The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in StoryGuerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
General
The Book of the Epic: The World's Great Epics Told in Story
Guerber, H. A. (Hélène Adeline)
Epic poetry -- Adaptations
This--mostly German--version of the Grail legend--has been used by
Wolfram von Eschenbach for a long and famous epic, and by Wagner for
his operas Parzival and Lohengrin. In the French and particularly in
the English versions of the Quest for the Holy Grail, or Sangreal,
Percival is with the other knights of Arthur's Round Table when they
take this vow. He seeks for it, perceives it through a veil, but never
entirely achieves the quest, since that privilege is reserved for the
peerless Galahad.
The versions of the Holy Grail Story of which Galahad is hero run
about as follows: Galahad is the son of Launcelot and Elaine, the
latter's nurse having, by means of enchantment, made her to appear as
Guinevere--whom Launcelot loved. Deserted by the accidental father of
her coming child, this Elaine--daughter of King Pelles--took refuge in
a nunnery, where she gave birth to Galahad, whom when dying she
entrusted to the nuns. Brought up by those holy women and strengthened
in early infancy by frequent glimpses of the Holy Grail,--whose light
was blinding to all but the perfectly pure,--Galahad reached manhood
as pure as when he was born. One day Sir Launcelot and Sir Bors were
summoned from Camelot to a small church near by, to act as sponsors
for a young candidate for knighthood, who was presented to them by
some nuns. Launcelot and Bors, having thus heard Galahad take his
vows, were not surprised to see him brought into their midst on a gala
day, by Merlin or by the spirit of Joseph, and to hear him warmly
welcomed by Arthur. Some versions claim that Galahad, led to the Siege
Perilous, found his name miraculously inscribed on it in letters of
gold, and was told he alone should occupy that place at the Round
Table.
According to some accounts, it was while all the knights were thus
seated around Arthur's board on this occasion, that the Holy Grail
suddenly appeared in their midst, its radiance so veiled by its
coverings that one and all vowed--when it had disappeared--never to
rest until they had beheld it unveiled. Arthur, knowing this boon
would be granted only to the absolutely pure and that they were all
but one sinful men in various degrees, keenly regretted they should
have made a vow which would entail a hopeless quest, and would at the
same time leave him bereft of the very knights who had hitherto helped
him to right the wrong and keep the pagans at bay. The knights
hastened to church to receive a blessing before they departed, and
then went off, singly or in small groups, to seek the Holy Grail.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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