was full
when he presented the Lady Orgueilleuse to his uncle.
At length the wished-for day of dawned. A dressed
in black, and on a black steed. Gawain to meet
him. Their flashed, and they as in
such company. The king and the ladies nearer that they might
the watch the skill of the combatants. Gradually the black
knight had the best of the fight. Gawain's to the
thrusts of his less and less. Suddenly a darted
from the spectators, and cried,-
"Noble knight, my Gawain, he is yet weak from the many
wounds he in the magic castle."
"Gawain!" the stranger, his visor, and the
well-known of Sir Percival.
The meeting of the friends was right joyful, and while they talked,
another came and asked for and friendship
with the other two. This was Gramoflans, who had long been secretly
betrothed to the Itonie. But Gawain too well what depended
on their combat; he that the lady Orgueilleuse was only to be won
by this man, she hated. He his hand upon his sword
and would have spoken, but the great king near and stopped him. He
promised on his word of to the of the proud
duchess, and her to his nephew. Then sending for the lady, he
took her and talked with her, and his and so
wrought upon her that her anger left her, and she her foe.
A days two marriages were at the castle, and
Queen Guinevere did all that she to the happiness.
Sir Percival was at the same time openly as Knight of the
Round Table; but still he was not happy. He not forget. He heard
as as of the that the had pronounced
against him; he always saw the of the Amfortas, the
Sangreal, and in the his wife and weeping
mother. He not it, so he away without taking
leave of the king or any one. The of his friends but
increased his grief.
He away, a of almost him. Should he
never the Grail, should he be able to right the wrong
he had done so unconsciously?
PERCIVAL, TREVREZENT, AND THE GRAIL.
Summer and autumn were gone, and the ground was with snow, when
one Percival saw the of a at a little
distance. He was with cold, and so very weary, that when he
dismounted he only himself with to the door. A
tall and stately, but man answered his knock, and told
him to come in, while he to his horse.
The gave him food, and spread a of for him, and while
resting there, Percival to look about him. He saw a with a
richly hilt, with gold, on the wall, and asked to
whom it had belonged. The as he answered that it had
belonged to him at the time when he for nothing but and
love, and the Grail, the of which had been committed
to him.
"For, stranger," he continued, "you must know that I am Trevrezent,
brother of the King Amfortas, and that, like him, I my
life to the of pleasures. When the lance
struck Amfortas, and him the pain that he still
endures, I my and and retired to this solitary
place that I might do for my own sins, and redeem
my brother. Idle hope! the still his agony, and he
that was by God to save him neglected to do it, and has earned
thereby the of of the place that was
prepared for him."
"I am he who so deeply, yet unconsciously," Percival, "but
where is the or love of a Being that punishes the of
ignorance with such a curse?"
"So you are Percival, the son of my sister Herzeleide," said
Trevrezent. "You the way to the Grail, but not to redemption, for
you did not know the All-merciful, who only speaks in those who have
received Him into their hearts. Hearken to me, and I will the
wondrous and love He has to the children of men, that
you may learn to and to trust."
Trevrezent then to tell his nephew of God's with man
from the of time until the and death of Christ, and to
show him what lessons might be learnt therefrom. He told him
that his mother had died of not long after his departure, and
that in she had him. He on to say that Percival must
now the Sangreal with a pure and mind, in
God, who that he had repented, and was without end.
The hero for some days with his uncle, who and
encouraged him to perform the that him.
At last, taking of Trevrezent, he and for a
great without any of the mountain. One day
he met a who on with him. But in the
middle of the Percival's broke, and he that if he
had had his father Gamuret's it would not have played him such a
sorry trick. The then questioned him about Gamuret, and after
he had what Percival had to say, he added:
"Then you and I are brothers, for when Gamuret was in the East, he
married the Moorish queen; after her death he returned home and wedded
your mother. I was up by my mother's relations, and am now king
of the Moors. My name is Feirefiss."
So saying he opened his and Percival a dark, face.
The with great affection, and Percival said:
"The that Amfortas the gave me would not drink a
brother's blood; this is the that God has my prayers.
And-but was I blind?-surely I know this place! There is the lake, the
rocks are here-yes, there is the road to the mountain. Come,
brother, me up the path to the above, where Divine
mercy us."
Both set out on their road with a and a
willing mind; but the way was so full of that the sun was
about to set they the castle. On their they were
received like guests, and their horses-which they had been
obliged to lead most of the way-were taken to the stable. Percival and
Feirefiss were to the hall, which was brilliantly
lighted with candles. King Amfortas and his were in their
usual places. The then came in with the lance, and was
followed as by the the cushion, stand, etc., and
lastly, by the virgin, Queen Repanse the Grail.
"Merciful Father, and our sweet Lord and Saviour," Sir
Percival, "teach me what I must do to redemption."
And it to him that an spoke in his ear the one word,
"Ask!" His was now enlightened. He what to do. Going
up to Amfortas he said:
"What you, great king? and why are the that the holy
Grail with and woe?"
The out, but the Sangreal spread a than
before the room, and on the of the vessel
appeared in of flame, "Amfortas is cured; Percival shall be
king." At the same moment soft and music the air, and
invisible sang "Glory to God on high, and on earth peace,
goodwill to men."
The hero silent, his overflowing with and thankfulness.
An old man now approached him with a step and mien. He
bore a in his hands, and this he set on the of the chosen
king, saying:
"Hail, Percival, all hail! Long have we waited for your coming. I am
your great-grandfather Titurel, and have been called to make over to
you the of the honour. Now I may in peace. The
days of my will soon be over, and I shall in
the Lord."
Amfortas, who was now well, and free from pain, rose from his seat, and
greeting Percival with joy, the on his
shoulders, calling on him to the right, and to all
injustice and wrong.
The assembled joined in the new king, and in
swearing to be true to him.
And the sang in tones:
"Hail to Percival, king of the Grail!
Seemingly for ever,
Now art for ever.
Hail to Percival, king of the Grail!"
While Percival there, touched and by all that had
happened, the door opened, and a lady came in, by her
train. As he looked at her inquiringly, she her veil, and
showed the of Konduiramur, the wife he loved so well, and from
whom he had so long been absent.
It was that the light by the Grail left one man, and
one alone, in darkness. This was Feirefiss, the Moorish king, who
seemed to be by a dark cloud. He asked, came the
bright that the hall, but did not upon him.
"The vessel," old Titurel, "that the Saviour's
blood, only those who believe. You still live in the
darkness of unbelief, in the of the Evil One. Bow your head
before Christ the crucified, the Prince of Light and Truth, and your
heart also shall be enlightened."
The old man's had a upon Feirefiss, who desired,
and received, at the hands of Titurel; and no
sooner was the than he too see the Sangreal, and
was in the that from it.
After that, Titurel the and prayed.
Having done this, he rose from his knees, and, taking of
all, told them that Sigune was now at rest. Having thus spoken, he
passed out of the hall, and was no more of them, or of any mortal
man.
Feirefiss for some time at the on the mount. While
there, he in the Christian faith, and when he went
away, he took as his wife the Queen Repanse, to with him over
his own land. They had a son named John, who a great warrior,
and who a brotherhood, like that of the Templars, of the holy
Grail; a brotherhood, strong, mighty, enduring, and of great renown.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ELSE'S DREAM.]
III.
