Students of the Grail literature cannot fail to have been impressed by a certain atmosphere of awe and mystery which surrounds that enigmatic Vessel. There is a secret connected with it, the revelation of which will entail dire misfortune on the betrayer. If spoken of at all it must be with scrupulous accuracy. It is so secret a thing that no woman, be she wife or maid, may venture to speak of it. A priest, or a man of holy life might indeed tell the marvel of the Grail, but none can hearken to the recital without shuddering, trembling, and changing colour for very fear. “C’est del Graal dont nus ne doit Le secret dire ne conter; Car tel chose poroit monter Li contes ains qu’il fust tos dis Que teus hom en seroit maris Qui ne l’aroit mie fourfait. .............................. Car, se Maistre Blihis ne ment Nus ne doit dire le secré.”[1] “Mais la mervelle qu’il trova Dont maintes fois s’espoenta Ne doit nus hom conter ne dire Cil ki le dist en a grant ire Car c’est li signes del Graal (other texts secrés) S’en puet avoir et paine et mal (Li fet grant pechié et grant mal) Cil qui s’entremet del conter Fors ensi com it doit aler.”[2] The above refers to Gawain’s adventure at the Black Chapel, _en route_ for the Grail Castle. The following is the answer given to Perceval by the maiden of the White Mule, after he has been overtaken by a storm in the forest. She tells him the mysterious light he beheld proceeded from the Grail, but on his enquiry as to what the Grail may be, refuses to give him any information. “Li dist ‘Sire, ce ne puet estre Que je plus vos en doie dire Si vous .c. fois esties me sire N’en oseroie plus conter, Ne de mon labor plus parler (other texts, ma bouche) Car ce est chose trop secrée Si ne doit estre racontée Par dame ne par damoisele, Par mescine ne par puciele, Ne par nul home qui soit nés Si prouvoires n’est ordenés, U home qui maine sainte vie, ............................ Cil poroit deI Graal parler, Et la mervelle raconter, Que nus hom nel poroit oïr Que il ne l’estuece fremir Trambler et remuer color, Et empalir de la paour.’”[3] From this evidence there is no doubt that to the romance writers the Grail was something secret, mysterious and awful, the exact knowledge of which was reserved to a select few, and which was only to be spoken of with bated breath, and a careful regard to strict accuracy. But how does this agree with the evidence set forth in our preceding chapters? There we have been led rather to emphasize the close parallels existing between the characters and incidents of the Grail story, and a certain well-marked group of popular beliefs and observances, now very generally recognized as fragments of a once widespread Nature Cult. These beliefs and observances, while dating from remotest antiquity, have, in their modern survivals, of recent years, attracted the attention of scholars by their persistent and pervasive character, and their enduring vitality.