The Story of the Grail and the Passing of ArthurPyle, Howard
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The Story of the Grail and the Passing of Arthur
Pyle, Howard
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Grail -- Legends; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
So it happened with the Grail that it was elevated into heaven, and that
this was so was avouched for by many who were in the minster at that
time; and several of these beheld those four hands, and saw the Grail
elevated from earth to heaven. So this is to be believed in as here
narrated.
Then there sounded from on high to the ears that were unstopped to hear
that sound, a great anthem as of thanksgiving, as it were the tones of a
mighty organ, or as it were the tones of a wonderful and melodious
thunder, and they three heard that melody of music, but no other who was
there heard it. And they were aware that it was the rejoicing of heaven
over the return of those sacred relics to that place, wherefore they
were filled with an ecstasy that was not of this world, but of heaven,
and that was of great joy, yet was of awfulness and of a sort of terror.
Then was the spirit of Galahad exalted, and he lifted up his voice and
cried aloud, “There is nothing remaining for me to live for. So now let
me depart in peace.”
[Sidenote: _Of the passing of Galahad._]
Thereat with those words the soul was drawn out of his body and the eyes
of those two knights who kneeled beside him were opened and they beheld
his spirit ascend into glory, and they beheld that the illumination of
heaven shone round about it, and at the same time they heard, with a
louder and more momentous tone, the thunder peal of heavenly triumph as
the spirit of Galahad was received into its glory, together with the
Grail which he had achieved.
Then the brightness closed from their eyes and they beheld themselves to
be kneeling in the dark and empty minster. And they looked at the body
of Sir Galahad, and behold! it was dead.
So passed Sir Galahad, and at that time he was yet not twenty years of
age.
Sir Bors went to the Bishop of that minster, and he said to him, “Sir,
this man was altogether a good, virtuous, and perfect knight. It is our
desire that his dead body should lie here in this minster at that spot
whence the Grail ascended into heaven but now. Wherefore, we beseech
you to suffer it to lie at that place.” To these the Bishop said, “Let,
then, that be fulfilled as you ask. For I believe that that knight was
indeed a very good, excellent, holy man withal.”
So they buried the body of Sir Galahad there in the minster, beside the
spot whence the Holy Grail ascended into heaven, and there the tomb of
Sir Galahad remained to be seen for many years after his body was so
buried.
[Sidenote: _Sir Percival taketh holy orders._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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