Now is the story silent of Perceval and cometh back to King Arthur, the
very matter thereof, like as testifieth the history, that in no place
is corrupted and the Latin lie not. King Arthur was at Cardoil on one
day of Whitsuntide that was right fair and clear, and many knights were
in the hall. The King sate at meat and all the knights about him. The
King looketh at the windows of the hall to right and left, and seeth
that two sunbeams are shining within that fill the whole hall with
light. Thereof he marvelleth much and sendeth without the hall to see
what it might be. The messenger cometh back again and saith thereof
that two suns appear to be shining, the one in the East and the other
in the West. He marvelleth much thereat, and prayeth Our Lord that he
may be permitted to know wherefore two suns should appear in such wise.
A Voice appeared at one of the windows that said to him: "King, marvel
not hereof that two suns should appear in the sky, for our Lord God
hath well the power, and know well that this is for joy of the conquest
that the Good Knight hath made that took away the shield from
herewithin. He hath won the land that belonged to good King Fisherman
from the evil King of Castle Mortal, that did away thence the good
believe, and therefore was it that the Graal was hidden. Now God so
willeth that you go thither, and that you choose out the best knights
of your court, for better pilgrimage may you never make, and what time
you shall return hither, your faith shall be doubled and the people of
Great Britain shall be better disposed and better taught to maintain
the service of the Saviour."
II.
Thereupon the Voice departed and well pleased was the King of that it
had said. He sitteth at meat beside the Queen. Straightway behold you,
a damsel that cometh of such beauty as never was greater, and clad
right richly, and she beareth a coffer richer than ever you saw, for it
was all of fine gold and set with precious stones that sparkled like
fire. The coffer is not large. The damsel holdeth it between her
hands. When she was alighted she cometh before the King and saluteth
him the fairest she may and the Queen likewise. The King returneth her
salute.
"Sir," saith she, "I am come to your court for that it is the sovran of
all other, and so bring I you here this rich vessel that you see as a
gift; and it hath within the head of a knight, but none may open the
coffer save he alone that slew the knight. Wherefore I pray and beseech
you, as you are the best king that liveth, that you first set your hand
thereon, and in like manner afterwards make proof of your knights, and
so the crime and the blood-wite thereof be brought home to you or to
any knight that may be within yonder. I pray you that the knight who
shall be able to open the coffer wherein the head of the knight lieth,
and who therefore is he that slew him, shall have grace of forty days
after that you shall be returned from the Graal."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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