The history of the Holy Grail, Englisht, ab. 1450 A.D., by Herry Lonelich, skynner, from the French prose (ab. 1180-1200 A. D.) of Sires Robiers de Borron. Re-edited from the unique paper ms. in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, by Fredk. J. Furnivall ...

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Still of Nasciens on the Yl Torneawnt. He prays to God for comfort (p. 352). The day dawns, and he sees on the sea a little thing like a swan. It proves to be a Ship, which comes to the island (p. 353); he walks to it as fast as, in his disabled state, he can (p. 354); and is going on board of it, but sees words warning him not to enter unless he is full of faith (p. 355). He hesitates, but prays to God, makes the sign of the cross, and enters the ship (p. 356). He looks about every where, and in the hold sees a white cloth, which he lifts up, and finds a Bed, with a Crown of Gold at its head, and a Sword at its feet (p. 357); a wonderful Sword, with two beasts' scales in its handle, 1. of the Serpent Papagast, a bone of which will always keep a man warm (p. 358); 2. of the Fish Tortenaus, whose bones are so strong, that if a man holds them, he forgets every thing but the bone, till he lays it down again (p. 358). The handle and scales are coverd with a red cloth, and on it is declard that no one shall draw the sword but the one worthiest of all men (p. 359). The letters on the sword-blade say it is only to be drawn by the boldest of men; any other will be killed by it. Nasciens then looks at the scabbard, which is rose-red (p. 360), with gold and azure letters on it; and out of it issue a thousand filthy branches, or hang∣ings. The letters say that he who bears the sword, and is girt with the branches, shall ever be safe (p. 361). Nasciens turns the sword; the bed quakes (p. 362); the other side of the sword (l. 392) is blood-red, with coal-black letters, saying that he who praises it most here will blame it most in his need, &c. (p. 362-3). Nasciens cannot make out what the scabbard is made of (p. 363), nor does the Story here tell us; but 'al this schal ben declared sauns delay' when the right time and place come (p. 364). Now for another mystery:—How, from the bed where the Sword and Sheath were, Three Spindles came, joind to∣gether (p. 364-5); of which one was white as snow, the second blood-red, and the third emerald-green (p. 365). And because these things must be explaind, therefore the Story proceeds to expound them (p. 365), beginning with Eve and Adam in Paradise, and going on with the Fall, the death of Abel, the building of this Ship by carpenters for Solomon and his wife, who look on, and then put the Sword, &c. on board the Ship. (See Chapters 29 and 30.)

Now bothe Resown & Ryht it is Aȝen to the Storye to tornen with-Owten Mis, And to this yl to tornen Anon Agein, That so brood & so longe Is In Certein; [ 4]

And ȝit it to vs Scheweth Apressly, the declarenge Of this holy Storye, That Nasciens was In the laste Ende, that Gentyl dwk so good & kende. [ 8] [Nasciens is on the Isle,] Towardis the west partye of the see This ful trewe dwk thanne was he; but ȝit the see not So nygh he was, that be-twene hem was a ful gret spas, [ 12] the Mowntawnce Of Sevene Miles bedene, [about 7½ miles from the sea.] and An half Mile, with-Owten wene. Whanne Nasciens the day Gan to dawe, [Et quant il vit au matin aiourner.—A.] thanne Of that Sihte he was ful fawe, [ 16] And that he myhte haven Ony knowenge Of what partie of the see he was, with-Owten varienge; And for As Mochel as the day is more Comfortable thanne is the Nyht, with-Owten Ony fable, [ 20] For Evere hadde he In ful hopinge, Be the day to hauen had som Comfortynge. and with this, Nasciens, In-to the Est he knelid [He kneels to the East,] adown, and there Anon to God Made his Orisown, [ 24] Preyeng to Jesus that was Maryes sone, [and prays to Jesus] (As Other God than him ne knew he none) 'that he Wolde of his gret Mercye,— —lik As he was On Only god verraylye, [ 28] And that non Other god neuere Nas but he, Most Myhtful god In Maieste, In whiche On Only god beleved he, thre persones, but on God in vnite,— [ 32] that Swich Counseil he wolde him sende, [to send him counsel to amend his life.] helthe to his Sowle, his lif to Amende.' And whanne thus his preyere he hadde I-do, The Signe Of the holy Cros On him made he tho, [ 36] and Also he Made it In his face, the strengere to be thorwh goddis grace.

and whanne he hadde thus I-do, to the nexte party of þ^e Se wente he tho; [ 40] [Nasciens walks towards the sea;] & whanne he hadde gon the spas of half a Myle, Into the See he gan loken with-Inne A while; A lytel thing him thowhte he say Comen there, [and sees coming] No More thanne A swan As thowh it were, [ 44] That streyht to the yl it gan Aplye— As this Storye vs scheweth ful sekerlye;— to the same Ende that he Inne was, thedir it Appliede, As happed be Cas. [ 48] and whanne he Saw it So faste Comenge, [fast towards him] Euere the grettere it wax, to his semenge; but thanne mihte he not ful wel go; For so forbrosed his feet weren tho [ 52] with the Chenes Of his presownenge, that to Walken hadde he non likynge: and Anothir Skele there was also, that he nas neuere Mochel wont forto go. [ 56] Ȝit wente he forth with ful gret peyne, And Aftir that thing he loked A-geyne Wheche that he beheld In the Morwenyng, that to-ward the yl Cam flotering; [ 60] and thanne parceyved he Sone In haste, That A fair Schipe it was Atte laste, [a Ship,] the wheche was [so] wondirly fair & Riche, [richer than any other in the world.] That In Al this world him thowhte non swiche. [ 64] And whanne this Schipe he gan be-holde, In his herte he Ioyede ful Manyfolde, And peyned him faste thanne forto go [He walks, with great pain,] To wardis the See, As he myhte tho; [ 68] So that With gret peyne & Angwisch Also Atte laste to this Schipe Cam he to. [to this Ship.] And whanne thedir he was Comen ful Ryht, Ful wery he was, and hadde non Myht. [ 72] Thanne sawh he that bothe his feet In fere, Alle for hete for-sckorchid were,

and Ek for-Rent they weren Also, For the lytel weye that he hadde go; [ 76] So that Er thike vij miles hadde he gon, It was Of the day the tyde Of Noon; thanne was he bothe feynt, wery, & fastynge, and Al distrowbled for his Travaillynge. [ 80] Anon thanne loked he A lytel beside Vppon the Ryht half of him In that tyde, thanne Sawh he A Schipe A-Ryde [Nascians sees the Ship close to him.] Evene fast by him Also blyve; [ 84] thanne thowhte him it was the same thing that Al day hadde he Sein to his Supposing; So to-wardis that Schipe he torned Anon Also faste As that he Cowde Gon. [ 88] the Schipe, So Riche & So fair it was, [It is so rich that he marvels.] And Merveillede how that It Cam In to þat plas. And whanne he be-gan thus it longe to beholde, In his herte he Merveilled Many folde; [ 92] And Mochel More Merveil thanne hadde he, [leaf 30] For Nethir Man ne womman ne cowde he se that Schip with-Inne to warde Oþer Gye: thus telleth this Storie ful Openlye. [ 96] thanne gan he him drawen Neer & Neere, Til that to the Schipe he was Come there; and In han Entred ful fayn wold he, Ȝif Ony Mon there-Inne mihte he Se, [ 100] [He can see no one in it.] and forto proven the trewthe there Of that Bewte In Alle Manere, Ȝif with-Inne it were As fayre Owt Ryht, As with-Owten it was there to his syht. [ 104] Anon As In-to the Schip Entren Wold he, In that for-schip he Sawh ful Sekerle [But in the fore∣ship he sees Chaldean letters in gold.] lettres Of Gold, I vndirstonde, that As Writeng it was of Caldee londe, [ 108] that As pitous word they gonne to Speke. thanne Nasciens Ner to the Schip gan Reke;

For that Word there so dowtable was To Ony man that Entren wolde Into þat plas. [ 112] Lo, these wordis seide the Scripture [These letters say:] as I the schal Schewe, I the Ensure, "thow that wilt with-Inne me [MS with Inne ne] Entren here, ["Thou that wilt enter this Ship,] loke thou be stedfast In alle manere, [ 116] And that thou ful of feyth algates be; [be full of faith,] For with-Innes me nis thing non but feith sekerle; therfore I Rede, devise the ful wel that thow be Clene Everydel, [ 120] [pure, and stedfast in belief.] and stedfast In feith & In Creaunce, Oþer elles the be-happeth Som Meschaunce. For stedfast feith, Creaunce it is; and Anon As thow thy Creaunce dost mis [ 124] [If thou failest in one point,] In Ony partie Or In Ony degre, I the forsaken Schal ful Sekerle, that Of me Sostenaunce shalt þou non have, Neþer non helpe, thowh thou Crye and Crave, [ 128] but I schal the faillen In thyn most nede, [I will fail thee in thy most need,] and leten the fallen with-Owten drede, So that thou schalt I-lost thanne be [and thou shalt be lost."] For fawt of beleve, And thow it fle." [ 132] thanne with-stood this Nasciens In that stede, and these lettres of gold he gan forto Rede; and whanne he hadde longe him bethowht how that Schipe thedir was I-browht, [ 136] Into the Schipe he wolde han gon, [At first, these words stop Nasciens going on board the ship.] but that word him Stoned Anon that was so dowtful & Charchable, For they Weren Wordis Of non fable. [ 140] and whanne In this thowht he hadde longe I-be, Other wyse he gan tho him be-se, and him bethowht In Other Manere How that he Scholde Governe him there. [ 144] Thanne In this manere thus gan he Seyn:

"O goode lord God, of Alle thinges Sovereign, [Nasciens says, "Lord God,] the wordis Of this Schipe Seith here, that but feyth nys there-Inne in non manere; [ 148] and ȝif these lettres now trewe here be, thanne wot I wel ful certeinle [I know this Ship is sent by Thee.] that this Schipe be ȝow hedir Is I-sent; this knowe I wel thanne verament. [ 152] And ȝif only it be Comen from ȝow, thanne In My Creaunce knowe I now that non Evel thing there-Inne May be, Ne Contrariowsness In non degre [ 156] that scholde Aȝens ȝoure glorious Name ben Reprof, velenie, Oþer elles schame. [I believe in Thee,] but, lord, I beleve In ȝow ful feithfully; wheche Creawnce I took ful devoutly [ 160] Of thin One Seriaw[n]t so dere, That þou wost ben worschepid & beleved In alle manere; And In Stedfast beleve, the Ay worschepinge, [and in stedfast belief I shall enter the Ship."] I schal In Entren for Ony thinge. [ 164] For who that Is In thi stedfast beleve, From Alle Misaventures it doth him Meve, and Saueth him, and Ek Alle tho that In thy beleve stedfast go; [ 168] In what Maner peryl that so he be, thi beleve him saveth Sekerle." thus sone Sire Nasciens left vp his hond, [Nasciens crosses himself,] and made the signe of Holy Cros, I vndirstond, [ 172] And Entred In to the Schip Anon [and goes on board the Ship.] Also Faste As he myhte Gon. And whanne that Entred he was with-Inne, Fast loked he Abowtes, and nolde not blynne; [ 176] In Alle parties loked he ful faste; And so faste he loked Atte laste, So that him thowhte In non Maner of Se A fairere Schipe ne Myhte be; [ 180]

And thus to him Selve he gan to seyn, 'That So fair a schip he Sawh neuere Certein,' Ne so ful of Bewte neþer of Richesse Sawh he neuere to fore As that, I Gesse, [ 184] As that Same was to his Avis, for of Alle Schepis it bar the pris. And whanne Alle the Corners he hadde Serched [Nasciens pokes about the Ship,] Abowte, Aboven and benethen, with-Owten dowte, [ 188] thanne to þe bowk of þ^e schipe gan he gon, [goes into the hulk,] and there atte laste he fond Anon; he beheld Where heng A Cloth of Whit; [sees a white cloth] it was ful plesaunt to his delyt; [ 192] and lik A Cowrtyn him thowhte it was, [like a curtain,] that was hanged In that plas. thanne Anon lefte he vp this Courtyn In haste; there-vndir, a faire bed he fond atte laste, [ 196] [and finds under it the richest Bed he ever saw,] the Wheche the fairest & þ^e Richest bed it was that euere to fore he Saw In Ony plas; and at the hed of the Same bed was A Crowne of gold In that sted; [ 200] [with a Crown of gold at its head,] and at the beddis feet Sekerliche A swerd there was, bothe faire & Riche, [and a Sword at its foot,] Wheche vppon the bed it lay Ouerthwert, Al this, Sire Nasciens, it Sawh Apert— [ 204] Whiche that Owt of þ^e Skawberk was drawe [drawn 10 inches out of the scabbard.] half A fote & an handful, thus seith this Sawe. this swerd was of diuers facioun Sekerlye, as here Witnesseth this holy Storye, [ 208] For the pomel was of swich A ston [The pomel of the Sword is a stone of many colours.] That Colours it hadde Manyon, As Manye As on the Erthe myhte be To his Sihte there weren vpon, sikerle; [ 212] and Ech Of the Colours hadde a Clerte, and Ech Clerte A vertu, as þat storie scheweth me, Where As this Storie doth declare

Of Mani mo [MS no] thinges whanne he Cometh thare. [ 216] thanne to the handyl Of this swerd, [The handle of the Sword is made of two scales,] there nas non swich In Middillerd; For tweyne Skales it hadde, with-Inne the hond, Of two diuers bestes, as I vndirstond; [ 220] the ton sckale was In Maner of A Serpent, [the 1st of a Ser∣pent of Chaldaea] that In Caldiens lond was most present thanne In Ony Oþer lond Certein; there was his hawntyng I telle ȝow pleyn. [ 224] and 'papagast' was this Serpentis Name, [calld Papagast,—] Whiche was a Serpent of A wondirful fame. For this is the kynde of that Serpent, What man that A bone of his hath verament, [ 228] [a bone of which] him Nedeth neuere non Other hete, Nethir of sonne, ne of travaille, to don him swete; but that Evere In Mesurable hete he schal be; [will keep a man always in moder∣ate heat,—] this vertw hath his bon ful Sekerle, [ 232] Whereoffen the ton sckale of the handele it is, As I haue ȝow told with-Owten Mys. [MS Nys] The tothir Skale is Of A fysch of the Se, [the 2nd of fish of the Euphrates] That In Ewfrate most wont is forto be; [ 236] And In Othir water Is it non, but only In Ewfrate Al Alon. 'Tortenavs' [Cortnaus—A. Ortenax—B.] is the Name Of this fysch, [calld Tortenaus,] As we it Mown Sownen In Englysch. [ 240] And his bones of these strengthe ben, [a bone of which when held in the hand suspends a man's memory.] As Me declaren here schole ȝe sen; For As long As Ony man it hath On honde— I do ȝow ful wel forto vndirstonde— [ 244] that nethir of ioye ne of sorwe schal he have In Mende, but onlich Of that bon, swich is the kende; and whanne Owt his hond it is I-don, To his kende Memorie Cometh he Anon [ 248] As Owhte forto ben In A kendly man. Lo, swich A vertu this bon hath than!

behold what vertw Is In these bones tweyne, Where offen the handele is Mad In Certeine! [ 252] Wheche handele & sckales, I-keuered it was [The handle and scales are coverd with a red cloth whereon is written] With A Riche Red Cloth In that plas, I-set wel ful of lettres Of Gold, (As he myhte there pleynly behold,) [ 256] Wheche that Spoken In this degre ful Openly, As he myht wel Se; "I am Merveillous to beholde On A rowe, And ȝit moche more Merveillous I Am to knowe; [ 260] For me Schal neuere man taken On honde— ['No man shall] As I do the Forto vndirstonde,— be his hand neuere So large & gret, Me schal he not drawen, I the behet; [ 264] [ever draw me] Ne non Man that is Erthly levenge, but Onlich On Man with-Ovten varienge. And he Schal ben the most worthiest, [except the ablest and best that ever livd.'] the Most Able, & the Most best, [ 268] that Euere was him before, And schal passen Alle þat is bore, Of prowesse and of konnenge, Of alle tho that to-forn him weren levenge, [ 272] Oþer Evere [[MS Eveuere]] Scholen ben In tyme Comenge; Swich Schal his strengthe ben & his konnenge." and thus the lettres of the handelyng spak To this Sire Nasciens with-Owten lak. [ 276] and whanne Sire Nasciens beheld al this, [Nasciens is astonisht.] Ful Sore he was Astoned with-Owten Mis; and Merveilled ful Mochel In his thowht In what Manere these lettres weren wrowht; [ 280] And what they weren forto Mene, In his herte he Merveilled be-dene. thanne beheld he the blad of þ^e swerd [He looks at the partly-drawn blade of the Sword.] that so drawen lay, As to-fore ȝe han herd; [ 284] And there-vppon loked he wonder faste, And Rede lettre he Aspide þat Onne atte laste,

Wheche weren As Red as Any Blood; thus him thowhte þere As he stood. [ 288] thanne took [Lors se traist vn peu auant, si les commencha a lire.—A.] he this swerd A lytel Ner, [Nasciens reads on the Sword-blade,] And gan to Reden tho lettres In this Maner; thanne Rad he how this Resown Mente As I schal ȝow declaren here presente: [ 292] It seide that "Neuere man Scholde ben hardy ['Let no man draw me but the boldest of all, or he shall die.'] Me Owt forto drawen ful Sekerly, but better thanne Anothir he Mowe fyhte, and more hardiere, & more Of mihte; [ 296] And hos Otherwise drawe it In ony sted, he schal ben the ferst that schal be ded." (and this proved wel Schal ben, As aftir In this Storie here scholen ȝe sen.) [ 300] and whanne Nasciens these lettres hadde Red, he Merveilled him Mochel In that Sted, Most Of Ony Othir thinge that he Sawh sethen the begynneng. [ 304] ² And It was on of þ^e thinges most In his talent, that Swerd owt to drawen verament, and Owt of the Sckavberk it forto se, to knowen what Meneng It Myhte be; [ 308] For the lettres that it seide with-Owte, Ȝaf Nasciens Most Talent with-Owten dowte. [²-² Car ch'estoit vne chose dont il auoit trop grant talent, ke de l'espee traire hors del fuerre, et de ueoir quele ele estoit. Car les meruelles ke les letres disoient de dehors, l'en faisoient plus entalente.—A.] thanne Nasciens beheld the Sckawberk tho, [Then he looks at the Scabbard,] that for Merveille he Niste what to do; [ 312] And for Al that he Cowde be-holde, Benethen, Oþer Aboven, In Ony folde, and ȝit Nethir In herte, Mynde, ne thowht, he ne Cowde not weten where-offen it was wrowht; [ 316] but wel he wiste it was Al so Red, [which is as red as a rose.] and As Ony Red Rose In that sted;

Where-aboven weren lettres of gold, As he gan there to be-hold; [ 320] Euere On Of Gold, Anothir Of Asure; thus weren they set, I the Ensure. And A thowsend braunches [Et si n'i auoit nules renges ki auenissent a si riche fuerre com chil estoit.—A.] on this schawberk were, [The Scabbard has 1000 hangings,] (Whiche was so Riche, As I Rehersed ȝow Ere,) [ 324] that issweden Owt from that Onle, that Most Merveillous thing it was to se; For Of so fowl Mater they were, [but of foul and poor stuff.] and therto So powre In þat plase there, [ 328] And as of spittynges and Caytyvetes, Of febelnesses, of filthes, in many degres, that bothe be Semblaunt & Countenaunce It was to hym gret dowtaunce: [ 332] For An Our the swerd it myhte not Sosteine, So feble it was, him thowhte Certeine. And the lettres that On sckawberke were, [On the Scabbard is written,] In this Maner Seiden they there; [ 336] "hos that Me vppon him doth bere, ['Whoso bears me on him shall be safe,] Ful Sewr he Schal ben Euery where; 'And more hardy therto schal he be thanne Ony Oþer man In his degre. [ 340] Ȝif he bere me In that Manere as the lettres Of þ^e swerd Rehersed Ere. For what man that Abowtes him bereth Me, he ne schal neuere ben schamed In non degre [ 344] [and never sham'd as long as he's girt with these hangings,] as longe as with these braw[n]ches he is gert, and that On his body I hange Ouerthwert. but that neuere non be so hardy that the Raunges that here ben to don Awey; [ 348] [which no man must ever take off.] for him schal happen Manie Misaventure And Manye Evel dedes, I the Ensure, that he, ne non Man levenge, Of him schal tellen non Amendynge; [ 352]

¹ Ne behoten neuere schal be to Man So hard as to him Schal be than that now Is, ne that Neuere schal be, but ȝif In sauf Ostag he be Sekerle; [ 356] And ȝit him be-hoveth to ben Osteyed In the Manere as here Is seide, [But the hangings shall be taken off by the daughter of a King and Queen.'] Wheche sholde ben be A wommannes hond, bothe kynges dowhter & qweene, I vndirstond. [¹-¹ Ne il n'est otroie a nul home qui ore soit, ne auenir soit, ke il en soit osteres. Anchois en doiuent estre ostes par main de feme, fille de roi et de roine. Et si i metera tel escange pour ches, ke ele en fera vnes autres de la chose qui sour li soit ke ele ara plus chiere, et si le metra en lieu de ches.—A.] [ 360] this womman be þ^e Riht name schal clepen this swerd, and Me by my Name Openly & Apert; For neuere to-foren In-to that day Non Creature be oure riht name Clepen ne may." [ 364] Ful longe this Nasciens this Skawberk gan beholde, and in his herte he Merveilled ful Manifolde. & whanne thus In the Schip he hadde loked Abowte On Alle partyes with-Inne & with-Owte; [ 368] [Nasciens turns the Sword,] but neuere so soft ne Cowde he gon, that Al the bed be-gan to qwaken Anon [the Bed quakes.] from the ton Ende to þ^e toþer, In that plas; In this Manere this bed So qwakyng it was. [ 372] And whanne he tornede, & it be-held, For discomfort he ne Myhte hym weld; [leaf 31] For to him it semede tho As Red As blood; [The other side of the Sword is blood-red,] and þervppon wondirful lettres there stood, [ 376] that As Ony Cole so blak they were, [with coal-black letters on it,] the Resoun that was I-weten there; Wheche lettres Seiden In that Stede, [saying,] As that tyme I Cowde hem Rede: [ 380] "hos that Me preiseth most here, ['Who praises me most,] Most Schal I him fynde In Oþer Manere, So that In gret Nede blamed schal he not be [shall blame me most in his need.] In non wise, As I telle it the. [ 384]

and to hym to whom I scholde ben Most debonayre, [And to him I should be most gentle, I will be most cruel.] To him with most Anger I wele Repeire: Which schal be-happe but Ony[s], Sekerly, [Et che n'auenra c'une fois.—A.] As I the telle here now Openly: [ 388] [But only once.'] For with-Owten faille so moste it be At that tyme Onys ful Sikerle." Swiche wordis seide the lettrure there that on þ^e swerd weren wreten In that manere. [ 392] and the Skavberk he be-held Agein: [The other side of the Scabbard is] than merveilled he gretly In Certein, For that partye was non Othir I-liche, but to his Sihte As blak As Ony pich; [ 396] [as black as pitch.] thanne Abasched he was ful Sore, that he ne wiste what to sein no More, For he ne Cowde demen of what kynde, [Nasciens can't think whether it's] Ne nether to purposen In his Mynde; [ 400] but As him thowhte there be Resoun, Aftir A maner of tre was the facioun; [made of wood,] and Oþer whille him thowhte þat it was Of lether I-mad In that plas, [ 404] [leather,] but he ne Cowde devise In non degre Of what Maner Of Beste it Myhte be; Anothir tyme him thouhte Of yrne it was, [iron, or metal:] Owthir of sum Oþer Metal In that plas: [ 408] Thus wolde he han declared it be him selve; [but he can't put the axe in the helve.] but ȝit Cowde he not putten the Ex In þ^e helve. ² Thus doth Nasciens with gret Entencioun; but Ay he is In ful gret Trebulacioun, [ 412] For the Skawberk to haven Offe knowenge, but he ne Cowde for non manere thinge, Oþer Whille to On thing In Certeinte, And Oþerwhille to Anothir; but it wolde not be. [²-² Ensi estoit nasciens en tenchon pour le feurre vers soi meisme; Si ke il en affermoit a le fie vne chose, et a le fie desdisoit, ke a nule chertaine parole ne sauoit asener a quoi il se peust tenir.—A.] [ 416]

thus nethir the swerd hondel, ne pomel, Ne Cowde he declaren Neuere A del; [Nasciens can't find out where] Where-Offen the swerd I-forged was, And whens it Cam, & from what plas, [ 420] [the Sword or Sheath come from.] Ne ho that the Swerd schold thedir bringe, he ne cowde not weten for non thinge; Nether the strengthe of that schethe þere he ne Cowde declaren it In non Manere, [ 424] Ne not devisen of what kynd it was he ne Cowde for non Maner of Cas, Neþer of the grete Merveilles that ben comenge [Nor are the Marvels to happen in Great Britain] In diuers Reawmes with-Owten varyenge; [ 428] And of the grete Breteyne Also, What Merveilles that schal Comen hire to: Of Alle these thinges that to forn Rehersed be, this Storye ȝit declareth not Sekerle. [ 432] [told yet.] but whanne that tyme Cometh therto, [But when the right time comes,] That declareng of þ^e swerd we scholen gon to; Thanne schal that swerd be knowen ful wel, And the propre Name there Offen Everidel, [ 436] And the lettres that vppon the schethe be, thanne scholen they ben knowen Openle. [then shall every∣thing be known.] For whanne that Cometh bothe tyme & day, Al this schal ben declared sauns delay, [ 440] the kynde of the Swerd, and schethe also, And Alle the vertwes that longen therto. thanne Openly I-schewed scholen they be, Lik as this holy Storie telleth Certeinle. [End of a chapter in the English MS. The French runs on.] [ 444] Now beleveth this Storye here [Now we leave the Sword and Scab∣bard.] Of the Swerd and the schethe, In this Manere; and Speketh here of Anothir Entent that Oppon the Bed was verament: [ 448] A spyndele was there schoten forth Ryht [One Spindle shoots out of the Bed;] thorwh the bordis Of the bed, I the plyht;

and Anothir Spyndele Ouerthwert was þere do, [a second Spindle runs across it;] that bothen to-Gederis metten they tho; [ 452] and bothe Spindelis, As long they were As lengthe & brede of þ^e bed Everywhere. And to the hed Of the two spyndelis certein [and a third 's joind to the top of the other two.] Anoþer spyndele was Ioyned, I sey ȝow pleyn; [ 456] Of these thre, ful Mochel there is to schewe, Of manie diuers poyntes vppon A Rewe. but now this Storye telleth here, that the ferste spyndle was In Alle Manere, [ 460] [The 1st Spindle is white;] was Also whit As ony snow snewenge; And the laste was as Red as blood bledenge; [the 3rd red;] And the ouerth-wert that Aboven was, lik to An Emerawde In that plas; [ 464] [the 2nd emerald∣green.] As Grene As An Emeraude it was there To his Syhte In Al Manere: Of these thre Colowres Sekerlye Weren these iij spindelis trewelye, [ 468] that with-owten Naturel peyntyng were, but Offe here Owne kynde Alle there; For nether be Erthly man ne wommane thedyr ne weren they now browht thanne. [ 472] And for As mochel as to the peple it is dowtaunce, [And because folk would think all this nonsense unless more were said about it,] but declareng þere-onne be with-owten variaunce, And but þere-offen they knewen more vndirstondeng, Elles wolden they holden it for A gabbyng, [ 476] There-fore here turneth this Storye, and of Anothir thing Maketh Memorye that is ful swete forto here, bothe forto lestene & ek to lere; [ 480] And In tyme Comeng, this Storye [this Story 'll tell 'em all about the Ship, Spindles, &c.] the thre spyndelis schal declaren Openlye, And Of the Schipe Al the knowlechinge, Alle this Scholen ȝe knowen In tyme Comenge. [Sir Thomas Maleor's account of Galahad's finding the Ship, and of the Mysteries and their history, is in Chapters 83-88, pp. 293-304, vol. ii. of the 1816 reprint of the 1634 edition of 'The History of the renowned Prince Arthur, King of Britain.'

• Chapter LXXXIII. How Sir Galahad rode with a Damsel, and came into a Ship whereas Sir Bors and Sir Percivale were in.
• Chapter LXXXIV. How Sir Galahad entered into the Ship, and of a fair Bed that was therein, with other marvellous things [the Serpent and fish Ortenar], and of a Sword.
• Chapter LXXXV. Of the Marcels of the Sword, and of the Scabbard [and of Nacien on the Isle of Turnance, &c.].
• Chapter LXXXVI. How King Pelles was smitten through both the Thighs, because he drew the Sword, and of marvellous Histories [namely, the Three Spindles: Eve's planting the white tree, its change to green; Abel's death; Solo∣mon and his wife].
• Chapter LXXXVII. How Solomon took David's Sword by the Counsel of his Wife, and of other marvellous matters [making the Bed, Ship, and Girdles for the Sword].
• Chapter LXXXVIII. Of the wonderful Tale of King Solomon and his Wife [and how Sir Percivale's sister put a new girdle of her own hair to the sword, and girded Sir Galahad with it; and how they came on the morrow to a castle that men called Carteloise, that was in the marshes of Scotland].

] [ 484]